Jeff has been a licensed physical therapist for 34 years since graduating from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Kean University. Jeff also received his MBA from Grand Valley State University. His diverse background in acute care settings, rehabilitation centers, sports medicine, and in general orthopedic private practice allows him to treat all ages and surgical and non-surgical patients with expert care. Jeff served as a regional manager of a large rehabilitation company, was the headache specialist at Mary Free Bed, and successfully managed five freestanding outpatient physical therapy practices.

Jeffrey S. Carter, PT has studied extensively with the IAOM (International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine) https://iaom-us.com/ and combines 34 years of practicing manual therapy, and completed over 50 continuing education course work with a functional medicine based approach to become a healthcare leader in West Michigan. He is known in Grand Rapids for his skill in successfully treating spinal conditions including the treatment of acute and chronic headache, low back and pelvic pain. Jeff has extensive training, skill and experience in manual therapy, treating orthopedic, sports and work-related injuries. He understands the special needs of the aging population as he served as a therapist in various long-term care centers utilizing his training in balance and ambulation recovery techniques. Jeff utilizes a Functional Medicine approach in his physical therapy treatments. He treats with Dry Needling, Cupping and other forms of Manual Medicine Physical Therapy.

Jeff is married to Sharon, his lovely wife of 39 years. He is a father of four and grandfather of four. Jeff is active in outdoor activities such as boating, hunting, cycling and landscaping. He enjoys all kinds of music , and is a musician. Jeff loves Jesus Christ and seeks to serve Jesus in his life. Jeff’s passion is to honor God through serving his patients, staff and all who come visit Apogee Therapy Center.

Sharon is our Director of Nutrition at Apogee Therapy Center. Sharon earned her bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Eastern Michigan University and was awarded Outstanding Dietetics Student in the state of Michigan by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  Sharon entered her dietetics career as Director of Nutrition Services for a cutting edge healthcare community and then moved into the position of Director of Nutrition and Wellness at Grand Rapids Christian Schools and Long Term Care Consulting Dietitian. Along with her full time jobs, many years were spent serving the local dietetics community as a board member of the Dietitians of West Michigan, and Sharon served as a past President of the organization. Being a continual learner is a keystone of Sharon’s professional life.  

Sharon realizes we are all on a health journey, and she is continually applying what she learns and growing in her own personal health journey. As a clinical dietitian, Sharon uses her diverse background to guide patients in preventive health, using nutrition as a tool to achieve peak performance. Sharon centers her nutrition practice directly in line with Functional Medicine / Integrative Health Based systems. She diligently studies the leaders in FM / IH and their peer reviewed research. Sharon stays at the vanguard of current research and evidenced based nutrition practices.

Outside interests of Sharon include spending time with family, working out, performing outdoor activities and dancing. Sharon’s  faith in the Lord Jesus is central to her life and she seeks to live for Jesus in all she does.

Katie earned her Bachelors of Science degree from Central Michigan University and her Masters of Speech-Language Pathology from Eastern Michigan University.  She is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) with the state of Michigan and is a credentialed member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).  Katie has spent the last 5 years of her career working in various elementary and secondary schools in and around Grand Rapids. Katie has experience with pediatric and adult speech therapy services, and she is excited to continue her work in the outpatient setting!

Katie has studied or been trained in Social Thinking, Language Acquision through Motor Planning (LAMP), Augmentative and Alternative Communication, and has attended conferences provided by the Statewide Autism Resources and Training Project (START) out of Grand Valley State University.  Katie also has experience working with a variety of pediatric and adult diagnoses and disorders such as articulation, expressive/receptive language delays, voice disorders, stuttering, social language, apraxia, dysarthria, aphasia, and cognitive impairments.

Katie plans to continue pursuing education and training in the areas of feeding therapy, swallowing treatment, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication methods.

Katie was born and raised in the Grand Rapids area and currently resides there with her husband, Andrew.  When she’s not working, Katie enjoys hosting get-togethers in her home, cooking, exercising, and listening to books-on-tape!

Autumn has been a massage therapist for 12 years graduating from Blue Cliff College in Lafayette, LA in September of 2006. Autumn also has an Associates in Arts degree from Valencia Community College in Orlando, FL. Over Autumn’s career she has worked with patients of all ages, from infancy the final stages of life, with issues as simple as stress management/ relaxation to more serious problems, like frozen shoulder and sciatic pain. Whether your pain is from a chronic condition, repetitive motion, a specific injury you sustained or you, “just woke up feeling this way”, Autumn can administer (provide accommodate) the requisite treatment for your needs. She is also trained in Pregnancy Massage, Bamboo massage, Hot Stone massage and Aromatherapy to help make your treatments more enjoyable.

