Occupational Therapy Department

Veronica, OTR/L, Clinical Operations Manager, B.S.

Veronica attended college at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy.  She is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Minnesota Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA), and the Pediatric Special Interest Group. Her specialties include Auditory Integration Training (AIT); understanding the role of the OT in the school; and  dealing with feeding issues.  She has a special interest in developing and implementing parent training opportunities and communicating to various organizations about FAC’s mission.  She works closely with clients diagnosed with autism and sensory integration disorders.  In her free time, Veronica enjoys traveling, in-line skating, biking, and reading.

 

Kristin, M.A., OTR/L
Kristin received her Master's degree in occupational therapy from the College of St. Catherine. She received an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Kristin specializes in treating clients across the lifespan; serving clients ranging from the pediatric population to geriatrics. She is a certified Berard Auditory Integration trained therapist and has extensive post graduate pediatric training in the following areas: Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Social Skills Development and Adolescent Behavioral Solutions, and the S.O.S Approach to Feeding.  Kristin is also a co-leader of the Life Skills groups at Family Achievement Center.

 

Theresa, B.A., OTR/L
Theresa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in occupational therapy from the College of St. Catherine.  She has worked in various practice settings, including hand therapy and chronic pain rehab.  She loves working with kids best of all.  Theresa has recently taken a course on sensory integration as well as a course on the Handwriting Without Tears program.  Her area of interest is sensory integration, because she has a child who has had difficulties with sensory processing.

 

Megan, M.A., OTR/L

Megan graduated with a Master’s degree in occupational therapy from the College of St. Catherine.  She received her undergraduate degree in Speech Language Hearing Sciences from the University of Minnesota-Moorhead.  Megan also works casually at an acute care hospital treating patients with orthopedic, neurological, and general diagnoses.  She is trained in the S.O.S. Approach to Feeding and is co-leader of the Play Skills groups and Life Skills groups at Family Achievement Center.  Megan enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and 5 lb Yorkie, Belle.  She also enjoys exercising, traveling, and riding her horse.

 

Jill, M.A., OTR/L

Jill received a degree in Biology with a minor in Psychology from the College of St. Benedict/St. Johns University. She continued her education at the College of St. Catherine where she received a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy. Jill brings to FAC her experience in adult acute care from the University of Minnesota Medical Center Fairview. At FAC, she enjoys working with children and their families to increase functional abilities in activities of daily living. She also enjoys helping children who are challenged by sensory integration dysfunction, autism and neurological disorders. In her free time, Jill likes spending time with family and friends, traveling and enjoying outdoor activities, especially, hiking, kayaking and walking her dog, Lucy Lu.

 

Shannon, B.S., OTR/L

Shannon received her Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  She is trained in the S.O.S. Approach to Feeding and is one of the leaders of the Fun with Fine Motor Skills group at Family Achievement Center.  Shannon also works casually at an acute care hospital treating patients with orthopedic, neurological, and general diagnoses.  In her free time, Shannon enjoys exercising, being outdoors, reading, and spending time with family and friends (especially her nephews and niece).

 

Susie, COTA/L
Susie graduated with an Associate’s degree in applied sciences from the College of St. Catherine Minneapolis Campus. She is licensed in the state of MN and nationally certified. She has worked in a variety of settings spanning from elementary schools, nursing homes, home care, and transitional care. Susie currently works full time for a local rehab company and part time for Family Achievement Center. In her spare time, Susie enjoys spending time boating on the St. Croix River, shopping and spending time with family and friends. 

 

Physical Therapy Department

Katy, PT, DPT

Katy received both her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  She specialized in pediatrics and completed an internship working with young children-- birth to three years old.  Previously, Katy has worked in a rehabilitation center in Savannah, GA where she worked with patients of all ages with orthopedic, neurological, women's health and general diagnoses as well as treated patients using aquatic physical therapy.  Katy also enjoys working with children with autism and worked extensively with this population for five years while pursuing her degrees.  Katy enjoys exercising, traveling, reading and spending time with her family, friends and dog.

 

Amy, PT, DPT

Amy graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelors of Science in Exercise Sports Science, and continued her education through the University of Minnesota where she received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. She has a strong background in pediatric therapy, doing one clinical affiliation in a school district and another at a children’s hospital. Amy is trained in Beckman oral motor and has experience in aquatic therapy. She continues to coach gymnastics in her free time, working mainly with children ages 2-5 years, concentrating on gross motor skill advancement. In her free time, Amy enjoys playing softball, exercising, swimming, fishing and spending summer weekends up north at the cabin.

 

Kristen, PT, DPT

Kristen has an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Minnesota. She has received training at Cincinnati Children's Hospital as part of a clinical rotation. Passionate about working with children, Kristen’s background includes serving as a PCA for a child with special needs. She has also spent a great deal of time working with children who have autism. Her hobbies include rollerblading and boating and spending time with family.

