Meet Our Team of Innovators

Brush Development team

We are dedicated to improving elder care.

Jennifer Brush, MA, SLP

Director, Brush Development
Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
AMI Certified Trainer, Montessori for Dementia and Aging
Fulbright Specialist
Principal Investigator
Award Winning Author
Black Belt in Karate

Jennifer Brush, MA, SLP is a Fulbright Specialist, researcher, award-winning dementia care author and healthcare consultant located in northeast Ohio. Jennifer serves as Program Director, Montessori Education for Dementia St. Nicholas Montessori College Ireland. Jennifer was an inaugural member of the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Advisory Board for Montessori for Dementia and Aging. She was one of the first three AMI Certified Trainers for Montessori for Dementia and Aging in the world, as well as the first in the US.

Passionate about enriching the lives of people with dementia, Jennifer is on a mission to put the focus of care on the person’s preferences, interests and abilities. With her three decades of industry experience, including leading countless live national and international trainings, facilitating ground-breaking research, and managing innovative person-centered projects, Jennifer flawlessly bridges the gap between care communities and the individuals they serve.

Jennifer is the author of numerous research articles and several nationally recognized books on dementia including her latest book, Montessori for Elder and Dementia Care, published by Health Professions Press. Jennifer is widely known for her innovative work in the Spaced Retrieval memory intervention, pioneering this area of study in speech-language pathology and co-authoring two books on the subject.

Margaret Jarrell, M.Ed.

AMS Certified Montessori Guide, Elementary
AMI Certified Auxiliary Trainer, Montessori for Dementia and Aging
Lead Instructor and Co-Creator, Certified Montessori Elder Care Practitioner Course

Director of the Greenspring Center for Lifelong Learning
Montessori Child & Montessori Parent
Swing dancer

Mandy Cheskis, MS, CCC/SLP

Licensed Speech Language Pathologist
AMI Certified Trainer, Montessori for Dementia and Aging
Lead Care Community Coach for Montessori Implementation
Master Clinician in Neurogenic Communication Disorders
Director of Lifelong Learning
Cornell University Outstanding Educator, Merrill Presidential Scholar Program
Avid Scrabble Player
Pamela Taubert

Pamela Taubert

Client Services Coordinator
Data Collector for NIH Wayfinding in Dementia Study
Former Business Operations, Quality and Communications Executive
Corporate Human Resources, Recruiting and Training Professional
BA, Case Western Reserve University, English and Art History
Member Phi Beta Kappa
Springer Spaniel Lover

Julia Ballesteros Sentíes

Our partner in Mexico and Instructor of our Spanish classes
Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
AMI Certified Trainer, Montessori for Dementia and Aging
AMI Certified Montessori Guide 3-6 years
Specialist in Cognitive Neurorehabilitation
Montessori Parent

Partners to Our Team

Rita Akins and Ronn Akins

Rita and Ronn Akins

Stories for Older Adults™
Themed Three Part Cards
for Older Adults
TimeTogether™ Coloring
for Older Adults
montessori-images.com
Shara Bohach, Unity Design

Shara Bohach

Unity Design, Inc.
Design for Aging and Dementia
Graphic & Web Design
Wayfinding Signage Systems
Research Partner
unitydesign.biz
Fred Ellman

Fred Ellman

Therapeutic Horticulture for Dementia
Meditation & Mindfulness
Interactive Products for Dementia
Architect
ongrowingmindfulness.com
Carolyn Magnussen and Elisabeth Rydland

Carolyn Magnussen
Elisabeth Rydland

Montessori Educators
Certified Practitioners, Montessori for Aging and Dementia
Handmade Montessori Materials
montessori-care.com
Rita Akins and Ronn Akins

Rita and Ronn Akins

Stories for Older Adults™
Themed Three Part Cards
for Older Adults
TimeTogether™ Coloring
for Older Adults
montessori-images.com


Shara Bohach, Unity Design

Shara Bohach

Unity Design, Inc.
Design for Aging and Dementia
Graphic & Web Design
Wayfinding Signage Systems
Research Partner
unitydesign.biz
Fred Ellman

Fred Ellman

Therapeutic Horticulture for Dementia
Meditation & Mindfulness
Interactive Products for Dementia
Architect
ongrowingmindfulness.com

Carolyn Magnussen and Elisabeth Rydland

Carolyn Magnussen
Elisabeth Rydland

Montessori Educators
Certified Practitioners, Montessori for Aging and Dementia
Handmade Montessori Materials
montessori-care.com
Penny McPeak | Artist & Art Consultant

Penny McPeak

Penny & Lucy Lou Art
Dementia Friendly Images
Custom Artwork for Wayfinding
Printed & Produced for Outdoors & Indoors
PennyandLucyLou.com

Rita Akins and Ronn Akins

Rita and Ronn Akins

Stories for Older Adults™
Themed Three Part Cards
for Older Adults
TimeTogether™ Coloring
for Older Adults
website
Shara Bohach, Unity Design

Shara Bohach

Unity Design, Inc.
Design for Aging and Dementia
Graphic & Web Design
Wayfinding Signage Systems
Research Partner
website
Fred Ellman

Fred Ellman

Therapeutic Horticulture for Dementia
Meditation & Mindfulness
Interactive Products for Dementia
Architect
website

Julia Johnson, MS, CCC/SLP

Julia Johnson

Health & Wellness Coach
ReCODE Practitioner and Health Coach
Dementia Care Consultant
Speech-Language Pathologist
website
Carolyn Magnussen and Elisabeth Rydland

Carolyn Magnussen
Elisabeth Rydland

Montessori Educators
Certified Practitioners, Montessori for Aging and Dementia
Handmade Montessori Materials
website
Penny McPeak | Artist & Art Consultant

Penny McPeak

Penny & Lucy Lou Art
Dementia Friendly Images
Custom Artwork for Wayfinding
Printed & Produced for Outdoors & Indoors
website

Why Brush Development?

Passion for the Person

Maintaining a focus on bringing back our attention to the people we’re serving and enriching their lives with the care we provide is our priority.

Innovative Environmental Design

We are leaders in dementia-friendly edge signage design, wayfinding and environmental modifications that make a world of difference in the way someone functions.

Data-Rich Research

Our work is informed and influenced by applied research in the area of cognition and the physical environment that we have completed. Each and every strategy we teach is selected because it represents proven practices that afford the best transformation possible.

Focused on Solutions

Our team is full of ideas that make things better, both for staff and elders alike. Brush Development is best known for creatively taking problems and finding solutions that allow people to look at dementia differently.

Global Influencer

Our work knows no boundaries! We teach healthcare professionals and care partners around the world how to create a culture of care that is dignified, engaging, and person-centered.

Jennifer has presented her life changing philosophy of dementia care around the world.