Meet Our Staff

Our Founder

Monika Lesch, OTR/L
(registered and licensed occupational therapist) has over four decades of experience in pediatric occupational therapy, including twelve in North Carolina public schools. She has expertise in
the treatment of babies, children, young adults with sensory processing challenges and neuromotor disorders.
Monika is certified to administer the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT). Her experience includes extensive work with sensory integration and sensory processing challenges. She is also certified in Neuro Developmental Therapy (NDT), a treatment technique typically used for children with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Additional areas of training include oral motor intervention and eating challenges, myofacial release, visual therapy, and Brain Gym. As a certified yoga instructor, Monika includes yoga in her practice with children.

Our Founder

Blair Hodge, OTR/L joined Play Again in October 2015. She has been with Play Again since the start of her OT professional career. She has experience with a wide variety of diagnoses including sensory processing disorder, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and many others. Blair graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelors in Exercise and Sport Science. She attended occupational therapy school at Lenoir-Rhyne university and graduated with a Masters in Occupational Therapy.

Occupational and Speech Therapy Staff

Hannah Wright, COTA/L, joined PlayAgain in January of 2018. She is a certified Occupational Therapy Assistant having received her degree from Greenville Technical College in Taylors, South Carolina. She enjoys working with children and is committed to helping them become their best self.

Anna Starr, COTA/L is a certified licensed occupational therapy assistant. She has worked with children who have physical and cognitive impairments, sensory integration challenges, and behavioral deficits through clinic and home based as well as in an equine setting. She obtained her associates in occupational therapy health sciences at South College in Asheville in 2017. She is working towards obtaining her masters in occupational therapy from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. Anna previously worked as a home health nursing assistant and is passionate about helping others. Born and raised in western North Carolina, she is happy to give back to her community. Anna is a mother of two and spends her free time with her family playing outdoors, picking mushrooms, enjoying art, and teaching dance classes.

Bambi Garrsion, M.S., CCC-SLP earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. She has over 20 years of experience working with children who demonstrate speech and language delays. She has substantial experience working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. She is fluent in sign language and has additional training in Auditory-Verbal techniques and Cued Speech. Prior to joining the staff at Play Again Therapy, Bambi worked in the public schools as a Hearing-Impaired Specialist for 11 years. Before that, she worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist at the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton, VA.

Katie Reynolds, M.S. CCC-SLP joined Play Again in June 2017. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a Masters of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Appalachian State University. She has experience working with children with a variety of different communication needs, including children with autism, apraxia of speech, expressive/receptive language delays, articulation/phonological disorders, and school-age language disorders. She currently serves children in Caldwell, Watauga, Burke, and McDowell counties.

Kelley Reid M.S. CCC-SLP/L joined Play Again in October, 2013. Kelley has 19 years experience working with children with speech and language delays. She has worked in a variety of settings including a Montessori School, Head Start, clinic based services, private therapy, home based services, preschool integrated services, and public school services. Kelley has experience with a wide variety of challenges children face including autism spectrum, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, expressive/receptive language delays, articulation/phonological delays, developmental apraxia, oral motor/feeding difficulties, stuttering, and early language development delays with Spanish speaking families. She has worked primarily with children birth to 5, but has experience with all ages of children, as well as adults in rehabilitative/nursing home care. Kelley's educational background includes a Bachelors of Science in Communications, a Bachelors of Science in Education as a Teacher of the Speech and Hearing Handicapped, and. Masters of Science in Speech Pathology from the State University of New York at Fredonia, NY.

Office Manager

Leslie Hawkins Leslie's responsibilities include, patient intake and enrollment procedures, Medicaid and Private Insurance billing and questions, and general administrative duties. Should you need her assistance with these or any other matters, she is available at our Morganton location, Monday thru Friday 9am-5pm.

Vanessa Chambliss, ITFS/CBRS

Vanessa has 13 years experience working with children with special needs and delays. She holds a State of North Carolina Professional Educator’s License in Special Education and has a Bachelors of Art Degree in Psychology. Vanessa is a certified Infant, Toddler and Family Specialist and an accredited provider of Level 3 Triple P Stepping Stones Counseling. She has also completed training in ABA Therapy, TEACCH Autism Program, Play Therapy and Behavior Management. Prior to joining Play Again Therapy, Vanessa was a Self Contained/Autistic Cluster Teacher with Catawba County Public Schools.