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Our Team
Peter
Dickinson, MS,PT,SCS
Physical Therapist
Pete’s
specialty is obtaining cutting edge therapy techniques to help each
patient reach their goals and return to activity as quickly as possible.
He is a board-certified specialist in sport, with a Masters degree
in Physical Therapy. Pete’s effective approach to care led
him to serve as Physical Therapist to the US Ski Team. He continues
to supervise coaching programs for elite athletes and also finds
time to serve as a coach of the Methow Valley Nordic Team. As an
avid road and mountain bike rider, alpine and Nordic skier, Pete
“walks the talk” and still manages to dote on his wife
and two children without skipping a beat. |
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Lisa
Sawyer, PT
Physical Therapist
Lisa
hails from Belfast, Northern Ireland by way of Australia, New
Zealand, Kenya and England. We’d like to think, however,
that her roots are planted right here in the Methow Valley, because
she’s definitely a keeper! In her ten years as a Physical
Therapist, Lisa has trained in all therapeutic disciplines including
neurology, pediatrics, respiratory and musculoskeletal rehabilitation.
She specializes
in manual therapy of the spine. Lisa’s personal love of
sport, and training in sports injuries, makes her a welcome addition
to our team. |
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Colleen
Ryan, DPT
Physical
Therapist
Colleen is the newest edition to our physical therapy team. She
grew up in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and graduated from the University
of Montana with a BS in Exercise Science. She went on to receive
her doctorate in Physical Therapy and practiced in the Seattle
area until her recent move to the Methow Valley.
A natural athlete whose interests include “any outdoor fun”,
Colleen loves bike riding, trail running, backpacking and skiing.
Most recently she added the title of Spin Instructor to her ever
expanding job description. Colleen’s future goals include
becoming a better nordic skier and learning to telemark.
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Janice
Dickinson, MA
Business Manager
Janice is the woman behind
the scenes. With a Bachelor of Arts in Business and a Masters in
Family Therapy, Janice has the perfect combination of skills to
keep all of us in line! In the spring Janice communes with the river
gods in her kayak and enjoys rafting with her kids. Janice will
tell you she’s a recreational athlete, but don’t believe
it! Janice is a favorite ski coach among the Methow Valley Junior
Team, and is also an excellent alpine skier, runner and cyclist.
In fact, on a recent trip to France ,she entered a road race (just
for fun) and ended up in first place in her division! (much to the
chagrin of her French competitors) |
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| Laura
McCabe
Endurance Sport Coach
This
modest, two-time Olympian in Nordic Skiing has won practically
every Nordic ski race there is to win in North America, including
the prestigious American Birkebeiner. Her experience as an elite
athlete also makes her a superb coach to both junior and masters
athletes.
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Monika
Courtney
Bookkeeper
Monika
is our bookkeeper and is responsible (along with Janice) for keeping
our entire operation glued together. We love her for many reasons,
not the least of which is that she writes the checks. Monika was
born and raised in Germany, but it’s impossible to imagine
that English is actually her second language. She is our resident
grammar expert, proofreader, and syntax sleuth. Not all of Monika’s
skills are academic, however. A former gymnast, Monika excels at
Alpine skiing and tennis, and has since added Nordic skiing to her
repertoire. Monika and her husband Robert live in the house they
built to go with Monika's impressive garden!
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Margaret
Waechter, Certified Exercise Specialist, ACSM
Athlete Testing Services
Margaret has her Masters degree in Exercise
Physiology and is an ACSM board-certified Exercise Specialist.
She conducts our athlete testing program
and coaches endurance athletes at both the junior and masters
level. No stranger to elite sport herself, Margaret is a former
Canadian National Ski Team member, and World Masters Nordic Games
medalist. Hailing from British Columbia, Margaret moved to the
U.S. when she met and married her American husband, Mark.
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Melanie
Whittaker, RYT
Yoga Director Melanie
has been practicing yoga for over 25 years. She teaches Iyengar
yoga and holds the Yoga Alliance Certification of 200 hours. Melanie
has a special gift for teaching yoga to diverse groups of people
from athletes to beginners. Having returned to teaching after
a year and a half struggle with breast cancer, Melanie credits
yoga with helping her through the illness and recovery process.
While recovering from radiation and chemotherapy treatment, Melanie
developed rheumatoid arthritis, a condition which has affirmed
her resolve to bring yoga to others suffering from this and similar
ailments. Melanie's new Therapeutic Yoga program is a huge success.
