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

Heather Noonan

Title: COTA/L Company Name: Pediatric Psychology Services Company Address: 676 Eadin Lane , Grand Junction , CO 81504 Phone: 7204345797 I am currently pursuing my doctorate in occupational therapy, and I am passionate about home modifications. I have held the CAPS (Certified Aging In Place) designation since 2021.

Sheila O'Connor

Graduation Year: 2017
Title: Owner Company Name: No Place Like Home Company Address: 68 Crabapple Ln. , Asheville , NC 28804 Phone: (828) 215-3881 Healthcare professionals in tandem with home remodelers and interior designers combine their expertise to determine the most efficient, cost-effective solution to thriving in place for all age groups and abilities.

Justin Oakley

Graduation Year: 2015
Title: Owner Company Name: Oakley Home Access Company Address: 15 Highland Ave. , Narragansett , RI 2882 Phone: (401) 743-5895 As an OT partnered with a construction expert, we?ve created a company passionate about fall prevention, increasing accessibility, and aging in place. We provide no pressure free home safety assessments. We are are able to install a wide variety of home accessibility products ranging fro grab bars to vertical platform lifts and everything in between. We understand individuals are often in a crisis situation when reaching out to us so we are passionate about making the process of outfitting the home as simple as possible.

Kent Ohms

Graduation Year: 2021
Title: Community Living Director Company Name: Iowa Department on Aging Company Address: 510 E 12th Street , Des Moines , IA 50319-9025 Phone: 5154022955 Working on positioning the Iowa Department on Aging as the statewide leader in navigating the home modification system. Looking to design system level strategies for individual AAAs and CILs to assist individuals at the local level.

Letitia Osburn

Title: Registered Occupational Therapist Company Name: TMC/Therapy Management Corporation Company Address: 3530 Burlington Dr. , Fultondale , AL 35068 Phone: (205) 410-7347 TMC/Therapy Management Corporation.

Donna Ozawa

Graduation Year: 2012
Title: Occupational Therapist Company Name: Goodfellow Occupational Therapy Company Address: 9323 North Saybrook Dr., #139 , Fresno , CA 93720 Phone: (510) 332-9536 I do private home assessments for families of children and adults with disabilities living independently in the community.

Katie Pace

Title: Executive Director Company Name: Rebuilding Together Northern Nevada Company Address: 1490 Huntington Cir , Reno , Nevada 89509 Phone: (775) 848-3703 Rebuilding Together Northern Nevada was established in 2020 with a volunteer board. By 2022, staff was needed due to the overwhelming reception of our work to assist homeowners with home repairs and modifications at no cost. I was the founder of this chapter and became the first ED. We assisted 32 homeowners in 2021 and 5o in 2022.

Tiffany Pajak

Graduation Year: 2018
Title: Occupational Therapist Company Address: 8115 Austin Ave. , Schererville , IN 46375 Phone: (219) 440-2620 We provide Home Safety consulting for clients of all ages and abilities to decrease the risk of injury and increase quality of life. My hope is to develop a coalition in my area to make my community more accessible as well.

Renata Papp

Title: Secretary / Co-Owner Company Name: 3 Pyramid Construction & Renovation Corporation Company Address: 495 Redwood Ave. , Sacramento , CA 95815 Phone: 916-544-8114 Through 3 Pyramid Construction & Renovation Corporation, we help older adults, individuals with disabilities, and other homeowners improve safety, accessibility, and independence through home modification and aging-in-place solutions. Our services include accessibility improvements, bathroom modifications, walk-in shower conversions, grab bar installation, widened doorways, ramps, handrails, and other modifications designed to reduce fall risks and support safe daily living. As an Executive Certificate in Home Modification (ECHM) graduate and licensed California general contractor, we are committed to providing practical, code-compliant, and individualized solutions that help people remain safe, comfortable, and independent in their homes.

Cindy Paras Hilliard

Title: Assistant Professor Company Name: Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Company Address: 216 Shadow Rock Lane , Mars , Pennsylvania 16046 Phone: 7245530340 I am currently teaching Assistive Technology in the OTD Program at SRU. The knowledge and skills I gained through the ECHM certification and 30 years of experience as a home health OT have guided course development in higher education. I also have experience as an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at SRU and was a Capstone Co-Chair at Baylor University prior to my current role.

Dalando Parker

Title: Manager Company Name: CLEAR PATH HOME SOLUTIONS LLC Company Address: 609 Metairie Rd , Metairie , Louisiana 70005 Phone: 985-718-7252 Clear Path Home Solutions provides home safety and accessibillity assessments for seniors, veterans and individuals with disabilities. We identify fall risks, recommend home modifications and coordinate solutions that promote safe, independent living through personalized evaluations and trusted partnerships.

delando PARKER

Title: Manager Company Name: CLEAR PATH HOME SOLUTIONS LLC Company Address: 609 Metairie Rd , Metairie , Louisiana 70005 Phone: 985-718-7252 Through Clear Path Home Solutions (CPHS) we are building a bridge between safety, accessibility and quality construction for older adults and individuals with disabilities. As a certified home modification professional and licensed contractor, we help families move from uncertainty to a clear path and plan, providing in home assessments, personalized recommendations, cost guidance and coordinated modifications that make it possible for people to remain independently and safely in there homes.

