Holland Connections Staff
Jennifer Larson
Owner, CEO
Jennifer Larson
Owner, CEO
Jennifer Larson is the mother of a young man with regressive autism. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with degrees in marketing, psychology and speech communication and a graduate of the OPM program of Harvard Business School. Jennifer is the owner and CEO of Vibrant Technologies, incorporated 1998. She is also the owner, founder and CEO of the Holland Autism Center and Clinic, the Founding Board Chair of the non-profit Children with Autism Deserve Education (CADE), and Director and founder of the non-profit Health Choice. Jennifer has been honored with several business and media awards during her career including the Minneapolis Business Journal’s 2007, Forty under Forty award and 2008 Women to Watch award. She has been interviewed by Brent Bowers of the New York Times (“Out of Adversity an Opportunity“, “Entrepreneurs Press On, and Obstacles Fall“), and wrote “Is He High Functioning” on the Age of Autism.
Mark Blaxill
CFO
Mark Blaxill
CFO
Mark Blaxill is the CFO of Vibrant Technologies Inc and the Holland Center. In addition, he is co-founder and Executive Director of XLP Capital, a firm founded in 2015 and focused on technology strategy development, advanced data analytics and technology-based investments. Before starting XLP, Mr. Blaxill was a co-Founder and Managing Partner of 3LP Advisors, a firm focused on IP strategy development, patent transactions and IP-based investments. Previous to the launch of 3LP in 2008, he was a 25-year veteran of The Boston Consulting Group, where as senior vice president and partner, he headed the firm’s Strategy Practice. He is the co-author of The Invisible Edge: Taking Your Strategy to the Next Level Using Intellectual Property (Portfolio, 2009), which was named Best Strategy Book in 2009 by a leading business journal. He has been named one of “The World’s Leading IP Strategists” by IAM Magazine.
Mark is also the father of a daughter diagnosed with autism. He has published numerous scientific articles and co-authored three books on autism with Dan Olmsted: The Age of Autism (Thomas Dunne, September 2010), and Vaccines 2.0 (Skyhorse Publishing, February 2015) and most recently Denial: How Refusing to Face the Facts About Our Autism Epidemic Hurts Children, Families—and our Future (Skyhorse, 2017).
Mr. Blaxill earned an M.B.A. with distinction from Harvard Business School and an A.B. from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, where he graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Brittany West, MOT, OTR/L
Holland Connections Division Director
Brittany Fink
MOT, OTR/L
Brittany attended the University of Minnesota, where she received her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy and a Bachelor’s of Science in Early Childhood Education. She has provided Occupational Therapy services for children who have a diagnosis of Autism for over ten years. Brittany’s areas of special interest include Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI) and Spelling to Communicate. Brittany is passionate about helping her clients to achieve their highest level of functional independence while having fun along the way.
Keri Derauf, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathology Trainer
Keri Derauf
M.S., CCC-SLP
Keri attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where she received her Master’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She has provided Speech Therapy services to children diagnosed with Autism for over ten years. Keri’s interests include Augmentative and Alternative Communication, early language development, and gestalt language. She is certified in the Beckman Oral Motor assessment and intervention protocol, which focuses on mechanical muscle responses to increase oral motor function. She has also received training in the SOS (Sequential-Oral-Sensory) approach to feeding. She loves working with clients of all ages and helping them communicate their wants and needs for everyday life.
Jenna Barbeln, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapy Trainer
Jenna Barbeln
MOT, OTR/L
Jenna attended Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she received a Bachelor’s of Science in Child Development and Family Studies, with a minor in Psychology. She then attended the University of Minnesota, where she received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Jenna’s areas of special interest include trauma informed care, emotional regulation, and feeding therapy. She has received additional training in the SOS (Sequential-Oral-Sensory) approach to feeding. Jenna enjoys working with the wonderful multidisciplinary team, clients and families at Holland Connections!
Kenzie Larson, COTA/L
Holland Life Supervisor – Eden Prairie
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Kenzie Larson
COTA/L
Kenzie has been working as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant since 2020 after receiving an Associates degree from Western Tech located in La Crosse, WI. She is currently working in a dual role focusing on recreation and occupational therapy. She loves finding natural opportunities to increase client success and independence whether it’s at Holland Life or within the community!
Sophie Wilmshurst, COTA/L
Team Lead – Mendota Heights
Sophie Wilmshurst
COTA/L
Sophie attended the Health Science Institute in Kansas City, where she received her Associate’s degree to become a COTA. Before that, she attended the University of Kansas, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Community Health. Sophie’s areas of special interest include Feeding Therapy and using a movement-based approach to therapy. She has also received training in S.O.S (Sequential- Oral- Sensory) Approach To Feeding and The Art of Crumbing.
Marina Underberg, COTA/L
Team Lead – Minnetonka
Marina Underberg
COTA/L
Marina has been working as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant since 2017 after earning an Associates degree from St. Catherine’s University. Her areas of special interests are cognitive and visual impairments and sensory integration. Marina is passionate about discovering her clients personalities and watching them gain confidence through their independence.
Abby Bloch, MOT, OTR/L
Team Lead – Holland Life
Abigail Bloch
MOT, OTR/L
Abby attended the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where she received a Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology, with a minor in Neuroscience. She then attended the College of St. Scholastica, where she received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Abby’s areas of special interest include brain body connection, regulation, and executive functioning. She is a certified Spelling to Communicate practitioner. Abby enjoys working with clients and their families to improve their everyday lives.
