LEADERSHIP TEAM
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Susan Wiles, OTR/L
Executive Director, Owner
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Kara Pate, MSOT, OTR/L
Clinical Director, Partner
Lead OT, Cumming
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Maggie Tomelevage, MHS, OTR/L
Lead Occupational Therapist, Dawsonville
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Lynette Heyward, MS, OTR/L
Supervisor of School Based Therapy
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
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Christie Hines
Billing Manager
Angela Rogers
Office Manager
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
Susan Wiles, OTR/L
Executive Director
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Susan graduated from The Ohio State University, College of Medicine in 1994 with a degree in occupational therapy and a specialty in pediatrics. Susan moved to Georgia in 1995 after marrying her high school sweetheart and founded Wiles Therapy for Kids in 1999. She is National Board Certified in Occupational Therapy and has attended many pediatric training and continuing education courses including Handwriting Without Tears, sensory integration, sensory feeding, visual processing, dyslexia, executive functioning, astronaut training, and many more. Susan has a special interest in visual skills, executive functioning, and dyslexia. Susan loves to help children reach their highest potential and gain independence. She lives in Cumming with her husband of 29 years and 3 dogs. They have raised two children, Sammi and Blake. Sammi is an operation manager for Amazon, and is married to Harley, and Blake is a CPA and is married to Emily. All live in metro Atlanta. In her free time Susan enjoys spending time with her husband, kids, and her parents. She enjoys game nights, riding her bike, crafts, concerts, and tending to her indoor succulents and flowers.
Kara Pate, MSOT, OTR/L
Clinical Director, Partner
Lead OT, Cumming
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Kara is proud to have been with Wiles Therapy for Kids since 2017. She received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Utah and her Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy from Brenau University.
Kara has been trained in the Masgutova Method (MNRI) Primitive Reflexes as well as Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Feeding Program and Astronaut Training. She is passionate about sensory integration, feeding, and reflex integration. In her free time, Kara enjoys spending time with friends and family, working out, shopping, and reading.
Maggie Tomelevage, MHS, OTR/L
Lead Occupational Therapist, Dawsonville
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Maggie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Young Harris College and her Master of Health Science in Occupational Therapy at Augusta University. Maggie lives in Dawsonville with her husband. She enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and cheering for the Atlanta Braves. Maggie is excited to help open the Dawsonville location and be the Lead OT in Dawsonville.
Lynette Heyward, MS, OTR/L
Supervisor of School Based Therapy
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Lynette Heyward, MS, OTR/L, Supervisor for School Based Services, earned Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA and her Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Medicine with a Specialization in Emotional and Behavioral Disorders from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. She has held a National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy since 1992. She is licensed in Georgia, Iowa, Illinois and Washington State. Lynette has over 30 years of experience in school and clinical setting, having lived and practiced in Iowa, Illinois, Washington and now Georgia. She lives in Cumming, GA with her husband and enjoys sewing, crafts and traveling.
Kelita Weiss, MSOT, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Kelita received her Master's of Occupational Therapy from Augusta University. Kelita specializes in pediatric therapy and has experience with kids with autism, ADHD,
down syndrome, cerebral palsy, picky eating, emotional regulation, and other developmental delays. She has additional training in the SOS feeding program and Handwriting Without Tears. Kelita lives in Cumming with her husband and enjoys outdoor activities, cooking, photography, and zumba.
Cassi Edwards, MSOT, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Cassi earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and minor in Religious Studies from Young Harris College and earned her Master's degree of Occupational Therapy at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY. Cassi lives in Cumming, GA. She has experience working with the following populations: Autism, sensory processing disorders, ADD/ADHD, various mental health disorders, and general developmental delays. She enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, shopping, crafting, and hanging out with family, friends, and her two pugs Oliver and Winston. Cassi is excited to be a part of the Wiles Therapy for Kids team and to help kids and their families achieve their goals.
Gina Versace- Vreeland, COTA
Pediatric Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant
Gina received her OTA degree in 2012 and is a member of the NBCOT. Gina has clinical experience in the school setting in addition to the clinic setting working with the pediatric population. Gina is passionate about setting children up for success and enjoys seeing their progress and growth. She has 4 kids and lives in Cumming with her husband. Gina enjoys working out, reading, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Genna Cooper, MHS, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Genna earned her Bachelors of Science degree in child and family development from Georgia Southern University and her master's degree in occupational therapy from Augusta University. She is passionate about working on executive functioning skills, sensory integration, and ADL independence. Genna enjoys reading, shopping, and spending time with her dog, Roo.
