Meet The Team:

Speech and Feeding Therapy North Phoenix- Office/Virtual 

Registered NLA Trained Clinician

AAC Trained Clinician

SOFFI®  Supporting Oral Feeding in Fragile Infants Certification

Makena graduated from Midwestern University with her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology in May 2024. Prior to this, she worked for three years as a pediatric speech-language pathology assistant, gaining hands-on experience treating a diverse range of children with various communication disorders. During her clinical rotations, she also evaluated and treated pediatric feeding disorders in an outpatient clinic, fostering her passion for helping children and families facing feeding challenges.

Makena is committed to ongoing professional development and has completed the Meaningful Speech Course to deepen her understanding of the Natural Language Acquisition Framework. She is now certified to support Gestalt Language Processors! Additionally, she is skilled in using both low-tech and high-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) methods to support more complex communicators. In addition to her mentorship with our owner, Kalee, Makena has completed the Supporting Oral Feeding in Fragile Infants (SOFFI) certification to expand her expertise in pediatric feeding.

Speech Therapy- Virtual 

SLPA Supervisor 

Haley is an experienced speech-language pathologist dedicated to supporting young children and their families through high-quality, individualized care. She specializes in early intervention and early language development, with a strong understanding of how critical the early years are for building a solid foundation in communication. Haley is trained in AAC (augmentative and alternative communication), apraxia, and autism, and is committed to providing individualized, neurodiversity-affirming support.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences from University of Oregon and her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

Haley utilizes a play-based therapy approach, creating engaging and meaningful sessions that promote natural language growth within a child-centered environment. Her therapy is grounded in evidence-based practice, ensuring that all strategies and interventions are research-supported and tailored to meet each child’s unique needs.

She is passionate about partnering with families and believes that parent involvement is key to success. Haley provides ongoing parent education and practical strategies to help caregivers support their child’s communication skills in everyday routines.

Her goal is to foster confident, capable communicators while creating a supportive and empowering experience for both children and their families.

Speech Therapy South Scottsdale- Office/Virtual

Bilingual English/Spanish

Trained in Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing® Program for Reading, Spelling, and Speech (LiPS)

AAC Trained Clinician

Beverly Rodriguez Vargas is a dedicated and compassionate Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant with four years of experience providing direct therapy services to individuals with various communication disorders. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Northern Arizona University and is currently enrolled in the NAU Summer Master's degree.

Beverly specializes in implementing individualized treatment plans to enhance speech and language abilities under the supervision of licensed SLPs. Her expertise includes working with articulation, fluency, voice, and language impairments, as well as utilizing assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. She is passionate about empowering patients and their families by providing education and training to facilitate effective communication at home.

With a strong background in pediatric outpatient clinical settings, Beverly has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans and ensure the best outcomes for her patients. Fluent in Spanish and known for her patience, empathy, and adaptability, she is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those she serves.

Speech and Feeding Therapy South Scottsdale -Office/Virtual

SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Trained

AAC Trained Clinician

Ellen is a speech-language pathologist originally from the suburbs of Chicago. She earned her undergraduate degree from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, and completed her master’s degree in speech-language pathology at Lewis University, graduating in 2023. She brings a well-rounded clinical background with experience across both school and clinic settings, including two years in schools and three years in outpatient clinical practice.

Ellen provides therapy services to clients in clinical settings addressing expressive and receptive language, feeding, articulation, fluency, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), pragmatics and voice. She is SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) feeding trained and incorporates a sensory-based approach to support children with feeding challenges. In addition to clinic-based care, she has delivered home health speech and language services to improve quality of life for homebound clients, while also guiding families on carryover strategies to support progress in the home environment.

Her experience includes conducting comprehensive evaluations in both academic and clinical settings to determine eligibility for services and develop individualized, evidence-based treatment plans. She also demonstrates strong clinical judgment in analyzing documentation across settings and effectively communicating progress and recommendations with families and caregivers.

Speech Therapy South Scottsdale- Office/Virtual

SLPA Supervisor 

AAC Trained Clinician

Cara Gelbart grew up in Michigan before she moved to Tucson with her family as a teenager. Cara received her master's degree in Communication Disorders at Arizona State University in 2016. Cara has 10 years of experience working with clients younger than 18 months up to 42 years with varying degrees of speech and language needs, in a number of settings including schools and clinics. Cara enjoys targeting pragmatic language disorders and teaching social communication. She is also skilled in utilizing both low- and high-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) strategies to support individuals with more complex communication needs. She prides herself on bringing creativity into her therapy, is known for creating original therapy materials, and is not afraid to act a little silly. When she is not working as a therapist, she enjoys painting, traveling, and spending time with her two children and dog, Kermit. 

