Early Supports: Our Team of Specialists
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Laura Kneedler, M. Ed. – Chief Mission Officer
Laura joined Northwest Center in 2013 as the director of one of our Early Learning programs and was promoted to her role as Vice President of Education & Therapy services in 2016. With over 14 years of experience, Laura has worked in a variety of settings including public schools, therapeutic childcare centers, and as an early childhood classroom teacher for more than 10 years. Laura holds a Bachelor of Science in Education/Health & Human Development from Montana State University and a master’s degree in Special Education from Concordia University, as well as a certification in infant/toddler development. She is passionate about Northwest Center’s mission and about providing support and advocacy to the children and families enrolled in our programs. |
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Alison Lombardi, M.S., CCC-SLP – Director of Clinical Services
Phone: (206) 445-4458 Alison received a Master of Science in Speech Pathology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 1999. After moving to Seattle in 2000, she worked with young children in a variety of settings including the Lake Washington School District, a private practice, and Childhaven. Alison joined Northwest Center ES in June of 2010. She believes strongly in the mission and philosophy of care where families and therapists work together to help children grow and learn. She is excited to continue working closely with children in their natural environments with the collaboration of a wonderful therapeutic team. Alison’s continuing education includes PROMPT Level 1. She has a special interest in infant mental health including trainings from Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics at the Child Trauma Academy, an introduction to Promoting First Relationships®, and cultural competency. Alison enjoys spending time with her husband and two young daughters, cooking, and traveling. |
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Kayla Buswell Khan, MS, CCC-SLP – Director of Business Operations
Phone: (206) 939-2714 Kayla Buswell Khan, MS, CCC-SLP is Director of Business Operations at Northwest Center Industries. Leveraging her background in clinical practice, Ms. Khan leads technology development, systems integration, and business operations for the Early Childhood Education team at the Seattle based non-profit. Prior to running Business Operations, she worked for Northwest Center as a speech pathologist. Ms. Khan has also served as a Speech Pathologist at the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center in Seattle and the River School in Washington DC. As Preschool program lead at HSDC, she pioneered a first of its kind curriculum for an early childhood classroom aimed at integrating specialized instruction for communication delays and disorders in a classroom environment. Ms. Khan has a BA in Psychology and a BS in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Washington. She has a MS in Speech Language Pathology from Gallaudet University. Ms. Khan is fluent in American Sign Language. |
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Caitlin Simoneaux, MS, OTR/L, IMH-E® | Occupational Therapist, Infant Mental Health Endorsed
Originally from California, Caitlin lived in 3 different states before landing in Seattle, where she has been working in Early Supports for over 10 years. She earned her master’s in Occupational Therapy from the University of North Carolina in 2011. Caitlin believes it is a privilege and gift to collaborate with families to promote participation in daily routines during the first years of their child’s life. Caitlin has completed a variety of trainings to support her practice, including SOS Approach to Feeding, Sensory Integration & Praxis Test (SIPT) course and certification, Autism Matters with Kim Barthel, Sleep Matters with Kim Barthel, and Infant Mental Health endorsement. Outside of work, Caitlin enjoys spending time with her partner and children, being outdoors (rain or shine!), cooking, reading and traveling. |
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Kaylee Ainge, Family Resource Coordinator
Kaylee joined Early Supports in 2023. A native of Utah, Kaylee graduated from the University of Utah with dual BS degrees in Psychology and Human Development & Family Studies. While acquiring her undergrad, she volunteered at Primary Children’s Hospital, where she monitored and worked with well siblings in the hospital’s playroom, and at the therapeutic preschool Children’s Center. Shortly after graduation, she and her husband began their new life in Washington state. Since her arrival, Kaylee has worked as a preschool teacher, RBT/CBT, as a counselor at a day center for adults experiencing homelessness, and most recently as a behavioral health care coordinator at Kitsap Mental Health Services. Kaylee enjoys hiking, attending concerts and festivals, traveling, painting, spending time with loved ones, and eating delicious food, and is also a huge fan of Studio Ghibli, Sailor Moon, and fantasy novels and movies. |
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Karen Baker, PT, c/NDT, IMH-E Physical Therapist
Phone: (206) 472-4814 Karen grew up near the mountains in Colorado. She received her master's degree in physical therapy at Andrews University in 2002. She moved to the Seattle area in 2007. Karen's physical therapy work has always been in pediatrics, serving ages 0-18 in Early Supports, outpatient/aquatic settings, and as a clinical consultant for SPIO. Karen enjoys working with and learning from families. She strives to partner with caregivers to build from a foundation of connection with their child to support the many beautifully intertwined areas of development such as feeding and motor skills. Some of her more extensive trainings include Neurodevelopmental Treatment 8wk course and advanced baby course, Promoting First Relationships certification, the Fragile Infant Feeding Institute, Tube Feeding with Love, SOS Approach to Feeding, and the completion of her Infant Mental Health Endorsement. Outside of work, Karen enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters, being outdoors, directing a children's choir, reading, and traveling |
