Our Team

Our Team

Biagio Mazza

Biagio Mazza
Owner and Physical Therapist

  • B.S., Rockhurst University, Valedictorian, 1999
  • M.P.T., Rockhurst University, 2001
  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, NSCA, 2001
  • Certified Personal Trainer, NSCA, 2002
  • Orthopedic Clinical Specialist Board Certified, ABPTS, 2005
  • Sport Clinical Specialist Board Certified, ABPTS, 2008
  • Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, IAOM, 2009
  • DPT, EIM Institute of Health, 2010

Biagio clocks more than 150 hours a year in continuing education, well beyond the state’s standards for physical therapy. Why? It’s his business and his passion. And it says a lot about the kind of clinic he runs and the quality of staff he leads.

Biagio himself is certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and a Sports Clinical Specialist. There are fewer than 50 therapists nationwide who hold both of these distinctions. He also has worked as an adjunct instructor at Rockhurst, is an active member of the Kansas and Missouri Physical Therapy Associations, and has served as a physical therapy consultant for the Kansas City Royals. Biagio is a strong advocate for the Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association.

From the beginning, Biagio knew he wanted to combine sports with science. When he met Judy Hensley, his teacher and mentor, he knew he wanted to shift his interests to physical therapy and helping a wide range of people improve their quality of—and movement through—life.

And he’s made a mark. Elite enjoys a reputation for quality care.

Biagio specializes in:

  • manual therapy
  • postural training
  • biomechanics
  • functional exercise
  • complex spinal pathology
Allison Hilboldt

Allison Hilboldt
Physical Therapist

  • B.S. in Exercise Science & B.S. in Physics of Medicine, Rockhurst University, 2015
  • D.P.T., University of Missouri, 2018

Sometimes an injury can lead to a good thing...For Allison, a high school hip injury led her to pursue a career as a Physical Therapist!


Growing up in South KC Allison played a lot of sports, but focused mainly on softball and swimming. This was an early glimpse into reaching peak performance, and moving without pain -- both things of which she strives to help her patients achieve.


Allison attended the Rockhurst University where she received a Bachelor of Science in not just Exercise Science, but also Physics of Medicine. She then attended The University of Missouri in Columbia, MO to complete her Doctorate in Physical Therapy.


Upon graduation Allison made her way back to the Kansas City area to be near family and marry the love of her life, Michael. The two have two Labrador retrievers, and a sweet daughter named Clara.


Since 2018 Allison worked at a Physical Therapy clinic in the Kansas City area before making the leap and joining the team at Elite. Allison had previously worked with our PT Morgan, who shared why she loved Elite.  Allison also appreciated the good patient reviews and friendly staff. Lastly, Allison was drawn to the one-on-one patient care that Elite provides, which gives her the chance to give her patients the care and attention they deserve!


Outside of work (when Allison and her husband can schedule a babysitter) they are often playing disc golf, spending time outdoors, or exploring breweries.


Elite is extremely fortunate to have a Physical Therapist as driven, caring, and smart as Allison. If you are lucky enough to receive treatment from Allison you will immediately see just how great she is.

Allison Messick

Allison Messick
Physical Therapist

  • B.S. in Psychology, Creighton University
  • D.P.T., University of Kansas Medical Center, 2018
  • Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS)
  • Dry Needling Certified

Allison was born and raised in Overland Park where she grew up as a swimmer. This was her first glimpse into the importance of taking care of her body, and successfully recovering from injury.

Allison attended Creighton University because of the great med school programs, their values, and their strong emphasis on service and bettering the community around you. She not only graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from Creighton, but also met her now husband, David!

Turns out they both grew up in Overland Park but never met until college!

Following undergrad Allison attended the University of Kansas Medical Center for PT school. She decided to pursue a career as a Physical Therapist because she likes the opportunity to get to know patients, and get them back to whatever their goal is. Allison also values the educational component of helping patients understand how they can better themselves.

Allison and her husband of over five years love spending time hiking, camping, riding bikes, playing with their corgi Sydney, and loving on their daughter Ellie. Allison has discovered her green thumb, and enjoys learning more about, and caring for house plants. If you have any questions or want recommendations, ask Allison!

PS - One time Allison taught her dog an impressive trick...sneezing on command! If you don’t believe us, ask Allison to see the video!

ALLISON SPECIALIZES IN:

  • Functional Activity Training
  • Balance Training
  • Post-surgical Rehabilitation
  • Manual Therapy
  • Spine Rehab, including neck and low back pain
  • Diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic injuries (i.e. joint, muscle, tendon, and ligament)
  • Gymnasts, Swimmers, Cheerleaders
Angela Vanderpluym

Angela Vanderpluym
Physical Therapist

  • B.S. Exercise Science, Westminster, 2020
  • D.P.T., Missouri State, 2023
  • LSVT BIG Certified
  • Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT)

What does one do with a passion for health, wellness, fitness, and anatomy? For Angela, it meant become a Physical Therapist!