Autumn moved to west Michigan in March of 2008. In October of that year she married her best friend, Ted Bahlke. In 2017 God blessed them with a sweet little girl they named Mikaela.

Autumn has a passion for helping others through the skills God has blessed her with and strives to serve the Lord in her work. She loves music of all kinds, reading, hiking, paddle boarding, and learning new things.

“It is such a blessing to me to be able to bring healing and relief  to the people I work on.

I am excited to be a part of a team of such great people who have true passion for helping others be the best version of themselves they can be physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.”

Mindy Law is excited to come back and join the Apogee team as a staff member after being a PTA student here in the spring of 2015.  She graduated from Baker College in 2015 with her Associates of Science degree. Since then, she has been employed by Spectrum Health covering in their various subacute inpatient as well as outpatient care facilities.  This has included experience working with neurologically impaired patients including those with traumatic brain injuries and those recovering from strokes. She has also been a coverage therapist for Advent Physical Therapy at their various outpatient orthopedic locations.  Her experience working for these two companies has allowed her to treat a variety of patients from children to geriatrics.

Her passion for educating and empowering patients on their path toward healing has evolved over time.  Elementary education is where she started after completing her Bachelor degree from Hope College in 1997 and Masters degree from Grand Valley State University.  She taught for 9 years prior to have twin girls. Staying home with her kids was the best choice she made as it was during this time she decided to pursue another degree in physical therapy with the encouragement of her husband, Jason, who is a physical therapist.

Mindy has 3 girls –  9 year old Madison and 12 year old twins Sienna and Sydney.  She spends a lot of her time attending their basketball and soccer games and various musical lessons and events.  In her spare time, she enjoys running, a good bootcamp workout, traveling, and spending time with family. A favorite spot is the family cottage up north on Torch Lake.

Jenna is thrilled to join the Apogee Team after being a clinical student at Apogee in December of 2019.

As a personal trainer for over 6 years, Jenna fostered a love for injury prevention from the beginning of her career in the movement science industry. It was her love for people and injury prevention that led her back to school to get her Physical Therapist’s Assistant degree from Baker College.  Jenna also has a certificate of Applied Functional Science from Gray Institute and is a Certified Personal Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine.  Jenna was also nominated for the Best Personal Trainer by the People’s Choice of West Michigan!

Jenna has experience training thousands of individuals ages 10 to 89, as well as leading and designing high-energy group training sessions.  Her passion is “bulletproofing” athletes in their sport, as well as restoring each person’s ability to move pain free, no matter their ability or age. Jenna is excited to become an increasingly advanced manual therapist while under the mentorship of Jeff Carter.

In her free time, Jenna loves doing long distance triathlons and enjoys a good sushi roll. She looks forward to moving to Grand Rapids from the lakeshore after marrying her fiancé Austin in the summer of 2020.  She is passionate about empowering each person to do things they did not think they could do, and showing them the kind of love in action that Christ shows her.

Justyna’s journey with Apogee began as an undergraduate student observing Jeff. Since observing, she worked as an aide, and has held the role of Assistant Practice Manager for four years. She believes wholeheartedly in the mission to honor and serve each and every patient with individualized care.

Justyna earned her Bachelor’s degree in Allied Health Sciences and Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Grand Valley State University. She was the president of her class which allowed her to be the communication between students, faculty, and the community, allowing her to serve others and give back.

Justyna is passionate about the field of pediatrics and treating patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. 

Justyna has a 20-year history of dancing. She danced competitively with a studio, danced for her high school’s dance team, and danced throughout her undergraduate time at GVSU. Dance brings her joy and is her only artistic quality, so she loves to use her experience to help others grow stronger and express themselves both physically and emotionally!

Abbey is currently an undergraduate student at Grand Valley State University, majoring in Allied Health Sciences. After she graduates, she plans to attend graduate school in pursuit of a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Abbey’s aspirations to study physical therapy came after spending many months as a PT patient, and she enjoys being able to use her skills and experiences to help others to recover at Apogee.

In addition to staying on top of her studies, Abbey involves herself in many different clubs and activities at Grand Valley. Riding for the Equestrian Club, being an active member of the Pre-Physical Therapy Club, and participating in Campus Ministry are just some of the ways she enjoys spending her time. At her hometown of Kalamazoo, she remains involved in 4-H and loves spending her days at home teaching younger kids how to ride and show horses. In her free time, Abbey enjoys line dancing and spending time outdoors. Whether it’s in the barn, at the library, or playing sports, she loves to keep herself busy.

