Physical therapy session at North Platte Physical Therapy clinic.
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About NPPT

Move Better. Live Better.

Regional Leaders in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

North Platte Physical Therapy proudly serves communities throughout Wyoming and western Nebraska, helping patients recover from injuries, reduce pain, and restore mobility. Established in 1987, we have continued to grow while staying committed to exceptional patient care, ongoing staff education, and evidence-based treatment. In addition to serving patients as North Platte Physical Therapy, we also operate under the names Monument Physical Therapy and Big Country Rehabilitation, expanding our reach while maintaining the same trusted standard of care.

Group photo of North Platte Physical Therapy team and clients.

The Story of North Platte Physical Therapy

NPPT Founding

North Platte Physical Therapy was founded on July 7, 1987, and began seeing patients on August 8, 1988. The company was born out of both frustration and vision.

Founders Chuck Mangus, PT (University of North Dakota), and Carol Wells, PT (University of Washington), were dissatisfied with the therapy equipment and soft goods available to the rural community of Douglas, Wyoming. At the time, obtaining something as simple as a brace required extensive hospital paperwork and was often approved only after the patient had already been discharged. Local physicians shared this frustration and encouraged Chuck and Carol to establish an independent clinic focused on timely, high-quality care with appropriate equipment and supplies.

On August 8, 1988, they opened their doors at 1837 Madora in Douglas.

To fund the launch of the practice:

  • Chuck used his vacation time to assist Niobrara Hospital in Lusk.
  • The income he earned was placed into a fund to establish North Platte Physical Therapy, along with a $5,000 loan from Chuck and Lisa Mangus.
  • Chuck treated patients in both Douglas and Lusk.
  • Carol relocated to Wheatland, working at the hospital and opening an outpatient clinic under their new name, North Platte Physical Therapy. In 2004, she opened the Guernsey clinic.
  • Carol retired on December 5, 2008, and now works ski patrol in Colorado while enjoying time with family.

In 1997, Chuck opened a satellite clinic in Glenrock to better serve that community and to provide leadership opportunities for developing therapists.

After establishing clinics in rural Wyoming, Chuck was featured on the January 1995 cover of an APTA publication for bringing modern therapy services to underserved communities. A clear need was being met.

During these early years, the company defined its core values:

  • Invest in excellent equipment.
  • Provide access to the highest quality continuing education.
  • Take care of families, both in the community and within the company.
  • Build long-term financial security for employees.

Chuck and Carol personally experienced inadequate and expensive health insurance through the hospital system. Determined to do better for their team, they built a benefits structure prioritizing comprehensive, affordable family coverage.

With guidance from financial advisor Fred Dowd (introduced by Dr. Kieffer), they established a profit-sharing program in 1988. The plan has been fully funded every year since and has grown to an eight-figure value, a point of pride for the entire partner group.

We believe in taking care of the people who take care of the community, both in the short term and for the long term.

In 1989, a private physician group in Cody requested higher-quality therapy services. Chuck mentored a therapist to lead the clinic, which became highly successful. Soon after, in 1990, Powell Hospital requested similar care. That clinic remains active today.

John Asher, PT (University of New Mexico), led the Powell clinic for 30 years and retired at the end of December 2025. It is now led by Jordan Soloai, DPT (Des Moines University), who grew up in Powell and completed a high school internship with John.

In 1996, at the request of a former administrator, Carol and Chuck entered into a contract with Crook County Hospital & Medical District. They accepted the challenge in January and, after completing a three-month clinical rotation in Douglas with Chuck, they hired Veronica “Roni” Kramer following her graduation from Creighton University in July.

Carol provided supervision and mentorship to Roni, who had strong family ties to Crook County and a deep commitment to serving the local community.

As staffing allowed over the years, additional northeastern Wyoming clinics were established through the Crook County hospital contract. These locations included Hulett, Newcastle, Moorcroft, and Upton. Later a clinic in Gillette was established and is run by Ben Mangus, DPT, OCS, WCC, SFMA, AIB-VR (New York Institute of Technology).

In 1997, physicians in Casper requested North Platte’s model of care. A small downtown clinic opened and flourished, eventually relocating to a larger space that has undergone multiple expansions and remodels to meet community needs.

As patients from the west side of Casper continued traveling across town for care, leadership opened a Westside clinic in 2010.

Mike Boulter, DPT, OCS, SFMA (University of Montana–Missoula), supervised the Westside location before transferring back to the Eastside clinic. Matt Woodbury, DPT, OCS, SFMA (University of Mary), relocated from the Gillette location to assume supervision of the Westside clinic.

In 2006, North Platte partnered with North Big Horn Hospital in Lovell to expand therapy services.

Ladell Merritt, DPT, SFMA (Creighton University), formerly of Powell clinic and a former student of Chuck’s, helped build the clinic into a thriving rehabilitation department offering both Physical and Occupational Therapy.

Over the past 20 years, the department has grown from a small, windowless corner room into a spacious, modern clinic with one of the best views of the Bighorn Mountains in town. Ladell continues to supervise the clinic today.

Marnie Herring, DPT, LAT, ATC, OCS, SFMA (Creighton University), who grew up in Douglas and was inspired early by Chuck, began her career at the Gillette clinic.

In 2006, she opened the Torrington clinic to be closer to family. Recognizing regional need across the state line, she expanded into Gering in 2009, where services had previously been limited to the hospital. The Gering clinic, located 40 miles from Torrington, continues to serve the region today under the supervision of Meghan Roper, DPT, OCS, SFMA (University of Nebraska).

Our Cheyenne clinic was founded in 2012 on the strength of mentorship and a deep belief in developing professionals from within. Nate Eakins DPT, OCS, COMT, CSCS, SFMA, AIB-VR, S-PS,(University of North Dakota), first trained under Chuck Mangus during a clinical rotation in Douglas and initially never imagined returning, but after his fiancée accepted a teaching position there, he joined the team. Over the next three years, working closely with Chuck and supervising the Glenrock clinic, Nate refined his clinical skills and embraced a patient-first, community-centered model of care. When he expressed interest in expanding into Cheyenne, the company fully supported his vision, launching a clinic that quickly thrived. That same culture of mentorship continued when Jessica Mangus, DPT, WCC, OCS, SFMA (Mayo Clinic) also developed through the Douglas and Lusk clinics, led the expansion to a second Cheyenne location in 2015.

Our Commitment

North Platte Physical Therapy is committed to professional respect, inclusivity, and integrity. We are proud of the culture we have built, one rooted in clinical excellence, collaboration, mentorship, and service to the communities of Wyoming and Nebraska.

What began as a response to a gap in rural healthcare has grown into a multi-clinic organization, still guided by the same principle:

Deliver exceptional care. Invest in people. Serve our communities well.

Therapist providing neck therapy to a patient at North Platte PT.

Who We Are Today

Our clinics are thoughtfully equipped and designed to support exceptional patient care. Because our leadership team consists of practicing clinicians, decisions regarding new technology and equipment are made with direct understanding of patient outcomes.

Professional Development
  • Dedicated annual continuing education budgets
  • Annual spring research-based continuing education course
  • Fall company-wide clinical symposium
  • Support for advanced certifications, including:
    • Dry Needling
    • Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS)
    • Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)

Be the premium providers of therapy services in Wyoming and Nebraska, building a foundation for future generations.

  • Comprehensive family health insurance with minimal employee contribution
  • Fully funded profit-sharing program since 1989
  • Transparent governance with strong internal accountability
  • Therapist-owned partnership model