Our Team
Elizabeth Coward, CTRS
Elizabeth Coward serves as a Recreational Therapist in the SCI Unit at Charlie Norwood VAMC in Augusta, GA. She previously served on the 2021 Board of Directors as Secretary, as well as spearheading the initiative to increase program protocols for membership access. Elizabeth additionally has experience working with persons being treated for mental health needs.
Education: B.S. Recreation, Emphasis: Recreational Therapy, Minor: Psychology, Georgia Southern University, 2018
Population Expertise: Veterans; Mental Health; SCI
PAST-PRESIDENT
Grace Parfitt, CTRS
I have worked as a CTRS in behavioral health since I graduated from Southern Miss in 2017 (SMTTT!). I love to learn and I love to teach the future of RT by supervising interns every semester.
Some of my leisure interests include: swimming, running, travel, reading, and hiking with my dog, Akira!
Education: B.S. Therapeutic Recreation, The University of Southern Mississippi, 2017
Population Expertise: Behavioral Health
PRESIDENT
Isabel Jones, CTRS
Isabel Jones earned a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Georgia Southern University in 2020. During her studies she served as Student Representative for the GTRA board. After completing her internship at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, she worked as a Recreation Therapist with children and adolescents in an acute and residential behavioral health center. She returned to Charlie Norwood VAMC as an RT on the acute inpatient mental health and residential substance recovery units. She remains working at Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center providing Recreation Therapy services to a residential Community Living Center; as well as outpatient programming and co-coaching the National Veterans Golden Age Games team. She is passionate about serving the Veteran population, geriatrics, and the Recreational Therapy community.
Education: B.S. Therapeutic Recreation, Georgia Southern University, 2020
Population Expertise: Geriatrics; Veterans; Behavioral Health
PRESIDENT-ELECT
A.J. Sumser, CTRS
A.J. Sumser is a 2022 graduate of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and is originally from Cleveland, Ohio. Following completion of his internship in adapted outdoor recreation at the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah, he moved to Atalnta, Georgia to work at the Shepherd Center as the Aquatics Specialist. In his time at the Shepherd Center, he has worked to revamp the aquatics program including increasing education on aquatic treatment options more than doubling available pool programs, and revitalizing the adapted SCUBA diving program. He is very passionate about water safety and spends his time outside of Shepherd teaching swim lessons for Neverland Adaptive Aquatics and lifeguard training courses for Safety Penn LLC. He is currently receiving his Masters in Parks and Recreation Management from Northwest Missouri State University and plans to further his education by receiving his PhD in the following years. He is thrilled about the opportunity to serve on the GTRA BOD and is working to foster outreach and growth within other geographic areas of the state.
Education: B.S. Therapeutic Recreation, Slippery Rock University, 2022
Population Expertise: Aquatic Therapy for individuals with Spinal Cord Injury and/or Traumatic Brain Injury
TREASURER
Jamee Gridine, CTRS
Jamee is an alumna of Clemson University. She is currently working in a Mental Health facility and has been a Recreational Therapist for a year and half. She enjoys spending time with family, reading, traveling, and spending time outdoors when the weather is nice.
Education: B.S. Therapeutic Recreation
Population Expertise: Child and Adolescent Mental Health
SECRETARY
MEMBER AT LARGE
Ali Vanderslice, CTRS
Ali Vanderslice is a Recreation Therapist at Manor Care in Marietta, GA. Ali previously served on the board as student representative and enjoyed getting to work with her fellow BOD members and serving Recreation Therapists in the state of Georgia. She now holds the position of Member at Large and is eagerly excited to serve on the board the next two years.
Education: B.S. Therapeutic Recreation, University of Tennessee, 2022
Population Expertise: Older Adults
Jeremy Maddox
Jeremy Maddox is a strong advocate of Recreation Therapy and is proud to serve as Consumer Representative on the BOD. Jeremy has been with GTRA from the beginning, are we are grateful to have him as our consumer representative.
CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVE
Amy Solana
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
Amy Solana graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Berry College in 2023. She lives in her hometown of Powder Springs, GA and is currently in her first year of Indiana University’s online Master of Science in Recreational Therapy program. After obtaining her CTRS, she wants to work as a recreational therapist for senior adults. She has experience working with the special populations of Parkinson’s, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. Amy is also a dancer and dance instructor. In her free time, she likes to crochet, hike, and spend time with family/friends.
Education: B.S. Exercise Science, Berry College, 2023; M.S. Therapeutic Recreation Candidate
Population Expertise: Older Adults
Caitlin Piland, CTRS
Caitlin Piland is is a Recreation Therapist at Manor Care in Marietta, GA. Caitlin also previously served on the board as student representative and enjoyed getting to work with her fellow BOD members and serving Recreation Therapists in the state of Georgia. She has worked with individuals of all age ranges with various types of disabilities as well as individuals ages 18 and up who are in recovery from Substance Use Disorder. She enjoys getting to work with the geriatric population.
Education: B.S. Therapeutic Recreation, University of Tennessee, 2022
Population Expertise: Older Adults
MEMBER AT LARGE