Angela grew up in Bellville, Illinois where she dabbled in many sports -- softball, swimming, volleyball, and soccer. This was when she first saw a glimpse at a future as a PT. She decided to go to Westminster in Fulton where she completed a degree in Exercise Science.

Following undergrad, Angela headed to Missouri State University to complete her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She also finished a LSVT BIG certification, making her an expert in helping individuals with Parkinson disease or other neurological conditions improve the way they move.

Over the years Angela visited Kansas City many times, whether to visit friends or her sister, and loved it every time so when it was time for clinicals she completed two in the KC area!

Through a classmate, Angela heard great things about Elite and decided to apply when she heard there was an opening for a Physical Therapist. Angela's personality, drive to be the very best PT she can be, and eagerness to jump right in with our team made her the perfect fit. Now, a place that has always felt like home finally is!

Outside of work you can find Angela working out, playing sand volleyball, or hanging out with friends.

We are thrilled to have Angela on our team and look forward to you getting the chance to meet her.

Brett Beltrame

Brett Beltrame
Physical Therapist

  • B.S., Iowa State University, 2005
  • Certified Athletic Trainer, 2005
  • D.P.T., University of Iowa, 2007
  • Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, IAOM

What does it mean when you put patients first?

For Brett, it means you don’t treat patients from a “cookbook” of therapeutic recipes or pass patients from therapist to therapist. He focuses on building relationships with each patient, one at a time, whether they’re an NFL athlete, weekend warrior or someone recovering from surgery.

And then he gives each patient personalized, one-on-one treatment that pulls from many different therapeutic approaches and techniques. The goal: treat the patient, not the symptom, so they can live life in full motion.

Outside of work Brett enjoys cheering on his favorite sports teams (Royals, Chiefs, and Iowa State Cyclones), playing/watching golf, and of course spending time with his wife, son, and daughter.

Brett’s specialties include:

  • Exercise and sports science
  • Athletic training
  • Manual therapy
  • Functional exercises
  • Sports rehabilitation
  • Post-surgical rehabilitation
  • Orthopedic injuries
Christina Hearing

Christina Hearing
Physical Therapist

  • B.S. in Health and Exercise Science, Missouri State University
  • D.P.T., Rockhurst University
  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

Christina was born and raised in the St. Louis area -- out closer to Ballwin/West County. In high school she played lacrosse, and enjoyed playing other sports and working out. This peaked her interest into a Bachelors of Science in Exercise Movement Science.


During her time in undergrad she worked as a tech in a hospital. That experience opened her eyes to the idea of being an in-patient Physical Therapist.


While in Physical Therapy school at Rockhurst Christina got her CSCS (Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist) and coached men's & women's golf as well as men's baseball for strength and conditioning. During this time, she realized she would prefer an out-patient clinic where she could also work with athletes.


Christina was immediately drawn to Elite because of the one-on-one approach, and individual treatment rooms. She also was excited for the opportunity to work with athletes. She felt like Elite was similar to her favorite clinical rotation in Colorado. That clinic saw many spine patients, and the PTs were IAOM trained, just like Elite's. The only difference was that she could see the mountains out of the window!


Outside of work Christina likes to hangout with friends, take vacations, and run. She recently signed up for her third half-marathon!


One of her goals is to go to all of the National Parks. She recently visited Arizona and Utah in the Zion area. Her favorite one so far though was Yosemite! When you meet her, be sure to ask about her trips!

Hannah Weseel

Hannah Weseel
Physical Therapist

  • B.S. in Kinesiology, Kansas State University
  • D.P.T., University of Kansas Medical Center

Hannah Wessel, Topeka native, joined the Elite team Summer 2021.


In her Junior year of high school she fell in love with powerlifting and eventually did some body building type workouts. She quickly realized that working out did so much good for her health. She influenced her family to also begin working out and saw the way it helped each of them as well. All of this made her realize that Exercise Is Medicine, leading her to pursue a career as a Physical Therapist.


Hannah attended undergrad at K State where she got her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology. Upon graduation, she began grad school where she received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at KU Med.


When Hannah learned about Elite she swiftly applied, and really did not look elsewhere for an open position. One-on-one patient care was an absolute must for whatever job she eventually had, so Elite was a great fit. She says the people are pretty cool too.


Outside of work Hannah loves to do Cross Fit and Olympic Lifting. In fact, she is looking into her very first Weight Lifting Competition! She also enjoys traveling, especially to visit her brother who is in the Air Force. She also is a volunteer at KC Pet Project and often fosters kittens.


The trip on the top of her bucket list is traveling to Germany, where some of her family still lives.


Fun Fact: Hannah is a vegan! Be sure to ask her for some great vegan recipes, share your favorite with her.

