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MEET THE TEAM!Review us on Google!
Looking to be a part of the Speech Inspirations family? Visit the Careers tab! |
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Jessica Ortler
Speech Language Pathologist M.A., CCC-SLP Owner of Speech Inspirations LLC |
Jessica graduated from Kent State University and resides in the Raleigh area. She has provided speech and language services all across the country. She has a drive and a passion to serve individuals with a multitude of communication disabilities across the lifespan. Although she is skilled and trained in multiple disorders, her passion lies in the treatment of individuals with autism, dyslexia, and reading difficulties. Jessica has experience working with various medical conditions, including stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), dysphagia, dyslexia, autism, and articulation disorders. She decided to open her own practice in 2020 because she wanted to spend more time with her clients and make a difference in the community
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Briana Rosenbaum
Quality Assurance Executive Manager Speech Language Pathologist MS, CCC-SLP |
Briana Rosenbaum graduated from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and has worked in a variety of settings over the last three years in Oregon, including homes, clinics, preschools, and daycares. Therapy experience includes Articulation/Speech Sound disorders, Phonological disorders, Language disorders, Social/Pragmatic disorders, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Feeding delays, Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Her primary experience is with children from birth through elementary school age, but she loves working with individuals of all ages. She Loves to travel, be outdoors, and experience live music in my free time.
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Alexandria Bilenkin
Speech Language Pathologist M.S |
Alexandria is from Staten Island, New York. She graduated from Adelphi University in 2017 with a M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Since then, she has gained experience in a variety of settings—including schools, home care, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient clinics—and has worked with diverse speech and language needs across the lifespan, such as articulation and language delays in children aged five to middle school, autism, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease. As a SLP, Alex enjoys expanding her clinical knowledge and looking to the evidence to try new techniques and strategies. In her free time, she is probably scolding one of her dogs for eating a sock, trying a new recipe or tweaking an old one, attempting to pay attention to an audiobook (in a former life, she was an avid reader), or making another list.
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Carlee Schmelzer
Speech Language Pathologist M.S., CCC-SLP |
Claire Tero
Occupational Therapist MSOT,OTR/L |
Claire has been an occupational therapist for 12 years. Prior to becoming an OTR, she was a respite caregiver for parents of children with autism as well as adults in the home. She has a variety of experience working within the field of occupational therapy, including working in the schools, outpatient adults, assisted living with adults with dementia, and early intervention. She now contracts with schools through Speech Inspirations. She has a certification as an Autism Clinical Specialist and enjoys providing insight for coordinating with parents and teachers on all things related to autism. She is also a mom, a bonus/step mom, a dog mom, and a cat mom. In her spare time, you might find her taking a dance class, painting or writing, walking with her son and dog, traveling to England where her family lives, or practicing yoga.
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Eileen Hackney
Occupational Therapist OTR/L |
Eileen is a school-based and pediatric occupational therapist who is passionate about working with children with disabilities. Her journey to occupational therapy began with her older brother by attending his animal assistive and aquatic OT sessions. Since then, she has had experience working in a summer camp with children (ages 5-18) with mild to severe physical and mental illnesses (including Down Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, Intellectual Disability, Autism, and Cerebral Palsy). She has experience working as an occupational therapist in both the outpatient and school settings. She has lived in Virginia and Maine, but calls North Carolina home with her husband. Outside work, she enjoys going to the gym, walking outdoors, going fishing, cooking, and traveling.
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Joe Erbstoesser
Occupational Therapist OTR/L |
Joe graduated from Concordia University Wisconsin with a background working in a variety of settings including outpatient clinics, schools, behavioral health clinics, and hospitals. He has experience working with both children and adults, most recently working with children with behavioral health disorders including attention deficit disorders, autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorders, oppositional defiance disorders, and developmental delays. Joe has an especially strong passion for working with children with complex needs related to social skills, sensory processing, emotional regulation, and fine motor development. Outside of work, Joe loves writing music, being physically active, thrift shopping, spending time with friends and family, and trying new restaurants around the area.
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Julia Ryan
Occupational Therapist OTD,OTR/L |
Julia was born and raised in Cleveland, OH where she developed her passion for occupational therapy while working as a gymnastics instructor for children with varying social, sensory, and developmental disorders. In May 2024, Julia graduated with a doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA. Julia has experience providing therapy to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, Epilepsy, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, and other medically complex diagnoses. She also has experience administering Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) to pediatric stroke survivors and children with Hemiparesis. She is passionate about ensuring that all children have the skills and support needed to reach their highest potential!
