Program Alumni

Graduates of our Executive Certificate in Home Modification Program, Catia Garell and Damian Sempio, founders of Thrive for Life, LLC, with a home modification client

 

The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology boasts a network of over 2,000 Executive Certificate in Home Modification graduates throughout the nation and around the globe.

We invite you to connect with some of our talented and diverse Program Alumni. Enjoy browsing through the Alumni Directory!

Please click an entry below to learn more about our program alumni!

List All

Amy Evenstad

Graduation Year: 2018
Title: OT Manager Company Name: Vernon Memorial Healthcare Company Address: N496 County Rd. Pi , Coon Valley , WI 54623 Phone: (608) 790-1295 I am an Occupational Therapist working on a regular basis with home safety. I am also starting a consulting business for home modification.

Deanne Everton

Graduation Year: 2016
Title: Executive Director Company Name: Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley Company Address: 1701 S. 7th St. #10 , San Jose , CA 95112 Phone: (408) 578-9519 We believe that everyone deserves a safe and healthyhome. We do our part by providing overdue home repairs and safety modifications for older adults and people with disabilites at no cost to them. We focus on making sure the low-income homeowner can move about their home safely and can get in and out of their home safely. We install grab bars, handrails, shower seats, handhell shower faucets, raised toilets, additional lighting, ramps/lifts, progressive steps, and more.

Jill Finkle

Title: Registered Occupational Therapist Company Name: Aveanna Health Care; Worcester Public Schools Company Address: 181 Chester Street , Worcester , MA 01605 Phone: (508)736-9246 I have over 25 years of experience as a registered occupational therapist working with adults, geriatrics, early intervention, as well as school aged children. I work per-diem in home health care, and I am actively involved with HMOTA: Home Modification Occupational Therapy Alliance. I am continuing to research how to use my skills in the area of home modifications. I do not have my own business.

Stacy Fisher

Title: Associate Professor Company Name: Touro University Nevada Company Address: 874 American Pacific Drive , Henderson , NV 89014 Phone: (702)777-3889 I complete home safety evaluations and make recommendations and offer resource materials. I will also advocate for home modification resources in Nevada (Southern and/or Northern).

Jessica FitzGerald

Title: Owner Company Name: Safe Haven Home Modifications Consulting Company Address: 21 Locust Lane , South Berwick , ME 03908 Phone: 2077523234 I have incorporated home modifications counseling in my position as a home care PT since completing the course in 2010. I have now opened a solo mobile outpatient practice focusing on home safety and aging in place!

Greg Fitzhugh

Graduation Year: 2012
Title: Owner/Opreator Company Name: Caregiver-Aid, LLC Company Address: 119 S. Ellis St. , Lancaster , TX 75146 Phone: (214) 460-4269 Greg & Georgia Fitzhugh have been caregivers for over 13 years. Georgia, a Teacher, has a BS in Rehabilitation Science & a MEd in Special Education. Greg, a Carpenter, has an Executive Certificate in Home Modifications. They now operate Caregiver-Aid.com, where they have written 275+ articles for and about caregivers and sell 155+ different types of durable medical equipment.

James Flanagan

Graduation Year: 2017
Title: Financial Gerontologist Company Name: Bentron Financial Group Company Address: 3020 Woodcreek Dr., Suite C1 , Downers Grove , IL 60515 Phone: (630) 505-8375 I am a financial gerontologist with experience in construction. I help people identify solutions and I help find ways to pay for what needs to be done.

Brian Fluhr

Title: Founder Company Name: SeniorThrive LLC Company Address: 5436 Via Carrizo , Laguna Woods , CA 92637 Phone: 7143717493 SeniorThrive is a proactive empowerment app designed to help older adults thrive independently in their homes. By leveraging Vision AI technology, it assesses home environments for safety risks and provides personalized recommendations to prevent falls, reduce social isolation, and enhance overall well-being. Thus, it empowers seniors and their families to make informed decisions about thriving in place.

