
Our Team
Aspen Stebbins, OTR/L
Aspen has grown up working with children and young adults with varying ability levels. She quickly realized it was her passion in life and dedicated herself towards making it a career. Aspen completed her undergraduate and master's degree at the University of Minnesota. In 2021, she founded Olea Pediatric Therapy. Aspen lives in Plymouth with her husband (Carter), twins (Audrey and Beau) and Springer Spaniel (Lola)! Her favorite thing to do in her free time is spend time with friends and family, attend Minnesota sports games, and go up north to her family cabin. Give her sushi or pizza and she is a happy camper! Aspen's favorite part about being an occupational therapist is celebrating all the small, yet mighty milestones her kids hit along the way. Seeing kids make progress and build upon their achievements encourages and inspires her! Aspen's favorite quote is “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than a year of conversation.” – Plato. She believes watching and admiring children's imagination is one of the greatest gifts in life. She can't wait to meet YOU!
Brenna Dedeker M.A., CCC-SLP
Brenna is our Clinic Manager and Speech-Language Pathologist here at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD, and received her Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology from University of South Dakota. Since the beginning, she always knew she had a passion for working in pediatrics, and she has worked for multiple Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) clinics and outpatient clinics with clients of all ages, needs, and ability levels. Brenna has a special interest and passion for working on Augmentative/Alternative Communication (AAC), early intervention/late talkers, and feeding difficulties. When not at work, Brenna and her husband and boys love board games, hiking, and relaxing with their pets (two cats and a dog)! Brenna’s favorite speech therapy quote is a simple and powerful quote “Everyone deserves a voice”, and she loves helping clients find theirs! Her favorite part about working in pediatric therapy is the relationships that can be built both with the clients and their families and the pride that the client’s show when mastering a specific skill set. .
Sarah Littlefield, COTA/L
Sarah is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant here at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse and her COTA degree from Herzing University. Born and raised in Minnesota, Sarah loves spending as much time outside in all four seasons, with her 2 young sons and mini schnauzer.
A fun fact about Sarah is she is also a certified yoga and prenatal yoga instructor. Her favorite books from childhood are all of the Berenstain Bear books and favorite food is grilled cheese and soup! One of Sarah's favorite quotes is "Play is the highest form of research." - Albert Einstein. She believes children learn so much through play and enjoys witnessing their smiles when they reach their goals!
Madeline Kurtz, COTA/L
Madeline is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant at Olea Pediatric Therapy and loves working with kids, but has also spent a lot of time in transitional care, long term care, and with adults with a variety of disabilities. She completed her general studies at Black Hills State in Spearfish, SD and got her degree in OTA at Herzing University in Minneapolis, MN. Madeline moved to the Twin Cities in 2018 with her dog Cosmo, cats Bleu and Gibbs, bearded dragon Bernie, and fiancé. She currently lives in North Minneapolis and loves patios, coffee shops, and being outdoors. She started pediatric OT because seeing a lightbulb moment in a child when they grasp a concept or learn something new is one of the greatest things of all time, and who doesn't like to play all day? Madeline's favorite OT activity to do with kids is writing with shaving cream because it is messy, super fun, and engaging; but also teaches handwriting, posture, and attention! A fun fact about Madeline is that she has anosmia, which means she can't smell anything!
Hannah Coulter, OTD, OTR/L
Hannah is an Occupational Therapist here at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She completed her undergraduate degree in exercise science at Minnesota State University, Mankato and her Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities. Hannah grew up in a small farm town called Hector. She got married 3 days before her first day at Olea in November! She has a highly energetic Australian Shepherd at home named Kona. Hannah loves to spend time outside- hunting, fishing, kayaking, and boating. When she’s not doing those things, you can find her at Target, traveling, playing sports (volleyball & basketball), or spending time with her friends and family. Hannah loves the spontaneity of kids, seeing them flourish in a nurturing environment, and witnessing their pure excitement when they complete a meaningful activity!
Michelle McPhillips, OTR/L
Michelle is an Occupational Therapist at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at College of Saint Mary in Omaha, NE. Michelle was born and raised with small town roots in Nebraska and moved to Minnesota immediately after grad school in 2017. Since becoming interested in occupational therapy she always knew she had a passion for working in pediatrics, and she has worked for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) clinics, outpatient clinics and completed home health visits with clients of all ages, needs, and ability levels. When Michelle is not working, she is spending time with her husband and brand new baby girl. She loves CrossFit, traveling, spending time with friends and the NFL, more specifically the Patriots. Michelle loves seeing the progress children make and believes incorporating physical activity into play is the best "medicine."