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Julia Szilard, DPT, CLT – Physical Therapist
Julia Szilard is a physical therapist at Northwest Center ES. A Pacific Northwest native, Julia earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Washington in 2008. She returned to the University of Washington for her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, which she earned in 2013. Julia has worked in outpatient orthopedics, home health, and pediatric settings of physical therapy throughout the Puget Sound region. Julia enjoys partnering with families to build connection and ensure their routines and priorities are included in therapy. Some of her additional work and trainings include lymphedema treatment certification (CLT), childcare advocacy, and supporting caregiver mental health. Outside of work, Julia enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, going to agility class with her dog, and getting outside as much as possible. |
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Kimberly Burns, PT, DPT
After growing up in Austin, Texas, Kimberly attended the University of Alabama where she earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a minor in psychology. After undergrad, Kimmy moved back to Texas to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Texas Woman’s University in Dallas. Kimmy moved to Seattle in the summer of 2020 and has been loving the change of scenery. Kimmy has worked in outpatient geriatrics and skilled nursing facilities, but she has always loved working with kids. Kimmy is passionate about advocating for children and their families by ensuring families’ voices are being heard. Outside of work, Kimmy enjoys reading, spending time with her husband and two cats, and traveling. |
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Melinda Bourgette, B.A. – Family Resources Manager
Phone: (206) 889-9340 Melinda graduated from Western Washington University, earning bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and Social Services and a minor in Psychology. As a part of her studies at WWU, she participated in early childhood education and child development classes. After graduating from WWU, she followed her passion and decided to take a chance with an up-and-coming law firm, Barraza Law. At Barraza Law, Melinda was given the opportunity to use her bilingual skills to assist clients in all aspects of the law firm’s practice. Melinda worked directly with clients to translate legal documentation, attend appointments, facilitate communication, and guide them through various application processes. Her positive experience with the law firm further deepened her passion to provide and empower families with the knowledge of their rights and available resources. Melinda jumped at the chance to work with Northwest Center ES, where she now works directly with families to advocate for ES services. |
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Katie Merisko, M.A., CCC-SLP – SLP/ED Manager and West Team SLP Supervisor
Phone: (206) 948-3602 Katie earned her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology at California State University, Long Beach. Originally from California, Katie moved to Seattle in 2012 with her husband to work as a speech therapist at Northwest Center. She took time off work when her two daughters were born, which gave her invaluable insight into the challenges and joy involved with being a parent. She is happy to be back on the ES team and is enthusiastic about serving birth-to-3 families again. Katie is passionate about inclusion for all with a family- and community-centered approach to therapy. She is trained in Play Therapy, Hanen: It Takes Two to Talk, Vision and Processing Therapy, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Assessment and Treatment, Oral Motor/Feeding, Tube Feeding with Love, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), and Coordinating Support for Child & Family Well-Being. In her free time, Katie enjoys traveling, sewing, and a variety of DIY projects including the restoration of a 1950s cabin on Whidbey Island. |
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Gina Cardillo, PhD, Speech-Language Pathologist
Gina Cardillo (‘car-DILL-owe’, she/her) brings over a decade of experience in supporting families and professionals in early learning, and embraces healing-centered practice and relational health. She has served as an early support therapist at several Seattle-area organizations, as well as in private practice, with a focus on families’ resilience after housing and parenting transitions. She has developed consultation and coaching opportunities for early learning providers as a WA STARS approved trainer and UW faculty member in Early Childhood and Family Studies. She is a former Director of Education at Seattle Hearing Speech & Deaf Center, and was the founding director of outreach at UW Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences. A Pittsburgh transplant, she lives in Seattle with her son, twin daughters, and two parrots. Gina delights in exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, which definitely includes local wine and imported coffee |
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Tina Paik – North Site Supervisor
Phone: (206) 459-5865 Tina attended the University of Washington in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. While her Early Childhood experience included programs at churches, volunteering at Seattle Children’s Hospital, community centers, and Seattle Public Schools (including Team Read and teacher assisting), her education had been mostly science- and technology-driven. Upon joining Northwest Center, she fell in love with the organization and its mission, as well as the families and staff. Since then, Tina has completed numerous trainings supporting early childhood development, specializing in Infant Mental Health as a certified Promoting First Relationships® provider, and working closely with the CHERiSH™ (Children Encouraged by Relationships in Secure Homes) team. In her free time, Tina enjoys hiking, spending time with her husband and their Shiba pup, music, movies, theatre, board games, and all things Disney. |
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Sara Michelle Gabbert – West Site Supervisor
