25 Year Milestones

A look back at the major milestones of the last 25 years at Cascade.

December 1980

Cascade Prosthetics & Orthotics opens for business at 1300 West Holly in Bellingham, WA. Owners Don Buethorn, CPO and Candace Buethorn.

July 1982

Cascade Prosthetics & Orthotics incorporates.

May 1983

Don and Candace Buethorn hire their first employee, Nen Phan, who is still employed at Cascade as the lead orthotic/prosthetic technician.

Spring 1985

Don Buethorn and Nancy Hylton, RPT, met and together designed the first generation dynamic ankle foot orthosis (DAFO).

February 1986

Don moves the company and its three employees to a converted home at 134 Prince Avenue in Bellingham.

1987

Cascade opens a second office in Mount Vernon, WA to provide service to the Skagit County area.

Summer 1988

Don teaches his first DAFO workshop in Little Rock, AR. Cascade currently averages 24 courses per year, teaching a few internationally.

1989 – 1995

The Prince Avenue location is remodeled three times to accommodate three new orthotists, twenty more technicians, a growing office staff and many new patients.

1996

The company divides into two separate businesses: Cascade Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc. and Cascade Dafo, Inc.

February 1998

Cascade moves to a larger location at 1360 Sunset Ave in Ferndale, WA. DAFOs at this time are manufactured for patients in 50 states, and some internationally.

1999

Candace Buethorn designs the original ribbon trims which are applied to the DAFO straps.

2002 – 2003

Cascade remodels their building and adds 10,000 square feet.

Fall 2004

New PollyEthel footplates introduced.

Winter 2005

Introduce PollyWog shoe inserts.

Summer 2005

Introduction of Softy.

Fall 2006

Introduce JumpStart product family.

2006

Cascade turns 25