President-Elect (1 year term, 1 seat open)
Alison de la Montaigne EdD, OTR/L
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Dr. Alison (Ali) de la Montaigne is an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program and the Medical Director of the Therapy Institute at Midwestern University. She has experience across all adult practice settings, and in her role as Medical Director, supports clinical operations and community initiatives within the Therapy Institute.
Dr. de la Montaigne teaches the research series within the occupational therapy curriculum and enjoys helping students build confidence in evidence-based practice and its application to professional practice. She is passionate about experiential education and service learning, and she values opportunities that promote community engagement, advocacy, and compassionate, client-centered care. Her professional interests include integrated care, health equity, and interdisciplinary collaboration to support unhoused and underserved populations through community-based outreach efforts.
Dr. de la Montaigne previously served two terms as Vice President of the Arizona Occupational Therapy Association (ArizOTA) from 2020–2024 and is currently serving as President for the 2025–2027 term. She is grateful for the opportunity to serve the profession and hopes to continue supporting ArizOTA through a second term.
Vice-President Elect (2 year term, 1 seat open)
Dr. Khadijah Guy OTD, OTR/L, CLT, DCS
My name is Khadijah Guy (OTD, OTR/L, CLT, DCS) and I have seven years of experience specializing in gerontology and community-based practice. I hold my doctorate from Creighton University and completed an AOTA Fellowship in Gerontology back in 2019. I bring a strong foundation of clinical expertise across acute care, home health, skilled nursing, mental health, and inpatient rehabilitation.
I am deeply committed to serving her community, currently holding leadership roles as Vice President of the Arizona Occupational Therapy Association and Executive Secretary on the Board of Directors for Crossroads, Inc. A passionate advocate for older adults, I am Dementia Connection Institute certified and actively contribute to the Dementia Friendly Buckeye Action Team, where I work to expand awareness and support for those living with dementia as well as their caregivers.
Having had the privilege of serving one term as Vice President, I would be honored to continue in this role for a second term. I remain dedicated to supporting and empowering the Association's Special Interest Sections, fostering meaningful student involvement and engagement at all academic levels, and growing membership to strengthen the future of the Arizona OT community.
Secretary (2 year term, 1 seat open)
Holly Jones OTD, OTR/L
Arizona native and graduate of Arizona State University, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Wellness before continuing my education at Midwestern University, where I completed my Master’s in Occupational Therapy. I also completed my post-professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at Baylor University, with a capstone focus on social participation in young adults post-stroke. I have been a practicing occupational therapist for 18 years with a passion for neurorehabilitation and evidence-based stroke recovery. My clinical experience spans inpatient acute rehabilitation, acute care/ICU, Level I trauma centers, and outpatient neurorehabilitation, with specialized experience in stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), low vision, and amputee rehabilitation. Throughout my career, I have participated in interdisciplinary program development, stroke workgroups, ICU early mobility initiatives, CARF accreditation efforts, and clinician education programs. I recently transitioned into a full-time faculty position within the Occupational Therapy Program at Midwestern University, where I am honored to share my passion for the occupational therapy profession, mentorship, and lifelong learning with future clinicians. I continue to practice clinically at Swan Rehab without Walls and at Midwestern University’s Therapy Institute, specializing in stroke and TBI recovery. I am also actively involved in the Arizona Occupational Therapy Association, currently serving as Secretary.
Tania Shearon DHSc, OTR/L, CHT, C-IAYT
Tania Shearon is an occupational therapist (OT) with over 30 years of clinical experience in adult physical rehabilitation. She has lived and worked in Arizona since 1997 in both inpatient and outpatient settings in the Phoenix area. She received her certification in hand therapy in 1999 and have provided upper extremity rehabilitation throughout the continuum of care for orthopedic and neurological issues.
Beginning in 2014, Tania began post-graduate training in the area of professional yoga therapy, receiving certification as a yoga therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists in 2017. She utilizes yoga as a therapeutic modality for both orthopedic and neurologic conditions. She completed her Doctor of Health Sciences degree with a focus on fundamentals of education in December of 2022 and is currently faculty at A.T. Still University in their OT department. She is the current co-chair for the ArizOTA special interest section for pelvic health and a 1-year board member, term expiring July, 2026.
Treasurer-Elect (1 year term, 1 seat open)
Chad Spear, OTR/L
Chad has been an OT in Tucson for nearly 15 years working in home health and building an Aging In Place business. He has been an active member of ArizOTA since 2014; serving as the Tucson Group Chair, Conference Committee member, AZ's representative to the Western Regional OT Spring Symposium and currently serves as Treasurer.
