Who We Are
The Ohio Occupational Therapy Association is a voluntary professional organization of occupational therapy practitioners who are dedicated to supporting the profession through advocacy and communication. The Board of Trustees meets multiple times per year and welcomes input from its members.
Membership services are of primary importance to the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association. In addition to the informational, support and networking opportunities, the continuing education of members is necessary to maintain standards in quality of service delivery. Membership recruitment, development and retention are essential to meet Ohio’s present and future needs for Occupational Therapy.
Our Mission
The mission of the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. is to promote the profession of occupational therapy, address professional issues in occupational therapy practice and advance the practice of occupational therapy in the state of Ohio.
Our primary goals are to serve the members of the association by providing continuing education, support, and resources, and to meet the needs of consumers of occupational therapy in the state of Ohio through advocacy and encouraging the delivery of professional and evidence-based practice.
Our Vision
The vision of the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. is to improve active participation of all eligible licensees in the state; to provide legislative, educational and ethical information; to promote, support, advocate and represent the OT profession statewide.

Our Districts
Northwest
Allen, Crawford, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Van Wert, Williams, Wood, and Wyandot Counties
West Central
Dayton Area - Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and Shelby Counties
Central
Columbus Area - Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Pickaway, Union, Coshocton, Perry, and Muskingum Counties
Southwest
Cincinnati Area - Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, and Warren Counties

North Coast
Cleveland Area - Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Medina, and Ashtabula Counties
North Central
Akron Area - Ashland, Carroll, Harrison, Holmes, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, Wayne, Columbiana, Jefferson, Mahoning, Trumbull, Belmont, Guernsey, and Monroe Counties
South
Brown, Highland, Adams, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Jackson, Vinton, Hocking, Lawrence, Gallia, Meigs, Athens, Noble, Morgan, and Washington Counties
Our Leaders
Executive Board

President
Christie Tuttle, MS, COTA/L, ROH
Term July 2024 - June 2027
Vice President
Bonnie Boenig, MEd, OT/L, C/NDT
Term July 2023 - June 2025
Secretary
Katelyn Merzke, COTA/L
Term July 2023 - June 2025
Treasurer
Kara Brogan, OTR/L
Term July 2023 - June 2025District Chairs

North Central
Denae Tennyson

North Coast
Rebecca Young, MOT, OTR/L

North Coast
Diane Ventura, OTR/L

Northwest
Danielle Nelson, MS, OTR/L

Northwest
Crystal Coon

West Central
Katrina McWilliams, COTA/L and Jerry Shields Jr, COTA/L

Central
Amanda Rhodes, MOT, OTR/L

Southwest
Jessie Kennedy, OTR/L ATP, CAP

Southwest
Danielle McClelland Shrimpton, COTA/L

South
Mikel Stone, OTD, OTR/L
Special Interest Section Coordinators

Older Adults
Alyssa DeCarlo MS, OTR/L, MSCS, LSVT

Mental Health
Natalie Centers, MOTR/L

OT Education
Teri LaGuardia, OTD, MOT, OTR/L

Pediatrics/School-Based
Danielle Griffin, MS, OTR/L, BCP, CKTP

Pediatrics/School-Based
Cyndi McClure-Hoerst, OTR/L

Pediatrics/School-Based
Jenny Negrey, MOT, OTR/L

Rehabilitation
Dotti Thompson, OTR/L

Regulations
Stacia Galey OTD, OTR/L

Legislative Chair
Dr. Amy Watson-Grace, OTR/L, BCP

Legislative Chair
Mandy Fabry, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, CNT,NTMC

Nominations
Karen Barth COTA/L

OTA Committee Chair
Toni Durban, BS, COTA/L

DEIJAB Liaison
Karla Reese, DHSC, OTR/L

Student Committee Chair
Bekah Bourgeois, OTR/L, MOT

Social Media & Public Information
Katarina "Kati" Garibian, S/OT
