Conference Presenters

Jennie Bjorem, MA, CCC-SLP, is a seasoned pediatric speech-language pathologist with more than 25 years of experience. For more than two decades, she has dedicated her career to helping children find their voice, with a special focus on childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Jennie maintains a small caseload of children with CAS and is nationally recognized for her advanced expertise in this area by Apraxia Kids. As the founder of Bjorem Speech® Publications, Jennie is passionate about creating inclusive and diverse resources that resonate with both children and therapists, supporting the unique needs of every child.

Natalie Bowman, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is a licensed speech-language pathologist and certified brain injury specialist. She is the founder and clinic director of Brainstorm Therapy Services, a private practice in Denver, Colorado that serves patients across the lifespan with diverse cognitive-communication needs. Her clinical interests include cognitive recovery after TBI, aphasia, bilingualism and voice disorders.

Christine Brennan, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research focuses on the speech, language and communication profiles of individuals with rare conditions, including descriptive, experimental and case report studies. Her work also explores AAC and assistive technology solutions for individuals with complex communication needs.

Stephanie Budd, MA, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist and certified brain injury specialist with 10 years of experience specializing in neurorehabilitation across multiple settings including outpatient, home health, acute care, skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation. Since 2019, she has been a dedicated clinician on the brain injury unit at Craig Hospital with a particular interest in advancing cognitive rehab to enhance patient outcomes.

Belinda Daughrity, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an associate professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at CSULB. She earned her bachelors degree in English and Spanish at Spelman College. She earned her masters degree in speech-language pathology and audiology at NYU and her doctorate in education with a specialization in human development and psychology at UCLA. Her research interests include social skills and parent involvement in children with autism spectrum disorders, as well as barriers to early access to diagnosis and treatment of autism in communities of color. Additionally, she is interested in issues of cultural competence for speech-language pathologists.

Hilary Diefenbach, MA, CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist with extensive experience in brain injury rehabilitation.  Her expertise ranges from coma recovery to concussion care.  She practices at Swedish Medical Center, a private practice serving the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Marcus Institute for Brain Health at the University of Colorado. Hilary also serves on the Advisory Council on Brain Injury within the Colorado Department of Human Services to support community education and outreach.

Phillip Erkkila, MA, CCC-SLP, is the professional development team lead, the ASHA CE Administrator and a Bloom Clinical manager for The Stepping Stones Group. He has worked in multiple settings including public, private and charter schools, private practice, early intervention, acute care hospitals and adult home health.  He provides clinical support to clinical fellows and continues to practice.  Phillip has created and presented on many topics related to the field of speech-language pathology including treatment practices for children with ASD, behavior management, collaborative service delivery, self- assessment and the importance of soft skills. Additionally, Phillip is the host of The Stepping Stones Group Knowledge Quest, an interactive game show to help students become familiar with Praxis type questions.  He is an alumnus of ASHA’s Leadership Development Program, and the recipient of multiple ASHA Continuing Education (ACE) Awards.

Amy Fetter, MS, CCC-SLP, BCBA, is a dual-certified speech-language pathologist and board certified behavior analyst based in Denver, Colorado. She is the founder of Integrated Speech & Behavior, a private practice dedicated to supporting autistic children and complex communicators, particularly those who use AAC. With over a decade of experience in both fields, Amy specializes in blending the science of learning with strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming communication support. She is passionate about bridging the gap between disciplines to help children, families and providers speak the same language, literally and professionally.

Shelby Ford, MS, CCC-SLP, is a pediatric speech-language pathologist and the owner of Shelby the SLP, LLC, a mobile private practice based in New Jersey. She specializes in speech sound disorders and is passionate about making therapy both effective and engaging. In addition to providing in-home therapy, Shelby creates modern, play-based materials through her Teachers Pay Teachers store and shares therapy tips and educational content on her Instagram, @shelbytheslp. She also serves as the director of marketing for Bjorem Speech Publications, where she combines her clinical expertise with creative strategy to support the speech-language pathology community. Shelby earned her undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders from James Madison University and her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Loyola University Maryland.

Resa Gardner, DDS, is a dedicated and passionate dentist, graduating from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine in 2013. After completing a general residency program, she deepened her expertise in the area of tethered oral tissues and airway health by becoming an affiliate of the Breathe Institute, where she participated in a surgical proctorship with renowned expert, Dr. Soroush Zaghi. Through this unique, one-on-one training, Resa has gained advanced skills in diagnosing and treating airway and facial development issues associated with tethered oral tissues. Her journey into this specialized field began as a mother. After struggling with painful breastfeeding and challenges with her son’s latch, she faced months of reflux, colic and exhaustion from constant cluster feeding. It wasn’t until her son was seven months old that she discovered he had a tongue tie, during a continuing education course at the Breathe Institute. This discovery sparked her passion for learning about the profound impact of tethered oral tissues on facial development, breathing and overall health. Driven by an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, Resa has immersed herself in the latest research and training on this subject. She has had the privilege of learning from several prominent figures in the field of tethered oral tissues and airway management, including Dr. Soroush Zaghi (MD), Dr. Baxter (DMD), Dr. Geheri (MD), Dr. Pinto (DDS), Dr. Bockow (DDS, MS) and Dr. Gunson (DDS). Today, Resa is dedicated to helping her patients achieve optimal facial development and breathe better. Whether through early intervention for infants and children, or personalized care for adults, her goal is to improve her patients’ quality of life by focusing on proper tongue function, facial growth, and airway health.

