About Us

Nancy Lotowycz -
Director, Speech Therapist Pathologist

Nancy graduated with a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from East Carolina University as well as a Master's in Education. She has been practicing speech pathology for the past 30 years and and is currently director/owner of Coastal Therapy & Learning Center, Inc., formerly Beaches Speech and Language Center. Nancy's expertise is in working with various disciplines including pervasive developmental disorders, autism, Asperger Syndrome, Down Syndrome, as well as developmental speech and language disorders. She is trained in various oral-motor techniques including the Beckman Oral-Motor Approach. In addition, she has worked extensively with children and young adults who stutter. Nancy is certified in the area of Accent Modification, catering to foreign English speaking adults or those who wish to modify a regional accent. Nancy founded this practice in 1995 in order make speech and language services more accessible to those living at the beach. She has staff that provides occupational and physical therapy, as well as speech, language and educational services. She is committed to providing quality services for at risk children. These services are provided in-home, at the Center and in private schools throughout the Beaches, Southside, Mandarin and Orange Park areas.

Susan Montgomery - Speech Therapist Pathologist

Susan has 30 years experience as a speech language pathologist. She has worked in a variety of settings including the public school system, nursing homes and private pediatric practice. Inspired by Nancy Lotowycz’s dedication to providing affordable private therapy opportunities for children, Susan joined Nancy’s team 13 years ago.

Susan resonates with writer Ellen Gilchrist’s statements that includes we live at the level of our language; whatever we can articulate, we can imagine or understand or explore. Susan’s stated goal is to help children maximize speech language abilities so that the world is most accessible to them. She has worked with children who manifest the many challenges to speech and language skill mastery that presents in a variety of forms. Regardless of the challenges, she believes children and their families can be taught methods to overcome and/or manage speech and language disabilities while maximizing abilities. Susan is convinced that every child, combined with parental support, can achieve a level of language expertise that allows him or her to live life to the degree that is most enriching, overcoming and/or compensating for limitations resulting from speech and language issues.

Susan Montgomery, M. Ed. CCC-SLP
B.S.     St. John’s University, 1977
M.Ed.  Columbus University, 1985
Certificate of Clinical Competence awarded and maintained since 1985

Kellie Brown – Occupational Therapist

Kellie graduated with a Masters of Occupational Therapy from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She has had experience in numerous pediatric settings including Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. She has evaluated and treated children with a variety of diagnoses including autism spectrum disorder, brain injuries, cerebral palsy, stroke, fine motor delays and feeding difficulties. She is trained in Beckman Oral Motor and sensory integration. Her professional education includes courses such as Picky Eaters vs. Problem Feeders, Sensory Integration and Self-Regulation in the Infant and Young Child, Autism and the Military Child, along with many others. Kellie’s primary focus during therapy is to provide a fun and safe environment while implementing a variety of treatment strategies in order to improve each child’s function in the home, school, and community.

Christy Duke - Speech Therapist Pathologist

Christy Duke joined Coastal Therapy & Learning Center as a Speech-Language Pathologist in June 2006. She completed her Bachelor’s of Arts in Communicative Disorders from the University of Alabama in 1996. She then obtained her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Memphis. Christy has 14 years experience, specializing in the pediatric population. Her years in this field include working with a variety of speech, language, and communication needs in both the school and private clinic settings. Her diverse experience includes individuals with: autism, Down’s syndrome, apraxia, developmental delays, phonological disorders, articulation impairments, and language delays.

Christy holds a strong interest in early speech and language development, specifically in the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten populations. She is enthused at the successes observed at Coastal Therapy & Learning Center and continues to be committed to providing therapy that is fun, motivating, and functional to daily environments.

Joanne Walter - Speech Therapist Pathologist

Joanne graduated Cum Laude from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia with a B.S. degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a minor in Special Education. She received her Master of Education in Speech-language Pathology from the University of Georgia.  Joanne has extensive experience working with children of all ages in the areas of phonology, auditory processing, expressive-pragmatic disorders and apraxia. She has a special interest and experience in working with children on the Autistic Spectrum.  Joanne worked as a research assistant in the Stuttering Disorders Laboratory at the University of Georgia utilizing state of the art techniques for treating children who stutter.  With her gentle approach and warm personality, she immediately puts children at ease.  Joanne has won numerous awards including the Jane H. Harvey Award for Clinical Achievement and was a nominee for the Joan Berryman Award of Clinical Excellence.  She continues to serve as a nominations committee member for Alpha Sigma Tau and assists in interviewing prospective candidates for National Council and Staff positions.

Penny Harkey – Physical Therapist

Penny was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended Florida State University and University of Central Florida, where she received her Bachelors in Psychology, with focus on child development. She then pursued her Master's degree in Physical Therapy at North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, Georgia, with focus on pediatrics.

Penny performed her clinical residency at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egelston. She has worked in several positions in both pediatric home health and outpatient environments. Penny has experience working with a variety of pathologies and diagnosis, including Down Syndrome, Autistic Spectrum, Cerebral palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Torticollis, Genetic Syndromes and Developmental Delay. She also has experience with Hippotherapy and Aquatic Therapy. Penny received Interactive Metronome certification in February 2005.

Penny has presented at Metro Atlanta Autism support groups as well as the Annual AAKSIS conference in 2005. She is also an active member of the physical therapy community and participates in continuing education courses to learn and explore the newest techniques.

Lauren Hudson – Speech-Language Pathologist

Prior to obtaining a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Florida with a 4.0 GPA, Lauren completed internships at Shands Hospital, University of Florida Speech & Hearing Center, and a pediatric private practice in Gainesville, FL. Lauren has experience working with children of all ages and familiarity with a variety of diagnoses including language delay, auditory processing disorder, articulation/phonological disorders, dyslexia, apraxia, and craniofacial disorders. Lauren worked as a research assistant on a project that studied impact of the Hanen More Than Words® program on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. Upon beginning her graduate work, Lauren was awarded an assistantship under the Department Chair of Communicative Disorders at UF. She currently participates in “My Friends,” a club created to support social interaction for teens with ASD. She is excited to meet the children and parents at Coastal Therapy and looks forward to working with each and every one of them!

Kathryn – Billing Manager

Kathryn is a graduate of the University of North Florida, and has been a part of Coastal for several years. Her position at Coastal involves handling all billing issues including insurance filing and claim appeals. She is happy to assist all Coastal Clients in understanding their insurance benefits as it relates to the services we offer. Please feel free to call our office or email her directly at kathryn@coastaltherapy.net to find out if your child’s services could be covered by insurance.