Emilie is currently attending Grand Valley State University and majoring in clinical exercise science. After undergrad she plans on pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy.

Emilie chose to study physical therapy because she wants to positively impact the lives others through recovery. She admires the way Apogee treats all patients as family while also providing excellent care. While at Apogee, she hopes to build her knowledge of physical therapy techniques and personally connect with each patient.

Emilie has been involved in athletics all her life and now enjoys outdoor adventures on the West Side. She loves hiking dunes with friends, playing intramural soccer, and petting every dog she can. Most of all she enjoys spending time with her family, even though they are on the East Side of the state. Emilie is also very grateful for the opportunities God has given her and all the guidance He will continue to provide.

Josh has been part of the Apogee staff since 2015.   He graduated from GVSU with a bachelor’s degree in clinical exercise science in 2018 and is currently a member of GVSU’s doctorate of physical therapy class of 2022. He is the pro-bono coordinator for his class which means he directs physical therapy services to uninsured patients in the community. Josh desires to give patients holistic care and treatment. He appreciates Apogee’s authentic and open culture as it enables staff and patients to be real and honest with each other.

Josh loves exploring our natural world and learning about different cultures. He is a follower of Jesus. He is married to his wife Kristin. They enjoy hosting and creating space for fun and relationship.

“I believe that evidence-based, compassion filled treatment in conjunction with the human spirit has the potential to restore someone’s physical freedom and revive hope.”

Dr. David Carter is a licensed physical therapist at our Apogee South Carolina location. He received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Michigan.  David has experience working in a variety of clinical settings, including: outpatient orthopedics, sports medicine, private practice care, acute care, inpatient rehab, short term care, skilled nursing, and neurology. His diverse background allows him to treat all ages (infant to geriatric), surgical and non-surgical patients with expert care. David completed his undergraduate studies at Grand Valley State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Health Science with a minor in Physical Education.

David has extensive training and experience in manual therapy and has had great success treating spinal conditions including the treatment of acute and chronic headaches, low back pain, and pelvic pain. In 2018, David received his certification in Dry Needling through Myopain Seminars.  Dry Needling is a new evidenced based approach to releasing trigger points and relieving neuro- muscular pain. David is also a certified clinical instructor and has an extensive background in strength and conditioning, working with all athletes from little league to elite level.

David is originally a native of West Michigan. He is married to his beautiful wife, Lora, who is also a licensed physical therapist.   Lora is a southern bell, who grew up in Elberton, GA. The couple met during physical therapy school and it was love at first sight! David and Lora started their physical therapy careers in Michigan, until they wised up and moved down south to Blue Ridge, SC.  Along with being a physical therapist, David is Dad to their two boys, Riggins and Saxon. The Carters have two dogs, Bean (Party Poodle) and Hank (Black German Shepherd). The Carter Family enjoys activities such as boating, swimming, playing ball, wakeboarding, hiking, attending concerts, antiquing, and watching Michigan and Georgia Football. David and Lora also enjoy training together at Crossfit Greer.

David is passionate about his role as a physical therapist at Apogee Therapy Center, and loves being a part of the rehabilitation process of his patients. Seeing his patient’s progress through the rehabilitation process is a joy and an honor. David enjoys being apart of the Greenville community and having a Godly, lasting impact on all of his patients.

Dr. Lora Carter is a licensed physical therapist at our Apogee South Carolina location. She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Franklin Pierce University. Lora has experience working in a variety of clinical settings including: outpatient orthopedics, skilled nursing, acute care, sub-acute care, and neurology. Lora completed her undergraduate degree at Anderson University in South Carolina, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and playing NCAA softball for four years.

Lora is specialized in Women’s Health focusing on pelvic floor dysfunction, and is also a Geriatric specialist.  Lora believes in a well-rounded, functional physical therapy approach, tailoring goals toward a healthy lifestyle so her patients can return to their hobbies pain free and at peak performance.

“I have a passion for people, serving others, and continuing to further my clinical expertise through continuing education"

Lora was born and raised in Georgia where her family still resides. Go Dawgs! She is married to her handsome husband, David, who is also a licensed physical therapist. They met during physical therapy school, and this southern lady fell for a northern rascal. The couple began their physical therapy careers in Michigan, before deciding the cold Michigan winters were not for them! Lora and David quickly decided to move to the sunny south, and relocated to Greer, SC!  Along with being a Physical Therapist, Lora is also Mom to their two boys, Riggins and Saxon. Lora has two furry, four-legged children named Hank (Black German Shepherd) and Bean (Party Poodle) that are very much apart of the family and go everywhere with the Carters. The family of Six enjoy time on the lake, swimming, hiking, playing ball, working out together, antiquing, and watching Georgia and Michigan football.

