NOTA BoardVoting Executive Board Positions President- Lindsay Tuxhorn, OTD, OTR/L Non-Voting Officers: Past President- Janel Meis, OTD, OTR/L, BCP
 President - Lindsay Tuxhorn, OTD, OTR/LContact: [email protected] Where I work as an Occupational Therapist: I work at Syracuse Area Health. I see inpatients and outpatients at our critical access hospital as well as serve the students at the Syracuse School. My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: One of the things I really love about the OT profession is knowing I can make a fundamental difference in someone's life by helpingthem achieve their goals through meaningful occupations. It is truly amazing to see the joy on a patient or student's face when they are accomplish a task that may not have been possible before occupational therapy was involved. As occupational therapists, we each have a gift that we are able to use daily in our work. One random personal fact about me is: A random fact about myself is that St. Patrick's Day is my favorite non-major holiday.
Where I work as an Occupational Therapist: College of Saint Mary
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: I am a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT). I love helping people of all ages live their fullest lives after an UE injury or condition. My favorite leisure occupation is: Reading, socializing, time with family, going to movies, being outside The occupation I value most from the OT Practice Framework is: Recreation - because of the importance on mental and physical health. One random personal fact about me is: I love animals - we have 2 dogs, 3 cats, have had 2 foster dogs, 2 pet rats, and I work at HETRA part-time. Contact: [email protected]
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: My current specialty is Orthopedics. Prior to that I was servicing the inpatient cardiology population. I love the flexibility, range of services and creativity of the OT profession.
My favorite leisure occupation is: traveling & resting
One random personal fact about me is: I have 7 siblings
 Vice President of Hands & Orthopedics - Lauren Erickson, OTR/LContact: [email protected] Where I work as an Occupational Therapist: Phelps Memorial Therapy Center in Holdrege, NE
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: Certified Lymphedema Therapist, Women's Health, Orthopedics, Vesibular & Neuro Rehab (Rural Health Care- you do it all!) My favorite leisure occupation is: Cooking & baking, spending time with my two kids The occupation I value most from the OT Practice Framework is: One random personal fact about me is: I have been skydiving over 10 times, including 2 free fall!
 Vice President of Mental Health & Wellness - Kylie Widhelm, OTD, OTR/LContact: [email protected] Where I work as an Occupational Therapist: Creighton University and volunteer at a pro bono clinic at the Stephen Center, a homeless shelter and inpatient addiction recovery program in Omaha.
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: the joy in addressing every and any area of life for an individual and the passion of finding something meaningful for every individual. My favorite leisure occupation is: spending time camping and boating with my husband and three young girls The occupation I value most from the OT Practice Framework is: physical activity One random personal fact about me is: I have water skied 23 miles in the Lake of the Ozarks
 Vice President of Neurorehabilitation - Rebecca Kinnison, OTD, OTR/LContact: [email protected] Where I work as an Occupational Therapist: Creighton University
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: I love all things neuro focused! I was previously a spinal cord injury therapist for 10 years. My favorite leisure occupation is: Anything outdoors including hiking, jogging and watching my kids' events! The occupation I value most from the OT Practice Framework is: Shopping? In all seriousness, Health Management because as OTs we tend to take care of others and we all need to take better care of ourselves One random personal fact about me is: I have been known to eat ½ of a Costco sized watermelon in one sitting!
Where I work as an Occupational Therapist: Key Complete Therapies
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: I love working with pediatrics, primarily with vision and/or community integration! My favorite leisure occupation is: Going to the gym or spending time with my dog The occupation I value the most from the OT Practice Framework is: Play, for both patients and myself! It’s so important to make sure that we continue to play as adults, as well as teaching/allowing children to play! One random personal fact about me is: I am currently enrolled at University of Alabama - Birmingham for my Post Professional Doctorate, as well as the Graduate Program for Low Vision.
Contact: [email protected]
Where I work as an Occupational Therapist: Pediatric Therapy Center
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: My clinical expertise lies in infant and toddler feeding and swallowing dysfunction, as well as orofacial myofunctional therapy. What I love about the OT profession is it’s diversity in specialty areas and that I learn something new nearly every day, from patients, from OTs and other colleagues. My favorite leisure occupation is: Being active outside in all four seasons and reading. The occupation I value the most from the OT Practice Framework is: Play is the primary occupation I focus on, with rest and sleep being a close second. One random personal fact about me is: I won a Euchre tournament in college. (not many people in Nebraska know what Euchre is).