Jenny Kern

Jenny Kern
Physical Therapist

  • B.S. Health Sciences, University of Missouri (Mizzou), 2016
  • D.P.T., University of Missouri (Mizzou), 2019
  • Dry Needling Certified
  • Tactile Strength & Fitness Cerfieid (TSAC-F)
  • Body One Orthopedic Residency, The University of Indianapolis (2019-2020)

From athlete, to engineer in training, to Physical Therapist...


Jenny is a Kansas City native from the northland, just outside of Park Hill. She grew up playing just about every sport. After high school Jenny attended the University of Missouri (Mizzou) where she started out as an engineer major. Shortly after beginning college Jenny realized she wanted to work in the healthcare field and switched her major to Health Sciences with the goal to earn her a doctorate in Physical Therapy.


After PT school Jenny completed the Body One Orthopedic Residency at The University of Indianapolis. In 2020 she decided to move to Jonesboro, AR where she worked as a Physical Therapist for nearly three years before deciding to make her way back home.


When Jenny decided to make the move back to Kansas City from Arkansas she interviewed at multiple PT clinics. Ironically, the other clinic interviewers raved about Elite's owner, Biagio Mazza. One even said, "People who can't be fixed go to Biagio." This helped Jenny realize Elite was the clinic she wanted to work at.


In addition to the raving remarks, Jenny was looking for a good company, an open environment, good patient-care balance, creative freedom to provide personalized PT, and a place that didn't provide cookie cutter care. Elite checked all of those boxes!


Outside of work Jenny loves to "train like an athlete." In addition to weight lifting, she enjoys biking and running. Her ideal vacations include hiking, and she considers Colorado her "second home." Jenny's favorite hiking spot is Estes Park, also known as Colorado's original playground.

Elite is thrilled to have such a talented, driven Physical Therapist on our team.



Jenny specializes in:

  • Graston Technique (a form of manual therapy that utilizes stainless steel tools to perform muscle mobilization)
  • Tactile strength and fitness for police officers firefighters, military
  • Spine
  • Post-op knee
  • Post-op shoulder
  • Foot & ankle
  • Chronic pain
  • TMD/TMJ Treatment Learn more here
Justin R. Snead

Justin R. Snead
Physical Therapist

  • B.S., Health and Exercise Science, Missouri Western State University, 2002
  • D.P.T., Rockhurst University, 2013
  • Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, IAOM
  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • Dry Needling Certified

Justin firmly believes in the healing power of exercise. He’s seen it firsthand. That’s why he takes the time to educate his patients on postures and activities to allow them to treat themselves. With physical therapy, patients aren’t prescribed a pill: exercise is the medicine.

It’s precisely that philosophy that attracted him to the field and to practice at Elite Physical Therapy. At Elite, physical therapists like Justin work one-on-one and as a team to treat the whole patient, referring them as necessary to Elite’s in-house massage therapists, personal trainers, or dietary specialists—all to provide the best care possible.

Outside of work Justin enjoys spending time with his wife Felicia, exercising, and playing with/training their two Belgian Malinois.

Justin’s treatment specialties include:

  • manual therapy
  • orthopedics
  • joint mobilization
  • muscle stretching
  • soft-tissue mobilization
Mark Lawhon

Mark Lawhon
Physical Therapist

  • B.S. Health Sciences, University of Missouri (Mizzou), 2011
  • D.P.T., University of Missouri (Mizzou), 2014
  • Sports Certified Specialist
  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • Dry Needling Certified


Growing up a football and basketball player, among other sports, Mark spent countless hours training. At and early age he realized the benefit of keeping his body injury- and pain-free.


Mark has multiple family members that are healthcare providers, so early on he was drawn to some sort of health career. Further, his interest in sports performance, injury prevention, and injury recovery led him to pursue a career as a Physical Therapist!


Mark attended the University of Missouri, Columbia (Mizzou) for Undergrad and Physical Therapy (PT) school. He especially enjoyed attending sporting events! Mark was also lucky enough to meet his now wife, Jen, in PT school.


After graduating from PT school they decided to spend their first years of marriage in a new place, which brought them to Tucson, AZ for almost four years!


While they loved it there, the news of a baby on the way led them to move back home to the Kansas City area in 2018. Mark and Jen have their hands full with their daughters Peyton and Leah, and their golden retriever Hutch. They love spending weekends with friends or at a local playground with their girls.

Mark specializes in:

  • Manual (Hands-on) Therapy
  • Kinesiology and sports science
  • Orthopedic therapy
  • Spinal and extremity manual rehabilitation
  • Sports strengthening and rehabilitation
  • Post-surgical rehabilitation
Megan Algya

Megan Algya
Physical Therapist

  • B.S., Health Science, University of Missouri, 2017
  • D.P.T., Rockhurst University, 2020
  • MBA, Rockhurst University, 2020
  • Dry Needling Certified
  • Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT)

St. Louis (specifically, Ballwin) native, Megan, grew up a diverse athlete. She played soccer, softball, and even was a diver in high school!