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Laurie
Miller
Certified
Personal Trainer & Clinical
Assistant
Laurie’s
engaging laugh is legendary in the clinic! Her attentiveness to
your therapy program ensures that you are on track and progressing
with your rehabilitation—no matter what the injury. Laurie
lived in Taiwan in her youth which contributes to her broad view
of the world. Laurie shares a love of horses and riding with her
husband and children and is also an avid runner. Laurie is a Certified
Personal Trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine.
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| Tedra
Acheson
Physical Therapy Assistant
Tedra and
her husband Dave have lived in the Methow Valley for nearly 10
years, almost qualifying as a local by some definitions! Both
avid Tour de France followers, they traveled to France last year
to follow the tour and cheer Lance Armstrong to his sixth tour
victory. Tedra graduated from Central University with a bachelor’s
in Fitness and Sport Management, and completed an internship in
cardiac rehab and physical therapy. Tedra adds a diverse set of
interests to our staff as a dance instructor in jazz and tap at
the LFW School of Dance. |
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Chris
Garner
Yoga Instructor
Chris Garner
began practicing yoga 30 years ago, primarily in the Inyengar
tradition. After moving to the Methow Valley, she began an apprenticeship
with Winthrop Fitness Yoga Director, Melanie Whitaker, a Certified
Iyengar instructor. Chris has also taken several teacher training
courses and studied under renown Yoga guru Aadil Palkivala. As
an instructor, Chris fosters the belief that flexibility and body
awareness are important at any age, and that the practice of Yoga
will enhance life not only on a physical level, but mentally and
spiritually as well.
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Lindsay
Picolet
Pilates Instructor
A fitness instructor for over 25 years, Lindsay has trained athletes in all forms of movement, from professional bodybuilders to ballet dancers at the New York City Ballet. Lindsay is a certified Pilates instructor, and has acquired over 500 studio hours of practice including extensive experience with both mat and Pilates equipment. Initially trained in the traditional Pilates method pioneered by the late Joseph Pilates, Lindsay has travelled from New York to London to evolve and vary her teaching methods. Her innovative style and challenging mat workouts draw a loyal following at Winthrop Fitness. |
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Lottie
Ekblad
Clinical Assistant
Lottie
grew up in Southern Vermont spending lots of time both Alpine
and Nordic skiing. She has worked as a Sherpa guide for youth
outreach programs on both the East and West Coasts, and enjoys
spending time in the outdoors with her family. Lottie enjoys hiking,
gardening and skiing in the winter. She also coaches for the Methow
Junior Nordic ski team, where her three daughters compete and
figure prominently on the team.
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Midge
Cross
Personal
Trainer In
addition to her personal training certification, Midge also holds
a BA degree in English and a Masters in Business Administration.
As a business consultant, her work focused on team building, goal
setting, communication and interpersonal relations. Her specialty
is helping people transition through life changes.
As a breast
cancer survivor and insulin-dependent diabetic, Midge knows a
thing or two about life changes. An experienced athlete and coach
specializing in running, cycling, cross country skiing and climbing,
Midge has climbed Mt. Everest as part of an elite, all-woman team,
skied across Finland, hiked the Alps’ Haute Route and continues
to climb around the world. |
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Shannon
Cramer
Front
Desk Receptionist
Shannon loves
people. If you’re having a bad day, just stop by, feel the
love, and your worries will be over. Having married a native of
the Methow, she now claims half the valley as family. The other
half, she’s adopted. Beyond her extraordinary people skills,
Shannon spent 36 years in the medical field as a technician and
receptionist. A natural born caregiver, she divides her time between
nurturing the entire Methow Valley, her seven children and five
(going on six) grandchildren. She also enjoys hunting, fishing,
camping, hiking and snow shoeing.
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Alison Hanks, LMP
Clinical Assistant & Massage Therapist
Alison brings a wealth of knowledge to her job in the clinic from her background as a massage therapist and a long distance athlete. Her quiet confidence and kind smile have been the perfect addition to our therapy team. Alison is frequently seen with her dog running on the valley trails, training for one of her upcoming ultra marathons. Contact her to schedule a massage at 996-3222. |
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Ginny Price
Personal Trainer
Ginny has been a "part timer" in the Valley for over 20 years and a big participant in the Nordic skiing events. After nearly 24 years as a scientist at a biotech company in Seattle, she is pursuing her love of sports and received her NASM certification and PSIA level 1 ski instructor certification in 2009. Ginny is now living mostly in Winthrop and enjoys Nordic skiing in the winter and swimming, biking, running and hiking in the summer. |
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