Occupational & Feeding Therapy South Scottsdale- In Office/Virtual

Meagan graduated from Northern Arizona University with her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy and has two years of clinical experience working with children and families. She earned her undergraduate degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Arizona State University and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). Meagan is passionate about helping children and families build confidence and independence in their everyday routines and meaningful activities. She has experience providing services across sensory integration–based intervention, feeding therapy, mental health, and adaptive sports. In her work with sensory integration, she helps children navigate and regulate their responses to sensory input, supporting the development of motor skills, attention, and emotional regulation in playful and meaningful ways. Meagan enjoys creating individualized, client-centered treatment approaches that are engaging, supportive, and family-focused.

Holistic Release Work South Scottsdale- In Office

Certified TMR Tots Level 1

Pediatric Certified Specialist

John F Barnes Myofascial Release Training

Katie is an Arizona native who graduated from Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She received her Bachelor’s of Health Science degree in Kinesiology at Arizona State University. Katie is also a certified board specialist in pediatric physical therapy. She has over 5 years of experience with infants and children of all ages and types of abilities, however Katie specializes with medically complex pediatric population. 

She has experience with total motion release (TMR Tots Level 1), myofascial release (John F Barnes Myofascial Release Course), reiki, and functional mobility through the Institute of Physical Art. These are all gentle and non-invasive yet transformative techniques that work well together with the unique individual parents, family, and infant. Katie’s philosophy believes in the total body impacting all parts of development. Additionally her experience shows how much the body intertwines with feeding, speech, and digestion. Her specialty is with holistic release work, focusing on the interconnections throughout the physical body and how it impacts other areas including lactation and overall oral motor skills. Through a general 3 phase process, her physical therapy focuses on addressing range of motion, then neuromuscular education, and progresses to functional movement. 

As a first generation Chinese-American, Katie truly values the integration of culture and healthcare. She is dedicated to working as a team, including the families, and approaches her therapy through a big picture, evidence-based, culture sensitive, and family-centered perspective.

Lactation Services West Valley Arizona- In Home

International Virtual Support

Rebekah has been and IBCLC since 2006 and a nurse for over 25 years with a passion for women's health and breastfeeding.  She worked in post partum long before becoming a mother herself.  As a new nurse she learned everything she could from the LC on staff and was soon the one providing services during night shifts when newborns like to eat the most! Like many when she became a mother herself, she thought breastfeeding would be easy, but soon realized she would be challenged with many of the same struggles as those she was supporting. That was the beginning of her career as an IBCLC.  She became fully committed  to using her skills and experience to help as many women as she could reach their breastfeeding goals!

Lactation Services North Phoenix and Cave Creek- In Home

International Virtual Support

Babies have always had a special place in Jackie's heart. Jackie has enjoyed 17 years as a NICU nurse before her new role as an IBCLC began in 2015. Her own breastfeeding journey motivated Jackie to help other breastfeeding moms and lead every interaction with a compassionate, supportive, family centered approach. Jackie's hospital experience as an IBCLC includes supporting babies with a congenital condition, preterm infants, elevated level of jaundice, and weight gain challenges. Her clinic experience includes babies being seen for their routine pediatrician visits as well as those seen in a variety of specialty clinics. Jackie has enjoyed speaking with parents prenatally who are experiencing a routine pregnancy and also those whose baby has been diagnosed with a fetal condition. Jackie's goals are to help moms feel supported, listened to, and confident to reach their lactation goals. It is her honor to play a small role in a mom's breastfeeding journey and support each family where they are at. 

Administrative Assistant

Alexa is a member of our administrative assistant team who helps make sure our day to day operations run smoothly. With a strong medical background and customer service experience, she ensures that every family feels welcomed and supported from their first visit. Her experience in medical documentation, patient coordination, and front-office management allows her to efficiently assist with scheduling, insurance inquiries, and clinic operations. Currently pursuing her nursing degree, Alexa is passionate about providing compassionate care and assisting families on their healthcare journey.