Phone: (206) 503-5976 Sara earned her master’s degree in Social Sciences with a focus in Anthropology from California State University, San Bernardino in 2014, graduating summa cum laude. While in graduate school, Sara worked as a teaching assistant and lecturer, and also completed archaeological field school. Her personal research involves indigeneity and identity politics, the formation of social movements, and issues of environmentalism. As a field-trained archaeologist, Sara has worked extensively in Montana and California, most recently restoring sections of Manzanar National Historic Site in conjunction with the U.S. National Park Service. Sara was excited to join Northwest Center’s ES team in 2017. She considers herself to be a lifelong student and is passionate about education. In her free time, Sara enjoys hiking with her dogs, cooking, writing, and traveling. |
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Sara Circelli, M.A. – Hospital-to-Home Site Supervisor
Phone: (206) 437-9057 Sara Circelli grew up in Maine and has lived in the Pacific Northwest for the past 10 years. Sara has a Bachelor’s degree from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts and a Master’s degree from the University of Southern California. Sara works as a Family Resources Coordinator and co-leads Northwest Center’s Hospital-to-Home™ program, working with the youngest babies referred for ES services. Sara has received extensive training in recognizing and supporting Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. She is a certified Promoting First Relationships (PFR) provider, a University of Washington program designed to help caregivers best support their young child’s social-emotional development, and a Group Peer Support facilitator for parent support groups. Sara also completed the 4-day intensive Compassionate Bereavement Care Course put on by the MISS Foundation. Outside of work, Sara enjoys being with her husband and children, caring for her 7 chickens, listening to podcasts, watching movies, taking pictures, working on various crafting projects, and exploring the great outdoors. |
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Rena Ali, M.S., CCC-SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: (206) 735-1451 Rena was born and raised in New Jersey, and received her bachelor’s degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland. After spending her whole life on the East Coast, Rena packed her bags and moved as far as she possibly could to Seattle, WA, where she earned her master’s degree in Medical Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Washington in 2019. During graduate school that included an internship at Northwest Center, Rena realized her passion for working with young children and their families. She believes that a collaborative, family-centered approach to therapy focuses on one of the most important aspects of development: a caregiver-and-child relationship. n her free time, Rena can be found taking a spin class, planning her next vacation, or trying to find the best bagel in Seattle. |
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Alexandra Ancharski, M.S., CCC-SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: (206) 305-5954 Alexandra (Alex) received her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Washington in 2012. She has focused her career on pediatric development, including outpatient care and home-based services. She has experience working with children and families across ages, diagnoses, and severities, but she is most passionate about ES and parent training. Alex believes strongly in interdisciplinary collaboration, functional goals, and providing therapy services within the context of the whole family. Outside of work, Alex enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, and exploring new restaurants and coffee shops. |
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Jenica Barrett, M.S., CCC-SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: (206) 472-3729 Jenica grew up in a small town outside Bellingham, WA and pursued her undergraduate degree at Western Washington University. Before attending graduate school, Jenica worked in elementary and middle schools as a Bilingual Speech Language Pathology Assistant. She then earned her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Portland State University in 2019 with a specialization in bilingualism. Now back in her home state, Jenica looks forward to empowering families of all backgrounds to support their child’s development and growth. Jenica specializes in working with multilingual families and has a strong interest in collaborating with interpreters to provide equitable services. She delivers services in both Spanish and English and continues to pursue learning new languages to better serve the families on her caseload. She also possesses additional training in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and is working to develop the AAC program at Northwest Center in conjunction with her colleagues to address the complex communication needs of many children. On the weekends, Jenica frequently participates in neighborhood litter pickups, has picnics in the park, and visits the local farmers’ markets. |
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Leslie Plesetz, MS, CF-SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist
Leslie was born and raised in California and moved to Seattle where she graduated with her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Washington in 2022. She has experience evaluating and treating a variety of diagnoses across age ranges using evidence-based methods. Her experience includes supporting safe feeding and swallowing of medically fragile and premature infants during her acute and outpatient rotations. While interning at Northwest Center, she found her true passion working with the birth to 3 population and supporting family/caregiver-focused goals. Returning to work for Northwest Center provides her the honor of connecting with families and sharing culturally competent and individualized strategies. In her free time, Leslie enjoys skiing, mountain biking, baking cookies, and being around animals |