Harshada Patil

Graduation Year: 2020
Title: Occupational therapist Company Name: Interface rehab, inc. Company Address: 20530 Anza Avenue , Torrance , CA 90503 Phone: 3237674587 An elementary level in Home Modification field, however enthusiastic to learn about practical and real life process.

Richard Pearson

Graduation Year: 2020
Title: Rehab Project Coordinator Company Name: Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay Company Address: 9031 BRELAND DR , TAMPA , Florida 33626 Phone: 8132152722 Responsible for the assessment and overseeing on more than 100 home modification projects a year.

Val Pehrson

Title: Program Manager Company Name: Rebuilding Together DC-Alexandria Company Address: 628 North Carolina Ave SE , Washington , DC 20003 Phone: 2026410419 I'm a government grants program manager based in Washington, DC. I provide free home repair and home modification projects to low-income homeowners in Washington, DC.

Rachel Peraino

Title: Occupational Therapist Company Name: I work in a pediatric outpatient clinic Company Address: 424 Manhattan Ave , Hermosa Beach , California 90254 Phone: (310) 766-3882 I am interested in continuing to learn about this field. I would be willing to shadow or intern to gain additional experience.

Marian Perillo

Graduation Year: 2015
Title: Physical Therapy Company Name: Perillo Physical Therapy Services LLC Company Address: 6607 Mimosa St. , INDIAN TRAIL , NC 28079 Phone: (704) 607-9989 I have worked for several home health agencies in my 40 year career as a physical therapist. My experience enables me to provide more specific recommendations relative to both cognitive and physical abilities.

Lisa Peterson

Title: Program Director Company Name: Independent Living Choices Company Address: 4107 S. Carnegie Circle , Sioux Falls , SD 57106 Phone: 6053623550 I work with participants with disabilities to coordinate home modifications to make their home accessible so they can remain independent in their homes.

BevVan Phillips

Graduation Year: 2016
Title: Home Modification Specialist Company Name: Craft Lifestyle Managment Company Address: 7228 Burt St. , Omaha , NE 68114 Phone: (402) 306-4028 I'm an occupational therapist with a 20+ year practice involving home modifications. I'm interested in how people interact with the environment and how it affects function. Recently have become more involved in designing therapeutic environments in the home.

Sherry Pidgeon

Graduation Year: 2020
Title: self employed OTR/L, ECHM, CAPS, CDP Company Name: Home Mobility VT Company Address: 376 Pumpkin Hill , Williston , VT 05495 Phone: 8025783440 My initial focus was going to be Aging In Place however I have broadened my plan and will now market to those 65+ to address those at risk for falls. I am now a Medicare B provider which will open many doors for me as there are very few OT's in private practice in Vermont.

Tamara Polidore

Graduation Year: 2016
Title: OTR, CLT Company Name: Life Care Center Company Address: 1761 Brightmeadow Ct. , Orlando , FL 32818 Phone: (407) 421-6507 Educate patients on home modifications to decrease risk of falls towards end of rehab stay by proving a home assessment

Katrina Polk

Graduation Year: 2024
Company Name: Dynamic Solutions for the Aging, LLC Company Address: 1885 Tubman Road SE , Washington , DC 20020 Phone: 202-870-6974 We are a research and development firm with over 40 years of experience designing and integrating aging-in-place concepts into customized solutions for the population aged 50 and above, caregivers, and businesses that serve them. Specifically, we collaborate with developers, builders, architects, urban planners, health-related service providers, and individuals to design and renovate age-friendly, certified aging-in-place spaces.

Rachel Poythress

Title: Safe at Home Program Manager Company Name: Rebuilding Together Peninsula Company Address: 2361 Poplar Ave , East Palo Alto , California 94303 Phone: 650-481-8879 I work with clients that are income-qualified to make their homes safer and more accessible with government grants, donations from corporate sponsors and individuals, and through volunteer labor.

Rachel Poythress

Graduation Year: 2024
Title: Safe at Home Program Manager Company Name: Rebuilding Together Peninsula Company Address: 2361 Poplar Ave. , East Palo Alto , California 94303 Phone: (650)481-8879 Specialty: I work with clients that are income-qualified to make their homes safer and more accessible with government grants, donations from corporate sponsors and individuals, and through volunteer labor. I work with clients that are income-qualified to make their homes safer and more accessible with government grants, donations from corporate sponsors and individuals, and through volunteer labor.

Melissa Prudencio

Graduation Year: 2019
Title: Occupational Therapist Company Name: Brooks Rehabilitation Company Address: 3856 Michaels Landing Circle E , Jacksonville , FL. 32224 Phone: (904) 859-3121 I graduated from the program in 2019 with almost three years of experience as an occupational therapist working in a skilled nursing facility. I plan to complete the courses to be a certified aging in place specialist as well and eventually assist the older adult for aging in place in my community in Jacksonville, FL.