Staff Profiles
Rachel Bonar, COTA/L
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Rachel Bonar is a graduate of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program and also a graduate of Miami University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Rachel has worked with children in a variety of settings and roles. She joined COTI’s staff in 2015 and is working in school-based practice.
Tara Brock, MHS, OTR/L
Clinic Manager
Tara is a graduate of Xavier University’s OT program earning a BS in OT, has a Masters of Health Sciences from the University of Indianapolis, and is SI certified. She has been working at COTI since 2002. Tara is COTI’s clinics manager and provides support to therapists in our Blue Ash and satellite clinics. Tara works with clients from birth through adulthood. She has also been responsible for programming for summer groups at COTI and has worked in the schools as well. Tara is trained in Therapeutic Listening.
Linda Campbell, MS, OTR/L
Executive Director
Linda received her BS from Augustana College in Illinois and her MS in OT from Washington University in St Louis, MO. She has concentrated her practice on pediatrics and has worked in a variety of settings including school based programs, private clinic and home health. She is certified in Sensory Integration and trained in Therapeutic Listening. She was integral in the development of Camp OdakOTa. Linda joined the staff as a supervisor in 2008 and took on the role of Executive Director in 2018.
Kelsey Conner, LSW
Administrative Assistant
Kelsey joined COTI in 2021 as a full-time office administrative assistant. She is from Roanoke, IN and attended Ball State University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She has experience in the fields of geriatric social work, case management, and healthcare. She enjoys working in the front office where she can help children and families.
Julia Daanen, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Julia graduated from Xavier University with a Master’s in Occupational Therapy and a Bachelor’s in French and Francophone Studies as well as Liberal Arts with a concentration in Human Occupation. Julia worked with COTI as an intern at the end of her studies and continued on to become a full-time employee. Outside of COTI, Julia has experience in school and acute care environments. She has always enjoyed working with children and looks forward to growing her knowledge as a pediatric occupational therapist.
Carolyn Dehner, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Carolyn graduated with a BS in Occupational Therapy from Indiana University and has been a member of the staff of COTI since 1988. She has been working with infants and children for over 30 years. Carolyn is certified to administer the SIPT and trained in therapeutic listening. She works in our Blue Ash clinic.
Michael Dixon
Manager of Client Accounts
Michael is a graduate of Boston University and has been working in healthcare management for over 30 years. He joined the staff at COTI in 2008. Michael serves as Secretary and Treasurer of Cincinnati Occupational Therapy Foundation. He is committed to helping families negotiate the sometimes confusing health insurance issues.
Eletta Fleming, OTL
Occupational Therapist
Eletta Fleming graduated with a Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy from the University of Stellenbosch, Republic of South Africa, in Dec 1993. She moved to the USA in 1995 and worked at COTI between 2002 to 2015. Eletta is certified in sensory integration and as an autism spectrum disorder clinical specialist. Eletta has obtained the DIRFloortime Certificate of Proficiency. Eletta is also trained in using the therapeutic listening program. Eletta has a wealth of experience working with clients from birth through adulthood. She rejoined the COTI team in January 2020 to continue her work in the clinic setting.
Laura Green, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Laura graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s degree in 2009 in occupational therapy. Prior to joining COTI in 2022, she worked with individuals with serious mental illness and families with young children experiencing homelessness. Laura will be working in the Blue Ash clinic and Connections for Life.
Stephanie Hite
Administrative Assistant
Stephanie has enjoyed a diverse career in the legal profession as a Legal Assistant at several large law firms. She recently spent a year at the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Library serving customers in her neighborhood by providing excellent customer service and helping customers access all the library had to offer. Stephanie is also a Notary Public for the State of Ohio.