Lindsey Drooger, COTA/L
Lindsey is an Occupational Therapy Assistant at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She received her Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota and her OTA degree from St. Catherine University. Lindsey has a 5-year old dog named Minne who is the best thing ever. She loves spending time with family and friends, especially her nieces and nephew, watching Minnesota sports, reading, exercising, watching reality TV and taking Minne for walks. A fun fact about Lindsey is that 3/5 people in her immediate family are left-handed, including her! Lindsey loves working with kids because every day they learn something new and nothing is better than playing all day!
Allison Cox, M.S., CCC-SLP
Allison is Speech-Language Pathologist at Olea Pediatric Therapy and loves to work with children of all ages and abilities. She received both her undergraduate and masters degrees from the University of North Dakota. Allison lives in Minneapolis with her fiancé and during her free time, she loves to walk and bike on the Greenway, read books, go to cycling classes, and go to coffee shops. Allison is passionate about Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Her favorite thing about being an SLP is teaching a child and their family ways to communicate effectively to reach their goals. Pediatric therapy is so rewarding and she can't wait to see the children she works with grow in their communication!
Stephanie Maurer, COTA/L
Steph is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. She completed her generals at Minnesota State University, Mankato and got her OTA degree at St. Catherine’s University. She grew up in a small town in southern Minnesota called Gibbon. Steph lives in Andover with her husband (John) and daughter (Maddyn). Steph loves spending time with family and friends, playing volleyball, exercising and shopping. She loves seeing the progress children make and loves seeing their faces light up when they reach their goals! She says it is so special and rewarding to be a part of the journey!
Erin Skye, CF-SLP
Erin is a clinical fellowship speech-language pathologist at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She completed her undergraduate degree in special education at the University of Minnesota, and her masters degree through Baylor University. Erin is passionate about early intervention, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), and Gestalt Language Processing. Her favorite thing about being an SLP is helping all kids be successful communicators to set them up for success in their future. In her free time, Erin enjoys reading, traveling, crocheting, and spending time with her husband, family, and friends.
Mariah Winkles, COTA/L
Mariah is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. She fell in love with OT after attending her client's OT sessions while working as a personal care assistant. Her 10+ yrs of experience and passion to work with children and people with disabilities led her to expand her B.A degree in psychology from UWEC to include an OTA degree from The University of St. Kate's. Mariah currently lives in Minnetonka, where she grew up and loves creative projects, hanging out with family and friends, walking through the MN arboretum and around the lakes and baking desserts. Fun fact, Mariah is left handed but had not seen/used left handed scissors until she became an OTA. Mariah loves how play based OT has the abiltiity to empower children and their families by expanding their abilities.
Sophia Ybarra, Office Manager
Sophia is a warm, welcoming and passionate individual that loves to problem solve and help in any way she can. She has worked in child care for a couple years as a teacher assistant where she helped children overcome obstacles and find a passion for learning. She is looking forward to continuing being a part of a team that is focused on providing a safe and fun environment for the new generations to come. Sophia comes from a big loving family, growing up with so many siblings has made it easier in life to adapt to different surroundings and personalities! She enjoys spending quality time outdoors with her friends and family.
Angela Crum, OTR/L
Angela is our Clinic Liaison and Occupational Therapist here at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She received her graduate degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Findlay. Born and raised in O-H-I-O, she relocated to the Land of 10,000 Lakes in August of 2023. Angela resides in White Bear Lake with her boyfriend. She is also a certified Grief and Trauma recovery specialist, a certified RISE advocate, certified Tier I and Tier II Start Behavioral Health provider, certified Reiki Level I and II practitioner, and EMBER Trauma Yoga mentor. Angela offers extensive experience in the field of occupational therapy (26+ years) specializing in multi-sensory integration, school-based practice, autism spectrum disorder, mental health, advocacy, trigger point release, whole food-based nutrition, youth leadership and mentorship, and animal assisted therapy. In her free time, she enjoys all things outdoors throughout all the seasons… Lake Life, River Life, and Forest Life. Angela is passionate about serving individuals from all walks of life, supporting developmental milestones and inclusion. Her favorite quote is "Occupational Therapy: Hopeless into hope. Can't into can. Impossible into possible."
Ellie Schwartz, COTA/L
Ellie is an Occupational Therapy Assistant at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She completed her undergraduate degree in developmental psychology with a minor in visual arts at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities and a COTA degree at St. Catherine University. When she's not working, she loves taking care of her plant babies, relaxing with her family, and playing with her dog, Marty! Ellie has 12 nieces and nephews, and her love for working with kids stems from the joy she experiences while playing with them. She finds it incredibly fulfilling to witness the children's enthusiasm when they reach their goals. She is excited to help children improve their skills and learn through play!