Brian Fluhr

Graduation Year: 2024
Title: Founder Company Name: SeniorThrive LLC Company Address: 5436 Via Carrizo , Laguna Woods , California 92637 Phone: (714)371-7493 Specialty: SeniorThrive is a proactive empowerment app designed to help older adults thrive independently in their homes. By leveraging Vision AI technology, it assesses home environments for safety risks and provides personalized recommendations to prevent falls, reduce social isolation, and enhance overall well-being. Thus, it empowers seniors and their families to make informed decisions about thriving in place. SeniorThrive is a proactive empowerment app designed to help older adults thrive independently in their homes. By leveraging Vision AI technology, it assesses home environments for safety risks and provides personalized recommendations to prevent falls, reduce social isolation, and enhance overall well-being. Thus, it empowers seniors and their families to make informed decisions about thriving in place.

C. Renee Foy

Graduation Year: 2018
Title: Public Health Strategist Company Name: Racine County Public Health Division Company Address: 9531 Rayne Rd, Suite V , Sturtevant , WI 53177

Cheryl Frickel

Graduation Year: 2015
Title: Agency OT and Home Specialist Company Name: Madonna Rehab Company Address: 12004 N 176th Circle , Bennington , NE 68007 Phone: (402) 699-2688 I complete home assessments and make home modification recommendations to individuals to increase ease, safety, and fall prevention and decrease burden of care.

Renee Fruhwirth

Title: Founder Company Name: Safe in Your Place Company Address: 358 Moonbeam Loop , Oviedo , Florida 32765-6712 Phone: (321)282-3570 With over 25 years of clinical experience as a physical therapist, I specialize in wellness, prevention, and home safety. My mission is to help clients maintain their independence and confidence by optimizing their living environments. I provide expert assessments across the greater Orlando area to help you stay safe in the place you love most: your home.

Keri Galuskin

Graduation Year: 2020
Title: Head Occupational Therapist Company Name: NewYork- Presbyterian Hospital Company Address: 14 Bennington ct , East Brunswick , NJ 08816 Phone: 7327188386 I have enjoyed learning about home modification through this course and am excited at putting forth the knowledge.

Keri Garcia

Graduation Year: 2017
Title: Occupational Therapist Company Name: Blue Bridge OT Company Address: N/A , Covina , CA 91724 Phone: (626) 806-1510 With 16 years in practice as an occupational therapist, I specialize in evaluating homes and making recommendations to increase client independence and decrease the burden of care on the family. I also work with families who would like an evaluation on their home or the home of a family member who requires a safety assessment. Whether it be due to risk of falls or because they have had a decline in their cognition/thinking or both I can assist.

Catia Garell

Graduation Year: 2011
Title: MA, OTR, SCEM, ECHM - Accessibility Specialist Company Name: Thrive for Life, LLC Company Address: 1441 Kapiolani Blvd. Ste. 1114 #64015 , Honolulu , HI 96814 Phone: (808) 797-2590 Thrive for Life is a private company founded by two occupational therapists serving the islands of Hawaii. They utilize a 7-step process that includes performing comprehensive home assessments after which draftsman, contractors, and designers are brought in to determine appropriate modifications. Thrive for Life guides their clients through the process including collecting contractor bids, filing for permits and conducting a post-construction assessment where they observe the client in their new space.

Captain Mary Wesley Garner, DPT, ECHM, CAPS, UDE

Title: Owner Company Name: Sailing Trader * Yacht Delivery * Charters * Home & Vessel Safety Modifications Company Address: 2815 Pass A Grille Way , St. Pete Beach , FL 33706 Phone: 727-492-2780 I am an experienced Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and have earned my Executive Certificate in Home Modification (ECHM), am a Certified Aging in Place Specialist and am an Expert in Universal Design Practice (UDE) I have a passion for assisting people of all ages stay in their preferred home environments throughout all of life's phases and challenges! Additionally I am a Yacht Captain with a passion for assisting those modify their yachts and docks. I am very pleased to announce that our company focuses on Safety Consulting and Modifications of Homes, Docks & Yachts as well as Yacht Deliveries and Refits of all Kinds. Whether your home is on Land or over the Sea we can assist you and your loved ones keep doing what you all love in the place that you love the most! Reach out to us today to learn more about us! SAILING TRADER Yacht Delivery *Charters* Safety Modification Consultants Land & Sea Captain Mary Wesley Garner, DPT, CAPS, ECHM, UDE 727-492-2780

