Press
Biographies, books, publications, and selected appearances.
Send a media inquiryStephen Deason is an applied economist, entrepreneur, operating executive, and author. He is founder and CEO of OPA Home Care and Skilled Nursing, OPA Staffing, and OPA People. His writing draws on ownership, business economics, healthcare, recovery, and family life. Alder Creek Editions publishes his books.
Stephen Deason is an applied economist, entrepreneur, operating executive, and author. He is founder and CEO of OPA Home Care and Skilled Nursing, OPA Staffing, and OPA People. He has more than 31 years of experience building teams and companies across healthcare, technology, and social enterprise.
Stephen directly owns OPA Home Care and OPA Skilled Nursing. The OPA RASA Group's companies and affiliates include OPA Staffing and OPA People. OPA People is becoming the trade name for OPA Staffing LLC. The OPA RASA Foundation is a separate nonprofit organization.
The OPA RASA Foundation "has worked to place hundreds of people from disadvantaged backgrounds into a variety of careers."
Stephen previously served as CEO of GRYYT, a marketing technology firm, and held C-level roles at three other technology companies. He currently serves on four nonprofit boards and on the advisory boards of two startup technology and telecommunications firms.
Stephen holds an MBA and an MSc in Accounting from Emory University and a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is ABD in the PhD program in Business at Emory University's Laney Graduate School; the PhD has not been awarded. His doctoral work concentrated on accounting, accounting data, and behavioral economics. He pursued graduate studies and completed the CityLabs program at Johns Hopkins University as a Dean's Scholar.
His article, "The Role of Accounting in Ponzi Schemes," was published in Accounting Horizons in 2021. The article is peer-reviewed archival accounting research and received coverage in Forbes. His professional writing has appeared in CPA Practice Advisor.
Stephen is in long-term recovery and founded OPA during that period. His books include The Weakest Link and The Invisible Architecture in The Operational Reliability Series, The Family Integrator's Handbook, The Sitting Room Series, and the practical recovery books of The Mile Marker Library.
The Weakest Link
A gripping story that anyone who has cared for an aging parent, spouse or other loved one can relate to! This book explores gaps in the systems of care and provides practical tools for families and caregivers to help minimize those gaps. The Weakest Link is a must-read for adult children, caregivers and anyone involved in senior care.
Amazon customer review, 2026
The Weakest Link
This was a very helpful book. I found it while stressing about how to get help with my father who is a veteran and suffers from PTSD. We didn't know where to start and none of his doctors, home health therapy people and counselors seemed to talk to each other. When he came out of the hospital after a fall everything seemed to just fall apart. My sister and I were very frustrated. Now I know why and more importantly, how to navigate.
Amazon customer review, 2026
The Invisible Architecture
Stirring continuation of the story from Deason’s first book (The Weakest Link), along with a trove of helpful resources for families and caregivers organizing care for aging loved ones. So helpful and accessible, five stars!
Amazon customer review, 2026
Stephen has delivered keynotes on machine learning, AI, and the changing job landscape, as well as a Shatterproof keynote. He has appeared on iHeart Radio and joins podcast conversations on leadership, entrepreneurship, and recovery.
He also served on Cox Enterprises’ EMPOWER panel on the workforce impact of substance use, anxiety, stress, and depression.
