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OUR TEAM- SHEBOYGAN

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Our Providers

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Nichole Elmendorf, OTR
Occupational Therapist/Owner

 

I love helping others learn and grow. As a result of my efforts,  I have been able to help many individuals turn the stumbling blocks of their lives into stepping stones. I started Progressive Beginnings in 1999 with my husband John. When I am not working, I enjoy traveling, shopping, yoga, and watching my 3 children participate in their various sporting events. 

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Jessica Oakland, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist/Operational Partner
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I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in 2010 and then my Doctorate of Physical Therapy in May 2014 both from the University of Wisconsin- Madison. I started with Progressive Beginnings in June 2014 and became an Operational Partner in November 2014. I have a passion to work with pediatric patients and a large interest in the neuroscience of pain to educate and engage my patients. I create our newsletters, social media posts, and community outreach as the Director of Marketing. My husband and I live in Manitowoc with our daughter, son, and dog. We love to travel, hike, camp, and spend time with our family and friends. 

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Katie Cicchese, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
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Ever since my first anatomy course in high school I have had a desire to work in healthcare and after job shadowing I knew becoming a physical therapist was the right career path for me. I graduated from Viterbo University in 2017 with a Bachelor’s of Science of Biology and a minor in Psychology, and I also played on the women’s soccer team. I further pursued my education at Concordia University where I graduated in May of 2020 with my Doctorate of Physical Therapy. I initially started my career working in a hospital as an inpatient acute physical therapist, but I am excited to be making the transition to the outpatient setting. I love getting to work with patients of all ages and really enjoy the opportunity to work alongside them as they strive to reach their goals. In my free time I love spending time with family, playing sports, reading and working out.

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Matt Olig, MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
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Hello, I'm Matt! I attended Concordia University Wisconsin where I played on the men's baseball team and graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences. I continued with further education at Concordia University Wisconsin and graduated with my Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2020. I began my career working as a mental health occupational therapist. I love helping individuals achieve their goals and having fun in the process, which is why Progressive Beginnings was such a perfect fit. I cherish being an occupational therapist and bringing creativity to functional task performance! In my spare time I enjoy playing with my dog, playing sports, hiking, and traveling with my wife!

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Amanda Zurbuchen, MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
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Hello, I’m Amanda!  I am an occupational therapist, who recently joined the amazing team at Progressive Beginnings.  I graduated from UW-Milwaukee with a Bachelor’s in Science in Occupational Therapy in 2005.  I initially worked with adults in the acute care setting and then transitioned to working with children in the school setting for 15 years!  With a strong background in pediatrics, I understand the importance of developing positive relationships, engaging with the children and making therapy fun and functional! Throughout my career, I have been blessed with the opportunity to use my knowledge to reduce barriers, improve function and help those of all ages achieve their goals!  In my free time, I love spending time with my family and friends, taking walks and relaxing on the lake. 

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Jena Weber, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
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Hi, I’m Jena! I graduated from Carroll University in May of 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. I continued my education at Carroll University where I received my Doctorate of Physical Therapy in May of 2023. I am super excited to be starting my career in my dream role helping both kids and adults reach their highest potential! One thing I enjoy most about physical therapy is being able to use exercise and play as medicine in all stages of life. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, attending concerts, crafting, and reading.

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Lala Patton
Patient Services Representative
 

Hi! I’m Lala, the Patient Service Representative at Progressive Beginnings. I come from plenty of a healthcare background ranging from littles to adults.  I’ve done work in home healthcare, clinical care, behavioral health and even some ER experience! I’m very happy to have joined the PB team and  my goal is to share all the knowledge and experience I have prior and imply that into my everyday role here within the clinic. I  absolutely love going above and beyond for my patients making sure all come and go with smiles. During my free time I enjoy spending time with my little one, watching sports with my fiancé  and rocking the mic to some country karaoke! 

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John Elmendorf, OTR
Occupational Therapist/Owner
 

We started Progressive Beginnings in 1999 to provide a choice of providers in pediatric care and an opportunity for local residents to receive warm water aquatic therapy.  I have spent my career as an Occupational Therapist working to understand reimbursement, legislative guidelines, and helping others grow their new careers in healthcare. I continue to grow and expand Progressive Beginnings in the areas of management services for long term care, home health, and outpatient rehabilitation services. Our newest undertaking has been growing outpatient clinics within Assisted Living Facility communities

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Sara Ploeger, COTA
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant
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Hello! I'm Sara, a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant at Progressive Beginnings. I completed my bachelor's degree in psychology, graduated as a COTA in May 2017, and started with ProgressiveBeginnings in November 2017. I became Rehab Manager in 2020 and love the opportunity to provide additional support to our staff and management team.  I have always worked with people and truly enjoy being able to help them be able to do the things they love. I thoroughly enjoy helping people and seeing their face light up when they achieve a goal makes me smile! During my free time, I enjoy traveling, camping, and learning about new cultures.

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Hannah Delaney, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist 

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Hello, I'm Hannah! I graduated from Marquette University in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. I continued my education at Marquette and graduated in 2021 with a masters in Speech-Language Pathology. From there I completed my Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) at a school district in Wisconsin evaluating and treating students from ages 2-18. I found a love in evaluating/treating pediatric clients with a variety of communication and feeding/swallowing needs. I am looking forward to joining the Progressive Beginnings team and collaborating with OT, PT and families to help achieve our clients goals along with making a difference in their lives. In my free time, I enjoy watching/playing sports, baking sweet treats, spending time outdoors and playing board games with family and friends. 

