Soaring Therapy and Learning Center began
Owners, Steve, and Julie combined their expertise and talents in pediatric therapy to dedicate a center that is needed in North Georgia. We opened our doors in 2020 and serve hundreds of patients in our two locations: Cleveland and Blairsville. Children’s healthy and happy futures are everyone’s passion here, and we invite you to explore what we can do to help your child be their best.
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Our vision is to invest in the children of our communities to inspire them to soar to unlimited heights of independence in all life experiences. We work with all children up to 21 years of age.
meet the team
Owners
Julie Barrett, Co-Owner and Clinical Director of Occupational Therapy
Julie has enjoyed treating children in home health settings and school systems for over 20 years. Julie is a graduate of Brenau University where she received her BS and MS in Occupational Therapy. She has practiced as an occupational therapist in various settings including pediatric home health care and aquatic therapy. Julie sees patients in the school system, in their home and in natural environments in Habersham, White, and Lumpkin Counties. Julie has extensive practice and continuing education in sensory integration theory and practice, aquatic therapy, oral motor and feeding therapy, including the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol, and Therapeutic Listening therapy. Julie is married with 2 sons and 2 daughters. She enjoys hiking, playing tennis, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Steve Dalin, Co-Owner and Clinical Director of Speech Language Pathology
Steve Dalin received his undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at University of Montana and MS in Communicative Disorders from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He is a Life Member of the American Speech and Hearing Association. His career began in Idaho working in speech and language pathology as director of various government and university human development centers. He relocated to Georgia as the Director of the Americorps grant program through the University of Georgia. Steve returned to his passion for direct services as a Speech and Language Pathologist for Habersham County Schools and retired in 2020 as Department Head of the Speech and Language department overseeing a dozen therapists. Steve pursued his dream of opening a pediatric rehabilitation center in Cleveland, Georgia – your very own Soaring Therapy and Learning Center!
Therapists
Occupational Therapy
Julie barrett, Co-owner and clinical director of occupational therapy
Anna Black, Occupational Therapist
Anna Black is from Cleveland, Georgia. She graduated from OT school at the University of Saint Augustine and enjoys being a pediatric occupational therapist. Anna believes that there is nothing better than helping children reach their goals. She loves coming to work each day and seeing all the smiling faces. She and her husband have a young child.
Amber Gilbert, Occupational Therapist
Amber Gilbert has been an Occupational Therapist for 20 years. She has worked in many settings including the school system, hippotherapy, aquatics, adult home health, and now our private pediatric clinic. Amber graduated with honors from Brenau University with her Master’s degree. She is married with two daughters. Amber enjoys sharing with parents the progress that their kids are making. In her free time she bakes and sews.
Lynsey Suggs, Occupational Therapist
Lynsey is an occupational therapist. She earned her Bachelor's of Science in phychology from the University of North Georgia in 2022 and her Master's of Science in Occupational therapy at Brenau University in 2024. She enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with freinds and family. She is getting married in May of 2025 and is very excited to continue gaining experience in pediatric therapy here at Soaring Therapy.
Emily Brackett, MS, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist
A native of White County, Emily Brackett received both her BS and MS degrees in Occupational Therapy from Brenau University. She is also the Occupational Therapist for White County School System. She has a certification in Feeding Therapy and is excited to continue learning and developing therapeutic techniques. Emily finds joy in helping her patients develop skills that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Brooke Wakenigg, Occupational Therapist
Brooke graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Health Science and a Master's in Occupational Therapy. She has been excited about working with kids since she completed her intership at a hippo-therapy clinic and expereince how much impact she could have on a child and their families lives with little assistance in the right direction. She enjoys hiking, water sports and animals. She has never met a dog she doesn’t like! Brooke is excited to start her OT career at Soaring Therapy and Learning Center.
Madison Stiles, Occupational Therapist
Madison Odom received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Brenau University. She loves helping kids and their families develop tools and strategies that support them to thrive in their daily lives. She also works on foundational skills that children can carry with them the rest of their lives. She is from Blairsville and loves her Golden Retriever, traveling, and spending time with her huband, family and friends.
Meredith Palmer, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Meredith Palmer graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from North Georgia College and State University and her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Brenau University. Meredith's favorite part about being an occupational therapist is watching a child light up when he or she successfully accomplishes a new task. She is a certified feeding specialist using The S.O.S (Sequential Oral Sensory) approach to feeding. Meredith has trained in Integrated Listening Systems (iLs), Blomberg Rhythmic Movements, Handwriting Without Tears, SOS Food Scientist Model, Visual Vestibular Assessment, and more. When Meredith isn't crawling around on the floor and building obstacle courses, she enjoys being with her husband and two young boys and their three Goldendoodles. Originally from Buford, Meredith and family reside in Cleveland.