Blaire Peterson, COTA/L
Blaire is an Occupational Therapy Assistant at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She has worked as a COTA/L for 7 years, working within the geriatric population. She graduated from St. Catherine University in 2017. Her almost 2 year old nephew is who inspired her to enter into the pediatric field, so she could learn more about child development and growth. When she is not working, she enjoys being outdoors, hiking, camping, vacationing, and playing with her 2 dogs (Nacho and Tito) with her husband. She enjoys working with kids because she loves to watch them grow and develop through their different phases of life!
Maddie Zimmer OTD, OTR/L
Maddie is an Occupational Therapist at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She completed her undergraduate degree in child developmental and family studies at Minnesota State University, Mankato and her Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy at University of Mary in Bismarck North Dakota. Born and raised in Minnesota, Maddie and her husband (Jimmy) live a busy life with their two cats (Penny and Piper) and golden retriever (PattyJo). In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, often on the lake soaking in the scenery and making memories. Whether it’s a relaxing day on the water or a weekend of adventures with loved ones. Maddie’s favorite part about working in pediatrics is that you can learn so much from playing on the floor with the kids, and getting to experience that “lightbulb moment” when the kids achieve a new skill!
Sophie Shish, OTR/L
Sophie works as an occupational therapist at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She earned her undergraduate degree in early childhood and family studies from the University of Washington in Seattle, and her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Mary at a satellite site in Billings, Montana. Originally from Washington State, Sophie resides in Saint Louis Park with her husband, Lane, and their corgi, Tater Tot. In her leisure time, she enjoys spending quality moments with her loved ones, creating fashion content, baking sourdough bread, walking her corgi, and indulging in reality TV. Sophie finds immense joy in working with children, particularly witnessing their delight in simple pleasures like bubbles and teaching them to live their lives to their fullest potential.
Lily Beckers, M.S., CCC-SLP
Lily is a speech language pathologist. She earned her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and masters in Speech Pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she also participated in the LEND program and Project CASTLE. These training programs specialize in comprehensive assessment and treatment for autistic individuals. Lily is passionate about augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and celebrates all kinds of play. Lily and her best friend/roommate (also named Lily!) live in northeast Minneapolis with her dog, Odie. Lily enjoys visiting her family in Green Bay and loves being an aunt to her niece and nephews. Her favorite things to do are swim in lakes, go to concerts and walk to coffee shops with her friends. She can’t wait to support you and your family in your child’s communication journey!
Cassie Araujo, M.S., CCC-SLP
Cassie is a Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) who completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at St. Cloud State University. Cassie has practiced as a bilingual (English-Spanish) SLP since 2018 in various educational, private practice, and ABA settings. Cassie’s experience ranges from various pediatric ages and areas of focus including: pre-language, social language, receptive/expressive language, AAC, articulation, apraxia of speech, reading comprehension, dyslexia, feeding, and fluency/stuttering. Cassie believes in the importance of children communicating with their loved ones. She strives to support her clients growth through parent-therapist collaboration, evidence based practice, and use of creative therapy techniques unique to each client. Cassie grew up in Oakdale and currently lives with her husband, dog (Watson), and cat (Jack Jack). She enjoys going for walks, playing volleyball, and cooking. Cassie’s favorite quotes she uses in her practice include: “If a child cannot learn in the way we teach . . . we must teach in a way the child can learn” - Ivaar Lovaas and “It shouldn’t matter how slowly a child learns, as long as we are encouraging them to not stop.”
Maddie McCauley, M.S., CCC-SLP
Maddie is a Speech-Language Pathologist here at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Minnesota State University-Mankato and has experience working in an outpatient clinic, ABA/EIDBI centers, and a school. She lives in Eagan, with her boyfriend and many plants! She loves to spend time with family and friends, coach/play volleyball, go to concerts, and try new restaurants and breweries! Her favorite books from childhood are the Frog and Toad series. Maddie’s favorite part of her job as a pediatric SLP is watching her clients build their communication skills and grow to meet their goals!
Kayla Kinzler, CF- SLP
Kayla is a Speech and Language Pathologist from Portage, WI. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire in Speech Language Pathology and a minor in Spanish. Kayla has worked with pediatric populations of varying ages and needs in school, outpatient, and acute care settings. She is passionate about working with each client/family to establish their communication goals in a functional way. Kayla lives with her fiancée and cat in Minnetonka and enjoys running, being outdoors, baking, and spending time with friends and family. She is passionate about feeding/swallowing and play-based therapy and is excited to help each child meet their communication goals!!
