Laura Goltz OTR/L is the owner of Timber 
Ridge Pediatric Therapy, LLC. She has been practicing OT for 25+ years and has experience with all stages of life including: preemies in the neonatal intensive care unit, in-patient and outpatient pediatrics, pregnant mothers on bedrest, and with adults in in-patient and outpatient rehabilitation. Her areas of training include NDT certification, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, Kinesio Taping, sensory integration, Torticollis and other baby treatment, vision therapy, and the cardio-pulmonary system. Laura also provides parent coaching and enjoys helping families achieve a happy home!
Maria Koumantos, MS OTR/L has experience working with children from birth to 18 years of age in various setting including outpatient, home, and school based services. She is an Early Intervention provider and certified in the Therapeutic Listening program. Her areas of special interest include sensory integration, visual motor coordination, core strengthening, and vision therapy. She loves collaborating with families, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals as an integral part of a child’s success.
Rachel Morris OTR/L is our school manager. Rachel grew up working with children who had autism, hearing impairment, and other developmental disorders. She has experience working with kids who have autistic spectrum disorders, sensory integration dysfunction, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, genetic disorders, traumatic brain injuries, brachial plexus injuries, burns, cancer, and premature infants. She is trained in Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) administration, Therapeutic Listening™, and Interactive Metronome™.
Ronna DeKoven, OTR/L, C/NDT is an OT manager and a treating therapist. She has extensive experience working both in the public-school and in outpatient therapy settings. Ronna has participated in ongoing continuing education opportunities in the areas of sensory integration, autism, vision, motor developmental and motor control, regulation, feeding challenges, and play. She has completed professional training resulting in Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) and Sensory Integration Certifications. These specialized skills support her evaluation and treatment of the underlying challenges which impact a child’s successful participation in everyday life. Ronna strives in her therapy sessions to incorporate play, enjoyment, and motivation to engage a child in the treatment process and to promote active parent participation.
Madonna Nash, OTR/L, C/NDT, is a published teacher, clinical instructor, and world-renowned occupational therapist. She is a leader in the areas of neurodevelopmental treatment and clinical management of neuro-motor, musculoskeletal, and sensory processing throughout the lifespan. Madonna is devoted to assessment and treatment, consultation and
teaching throughout the world. Impacting and enhancing the life of families, therapists and children is her reward!
Rayli Kanter, MS, CCC-SLP received her Master’s degree in Speech and Language from Lehman College and her Bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language and Audiology from Stern College in New York. Rayli enjoys working with the pediatric population in order to promote growth in play, language, and social skills. She has experience working with children from early intervention through high school in clinics, schools, and in home settings. Her areas of interest include working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Receptive and Expressive language disorders, and social-pragmatic communication. She has training in the PROMPT method. Rayli will be providing speech therapy services in schools and in our Deerfield clinic. In her free time, Rayli enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with her family.
Randi Gideon OTR/L, NTMTC, Ergonomist Certified, comes to Timber Ridge with a vast array of skills and experiences. Having worked in multiple settings including Inpatient Adult Care, Neonatal Intensive Care, Outpatient Developmental Clinics, she brings broad perspective and appreciation for how early experiences through infancy and childhood can impact and change through varied stages of life and how very different and beautiful people can be. In all settings, communication and collaboration with family, caregivers and other loved ones proves time and again to be of vital importance and Randi values that relationship as well as the relationship with the individual with which she directly works. She is mother to two young adults and an adorable, neurotic Labradoodle. 🙂
Emily Rodheim, MS, OTR/L received her masters degree in Occupational Therapy at Elmhurst University and undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin – Madison in Rehabilitation Psychology. She has multiple years experience working with children from birth to 18 years old with various diagnoses in both a hospital/NICU setting & home setting. She is also Early Intervention certified. Emily loves working with children and families to help guide, support, and celebrate a child’s developmental growth. Outside of work, Emily loves baking/cooking new recipes and exploring Chicago with friends and family.
Allison Fair, MOT, OTR/L received her Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and her Master of Occupational Therapy from North Central College. Allison’s experience includes, but isn’t limited to, working with children with fetal alcohol syndrome, autism, and oppositional defiant disorder. Allison values connecting with children and their parents in order to form trusting, therapeutic relationships. She is interested in finding unique ways to incorporate exercise and movement into occupational therapy sessions to create a productive and fun environment! In Allison’s free time, she loves spending time with her dog, dancing, and going to Cubs games.
Deborah Margulis, MS OTR/L has experience working with children from birth to 18 years of age in various setting including outpatient, home, and inpatient services. She is an Early Intervention provider and evaluator, and has experience in NICU and being part of a medical diagnostic team. She is trained in Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) administration, Safe and Sound listening program, Kinesiotaping, and Interactive Metronome TM. Her areas of special interest include sensory integration, DIR floortime, Torticollis and other baby treatment, visual motor coordination, core strengthening, parent coaching, toileting and feeding therapy. She loves collaborating with families, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals as an integral part of a child’s success.