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Rachel Keene, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist 
 

The field of speech language pathology constantly intersected my life. I grew up with a grandfather with polio-related swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), friends with hearing loss, relatives with speech disfluencies (stuttering), and grandparents with dementia. Over the course of my 20+ years as a teacher, I worked with students on the autism spectrum, learned from skilled educational assistants and therapists, and started my exploration of augmentative and alternative communication devices. I returned to school to change careers and study Communication Sciences and Speech Disorders at UWM. Since earning my masters degree, I have worked with students in several Milwaukee area school districts (ages 3 to 19) and worked in the medical setting with adults in Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Sheboygan. I currently work in the Whitefish Bay School District full time. I am thrilled to join the team at Progressive Beginnings where I can collaborate with others and work directly with families. I love staying current on research in my field and assisting families on their communication journeys. When I am not working, I am looking for ways to get outdoors, explore, and spend time with my college-aged daughters and bonus family here in Sheboygan. 

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Brianna Prestegaard, MS, SLP-CF
Speech Language Pathologist- Clinical Fellow
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Hi, I’m Brianna! I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2021. I continued my education at Concordia University Wisconsin and graduated in 2023 with a masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology. I am currently working to complete my Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) here at Progressive Beginnings. I have experience working across the age span and in a variety of different environments including schools, clinics, and hospitals. I have found a love for evaluating and treating clients with a variety of communication and feeding and swallowing needs. I am looking forward to collaborating with other therapists and families to improve the communication and feeding and swallowing of the clients we treat. In my free time I enjoy reading, cooking and baking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

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Sosita Angelyn Angelio
Healthcare Virtual Assistant
 

I'm a Certified Healthcare Virtual Assistant and a Registered Physical Therapist in the Philippines. I started with Progressive Beginnings in March 2022 and I'm happy to be part of this company because I not only have work but I gained a family and most especially more knowledge about my profession.

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Latest Clinic News:

 

Sensory system overload.

April 16, 2024

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When our sensory systems are overloaded we cannot…

  • Make good choices

  • Think flexibly

  • Control our impulses

  • Problem solve

  • Focus on a task

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Occupational Therapists can support children by: 

  • Putting accommodations in place to reduce stressors

  • Coach on regulation strategies to facilitate sense of safety

  • Provide tools that teach comfort, self esteem and self advocacy 

Call our team today at (920) 803-1617 to get started with OT!.

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Understanding Speech Development in 2-Year-Olds: When to Consider Speech Therapy

Jan 13, 2024

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As your child grows and develops, you may find yourself wondering

about their speech development. One question that often arises is

whether a two-year-old should attend speech therapy. At the age of

two, children typically have a vocabulary of around 50 to 200 words and are beginning to combine words into two-word phrases.  Here are

some signs that may indicate a need for speech therapy:

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  • Limited Vocabulary: If your child has a very small vocabulary or is not adding new words regularly, it could be a sign of a speech delay.

  • Difficulty Being Understood: If others have trouble understanding your child’s speech, especially unfamiliar listeners, it may be an indication of articulation or phonological disorders.

  • Lack of Social Interaction: Difficulty engaging in conversations, responding to questions, or initiating communication with others could suggest communication challenges.

  • Frustration or Behavioral Issues: Children who struggle to communicate effectively may become frustrated, leading to tantrums or behavioral issues.

  • Family History: If there is a family history of speech or language disorders, your child may be at a higher risk and could benefit from early intervention.

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Early intervention is key in addressing speech and language delays, as

it can significantly improve outcomes and help your child develop

strong communication skills. Speech therapy for two-year-olds often

involves fun, play-based activities designed to promote speech and

language development in a supportive environment. Call us today to

schedule a speech therapy screrening or evaluation!

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Moving Through Chronic Pain:

Strategies for Incorporating Movement into Your Daily Routine

Dec 20, 2023

 

We’re sharing several strategies to be able to easily incorporate movement into your daily routine:

  1. Break Tasks into Manageable Segments: Instead of tackling chores or tasks all at once, break them down into smaller, more manageable segments. For example, instead of cleaning the entire house in one go, focus on one room at a time and take short breaks in between to rest and stretch.

  2. Use Adaptive Equipment: Utilize adaptive equipment or assistive devices to make daily activities easier and less painful. For instance, using a long-handled reacher or grabber can help you pick up objects from the floor without bending over, reducing strain on your back.

  3. Incorporate Stretching Breaks: Take regular breaks throughout the day to stretch and move your body. Simple stretches can help alleviate muscle tension and improve flexibility. Set a timer or use cues like commercial breaks to remind yourself to stretch.

  4. Alternate Between Activities: Alternate between different types of activities throughout the day to prevent overexertion and reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries. For example, if you've been sitting for a while, take a break to stand up and move around, or switch between tasks that involve different muscle groups.

By incorporating these strategies into your daily routine, you can help improve chronic pain while staying active. As always, listen to your body and adjust activities as needed to avoid overexertion and discomfort.

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