Meet Our Passionate Tidal Therapy Solutions Team
At Tidal Therapy Solutions, our team is the heart of what we do. We are a group of passionate and experienced professionals dedicated to helping individuals achieve their communication and functional goals. Get to know the talented individuals who make our therapy services exceptional!
Meet the Occupational Therapy Team
-

Rachel Walke
AUTHORIZATION SPECIALIST
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT
Rachel is originally from Mooresville, NC and moved here in 2020. She and her husband have a son and 3 crazy Corgis! She has been an Occupational Therapy Assistant for 8 years receiving her degree at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. Now moving to a non-clinical role with Tidal Therapy as the Authorization Specialist. She has a passion for helping families and making sure the necessities are set up for your child to receive the services they need. In her free time she enjoys spending time on the beach looking for seashells and shark teeth with her family!
-

Rachel Presti
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Rachel is a dedicated occupational therapist and neuro-specialist with over 28 years of experience graduating from Concordia University of Wisconsin. Rachel treats patients with a variety of orthopedic and neurological disorders however specializes in stroke rehabilitation and other neurological conditions including Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and vestibular deficits. She has demonstrated her dedication to community support by spearheading four stroke support groups across the Charlotte metropolitan area and Hampstead, offering guidance to individuals who have had a stroke and neurological challenges.
Living in the beautiful beachside town of Hampstead, Rachel enjoys an active outdoor lifestyle that includes biking, swimming, yoga, and soaking in the calming atmosphere of the beach with her husband and two daughters.
Rachel is thrilled to be a part of the Tidal Therapy team, where she embraces an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to wellness, working to improve her clients’ quality of life.
-

Meredith Gallagher
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Meredith is a 2025 grad of the Master of Occupational Therapy Program at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, and is very excited to join the team at Tidal!
Meredith grew up in Connecticut and New Jersey, and relocated to Wilmington in 2018. It was during her time studying psychology for her undergrad at James Madison University that she discovered a passion for Occupational Therapy and decided to pursue this interest following graduation. She received her associates degree in occupational therapy in 2020 from Cape Fear Community College, and hasn't looked back since.
Meredith has had several years of experience as an OTA, both in outpatient and school-based settings, and was eager to return to pediatrics after her masters program. Her main areas of interest include interdisciplinary collaboration, primitive reflexes, family centered care, and all the ways to facilitate play!
When she is not working, Meredith enjoys visiting new places, reading, trying out new coffee shops, and quality time with family and friends.
-

Alli Sutton
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT
Alli is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with 10 years of experience supporting individuals across the lifespan, from early intervention and pediatrics to adults and older adults. Over the past decade, she has worked with a wide range of diagnoses and functional needs, and prides herself on adapting intervention creatively to support meaningful participation and success for every child and family.
Originally from Henderson, NC, she moved to Wilmington 10 years ago and has loved growing both personally and professionally in this community. Her passion lies in thinking outside the box- using creativity, play, sensory exploration, and individualized approaches to help children build confidence, skill, and independence.
Alli began her OT journey at Cape Fear Community College, where she completed her OTA degree. Alli is currently advancing my education at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, working toward her Occupational Therapist (OT) degree to continue expanding her skills and clinical impact.
Outside of work, Alli enjoys spending time with her two dogs, cat, and family, reading, doing yoga, and crafting. -

Sydney Watkins
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT
Sydney is originally from Greensboro, NC but moved to Wilmington about 10 years ago. She graduated from UNCW in 2016 with a degree in exercise science and decided to go back to school a few years later to become an occupational therapy assistant. She has been a COTA for almost 3 years working in the pediatric population. "I love my job working with kids and helping them grow to their full potential". When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her dogs, going to new restaurants with her husband and hanging out on the boat or by the pool.
-

Lina Lawson
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT
Lina has lived in Wilmington for 14 years, prior to that she lived in Chicago, Costa Mesa and the Dominican Republic. She has been a COTA for 3 years working with both adults and pediatrics in home health, public schools, and assisted living facilities. Sheena obtained her degree from Cape Fear Community College and am is currently enrolled to earn her Occupational Therapy Masters at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. Lina and her husband love to travel and surf abroad. In her free time she loves to cook, skate, surf, do DIY home renovations and eat Britts Donuts.
-

Conner Grindstaff
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Conner graduated from Lenior-Rhyne University in 2020 with her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree. Prior to obtaining her MOT, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Science from Longwood University. Conner grew up in Martinsville, Virginia before moving to Hampstead, NC in 2022. "I have a passion for pediatric occupational therapy but have also enjoyed her time with the adult and geriatric populations". She has experience in pediatrics, lymphedema, and home health therapy. She can be found spending most of her free time kayaking, shopping, at the beach and/or pool, watching tv shows and movies, and with her boyfriend Gabe and lab, Lucy.
-

Alison Slomba
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Ali is a Buffalo native and Bills fan who relocated to North Carolina in 2022. She has been practicing pediatric Occupational Therapy for 3 years and has a passion for working with kids. In her free time, Ali enjoys spending time at the beach or pool, spending time with family and friends, and reading. Ali has joined our team on as needed basis and is ready to support our team and help your child grow to their fullest potential.
Meet the Speech Language Pathology Team
-

Makenzie Stutzman
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Makenzie was born and raised in a small town in Pennsylvania. She graduated from Bloomsburg University with her Bachelor's degree in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology in 2016 and earned her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2018. Makenzie has experience with various settings and ages, but working with the pediatric population is her favorite! She moved to Wilmington in the summer of 2021 with her dog, Sully, and loves living on the coast! In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, spending time with her dog, and traveling.
-

Kelly Walker
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Kelly graduated from the University of Akron with her masters in Speech- Language Pathology. She recently moved to coastal Carolina from Ohio with her fiancé. She has a passion for working with the pediatric population and believes in a play-based, patient centered approach to treatment. When she is not working, she is playing with her new puppy, hanging out at the beach, or reading!
-

Shanna Caldwell
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST CLINICAL FELLOW
Shanna earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama and completed her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of South Alabama. She recently moved to Wilmington to complete her externship and loved the area so much that she decided to stay.
She is passionate about working with both pediatric and adult populations and has special interests in dysphagia, aphasia, cognitive-communication, dysarthria, play-based language therapy, and feeding therapy.
Outside of work, Shanna enjoys spending time with friends at the beach, participating in Bible studies, watching movies, going to concerts, and cheering on Alabama football...Roll Tide!oes here -

Tracy Kost
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT
Tracy grew up in Upstate New York, where she received her Bachelor's of Science in Speech-Language
Pathology and Audiology at Cortland State College. Tracy decided to pursue a career in
Speech-Language Pathology, after spending much time with her Autistic cousin, leading her to
wanting to be a part of helping that population of children.
After graduating, Tracy accepted a position in the schools in Binghamton, NY, working as a Teacher
of Speech and Hearing-Handicapped for 3 years. Tracy then relocated to the Charlotte, NC area,
where she worked as a speech therapist for the schools in Lancaster, SC for 6 years, and then
transitioned to a pediatric, private clinic in Fort Mill, SC for 6 years, working with a diverse
population of children, birth to 21 years of age.
Tracy currently resides in WIlmington, where she has lived for 8 years, working with children in the
pediatric setting, for over 20 years, in the homes, schools, daycares, clinics, and as well as
telehealth. Tracy loves spending time walking her dog on the Riverwalk, downtown, exercising,
cooking, going out to dinner and spending time with her “toes in the sand” at the beach
Favorite Quote: "I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always
reach my destination." - Jimmy Dean