While in high school, Megan experienced ongoing knee pain, that led to surgery, followed up a year of Physical Therapy (PT). She later developed shoulder pain, where she once again found herself back in PT. During both roads to recovery she decided that PT was fun and wanted to purse a career as a Physical Therapist.


Megan attended the University of Missouri (Mizzou) where she got her BS in Health Science. She then not only completed her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Rockhurst University, but also got her Masters in Business Administration.


Before leaving Columbia, MO to attend Rockhurst, Megan went to Honduras for a mission trip through her church. Turns out, her now husband, Jordan, also was on the trip with his church! They spent a couple of years long-distance, and eventually both permanently settled in Kansas City and married in December of 2019.


Upon graduation from PT school, Megan heard about Elite from her friend and fellow-PT grad. She was immediately drawn to the environment, success, and opportunity to learn and grow as a PT at Elite.


Outside of work Megan and Jordan enjoy playing with their daughter Sadie, walking their dog Zeus, working out, and spending time on the lake.


Fun Fact: Megan has duel-citizenship! Her father is from Canada so when her and her sister were babies, they received citizenship in both the US and Canada!

Missy Hipp

Missy Hipp
Physical Therapist

  • B.S. Exercise Sciences, University of Kansas (KU), 2020
  • D.P.T., University of Kansas (KU), 2023

From being a “neighbor” of Elite, to being an employee…meet Missy Hipp!

Missy is an Overland Park native, who attended undergrad and PT school at the University of Kansas. She grew up playing multiple sports and particularly focused on soccer and basketball. In middle school while running track she dislocated her elbow, which led her to receive Physical Therapy. This was her first glimpse into the world of PT, and immediately loved the idea of it as she saw vast improvements for herself.

Before even leaving home for college Missy knew she wanted to pursue a career as a Physical Therapist. Mostly, she was drawn to the athletics aspect of it but quickly learned that it’s so much more than just athletics, and fell in love with it even more.

Missy's desire to help people improve the quality of their life by moving better is just one attribute that makes her such a great Physical Therapist.

Over the past couple of years Missy and her parents would drive past Elite and joked about her getting a job here. When she randomly saw a job opening at Elite she immediately applied!

Outside of work Missy enjoys playing sand volleyball, soccer, pickle ball, rock climbing, and experiencing other outdoor activities.

We are so fortunate to have a kind and caring PT like Missy on our team at Elite, and look forward to you meeting her!

Morgan Stemple

Morgan Stemple
Physical Therapist

  • B.S., Health Science, Southwest Baptist University, 2014
  • D.P.T., Southwest Baptist University, 2017
  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • Dry Needling Certified
  • Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT)

Morgan Stemple is a Wichita native, who recently moved back to the midwest!


Morgan has a heart for helping, and serving others. She tied that with her fascination with the human body and pursued a career as a Physical Therapist. When you meet her, you will immediately experience the warmth of her heart and the depth of her knowledge.


Upon graduation from PT school, Morgan moved away to Louisville, KY where she worked at an in-patient Neuro clinic. Most of the patients she saw had experienced a spinal chord injury, stroke, or had Parkinson's disease. In her years at that clinic she developed sharp skills in those areas, and still enjoys working with those kinds of patients.


Once Morgan moved back to the Kansas City area to be closer to family she discovered Elite. She was drawn to Elite's top priorities of excellent Patient Care and patient interaction, as well as the out-patient, orthopedic setting.


The way Elite operates allows Morgan the chance to build relationships with her patients, understand each individual's goals, and give her patients the care and attention they deserve each and every session. "It is not just the typical PT machine."

Outside of work Morgan enjoys staying active whether that is playing tennis (which she has played her whole life), hiking, or just being outside. She also is a foodie and loves to eat at really good, local restaurants. Morgan also spends a lot of time being involved with her church and reading.


Other Fun Facts...


Morgan's big heart has sent her out multiple missions trip. She has been to South Sudan, Mexico, Zambia (for an exercise science internship + missions trip), and she went to Brazil during PT school for a PT specific trip.


One of Morgan's life goals is to travel to all 50 states in the US!


When you get the opportunity to meet Morgan ask her about her missions trips and let her know what local restaurant she should try!

MORGAN SPECIALIZES IN:

  • Spinal Chord Injuries
  • Manual Therapy
  • Neuro Rehab (Parkinson's Disease, post-stroke, etc.)
  • Spine Rehab, including neck and low back pain
  • Diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic injuries (i.e. joint, muscle, tendon, and ligament)
Taylor Neilson

Taylor Neilson
Physical Therapist

  • Exercise Science, St. Ambrose University, 2015
  • D.P.T., St. Ambrose University, 2016
  • AIB-VRC (Vestibular Rehab and Concussion Specialization), American Institute of Balance
  • Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
  • Dry Needling Certified

Taylor is a midwest native and was born and raised near Des Moines, Iowa in a town called Norwalk. Growing up she was a competitive dancer, cheerleader, and played volleyball, tennis, and softball.

