Therapy Team
John Payne, DPT, OCSDirector/Owner
John received his B.S. from Brigham Young University in Exercise Physiology. He then went on to receive a Masters of Physical Therapy at the University of Utah. He moved to Washington where he worked in a private practice in outpatient orthopedics and then returned to the University of Utah a year later to complete a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. John has worked in outpatient orthopedics for 16 years and has a board certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS). He enjoys employing manual therapy skills with exercise and movement to help his patients restore their active life styles. John is a busy father of four and enjoys the outdoors; hiking and camping when he can but most of his time he can be found working on home improvement projects around his house and farm. He also owns and operates a horse boarding facility, where he performs hippotherapy. Education: Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Physiology from Brigham Young University Masters and Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of Utah. 
Tiffany RoarkOccupational Therapist
Tiffany received her B.S. in art education from Kansas State University. She spent 10+ years working with children both in a school setting as well as a caregiver for numerous families. Once she learned about occupational therapy she realized this would be the perfect fit for her and her love of psychology, science, and child development. She completed her Master’s in occupational therapy from University of Puget Sound in 2021 through Covid, having 3 children, and moving from Seattle to Tacoma. In addition to Sundance, she works with adults in the acute care setting. She is passionate about increasing children’s outdoor time and providing motivating environments to increase autonomy and independence. She also has a passion for helping children better connect with their bodies in order to increase engagement in daily activities. She loves spending time with her family which includes her husband, 3 young kids, 2 cats, and a dog. Some of her favorite activities include biking, running, kayaking, backpacking, or just taking a nature stroll with her children. She also loves working on house projects or creating fun play spaces for her kids (usually in the backyard). She grew up riding horses with her older sister and enjoys bringing her children to the clinic to inspire the same equine connection she had as a child. 
Carolyn NeedhamOccupational Therapy Assistant
Carolyn Needham is a nationally certified, state licensed, occupational therapy assistant, at Sundance Circle Hippotherapy. Carolyn is a Washington native who received a bachelor's degree from Central Washington University and an associate degree from Bates Technical College. After graduation, Carolyn has worked in outpatient pediatric clinics across Pierce and King County. Carolyn selected this special pediatric setting for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and their families in her local community. Carolyn lives in Kent with her husband Billy. During her free time, she enjoys working in her garden, camping, and spending time with family and friends. |
Courtney Courtier, DPT, CLTClinical Director, Physical Therapist
Courtney was born and raised in Sammamish, Washington. She stayed "local" for college going to Eastern Washington University, but then decided to explore a new place graduating from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2019. Courtney started her career working in an outpatient orthopedic setting, but her first true physical therapy love has always been working with pediatrics and people with disability. She has had a passion for hippotherapy from an early age, volunteering at multiple hippotherapy facilities throughout her high-school and college years, eventually leading her to join Sundance Circle Hippotherapy as a treating therapist. When not at work, Courtney enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, hiking and exploring the beautiful mountains and landscape of the PNW, and cheering on the Seahawks! 
Melanie AchesonPhysical Therapy Assistant
Melanie received her Bachelors of Science in Physiology at California University at Fresno State, and furthered her education in Physical Therapy receiving her associates as a Physical Therapist Assistant from Denver Technical College in Denver, Colorado. Melanie is passionate about healing, nurturing, and making a positive impact assisting patients of all ages to gain, return, and progress functional mobility. With over 20 years of experience as a Physical Therapist Assistant, she has had the privilege of helping countless individuals and families learn and regain their strength in a variety of settings. When she found the opportunity to work here at Sundance it was truly a dream job. As a long time therapist with that little girl heart for horses it allowed her to meld the two wonderful worlds together. It’s allowed her to further her skills and see another avenue to the power of movement. Adapt and overcome is a motto that Melanie strives for everyday in the big and little things of daily life. When she is not helping others recover, you'll find her balancing the demands and chaos of being a busy mom of two active and awesome teens. She enjoys outdoor adventures , gardening, and long walks. Swimming and staying active fuel her soul and keep me energized. 
Alisa CordellOffice Manager
Bio coming soon! |
Foundation Team
Demarie McCurdyExecutive Director
Demarie grew up in Washington and graduated from Western Washington University in 2001 with a BA in Human Services. She worked as a Legal Advocate for victims of sexual assault and child abuse until 2007. After marrying her husband, Andy, in 2006, she moved to Puyallup and began her career in fundraising working at Good Samaritan Foundation. Demarie stepped away from work in 2009 when her twins were born 4 months early; her son is blind and on the spectrum, so she has a deep knowledge and compassion for parents/caregivers navigating the medical, therapy, and school systems. She began volunteering at Sundance in early 2023 and fell in love with the kids receiving therapy, as well as the horses. Her son receives hippotherapy at Sundance and her husband and daughter also volunteer here. She enjoys spending time with her family & friends, walking her dogs, visiting the mountains and ocean when she can, and enjoying a good cup of coffee. |
Sarah CochranVolunteer Coordinator
Sarah, a lifelong Seattle resident, has dedicated her career to fostering connections and supporting others. Starting in sales and transitioning to practice management, she gained valuable insights into healthcare and community engagement. Sarah came to Sundance as our Patient Coordinator in 2022, supporting patients and their families while getting started with hippotherapy. Because of her passion for bringing people together, she made a natural transition into the Volunteer Coordinator role here at Sundance. She brings her skills and expertise to this role in volunteer recruitment, supporting volunteers through training and facilitating volunteer scheduling needs. In addition to her professional work, Sarah is also a wife, mother, and grandmother. She is active in her community, and she is passionate about supporting local organizations that help children and families. |
Heather SymondsBarn Manager
In her childhood and teen years, Heather gained a decade of training and showing experience at several barns in the Pierce County area. Though her love of horses was strong, her passion for helping others was stronger. She graduated from a Medical Assistant program and spent 8 years assisting mostly in pediatrics. After 7 years as a stay-at-home mom, Heather decided to find a new direction while still helping others. She went on to spend 2 years as a seasonal vegetable farmer at a non-profit farm that sends all their produce to local food banks. Her life’s worth of seemingly random experiences brought together the skills needed as a barn manager. Strong horse experience, medical experience, leading volunteers (through the non-profit farm) and the many skills practiced keeping a household running…. “It all finally fits together in one job!” Outside of work Heather loves growing vegetables for her small home garden, but most of all spending time with her husband and 3 kids. |
Foundation Board of Directors
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Lisa Mulligan, President
John Payne, Vice President Pam Giles, Treasurer Andrea Marquez, Secretary Bree Cowdrey |