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Kendall Sicari
Speech Language Pathologist Assistant SLPA |
Kendall Sicari is a state-certified Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from James Madison University. During her undergraduate career, she was an active member of Overcoming Barriers, a club dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities and their families through physical activity and mentorship. Kendall collaborates closely with licensed Speech-Language Pathologists to implement individualized therapy plans. She has experience with toddlers, elementary-age children, and middle school students with receptive and expressive language disorders, speech sound disorders, pragmatic language disorders, and autism spectrum disorder. Kendall implements a child-centered approach and works with caregivers and other professionals to best address the unique needs of each individual.
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Kierstin Spottswood
School & Contracts Executive Speech Language Pathologist M.S., CCC-SLP |
Kierstin is originally from Memphis, Tennessee and currently calls the Tar Heel State home. She loves to travel and has resided in 4 different states over the last 7 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from The University of Arkansas and a Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders from North Carolina Central University. She has 7+ years of experience working with children and adults across school and hospital settings. Her areas of interest include language and articulation, cognition, and social communication/pragmatic skills. Outside of speech therapy she loves being outside, trying new coffee shops, attending concerts and sporting events, and exploring new places.
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Kristen Ruiz
Occupational Therapist OTR/L. |
Kristen Ruiz was born and raised in Florida, where she received a Masters in Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Since then, she has been a practicing pediatric OT and has worked with children ranging in age from under 1 year to over 18 years in their homes, daycares, and schools. She has worked with children with developmental delays, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, TBI, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Sensory Processing Disorder and many more through a play-based and client-centered approach. She is dedicated to engaging with children in activities that are most important to them as well as supporting parents through collaboration and coaching to make a meaningful and lasting difference in their family’s lives. She enjoys spending her free time outside on walks with her family and dog, painting, reading, and exploring North Carolina.
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Loic Adjevi-Neglokpe
Speech Language Pathologist M.S., CCC-SLP |
Loic, is a 26-year-old speech-language pathologist who earned his Master's in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Florida. When he is not helping people find their words, you can find him spending time with his wife, writing, or playing music.
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Meredith Mull
Speech Language Pathologist M.S., CCC-SLP |
Meredith is an NC native who graduated from Appalachian State University with both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She has experience working with children and adults across the lifespan. Meredith’s areas of interests include treatment of individuals with dysphagia, cognitive impairments, language and articulation disorders and Autism disorder. When she is not working, she loves spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, practicing yoga, attending concerts, enjoying foods from different
cultures and traveling. |
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Portia Monroe
Speech Language Pathologist Assistant SLPA |
Portia is a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant who received an Associate Degree in Applied Science from Fayetteville Technical Community College in 2006.
Portia has 14+ years of experience working in a variety of settings including: daycares, schools, private clinics, and homes. She has provided speech and language therapy for children with various diagnoses including receptive and expressive language delays, articulation and phonological disorders, fluency disorders, pragmatic language disorders, and developmental delays. She believes in early detection and looks forward to helping young children reach their speech and language goals! In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, shopping, and spending time with family. |
Seida Campos
Speech Language Pathologist Assistant SLPA |
Seida is a bilingual speech language pathologist assistant who graduated from Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute in 2017. Seida has 7+ years of experience working in a variety of settings including: daycares, schools, private clinics, teletherapy and homes. She enjoys working with pediatric patients and their families. Her hobbies are dancing, taking long walks, listening, music, cooking, coordinating events, traveling, and shopping!
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Silvana Cheney
Speech Language Pathologist MS, CCC-SLP |
Silvana received her Masters degree in Communication Disorders from North Carolina Central University. She additionally holds a Bachelors degree in psychology. She resided in Georgia most of her life and moved to North Carolina in 2018 to begin her career as a speech-language pathologist. She has the most experience working with children and adolescents ranging from ages 1 to 15 in home, daycare, and school settings. Silvana has experience working with various diagnoses, specifically autism spectrum disorders and Down syndrome. She has worked with delays in articulation, expressive and receptive language, and social communication. As an SLP who speaks English and Spanish, she finds ultimate fulfillment in educating clients and their families about strategies to help each other communicate more effectively. In her spare time, Silvana enjoys spending time with her husband, video calling her parents, hanging out with her Husky, trying new foods and drinks, and walking and running outdoors.