Growing up in a sports-oriented family, Taylor quickly learned the importance of a healthy lifestyle. When heading to college she chose to pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Sciences because she was interested in helping and working with people to get them back to moving pain-free and feeling their very best!

Taylor chose to extend her education and become a Physical Therapist (PT). Taylor enjoys being a PT because she is able to educate other about their health, how their body works, and how to protect and improve themselves so they can live life to the very fullest!

After college Taylor wanted to move somewhere new, but stay kind of close to family so she chose to move to Kansas City. She began her career as a Physical Therapist locally for a few years, and eventually decided to try traveling Physical Therapy.


When the world began to change in early 2020 she decided to move back to Kansas City and look for a job here. She came across the opportunity to work at Elite Taylor was thrilled!

She interviewed and checked out the facility and was immediately drawn to the high-level of patient care Elite provides, the chance to work one-on-one with patients, and the opportunities for continued education Elite provides to help our therapists become the very best in Kansas City.

Outside of work Taylor enjoys traveling with her husband Travis, playing rec sports, including sand volleyball, tennis, and indoor soccer. She also enjoys any sort of outdoor activity, from hiking and kayaking, to skiing and fishing.

Fun Fact: Taylor has done a multi-sport vacation in Patagonia National Park, located in southern Chile, which included mountain biking, hiking, and kayaking! She has even hiked the French Alps!When you get the chance to meet Taylor, you will have to ask her about her awesome experiences!

TAYLOR SPECIALIZES IN:

  • Vestibular and Concussion Rehab
  • Post-surgical Rehabilitation
  • Manual Therapy
  • Spine Rehab, including neck and low back pain
  • Diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic injuries (i.e. joint, muscle, tendon, and ligament)
Amy Laposha

Amy Laposha
Billing & Insurance Specialist

Kansas City always calls you home...and that was the case for Amy. Amy grew up in the KC area, attended college at Penn Valley, briefly moved away, but eventually made her way back to the Kansas City area, and we are so lucky!


Amy received her degree to become a Physical Therapy Assistant. She then went on to work in an outpatient setting in both Kansas City and Jefferson City, MO areas. Following work as a PTA Amy spent 20 years in the insurance industry.


In 2021, Amy wanted to get out of the insurance industry and back to the Physical Therapy setting. Her sister, Julie, knew Elite could use another team member and told Amy about the opportunity. Amy loved the great things she heard about Elite Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, and decided it was a great fit!


Outside of work Amy spends her time with her husband of 37 years, Nick, her three children, and two grandchildren. She loves hiking, kayaking, and of course, enjoying barbecues in the backyard with family. You can catch Amy watching, and keeping up with sports, especially our KC Royals and Chiefs!

Felicia Snead

Felicia Snead
Patient Services Specialist

Full bio coming soon

Holly Smothers

Holly Smothers
Marketing & Communications Manager

Since Holly can remember her health has been a priority for her. She has continually seen the profound impact taking care of her body with nutrition, movement, rest, and strength-building can have on her overall health and daily life.

Holly was drawn to the marketing position at Elite because it gives her the opportunity to spread awareness about the impact that Physical Therapy can have on people’s overall life. She believes that if you can move well and without pain, you will have the strength and confidence to conquer anything life throws your way.

Holly particularly liked the environment and approach Elite has with patients, and their viewpoint that each person that walks through the door is different, and therefore should be treated accordingly.

The Physical Therapists provide individualized care to each patient, with undivided attention. She believes nutrition should be approached in the same way, as there is no “perfect, one-size-fits-all diet.”

The therapists are also knowledgeable beyond anything she has experienced. Beyond that, the company itself is the “Ideal Business” she always learned about in business school, and says that the camaraderie between all staff members is incomparable.

 

HOLLY SPECIALIZES IN:

  • Digital Marketing & Communications
  • Event Coordination & Planning
  • Developing Dietary Changes For The Long-term
  • Women’s Health & Hormonal Balance

GET TO KNOW HOLLY:

Holly was born and raised in Lake Saint Louis, MO. Growing up she played soccer, basketball, ran track, was a competitive water skier, and participated in private gymnastics lessons for fun.

She not only loves playing sports of all kinds, but also loves to watch them. With a front-row preference, she decided to try-out for the high school cheerleading team and fell in love with it. After high school she continued her cheerleading career at Mizzou!

After graduating from Mizzou in 2015, Holly did not want to go home but didn’t want to move too far away so she chose to accept an internship at at Marketing Agency in Kansas City. During this time she fell completely in love with Kansas City, especially the Crossroads area. A month later she was hired on Full Time as a Project Manager, where she worked for 2.5 years.

