meet our team
Greater Jacksonville's premier private practice for pediatrics and adults
speech therapy
occupational + physical therapy
office staff
Meghan Alexander, M.Ed., CF-SLP
Amanda Bertsch, MS, CCC-SLP
Ashley Brannon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Cassie Capri, MA, CCC-SLP
Melissa Gillmer, MS, CCC-SLP
Kim Kennell, MS, CCC-SLP
Abigail “Abbie” Moore, MS, CCC-SLP
Nicole “Nikki” Riley, MS, CCC-SLP
Brianna Strickland Milliron, MS, CCC-SLP
M. Catherine Swanson, MS, CCC-SLP/CCC-A
Shelly Trautman, MA, CCC-SLP
Cathy Monk, MS, OTR/L
Jamie Toler, MOT, OTR/L
Jennifer Wiles, MOT, OTR/L
Kate Burnett, DPT, PT
Jessica Dyer, DPT, PT
Kelsey Lake, DPT, PT
Alison Ligmanowski, MPT, PT
Andrea Archer
Heather Jones
Katie Key
L. Edward Gillmer
Julie Versage
administrative team
Melissa Gillmer, MS, CCC-SLP, OM
Our Executive Director, Melissa Gillmer, is a dynamic personality with a passion for troubleshooting the needs of clients, their families and the professionals she mentors. As a self-professed #SpeechNerd who treats clients of all ages, her specialties include Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), Tethered Oral Tissues ("tongue ties"), Orofacial Myology, Behavior Management and Gender Affirming Voice Therapy. Melissa is a Jacksonville native who feels strongly about maintaining the personal touch with all of our client interactions, even as we continue to grow exponentially.
Kelsey Lake, DPT, PT, Clinic Director Orange Park
Kelsey was drawn to the PT profession after sustaining a high school competitive swimming injury. As the Clinic Director of our Orange Park location, she oversees daily clinical operations as well as spearheading any OT/PT initiatives. She has a direct but sensible approach to comprehensive client care, often identifying additional client needs such as referrals for external disciplines, and she is driven to identify the root cause for gross motor deficits. Through her work with torticollis, Kelsey became interested in tethered oral tissues (TOTs) and is now instrumental in early TOTs identification at our Orange Park location. Kelsey was selected for the 2023 American Physical Therapy Association-Pediatrics’ Carol Gildenberg Dichter Memorial Award for exceptional performance. In 2025, Kelsey was nominated for the Outstanding Alumnus Award at Widener University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and doctorate in physical therapy. Kelsey and her husband are avid boaters and heavy metal/rock music fans.
Nicole "Nikki" Riley, MS, CCC-SLP, Clinic Director, San Jose
Nikki believes that collaboration between parents and professionals is an integral part of facilitating a child’s best outcomes. Nikki has years of experience in speech-language pathology, including working at Nemours Children’s Clinic, being a clinic director, and being an early intervention provider with us. Nikki's expertise spans a wide variety of ages and exceptionalities, with a knack for hearing impairment and autism spectrum disorder. She relishes the challenge of serving medically complex clients and finds their progress to be especially rewarding. Talk Tools and Vital Stim are two preferred modalities in her professional toolbox. Nikki is an FSU grad and the stereotypical sports mom, bringing that energy to work as the clinic director for the Mandarin office. She is often found on the sidelines, cheering on a colleague or right in the thick of things, coaching a client and their family towards significant, life-altering change.
speech language pathologists
orange park
Amanda Bertsch, MS, CCC-SLP
Amanda’s bubbly personality creates a warm and welcoming space where families feel truly supported. She specializes in performing comprehensive evaluations and is often the first clinician you meet upon intake at our Orange Park office. A proud Florida State University (FSU) alumnus with a Master's in Communication Sciences and Disorders, she's currently pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology to provide even more research-based care. She delivers results empathetically with a focus on actionable plans for improvement. Amanda's professional passion lies in focusing on diagnosis, lifelong support where needed, and neurodiversity-affirming care. She's dedicated to celebrating diverse learning abilities and helping every child thrive! When she's not helping families, this lifelong Floridian is busy with her four children, all deeply involved in competitive cheerleading.
Ashley Brannon, MEd, CCC-SLP
Ashley is a seasoned Speech-Language Pathologist who specializes in the ever-evolving art of communication. Having earned degrees from both Florida State and Georgia State Universities, she has been navigating the world of speech, language, cognition, voice, and swallowing since 2006. Whether it's fine-tuning a toddler’s first words or helping a teen embrace Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), she steadfastly supports every individual's right to self-expression. When Ashley is not busy decoding language or helping kids navigate their communicative world, you’ll find her enjoying family adventures, usually at a theme park or somewhere new in the great big world outside of Florida. She is also known for belting out tunes, enjoying a good crochet project and being active in her local church.
