Our staff…

Amy J. Martin, PT

Amy Martin has over 25 years experience working with children and families and loves her job! Amy has worked in a wide variety of settings as a PT and is grateful for the opportunity to help families navigate the challenges they are facing. She is a trained dancer and singer and loves to incorporate music and creative movement into therapy sessions to make the work more fun! She is the President and founder of Empower House.

Jennifer Clause, PT

Jennifer Clause, PT has been a physical therapist for more than 30 years. She is a skilled and intuitive PT and has extensive experience with many different kinds of patients in a variety of settings. She works with First Steps and also works with students in the Boone County School system since 1999. She finds it very rewarding to work with kids of all ages and in all developmental stages from birth through high school. She very much enjoys her work as a PT and the relationships that she builds with families.

Sherri Collier, PT

Sherri Lee Collier is an excellent Physical Therapist who has over 26 years of experience working with children in a wide variety of settings, including early intervention, school based therapy, and outpatient clinic/ hospital settings. She has a passion for working with young children and their families. Her experience and strong desire to stay on top of the latest evidence based literature makes her a great resource for families. She enjoys finding creative ways to help families meet and even exceed their goals.

Cathy Bookser-Feister, PT

Cathy Bookser-Feister has enjoyed being a family-centered physical therapist for 30+ years.  She values treating in a child’s natural play environment and working collaboratively with parents, teachers, and caregivers.  Cathy is a board certified clinical specialist in pediatric PT, and she also teaches pediatrics in the physical therapy program at UC.

Craig BeRtsch, PT

Craig has more than 25 years experience working as a PT.  He and his wife are residents of Campbell County and have 8 children.  Craig spends his time outside of work running kids around and coaching sports when he can.  Craig is thrilled to be working in Campbell County schools where he appears to already know everyone and is well-loved!

Shannon linville, PTA

Shannon Linville has worked as a Phyical Therapy Assistant for the past 15 years and loves working in pediatrics! She has experience in a variety of settings and currently provides PT in several school districts in Northern Kentucky as well as providing First Steps services in the home and community. Shannon is a skilled, intuitive and insightful therapist and connects easily with families of all kinds. She is patient and flexible whenever possible and a good communicator with the team.

Malloy Mattheis, SLP

Malloy Mattheis, SLP has been practicing with us for 8 years and specializes in helping kids with developmental communication needs and is also a primary level evaluator for First Steps. She was initially drawn to pediatrics at a very young age while watching her younger brother with Down Syndrome work with his therapists. She knew then that she wanted to work with children with disabilities, which prompted her to pursue her degree in Speech Therapy and early intervention. Malloy is a well-rounded and insightful therapist. She has a wonderful manner and rapport with children that helps put families at ease.

Rebecca frisch, SLP

Rebecca has over 20 years experience as an SLP, in the schools working with preschool and primary students. She has experienced the critical role individuals and families have in the therapeutic process, and strives to keep therapy client and family centered. She has experience with a wide variety of communication needs: Apraxia, articulation, phonological disorders, language delays, and language disorders, especially pertaining to vocabulary and grammar. She has trained in the science of reading and the role speech and language skills play in literacy. She has experience with AAC and therapy promoting core language and client-centered use of AAC. She is familiar with grade level standards and expectations and incorporate those into my therapy whenever appropriate. Rebecca has experience with neurodiversity, both professionally and personally. I support neuro-affirming practices in my therapy. She has a passion for this work and advocates for recognizing kids as individual human people. 

Jodi South SLP

Jodi South, SLP has over 20 years of experience as a Speech Language Pathologist and has provided services to a wide variety of students. She has been employed by Boone County Schools since 1995 working in the school setting and developing expertise in the area of augmentative communication and assistive technology. Jodi says the best part of working with children is seeing the progress they make and the positive impact this has on them and their family.

Amy tucker, Otr/L

Amy Tucker, OT has over 25 years experience working with children and families in a wide variety of settings, currently including outpatient and private clients as well as school-based services. Amy specializes in helping to manage sensory processing and fine motor challenges and loves that she gets to support families in such meaningful ways.

Jill Benge-lembright, Otr/L

Jill is a Northern Kentucky native and has over 28 years experience working with children and families. She provides school-based services in both Ohio and Kentucky and has expanded her practice to include outpatient and private clients as well. Jill has a wonderful rapport with kids and families and it is clear to see she loves what she does!

Valerie Miller, Otr/L

Valerie is a professor in the Occupational Therapy program at NKU and has extensive experience working in Northern Kentucky including school-based services, outpatient, and early intervention as well. Valerie is wonderful at seeing the opportunities for her clients and working with the team to get things accomplished.

Elizabeth Kerl, COtA

Beth Kerl has worked as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant for nearly 10 years and is a dedicated, skilled and intuitive provider who consistently goes the extra mile for her clients. She has experience in a variety of settings including early intervention, school-based services, and outpatient services, as well as home health and nursing home settings. She has been with us for many years and has found her niche specializing in pediatrics!

April FLorence, COtA

April loves working as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant in school settings. She is resourceful, collaborative, and insightful and we are so pleased to have her on board.

James Larson, practice consultant and billing specialist

James has over 30 years of experience managing medical practices.  He brings a “customer service” focus to all interactions with patients and their families.