After experiencing some health complications, Holly decided to move back to St. Louis for a year while making a career change to help individuals improve their health and overall lives starting with nutrition. She began working part time at Elite as a Marketing Coordinator, while completing a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) certification. Upon completion, Holly and her rescue pup, Goji, moved back to Kansas City to work full-time at Elite as the Marketing Coordinator and NTP. 

Her favorite things about Kansas City are all of the unique areas (especially the Crossroads), the awesome farmers markets, numerous local events, local gyms/studios & healthy food joints, and of course, Kansas City SPORTS (except when the Royals are playing the Cardinals)!

When Holly is not working, she stays busy spending time with friends, working out, walking her dog, watching sports, traveling, hiking, water skiing, or creating masterpieces in the kitchen, especially healthy dessert alternatives.

Be sure to introduce yourself to Holly next time you are at Elite, and tell her your favorite joke. Also, keep an eye out in our newsletters and on social media for recipes and health tips!

FOLLOW HER ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

HOLLY’S BIO:

  • B.S. Business Administration, Marketing Emphasis University of Missouri, 2015
  • Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, 2019
Jeannie Fagan

Jeannie Fagan
Front Office Manager

Prarie Village native, Jeannie Fagan eagerly joined our team at Elite as a Patient Services Specialist, and has been an absolute rockstar. Her upbeat personality, ability to problem-solve, and organizational skills have created a great environment and efficiencies at Elite!

Prior to working at Elite Jeannie managed a restaurant, as well as a bar. This experience helped her realize the joy she feels when interacting with, and serving individuals in the community.


Outside of work Jeannie has her hands full as she tries to keep up with her four kiddos, ranging from age 7 to 17 and her boston terrier pup, Reign. She also enjoys going to her kids sporting events, and playing yard games with friends and neighbors while their kids ride bikes, and go to Chiefs games!

Julie Clifford

Julie Clifford
External Marketing Manager

Julie is a KC native and the oldest of 7 daughters. She is married to her high school sweetheart and has two daughters, two grandchildren and one on the way!  She and her husband have a darling mini goldendoodle named Nellie.

Accustomed to being the "leader of the pack" as the oldest of 7, she excelled as a student and also enjoyed dance team.  She went on to earn her BS in Marketing and Management.   She worked in Medical Sales for several companies over 20 years  (including Bayer Pharmaceutical and Hologic) calling on hospitals and physician offices.  She chose to leave the stress of full-time sales in 2012 to spend time with her new grandson, then two years later, a new granddaughter.

Julie started with Elite in late 2016 after being a patient off and on for ten years.  Being so active in her younger years: a tomboy as a kid, gymnastics, being a runner for 25 years and a high-impact Aerobics instructor for 5 years, she was constantly in need of physical therapy. She was so impressed with Elite PT and the results she experienced.
In her External Marketing position, she loves being able to spread to the KC medical community all the wonderful benefits that Elite PT offers its patients.

Julie enjoys dancing (still!), yoga, going to the gym, long walks, Happy Hours with friends, traveling the US (especially to the beaches and mountains), hiking and playing with her grandchildren.

Julie's friendly demeanor will absolutely brighten your day, so be sure to introduce yourself when you see her in or out of the clinic!

Leo Lopez

Leo Lopez
Patient Services Specialist

Leo is a Kansas City native, and enjoys working for local businesses. Biagio met Leo years ago when he was working at the movie theater Biagio and his boys go to.


Throughout the years Biagio recognized Leo’s work ethic and felt like he’d be a great fit at Elite! When the opportunity came up, both Leo and Biagio were excited to make it happen.


His personable skills and desire to be the very best at his job has allowed Leo to thrive as a Patient Service Specialist.


Outside of work Leo enjoys sleeping, watching football, and is a tech genius! He also loves spending time with his young son, Izacc. Definitely ask him to see some photos because he is a cutie!


Fun Fact: Leo is bilingual and speaks Spanish fluently.

Wendy Laurence

Wendy Laurence
Office Manager

Wendy was born and raised in Kansas City and attended college at Longview Community College. She has since worked in customer service and sales in tanning salons, was a leasing agent, and even owned a roofing company for four years! Wendy hoped to switch into a role within the health industry and stumbled upon an ad for a Patient Services Specialist position at Elite!

The ad actually fell right out of the newspaper for her to see! She was drawn to the part that talked about the opportunity to change the lives of patients, and make a unique connection with them.

In the past, it was always a goal of Wendy's to brighten the lives of her clients, and helping them leave the salon happier than when they came in. She saw the unique opportunity to link arms with other employees at Elite and do just that.

After spending just one day at Elite Wendy said she felt more appreciated than she has at any other job in awhile. She said, "There is always a very positive vibe in the office and I enjoy going into work."

Outside of work Wendy enjoys traveling and photography. Her favorite things to take photos of include scenic views, flowers, and landscapes. You can find her snapping random photos downtown to find beauty in things that most people don't think about.

Wendy's love for vacation, adventure, and the outdoors took her to her two favorite vacation spots: Portland, Oregon and the Cayman Islands.