Physical Therapy
Nickole McCollum, DPT, ATC. Physical Therapist
Nicki McCollum received her BS in Athletic Training and her doctorate degree in Physical therapy from North Georgia College. Nicki worked in pediatric therapy for 7 years in multiple settings including outpatient and school settings and then worked in home health with geriatrics more recently. Nicki is very excited to get back to work with pediatrics in clinic and home settings as well as offering hippotherapy. Nicki loves to combine her lifelong love and experience with horses with her love for pediatric therapy. Nicki is a lifelong resident of Blairsville where she lives with her husband, daughter, son, and many horses. Nicki loves to barrel race, watch sports, participate in church and just being active!
Cam Christopher, DPT, Physical Therapist
Cam Christopher loves the North Georgia mountains and this community where she and her husband and two children reside. She holds a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of North Georgia and is an APTA board-certified clinical specialist in pediatrics. Cam teaches part-time in the physical therapy program at UNG in addition to working with kids in the outpatient setting. She has been a pediatric physical therapist for 22 years and loves seeing children achieve their fullest potential. Cam enjoys hiking, camping, spending time outside with her family, reading, and playing in the river.
Kellie Collins, Physical Therapist
Kellie Collins returned to her town of Blairsville and is glad to be back home. She graduated from North Georgia College & State University with her BS degree in Physical Therapy. In her decade+ career she has been in pediatric therapy for most of the recent years. Kellie plays and works with kids of all ages and helps families reach their goals. She is trained to treat children with pelvic floor physical therapy needs. Kellie and her husband have two dogs. She loves to be outside, whether it’s running, fishing, hiking, playing pickleball, or reading.
Laura Fenton, Physical Therapist
Laura Fenton grew up in Camilla, Georgia and with her husband and their two boys; they are acclimating to the higher elevation in Cleveland. Laura has always loved working with children and taught dance and swimming lessons in college. She earned her doctorate from Armstrong State University. In her free time Laura participates in marathons. Laura offers in clinic visits as well as aquatic therapy.
Lori Pressley, PT, DPT, ATC, Physical Therapist
Lori Brown Pressley PT, DPT, ATC, received her Bachelor of Arts from Maryville College, Masters in Physical Therapy from the University of North Georgia and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Augusta University. She has been practicing physical therapy for 18 years and has been a Certified Athletic Trainer for 19 years. She loves spending time with her husband and daughters as well as visiting family in Tennessee. She is offering aquatics therapy as well as physical therapy in our clinic.
Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy
Ashley Morris, BCBA, Applied Behavior Analysis Therapist
Ashley Morris is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She earned her Bachelor's of Arts in Psychology from Valdosta State University in 2011 and her Master's of Science in Psychology with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from Capella University in 2022. Ashley's favorite part of being a behavior analyst is being able to make a positive change in the lives of the client's and their families. When Ashley isn't working, she enjoys hiking, baking and spending time with her husband and 3 children.
Reese Vandegriff, RBT, Applied Behavior Analysis Therapist
Reese Vandegriff is from white county and now is in school at the University of North Georgia. In college Reese is getting her bachelors of science in Kinesiology and aspires to later go onto Physical Therapy school. Reese previously played several sports including soccer, cross country and track. Reese is a certified registered behavior technician and is excited to work with the children and families of Soaring. She love to work with children and help them create a brighter future for themselves each and every day!
Savanna Lochner, RBT, Applied Behavior Analysis Therapist
Savanna Lochner is a Registered Behavior Analyst. I have always strived to be able to help anyone in anyway possible that God leads me to do. I have found my calling through being an RBT by being in sessions with kids and being there with their families to redirect behavior challenges. She plans to obtain a bachelors in Physchology degree to become a BCBA.
Alaina Fowler, RBT, Applied Behavior Analysis Therapist
Alaina Fowler is from Cleveland, Georgia. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of North Georgia and obtained her registered behavior technician certification. She has always aspired to work helping children. She loves to read, her pup Athena, and spending time with her family. She loves coming to work with all the wonderful children and families at Soaring to help them achieve their goals and develop skills that will stay with them.
Speech Therapy
Stephen Dalin, Co-Owner and Director of Speech Therapy
Haley Hatch, M.S. CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist
Haley Hatch provides patients with the skills and strategies they need to become confident communicators in a world where communication is crucial for survival. She works with children who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, hearing loss, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She also provides services for those who need Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices (AAC). She describes the wonderful feeling when a child says their first word, signs for the first time, or pronounces a word clearly. Haley has her MS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Georgia Southern University – Armstrong. She and her husband and fur baby live in Cornelia, her hometown. In her free time, she enjoys antique shopping, board games, movies, camping, and her friends and family.
