PATSA Staff
Below is a list of the staff at PATSA, Inc.
If you have any questions, please email using the links below or call us at 1-800-990-3300. Our Fax number is (717) 337-1134.
Sherrie Wivell
Executive Director
Sherrie Myers Wivell has served as the Executive Director and also a Consultant with the PA Tourette Syndrome Alliance (PATSA) since 2007. She holds a degree in psychology from Millersville University and has extensive experience working with individuals with Tourette syndrome and other disabilities. Prior to working at PATSA, Sherrie had a great deal of experience working with and for children. She has been a Caseworker for Children & Youth Services, a Program Specialist with Foster Care, a Community Transition Coordinator for the Department of Health, a Preschool Teacher for children with Speech Delays and a Water Safety Instructor for both Easter Seals and the Red Cross.
Over the years at PATSA, Sherrie has consulted at over 500 meetings and trained more than 250 diverse groups ranging from elementary students to Physicians. As Executive Director, she is involved in all aspects of the organization. She supervises PATSA staff, supports the Fundraising Committee, plans the yearly Day at the Capital to secure our State funding, writes grants and supervises program implementation.
Sherrie’s experience as an advocate for those with special needs began when her now 26 year old daughter was only 1 year of age.
In her spare time she enjoys kayaking, photography and repurposing thrift store finds. She also volunteers for Special Olympics Team Adams where she coaches basketball, serves as their Outreach Coordinator, and was selected to mentor a young adult athlete as a Global Messenger for Special Olympics.
Derick Valencik
Outreach & Community Engagement Coordinator
Derick Valencik joined PATSA in 2024 but was first introduced to PATSA way back in the early 90’s. He was diagnosed with T.S. at the age of 6 and can still remember his mother coming home from a meeting with the founder of PATSA. Her arms full of T.S. books that she received for free. In the days before Google and Amazon these resources were like gold to us!
Derick has worked with children and families for 20 years in multiple capacities through PA, in Madison Wisconsin, and for a short time in France. He has most recently founded and operated a small business in Philadelphia. He attributes his ability to build a mosaic of a career to embracing T.S. and ADHD in his life.
He has a daughter who was recently diagnosed with T.S. and comorbid A.D.D. & O.C.D. He is learning how very different it feels having a child with T.S. vs the experience of living with it within yourself!
His story with Tourette’s is one that has included many complex motor and vocal tics as a child and adolescent including one violent head banging tic and a period where he experienced urges to touch hot objects. Although many of the motor and vocal tics have subsided in adulthood, he lives daily with A.D.D. And O.C.D. comorbidities.
When he was young PATSA organized several events with Jim Eisenreich while he was a Philadelphia Philly. These experiences were transformative for him. He is honored to be on the team and be a part of making the annual family camp and other events equally life changing for those who attend.
Derick is passionate about increasing awareness of T.S. in the marketplace and schools and expanding the team of partners who advocate with us, for the needs of those living with Tourette’s Syndrome in PA. He is a big Philly sports fan and currently lives in Royersford with his family, and rescue “Potcake” pup.
Brandi Cooper
Consultant
Brandi Cooper has recently joined PATSA’s staff but she is not new to Tourette Syndrome. She has a husband and 2 children with TS.
Brandi first learned of PATSA, when her family moved to Pennsylvania, in 2014, and was looking to connect with others with TS. She found PATSA’s Pittsburgh Area Support Group and hasn’t looked back. She later volunteered, running that same support group, and has attended some of the other PATSA events, with her family.
Brandi is very passionate about educating people about TS and advocating for those that have TS. She has an Early Childhood Education degree and has knowledge of how the education system runs and how children grow and learn. She is excited to be able to devote her time to helping others, now that she is a PATSA staff member.
Nicole Wesner
Consultant
Nicole Wesner has served as the Eastern PA Consultant with the PA Tourette Syndrome Alliance since May of 2017. She attended East Stroudsburg University where she majored in Recreation and Leisure Management. Before graduation she got married and followed her husband traveling with the Army. During her time away with her husband she spent her time working with children. She worked with troubled youth and served as a court director, advocating for juvenile delinquents to be reunited with their families or assisting them in finding a more stable living environment. Nicole worked as a Nanny to several military families during her husband’s active duty days. Before joining PATSA, Nicole served as a Legal Assistant which allowed her to learn more about the law.
Nicole found PATSA when her son was 5 years old and had just been diagnosed with Tourette syndrome. Upon explaining his new diagnosis and symptoms to his elementary school principal prior to the beginning of Kindergarten, his principal said “oh, no, your son must have consequences for cursing while in school”. Because her son had coprolalia, also known as the cursing tic, Nicole decided to find support for her son or possibly homeschool him so he would not face daily discipline for a neurological condition he had zero control over.
Nicole was quickly able to find PATSA to assist her family. PATSA provided her family with support and guidance and their consultant educated the school about TS and the proper way to help a child who is diagnosed. Her son was not disciplined for his coprolalia and the school invited PATSA to train the Educators and other students. For several years, Nicole enlisted PATSA’s support to help her son have smooth school years or to jump in if more support was needed.
From there, Nicole became extremely passionate about spreading TS awareness and educating as many people as she could so her son could have a better life. When she saw a job opening at PATSA she knew it was her calling and applied immediately. Since then she has been serving the Eastern part of Pennsylvania. Nicole is a staunch advocate for all of her clients and is willing and eager to help Educators and Administrators better understand the condition.
Nicole currently resides in the Poconos with her husband and 2 sons. In her spare time she loves to spend time baking and cooking with her 11 year old and 3 year old. She also enjoys volunteering at her son’s school when time permits. She is an avid crafter and loves to come up with fun projects to do with her boys. She also has 2 dogs who she adores and enjoys taking for walks with her kids.