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Emily Behnken, M.A., CCC-SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: (206) 948-1774 Emily was born and raised in metro Detroit. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Central Michigan University before venturing to the Pacific Northwest. She worked for several years in both elementary school and developmental preschool before joining Northwest Center in 2017. While working in the developmental preschool, Emily developed a passion for individualized and functional communication intervention focusing on providing services in a natural environment. She is passionate about the importance of positive child-caregiver relationships and empowering families to support speech and language development at home. She has additional training in the SOS Approach to Feeding and Promoting First Relationships. In her free time, she enjoys returning to the Midwest to visit family, reading, exploring Seattle, and traveling. |
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Erin Kaul, M.A., CCC-SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist
Erin was born and raised in the Kansas City metro area. She received her Bachelor of Science of Speech-Language Pathology from Kansas State University and Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology from University of Kansas (Rock Chalk!), where she completed clinical rotations in early supports and pediatric feeding and swallowing as well as in inpatient rehabilitation. She worked for several years in early supports in Kansas with continued focus in pediatric feeding. Erin joined the Northwest Center team in 2022, where she is excited about continuing to work with families to support individualized and functional communication and feeding intervention within natural environments. She is passionate about the importance of positive child-caregiver relationships and empowering families to support speech, language, and feeding development at home. In her free time, she enjoys watching KU basketball, hiking, exploring local restaurants and coffee shops, and traveling |
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Malloree Benade, M.A., CCC-SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist
Malloree Benade (pronounced “ben-ah-dee”) grew up in a small town in central Arkansas. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders from Arkansas State University, then graduated with her Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Houston. Malloree fell in love with the Pacific Northwest after visiting on vacation and made the big move (via road trip!) with her husband and cat in 2017. Malloree has worked with children of all ages in a variety of settings including early supports, schools, and a speech therapy clinic. Malloree joined the Northwest Center team in 2023 and is excited to get back to working with young children and their families/caregivers. She enjoys using strengths-based strategies and collaborating on accessible and individualized ways to support child development and communication. Outside of work, Malloree enjoys traveling, hiking, bouldering, paddle boarding, thrift shopping, and playing board games with her husband and friends. |
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Julia Bentley, M.A., IMH-E® – Family Resources Coordinator
Phone: (206) 258-1133 Julia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from West Virginia University and worked as a preschool teacher for several years. She earned her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Antioch New England Graduate School, then established a private practice in Portland, ME. After relocating to Seattle, Julia worked as a family therapist with clients who received services through the Department of Social and Health Services and later as a Case Manager with Childhaven. Julia joined the staff of Northwest Center in 2002, first working for Employment Services and then moving to Northwest Center Kids in 2005. Julia completed the Promoting First Relationships (PFR) Train the Trainer program in 2011. PFR was developed at the University of Washington and is designed to help parents and other caregivers of young children the best support for social-emotional development. In 2013, Julia completed training as a Circle of Security™ Registered Parent Educator. In 2017, she was awarded the WA-AIMH® Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health. She is recognized as an Infant Family Specialist. |
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Jordan Berardi, MHS, CF-SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: (206) 305-5953 Jordan was born and raised 2000 miles away in Kansas City, Missouri. (Go Chiefs!) She received her bachelor’s degree in Health Science and Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Missouri. Jordan completed clinical rotations in pediatric feeding and swallowing as well as in acute care. Soon after graduating, she moved to Seattle and joined the team at Northwest Center. Jordan strongly believes in the importance of holistic, family-focused ES services in a natural, nurturing environment. As part of the Hospital-to-Home team, she is passionate about bridging the gap between a sometimes long and scary hospital stay and finally going home. Jordan has a special interest in medically complex infants and how to best support their families and caregivers, specifically in the areas of dysphagia and feeding difficulties. In her free time, Jordan enjoys exploring new coffee shops, watching the Kansas City Chiefs, and trying to find the best sandwich in Seattle. |
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Jonelle Burris, B.A. – Family Resources Coordinator, CHERISH
Phone: (206) 200-4689 Jonelle graduated from Western Washington University in 2007 with a General Studies degree with a minor in Communication Sciences and Disorders. As part of her studies at WWU, she took classes in early childhood education, special education, and audiology. Throughout college, she worked in a variety of childcare settings (home-based and center-based) in Seattle and Bellingham, WA. In 2007, Jonelle joined Northwest Center Kids as a toddler teacher, and loved every minute getting to know all the wonderful families. In May 2010, Jonelle joined the ES team as a Family Resources Coordinator, continuing her passion for helping and connecting with families. |