 

Speech Department

Jill, M.S., CCC-SLP

Jill earned her undergraduate and Master’s degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2002.  She has worked with children with speech-language disorders since 2003, when she began her career as an Educational Speech Language Pathologist in Inver Grove Heights.  Jill is a certified member of the American Speech Language Hearing Association and is licensed by the state of Minnesota.  In her free time, Jill enjoys reading, scrapbooking, and spending time with her husband and son, Gavin.

 

Erin, M.S., CCC-SLP

Erin attended college at Illinois State University where she earned her Master of Science degree in speech language pathology and audiology.  Her specialties are with fluency, apraxia, brain injury, and stroke patients.  Erin enjoys scrap booking, going on vacations, and participating in competitive sporting events.

 

 

 

Tiffany, M.S., CCC-SLP

Tiffany earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders and her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology both from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.  She began her work as a Speech-Language Pathologist for the geriatric population in skilled nursing facilities in the twin cities metro area and for a small pediatric practice in Wisconsin.  Tiffany has enjoyed providing diverse speech therapy services for young children through adulthood in a variety of settings.  In her free time, Tiffany enjoys spending time with her husband, Aaron, and playing with her daughter, Caroline.  She enjoys activities with family and friends such as camping, walking, kayaking, cooking and traveling.

 

Amy, M.S., CCC-SLP
Amy received both her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders and her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  She began her work as a Speech-Language Pathologist for the St. Louis Park School District, where she worked for five years. During this time, she gained experience in working with children of all ages with autism, severe phonological delays, and receptive and expressive language delays.  Before joining Family Achievement Center, she worked at a pediatrics clinic for three years.  Her interests include early childhood phonological/articulation delays, autism, and language delays.  In her free time, Amy enjoys spending time with her family, taking trips to the North Shore and being outdoors.

 

Lindsey, M.A., CFY-SLP
Lindsey attended the University of Minnesota where she earned her Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences. She continued her education there where she also earned her Master of Arts degree in Spe›ech Pathology. Lindsey has had experience in both educational and medical settings, where she worked with clients with cleft lip/palate, autism, phonological disorder, receptive and expressive language disorders, fluency disorders, apraxia, aphasia, and traumatic brain injury. In her free time, Lindsey enjoys spending time with her husband and her dogs, going camping, playing softball, taking karate, and reading.

 

Kenda, M.A., CCC-SLP

Kenda attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and her Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Hearing Sciences. Before joining Family Achievement Center, she worked at a non-profit organization in St. Paul, primarily servicing a therapeutic preschool for at-risk children. In her free time, Kenda enjoys traveling, camping, spending time with her family and friends, and walking her dogs, Remmie and KC.

 

Mikala, M.S., CCC-SLP

Mikala attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. For graduate school, Mikala attended Minot State University in Minot, ND where she earned her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She enjoys working with people of all ages, but she particularly enjoys working with children. In her free time, Mikala enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling and relaxing outdoors.

 

Amy, M.S., CCC-SLP

Amy attended college at the Minnesota State University-Mankato where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders and her Master’s degree in speech language pathology.  Amy is a member of both the ASHA (American Speech Language and Hearing Association) and the MSHA (Minnesota Speech Hearing Association) and is licensed by the state of Minnesota.  In her free time, Amy enjoys music, rollerblading, biking, walking, and spending time with her husband.

 

Laurie, M.S., CCC-SLP
Laurie has 10 years of experience working in pediatric speech and language therapy.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  She is a member of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, Minnesota Speech-Language Hearing Association, and Education Minnesota.  She has experience working with a diverse population of children in both educational and clinical settings.  She has special interests in phonological disorders, apraxia of speech, fluency disorders, expressive and receptive language disorders, autism spectrum disorders, emergent literacy and sign language. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her children, gardening, biking, running, reading, and photography.

 

Business Office

Stephanie, Billing Manager

Stephanie has had 15 years experience in billing and collections prior to joining our Family Achievement Center team. She enjoys working with children and their families to answer any questions or concerns they may have related to insurance or payment options. In her free time, Stephanie likes to travel, read, and spend time with her family and dog Sheeba.

 

Deb, Scheduler/ Patient Care Coordinator

Deb attended college at the University of Wisconsin where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Preschool Teaching and Child Development.  She enjoys working with and getting to know patients and their families.  In her free time, she enjoys reading, being outdoors, and spending time with family including her two golden retrievers.

 

 

Sarah, Business Office

Sarah attended Metropolitan State University where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree. She enjoys working with children and their families to answer any questions they may have regarding their insurance coverage and claims. In her free time, Sarah enjoys traveling, camping, reading, and spending time with family.