Suzanne Miller
Sue works for Croyle-Nielsen Therapeutic Associates as Compliance Officer for our adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism. She joined the team in January 2019.
Sue graduated from Millersville University in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education-Biology. She is the mother of two adult children: one has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and intellectual disabilities, while the other is a special education teacher in Pennsylvania. She started her career in 1992 as a Parent Coordinator for an Early Intervention/ Early Childhood Agency and later became the Supervisor of the Early Intervention Program. From 2005 to 2011 she was the Executive Director of K.T.Services, a self-directed support corporation so her daughter could receive necessary supports and services. From 2014 to 2019, she worked as a compliance officer for an agency that provides unlicensed services to adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. She brings 27 years of professional and real-life experiences in the world of disabilities to Croyle-Nielsen.
Sue volunteers at Emmanuel Baptist Church as a Leader of the Special Needs Ministry alongside her husband. Her desire is for people with disabilities to have an everyday life!
In her spare time, Sue enjoys reading, hiking and kayaking with her dog, gardening, hanging out with her daughter and visiting her grandson.
Melissa Beam
When not working, Missy enjoys camping, crafting and spending time with her husband and granddaughters.
Joanne Spaid
Joanne has been working with the ID population for 26 years. She began her career as a Residential Program Worker with DBHS, where she was later promoted to Program Supervisor and then Program Director II. She supervised ID Services group homes for over 20 years.
Currently, Joanne shares her years of experience working with Croyle-Nielsen, working with individuals who receive services from the In-home and Community Services Program.
Carrie Shawley
Carrie has worked in the human services field for the past 15 years and serves as the Behavior Support Supervisor at Croyle-Nielsen Therapeutic Associates. She graduated from North Star School District and went on to earn a B.A. in sociology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Throughout her career, Carrie has devoted her focus to helping youth and their families in various roles including a drug/alcohol rehabilitation counselor, a mental health worker at a partial hospitalization program, and a therapeutic staff support.
In 2015, Carrie continued her education and earned a M.A. in human services counseling (marriage and family). After receiving her master’s degree, she became a Licensed Behavioral Specialist under the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine and worked as a behavior specialist consultant and mobile therapist.
Carrie currently provides Behavior Support to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and supervises the program. Carrie resides in Somerset with her husband and children and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Ryan Tabek
Ryan Tabek is part of the Croyle-Nielsen Therapeutic team working as a Behavior Support Specialist. Ryan graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a concentration in Urban Education, completing his student teaching in Pittsburgh Public Schools.
Ryan has 8 years experience as an Elementary Educator and has served in various positions working with children ranging from elementary age through teenage years. His years of experience in the classroom have helped him to develop a passion for supporting people and affinity for dealing with the challenging aspects of people’s behavioral needs.
Ryan started his career with Croyle-Nielsen as a Direct Support Professional working in Croyle-Nielsen’s Residential Program prior to joining the Behavioral Support Team. Ryan chose to join the team at C-NTA because of the work we do with people with special needs individuals and his passion to serve and support these individuals.
Ryan enjoys spending his time serving at summer camps, assisting in various youth activities, and volunteering. When not working or serving others he enjoys reading, listening to records, playing music and spending time with friends and family.
Denise Morrison
After recently receiving a diagnosis of autism and symptoms of ADHD, Denise uses her diagnoses and passion for learning about them to better relate to, and to advocate for her clients.
When not working or helping her parents, Denise enjoys hiking, kayaking, watercolor painting, listening to music and spending time with family and friends, both human and animal.
Merissa Sandusky
Merissa works for Croyle-Nielsen Therapeutic Associates as the Interim Residential Program Director. She has a degree in Human Services and 10 years professional experience working with adults with intellectual disabilities. It has always been Merissa’s passion to serve others.
Merissa has a special interest in non-verbal individuals and those on the autism spectrum. This passion grew once she had her son, Jaidyn, who is on the spectrum himself along with having spina bifida.
Merissa is a strong believer in the power of positive thinking in the workplace and is looking forward to sharing techniques with her co-workers and staff.
In her spare time, Merissa enjoys spending time with her friends, family and her son, Jaidyn. Merissa also coaches three Elementary Cheer squads and the Varsity Cheer squad for Richland School District.
Savannah Taylor
Savannah is a graduate of Clarion University where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a focus in Special Education. Before joining CNTA, Savannah gained personal care experience serving as a direct support professional to her aunt who is diagnosed with an intellectual/developmental disability. Her aunt is her biggest inspiration, showing her that life always has it’s challenges but the good moments are truly great!
In Savannah’s spare time, she loves to hang out with her two cats, read, challenge herself completing escape rooms, and travel.
Sally Yutzy
Sally is the perfect addition to CNTA because she will move mountains for anyone she cares about both at home and in the work setting.
Sally is married with three children, four grandchildren and one great grandchild!
Melissa Melikant
Missy is a Registered Nurse with over 16 years of healthcare experience. She began her career as a personal care aide out of high school and strived to advance in her career. She obtained her Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Mount Aloysius College in 2015. She successfully completed her NCLEX shortly thereafter and began her career as a Medical Surgical Registered Nurse. While working, she obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Gannon University in 2018. Missy has spent most of her nursing career in the geriatric population and is a certified Gerontological Nurse through the ANCC. In previous positions, she worked as a case manager for a home and community-based program for the elderly then as a staff developer and infection control nurse in a nursing home during the COVID pandemic. In addition to working at CNTA, she also maintains her acute care skills by working as a neuro/stroke nurse at a local hospital.
In her spare time, Missy enjoys spending time with her husband, son and 2 dogs. She also enjoys volunteering with Bible2School and Emmanuel Baptist’s Special Needs/ABLE ministry. Through volunteering with ABLE, she learned she had a passion for the IDD community and learned that these individuals are at higher risk of medical complications due to their inability to communicate symptoms. She joined the CNTA team, because she feels all individuals should receive optimal medical care and early intervention to promote their independence in their home and community.
Sabrina Barnosky
Sabrina is a graduate of Mount Aloysius College with a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy. After working in the therapy field for two years, primarily with the elderly population, Sabrina discovered her passion with working with individuals with disabilities. Sabrina made a career change and became an Employment Training Specialist. She found great joy and success working one on one with the people she supported while assisting each with finding employment of interest and advancement in the workforce. Sabrina also continued her career by developing an HCH/Companion program for the agency she was working with. She worked in the Employment/HCH field for 10 years before transitioning into a manager role of a day program. With that combined time, Sabrina has more than 15 years’ experience. Throughout her career progression, Sabrina has gained experience working with various age populations, individuals on the Autism Spectrum, IDD, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and mental health diagnoses.
Sabrina believes in being an advocate for the people she supports. That everyone has a right to make choices that affect their lives and live in a safe, healthy, happy, respectful environment. Sabrina takes pride in the work she has accomplished throughout her careers and the friendships she has made.
When not at work, Sabrina is a nature girl and a music lover. She loves to embrace the comforts and simplicity of nature. She feels that music is her therapy and believes in the quote “ Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything”.