MEET OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Welcome to Westside Children’s Therapy, where our mission is to provide exceptional care and support to children and their families. Our dedicated and experienced executive team is at the forefront of this mission, driving our commitment to excellence in pediatric therapy services.

Our executive team comprises passionate leaders who bring a wealth of expertise and a shared vision for fostering a nurturing environment where every child can thrive. Their diverse backgrounds and innovative approaches ensure that we continuously enhance our programs and services to meet the unique needs of each child we serve.

Allow us to introduce the talented individuals leading Westside Children’s Therapy:

THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Shari Cassidy

Founder

As the founder, Shari is a pediatric physical therapist with nearly 40 years of clinical experience spanning a variety of medical settings. As a graduate of Northwestern University...

Shari Cassidy

Founder

Shari Cassidy, Founder of Westside Children’s Therapy, is a pediatric physical therapist with nearly 40 years of clinical experience spanning a variety of medical settings. As a graduate of Northwestern University in 1984, Shari’s passion for children led to an early career at Children’s Memorial Hospital, where she dedicated 12 impactful years. Motivated by a desire to bring high quality city therapy services to the suburbs, Shari began practicing independently, marking the beginning of a company that would be later named Westside Children’s Therapy. Her strong interest in understanding the basis of movements and in learning what drives human performance led to quality clinical outcomes among her patients. Over the next 25 years, this approach propelled Westside in becoming the largest pediatric therapy provider in Illinois, supporting over 5,000 children with developmental needs. Today Shari dedicates her time to mentoring therapists and instilling her technique of hands-on, skilled therapeutic intervention. Beyond her professional pursuits, Shari enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, skiing, hiking, and experiencing the great outdoors with her family.

Mark Cassidy

CEO

Mark Cassidy is the CEO of Westside Children's Therapy. He began his journey as an algebra teacher in rural Hawaii through Teach for America. This experience created a lifelong passion...

Mark Cassidy

CEO

Mark Cassidy is the CEO of Westside Children's Therapy. He began his journey as an algebra teacher in rural Hawaii through Teach for America. This experience created a lifelong passion to support vulnerable youth. He turned his passion into action and raised $500,000 for educational charities through large-scale fundraisers, including the 137-mile Hoku Relay in Hawaii and an alumni hockey tournament with the Chicago Blackhawks. Passionate about technology, Mark developed and distributed a software tool to K-12 mentoring organizations nationwide. In 2018 Mark attended Stanford Business School and focused his coursework on social entrepreneurship. Returning from school as CEO of Westside, this helped Mark scale the organization’s impact, evolving Westside into a network of 30 care sites across Illinois. His leadership principles include staying grounded, always having a “student mindset”, and taking accountability for his mistakes. Mark enjoys goofing around with his 2 kids, playing ice hockey, and spending time outdoors.

Shawn Bransky

COO

As Chief Operating Officer (COO), Shawn brings over 30 years of healthcare leadership experience to Westside. Shawn began his career as a Healthcare Administrator in the United States Air Force ...

Shawn Bransky

COO

As Chief Operating Officer (COO), Shawn brings over 30 years of healthcare leadership experience to Westside. Shawn began his career as a Healthcare Administrator in the United States Air Force where he gained extensive knowledge and experience in healthcare finance, administration and operations, retiring after 21 years at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Since that time, Shawn has served as Chief Executive Officer, COO and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for both large healthcare systems and rural hospitals across the country. Prior to coming to Westside, he served as the COO and CFO for Iroquois Memorial Hospital, a critical access hospital in Central Illinois. Shawn’s educational background includes a B.B.A in Accounting from Mercer University in Macon, GA, an M.A. in Healthcare Administration from Chapman University in Orange, CA, and he is a graduate of the Senior Leader Program at The George Washington University. Shawn’s background in the military and his career in healthcare is driven by a passion for serving others. In the role of COO, he serves the men and women of team Westside, overseeing day to day operations and ensuring that they have the resources and support they need to provide life changing care to children and families.