Vice President of Rural Health & Community Services - Justin Young, OTD, OTR/L
Contact: [email protected] Where I work as an Occupational Therapist:
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: My favorite leisure occupation is: The occupation I value the most from the OT Practice Framework is: One random personal fact about me is:
Vice President of School Based Practices - Amy Schnacker, OTR/L, TBRI Practitioner
Contact: [email protected] Where I work as an Occupational Therapist: Founder of Connecting Kidz Pediatric Therapy
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: As an OT, I love having the opportunities to make moments matter. I specialize in using a trauma informed lens to empower, connect and strengthen families struggling with difficult behaviors and unexplained emotions through my mobile cash based practice. I have worked in the school setting for the past 23 years and the last 4 have been virtually. My favorite leisure occupation is: My favorite leisure activity is reading and spending time with my family. The occupational I value the most from the OT Practice Framework is: Play is my most favored occupation One random personal fact about me is: I outshoot my husband every deer season.
 Contact: [email protected]
Where I work as an Occupational Therapist: College of St. Mary, assistant professor in the OTD
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: When I was 15 years old, I had Guillain-Barrer Syndrome, where I had a lot of different therapies. Although all of them were so valuable, I connected instantly to my OT. When I understood what occupational therapists did, I was sold. healing through occupation was about the best thing that ever happened to me, and I never looked back. Here I am 27 years later, and I still find the same awe and respect in what occupational therapists do everyday; we do it all! My favorite leisure occupation is: biking, reading, hiking, and raising my beautiful 6 kids in our blended family The occupation I value most from the OT Practice Framework is: social and emotional health promotion and maintenance. Making choices to strive for quality of life! One random personal fact about me is: I was born in Mano River, Liberia, West Africa
 Secretary - Erin Westover, OTD, OTR/LContact: [email protected]
Where I work as an Occupational Therapist: College of Saint Mary
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: My love has always involved working with children and youth--that is what drew me to OT and I haven't deviated from that passion since! I've primarily worked in school-based settings, but also in outpatient pediatrics and home health. What I love about OT, especially when working with kiddos and their families is seeing the joy, confidence, and pride that comes from accomplishing a milestone related to occupational performance. Being a small part of making that happen is humbling and so rewarding. I work in academia now, but I still get to share my love of the littles through teaching our pediatric courses at CSM! My favorite leisure occupation is: Traveling or doing anything outside The occupational I value the most from the OT Practice Framework is: Leisure One random personal fact about me is: I have a 12-year-old black lab mix named Riley who I adopted during OT school. Her name was inspired by Mary Reilly, who spoke one of my favorite OT quotes in her 1961 Slagle lecture: "Man through the use of his hands, as they are energized by mind and will, can influence the state of his own health."
 Where I work as an Occupational Therapist: Creighton University
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: Physical Rehabilitation, Orthopedics, Neuro, NICU My favorite leisure occupation is: Dancing The occupation I value most from the OT Practice Framework is: Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) One random personal fact about me is: I used to be a ballerina and have danced six different roles in The Nutcracker ballet. Non-Voting NOTA Officers  Past President - Janel Meis, OTD, OTR/L, BCPWhere I work as an Occupational Therapist: Raytown Quality Schools My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: I love pediatrics with a focus on working with individuals with Sensory Processing Disorder and incorporating aquatic therapy treatment intervention. I just transitioned from outpatient to school-based practice so I am learning a lot! My favorite leisure occupation is: Tennis or Bike Riding The occupation I value most from the OT Practice Framework is: Education One random personal fact about me is: I have drank glacier water off of an actual glacier (performing the necessary glacier push-up as well)!
 Administrative Assistant - Kristin GzehoviakContact: [email protected] Kristin Gzehoviak has been the Administrative Assistant for NOTA since 2011. She and her husband Aaron reside in Omaha with their two children, Henry (12) & Greta (8), and their boxers, Bella & Hopper. Kristin is a full time office administrator and bookkeeper at Rejoice! Lutheran Church.
 Lobbyist - Julie EricksonJulie is managing partner of ACG, Inc., amassing 30 years of experience in legislative and administrative lobbying, organizational planning, fundraising and governmental communications. American Communications Group, Inc. was founded in 1985 by Rich Lombardi and Julie Erickson. Today, more than thirty years later, their team supports the efforts of local, state and national organizations to craft public policy. Utilizing skills in law, economics, media communications, their team provides clients with strategic plans for influencing public policy through coalition building, government relations and campaign consulting. To read more about American Communications Group, Inc. and Julie, check out their website.
Where I work as an Occupational Therapist: Assistant Professor at Creighton University
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: I value OT’s holistic and collaborative approach to individuals’ health and wellness using occupation and compassion to facilitate achieving their best selves. My favorite leisure occupation is: Volunteering
The occupation I value most from the OT Practice Framework is: Health Management One random personal fact about me is: I attended clown school and did some semi-professional “clowning” in highschool.
Contact: [email protected]
Where I work as an Occupational Therapist:
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: My favorite leisure occupation is: The occupation I value most from the OT Practice Framework is: One random personal fact about me is: Conference Chair 2 (Appointed) - Contact: [email protected] Where I work as an Occupational Therapist:
My OT specialty or what I love about the OT profession is: My favorite leisure occupation is: The occupation I value most from the OT Practice Framework is: One random personal fact about me is: |