As treasurer he has focused on strengthening the organization's financial stability by growing revenue streams, modernizing membership options, increasing transparency, expanding research grant and scholarship funds, building reserves and reducing expenses. These efforts have helped position ArizOTA to better support its members and occupational therapy practitioners across Arizona. If re-elected, Chad will continue working to ensure ArizOTA maintains a strong financial foundation to support and advance Arizona's OT community.
Diversity Representative (2 year term, 1 seat open)
Tyler Michael, OTD, OTR/L, CAS
Tyler Michael, OTD, OTR/L, CAS is the founder and Clinical Director of Capable Therapy, a pediatric home health occupational and speech therapy practice serving families across Arizona. She has nearly 15 years of experience as a pediatric occupational therapist in children's hospital outpatient rehabilitation, schools, teletherapy, aquatic therapy, and home health. Tyler is certified as an Autism Specialist as well as, a DIR/Floortime and the SOS Approach to Feeding practitioner. Her clinical work is grounded in neurodiversity-affirming, family-centered, and culturally responsive practice that emphasizes inclusion, accessibility, and respect for the unique strengths and identities of every child and family.
Tyler is deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the OT profession. As a leader, educator, and employer, she has intentionally built a diverse interdisciplinary team at Capable Therapy and is passionate about creating environments in which therapists, students, clients, and families from all backgrounds feel valued, represented, and supported. In her role as Clinical Director of Capable Therapy, she has developed and implemented diversity and specifically, neurodiversity-affirming trainings and mentorship initiatives for her interdisciplinary team to help foster culturally responsive, inclusive, and strengths-based care practices across the organization. She would be honored to have the opportunity to contribute to ArizOTA’s efforts to foster a more inclusive and equitable professional community across Arizona.
She previously served for 7 years as Pediatric Special Interest Chair for the Arizona Occupational Therapy Association (ArizOTA) and currently serves on ArizOTA’s Legislative Committee and the Occupational Therapy Program Advisory Boards for A.T. Still University and Pima Medical Institute. Since 2018, Tyler has served as an adjunct instructor in 3 Arizona OT and OTA programs and has mentored occupational therapy students for more than a decade. In recognition of her leadership and commitment to best practice, she was named ArizOTA’s Outstanding OT of the Year in 2023, and her company Capable Therapy was recognized as Phoenix Magazine’s Best of the Valley for Home Health Services in 2025.
One Year Board Member (1 year term, 2 seats open)
Melissa Yeung, OTD, OTR/L
Melissa Yeung, OTD, OTR/L, earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego, and her master’s and doctorate from the University of Southern California. She has experience in acute care, rehabilitation, and mental health occupational therapy, including work with the HUD-VASH program supporting Veterans in Hawaii. Melissa formerly taught at University of Hawaii - West O'ahu and currently teaches at A.T. Still University. She is passionate about service locally and abroad, adaptive sports, and veteran support.
She is hoping to join the ArizOTA Board as a 1-year board member to support the growth of the profession, advocate for practitioners and students, and help strengthen the occupational therapy community across Arizona.
Adam Sakievich, MOTR/L
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Adam Sakievich, MOTR/L, has been an occupational therapist for ten years. He completed his undergraduate at the University of Arizona and his Masters of Occupational Science at Midwestern University- Glendale. He has spent his career in the ICUs of Banner University Medical Center and Flagstaff Medical Center. Currently he is working in a Neuro/Burn ICU. In 2025-2026 he served as a one year board member for ArizOTA.
Holly Hussey, OTD, OTR/L, CHT
Holly Hussey, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, is an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist with over a decade of experience in upper extremity rehabilitation, hand therapy, and clinical leadership. She currently practices at Spooner Lake Pleasant and previously served as Clinic Director at Spooner Surprise, where she specialized in the treatment of complex hand and upper extremity conditions. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Hussey is an Instructor in the Occupational Therapy Program at Midwestern University, where she teaches and mentors students in movement analysis, upper extremity rehabilitation, evidence-based practice, professional development, and teaching and learning principles.
Breanna Straseske, COTA
Hi my name is Breanna Straseske! I’m originally from a small town in Wisconsin. I moved here about 6 years ago now shortly after I graduated. I graduated from Madison College in Madison Wisconsin. I’ve been predominantly working in school systems, but I also work in a rehab PRN, and do pediatrics home health. OT is so special to me for many reasons. Ten years ago I had a brain tumor removed, in which I had OT myself. I learned more about the profession and I fell in love with it. My mom who had passed away 5 years ago, had also had OT. I was with her during the experience while she was hospitalized and her OT was amazing, as was mine. Once I dove into the world of OT I knew I wanted to work with kids. When I found out pediatrics was an option in OT I was sold. I am so passionate about what we do. We give people and kids the best chance to succeed. The love I have for this profession can’t be put into words. So being able to give back to the OT community would be an honor.