Beth Johnson, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Beth received her BA in Psychology from DePauw University in Indiana and her MOT from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She has been practicing OT in pediatric settings for 11 years. Beth completed intensive sensory processing training with the STAR Institute out of Denver, CO, and her ongoing practice and continuing education pursuits have been focused on the areas of sensory processing, autism, self-regulation, and self-management. Beth’s prior clinical practice has taken place in the outpatient setting, an early intervention classroom for children with autism, and in individual clients’ homes. She looks forward to engaging with students in the school setting as she joins COTI in the Fall of 2022.
Jackie Kirkpatrick, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Jackie received a BS in OT and a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education at Queen’s University in Canada and is SIPT certified. She has worked with adults and children in a variety of settings throughout her career. Jackie originally worked for COTI in 1997 for several years before moving out of state. She returned to Cincinnati and COTI in 2008 and now works part time in our Blue Ash clinic. Jackie has a 2012 article in OT Practice that addresses how to match sport to the needs of children with sensory processing disorder.
Elizabeth Mayer, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Liz received a BS in occupational therapy from Xavier University and has been working with COTI since graduating in 2004. Liz works for COTI in the pediatric clinic in Blue Ash. She has also been the lead therapist in a variety of COTI’s Summer Groups. Liz is trained in Therapeutic Listening and certified in Sensory Integration.
Anna Schabell, OTD, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Anna received her bachelor’s degree in health sciences from the University of Cincinnati and her doctorate in occupational therapy from Huntington University in Fort Wayne, IN. She completed her capstone for her doctorate degree on the occupational therapy practitioner’s role in promoting breastfeeding, where she gained valuable experience with mothers and infants and in treating feeding difficulties. Anna has always been passionate about working with the pediatric population as an occupational therapist and enjoys working for COTI in both the school and clinic settings.
Jeremy Schulz, COTA/L
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Jeremy joined the staff of COTI in 2006 after graduating from Wilbur Wright College – City College of Chicago from the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. Jeremy also has a BFA in Painting. He currently works full time for COTI in school-based practice and in the Blue Ash clinic. He has also helped to lead some of COTI’s summer groups and has worked as a group leader at Camp OdakOTa – COTIs camp for children with sensory processing concerns. Jeremy incorporates his artistic creativity into everything he does.
Amanda Sennish, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Amanda graduated from Xavier University where she earned her Master of Occupational Therapy degree and Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree with a concentration in Human Occupations and a minor in Psychology. She joined COTI in 2018 and is working in the Blue Ash clinic and the satellite at Cincinnati Country Day School.
Lisa Skowronski, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Lisa graduated from Florida International University with a BS in OT. She has been at COTI since 1991 working as a generalist in all areas of OT. She has provided services in schools, homes, adult day centers, group homes, and skilled nursing facilities. Lisa’s special interests are also widely varied; they include traumatic brain injury, developmental disabilities, cognitive deficits and home-based services.
Sarah Tuerpe, MSOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Sarah is a graduate from Eastern Kentucky University with a Master’s in Occupational Therapy, Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Science, and a minor in Psychology. Sarah completed research during her graduate program in the production of an updated sensory integration evaluation based on Ayres Sensory Integration. She has experience working in pediatrics and in skilled nursing facilities. She is passionate about the pediatric population and growing her knowledge of sensory integration. Sarah is looking forward to connecting with and supporting her clients.
Deborah Whitcomb, PhD, MBA, OTR/L
President
Deb has a BS in OT from Quinnipiac University, an advanced MS in OT as well as an MBA from Boston University, and a PhD in OT from Nova Southeastern University. Over the course of her 30 year career she has worked in a wide variety of settings both as a clinician and an administrator. She has been at COTI since moving to Cincinnati in 2001. She serves as the President of Cincinnati Occupational Therapy Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation and the Co-Chair of the Cincinnati district of the OOTA.
Cathy Witte, MEd, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Cathy is a graduate from Xavier University with a BLA and MEd. She has a post-baccalaureate in occupational therapy also from Xavier University. Cathy has been with COTI since 2005 working in pediatrics both in the clinic and schools. She trained in Therapeutic Listening and has studied Myofascial Release.