Board of Directors

Kentucky Occupational Therapy Foundation

Supporting Occupational Therapy education and research in Kentucky

Board of Directors

Secretary

Laura Strickland, Ed.D, OTR/L

Vice-President

Brooke Smallwood, OTR/L

President

Ericka Harney, CFRE, GPC, CVA

Professionally, Ericka is the Fund Development Coordinator at The Council of State Governments, a nonprofit organization forecasting policy trends for the states on a national and regional basis to all three branches of state government. In addition to the KOTF board, she is currently serving on the boards of the Fayette County 4-H, Friends of Malawi, Mother to Mother of Lexington, and God’s Closet. She also volunteers for Girl Scouts, Alpha Phi Omega co-ed service fraternity, and the Junior League of Lexington. From her nonprofit experience and opportunities, she was accepted and will be attending an Organizational Leadership and Nonprofit Management Ph.D. program in the fall of 2008. Ericka brings experience in fund development, volunteer management, public relations and nonprofit management to the KOTF board.

Treasurer

Renae Feistritzer

Renae Feistritzer is the Cost Accountant/Financial Analyst for Clark Material Handling Company. Prior to Clark, she had four years experience as a tax accountant and auditor in public accounting. Renae is currently the secretary for a Beta Sigma Phi chapter in Danville, a member of the Bluegrass Junior Women's Club and Altrusa in Lexington. She is a regular volunteer at the Kentucky Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald House.

Laura Schluter Strickland has a varied 26 year career as an occupational therapist. Her practice has always focused upon working in conjunction with adults and older adults. Previous practice includes working alongside individuals with neurological impairments, those with the limitations that come about through chronic disease, the aging process, and traumatic life events. Laura holds a B.S. in Occupational Therapy from University of Texas Medical Branch, a M.A. in Behavioral Medicine from University of Houston and a Doctorate in Leadership Education from Spalding University. She recently completed an advanced Master’s of Health Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Florida in 2006. She is an associate professor and the chair of the occupational therapy program at Spalding University’s Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy. Laura came to Spalding in 1997 and became chair of the program in 2003. As chair, she continued assisting adult populations and work alongside developing practitioners (students) as they grow in the knowledge, skills, and practice competence required. Her teaching include neuroscience, movement in occupations, evaluation and intervention for adult populations, and leadership. A collaborative effort with the regional assistive technology center, enTECH, provided the opportunity for enTECH to move onto Spalding University’s campus in 2004 and become part of ASOT in 2006. The fiscal and administrative responsibility enTECH and the Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy are a big part of her current work life. Laura’s research interests include interventions for community living older adults with mild cognitive impairment and assistive technology applications.

Brooke holds a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy and a minor in Psychology from Eastern Kentucky University. Brooke is the owner and president of Lifeworks Therapy Inc., and currently is contracted as the district Occupational Therapist for Powell County Schools. She is also the co-chair for the district assistive technology team. In the past, Brooke has contracted with First Steps to provide early intervention services to infants in rural Eastern Kentucky.

Lindsey Lawrence received her Associate of Science degree from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) in 1986 and her Bachelor of General Studies with a minor in Psychology from Indiana University Southeast (IUS) in 2001. She has been a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant for over 20 years and currently serves as the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Associate Professor in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Jefferson Community and Technical College in Louisville, KY. Lindsey has been at Jefferson since the inception of the program in 1997 and has assisted in two successful accreditation reviews by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). She has extensive experience serving the profession at the state and national level having served on the Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association (KOTA) Board, the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), and most currently serving as the nationally elected Occupational Therapy Assistant Representative to the Representative Assembly, the policy making body of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Lindsey was awarded the KOTA Outstanding Occupational Therapy Assistant in 2002 and the Roster of Honor award from AOTA in 2005.

Lindsey Lawrence, BGS, COTA/L, ROH

Liaison to KOTA