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Shannon Clark, B.S – Special Educator
Phone: (206) 258-0781 Shannon has been with the Northwest Center ES program since the summer of 2008. She enjoys interacting with the families, teachers, and children at Northwest Center Kids. Previously, she has worked as a public-school special education teacher, consultant for children with autism, and as a provider in another ES program. She believes in empowering families to be the best advocates and teachers for their children. Shannon received her Special Education degree from Indiana University, and is licensed to teach in Washington state. In her spare time, Shannon enjoys tennis, figure skating, reading, genealogy, and someday traveling the world. |
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Anna Diss – Family Resources Coordinator
Phone: (206) 200-4603 Anna has lived in the greater Seattle area her entire life, graduating from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare in 2017. During her time at UW, Anna worked as a research coordinator engaging families of children with autism, and later as a social worker at DSHS Children’s Administration. Anna continued with DSHS post-graduation, working closely with young children involved in the foster care system, many of whom were also engaged in ES services. Working with young children and families is something that Anna has always been passionate about, and she is thrilled to continue doing so in her professional career. Anna joined the Northwest Center team in late 2017 and is excited to be able to help provide the best possible ES services and resources to families. |
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Daniel Leung – Family Resources Coordinator
Phone: (206) 255-0981 Languages: English / Cantonese Daniel has lived in the Greater Seattle area for all his life. He graduated from University of Washington Bothell with a Bachelor of Art degree in Community Psychology and Law, Economic and Public Policy in 2021. After University, he worked as a Behavioral Technician for children with autism. He joined the Northwest Center ES team because he believes in Northwest Center’s inclusive model. In his free time, he likes to volunteer at his local lion dance team |
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Emma Holbrook, B.A. – Family Resources Coordinator
Phone: (206)-551-3602 Emma has spent most of her life in the Greater Seattle area and adores the Pacific Northwest. Her educational background includes a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Washington, with her main interests in human development and cognitive behavior. Prior to joining Northwest Center, Emma dedicated herself to the King County Crisis Line, developing skills in active crisis intervention and providing essential resources within the Seattle community. She also has worked as a wilderness youth counselor, which solidified her love for working with families and children of all ages. Emma is excited to be a part of the NWC team and its mission. In her free time, she enjoys travel, hiking, and learning multiple languages- with advanced Spanish as her focus. |
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Jen Enzi, B.A.— Intake Coordinator
Phone: (206) 691-2598 Jen was born in Texas and spent half of her childhood there and half in Colorado. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education in 2012. From there, she’s worked with children of all ages both in schools and in homes. Jen moved to Washington in the Fall of 2016 because she’s always dreamed of moving to Seattle. She is excited to help families get started with Northwest Center Kids ES. |
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Amanda Harper-Phillips, OTR/L – Occupational Therapist & CHERISH Therapist
Phone: (206) 948-4096 Amanda earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA in 2003. She then earned her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Washington in 2010. Amanda enjoyed her internship with Northwest Center ES so much, she jumped at the opportunity to join the team in early 2011. Amanda believes in the importance of family-centered care and working with children and their families in their homes and communities. In 2013, Amanda was excited to help implement the CHERISH program at Northwest Center for foster children and caregivers. She is also a registered Circle of Security Parent Educator. Amanda grew up in Seattle and in her free time she enjoys reading, playing board games, going to the beach, and playing Ultimate Frisbee with her husband. |
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Ilana Hoff, B.A. – Family Resources Coordinator
Phone: (206) 552-4306 Ilana was born and raised in Seattle and graduated from Quest University, a small liberal arts college, in 2017 with degrees in Sociology and Religious Studies. She then spent a year in Washington, DC working for a job training program for low-income individuals as part of a yearlong service corps program. She returned to Seattle and started working at a family shelter, as she has always loved working with children. At the shelter, she developed a passion for supporting families and ensuring parents have access to the support they need so their children can thrive. She is thrilled to now have the opportunity to facilitate ES for families at Northwest Center. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, reading, and spending time outside hiking and camping. |
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Demisa Ingram – Family Resources Coordinator
Demisa, a Washingtonian, graduated from Seattle Central Community College with a degree in the medical field. Over the last 10 years I have worked as a case manager helping people with special needs and people who were homeless with housing and resources. In my free time I enjoy spending quality time with my sons. As well as being a football and basketball mom. I like to travel. She’s happy about joining the DHH team. GO Hawks! |
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Sarah Isgur, PT, MPT – Physical Therapist
