Our Team

Allyson completed a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Ohio University in 1997, and a Master of Physical Therapy degree from Northwestern University in 1999. After welcoming her first child in 2007, she became a La Leche League leader. Through this role she discovered how much she loves working with new families as they learn about breastfeeding, and that a gap in lactation care exists within our healthcare system. She pursued specialist certification, becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2014. As a physical therapist and a lactation consultant, she values helping others understand how our bodies move for optimal health. Her specialties include reflex assessment, developmental assessment, gentle manual therapy and craniosacral therapy (CST). Allyson can also be found advocating for families, and educating lactation and medical professionals throughout the city. She served as President for the Ohio Lactation Consultant Association from 2019-2021, and continues to be an active member of OLCA as well as the Ohio and American Physical Therapy Associations.

Allyson lives in Upper Arlington with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys hiking and traveling. Special interests include assessing and treating conditions such as torticollis and tongue tie, as well as identifying and improving infant developmental challenges that can impact breastfeeding. Learn more about Allyson here!

Learn more about Allyson’s Publications and Speaking Engagements here!

After earning her nursing degree in Illinois in 2010, Joanne was introduced to the joys of helping families learn how to breastfeed while working in an Obstetrics and Gynecology office. She quickly realized her passion for helping mothers and babies and decided to pursue a career as a lactation consultant. She became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2014, and transitioned to working on the postpartum and NICU units at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Illinois, where she was able to grow her expertise in skilled lactation care.

In 2015 Joanne and her husband returned to Ohio to be closer to family. In addition to contracting with Nurture, Joanne is employed as a Lactation Consultant in the NICU at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She also consults with new mothers throughout the hospital and supports patients in the out-patient lactation clinic. Joanne’s wealth of experience in a wide range of settings – physician’s office, birthing and children’s hospitals, NICU, and out-patient clinic – have prepared her to assist with any lactation challenges. She is skilled in preparing mothers for breastfeeding, assisting with initial breastfeeding techniques, and supporting infants as they come home from the NICU.

Joanne lives with her husband in Westerville, Ohio, and is the proud mother of two adult children. She enjoys cooking, traveling, and relaxing on their pontoon.

Angela began her breastfeeding advocacy journey following the birth of her daughter in 2010. As an active participant of La Leche League and the Ohio WIC Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, she continually sought support from both when experiencing breastfeeding difficulties. Angela’s passion and dedication for breastfeeding was soon noticed, and she was recruited by her local Franklin County WIC office, becoming a certified lactation specialist (CLS) in 2012.At WIC, Angela facilitated community prenatal classes, co-operated a breast pump rental program, and served 3 years on the Ohio Department of Health’s State Nutrition and Breastfeeding Committee. Working for the largest WIC project in the state of Ohio, Angela provided individualized counseling for diverse families from around the world. After over a decade working with WIC, collaborating with registered dietitians and IBCLC’s alike, Angela earned her IBCLC in July of 2022.

Angela is excited to be joining the Nurture Columbus family and provide accessible lactation and infant feeding care, tailored to support each individual’s breastfeeding goals. Angela also serves as the President of Central Ohio’s Breastfeeding Coalition with a goal to focus on fair and equitable lactation accommodations in the workplace.

In her free time, Angela loves spending time with her daughter and two cats, creating art, and enjoying nature.

Gina discovered her passion for breastfeeding during her WIC rotation of her dietetic internship. After learning about the biological advantages of breastfeeding for both the parent and baby, and seeing the unique bond it created, she knew she wanted to pursue the infant feeding world further. After obtaining her Registered Dietitian License in 2020, she began working at Franklin County WIC as a Health Professional. Here she was able to work with a diverse group of parents to expand her knowledge and counsel on a wide range of infant feeding topics, including starting solids and baby-led weaning. Working with the breastfeeding team continued to fuel her interest and she became a certified lactation specialist (CLS) in 2022.

Gina has since moved on to be the Director and Breastfeeding Coordinator for the Madison County WIC Program. In this role, she provides one-on-one support for parents, tailoring education to their unique feeding goals and ensuring everyone receives the care and attention they deserve. Her growing passion led her to obtain her IBCLC in 2024; she is excited to join the Nurture team!

In her free time, Gina enjoys camping, cooking, and spending time with her husband, two cats, and dog.

June started her journey supporting breastfeeding families in 2005 as a peer helper at WIC. She worked closely with her local LLL group and became a Certified Lactation Counselor in 2007. This training and certification inspired more learning and growth in the lactation field. From 2008-2019 she worked at a community hospital helping thousands of new families on their lactation journey. During the bulk of those years she hosted the weekly breastfeeding support group and conducted outpatient consultations, including hosting the Big Latch-on for a number of years.

In 2019, she relocated to Lima and began working at a larger hospital system. She has worked with the Appalachian Breastfeeding Network hotline and is President-elect of the Ohio Lactation Consultant Association (OLCA). In 2010, June achieved the gold standard of lactation care and became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Mental health and breast care are of special interest to June and she strives to continue learning, applying motivational interviewing, and good communication skills during her consultations. She has volunteered with a local breastfeeding coalition and is working to start a community support group at a center nearby in Lima. June is the owner of Mom To Mom Lactation Services offering in-home (and virtual) prenatal education and lactation consultations.

June lives in Allen County with her dog and two kitties. She loves to plant flowers, visit her children and grandchildren regularly, drink coffee in the sun, and rest in a soft breeze. June’s passion includes continuing to learn new things, attending a variety of trainings, and networking with colleagues and healthcare professionals.

Candice has a background in culinary arts and dietetics, and a bachelor’s degree in health promotion and wellness. For the last 10 years she has worked in the lactation field, most recently becoming credentialed as an IBCLC. Candice launched a lactation program at her local health department and played a key role in creating a breastfeeding coalition in Delaware County. She is a member of the Ohio Lactation Consultant Association. Candice was inspired to become a lactation health care professional after her own challenging experience with birth and breastfeeding. She has a lot of empathy and understanding for the parents that she works with and the struggles that they face as a result of her experiences.

Candice lives in Marysville with her husband and two boys. She loves reading (especially anything to do with psychology or by Jodi Picoult), coffee, and being near water.

Melissa joined Nurture in 2022 as a Virtual Administrative Assistant. Her areas of expertise include: bookkeeping, customer service, administrative support, business management, marketing, and social media. Melissa supports Nurture with billing and claim submission and reconciliation, administrative support, and customer service. Her organizational skills and ability to make processes more efficient are invaluable to Nurture in providing high quality services and continued growth.

Melissa lives in Dublin, Ohio with her husband. She has three daughters and two spoiled pups. When not working, she can often be found being a dance mom following her dancers around the country or watching true crime documentaries/podcasts.

Raleigh is a registered and licensed dietitian nutritionist and Certified Breastfeeding Specialist with a master’s degree in global health. She has counseled pregnant and postpartum parents in clinical settings both domestically and abroad. As a published researcher in an International Breastfeeding Journal and a registered yoga teacher for nearly a decade, Raleigh takes a holistic approach with each client and dyad, integrating evidence-based research, movement, and mindfulness. She is elated to be learning from the dynamic Nurture team for the next several months, and looks forward to meeting and working with you.