Madisan Herslebs, MS CCC-SLP
We are so excited to have Madisan on our Soaring team! Madisan Herslebs is a Georgia native who has spent the past six years working as a travel speech-language pathologist in school systems around the United States. She’s returned to her home state excited for a new opportunity in a pediatric clinic setting. She attended Appalachian State University in Boone, NC and earned her Bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders and her Master’s of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. She has gained experience in the assessment and treatment for individuals up to 21 years of age. She enjoys cold weather and traveling to new places.
Johannah “Jo” Deitz, M. Ed., CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist
Jo graduated from the University of West Georigia where she earned her Bachelor's of Science and Master’s in Education for Communication Sciences and Disorders. She has been working as a school-based SLP for the past four years and now enjoys working after school for Soaring Therapy in their Blairsville office. Jo has experience working with school-aged children who have articulation disorders, expressive/receptive language delays, pragmatic language delays, fluency needs, etc. She enjoys helping children find their voice and becoming better and more confident communicators. Jo currently resides in Blairsville, Georgia with her family and she enjoys reading, spending time with her nieces, and going to theater productions with friends.
Nevaja Brown, M.S. CF-SLP
Nevaja is a Speech- Language Pathologist who works in our Cleveland office and well as in the community/school setting. She recently graduated from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill School of Medicine. At UNC, Nevaja completed multiple pediatric private practice internshps and helped research social communication following traumatic brain injury under Dr. Lindsey Byom’s Cognitive Communication Lab. She received her B.S. in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Georgia, where she was a part of Destination Dawgs, one of Georgia’s few inclusive postsecondary education programs. Nevaja’s favorite part about her field is that it has transformed the way she thinks about and approaches communication, and it challenges her to be creative and openminded. She loves traveling, all things pink, and still going to the theater to watch movies!
Lora Coxwell, M.Ed., B.S.Ed, Speech-Language Pathologist
Lora Coxwell, originally from Sylvester, Ga, is a speech-language pathologist with both a B.S.Ed. and M.Ed. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Valdosta. She works in school-based settings, providing support to students, and also serves part-time at Soaring Therapy and Learning Center in the afternoons. Lora is passionate about helping children reach their full communication potential, using the most effective strategies for each individual, whether through verbal communication, sign language/gestures, or low-tech/high-tech AAC. Outside of work, Lora enjoys crocheting, hiking, reading, and spending time with her pets (Buddy, Lily Belle, and Ellie Mae) as well as with her family.
Rebecca Assad, Speech-Language Pathologist
For over 20 years, I've dedicated my career as a speech-language pathologist to helping children with autism, airways issues, communication challenges, feeding difficulties, and complex medical needs. I was fortunate to receive advanced training at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I developed a deep expertise in supporting children with unique and complex needs.
What drives me most is seeing the joy that comes when a child makes progress-and when families feel empowered and supported along the way. I believe every child deserves the chance to just be a kid, and my passion is helping them and their families find hope, strength, and success on that journey.
Staff
Malinda Schindler, Cleveland Office Manager
Malinda Schindler moved to Georgia with her husband and three children after living in various states, and here in Sautee she feels at home. She spent 20 years in the dental industry as a dental hygienist and retired from that industry to accommodate family. Her love of people, especially children, and being a part of a team drew her to Soaring Therapy. She enjoys the outdoors, watching her children play sports, and traveling.
Ihara Lopez, Blairsville Office Receptionist
Ihara Lopez is the first to greet families and help them feel welcomed and loved. Originally from Puerto Rico, Ihara finds Georgia her home where she is raising her young son. She graduated from Truett-McConnell University with a BA in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. Her passion for working for an organization that is helping kids achieve different goals makes her happy. She loves to watch how therapy is changing their lives and inspiring smiles across all our faces. Ihara loves to travel, read, work out, and watch movies.
Stacey Owensby
Stacey Owensby is one of the first friendly faces to greet you at Soaring. She loves being part of the Soaring family and cherishes the opportunity to get to know each child and their family. Watching kids grow and seeing how therapy helps them achieve their goals is one of her greatest joys. Born and raised in Gainesville, Stacey now lives in Gillsville with her family. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, shopping, and spending time with loved ones.
Vanessa, office secretary
Vanessa is a north Georgia native and loves all that this area has to offer! She has extensive experience as a secretary starting straight out of highschool. She paused for several years to be a stay at home Mom and homeschool her daughter. Upon her daughter graduating she jumped right back into the working world without skipping a beat. She is known for organizing every space she is in, and enjoys decorating and designs as a hobby. She also enjoys spending time with her family, and dog.