Meet the Staff

Carolyn Niederkohr, MEd, CCC-SLP
Clinical Director/Speech-Language Pathologist
License # SA 1958

Graduating with High Honors, Carolyn received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Florida. During her 35+-year career, she has held many leadership and management positions while providing speech therapy services to children and adults in school, hospital, and nursing home settings. In 1999 she founded A.C.G. Therapy Center.

Born in Macon, Georgia, Carolyn became a resident of Gainesville in 1965. She and Dean, her husband of 40 years, have raised two daughters and now enjoy four wonderful granddaughters. When she’s not working, Carolyn enjoys spending time with family and friends, embroidering, reading, and traveling.

Dean A. Niederkohr, EdD
Director of Human Resources

Graduating with Honors from the University of Florida, Dean received his Bachelors degree in History. He returned to the University of Florida and completed his Masters and Doctorate degrees in Curriculum and Instruction. Subsequently, Dean spent four years as a public school teacher and thirty-two years as a school administrator in Alachua County before retiring in October 2005. As Director of Human Resources since 2007, Dean is responsible for staffing, employee benefits, compensation and performance reviews.

Dean and his wife of 40 years, Carolyn, have two daughters. He is the proud grandfather of four granddaughters. When not at work Dean enjoys spending time with friends, watching Gator football, reading, and gardening.

Polly Bergbower
Office Manager

Having attended Ohio State University, Santa Fe Community College and Medical Arts Training Center, Polly began with A.C.G. when it opened in 1999. Through the years she has been involved in every aspect of the company and initially single-handedly performed all office duties. Presently, her responsibilities include accounts payable, billing and collections, payroll, marketing, and overseeing the day-to-day organization and operation of the company. Polly developed and designed the A.C.G. newsletter, “From A to Z with A.C.G.” and takes responsibility for its monthly publication.

Originally from Ohio, Polly moved to Florida 20 years ago. She has one teenage son. In her free time she enjoys outdoor activities with her family including boating, swimming, and camping. She completed a Triathlon in 2005 and the 15K Gate River Run in 2010.

Angela Davis
Client Care Coordinator

Angela received an Associate of Science degree in Medical Administration from City College of Gainesville. She has been with A.C.G. since 2007. Her responsibilities include the scheduling of all clients and student observers, data entry, and electronic billing. In addition, she manages all incoming phone calls and greets all clients at the front desk. Angela takes pleasure in serving as A.C.G.’s Morale Director, planning and organizing morale boosters for the staff.

Angela moved to Gainesville 15 yrs ago from Lake City. Her passion is rescuing animals. She has adopted several of the animals that she rescued. She enjoys swimming, riding motorcycles, and fishing.

Amber McCollister, MS, CCC-SLP
Clinical Lead/Speech-Language Pathologist
License # SA 10037

As a graduate of the University of Alabama, Amber received her Bachelors degree in Communicative Disorders and Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Prior to moving to Gainesville, where her husband attends school full-time, Amber was employed at Sumlar Therapy in Ozark, Alabama. Her responsibilities included the evaluation and treatment of pediatric feeding disorders, as well as other speech and language disorders in the birth to school-age population. She is trained in S.O.S., a specialized approach to the treatment of feeding disorders. She also is trained in the Stanley Greenspan DIR Floortime Model. Her primary professional interests are feeding, stuttering, and autism spectrum disorders.

When not at work Amber enjoys watching movies, going out to eat, and spending time with family and friends. She is a member of the Gainesville Junior League and is also a Big Sister with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Mid-Florida.

Liz Duda, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
License # 10902

A summa cum laude graduate, Liz received her Bachelors in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Florida. Liz's clinical experiences include work in the Reading Disorders Clinic and Pediatrics Clinic at the University of Florida, Speech and Hearing Center. She also completed practicum experiences at Einstein Montessori School, Palm Gardens Nursing Home, Suwannee Bend Services, and ACG Therapy Center. Throughout her graduate training, Liz worked at the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) as a student assistant. While working at CARD, Liz co-created MyFriends, a social skills group for high school teens with autism and related disabilities. Her primary professional interests include autism spectrum disorders and reading disorders.

When not at work, Liz enjoys attending Gator sporting events and volunteering at community events.

