Amanda Ruckh
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Amanda graduated from Erie Community College with an Associates Degree in Occupational Therapy. She has worked as a COTA (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant) in both home-based pediatrics and long term skilled nursing facility with the elderly. She transitioned to school based pediatrics in November of 2015. She gained a great deal of experience with the pediatric population working at a school for significantly delayed and medically frail children while still providing home-based therapy. Amanda is currently a pediatric therapist, working in multiple school districts as well as home-based therapy within Niagara County.
Brandy Alaimo
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Brandy has an Assosciates degree in Occupational Therapy and a Bachelors in Childhood and Middle Childhood Education. She has been in the field for over 10 years and with Bright Beginnings since 2013. Brandy has worked in a variety of settings with children of all ages and abilities. She encourages self-confidence and independence in the children she works with, achieving their goals, and still having fun while doing so.
Kristen Mayrose
Certified Registered Occupational Therapist-OTR/L
Kristen received her Bachelors degree from the University at Buffalo in 1989. She is a certified provider for The Listening Program (TLP) and has Sensory Integration International Certification for administration and interpretation of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test. Kristen has been working with the pediatric population since September of 1990 and has been with Bright Beginnings Therapy Services since the its inception. She is currently working with children birth to 5 years with a variety of diagnoses including: Sensory Processing Delay, Severe Pre-maturity; Autism; Feeding disorders; Microcephaly; Infantile Spasms and Developmental Delay.
Julia Brennan: Certified Occupational Therapist- OTR/L
Julia Brennen is a graduate of SUNY Buffalo State University where she received a Bachelors in
Psychology and minor in Art Therapy. She is also a graduate of the University of Buffalo’s MS/BS
Occupational Therapy Program. Julia began her career in school-based therapy with Associated
Physical and Occupational Therapy working with children from PreK-4th grade for 2 years. She
recently made the transition to Early Intervention working with children birth-3. Julia loves
working with children and being able to use her creative side to provide them the best services
possible. Julia lives in Lewiston with her boyfriend and Australian Shepard, Theo.
Jill Rogers
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant
Jill has worked for Bright Beginnings since 2012. She has over 30 years of experience. Jill obtained her associates degree from ECC. She is currently working with elementary children at Orleans Niagara BOCES and EI/CPSE children with Bright Beginnings.
Stacie McNett
Certified Registered Occupational Therapist: OTR/L
Stacie graduated from ECC in May 2008 with an Associates degree in OTA and COTA in October 2008. From 2008-2014 she has worked in a pediatric school setting and ECMC School 84. Stacie has also worked in the Buffalo and North Tonawada public schools. She graduated from D’Youville in May of 2019 with a Masters in Occupational Therapy. Stacie has 5 children of her own, 2 with special needs that keep her grounded. She believes that early intervention is the greatest service to help build foundational skills, encouraging families to build upon as children navigate their early years.
Renae Germana: Certified Registered Occupational Therapist- OTR/L
Kailey Few: Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant
Teala Buck: Certified Occupational Therapist-OTR/L
Joyelle (Joy) Richter
Special Instruction Teacher/Certified SpEd Teacher
Joyelle has a Bachelors of Science in psychology from SUNY Brockport and a Masters in Early Childhood and Special Education from TOURO College in Manhattan. Joyelle has been working in early education for over 15 years in New York City, Colorado and now back home in Erie and Niagara counties. She has experience as a classroom teacher, administrator, SEIT and early intervention therapist. She has two young children as well that gives her the ability to relate personally to each family.
Melissa DiGuiseppe: Special Instruction Teacher
Amy Kielaszek: Special Instruction Teacher
Carol Meyer: Special Instruction Teacher
Monica Smith: Special Instruction Teacher
Dawn Nepokroeff
Speech Language Pathologist
Dawn attended SUNY Buffalo, gaining a Bachelors degree in Psychology/Human Services and Early Childhood Development. She has her Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology. Dawn has been working in Early Intervention with children birth-3 years for the past 20+ years.
Susan Krawczyk- Speech Language Pathologist
Michelle Nitchse- Physical Therapist
Stephanie Singh
Physical Therapist
Stephanie received her MSPT degree from Washington University. Stephanie has experience providing PT services to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, brachial plexus injury, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, dyspraxia, general motor delay, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, neurofibromatosis, prematurity, spinal muscular atrophy, torticollis, as well as several rare genetic diseases. In addition, she has experience with aquatic therapy, NICU followup clinic, orthotics and kinesiotape evaluation/use, and playground design, as well as extensive training in early intervention/preschool special education both as a therapist and as a parent. Stephanie received her DPT degree from Washington University in 2014. She has been working for Bright Beginnings for the past 7 years.