Meet Our Team

**Courtney Gibbs**
Speech-Language Pathologist, Owner

Courtney Gibbs, MS, CCC-SLP

Courtney moved to Wilmington in the summer of 2012 and began seeing patients in the Burgaw area in 2014. After seeing patients in their home and preschools as an independent practitioner, the need for local services was clear. Courtney opened Pender Pediatric Therapy, PC in September of 2016 to provide quality services to children and their families close to home. Courtney enjoys traveling with her husband and two daughters.

**Caroline Poe**
Speech-Language Pathologist

Caroline Poe, MA, CCC-SLP

Caroline Poe is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist from Greensboro, NC. She attended UNC-W for an undergraduate degree in Recreation Therapy and UNC-G for her master degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Caroline enjoys working with young children and their families to help them grow and succeed. When not at work you can find her spending time with her dog, reading, and going to the beach.

Mayce Wood, SLP-Assistant

My name is Mayce Wood, and I am from Wallace, NC. I recently graduated from East Carolina University with a bachelor degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences. I am a registered SLP-Assistant working under the supervision of Courtney Gibbs, MS, CCC-SLP. In the near future, I plan to attend graduate school to become a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. In my free time, I like to spend time at the beach with family and friends.

Shanedra Covington, SLP-Assistant

Shanedra joined the PPT team in August of 2021. Shanedra received her Associate of Arts degree as a Speech Language Pathology Assitant at FTCC before going on to achieve a Bachelor Degree in Speech Pathology from NC A&T State University in 2018. She sees students in the public school setting. In her free time, Shanedra spends time with her two precious children .

**Cassie Hatala**
Speech-Language Pathologist

Cassie Hatala, MA, CCC-SLP

Cassie is a SLP licensed and registered through the state of North Carolina. Originally from the Philadelphia area, Cassie relocated to Wilmington in the summer of 2022. Cassie earned her bachelor degree in Speech-Language-Hearing from Temple University and her master degree in Speech-Language Pathology from West Chester University. Cassie enjoys working with young children and facilitating their language. She has a special interest in skill in augmentative communication. Outside of work, Cassie enjoys spending time at the beach with her husband, child, and two dogs.

Haleigh Tharrington
Speech-Language Pathologist

Haleigh Tharrington, MS, CCC-SLP

Haleigh Tharrington is a licensed SLP in the state of North Carolina. Haleigh is PROMPT Trained. Currently, she serves children in private schools, in the community, and in their homes in Wilmington.

Merna Tawfik, MA, CCC-SLP

Merna is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with a background in pediatric therapy. Originally from the Middle East, she moved to the United States to become a SLP. She earned her Bachelor Degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders at Wayne State University, and her Master Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Eastern Michigan University. After graduating, Merna moved to Wilmington to be closer to her family. Merna’s clinical interests include articulation, speech sound disorders, and facilitating language development in young children. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active, spending time with her family, and exploring fashion and beauty.

Megan Sydnor, MA, CCC-SLP

Megan is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist originally from Greensboro, NC. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Wofford College and her Master Degree in Speech Pathology from UNC-Greensboro. Megan enjoys working with the pediatric population and their families to help support their overall communication needs. In her free time, Megan likes to bake (especially cookies and cakes), go on walks, and spend time with her family and friends.

**Robin Dunbar**
Insurance and Billing Specialist

Robin Dunbar, Office Manager

Robin joined Pender Pediatric Therapy, PC as a billing specialist and office coordinator in June of 2017. As the practice rapidly grew, so did her role and responsibilities. As a mother of two children, one whom is on the Autism Spectrum, she understands that importance of having developmental services locally, as well as how to be flexible and coordinate with clinicians and families.

Morgan Myers, MS, CCC-SLP

Originally from Pennsylvania, Morgan earned a Master of Science in Speech- Language Pathology from Bloomsburg University. In 2021, she relocated to North Carolina and has since been dedicated to supporting children with a variety of communication needs, including articulation, language, fluency, social communication, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Outside of the therapy room, she enjoys golfing with her husband, spending time with family, and spending time at the beach.

Michelle Brand, MA, CCC-SLP

Michelle is a pediatric speech-language pathologist who specializes in oral motor and feeding therapy, as well as more complex and medically involved children with speech, language and feeding issues. She received her graduate education at Northwestern University in Illinois and obtained her first job in a pediatric clinic that specialized in treating medically complex children. Michelle worked beside occupational and physical therapists who generously shared their knowledge on fine motor, gross motor and sensory development and she has been able to transfer that knowledge to the families and therapists she works with Michelle moved to North Carolina from Illinois in August 2023, where she worked in Early Intervention for over 20 years. Michelle has a wonderful family including her husband and two amazing daughters; one of which is a speech-language graduate student in South Carolina and the other is a 4th year nursing student at Miami University in Ohio. She also has two rescue dogs who she loves almost as much as her children. Michelle now works at Pender Pediatric Therapy where she feels both appreciated and supported. She works at their clinic in Burgaw; and sees children in their homes and daycares as well. Michelle is looking forward to continuing her work with children and their families here in beautiful North Carolina.

Mallory Williams, CF-SLP

Mallory Williams, or Miss Malley to her clients, is a recent graduate from the UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Medicine. Pender Pediatric Therapy is where she is beginning her career as a Speech Pathologist- Clinical Fellow. She attended Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute, where she was awarded her SLP-Assistant degree in 2021, before going on to graduate summa cum laude from Appalachian State University in 2023 with a major in Communication Sciences & Disorders and a minor in Criminal Justice. She is a fur momma to her kitties, Chicken Marie, Scuttle, Dutton, Juliette, & Romeo. In her free time, Mallory enjoys being at the beach with a good book in one hand and a Diet Coke in the other!