Taylor Lancaster, MSOT, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Taylor earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences from the University of Georgia and her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Brenau University. She is passionate about working on sensory integration, fine motor skills, and promoting independence in daily activities. Taylor lives in Alpharetta with her fiancé and dog, Malibu. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, shopping, and spending time with family!
Raegan Waters, MSOT, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Raegan earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Georgia Southern University and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at Brenau University. She resides in Alpharetta and has a passion for helping individuals enhance their fine motor skills and achieve greater independence in daily tasks. In her free time, Raegan enjoys exercising, shopping, and spending time with her two dogs, Harper and Baker.
Emily Holcomb, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Emily graduated with her bachelors degree in Community Health at Florida Gulf Coast University in 2018 and her masters degree in Occupational Therapy at Florida Gulf Coast University in 2020. Emily was born and raised in Florida and moved to Georgia in the summer of 2022. She has a passion for helping kids participate in meaningful activities and is interested in emotional regulation, fine motor skills, and sensory integration. Emily currently resides with her husband in Cumming and enjoys reading, spending time with family, and watching movies.
PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
Dr. Kelly Warner, PT, DPT
Pediatric Physical Therapist
Kelly graduated from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. She went to Georgia State University to earn her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Kelly currently lives in Alpharetta with her fiancé. Kelly has experience with many diagnosis, some of which include autism, orthopedic injuries, tortillas, genetic conditions, developmental delay, and gross motor delays. In her free time Kelly likes to work out, travel, and spend time with family and friends.
Dr. Kelly Batzel, PT, DPT
Pediatric Physical Therapist
Kelly Atwood studied at UNG where she obtained her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and completed her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She works primarily at the Cumming location and works one day at the Dawsonville location. Kelly has experience working with children with many diagnoses including autism, orthopedic injuries, torticollis, genetic conditions, developmental delays, and gross motor delays. She currently lives in Sandy Springs and loves coffee, taking walks, and shopping.
Joan Alia, PT
Pediatric Physical Therapist
Lead PT
Joan Alia, M.S., PT, is our clinic’s lead PT and our Education Coordinator. Joan was a NCAA gymnast when completing her undergraduate degree at SUNY (The State University of New York) Brockport, and was often found jumping around the bleachers as the school mascot. Joan received her Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY in 1994.
Joan’s experience of over 20 years as a pediatric physical therapist includes: Acute care pediatric hospital in Queens, NY; school and clinic based PT at Nassau BOCES (NY) and Gwinnett County Public Schools, Early Intervention and Outpatient Clinic therapy at Mind and Motion and served as a Pediatric Concussion Program Coordinator.
Joan has a true passion and love for working with children.
OFFICE STAFF
Christie Hines
Billing Manager
Christie received her Bachelors Degree from the University of Alabama and has been with Wiles Therapy for Kids for over 17 years. She lives in Cumming, GA with her husband. They have raised two children who are now in college.
Angela Rogers
Office Manager
Angela received her Bachelor's degree from Kent State University in 1994. She moved to Georgia in 1997 and lives with her husband and son, better known as "Super Cooper" who is also a part of the Wiles Therapy family. Most recently, Angela was a Pre-School Music teacher for the last 6 years before joining Wiles Therapy for Kids. Being a mother of a child with Autism, allows her to relate to many of the parents here. Angela currently lives in Chestnut Mountain, Ga with her husband, son, and their Shishon puppy, Lola. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, traveling (especially to their beach rentals in Hilton Head and Myrtle beach), and her son's new-found adventures of getting to every Nascar track.
Jim Wiles
Operations Manager
Jim graduated from The Ohio State University in 1994 with a B.S. in Education. While teaching he obtained his master's degree in Instructional Technology from Lesley University. He spent 14 years in the classroom and 15 years as an I.T.S. / E.T.C. Now semi-retired he enjoys working with his wife Susan and helping out with many of the day-to-day items to help things run smoothly. In his free time, he enjoys bowling, playing pickleball, bike riding, trivia, and hanging out with friends and family.
Emily Wiles
Clinical Manager
Emily received her Bachelor’s Degree from Kennesaw State University in 2021. Before joining Wiles Therapy she was a paralegal for a mid-size law firm in Atlanta. Emily currently lives in Cumming with her husband Blake and dog Skylar. In her free time she enjoys playing pickle ball, crocheting, and spending time with family.