Meet The Team
Melissa Zahradka is a licensed and registered occupational therapist, mother of three, and the founder of The Littles Society.
Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Melissa attended Towson University in Maryland, where she earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Since becoming licensed in 2016, she remained living in Maryland with her then fiancé and accepted her first job in a outpatient pediatric therapy clinic. Her career then spanned to geriatric home health and early intervention—each experience shaping her understanding of development, caregiving, and the importance of support across the lifespan.
It was her work in early intervention that most deeply influenced the creation of The Littles Society. Sitting alongside families in their homes during some of the earliest stages of their child’s life, she saw firsthand the gaps in support that many mothers experience—and how much they are often left to navigate on their own.
In 2021, Melissa and her family relocated to Wake Forest, North Carolina, where they quickly fell in love with the sense of community and the beauty of everyday life in the area. She now lives there with her husband, Drew, and their three children.
Beyond her professional background, Melissa’s passion for this work is deeply personal. As a mother herself, she understands both the beauty and the complexity of early motherhood—and how meaningful it is to feel supported, informed, and connected during that time.
When she’s not working with mothers and families, you can find her enjoying a slow breakfast (her favorite meal of the day), baking something in the kitchen, or spending time with her family and friends in their neighborhood—soaking in all that North Carolina has to offer.
Kenna is a licensed and registered occupational therapist, mother of two, and founding team member of The Littles Society.
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Kenna earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University in Houston. After attaining her license in 2016, she returned to Massachusetts where she built a diverse clinical background across a wide range of settings, including early intervention, public and private schools, outpatient pediatric and adult therapy, inpatient hospitals, mental health facilities, NICU care, and geriatric long-term care.
Her experiences working with children and families across these environments deepened her understanding of development, caregiving, and the importance of compassionate, family-centered support. Alongside her professional work, Kenna has dedicated time to volunteer efforts that reflect her passion for serving children and families, including supporting a pediatric hospice facility’s art program for profoundly disabled children, as well as volunteering with Autism Speaks and the North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance.
In 2023, Kenna relocated to Wake Forest, North Carolina, where she quickly fell in love with the family-centered feel of the community and the slower pace of life the area offers.
As both a clinician and a mother, Kenna understands how transformative—and at times overwhelming—the early stages of motherhood can be. Her passion for The Littles Society is rooted in the belief that mothers deserve thoughtful guidance, meaningful connection, and support that extends beyond the traditional medical model.
Outside of her work, Kenna enjoys discovering new coffee shops, spending time outdoors, and planning adventures and trips with her children.