Saloni Upadhyay, CF- SLP
Saloni is a Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellow at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Iowa, but is originally from Mumbai, India. Saloni is trilingual in Gujarati, Hindi, and English and enjoys learning about languages. Saloni enjoys working with the pediatric population and is passionate about play-based therapy, neurodiversity affirming therapy, multilingualism, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and pediatric feeding and swallowing. She is excited to live in and explore Minnesota with her husband, Carter, and cat, Baxter. She loves to spend time with family and friends, cook new recipes, try different restaurants, and watch mystery shows and movies! Saloni is excited to meet you and your family and support your child in growing their communication, feeding, and swallowing abilities!
Abby Brooks, CF- SLP
Abby is a Speech-Language Pathologist at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She completed both her undergraduate degree in Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences and her graduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Before becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist, Abby worked as a Registered Behavior Technician at multiple Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) clinics, where she supported children with a variety of needs and abilities. She is passionate about early intervention and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Abby grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, and currently lives in St. Paul. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, crocheting, baking, and exercising. Her favorite part of speech therapy is the opportunity to empower children through communication and to see their skills and confidence grow.
Larissa Bush, CF- SLP
Larissa is a clinical fellow Speech-language pathologist here at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She received her undergraduate and graduate degree from Minnesota State University-Mankato. She is passionate about working with all groups of children and helping them grow through creativity and play. She chose a career in pediatrics because she loves the energy, imagination, and resilience that kids bring to each day. Outside of work, she’s always exploring: trying out new restaurants, going on long walks with friends, finding the best coffee shops, or just planning her next travel adventure. She's also a big fan of all things creative, whether it’s painting, baking a new dessert, or testing out a new recipe. She loves building relationships with families and finds so much joy in seeing kids gain confidence and independence through therapy.
Mohamed Mohamed, COTA/L
Mohamed is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) with a degree from Anoka Technical College. Mohamed brings a hands-on, client-centered approach to care, with a strong focus on functional outcomes and cultural competence. Outside of work, he enjoys playing sports and staying active. A fun fact about Mohamed is that he is trilingual; fluent in Somali, English, and Swahili.
Anaka Hanson, CF- SLP
Anaka is a speech-language pathologist here at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She completed both her undergraduate degree and master's degree at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. She loves working with children of all ages and having the opportunity to make a difference in their lives. Her favorite thing about being a pediatric SLP is being able to witness a child grow in their communication abilities and become more confident in themselves. Anaka lives in Shakopee and has a very fluffy cat named Ella. In her free time, she enjoys going for walks and bike rides, skiing, rock climbing, drawing, doing crafts, and reading. She also loves spending time with her family and friends and finding new ice cream shops to try.
Emma Kupferschmidt, OTD, OTR/L
Emma is a Certified Occupational Therapist at Olea Therapy. She completed her undergraduate degree in Therapeutic Recreation at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and earned her clinical doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Mount Mary University. Emma grew up in the small town of Cumberland, Wisconsin. She has always had a passion for working with children. She loves witnessing the progress children make and celebrating each milestone and knowing she’s contributing to meaningful, lasting change in their lives. Outside of work, Emma enjoys spending time with her family or friends, reading, going for walks, listening to podcasts, traveling, attending concerts, or indulging in reality tv series.
Myasia Johnson, COTA/L
Myasia is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant here at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She received her COTA degree from Herzing University in 2019. Myasia was born and raised in Minnesota, she is the 2nd eldest of 4. She loves spending time with her 3 children (Harlem, Sam and Justin). Myasia enjoys arts, crafts, and creating decorations for birthday parties and events.
Myasia realized her passion for working with children after she spent 4 years as a paraprofessional in minneapolis school district. She chose a career path in OT because she is able to utilize her creativity to help children reach their goals. Myasia’s favorite toys to use for therapy sessions are squigz, shaving cream, and body socks. A fun fact about Myasia is she has lived in California, New Orleans and Houston. She is very excited to be apart of this team!
Annie Hall, COTA/L
Annie is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant here at Olea Pediatric Therapy. She received her Bachelor's degree in Communicative Disorders with a minor in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and her OTA degree from St. Catherine University. She lives with her husband (David) and her 2 kids (Parker and Elliot) in Woodbury, MN. She loves spending time with her family, watching movies/tv, reading books, and all things Disney! Annie has been working with children of all ages and abilities in a wide variety of settings for over 20 years. She loves being creative and silly with kids while helping them build confidence in themselves. Her favorite quote is "To live will be an awfully big adventure" from Peter Pan. This reminds her to enjoy the little things every day and that nothing is too small to celebrate!