about
Since 1988
New Jersey / Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA)
The New Jersey / Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of ATRA is a professional network of therapeutic recreation specialists, students, educators, and advocates working to advance the field of recreational therapy across our region. As a regional extension of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, we are committed to promoting the use of recreation and leisure as a powerful tool for improving quality of life and supporting individuals with physical, emotional, cognitive, and social challenges.
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Our awesome team
Board of Directors
NJEPA TRA November 2024-2025
Lacey Speert
President
CTRS – Specialization in Geriatrics, CDP, CMDCP, CLL, Chair One Instructor, Certified Chair Chi Instructor
njepatra@gmail.com
I have been a CTRS since 2004. I have worked with older adults, young adults, and children over the years in various Long Term Care facilities. After graduating from the University of Delaware, my aspiration was to work with children in the school system. While I was working at a school, I discovered Recreational Therapy at Kean University via r. Daly and followed Equivalency Path B with getting the credits to sit for the NCTRC exam and the rest in history. I enjoy working with older adults, providing meaningful engagement opportunities. I especially enjoy working with the retired firefighters for the past 10 years. Over the years, I have been involved on committees for NJ/EPA-TRA and ATRA. I have also been the New Jersey Member at Large and the president for NJ/EPA-TRA. I have a passion for advocacy,education, and REConnecting!
Hannah Scott
President Elect
CTRS
njepatra@gmail.com
I’ve been a CTRS for three years and I’ve spent the entirety of my professional career in pediatric long term care. Working in pediatrics was my goal throughout college, and I could not be more thankful for the growth, opportunities, and connections that my position has given me so far! After gaining a few years of experience in the field and gaining a new passion for recreation therapy, I decided to dive in and join the BOD as president-elect to further my involvement in a profession I love so much! I am so excited to work with a team of like minded professionals to continue growing this organization as a whole.
My favorite modalities include anything outdoors! 🌲☀️Spending time outside has so many benefits for the kids that I work with, and I love helping them explore their environment in new ways. Specifically, I really enjoy facilitating water play, taking the kids on adapted bike rides, and taking trips to different parks/playgrounds! 🛝🚲
Jordan Kane
Treasurer
CTRS
njepatratreasurer@gmail.com Hi! My name is Jordan Kane, a mom of two, a CTRS since 2018, and current Treasurer for NJEPA-TRA. I graduated in 2018 with my Bachelors in Therapeutic Recreation from Temple University. While studying at Temple, I was actively involved in the recreation therapy student organization, serving as the President, Vice President, and Treasurer over the years. Since graduating, I have been working in behavioral health, in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
I have been a member of NJEPA-TRA since I was a student at Temple and I look forward to the annual conference each year to catch up with old professors and colleagues. I am very excited to be working on the Board of Directors for NJEPA-TRA and am looking forward to this next chapter of the organization. We are dedicated to offering our members unique opportunities for learning and continuing to support efforts in obtaining licensure for our profession.
Fun Fact: I enjoy going to farmers markets, finding new coffee shops to visit, junk journaling, and gardening.
Carol Grygleski
Secretary
CTRS
njepatra@gmail.com Carol Grygleski, CTRS has been a Recreational Therapist since 2017. She has worked in many settings to include community based mental health, memory care/hospice, military and veteran care, adaptive recreation, and inpatient psych. Her favorite modalities include community outings and gardening. She is the co-host of the Real Talk Recreation Therapy Podcast which covers all sorts of topics relevant to Recreational Therapists. In her free time she loves hiking with her husband and dog and working out. She has been secretary at NJEPA-TRA for almost 2 years and is proud of how the organization has bounced back after the pandemic.
Kristina Levine
PA Member at Large
MS, CTRS, CBIS
njepatra@gmail.com
Kristina Levine is a CTRS and a certified brain injury specialist (CBIS) who is passionate about advocating for the Recreational Therapy profession and policies that support individuals with disabilities. I currently work at a pediatric facility for individuals with medically complex diagnoses. Kristina has experience working in community-based settings with individuals diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities, long-term care settings for older adults, and neurorehabilitation. She received both her bachelors and masters in Recreational Therapy from Temple University.
Lucy Tomczynski
NJ Member at Large
CTRS, CCLS
njmemberatlarge.njepatra@gmail.com I have been a CTRS for 25 years and a CCLS (Certified Child Life Specialist) for 23 years. I have worked my entire career within the Long Term Care Pediatric Population. This experience has served as such a diverse look into all things recreation therapy as I have had the pleasure and honor to serve individuals with so many different disabilities, diagnoses, ages–and just as important, their families. The combined skill and education of the dual certification plays such an integral role in how I have elevated my program planning in the past and now how I apply that to my clinical supervisory role.
My interest in NJ/EPA TRA began as a student and early in my professional career as a BOD treasurer. After years of focusing on my own clinical practices and raising my family, I wanted an opportunity to reconnect other recreation therapists in various settings and with the mission and goals of the NJ/EPA TRA to continue moving the profession forward.
There are several modalities I consider my favorite. First cooking! This modality brings about so many opportunities to guide your client toward goal achievement! It can be social, memory and feeling provoking, direction following, problem solving, and so much more. My other favorite is community outings. This modality connects the client with the community and vice versa. The list of benefits is too long to list here but just knowing that so many can benefit from even the simplest outing (like a walk around the block) is reward enough for me.