Phone: (206) 715-3150 Sarah graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Movement Science from University of Oregon in 2002. She went on to receive her Master of Physical Therapy Degree from California State University Northridge in 2007. Sarah has worked in a variety of PT settings including schools, acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient orthopedics. She has always had a strong interest in and passion for pediatric therapy, which led her to one of her greatest life experiences as a volunteer physical therapist at a children’s home in South Africa for four months. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking and swimming, reading, and watching TV. She loves to travel, and her goal is to get to all seven continents—only two more to go! |
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Jackie Jones, OTR/L – Occupational Therapist
Phone: (206) 430-2464 Jackie grew up on the East Coast and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management with a minor in Psychology from the University of Georgia. She spent a decade working to promote community inclusion, independent living skills, and family support as a case manager for adults with disabilities. After exploring adult support, Jackie became passionate about providing services at an earlier stage of development and returned to school to earn her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from the University of Washington. Before joining the team at Northwest Center, Jackie worked in school settings focused on providing creative motor and sensory supports to increase student access to education. Jackie feels a strong connection to the family-centered support provided by Northwest Center, and enthusiastically took the opportunity to join the team in early 2018. In her free time, Jackie enjoys spending time with her dogs, trying new foods, and exploring Seattle. |
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Jen Kamel, MA, LMHC – Mental Health Program Supervisor
Phone: (206) 305-5958 Jen has 20 years of experience in the mental health/social work fields working in child welfare, community mental health, school-based services, and international development. Her career has focused on working with children and families. Jen earned her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Seattle University. |
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Tiffany Kingsley, LMHCA – Infant Mental Health Specialist
Phone: (206) 794-3448 Tiffany grew up in the Seattle area and attended the University of Washington, where she graduated with a BA in Psychology. In 2016, she earned her Master of Arts in Psychology from Seattle University. She has 10 years’ experience supporting children and families in varying capacities. Since earning her master’s degree, she has been practicing as a Licensed Mental Health Therapist-Associate to support the wellbeing of children and families. Tiffany is passionate about supporting healthy development and resilience within families in our community. In her free time, Tiffany enjoys spending time with her family and friends, camping, and cooking. |
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Shelly Choi, Infant Mental Health Specialist
Shelly has a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwest University and a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies & Elementary Education from California State University, Fullerton. Shelly possesses over 15 years of experience providing clinical and educational services to children and families in a variety of settings including school, church, hospital, and childcare. When not working, Shelly enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 children and volunteering for non-profit organizations. |
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Kristal Lee – Family Resources Coordinator
Phone: (206) 498-0130 Kristal was born and raised in Hong Kong, coming to the U.S. as an exchange student. Kristal has lived in the Midwest, East Coast, and now Seattle. Kristal focused on Media and Cultural Impact on Society & People in her college work, then on Early Childhood Education in her graduate learning. Kristal is passionate about guiding parents to nurture their children with positive influences from their home cultures. |
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Cailey Marsh, OTR/L – Occupational Therapist
Phone: (206) 639-4432 Cailey, who was born and raised in Seattle, loves the Pacific Northwest. She graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Psychology and returned to UW soon after to complete her Master of Occupational Therapy degree. She has previously worked at a pediatric outpatient clinic and has experience in school district and hospital settings as well. Prior to pursuing her master’s degree, Cailey was a teacher at Northwest Center Kids Early Learning, where she grew to love working with young children and their families. Cailey is passionate about the early childhood years and believes strongly in Northwest Center’s work for inclusion. Cailey is trained in the SOS Approach to Feeding. In her free time, Cailey enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family and energetic puppy, baking, and reading. |
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Jennifer Nash, PhD, OTR/L – Occupational Therapist
Phone: (206) 715-2879 Jennifer earned a Master of Occupational Therapy in 2004, a Graduate Certificate in Infant Mental Health in 2011, and a PhD in Rehabilitation Science in 2014, all from the University of Washington. She has worked in a variety of settings as an occupational therapist including adult acute care, school therapy, and outpatient pediatrics. In addition to being part of the ES team, she works at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center and the UW’s Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic and Prevention Network. Jennifer regularly lectures on pediatric topics such as sensory-based feeding challenges, family-centered care, and infant mental health at local and national conferences. Jennifer thoroughly enjoys working with children with special health care needs and their families. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys shopping at thrift stores, reading, eating delicious food, and playing video games and board games with her husband. |
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Molly Nolan-Jones, MS OTR/L – Occupational Therapist