Sarah Garrison

Graduation Year: 2010
Title: Occupational Therapist Company Address: 1869 Kiska Rd. , Salem , VA 24153 Phone: (540) 309-9905 Occupational therapist practicing primarily in home health and programming for improved community participation through accessibility and universal design.

Tomeeker Gary

Graduation Year: 2018
Title: owner/occupational therapist Company Name: Functional Home Transformations, LLC Company Address: 4403 Toccoa Terrace , Sandston , Virginia 23150 Phone: 18044713096 Functional Home Transformations is a mobile occupational therapy practice specializing in home modification assessments, recommendations, and necessary interventions. We also see clients who simply wish to age in place and need recommendations on how to do so. FHT is a Medicare B provider servicing Richmond, Virginia and surrounding areas.

Ed Gasiewski

Title: Principal Company Name: Therapy Choice Company Address: 10501 Academy Rd , Philadelphia , PA 19114 Phone: 2157434435 Provide home modification and assistive technology assessments. Provide nursing home transition assessments to return to living at home.

Ryan Gebauer

Graduation Year: 2019
Title: Realtor/Broker Company Name: Ryan Realty Group Company Address: 10101 W. SAMPLE ROAD #406 , CORAL SPRINGS , FL 33065 Phone: 9546967204 Assist in locating accessible property or a property that has potential to modify as accessible for individuals with a disability or seniors. I'm a Quadriplegic and Licensed Real Estate Broker in Florida.

Mary Giarratano

Graduation Year: 2019
Title: Owner Company Name: Home Safe Home LLC Company Address: 19 Carlton Rd. , Harwinton , CT 06791 Phone: (860) 689-7080 My company provides home assessments for home modification projects and provides home safety and fall prevention training.

Ludmilla Gill

Graduation Year: 2008
Title: Occupational Therapist Company Name: Kennedy Donovan Early Intervention Company Address: 5 Zenas Rd. , Holbrook , MA 2343 Phone: (617) 653-1099 To be honest, I have not done anything in it. Life got busy when I was certified ( married, children,etc).

Beth Glas

Graduation Year: 2015
Title: Executive Vice President Company Name: Maximum Accessible Housing of Ohio Company Address: 1725 East 115th St. , Cleveland , OH 44106 Phone: (216) 231-0990 As director of our organization's education and outreach program, I teach home modification features and best practices to a variety of audiences. I also research new accessibility features, the best of which we include in our full accessible Demonstration Unit.

Abbey Glenn

Title: Faculty Company Name: ATSU Company Address: 15244 S. 19th Way , Phoenix , Arizona 85048 Phone: 6024322414 I teach OT to entry level masters and doctoral students including content on gerontology and aging in place. I have emerging knowledge in home modifications following the certification course and would appreciate anyone who wants to collaborate in the Phoenix or Prescott area of AZ.

Abbey Glenn

Graduation Year: 2024
Title: Faculty Company Name: ATSU Company Address: 15244 S. 19th Way , Phoenix , Arizona 85048 Phone: (602)432-2414 Specialty: I teach OT to entry level masters and doctoral students including content on gerontology and aging in place. I have emerging knowledge in home modifications following the certification course and would appreciate anyone who wants to collaborate in the Phoenix or Prescott area of AZ. I teach OT to entry level masters and doctoral students including content on gerontology and aging in place. I have emerging knowledge in home modifications following the certification course and would appreciate anyone who wants to collaborate in the Phoenix or Prescott area of AZ.