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Yi-Ting Huang
Speech Language Pathologist M.Ed. CCC-SLP |
Yi-Ting earned her Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders from North Carolina
Central University. She is bilingual (English/Mandarin) and has worked with monolingual and bilingual children with communication disorders. During her clinical experiences in graduate school, she provided services to individuals of all ages, as well as evaluated and treated individuals with a variety of disorders including: articulation disorders, language delays, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, social skills deficits, intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, hearing impairments, and fluency. She has worked in a variety of settings that included: an elementary school, outpatient rehabilitation, bilingual clinic, and in the home. She also had experiences providing accent modification services to adults who speak English as a second language. She believes therapy should be functional and fun. She takes the time to know each child and finds creative ways to help them achieve success. |
Sophia Colt
Patient Services Manager Marketing & Community Outreach Coordinator |
Sophia graduated from Winthrop University in 2021 with a Bachelors in Business Administration and Marketing. She has a background in SEO Marketing with experience in social media marketing, content creation, and website creation! In her free time she spends time with all of her animals, and you can find her on the back of her horse, or spending time with her friends.
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Allison Stockwell
Occupational Therapist OTR/L. |
Allison is originally from Jamestown, NY and recently moved to Charlotte to pursue her career as an occupational therapist. She graduated from the University at Buffalo with her Masters in Occupational Therapy in 2024. Allison's clinical experience in graduate school allowed her to work with a variety of individuals of all ages and with a wide range of diagnoses. When she is not working, she is spending time with friends and family, going to the gym, watching movies, and reading.
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Morgan Savage
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant |
Morgan is originally from Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from Piedmont Technical College with an Associate’s degree in occupational therapy and now resides in Rock Hill, South Carolina. She is very excited to start her career in pediatric therapy! Growing up in a family of 11 has sparked her passion to support and encourage kids to be more independent in daily living. Her student fieldwork experience has given her the opportunity to work with an assortment of diagnoses within a wide range of settings and ages using her creativity and therapeutic use of self. In her free time, Morgan enjoys playing pickleball and beach volleyball, and going on hikes with family and friends.
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Haley Watson
Speech Language Pathologist M.S., CCC-SLPD |
Haley is an NC native from Hickory, NC, who moved to Charlotte after receiving her master's degree in 2023. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Appalachian State University (Go Mountaineers!) and her Master's in Speech-Language Pathology from The Medical University of South Carolina.
She loves working with children of all ages and has experience supporting those with expressive and receptive language delays, speech sound disorders, fluency challenges, pragmatic language difficulties, and AAC needs. Haley's goal is to create a fun, engaging, and supportive environment where every child can thrive and grow in their communication skills. Outside work, you can find her enjoying the best of both worlds—trips to the mountains and the beach! Haley also loves baking sweet treats and spending quality time with her playful mini golden doodle, Sully. |
Leah Wiltgen
Occupational Therapist OTR/L |
Leah Wiltgen is a registered and licensed occupational therapist. She has over 5 years of experience with pediatric OT and loves working with children. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Child Development and Family Relations at East Carolina University in 2016 and her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree at Lenoir-Rhyne University in 2019. In 2020, she became a Certified Autism Specialist and mastered competencies in the understanding of Autism, parent communication, and behavior modification. Leah has also participated in training for feeding interventions and reflex integration.
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Carolynn Salazar
Finance Manager |
Carolynn brings nearly ten years of billing experience to our team, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and top-notch service in every aspect of our billing process. She holds a Master’s degree in History from West Texas A&M University and combines her attention to detail with a strong commitment to helping clients navigate their billing with ease. Originally from New Mexico, Carolynn enjoys life outside of work with her two kids and energetic Australian Shepherd. In her free time, you’ll often find her crocheting, listening to audiobooks, or out on the trails hiking and camping with her family.
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Anthony M. Pandolfo Jr.