Chris Fornea, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
License # SA 10407

A magna cum laude graduate, Chris received her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Florida. She earned highest honors in her Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Hearing Science at the University of Southern Mississippi. Chris completed clinical work at the Dubard School for Language Disorders in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. At the University of Florida, she participated in the Developmental Disabilities Clinic and trained under Dr. Linda Lombardino in the Reading Disorders Clinic. She completed additional clinical experiences at Littlewood Elementary School, Woodlands Care Center, and A.C.G. Therapy Center. Chris has also taught reading as a private tutor, using the Barton Reading and Spelling System for Dyslexia. Her primary professional interest is working with children who have reading difficulties.

Originally from Mississippi, Chris moved to Gainesville to attend graduate school. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, swimming, running, and being outdoors.

Janice O’Brien, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
License # SA 11063

Janice received her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Florida in 2004 after home-schooling her three sons for ten years. Before joining A.C.G., Janice spent seven years working as an SLP at Trenton Elementary School. She has completed training in the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching reading (systematic, multisensory phonics), LiPS (phonological awareness), Visualizing/Verbalizing (reading comprehension), and NeuroNet’s learning readiness programs (Integrated Rhythms for school-age children, and Early Learning for preschoolers). Janice is a certified NeuroNet provider.

Growing up, Janice lived in Massachusetts and on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, but has lived in Alachua County, Florida since coming here for college. In her spare time, Janice enjoys reading, genealogy, card and word games, and spending time with friends and family.

Kristin Stiggleman, BA, SLP-A
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
License # SI 1966

A cum laude graduate, Kristin received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Florida. Kristin's professional interests include working with individuals who have reading and spelling difficulties. She has recently received training in the Barton Reading and Spelling Program and the Interactive Metronome Program.

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and attending Gator sporting events.

Stephanie Swain, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
License # OT 12438

A cum laude graduate, Stephanie received her Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Occupational Therapy degrees from the University of Florida. She received recognition on the All Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll while lettering as an athlete in the Track and Field and Cross Country programs. She completed fieldwork experiences at HealthSouth Inpatient Rehab in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she worked with stroke patients and at Way Station, Inc. in Frederick, Maryland where she worked with individuals with mental illness. Stephanie’s background as an athlete gives her a unique prospective on fitness and coordination, which she incorporates into her treatment programs. Her area of special interest is sensory defensiveness, and she especially enjoys working with children of elementary and middle school age. Stephanie has expanded her professional credentials to include certification in the S.I.P.T. (Sensory Integration and Praxis Test). Her training in Therapeutic Listening, Interactive Metronome, and the Wilbarger Deep Pressure and Proprioceptive Technique for sensory defensiveness enriches her skills as an OT.

Having been raised in a military family, Stephanie has had the opportunity to live all over the world. When away from the office, she enjoys church activities, running, cross-stitching, and spending time with family and friends.

Roseann Triana, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
License # OT 8470

Roseann graduated Cum Laude from Florida International University in Miami, Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. Roseann has had clinical fieldwork experience in the Florida Public School setting, Early Intervention and upper extremity rehabilitation in a private clinic setting. She has worked at Miami Children's Hospital in both in-patient and out-patient rehabilitation, The ARC of Miami Early Intervention Preschool and in Florida and Utah Public Schools. She is credentialed in Utah in Early Intervention and has completed trainings in Early Intervention in Florida. Her past positions have included working with families in the natural environment, working in private clinics in rehabilitation and sensory integration and working in the school systems helping to develop IEPs for students.

Roseann recently moved to Gainesville, and she lives with her husband and her daughters when they are home from college. She lived in Utah for two years in the mountains and enjoyed skiing and hiking. Roseann and her husband also enjoy golfing, visiting family and traveling.

Yvonne Stride, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
License # OT 12613

Yvonne graduated cum laude with her Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Occupational Therapy degrees from the University of Florida.

She has training in the Stanley Greenspan DIR Floortime Model, Beckman Oral Motor Intervention, Sensory Integration, Handwriting without Tears and Mary Benbow Hand Skills. She is also a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Yvonne has worked in private practice, outpatient hospital and school settings in the Gainesville area.

In her spare time Yvonne likes to read, watch movies, take walks and spend time with her husband and family. While at home, she also enjoys scrap booking, beading and jewelry making.