Executive Officers

Erin Clemens
President

Erin Clemens, OTR/L, BCP, CIMI currently serves as the President of the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association until her term ends in July 2018.

• Erin graduated in 2001 from Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, NC and has been practicing as a pediatric occupational therapist ever since in a variety of settings including early intervention, schools, and private practice.  She lived in Japan for 3 years, where her cultural experiences were expanded, as she worked as a therapist providing services to both American families and local Japanese families. 
• Erin moved to Virginia in 2010, where she opened and currently runs a small private practice in Woodbridge, VA.  Erin has been actively involved in VOTA since she moved to the state, serving as the Secretary of the Northern District from 2011-2012, and then Co-Chair of the Northern District from 2013-2015.  She was President-Elect from 2015-2016, and began her term as VOTA President in July 2016.
• Erin was chosen for AOTA’s Leadership and Management Course in 2012, and spent 4 intensive days at AOTA headquarters learning effective leadership and management skills.  Erin is also an adjunct professor for the OTA program at Northern Virginia Community College.  She is Board Certified in Pediatrics through ATA. 
• On a personal note, Erin is on the PTA at her son’s Chinese school, is actively involved in her community, and is a member of the Education Committee of the Prince William County Chamber of Commerce, Erin enjoys outdoor activities with her family involving cycling, kayaking, hiking, and running. 
• Erin enjoys serving the Virginia OT practitioners.  She brings her knowledge of VOTA proceedings, diverse experience as a therapist, leader, and manager, as well as fresh ideas to further promote VOTA and advance the association to be in line with trends of the profession.

Pam Nolan MSOT, OTR/L
Vice President 

Pam brings more than ten years of experience providing therapeutic services to children and adults with special needs.  As a school based Occupational Therapist for the past six years, she provides OT support services to students in Fairfax County Public Schools.  She previously worked as a licensed therapeutic horseback riding instructor.  Pam is a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist in the commonwealth of Virginia.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and her Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy from Shenandoah University in Virginia.

Stacie Argade OTS/OTAS
Secretary

Jacqueline Cherry, M.S., OTR/L
Treasurer

Jacqueline “Jacque” Cherry, M.S., OTR/L, graduated in 2008 from Virginia Commonwealth University Occupational Therapy Master’s degree program. Since then, she has been employed with Sheltering Arms, working on the weekdays at the St. Mary’s Hospital location and PRN at the Hanover Inpatient Rehabilitation site. After five years, she was promoted to the St. Mary's team lead position.  Her passion remains above all, providing occupational therapy to the geriatric and cardiac populations. After being an Aunt and playing with her dog, she then spends spare time giving back to the OT community by participating in VOTA. 

Dianne Simons, PhD, OTR/L
AOTA Representative

Gretchen Ward
Communications

Gretchen is excited to take on the role of Communications chairperson for VOTA. She has been a practicing OT for 7 years with a BA from the University of Virginia in English and Biology and a MS in OT from Columbia University. A native of Northern Virginia, Gretchen recently moved back to Manassas from New York City where she worked in the school system and as an early intervention therapist. While in New York, she served on the Board for the Metropolitan District of the New York Occupational Therapy Association. In addition, Gretchen has presented at local, national, and international OT conferences. In addition to membership in VOTA, Gretchen is a member of AOTA and the Association of Caribbean Occupational Therapists.  Gretchen is currently working at Grafton Integrated Health Network in Winchester.

District Chairs

Vail Weiglein
Blue Ridge District Chair

Bernadette O'Donoghue
Capital District Chair

In what has probably become one of the best decisions she has ever made, Bernadette quit her job to go back to school and become an occupational therapist.  She graduated from the University of Buffalo’s BS/MS program in occupational therapy in 2013.  She now works in adult rehabilitation at HealthSouth of Petersburg, and does PRN work at Johnston Willis Hospital in Midlothian, VA.  She is currently working towards advanced certification in stroke recovery and has been active on the advisory board for Virginia College.  She has served on the board for the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association since July, 2014.  

Cody LaRue
Capital District Chair

Cody LaRue- graduated from VCU MSOT program in 2012. Currently working as Senior OT and FW Coordinator at HealthSouth Petersburg and PRN at Colonial Heights Health Care Center.

Paige Johns, OTD, OTR/L
Northern District Chair

Tina Craft
Southeastern District

Tara Morris, MOT, CLT, OTR/L
Western District

Mary Bennett, MOTR/L
Western District

I graduated from Radford University's Master of Occupational Therapy program in December 2015. I am currently working as an occupational therapist for PRA, providing services to the children in Floyd County Schools. I am excited to be a part of VOTA and connect with other professionals in the state. What an honor to help serve others and make a difference in the world!

Committee Chairs

Jan Emerick-Brothers and Gracie Bitgood
Nominations and Awards 

Jan Emerick-Brothers has been a practicing Occupational Therapist for 38 years and counting.  35 of these years have taken place in Virginia!  She is currently co-chair of the Scholarships and Awards committee.  In the past she has also held the following positions with VOTA:  founder and chair Northern District, Secretary and School System Liaison.  In addition she held the presidency of the Virginia Board of Occupational Therapy, when the first law was passed to protect consumers of Occupational Therapy in Virginia.  She thinks of VOTA as "extended" family, and is currently working to pay forward all the good things that she has enjoyed over her years with the organization.

Sheila Krajnik, EdD, OTR/L
Continuing Education

Holly Brown
Fundraising

I am a graduate of The Medical College of Georgia and have been  involved with VOTA since 1989. Currently I work in the south central region of Virginia in Home Health. 

Lauren Carter Smith, OTR/L, CBIS
Membership

Liaisons

Alesha Kelley
OTA Liaison

Erin Quigley
School System Liaison

Julia Hoffman
VOTA Student Liaison

Julia Hoffman is looking forward to starting her second year in Radford University’s MOT program and serving as the VOTA Student Representative for her class. She is from Lynchburg, Virginia and received her BS in Communications and Media Studies at Radford University.

Julia’s experience volunteering with The Founders Center of Commonwealth Autism, as well as skills she developed through years of coaching, have influenced her devotion to becoming a pediatric occupational therapist. She is taking in and enjoying every moment of fieldwork and her courses. Julia hopes to expand her knowledge and advocacy efforts through her role with VOTA.

Jodi Winship
Student Representative, VCU

Hannah Fauber
Student Representative, JMU