HR Generalist |
A graduate of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, Anthony brings sharp wit, strong organizational instincts, and a love of creative problem-solving to Speech Inspirations. As the Executive Operations Coordinator, he keeps the numbers in line and operations on track—with just enough flair to keep things interesting. Originally from New Jersey, Anthony is a humorist by instinct, a humanist by heart, and a determinist when the printer breaks for no reason. A lifelong performer, he’s active in local theatre, thrives on turning awkward moments into comedy, and has a deep appreciation for classic films, competitive board games, and the occasional well-earned bowling win.
Favorite quote: "Knowing what you've got, knowing what you need, knowing what you can do without—that's inventory control." |
Julia Miller
Speech Language Pathologist M.S., CF-SLP |
Julia is originally from Maryland and moved to Charlotte, NC after completing graduate school. She earned her bachelor's degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her master's in Speech-Language Pathology from Regis College in Boston, MA. Passionate about working with children in various settings. Julia has experience in schools, clinics, and private practice. She is dedicated to helping children develop their communication skills through engaging, evidence-based interventions. Julia’s areas of interest include language development, AAC, articulation, autism, and social communication. Outside of speech therapy, Julia enjoys traveling, baking, skiing, going on runs, and listening to jazz music. She is also a big New England sports fan!
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Nathaniel Tarney
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant |
Nate graduated from Durham Technical Community College and lives in Durham, NC. He has experience working with people of all ages with a variety of diagnoses. He is especially passionate about childhood movement disorders, communication needs, and autism. He believes in family-centric therapy to support success both in and out of the clinic. In his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking, and playing with his cats.
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Hannah Tripp
Referrals Coordinator |
Hannah brings a strong passion for helping others and a solid background in medical office administration. She has experience supporting various healthcare teams by managing front-office operations, coordinating patient communications, and handling essential administrative tasks. Outside of work, Hannah enjoys spending quality time with her family, relaxing at the beach, and staying active with her three beloved dogs.
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Maria Wojtila
Occupational Therapist OTR/L |
Maria Wojtila is a registered and licensed occupational therapist who earned her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Gannon University. Maria has always had a passion for helping others, and grew up volunteering for a day treatment center that serves children with autism and other developmental delays. Although she spent the first few years of her professional career working with adults, Maria believes her high energy, bubbly personality and creative mind was made for being a pediatric occupational therapist. Maria is a lifelong learner and is dedicated to providing evidence-based and holistic treatments to those she serves. In her
free time, Maria loves exploring Charlotte, playing tennis, and spending time with her friends. |
Shelby Payne
M.S., CCC-SLP |
Born and raised in Indiana, Shelby studied Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University and later earned her master’s degree from Ball State University. Her passion for the field began while shadowing a SLP who worked in the special education department, where she witnessed firsthand the many ways individuals communicate and the profound impact that the right support can have. Shelby recently moved to Raleigh in 2023 to pursue her career and is dedicated to helping children and their families build confidence and achieve their goal. Outside of work, she enjoys making pottery, weightlifting, and exploring new coffee shops.
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Kaesie Vang
Community Outreach Coordinator |
Kaesie is a North Carolina native who graduated with her Bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Appalachian State University. She received her Digital Marketing Science certificate in December 2024, and is passionate about educating others about speech-language and occupational therapy services. Off the clock, Kaesie enjoys filling her creative cup through taking photos, making lattes, or finding a new hobby to pick up.
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Kia Thatch
M.S., CCC-SLP |
Kia earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from North Carolina Central University and has been practicing as an SLP for the past seven years. She’s had the privilege of working across diverse settings—including early intervention, schools, ABA centers, and assisted living facilities—treating individuals of all ages and needs. Kia’s passion for supporting growth through speech and language development has remained steadfast throughout her career. She has a special interest in AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication), articulation and speech sound disorders, and fostering language skills through child-led play. Outside of work, Kia enjoys reading, interior design, spending time with family and friends, and belting out Hamilton at the top of her lungs.
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Abigail Cohen
Speech Language Pathologist Assistant SLPA |
Abigail is a school-based Speech-Language Pathology Assistant from Charlotte, North Carolina. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Abigail has experience working with a variety of communication disorders, including autism, developmental delays, fluency disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, and receptive and expressive language delays. She incorporates engaging, student-friendly materials into her sessions to make speech therapy enjoyable and meaningful. In her spare time, Abigail enjoys reading, writing, watching sports, solving Sudoku puzzles, listening to music, playing board and card games, working on puzzles, and watching movies.
