Team – Old

Tamiko, who goes by Tami (pronounced “Tommy”), is a former teacher turned speech-language pathologist. She received a Master of Arts in Education, Speech-Language Pathology from San Jose State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from Grand Valley State University. Tami opened Duncan Lake Speech Therapy, LLC in May 2019 after working as a school-based speech-language pathologist. Her vision was to provide client-centered and collaborative speech-language services to her community while focusing on the values of diversity, inclusion, representation, and cultural competency/humility.

Tami’s areas of speech interest include articulation and phonological disorders, Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), expressive/receptive language delays, and gender affirming voice modification. Tami has obtained certification through Simon Says Speech in orofacial myology, and completed the 28 hour introductory course through International Association of Orofacial Mylogy . She also has participated in advanced training in gender-affirming voice modification through Mantra Voice.

In addition to client-centered work, Tami also is a current member of the Grand Rapids LGBTQ Health Consortium where she sits on the Advocacy Committee. In addition, she is a board member of Our Mental Health Collective (formerly Mental Health Clinicians of Color) where she co-chairs the Community Engagement Committee. Tami is also a board member for the non-profit, Building Blocks Foundation, Inc. Throughout 2022 and 2023, Tami participated in and graduated from Cohort 9 of the Urban Core Collective’s Transformational Leadership Program. Tami became an approved raiser for  Paws With a Cause , and housed Ace, a golden retriever/yellow Labrador mix, from April 2023-April 2024 and Magee, a black lab, from August 2024-November 2024.

When she is not working, Tamiko spends time with her friends and family. She enjoys traveling, bird watching, hiking, and water activities such as kayaking. She can often be found reading a book, quilting, or sharing some couch space with her spouse, Matt, and their two cats, Winnifred Sanderson and Kimchi.

Tami holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as a Speech-Language Pathology license from the state of Michigan.

Emily has a variety of experience working with people, both from a customer service standpoint and as a clinician with a background in physical therapy. She received her education from Michigan State University (Go Green!) and Grand Valley University.

She enjoys working in the healthcare and therapy fields and contributing to getting patients the help they need, answering questions, and advocating for them through communication with their care team and insurance companies. She prioritizes the individual and strives to support clients however she can, from insurance to scheduling, and everything in between.

In her free time she enjoys walking and exercising, snuggling up with a good book, and playing piano. She lives in Grand Rapids with her husband and their beloved cat Nala.

Heather has five years of administrative work history and a degree from Grand Rapids Community College. She owned a local, eco-friendly cleaning company for 6.5 years in Grand Rapids until earlier this year. Since then, she branched out to begin a new business, and now offers local foraging classes and native garden consultations. Heather also spent a few years abroad working within the non-profit world in Cape Town, South Africa where she offered community support and service, as well as sat on a women’s empowerment board.

Outside of her broad spectrum of work, Heather is passionate about environmental justice and personal connection to nature and the outdoors. She has been studying and incorporating foraging and herbalism into her daily life for almost six years. She also loves to hike, camp, surf, travel and is also a cat mom to four adorable kitties.

Heather looks forward to bringing her wide array of skill sets to the Duncan Lake Speech Therapy team and connecting at the front desk with our many clients!

Bethany is passionate about understanding the individual strengths and areas of growth for her clients and their families, and tailoring therapy to address their daily communication needs.  She takes a holistic approach to her therapy, because communication is integral to every aspect of life! She specializes in play-based therapy for 0-5 year olds and working with clients of all ages who stutter.

In her free time, she enjoys anything outdoors (hiking, backpacking, kayaking, you name it!). On a rainy day, you can find her snuggling her dog Ellie and working on her latest embroidery or knitting project.

Bethany holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as a Speech-Language Pathology license from the state of Michigan.

Hannah received her Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Sciences with an emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology from Grand Valley State University and her Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Michigan State University. She has enjoyed her work with pediatric and adult individuals in various settings, including public schools, center-based schools, skilled nursing facilities, and hospitals. She has enjoyed her experiences with clients requiring myofunctional therapeutic treatment and is particularly passionate about Childhood Apraxia of Speech, fluency, feeding, and encouraging communication through multi-modal approaches. Hannah recently completed the 35.5 hour SOS Approach to Feeding Level 1 training and is now a certified SOS Provider (Level 1). Hannah is excited to offer this service to our clients to help them understand their child’s feeding habits and difficulties more deeply.

In her free time, Hannah enjoys doing puzzles, spending time with friends and family, and working on art projects. She also loves taking walks around her home in Grand Rapids, where she lives with her husband and two cats.

Hannah holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as a Speech-Language Pathology license from the state of Michigan.

Anna earned her Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She then went on to receive a Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana.  Anna started her career as a school based speech and language pathologist.  Since then Anna has found her passion working on social communication, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), voice, and fluency.  She has worked hard with the individuals she serves to gain confidence in their communication skills and foster positive change.

Currently, Anna is the Duncan Lake Speech Therapy gender-affirming voice modification specialist.  To better her skills in this area, she has taken 12 hours of advanced voice modification professional development through Mantra Voice. She also works with clients with voice disorders and swallowing disorders, and is a certified SPEAK OUT! provider for folks with Parkinson’s Disease and other disorders that impact voice and swallowing.  Additionally Anna has completed the Foundations in Manual Therapy for voice and swallowing disorders.  Along with this she has completed a course on Buteyko Breathing to continue her understanding of breath work and how it impacts voice, fluency, and the overall health in the body.

