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!

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 on the Appalachian Breastfeeding Network’s Equity Committee and will soon join Central Ohio’s Breastfeeding Coalition, to advocate for 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.

Lisa has 23 years of experience in the lactation field, getting her start with La Leche League and her local breastfeeding coalition. She has worked as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Helper, Peer Advisor for NICU families at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and as a WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator.

Becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) seemed like a dream as she did not start her career in the medical field. But years of experience and wonderful mentors encouraged her to go for it. Lisa sat for the IBCLC exam and became and IBCLC in 2011. Lisa has held many leadership roles since then, serving as president of the Ohio Lactation Consultant Association, founding and chairing the Southeast Ohio Breastfeeding Coalition, facilitating the Baby Boot Camp program through the Muskingum County Fatherhood Initiative, and starting the Coshocton County Breastfeeding Network (CCBN). Most recently, she is working towards becoming a Certified Educator of Infant Massage. Lisa is the proud owner of Latching On, a small private practice, offering in-home lactation consultations, prenatal education, and workplace lactation.

Lisa lives in Warsaw, Ohio with her partner and 2 pups. She enjoys traveling, baking, gardening, and hanging in her hammock. Her special interests include: creating a culture of breastfeeding support, Breastfeeding Cafes, and identifying and improving infant developmental challenges that can impact breastfeeding.

Melissa Courts has 19 years of experience as a lactation professional and has a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Wright State University. After receiving help from WIC as a breastfeeding mother, Melissa became a Breastfeeding Peer Helper for the Dayton and Montgomery County WIC program. In 2009, she became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and was the first African American IBCLC in her county. During her time at WIC, Melissa valued her connection with pregnant and breastfeeding mothers while providing breastfeeding education and support. Currently, Melissa is seeking her doula and childbirth educator certification and serves as the Southwest Regional Representative for the Ohio Lactation Consultant Association.

Melissa served on the infant mortality review team at the Public Health Department in Dayton and Montgomery County where she became interested in addressing the barriers and challenges that increase the risk of mortality among Black babies in Ohio. Through this experience she was inspired to start a non-profit, Black Breastfeeding Coalition of Ohio, where she serves as the executive director. The mission of this organization is to provide education and support to Black families, promoting optimal health outcomes. The Coalition focuses on addressing barriers that contribute to low breastfeeding rates among Black mothers and the alarmingly high rates of infant mortality among Black infants in the state of Ohio. 

Melissa is a proud mom of 6 children and 2 grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, going to church, writing, and photography. Fun fact: Melissa is a certified Professional Photographer!

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 a member of the Ohio Lactation Consultant Association (OLCA), volunteering as Publicity Chair for 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.

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.