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Kara Haywood
Speech Language Pathologist M.S., CCC-SLP |
Kara is originally from New York but considers herself a Tar Heel, having moved to North Carolina at the age of 9. She lives in Cary with her two sons, ages 14 and 17, and brings more than 25 years of experience as an SLP in the Raleigh area. She holds a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from UNC–Chapel Hill. Kara has over 20 years of experience in Early Intervention and has also worked for two years as a contract SLP in Wake County Public Schools. Her areas of interest include language and articulation skills in young and school-age children; social/pragmatic language development; using art and music to support speech-language goals; and speech-language development in young children from bilingual families. She has a basic knowledge of Spanish and French and enjoys continuing to study both to improve her conversational skills. Kara believes strongly in collaborating with families, teachers, and other therapists to support the whole child. In her free time, she enjoys photography, puzzles, singing and playing guitar, and walking on the greenways near her home.
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Amanda King
Instructional Assistant |
Amanda is originally from New York but now proudly calls North Carolina her home. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After graduating, she partnered with Teach For America and taught in Guilford
County Schools, where she developed a strong passion for supporting children through relationship-building and meaningful learning experiences. She looks forward to continuing to help children access the services and support they need within the school system, ensuring they feel seen, valued, and empowered to grow. In her free time, Amanda enjoys spending quality time with her family and being outdoors, especially when she’s paddle boarding on the lake. She also loves spending time with her three dogs and exploring new places across North Carolina. |
Emily Lester
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant - In Training |
Emily is from Salt Lake City, Utah, and graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders. Having worked in linguistics research as well as editing and publishing, Emily has a particular interest in language disorders—especially dyslexia and developmental language disorder. You can often find Emily golfing, experimenting with all things sourdough, running, and eating dark chocolate.
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Mitch Walker
Instructional Assistant |
Mitch brings 14 years of experience working in public school Exceptional Children’s programs, where he has dedicated his career to supporting students with diverse learning needs. A native North Carolinian, Mitch is deeply passionate about helping students achieve their very best and believes in creating supportive, inclusive environments that allow every learner to succeed. His
commitment to education is grounded in strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues. Outside of his professional work, Mitch is a lifelong supporter of UNC basketball and enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching sports, and participating in trivia. |
Sara Meier
Speech Language Pathologist M.S., CCC-SLP |
Sara was born and raised in central New York and earned her Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from The College of Saint Rose in Albany. She will soon be relocating to Charlotte, NC, with her husband. Sara has gained valuable experience working in both in-person and virtual settings, including schools for the Deaf, public school districts, and clinical leadership roles. Passionate about fostering meaningful communication and supporting growth, Sara is dedicated to creating therapy experiences that are effective, engaging, and tailored to real-life situations. Her areas of interest include articulation, language, and AAC. In addition to her work as an SLP, Sara continues to pursue fluency in American Sign Language (ASL). In her free time, you’ll likely find her with a cup of coffee in one hand and a camera in the other, planning her next adventure.
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Jessica Williams
Speech Language Pathologist Assistant |
Jessie is thrilled to be joining the team as a Speech-Language Pathologist at Speech Inspirations and is looking forward to collaborating with everyone. She comes to Speech Inspirations with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from East Carolina University. Before joining Speech Inspirations, Jessie worked in childcare as a preschool assistant teacher. She spent about a year in a preschool setting and loved getting to know the children, building meaningful connections, and watching them develop language skills and big personalities. When she’s not at work, Jessie can usually be found at the YMCA or in the kitchen baking something she saw on TikTok. She also enjoys watching documentaries,
Stranger Things, and trying new workout classes. Jessie is based in Cary and is a firm believer in “but first, coffee!” She’s very excited to be joining the Speech Inspirations team. |
Stephanie Rodriguez Suescun
Billing Coordinator |
Stephanie Rodriguez Suescun is a Medical Billing Specialist with over 16 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She is a graduate of Everett University and is currently continuing her education toward becoming a Certified Medical Biller. Stephanie takes pride in helping providers maintain low denial rates while also supporting patients with their billing needs, and she genuinely enjoys the work she does. Outside of her professional role, Stephanie is a devoted wife and mother of three. She also mentors women in recovery, offering guidance, encouragement, and faith to help inspire a renewed vision for their future.
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