She recommends driving up and down the coast in Oregon and taking time to stop and visit all of the different towns along the way. The unique charm of each town is something you don't want to miss!

Biagio Mazza

Biagio Mazza
Owner and Physical Therapist

B.S., Rockhurst University, Valedictorian, 1999 M.P.T., Rockhurst University, 2001 Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, NSCA, 2001 Certified Personal Trainer, NSCA, 2002 Orthopedic Clinical Specialist Board Certified, ABPTS, 2005 Sport Clinical Specialist Board Certified, ABPTS, 2008 Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, IAOM, 2009 DPT, EIM Institute of Health, 2010 Biagio clocks more than 150 hours a year in continuing education, well beyond the state’s standards for p...
Allison Hilboldt

Allison Hilboldt
Physical Therapist

B.S. in Exercise Science & B.S. in Physics of Medicine, Rockhurst University, 2015 D.P.T., University of Missouri, 2018 Sometimes an injury can lead to a good thing...For Allison, a high school hip injury led her to pursue a career as a Physical Therapist! Growing up in South KC Allison played a lot of sports, but focused mainly on softball and swimming. This was an early glimpse into reaching peak performance, and moving without pain -- both things of which she strives to help her pa...
Allison Messick

Allison Messick
Physical Therapist

B.S. in Psychology, Creighton University D.P.T., University of Kansas Medical Center, 2018 Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) Dry Needling Certified Allison was born and raised in Overland Park where she grew up as a swimmer. This was her first glimpse into the importance of taking care of her body, and successfully recovering from injury. Allison attended Creighton University because of the great med school programs, their values, and their strong emphasis on service and...
Angela Vanderpluym

Angela Vanderpluym
Physical Therapist

B.S. Exercise Science, Westminster, 2020 D.P.T., Missouri State, 2023 LSVT BIG Certified Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT) What does one do with a passion for health, wellness, fitness, and anatomy? For Angela, it meant become a Physical Therapist! Angela grew up in Bellville, Illinois where she dabbled in many sports -- softball, swimming, volleyball, and soccer. This was when she first saw a glimpse at a future as a PT. She decided to go to Westminster in Fulton...
Brett Beltrame

Brett Beltrame
Physical Therapist

B.S., Iowa State University, 2005 Certified Athletic Trainer, 2005 D.P.T., University of Iowa, 2007 Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, IAOM What does it mean when you put patients first? For Brett, it means you don’t treat patients from a “cookbook” of therapeutic recipes or pass patients from therapist to therapist. He focuses on building relationships with each patient, one at a time, whether they’re an NFL athlete, weekend warrior or someone recovering...
Christina Hearing

Christina Hearing
Physical Therapist

B.S. in Health and Exercise Science, Missouri State University D.P.T., Rockhurst University Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Christina was born and raised in the St. Louis area -- out closer to Ballwin/West County. In high school she played lacrosse, and enjoyed playing other sports and working out. This peaked her interest into a Bachelors of Science in Exercise Movement Science. During her time in undergrad she worked as a tech in a hospital. That experience opened her ey...
Hannah Weseel

Hannah Weseel
Physical Therapist

B.S. in Kinesiology, Kansas State University D.P.T., University of Kansas Medical Center Hannah Wessel, Topeka native, joined the Elite team Summer 2021. In her Junior year of high school she fell in love with powerlifting and eventually did some body building type workouts. She quickly realized that working out did so much good for her health. She influenced her family to also begin working out and saw the way it helped each of them as well. All of this made her realize that Exercise...
Jenny Kern

Jenny Kern
Physical Therapist

B.S. Health Sciences, University of Missouri (Mizzou), 2016 D.P.T., University of Missouri (Mizzou), 2019 Dry Needling Certified Tactile Strength & Fitness Cerfieid (TSAC-F) Body One Orthopedic Residency, The University of Indianapolis (2019-2020) From athlete, to engineer in training, to Physical Therapist... Jenny is a Kansas City native from the northland, just outside of Park Hill. She grew up playing just about every sport. After high school Jenny attended the Unive...
Justin R. Snead

Justin R. Snead
Physical Therapist

B.S., Health and Exercise Science, Missouri Western State University, 2002 D.P.T., Rockhurst University, 2013 Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, IAOM Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Dry Needling Certified Justin firmly believes in the healing power of exercise. He’s seen it firsthand. That’s why he takes the time to educate his patients on postures and activities to allow them to treat themselves. With physical therapy, patients aren’t prescribed a p...
Mark Lawhon

Mark Lawhon
Physical Therapist

B.S. Health Sciences, University of Missouri (Mizzou), 2011 D.P.T., University of Missouri (Mizzou), 2014 Sports Certified Specialist Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Dry Needling Certified Growing up a football and basketball player, among other sports, Mark spent countless hours training. At and early age he realized the benefit of keeping his body injury- and pain-free. Mark has multiple family members that are healthcare providers, so early on he was drawn to som...
Megan Algya