Kara Petruzzelli is a registered dietitian nutritionist at our Apogee South Carolina location. She completed her dietetic internship at Lenoir Rhyne University in North Carolina. Kara has experience working in a variety of outpatients settings, including: pediatric obesity, pediatric nephrology, pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric cardiology, sports nutrition, and adult lifestyle nutrition. Her diverse background allows her to treat all ages with expert care. Kara completed his undergraduate studies at DePaul University in Chicago, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology with a concentration in health and wellness, and completed her post-baccalaureate certificate in Nutrition and Dietetics at Dominican University in Illinois. Kara is currently perusing a dual master’s degree in Sports Nutrition and Strength and Conditioning from Concordia University. She moved to Greenville after completing her dietetic internship in 2018. Kara has two dogs, Tucker and Harley, both rescues. Kara is an avid CrossFit

athlete and has competed in a number of events across the Upstate. She has experience working as a CrossFit coach since 2014. Kara’s desire to work with the athletes is rooted in my passion for personal health and wellness as a CrossFit coach and competitor. As an athlete and competitor she knows what it takes to compete. Kara has immersed myself in the field of health and wellness working at a variety of fitness facilities, helping people with their goals of becoming healthier, stronger, better versions of themselves.

Harrison is a licensed physical therapist assistant hailing from Greenville, South Carolina. After obtaining an Associate of Applied Science degree from Greenville Technical College in 2015, Harrison has since worked across the upstate in myriad healthcare settings. While equipped to address diagnoses of all sorts, Harrison excels in treating neuromuscular disturbances and orthopedic injuries. Harrison is the producer of “The Apogee Podcast" (found on various platforms such as Apple and Spotify), which interviews outstanding contributors to the Crossfit™ community and discusses various topics such as health, fitness and business.

A native to Upstate South Carolina, Harrison enjoys the outdoors and can often be found on one of the many trails provided by the beautiful surrounding foothills with his wife, Erin, and little dog, Bear. If not, he is likely zoned into a podcast while sweating it out in the gym.

Courtnie is a licensed physical therapist assistant with an Associate’s degree from Greenville Technical College. She has been with Apogee since March 2018 after previously working with another outpatient physical therapy company. Courtnie and her husband Connor, both Greenville natives, have been married since April 2017 and reside in Simpsonville. They enjoy staying active in their free time, whether it be playing basketball, hiking in the mountains, or tossing the football in the backyard on game day. Courtnie impacts her community by encouraging her patients to live healthy, active lives and coaching JV girls basketball at Southside Christian School.

Jessica is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Upstate (USC Upstate), with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Business Administration. Before attending USC Upstate she played NCAA basketball at Erskine College for two years.

Jessica was born and raised in Greer, SC and still resides there. Jessica and her husband Reese, also a Greer native, have been married since December of 2018. They have a  dog named Ava (Weimaraner). They enjoy traveling, sports, outdoor activities, music, cooking and spending time with family and friends. Jessica loves Crossfit and enjoys working out at Crossfit Greer and participating in competitions. She loves exercise, living a healthy lifestyle and is committed to helping others achieve their fitness goals.

Jessica started working at Apogee Therapy Center in March of 2017. Jessica is the Billing Manager for Apogee, and the Practice Manager at our South Carolina location. She is committed to the mission of Apogee and serving the people of the Upstate.

Quote: “Building relationships is an important part of physical therapy. I love getting to know patients and being a part of their recovery so they can get back to daily living.”

Jennifer joined Team Apogee in May of 2019 performing a dual role of front office
associate / therapeutic aide. Jennifer obtained an Associate’s Degree in Business from
Greenville Technical College. She worked at Michelin North America in customer
service before deciding to stay home and raise her family. Jennifer is currently in her
fourth year of coaching volleyball at Greer Middle College Charter High School.  She
and her husband Billy have been happily married for 20 years. Together they have 3
children: Kate, who will be attending the University of South Carolina in the fall, Abby, is
starting her Freshman year in high school in the fall and Rocco is 10 years old.  They
also have 2 beloved dogs, Blue & Max and a feisty female kitten named Batman.
Jennifer is originally from Mississippi but has lived in the Greer area for 30 years.
Jennifer is a member of CrossFit Greer and enjoys living a healthy lifestyle. She and her
family enjoy playing games, traveling, swimming, being active and spending the hot
summers at the lake or beach.