Kayla Gillespie, MS, OTR/L, CLC
Occupational Clinical Lead, Norco
Occupational Therapist
Kayla graduated from the University of Southern California with her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy in 2013. She has practiced occupational therapy in the following areas: outpatient pediatrics, feeding, sensory, school-based therapy and assessment, and Hippotherapy. She is a member of the California Board of Occupational Therapy and the American Occupational Therapy Association.
Kayla has completed the American Hippotherapy Association Level I and II training as well as The Sensory Connection Course.
Kayla is a feeding specialist and has completed the SOS Approach to Feeding Level 1, Beckman Oral Motor Assessment and Intervention, and Feed the Peds: Foundations of Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing. Kayla has also completed education training in lactation to help support nursing mothers and is a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC).
Kayla enjoys working with children and has been a part of the Leaps & Bounds family since March 2014. In her free time, Kayla loves spending time with her husband and two boys, reading, and camping.
Amery Javier, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational therapist
Amery graduated from Loma Linda University with her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy in 2023. She has experience in the areas of pediatrics, outpatient rehabilitation, hands, sensory integration, and neurology. She first found her passion and love for pediatrics when she worked as an early intervention therapy assistant in 2017. She is passionate about bringing client-centered care to all her kiddos while engaging in one of their most valuable occupations: Play!
Some of Amery’s hobbies include traveling, photography, DIY projects, and anything arts and crafts related.
Brittany Farah
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Brittany volunteered at Leaps & Bounds while attending the OTA program at Stanbridge University and graduating in March of 2020. As a student, she gained experience in School based and SNF setting. She is excited to join the occupational therapy team here at Leaps and work in the field she loves: pediatrics!
When Brittany is not at Leaps, she enjoys adventuring outdoors.
Cristina Ruelas, OTR/L, OTD
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Cristina graduated from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences with a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy in 2021. She volunteered at Leaps & Bounds during her undergraduate program and gained a profound respect and passion for the profession. Cristina is committed to providing the best possible care for all Leaps & Bounds kiddos and families.
During her free time, Cristina enjoys dancing, spending time with her family, having game nights, and relaxing at the beach.
Elena Aguayo, COTA/L
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Elena started her journey at Leaps and Bounds during one of her fieldwork rotations for her OTA program at American Career College. In May of 2023, she graduated and officially joined the team. Elena is passionate about guiding each child to reach their highest potential and approaches her work with enthusiasm and compassion.
Elena completed the Beckman Oral Motor Assessment and Intervention course and continues to pursue additional continuing education opportunities to enhance her ability to support our clients.
Outside of her work at Leaps and Bounds, she finds joy in spending time with friends, embarking on exciting adventures, exploring new destinations through travel, and indulging her love for baking delectable treats.
Gregg Wolting
Telehealth Coordinator
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Gregg is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant and Telehealth Coordinator here at Leaps and Bounds. He graduated from Stanbridge University’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program with Phi Theta Kappa honors in the Spring of 2021. Always on the lookout for new and unique ways of helping people, Gregg saw the opportunity to join the team at Leaps & Bounds later that year and jumped at the opportunity. Gregg knew from the first opportunity he got to work with kids that he did not want to do anything but that for the rest of his career! His combined passion for working with special needs individuals along with finding unique and interesting approaches to therapy made Leaps & Bounds the perfect fit!
When he’s not at Leaps & Bounds, Gregg can be found helping to run his home-based bakery along with his wife making tasty treats of all kinds. He also loves to get outdoors and go hiking, camping, stargazing, and exploring with his two dogs Pumpkin and Christmas. He is a major fan of all holidays but Halloween and Christmas are his two favorites. However, any holiday that supports eating a lot of good food is also great in his book!
Jennifer Landry OTR/L
Clinical Director
Occupational Therapist
Jennifer Landry graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Occupational therapy in 2001. She has practiced occupational therapy in the areas of pediatrics, outpatient rehabilitation, neurology, feeding, sensory integration, with the school system, and hippotherapy.
When joining Leaps and bounds, Jennifer was very interested about hippotherapy and has since completed the American Hippotherapy Associations’ level one training. Jennifer also has training in Handwriting without Tears, The Alert Program, NDT, and with Kinesiotherapy.
Jennifer loves her job and is always interested in furthering her education to provide service for children.
Jennifer has completed the American Hippotherapy Association Level 1, Neuro Connections, and Core Connections training.
Jerra Mays-Speir, OTR/L, OTD
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Jerra graduated from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2022 with a doctorate in occupational therapy and became a member of the Pi Theta Epsilon OT Honors Society in 2021. Her lifelong passion is equestrian show jumping, which has taken her to competitions across the country, including national championships and team events representing the United States. Finding a love of occupational therapy and horses helps fuel her desire to be involved in hippotherapy, and she looks forward to completing the American Hippotherapy Association’s training.
If she’s not at Leaps or the barn, she enjoys home renovating, hiking with her dogs, going to the lake, and off-roading with her husband, family, and friends. She is also an avid traveler and has been to 30 states and 16 other countries.
Julia Garcia-Marshall, MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapy
Julia is an Occupational Therapist who joined the team in December 2023. Julia grew up in the Chicagoland area and attended The College of Wooster to pursue her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She eventually went on to pursue a Master of Occupational Therapy at The University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her passion for working with the pediatric population began early in her career through her work as a summer camp counselor and AmeriCorps Member working in schools, and it has now bloomed in her work as a pediatric occupational therapist.
When she’s not at work, Julia’s passions and hobbies consist of spending quality time with her husband and family, drawing, weightlifting, rock climbing, and traveling.
Marielle Cesa, MAOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapy
Marielle graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy degree from de LaSalle Medical and Health Sciences Institute in the Philippines in 2018 and a Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2022. She is passionate about all aspects of occupational therapy and loves working with kids. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and exploring the outdoors. She got to call Alaska her home for two years, and that was when she enjoyed outdoor activities the most.