Local Couple Makes Patient Care a Priority

For Richard and Jennifer Speckman, it’s the little things that help them know they made the right decision to go into business for themselves.

In 2008, the high school sweethearts opened in Yorkville, which offers adult and pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapy.

Jennifer Speckman has been a physical therapist for more than 15 years. Richard Speckman, a professional engineer, resigned his partnership to help manage the business.

He hasn’t regretted it.

“The most rewarding thing for me is to see a lot of these kids progress with their social skills that they’re there to do,” he said. “Sometimes you hear them clapping and cheering because they hit a milestone.”

In another instance, Speckman got to witness a patient take her first steps without the cast she’d had on for two years.

“She hadn’t had the therapy she needed,” he said. “She came to us and after five weeks of doing treatments she was able to put on a tennis shoe for the first time in two years. Those kind of achievements are really cool to witness.”

The Speckmans said their facility fulfills a need in the Yorkville area, offering patients high-quality health care in a warm, comfortable environment and promoting quick and responsible rehabilitation by focusing on the individual’s needs.

“We see people one-on-one,” Jennifer Speckman said of the therapists on staff. “We don’t have aids or assistants. And we do a lot of manual therapy here, where it’s more hands-on.”

Her favorite part of the job?

“Being with the patients and helping them get better,” she said. “I love treating.”

Despite the economy, the Speckmans have been able grow the business by adding more therapists to the roster. But Richard Speckman said the facility has not been completely immune to the downturn.

“The insurance laws have changed so there’s an increase in people’s out-of-pocket expenses,” he said. “And with the gas prices, people have to choose sometimes between medical treatments and food when the gas prices are high like this. They have to drive to get to work but they don’t necessarily have to go to the doctor when they need to. So we have all those economic dynamics stacked against us, and that’s been challenging.”

Despite its challenges, the Speckmans enjoy their work.

“Right now in these economic times it’s a bit of a struggle,” Richard Speckman said. “But I wouldn’t change a thing. Some people say, ‘Do you regret going into business for yourselves?’ Absolutely not. As tough as it can be, we absolutely love being able to have our business.”

The Speckmans, who moved to Yorkville in 2000, also enjoy putting down business roots in the town they came from.

“We both grew up in Yorkville,” Jennifer Speckman said. “We love this community and wanted to be a part of it.”

“It’s kind of like coming home for us,” Richard Speckman added.