Jamie Gibbons, BA, is a graphic artist, parent advocate and a mother of an AAC user. She shares her personal journey to support caregivers and clinicians, fostering empathy, trust and collaboration. Her work highlights the emotional realities of caregiving and strengthens connections between home and clinical AAC support through honest, compassionate dialogue.

Susan Golubock, OTD, OTR/L, is an autistic retired occupational therapist, Susan brings more than 40 years of experience supporting individuals with neurological differences. As developer of the Neuro-Strengths-Based Support for Autism framework, she offers a powerful lived perspective on how assessments can either build understanding or misinterpret strengths as deficits.

Amy Graham, MA, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist, international speaker and owner of Graham Speech Therapy, a private practice in Colorado Springs specializing in pediatric speech sound disorders. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communicative disorders from California State University, Fullerton and has been an SLP for 25 years.  Amy provides professional development on the assessment and treatment of SSD and is the creator of numerous SSD-specific assessment and therapy resources. She has a particular interest in using her platform to support and equip SLPs to thoroughly assess and effectively treat children with speech sound disorders.

Jennifer Gray, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist with 20 years of experience treating speech, language and feeding delays and disorders. She specializes in improving speech clarity, executive functioning and social communication skills for individuals with Down syndrome through targeted interventions such as LSVT LOUD to maximize skills of independence.

Angela Halpern, MS, CCC-SLP, is an expert in voice/speech disorders. She has been a speech-language pathologist for 33 years and an LSVT LOUD faculty since 2004. She has authored and co-authored articles regarding treatment efficacy for people with Parkinson’s disease and Down syndrome and given presentations at numerous national and international conferences.

Kathy Hardin, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist and associate professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Kathy has spent more than 20 years specializing in acquired communication disorders, particularly TBI. Her work focuses on improving long-term outcomes and participation for people living with TBI, and reframing providers practices, including improving empathy in TBI. She is the director of the CATBIRD lab, addressing  communication advances in TBI rehabilitation delivery. Kathy has been awarded Outstanding Clinical Practice in the State of Colorado, and named both a trailblazer and a changemaker by ASHA.

Kallie Knight, MS, CCC-SLP, specializes in narrative language intervention and dynamic assessment. She has contributed to multiple publications and has presented on these topics across the country. The majority of her clinical experience is in diverse, Title 1 schools. Kallie is passionate about bridging research and practice, equipping busy clinicians with accessible, evidence-based strategies.

Charlie Lunaris, PhD, CCC-SLP, (they/them) is a queer, non-binary speech-language pathologist and assistant professor working at the University of Northern Colorado (UNCO). They specialize in research that evaluates how hormones affect the voice and supervises gender-affirming voice services at UNCO’s speech and hearing clinic. Their service is focused on promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in communication science disorders. They are on the Board for L’GASP (the LGBTQ+ ASHA caucus) and is a founder of the national LGBTQ+ CSD Student Association, which they currently serve as Chair of the Board of Directors.

Danielle Maglinte, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist and AT consultant in early intervention. As a speech-language pathologist, Danielle has experience working with children with a range of communication challenges and children who use AAC devices, including children who use alternate access methods. Before becoming a speech-language pathologist, Danielle worked as an AAC consultant for PRC-Saltillo educating and supporting caregivers whose loved ones used AAC and professionals who provided evaluations and therapy to people who use AAC. Danielle was first introduced to AAC as an early childhood special education teacher in a classroom for children with multiple disabilities who had limited verbal communication or difficulty with intelligibility. Danielle is committed to providing young children with the opportunity to increase communication options and promote language development while continuing to work on speech.

Staci Neustadt, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist, parent coach and CEO of Making Sense of Autism. Staci helps professionals and families shift from behavior management to meaningful connection and communication. She brings two decades of experience in schools, private practice and early intervention, with a focus on affirming autistic communication and identity.

Ryan Pollard, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF, teaches undergraduate courses in speech disorders, speech science and disability studies, as well as graduate courses in fluency disorders and clinical counseling. Clinically, he supervises individual therapy for stuttering and cluttering, an adult stuttering support group and a summer camp for adolescents who stutter. He is a board member of FRIENDS: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter and the American Board of Stuttering, Cluttering & Fluency Disorders. He has a bachelor’s in psychology and is trained in psychotherapeutic approaches such as CBT and DBT. He has also published disability-themed fiction in several literary journals.

Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP, is a pediatric feeding therapist, international speaker and certified speech-language pathologist with more than two decades of experience helping children and families establish healthy relationships with food. Known as “Coach Mel” on Instagram (@mymunchbug_melaniepotock), she is the author of six books, including the award-winning Raising a Healthy Happy Eater and Responsive Feeding. A sought-after expert in both typical and complex feeding development including ARFID, Melanie combines evidence-based strategies with real-life parenting insight. Her guidance has been featured in more than 50 media outlets, including CNN and The New York Times. Certified by ASHA and the recipient of ASHA’s 2024 State Clinical Achievement Award and provides training for healthcare professionals worldwide.

Andi Putt, MS, CCC-SLP, is a neurodivergent speech-language pathologist by day, play enthusiast by night and a firm believer in the magic of play based learning. She is dedicated to empowering families and fostering meaningful connections. Andi specializes in autism evaluations and neurodiversity affirming support and feels strongly that every voice deserves to be heard and valued.

Christina Riseman, MA, CCC-SLP, is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Colorado Boulder,  who specilizes in assessment and treatment of adults with cognitive-linguistic disorders. She has degrees in chemical engineering (Cornell University) and speech-language pathology (CU Boulder). She has worked in acute care and outpatient settings.

Gary Robinaugh, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist and assistant professor at the University of Northern Colorado. Gary has clinical experience across the lifespan and teaches courses in language development, language disorders, acquired neurogenic communication disorders and clinical practice. His primary research interests are in assessment and treatment of aphasia.

Jordan Romick, MS, CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist with Brainstorm Therapy Services. She earned her undergraduate degree and SLPA licensure at the University of Colorado, Boulder before completing her master’s degree in speech-language pathology at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Jordan began her career as an SLPA working across several Title 1 schools, where she developed a foundation in delivering accessible, functional care to diverse communities. Since then, she has continued to build clinical expertise across multiple areas of the field, with a focus on voice, both through her work with the transgender and gender-diverse community in voice modification and expansion and through SPEAK OUT!® interventions for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Since joining Brainstorm Therapy Services in 2024, Jordan has strengthened her focus on functional approaches to cognitive-linguistic rehabilitation, particularly for individuals with post-concussion syndrome. She is dedicated to helping clients and their communication partners find creative, meaningful and sustainable ways to manage cognitive fatigue and improve everyday functioning across environments.

Erin Ross, PhD, CCC-SLP, CLC, is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a faculty member at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She also serves as a speech-language pathologist and developmental specialist within the HCA HealthONE Hospitals system. With more than 35 years of experience, Erin specializes in feeding development in medically complex infants and young children. She is the creator of the SOFFI® method for supporting oral feeding in fragile infants and is a certified instructor of the SOS Approach to Feeding. Through her company, Feeding Fundamentals, she provides NICU consultation, professional training and research support. She has authored numerous publications on pediatric feeding disorders and is widely recognized for her expertise in infant feeding and early development.

Kellie Sitarz, MS, CCC-SLP, is a Hanen-certified speech-language pathologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She specializes in AAC and early intervention, with a passion for caregiver coaching. Kellie teaches the Hanen It Takes Two to Talk classes and partners with families to support meaningful, relationship-based communication at home.

Becky Spence, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist turned tax strategist who specializes in helping service-based professionals navigate the financial side of self-employment with clarity and confidence. After years in clinical practice, Becky discovered a passion for business finance and a talent for simplifying complex tax topics. She now leads Spence Tax Advising, where she combines her clinical background and strategic mindset to empower private practice owners and independent contractors to make informed decisions, save money on taxes and grow sustainable, profitable businesses.

Alison Stewart-Dunham, MS, CCC-SLP, received her bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Oregon and her master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Vermont. She has worked in home health for the past five years with a caseload primarily supporting tweens, teens and young adults with complex communication needs. She is currently the SLP team lead at WellCare Pediatrics and Nurture Home Health. Her passions include empowering SLPs to complete speech-generating device funding, encouraging multi-modal communication regardless of age and assessment and treatment of resonance and voice disorders including gender-affirming voice care for teens.

Gretchen Storm, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist with a master’s degree from Purdue University. She began her career in Denver, where her first summer at Adams Camp sparked a deep interest in working with individuals with complex communication needs. That passion led her to spend the next 12 years as a center-based SLP in a public school setting, while also beginning to see private AAC clients on the side. Her dedication to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) eventually inspired her to launch her own private practice focused on in-home AAC therapy. She went on to develop the Learning Zone, an AAC immersion school, and currently serves in a district-level SWAAAC role. Gretchen continues to provide direct services to clients and students, while also coaching and training SLPs and educational teams to better support AAC users across settings. This year, her work was recognized by the Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association, naming her runner-up for their “Awesome Teacher Award.”

Sherri Tennant, MS, CCC-SLP, is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. She has 32 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist and as an augmentative-alternative communication (AAC) specialist in a variety of settings, including public school systems, private practices, nonprofit rehabilitation clinics and university clinics.