Cassie Capri, MA, CCC-SLP
Having earned her Master’s in Communication Disorders from Hofstra University, Cassie has had the privilege of working in some amazing places. From the fast-paced streets of New York to the Peach State of Georgia for her clinical fellowship year, to the sunny beaches of San Diego, and now, she feels lucky to call Florida home. Cassie specializes in feeding therapy and mentoring graduate student clinicians to help shape the next generation of speech therapists. She especially loves working with preschool to school-age children and enjoys creating seasonal sensory bins paired with fun literacy tasks. At home, Cassie is a proud new mom to Jack and she will gladly share with you his most recent milestone achievement. When not working with kiddos, you’ll probably find her traveling, sipping on coffee or hunting down a good slice of NY pizza! She is excited to work with you and your child to make their speech and language journey as exciting, creative, and fun as possible!
Abigail "Abbie" Moore, MS, CCC-SLP
Originally from Denver, CO, Abbie completed her undergraduate studies at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. She then moved to Florida, earning her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Florida State University. Abbie is quite gifted at working with children with complex communication needs, especially those who are working to build their confidence with initial communication attempts. Her professional passions include AAC, feeding and autism.
Abbie is a former competitive gymnast with a wealth of experience guiding her “littles” to success as they achieve mastery of various foundational skills. This Florida transplant enjoys the warmer weather and spends her free time exploring the outdoors with her dog Sterling.
Brianna Strickland Milliron, MS, CCC-SLP
Brianna puts the ‘fun’ in functional communication! Having received her Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Jacksonville University, she enjoys helping children "find their voice" and communicate with confidence. She is a skilled clinician who is able to treat speech delays, language disorders, and feeding/swallowing deficits. Brianna is a welcoming presence, creating a positive environment where children feel encouraged and motivated to reach their full potential. Outside of work, Brianna enjoys spending time with her two dogs and traveling with her spouse. So far, their adventures have taken them to Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, North Carolina, Massachusetts (Boston, Nantucket, and Salem), and Pennsylvania. She also enjoys baking, collecting and caring for plants, and watching reality tv. Brianna says, “I look forward to helping you navigate your unique communication journeys, and helping your kids TACO ‘bout it.”
Shelly Trautman, MA, CCC-SLP, Orange Park
You cannot talk to Shelly for long without hearing of her latest adventures with llamas. She enjoys travel and music, often combining all of her interests into enviable vacations. Shelly first joined us part time in 2016 and since that time, she continues to support our mission by treating clients two afternoons a week. She loves to find unique toys and games to spice up her language therapy sessions!
san jose
Meghan Alexander, M.Ed., CF-SLP
Meghan is a fresh face in the field, as she earned her Master’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Valdosta State University in May 2024. She's not just another new graduate as she brings a unique blend of professional training and heartfelt personal experience to her work. What truly sets Meghan apart is her personal connection to neurodiversity. Growing up with a brother with autism, she has firsthand experience with the joys and challenges faced by neurodiverse children. This experience has ignited a deep passion for supporting individuals with communication challenges along their path to success. When Meghan isn't making a difference in the lives of her clients, you might find her spending time outdoors with her beloved dogs.
Kim Kennell, MS, CCC-SLP, San Jose
Kim Kennell is a dedicated clinician with a desire to help her clients reach their fullest potential. Her treatment passions are working to establish functional communication skills in minimally verbal clients, using AAC where needed, tethered oral tissues (TOTs) and general feeding disorders. Having participated in extensive continuing education, including the Level 3 Talk Tools clinician training, Kim excels with more challenging cases. She loves to find unique trinkets and edible treats that might motivate a client to attempt first words or try a new food. When Kim isn’t at the office, she is often pursuing her interests in music and having local adventures.
M. Catherine Swanson, MS, CCC-SLP/CCC-A, Orange Park
Catherine is the hero and mentor every clinician needs. She brings a wealth of experience across the lifespan, dually certified as both a Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist. Prior to retirement in the Fall of 2024, Catherine led the Speech Department at Nemours Children’s Clinic, having trained both Melissa and Nikki during their early years as clinicians. Highly sought after for the depth and breadth of her knowledge, Catherine was instrumental in Florida’s implementation of universal newborn hearing screening. These days, she lends her expertise to our clinic, primarily seeing our adult clients with diagnoses such as ALS, Bell’s palsy and Parkinson’s. When she isn’t planning her next costume, Catherine can usually be found relaxing poolside or frolicking on the beach.
occupational therapists
Cathy Monk, MS, OTR/L
San Jose
With college aged children, Cathy is free to follow her passion. We are fortunate that on a few days each week, she continues to be passionate about occupational therapy. Cathy enhances the breadth and depth of experience in the OT department at the Mandarin location.