Phone: (206) 948-2899 Molly earned her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University in 2007. In early 2008, she relocated to the great Pacific Northwest. She spent her first eight years of practice in an outpatient pediatric clinic, splitting her time between families in ES and children 3-18 years old. With a passion for working in ES, she excitedly joined the team at Northwest Center Kids in early 2016. Throughout her years as an occupational therapist, Molly has participated in a variety of continuing education on topics such as feeding fragile infants, feeding toddlers, tube feedings, typical motor development and movement in children, beginning Infant Mental Health, and supporting children with sensory processing difficulties. In her free time, Molly enjoys biking, hiking, skiing, and going to local farmer’s markets. |
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Beverly Pressey MS, RD, CD Register Dietitian
Phone: (206) 681-6069 Beverly Pressey, MS, RD, CD has been working with children ages 1-3 since graduating from Bastyr University in 1995. Beverly also has degrees from Ithaca College and The Ohio State University. Beverly has been working at other agencies that support children with special health care needs and their families for the past 9 years. Beverly honors each family’s traditions and culture and works to weave nutrition recommendations withing this context. When not working with families Beverly loves cooking (and eating), yoga, hiking, biking, and swimming. |
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Amanda Panotes, MA, OTR/L, c/SIPT, IMH-E ® - Occupational Therapist
Amanda spent most of her childhood in Tacoma, WA, after several moves across the globe with her military family. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Seattle Pacific University, she decided to search for a little more sun. Amanda moved to Los Angeles, where she received a Master of Art in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2014. Her OT career has been formed by all the wonderful children and families she’s served, in Early Supports and outpatient clinic and aquatic therapy settings with school-aged children. It is a great honor and joy for Amanda to connect with families as they learn about their child’s world, fostering meaningful life skills along the way. Some of her training background includes: SOS Approach to Feeding, CHERISH-Informed, Sensory Integration & Praxis Test (SIPT) certified, Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) trained, Infant Mental Health endorsement. She also strives to keep equity, inclusion, and affirming neurodiversity at the center of her practice. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys thrifting for vintage finds, nurturing her plant collection, creating projects from her ever-growing craft supply stash, and singing her heart out at karaoke |
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Krista Wagner – East Site Supervisor
Phone: (206) 549-0666 Krista graduated from Western Washington University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services and minor in Leadership. Over the last few years, she has spent time working with adults with developmental disabilities in supported living and with children at the Boys and Girls club. Krista describes herself as personable and silly. She is very happy to be building relationships with her teams and families! |
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Andie Yoon, M.S., CCC-SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: (206) 549-0470 Andie was born and raised in Maryland and received her bachelor’s degree in Hearing and Speech Sciences at the University of Maryland, College Park. She then made the big move to Seattle without ever visiting the city or the school to receive her master’s degree from the University of Washington, focusing on medical speech-language pathology. She completed one of her outplacement internships at Northwest Center and immediately knew this was where she wanted to work after graduation. She is happy to be in such an encouraging, collaborative, and always unpredictable environment, where the focus is on parent/caregiver and child relationships. When she’s not at work, Andie can be found somewhere outdoors, in the kitchen cooking/baking for friends, or out and about trying out all the restaurants listed on Yelp. |
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Iwona Zubrzycka, CC/BA – Contract Compliance and Business Analyst
Phone: (206) 691-2598 Iwona recently moved to Seattle after working and studying on the East Coast. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at State University of New York, where she also served as a Teaching Fellow for Statistics. Iwona has a broad experience in the medical field that ranges from direct work with patients- as a Behavioral Health Specialist at NYPH, to medical practice management and consulting service provider for professionals in the industry. She has joined the Northwest Center ES team because she sees an incredible value in the philosophy of care where families and therapists work together (in children’s natural environment) to help children flourish. Iwona is excited to work closely with a wonderful therapeutic team and facilitate their growth by providing them with meaningful data reflecting their accomplishments and progress within the community. Iwona strongly believes in professional and personal development through lifelong learning, therefore, she enjoys every single opportunity to learn new skills and explore new things. |
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Janella Weng, BS, MD, MS, MPH – Family Resource Coordinator
Phone: (206) 963-3958 Janella graduated from University of Santo Tomas with a Doctoral degree in medicine and Oregon State University with a Graduate degree in Biomedical Sciences. She has several certifications including BLS for healthcare providers, ACLS, and Harvard medical university certifications. She has worked in different healthcare settings for over 5 years as a physician and medical interns and as a clinical researcher in oncology and neuroscience. Janella’s passion lays with helping patients or individuals and their families who require assistance. She believes everyone is special and has a lot to offer the world in their own ways. In her free time, she likes to play piano and violin, go to the movies and hang out with friends and families. |