Kaitlyn Hirvela, M.S., CCC-SLP
Team Lead – Eden Prairie
Kaitlyn Hirvela
M.S. CCC-SLP
Kaitlyn attended the University of North Dakota, where she received her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She also has minors in Special Education and Psychology. Specific areas of interest include articulation and phonological disorders, as well as feeding therapy. Kaitlyn is certified in the Beckman Oral Motor assessment and intervention protocol, which focuses on mechanical muscle responses to increase oral motor function. She enjoys working with children and teaching them to communicate their wants and needs and having fun while doing so.
Nikki Stahlberg, COTA/L
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Minnetonka
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Niki Stahlberg
COTA/L
Nicole (Niki) graduated from Anoka Technical College in 2019 with an AAS degree – Occupational Therapy Assistant. Niki started her COTA career in post-acute rehabilitation, working with adult clients with various conditions and diagnoses for two years. After always having a passion for the pediatric population, Niki was looking for a change and found Holland Center where she began in June of 2022. Niki is looking forward to learning and growing in her career as a COTA here at Holland Center!
Megan Farley, COTA/L
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Minnetonka
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Megan Farley
COTA/L
Megan attended St. Catherine’s University to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. Before that, she attended Augsburg University and received a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology. She has a passion for helping the pediatric population reach their full potential through all of their occupations. She is very excited to work at Holland Center and is ready to continue learning new ways to enhance independence in children’s lives.
Jenny Haggerty, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Mendota Heights
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Jenny Haggerty
MS, CCC-SLP
Jenny attended the University of Alabama, where she received her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Communicative Disorders with a minor in Psychology. Specific areas of interest include language therapy and the implementation of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She is certified in the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT Loud) which may be utilized with some children to improve vocal loudness and clarity. She enjoys working with children and giving them multiple ways to communicate their wants, needs, and opinions to improve overall independence.
Cassidy Hall, M.S., CF-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Minnetonka
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Cassidy Hall
MS, CF-SLP
Cassidy attended Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she received her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. This is Cassidy’s first job as a Speech-Language Pathologist since graduating with her Master’s degree in May of 2023, and she is excited to build relationships with each client and help them communicate their wants and needs. Specific areas of interest include early childhood language development, literacy, and Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC). She loves working with children with Autism and helping them find multiple ways to communicate in order to promote independence in their everyday lives.
Janna George, MA, CF-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Mendota Heights
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Janna George
MA, CF-SLP
Janna attended the University of Minnesota where she received her Master’s of Arts in Speech Language Pathology. Before that she attended the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University where she received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology. Her interests include early language development, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and gestalt language. She loves incorporating music and art into her sessions, and enjoys working with clients of all ages and their families to help them be effective communicators in all areas of life.
Mollie Zvorak, MS, CF-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Mendota Heights & Minnetonka
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Mollie Zvorak
MS, CF-SLP
Mollie attended the University of South Dakota where she received her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology and a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Child and Adolescent Development. Specific areas of interest are pragmatics, articulation, dyslexia, and aphasia. She enjoys working with children and adults while helping them develop and expand their communication and language skills.
Emalynn Nikunen
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Eden Prairie
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Emalynn Nikunen
COTA/L
Emalynn graduated from the Free Lutheran Bible College in 2014 with a certificate in Biblical Studies. She then worked in various roles with children and adults with disabilities, including autism. In 2018, she graduated from Anoka Technical College with a degree in occupational therapy assistant. After passing the boards, she worked in activities and therapeutic recreation in nursing homes, specializing in dementia as a Certified Dementia Practitioner. Emalynn joined Holland Life in 2023 with a dual role in recreation and occupational therapy.
Paige Mann
Occupational Therapist
Eden Prairie and Mendota Heights
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Paige Mann
OTD, OTR/L
Paige attended the University of North Dakota, where she received her Occupational Therapy Doctorate and a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. Paige‘s previous experience includes fieldwork experiences at an outpatient pediatric therapy clinic, outpatient neurological rehabilitation, and a Head Start preschool program. Special interests include emerging literacy and emotional regulation. Paige‘s favorite part of being an occupational therapist is getting to help her client’s gain independence and exploring how much they are capable of!
Chelsey Findley
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Eden Prairie
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Chelsey Findley
COTA/L
Chelsey attended St. Catherine’s University to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant in 2021. Before that, she attended South Dakota State University and received a Bachelor’s degree in Community and Public Health in 2018. Chelsey’s previous experience includes trauma based- occupational therapy services in a pediatric outpatient setting. She is looking forward to working with a variety of clients while at Holland Life and Holland
Connections.
Grace Kanter
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Eden Prairie
Grace Kanter
COTA/L
Grace graduated from Anoka Technical College for an Occupational Therapy Assistant degree in 2022. Prior to graduating, she worked in a level 1 trauma hospital during the pandemic with clients that have neurological conditions. After graduating, she continued in a nursing home setting as a new-grad OTA. Grace has a passion for the young adult and pediatric population and strives to help them feel heard and integrate within the community. She is excited to start working with Holland Life and build relationships and knowledge with the clients there.
Morgan Clancy
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Eden Prairie
Morgan Clancy
COTA/L
Morgan attended Anoka Technical College with a degree in occupational therapy assistant in 2023. Morgan‘s previous experience includes fieldwork experiences at a transitional care unit and residential mental health treatment center. Morgan values a client centered and collaborative approach along with empowering clients to advocate for themselves. Morgan is excited to grow her career at Holland Life as a new OTA grad.