Meet the Ultimate family

Melissa “Mel” Schlabach

Office Manager / Nutrition Director

Mel first walked through the doors of Ultimate Chiropractic as a patient in 2022. Little did she know she’d be joining the team less than a year later!

Originally from Sarasota, Florida, Mel met her husband, Chris, in her hometown. Just two months after saying “I do,” they traded Florida sunshine for Nashville, Tennessee. There, Mel spent nearly five years working for Dave Ramsey at Ramsey Solutions in the EntreLeadership department, learning the value of healthy team culture, clear communication, and world-class client service. Along the way, she met Dr. Garth at a Summit event, where they connected over their shared interest in holistic health and chiropractic care.

In the fall of 2022, Mel and Chris moved to his hometown of Sugarcreek, Ohio. By June 2023, she had officially gone from patient to Nutrition Director at Ultimate Chiropractic! Having navigated autoimmune challenges for much of her life, Mel has a deep personal interest in nutrition, holistic health, and the simple daily habits that support well-being. Her own experiences help shape the care and attention she brings to the patient’s experience.

Her favorite part of office life is team training — when the chiropractic assistants get to know each other better, sharpen their skills, and grow together.

Outside the office, Mel is happiest with lots of sunshine. She loves experimenting with new varieties of vegetables and flowers in her garden. You’ll also find her reading, writing, working out, hiking, or exploring somewhere new with Chris.

Fun fact Mel has traveled to 14 countries and holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Intercultural Studies. She’s actively involved in the missions program at her church.

Lori Smith

Patient Account Director

Lori started with Ultimate Chiropractic in 2022, at our Apple Valley office, and moved with the company to our beautiful new location in Millersburg. As our Patient Account Director, Lori oversees daily billing and account tracking for our patients. She credits her strong attention to detail and organization skills to her prior career in banking.

Outside of work, Lori is a certified fitness trainer who enjoys being active and spending time outdoors. You will often find her at the gym, on local hiking trails, or camping! Lori lives in Brinkhaven with her husband Jacob and two children.

Fun fact Even though it bothers most people, Lori enjoys when the electricity goes out and they are forced to live without modern conveniences. Her husband often says she would be happy living in a van by the river, and he’s not wrong! #vanlife

Courtney Schrock

Energy Director

Courtney has been a part of the Ultimate team since 2023. One of her favorite things about chiropractic is seeing the incredible ability the body has to heal itself. She loves that something as simple as getting adjusted can support the body and make such a positive difference in so many areas of life.

Outside of the office, you can usually find Courtney reading, hitting the gym, playing pickleball, or grabbing coffee with friends. She loves getting to know people, hearing their stories, and — most importantly — making them laugh! Building relationships with our patients and helping make their experience at Ultimate a fun and welcoming one is one of her favorite parts of what she does.

Fun fact She is Dr. Garth’s daughter!

Carolyn

Front Desk Chiropractic Assistant

Carolyn joined Ultimate Chiropractic in March 2026 as a chiropractic assistant at the front desk. She does a great job assisting patients with their appointments and helps make sure they have a positive experience! She graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University with a bachelor’s in Family & Consumer Science and has a certification in Administrative Assistance. Carolyn first started as a patient four years ago with severe dizziness and general neck issues. Her favorite thing about chiropractic care is how she feels energized after her adjustments.

Carolyn goes with her adult son on his many adventures seeking new roller coasters to conquer. She loves thrifting and going to concerts, as well as doing trivia locally each week with some friends.

Fun fact She is always searching for new board games to add to her collection!

Brittyn Newkirk

Front Desk Chiropractic Assistant

Brittyn is a Mount Vernon Nazarene University graduate with a degree in Exercise Science and came on board in 2026. She loves connecting with people and making everyone feel welcome!

When she’s not at work, you can find her spending time with her husband, serving at church, cheering on the Steelers, exploring the outdoors, traveling somewhere new, or working on her latest home renovation project. She’s a coffee lover, adventure seeker, and someone who believes there’s always room for a little fun and laughter! She loves meeting new people, trying new things, and making the most of every opportunity life brings her.

Fun fact She once went zip-lining through the rainforests of Costa Rica with spider monkeys swinging through the trees around her!

Jana Gerber

Front Desk Chiropractic Assistant

Jana joined the team in May 2026. She is one of the friendly faces you’ll find at the front desk, where she loves welcoming patients with a warm smile and a personal greeting. After experiencing significant change in her own health and well-being through chiropractic care, she especially loves seeing the progress patients make as they experience chiropractic care for themselves. Jana has a genuine heart for people and chiropractic care.

She and her husband, Tristan, live in Sugarcreek with their five children, Ryker, Kobe, Liberty, Jax, and Hopelyn. Outside the office, Jana spends much of her time supporting the Garaway community; she especially loves cheering for her children at their sporting events and other activities. She also enjoys the role she plays in supporting the Garaway wrestling program as a coach’s wife. Go Pirates! She loves spending quality time with all her people! When she has some extra time, she loves creating custom nails and finding thrifted treasures. She is very active in her church community at Walnut Creek Mennonite Church. She and Tristan are passionate about walking alongside young adults and young married couples as they grow in their faith with the Lord.

Fun fact Jana has recently taken up the hobby of golf, loves it, and she’s not half bad at it!

Emily Rodhe

Back Office Chiropractic Assistant

Emily joined the team in 2025 and is currently working as a Back Office Chiropractic Assistant. She has a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from the University of Akron.

Emily enjoys being part of a practice that helps patients feel and function better every day. She currently lives in Wooster with her husband, Andrew, their son, Reiner, and dog, Rocky. When she’s not at the office, you can usually find her enjoying the outdoors or watching movies! She is an amateur gardener, a coffee connoisseur, and loves spending time with her family over a shared meal.

Fun fact She lived in Upstate New York for two years after graduating from college, where her love for camping and hiking began while exploring the Finger Lakes region!

Bri Jeffers

X-ray Tech

Bri is our amazing X-ray Tech CA and loves all things X-ray related! She graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019 with a degree in Sociology. Her favorite part of chiropractic is seeing how someone’s life can change through the care they receive and being able to witness their progress along the way.

Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her family, her goldendoodle Luna, going thrifting, and trying new foods. She fully embraces being a lifelong foodie!

Fun fact Bri had the opportunity to study abroad in Poland, which was an unforgettable experience and a great opportunity to explore a new culture.