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Cassie Villarreal, M.S. – Clinical Fellow, Speech-Language Pathologist
Phone: (206) 491-1495 Originally from central Texas, Cassie moved to Seattle to study at the University of Washington and received her master’s degree in medical speech-language pathology. After studying and gaining clinical experience across settings and populations during her master’s program, her love of supporting caregivers and their infants/toddlers led her back to Northwest Center where she had initially interned. She strongly believes in holistic care for families and their infants/toddlers by being present as a human being who will understand without judgment and advocate for their wants and needs. Cassie also believes that she will never stop learning and that every day is a chance to practice curiosity. She is excited to be back with Northwest Center’s fantastic early supports team and strives to support those she works with. |
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Robin Taft, MA – DHH Family Resources Coordinator
Phone: (206) 200-3008 Robin earned her master’s degree in Couple and Family Therapy from Antioch University in 2002. Over the years she has worked with children and families in many capacities. For the last few years, she has worked in a preschool for deaf and hard of hearing children in the classroom and as an audiology assistant. She is very excited to be able to continue her work with the DHH population in a new role supporting the families and children. In her spare time, Robin enjoys skiing with her family, hiking, rock climbing, and playing games. |
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Aimee Perrault, B.S. – Family Resources Coordinator
Phone: 206-948-1766 Aimee has over 8 years of experience with Deaf/Hard of Hearing children at Listen and Talk where she worked in the Birth to Three program as an Administrative Assistant and as an Educational Assistant in the preschool classrooms. She joined Northwest Center’s ES Team in 2022 to continue her work with Birth to Three families. Previously she was an ASL interpreter for the Deaf in Seattle, L.A., and Boston. She has also worked for the Hearing Speech and Deafness Center (HSDC), volunteered at the Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS), and worked with the Deaf/Blind. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology in 2001. While not at work, you will find her spending time with her husband, their two sons and their dog Rosie. |
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Vasilia Graboski, MS, LMHC- Infant Mental Health Specialist
Phone: (206) 853-1143 Vasilia is a Michigan native and spent much of her life living and working in Metro Detroit. She earned a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. Vasilia spent 5 years abroad in Costa Rica and returned in 2023 to re-settle in Seattle. She has over 30 years of experience working with at-risk children and families in mental health settings. She has specialized training and experience in Infant Mental Health, trauma and loss and working with Autistic youngsters. In her spare time, Vasilia enjoys making treats, reading, writing for children and exploring nature |
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Sophia Lara, M.S. CF-SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist
Sophia was born and raised in Southern California. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Gonzaga University in 2020 and a Master of Science degree from Pacific University in Speech-Language Pathology in 2023 where she has had clinical experiences in school settings, community programs and in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Shortly after graduation, Sophia moved to Seattle to work as a Speech-Language Pathologist at Northwest Center. Her experience serving families and infants in the NICU with feeding and swallowing has lead to her passion in continuing to support birth-to-3 families, at Northwest Center. Empowering families in supporting the growth and development of their child is something Sophia has always been passionate about. In her free time, Sophia enjoys going on walks, baking, exploring Seattle, traveling and spending time with friends and family. |
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Roma Raye Everly, M.Ed (she/her/they)
Started as a behavior specialist working with youth with severe and profound developmental needs which lead her into working with children with co-occurring diagnosis in need of severe behavioral support in both residential and home settings. Roma Raye went on to begin her journey as a Special Educator at Western Washington University, where she graduated with a BA in Youth Advocacy in Education (2000.) Again, finding herself in a situation to support some of the most vulnerable students in the Highline School District she began her career as a Special Education teacher, creating and leading an Integrated Learning Center. This prompted Roma Raye to pursue her Master’s in Education at Antioch University – Seattle (2006). Roma Raye then accepted a position as an English Teacher for “reluctant” learners with the Federal Way School District. She completed the National Boards Certification process and become federally recognized as a Highly Qualified Teacher (2011) Stepping away from public schools Roma Raye re-entered the work force outreaching youth that are currently houseless and sexually exploited as part of the King County CSEC task force. Although it was meaningful and important work, Roma Raye’s heart will always be with the DD community. When the opportunity to join NorthWest Center was presented to her, Roma Raye knew that this was the perfect opportunity to bring her unique skill set as educator, advocate and behaviorist back to the population she is most passionate about supporting the needs of families NorthWest Center serves. In Roma Raye’s free time she is a competing performance poet, plays in an all women blues band (Last of the RedHot Mamas), dreams of being at Disneyland and enjoys watching television shows with kittens that are just “too cute.” |