Thalia Lechuga, MS, OTR/L graduated from North Central College with a Master of Occupational Therapy and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Thalia has worked with both neurotypical and neurodiverse children many settings including, in the public school system, after school programs, and summer programs. Her areas of interest include working with children who have developmental delays, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, down syndrome, and sensory processing difficulties.Thalia believes in the value of evidence-based care and aspires to promote diversity, justice, equity, advocacy, inclusion, and autonomy for all individuals, all while encouraging positive client and family collaboration in the treatment process. Thalia is fluent in Spanish and enjoys spending time with her family outside of work.
Katrina Gorospe OTD, OTR/L graduated from Midwestern University with her doctorate in Occupational Therapy, and her Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences, with a Minor in Disability and Human Development, from the University of Illinois Chicago. She has a passion for working with diverse populations, and supporting individuals as they participate in meaningful activities through client-centered care. Her clinical experience includes working with populations from early childhood to late adulthood. During her free time, she enjoys cooking, watching movies, traveling, and spending time with her loved ones and dog.
Rebecca Cohen, DPT, PT has been a practicing physical therapist for 10 years, 9 of which are in pediatrics. She has extensive training in torticollis, kinesiology taping, and developmental delays from newborns to young adults. She sees families and caregivers as part of the therapy team and view them as an essential part of the treatment process. When not at work, you can find her spending time with my three children and her husband, as well as watching sports, go Bears!
Emily Garcia, OTD, OTR/L has extensive experience providing therapeutic services in diverse pediatric settings, including outpatient and hippotherapy. Passionate about helping children reach their full potential and with a foundation in sensory integration and play-based therapy, Emily collaborates closely with families to create holistic approaches that promote growth and independence. She believes in the transformative power of play as a vital tool for learning and development, ensuring that her therapy sessions are both engaging and enjoyable. In her free time, Emily loves to travel, explore the outdoors, and spend quality moments with family and friends.
Anna Rench, OTR/L has always had a strong passion for working with children and helping them thrive in their everyday activities. Her areas of interest include working with children who have autism, ADHD, sensory processing difficulties, motor delays, and feeding challenges. During her free time, Anna enjoy cooking, reading, being with her family, and being active.
Lauren Ackerman, MS CCC-SLP prides herself on her creativity, patience, and compassion when working with children. She is a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) and maintains a Certificate of Clinical Competence. Lauren received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Northwestern University. Lauren’s has 11 years of experience evaluating and treating various populations, with a special interest in phonology/articulation, expressive language disorders, and all things literacy (i.e., encoding/decoding, reading comprehension, metalinguistics, written expression, etc.)
Lauren is passionate about treating the child as a whole by individualizing treatment plans, acknowledging a child’s interests and strengths, building confidence, and making treatment engaging and fun! She also believes in taking a collaborative approach to treatment and loves working together with caregivers and other professionals to best support and facilitate progress. In Lauren’s free time, she loves doing activities with her husband and two young kids, visiting family and friends in Michigan, and devouring a good book.
Julie Burke, OTR/L is a seasoned occupational therapist with 20 years of practice in various settings, but her true passion lies in working with children and their families. She uses sensory integration techniques and motor skill development to enhance regulation skills, fine motor, visual motor, and self help skills for both school and home environments. She particularly relies on her training in the DIR/Floortime approach and the SOS feeding method. She is dedicated to involving families in the treatment process to set goals and teach them how to support and practice new skills to ensure new skills are applied across all areas of the child’s life. She is a mother to a 12 year old boy and enjoys travel, reading, and exploring Chicago as a new resident here from Denver.
Devorah Frank, OTR/L received her Master of Occupational Therapy from North Central College. Devorah has experience working with both neurotypical and neurodiverse children with various needs. She is passionate about creating a fun and playful environment in order to support children to reach their full potential. In Devorah’s free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family and friends.
Eliza De Armas OTR/L has been a therapist for five years and loves helping children build confidence and independence through play-based, meaningful therapy. She has experience supporting children with developmental, sensory, and motor challenges across outpatient, school, and community settings, and enjoys partnering closely with families to support success at home and beyond. In her free time, she likes to rock climb, hike, run, host dinner parties, and travel to new places.
Darlene Mazilu, our HR & billing coordinator has over fifteen years of experience in the medical field as a biller, medical assistant, and office manager. She took some time away from the medical field and spent it caring for children in a daycare facility. Darlene is a mother of three who enjoys yoga, trying new cuisines and family movie nights.
Jenny Landsman, our intake and scheduling coordinator has over 23 years experience in the non-profit world dealing with project and program management to help enhance the community. Jenny is the proud mother of five wonderful children.