ILOTA's governance structure and bylaws separate the volunteer leadership into two groups: The Executive Board and the Full Board:

Executive Board:

Oversees the current and future functions of the organization. Leads the board of directors to move the organization forward and ensuring the organization addresses the needs of the membership across the state. Follows and updates the organizational bylaws to ensure continuity. Networks with the Presidents from neighboring state associations. Ensures state representation with the AOTA.

Beverly Menninger, MA, OTR/L is the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Assistant Professor in the Master of Occupational Therapy Program at North Central College in Naperville, IL. She received her master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Southern California. Bev served as the ILOTA Executive Board Secretary and Conference Co-Chair in 2019. Bev continues to see children as an OTR in an outpatient pediatric setting.

Submits formal notes from all organizational meetings. Oversees the Archives.

Samantha Smith, MS, OTR/L is the Manager of Allied Health Orientation and Training in Internal Staff Development and Senior Occupational Therapist on the Nerve, Muscle, and Bone Innovation Center at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. She received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University in 2014. Her professional interests and expertise include orthotic fabrication and hand therapy, vision rehabilitation, and adult inpatient rehabilitation for oncology and medically complex populations. Outside of work, Samantha enjoys exercising along the Chicago lakefront path, hiking, cooking, and volunteering for Operation Snowball (a youth drug and alcohol prevention and leadership program).

Organizes and manages budgetary information (manages accounting system, including but not limited to account coding, labeling of line items and proper assignment of debits and credits).

Sarah Mugavero, OTD, OTR/L, is a school-based occupational therapist in Aurora, Ill. She received her Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of New Mexico and Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy from Shenandoah University. Sarah has worked with a variety of students of mixed abilities focusing in the areas of positioning, feeding, sensory processing, developmental motor skills, motor planning skills, self-advocacy, adaptive equipment and assistive technology.

Oversees the advocacy of Occupational Therapy within the state seeking out barriers facing our profession including public policy and reimbursement. Collaborate with AOTA and state lobbyists to further promote and protect the role of occupational therapy.

Pooja A. Patel, DrOT, OTR/L, BCG, CDP, CFPS, is an acute care therapist, the founder/owner of Aging Together and GenAI4Rehab, and host of the Aging Together, Unfiltered podcast. She received her Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DrOT) from the University of the Sciences in 2017. Her professional expertise includes a Board Certification in Gerontology, dementia care, and fall prevention. Dr. Patel currently practices inpatient on a per diem basis, serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor and guest lecturer across multiple universities, and leads her own caregiver consulting and AI education companies. Dr. Patel enjoys spending time with her husband, Sagar, and their puppy, Roxy.

Addresses ways to increase and retain membership in order to safeguard the practice of Occupational Therapy practice in Illinois.  Oversees the professional development committee, among others, and oversees staff maintenance of the current membership database.

Luther King earned his Master of Occupational Therapy in 2008 from Chicago State University. After graduating, he practiced Occupational Therapy, primarily providing care in a skilled nursing facility, while also specializing in Driver Rehabilitation. In 2016 Dr. King earned a Post Professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Governors State University (GovState). From June 2017 through May 2020 Dr. King served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Florida (UF), where he assisted in the development and implementation of clinical driver rehabilitation services. In May of 2020, Dr. King became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at GovState and aspires to develop a community-based driver rehabilitation program to enhance community mobility for medically at-risk drivers in the Chicago Southland area and beyond.

Oversees all communication methods provided by the organization, including The Communiqué newsletter, social media, and the website.

Lauren Stone Kelly, OTD, OTR/L is the Doctoral Capstone Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at North Central College in Naperville, IL. Lauren earned a bachelors degree at DePaul University, her MSOT from Washington University in St. Louis, and OTD from Boston University. Lauren has interests and experience in many areas of OT practice, though pediatrics is her passion. She also has specialty focuses that in sensory integration and neuro-oncology with pediatric populations. Lauren loves to spend time with her husband, Josh, and her dog, Babe.

You may email [email protected] to contact any of the board members. 

Is typically the first contact to the organization. Communicates with the general public, members, and directs communication to the appropriate resource.

Full ILOTA Board (includes the Executive Board, SIS Coordinators and Co-Coordinators, and Committee Coordinators and Co-Coordinators):

Special Interest Section (SIS) Coordinators and Co-Coordinators (updated July 2025):

Academic Education: Piper Hansen and Ryan Thomure

Administration & Management: Nancy Richman and Frank Czuba                

Assistive Technology: Joy Hyzny and Kathleen Ellis        

OTA: Ruby Loera

Developmental Disabilities: Rita Moore            

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI): Lillian Chen-Byerley   

Early Intervention: Clare Giuffrida and Alison Hanlon

Gerontology: Pooja Patel   

Home & Community Health: Monika Robinson and Ruby Loera

Mental Health: Maddy Nave and Ryan Thomure                 

Neurorehabilitation: Alexandra Wax and Katie Fierstein

Orthopedic & Upper Extremity Rehab: Maud Makoni and Laura Carlos

Pediatrics: Alison Baker and Ashley Hettlinger

School-Based Practice: Lara Barros and Michelle Van Acker

Sensory Integration and Processing (SIP): Samantha Holzschu and Kyra Bariller

Committee Coordinators and Co-Coordinators (updated August 2025):

Bylaws Coordinator: Cassondra Jackson

AOTA Representative: Lisa Mahaffey

Archives Co-Coordinators: Ashley Stoffel and Kathy Preissner      

Nominations Coordinator: Hannah Kaytonah

Board Recruitment Coordinator: Jacqueline Becker

CE Coordinator: Sarah Zera         

CE Approval Co-Coordinators: Jennifer Richert and Kate Barrett

Conference Co-Coordinators: Maud Makoni and Stephanie McCammon

Student Conclave Co-Coordinators: Kiah Atkinson and Emily Harstad

Reimbursement Coordinator: Nancy Richman    

Public Policy Coordinator: Emma Penn

Awards Coordinator: Gail Fisher           

Professional Development Coordinator: La'Taria Overstreet                        

Networking Coordinator: Jennifer Summers

Newsletter Coordinator: Erin Luy

Website Coordinator: Jenn Lim

Social Media Coordinator: Stephanie Reichard

Blog Coordinator: Katie Little

Student Co-Liaisons: (Vacant)

Fieldwork Coordinator: Phyllis Hughes

Community Outreach Coordinator: Bridget Hahn

Accessibility Coordinator: Mia StClair

Leadership Development Committee Coordinator: John Dudzik

Retention Coordinator: Vacant

If you would like to contact any Executive Board or Full Board member, please email [email protected]. Thank you!