Megan Algya
Physical Therapist

B.S., Health Science, University of Missouri, 2017 D.P.T., Rockhurst University, 2020 MBA, Rockhurst University, 2020 Dry Needling Certified Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT) St. Louis (specifically, Ballwin) native, Megan, grew up a diverse athlete. She played soccer, softball, and even was a diver in high school! While in high school, Megan experienced ongoing knee pain, that led to surgery, followed up a year of Physical Therapy (PT). She later developed shoulder pain, ...
Missy Hipp

Missy Hipp
Physical Therapist

B.S. Exercise Sciences, University of Kansas (KU), 2020 D.P.T., University of Kansas (KU), 2023 From being a “neighbor” of Elite, to being an employee…meet Missy Hipp! Missy is an Overland Park native, who attended undergrad and PT school at the University of Kansas. She grew up playing multiple sports and particularly focused on soccer and basketball. In middle school while running track she dislocated her elbow, which led her to receive Physical Therapy. This w...
Morgan Stemple

Morgan Stemple
Physical Therapist

B.S., Health Science, Southwest Baptist University, 2014 D.P.T., Southwest Baptist University, 2017 Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Dry Needling Certified Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT) Morgan Stemple is a Wichita native, who recently moved back to the midwest! Morgan has a heart for helping, and serving others. She tied that with her fascination with the human body and pursued a career as a Physical Therapist. When you meet her, you will immediately expe...
Taylor Neilson

Taylor Neilson
Physical Therapist

Exercise Science, St. Ambrose University, 2015 D.P.T., St. Ambrose University, 2016 AIB-VRC (Vestibular Rehab and Concussion Specialization), American Institute of Balance Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist Dry Needling Certified Taylor is a midwest native and was born and raised near Des Moines, Iowa in a town called Norwalk. Growing up she was a competitive dancer, cheerleader, and played volleyball, tennis, and softball. Growing up in a sports-oriented family, T...
Amy Laposha

Amy Laposha
Billing & Insurance Specialist

Kansas City always calls you home...and that was the case for Amy. Amy grew up in the KC area, attended college at Penn Valley, briefly moved away, but eventually made her way back to the Kansas City area, and we are so lucky! Amy received her degree to become a Physical Therapy Assistant. She then went on to work in an outpatient setting in both Kansas City and Jefferson City, MO areas. Following work as a PTA Amy spent 20 years in the insurance industry. In 2021, Amy wanted to get out of the...
Felicia Snead

Felicia Snead
Patient Services Specialist

Full bio coming soon
Holly Smothers

Holly Smothers
Marketing & Communications Manager

Since Holly can remember her health has been a priority for her. She has continually seen the profound impact taking care of her body with nutrition, movement, rest, and strength-building can have on her overall health and daily life. Holly was drawn to the marketing position at Elite because it gives her the opportunity to spread awareness about the impact that Physical Therapy can have on people’s overall life. She believes that if you can move well and without pain, you will have the stren...
Jeannie Fagan

Jeannie Fagan
Front Office Manager

Prarie Village native, Jeannie Fagan eagerly joined our team at Elite as a Patient Services Specialist, and has been an absolute rockstar. Her upbeat personality, ability to problem-solve, and organizational skills have created a great environment and efficiencies at Elite! Prior to working at Elite Jeannie managed a restaurant, as well as a bar. This experience helped her realize the joy she feels when interacting with, and serving individuals in the community. Outside of work Jeannie ha...
Julie Clifford

Julie Clifford
External Marketing Manager

Julie is a KC native and the oldest of 7 daughters. She is married to her high school sweetheart and has two daughters, two grandchildren and one on the way!  She and her husband have a darling mini goldendoodle named Nellie. Accustomed to being the "leader of the pack" as the oldest of 7, she excelled as a student and also enjoyed dance team.  She went on to earn her BS in Marketing and Management.   She worked in Medical Sales for several companies over 20 years  (including Bayer Pharma...
Leo Lopez

Leo Lopez
Patient Services Specialist

Leo is a Kansas City native, and enjoys working for local businesses. Biagio met Leo years ago when he was working at the movie theater Biagio and his boys go to. Throughout the years Biagio recognized Leo’s work ethic and felt like he’d be a great fit at Elite! When the opportunity came up, both Leo and Biagio were excited to make it happen. His personable skills and desire to be the very best at his job has allowed Leo to thrive as a Patient Service Specialist. Outside of work L...
Wendy Laurence

Wendy Laurence
Office Manager

Wendy was born and raised in Kansas City and attended college at Longview Community College. She has since worked in customer service and sales in tanning salons, was a leasing agent, and even owned a roofing company for four years! Wendy hoped to switch into a role within the health industry and stumbled upon an ad for a Patient Services Specialist position at Elite! The ad actually fell right out of the newspaper for her to see! She was drawn to the part that talked about the opportunity to c...