Mary Spreitzer

VP - Human Resources

Mary leads the Westside HR team in the important work of attracting, supporting, and retaining an incredible workforce focused on the shared mission of changing children's lives...

Mary Spreitzer

VP - Human Resources

Mary Spreitzer, Vice President of Human Resources, leads the HR team in the important work of attracting, supporting, and retaining an incredible workforce focused on the shared mission of changing kids' lives. She sees her scope of responsibility as “serving those who serve our clients” and has 30 years of HR experience, primarily in the fields of higher education and social services. Mary earned her MBA from Lewis University and holds both SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications. She actively participates in professional associations, reflecting her commitment to advancing the HR profession and enhancing the learning and performance of individuals and organizations. Mary met her husband while both were working at a United Cerebral Palsy affiliate, and they have maintained their lifelong involvement with organizations serving individuals with developmental disabilities. Together, they are excited to see their four children follow in their passion for helping others as each embarks on their own career in social services, education, and healthcare. Mary enjoys a variety of activities, especially when experienced with her family and friends.

Allyson Chrystal

VP - Pediatric Therapy

As VP of Pediatric Therapy, Allyson Chrystal M.S., MOT, OTR/L is committed to guiding and developing Westside’s team of highly-skilled therapists and leaders. Allyson is an occupational therapist with 25 years ...

Allyson Chrystal

VP - Pediatric Therapy

As Vice President of Pediatric Therapy, Allyson Chrystal M.S., MOT, OTR/L is committed to guiding and developing Westside’s team of highly-skilled therapists and leaders. Allyson is an occupational therapist with 25 years of experience in pediatrics across a variety of clinical settings. She received her MOT degree from Midwestern University, in addition to a M.S. in Functional Medicine/Human Nutrition from UWS. Prior to Westside, her passion for teaching and mentoring led her to serve as a clinical instructor in pediatrics for several years at Midwestern University and South Suburban College. Westside’s emphasis on building strong relationships with patients, families, and coworkers brought Allyson to Westside, aligning with her commitment to helping children thrive. In her free time, Allyson enjoys leading her outdoor fitness group and exploring remote travel destinations with her two children.

Corynn Lapsker

Director of ABA

As director of ABA at Westside, Corynn strives for an empathetic, empowering, and modern approach to ABA therapy to achieve the best outcomes for autistic children and their families...

Corynn Lapsker

Director of ABA

Corynn Lapsker is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the Director of ABA at Westside. She strives for an empathetic, empowering, and modern approach to ABA therapy to achieve the best outcomes for autistic children and their families. She holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a post-graduate certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders from Arizona State University. She was previously a Developmental Therapist specializing in the social-emotional development of children with various developmental delays and disabilities. Since childhood, Corynn has been drawn to the pediatric therapy field, due to her love of children and a strong desire to make an impact and promote acceptance in the special needs community. She is the mother of 3 young children and always on the go. She loves doing outdoor activities and spending time with friends and family.

Melissa Ulatowski

VP - Finance

Melissa brings to Westside over 25 years of healthcare industry experience. Prior to joining Westside, Melissa served on the executive...

Melissa Ulatowski

VP - Finance

Melissa brings to Westside over 25 years of healthcare industry experience. Prior to joining Westside, Melissa served on the executive leadership team as vice president of finance for Radial Health Group, a multi-state physiatry practice. Prior to Radial, she held accounting and finance leadership roles at Surgery Partners and National Surgical Healthcare overseeing financial reporting for several surgical hospitals and leading financial integration efforts for new acquisitions. Melissa’s love of children drew her to Westside and her “why” is to support and further the mission of helping children with special needs by providing organizational financial and strategic leadership. Melissa is a CPA and received her accounting degree from St. Mary's University of Minnesota. She is a mom of four and in her free time, Melissa enjoys watching sports with her husband, kids and two golden retrievers.