Celebrating the retirement of Terri Nishimura, PTN’s co-founder and CEO

On the microphone in front of family and friends, she admitted her speech may be a bit long. It would be too challenging to fit Terri Nishimura’s accomplishments into a five-minute speech.

After 25 years, the co-founder and CEO of Pediatric Therapy Network, which merged with Momentum this summer, is set to retire.

“Forty years ago from Northern California, I drove down on the 405 Freeway heading to OT school graduate program at USC,” Terri recalled. “When I was there, someone told me, ‘If you’re going into pediatrics, you train under Dr. Ayers.” Terri was consistently reminded of that by her mother. She assured her mom she would train under Dr. A. Jean Ayers. In 1983, Terri followed through with that promise. “She was the pioneer of sensory integration and sensory processing.”

Terri’s career mantra was to make sure at the end of the day, they could say they “moved the needle.” 

“We want to have impact and we want to move the needle,” Terri said. “My needle is done. It’s really up to you guys.” Terri recounted the search for a location to build the clinic in the mid-90s and it was Rick Capellino, nicknamed the Benevolent Landlord, who helped make the vision a reality over 25 years with the location in Torrance. “We would not be serving these families if it wasn’t for the Capellino family,” Terri said. 

Terri went on to thank the many hands who lifted PTN up throughout its last 25 years including the Harbor Regional Center and countless donors, sponsors, and supporters who have helped build the clinic’s impact to what it is today.

On Saturday, those lifelong friends and family members helped raise more than $31,000. The goal is to create the Momentum Pediatric Therapy Network Center for Excellence to continue the life-changing work to help children and families live their best life. Take a look at the photo gallery below.