Jamie Toler, MOT, OTR/L, Orange Park
Jamie has been an OT for over 20 years and has worked in a wide variety of settings, including hospital based, outpatient, schools, medically complex, and in-home/early intervention. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a masters of occupational therapy. Though she has primarily worked in pediatrics most of her career, she also has experience in orthopedics and with the adult
developmentally disabled population. Jamie has a true love for working with children of all ages and abilities, as well as working closely with caregivers. She fully believes in treating the whole child and also working closely with other disciplines in a team approach. Jamie has completed specialized training in multiple areas, including neurodevelopmental treatment, splinting, Floortime/DIR (Greenspan) method, sensory processing dysfunction, and autism spectrum disorder. Jamie is a Jacksonville native who has two amazing children and five crazy pets. Outside of work, Jamie enjoys nature and hiking,
crafting with her daughter and being active in church.
Jennifer Wiles, MOT, OTR/L, Orange Park
Jenn received her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Lenoir Rhyne University and prior to that, her Bachelor's of Science Degree in Kinesiology with a major in Exercise Science, both from Georgia Southern University. She welcomes clients of all ages; however, she really enjoys working with 3-7 year olds. Her favorite skills to address include: working on eye-hand coordination, handwriting, ADLs such as shoe tying and buttoning, and overall fine motor deficits.
Of note, Jenn has a certification in Interactive Metronome which makes use of interactive games in order to improve motor planning, eye-hand coordination skills, attention, and processing timing. She is also familiar with the Handwriting Without Tears program. In her free time, Jenn can be found on courts and courses, playing pickleball and golf!
physical therapists
Kate Burnett, DPT, Physical Therapist, Orange Park
Kate Burnett, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), is a passionate pediatric physical therapist dedicated to helping children achieve their optimal physical potential. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of North Florida, building upon her undergraduate studies in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Florida. With expertise working with children aged 3-12, Kate is eager to expand her knowledge base to serve even younger clients. She is deeply fascinated by the intricate pathways between the brain and body during development, and how these connections influence movement. Kate's therapeutic approach centers on finding creative and engaging methods to motivate her clients. Her goal is to facilitate the development of crucial connections, ultimately enhancing the client’s motor control, balance, strength, and endurance. She believes in making therapy enjoyable and thereby, effective for each child.
Outside of her professional life, Kate enjoys a variety of hobbies. She is an avid crafter, reader, and gardener. She also cherishes spending quality time with her family, friends, and their cats, all of whom are named after characters from the Harry Potter series.
Jessica Dyer, DPT, PT, San Jose
Jessica has been working as a pediatric PT for more than 15 years. She enjoys incorporating play and fun into PT goals, doing exercises alongside the kids to encourage them to try their best. When she is not at work, you can find her at various sporting events, participating in church activities, or lounging at the lake.
Alison Ligmanowski, MPT, PT
Alison is a physical therapist with a passion for pediatrics who brings nearly 20 years experience accrued in various settings such as acute care, early intervention and outpatient therapy. She enjoys working with a variety of clients and maintains several advanced certifications to assist with implementing the best outcomes for her clients. Her specialties lie in treating clients with torticollis (and/or plagiocephaly), Down Syndrome and those born prematurely. In treating clients with torticollis, she has become more aware of tethered oral tissues (TOTs) and is an important component of early identification of TOTs within our Mandarin clinic.
Having five children of her own, Alison is keenly aware that each child requires an individualized approach which balances work and fun in order to maximize their physical abilities. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys spending time with her spouse and their children, as they juggle their very active schedules!
office staff
Andrea Archer
Office Specialist
Andrea is a mom of 2 and proud “Lovie” to her grandson, Milo. She brings years of customer service experience to the front office where she prides herself on achieving satisfactory results: whether she is dealing with insurance companies or client schedules. Come Football season, she will be wearing orange and blue!
L. Edward Gillmer
Co-owner, Finance Director
Ed Gillmer is the Finance Director and general Mr. Fix It who ensures our facilities are operational. Since 2011, Ed has been involved in the daily operations of the business and his contributions have been instrumental to the success of North Florida Therapy. Having earned his Private Pilot License (PPL) at age 18, Ed is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Most days Ed can be found glancing toward the skies, plotting his next ascent.
Heather Jones
Office Specialist
More than just a friendly face, Heather has a talent for organizing data and a passion for helping others. You may hear her voice on the phone or have the pleasure of seeing her some mornings.
Julie Versage
Practice Administrator
This friendly face belongs to Julie, our Practice Administrator, overseeing daily office operations. Julie has been around since the inception of North Florida Therapy as her oldest and youngest children were treated for Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). Her middle child was also treated at our clinic for Auditory Processing Disorder. All 3 of her children are active in sports and excelling in academics, largely due to the efforts she and her husband put in following through on early interventions and therapeutic recommendations. Julie is the doting wife of a retired P-3 Flight Engineer and dog-mom to Luke, a gigantic German Shepherd who takes her for walks daily!
Katie Key
Office Specialist
Katie Key is a cheerful presence in our office. She has lots of energy, making her a great fit for some of our shenanigans! Katie has a special interest in exotic animals and will bring them into the office on occasion, which is a lovely experience for our clients.