As a neuro-affirming provider, Anna has also invested a significant amount of time in professional development in this area. Anna is a PEERS® certified provider through the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. In addition, she has completed the 8 hour Meaningful Speech course on natural language acquisition and gestalt language processing. Anna is registered as a certified GLP/NLA provider through Meaningful Speech.

Anna is a current member of the Grand Rapids LGBTQ+ Healthcare Consortium.

Outside of work Anna enjoys crafting, aerial fitness, and playing her guitar and ukulele. She has lived in Michigan the past several years and enjoys continuing to explore Grand Rapids.  She has 2 rescue dogs and loves taking them to the dog park with her husband.

Anna holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as a Speech-Language Pathology license from the state of Michigan.

Alyssa received her Bachelors of Science in Special Education: K-12 Communication Sciences and Disorders (Elementary Endorsement) at Eastern Michigan University before going on to earn her Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology at Grand Valley State University. She has worked with both pediatric and adult populations in a variety of settings such as public schools, private clinics, and skilled nursing facilities. She is passionate about early intervention and encouraging communication through all modalities. Alyssa has experience with language disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, fluency, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), and gender-affirming voice therapy. She is currently obtaining her Foundations of ASL Certificate through Purdue University.

Alyssa enjoys crafting, reading, caring for her plants, and exploring new restaurants around Grand Rapids, where she currently resides with her partner and their two cats.

Alyssa holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as a speech-language pathology license from the state of Michigan.

Lauren received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Grand Valley State University and has recently received her Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Eastern Michigan University. She has experience in both private practice and school settings with pediatric and adult clients. In her professional practice, Lauren believes in incorporating a growth mindset and an inclusive approach to care.

Outside of her clinical work, Lauren enjoys reading, attending concerts, and being outdoors.

Lauren holds a Speech-Language Pathologist License from the state of Michigan, and is working to complete the requirements of her clinical fellowship.

Amanda holds her Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology from Calvin University. She has worked with a variety of individuals across the lifespan and is passionate about person-centered care. Amanda is dedicated to embracing all neurotypes and advocating for her clients. Her areas of focus include pediatric expressive/receptive language disorders, play therapy, traumatic brain injury and encouraging/supporting multi-modal communication. Amanda has obtained certification through Simon Says Speech in orofacial myology.

Outside of the therapy setting, Amanda enjoys spending as much time outside as possible. She has a particular love of hiking, camping, and swimming. When not outdoors, She can usually be found spending time with her nieces and nephews or playing board games with her partner.

Amanda holds her Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-language Hearing Association and a Speech Language Pathology license from the state of Michigan.

Katrina received her Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at Grand Valley State University. She has worked with pediatric population both virtually and in person in both the private practice and school settings. Katrina is passionate about working with students with speech sound and language disorders.

Outside of being an SLP, Katrina enjoys gardening, traveling, convincing friends and family to do yet another sunrise/sunset hike, going to concerts and starting one too many DIY projects at home. She has two dogs, Athena and Bella, and a tortoise, Miss Magoo, who all keep her life very interesting.

Katrina holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as a Speech-Language Pathology license from the State of Michigan.

Sophie Edwards is a professional transgender voice feminization training coach. More importantly, however, she is a transgender woman herself.

Sophie has worked hard to feminize her voice and now offers voice feminization coaching as a service. Clients describe her sessions as digestible, thorough, fun, and easy to follow even if you don’t understand the mechanics of voice.

Sophie brings to her practice a sense of care, compassion, and a deep, personal understanding of the frustration and hurt that can come from gender dysphoria.

Sophie is also the creator and host of We Have Always Existed, a YouTube series that explores the wealth of transgender history in the ancient Mediterranean.

Sophie provides virtual sessions to folks in any state or country. To work with Sophie, book your appointment with Duncan Lake Speech Therapy today.

Hannah acquired her Bachelor of Science and Master’s of Science Degree in Speech Pathology from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Hannah started her career as a school based speech and language pathologist. Hannah’s professional areas of interests are working on receptive and expressive language disorders, social communication, and articulation/phonological disorders. Hannah’s passion is to build strong relationships with clients and their families.

Hannah strives to make therapy a comfortable and welcoming area for her clients to reach success while also having fun!

In her free time, She enjoys reading, mindfulness/self care routines, listening to music, journaling, exercising, and enjoying time with friends and family.

Hannah holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as a Speech-Language Pathology license from the state of Michigan.

Madissen earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with a minor in Spanish, from Western Michigan University. She also holds a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Grand Valley State University. Madissen has worked with a range of clients, from pre-K to adults, in both school and private clinic settings. Her areas of expertise and interest include AAC/multimodal communication, early intervention, articulation/phonology and language, adolescent/school-age populations, and fluency.

A lifelong West Michigan resident, Madissen enjoys exploring local restaurants and shops, traveling, playing cello and piano, and spending time with family and friends.

Madissen holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as a speech-language pathology license from the state of Michigan.

Tami is an approved foster parent for Paws With a Cause! This means that she helps raise future service dogs during their first year of life. It also means that from time to time, she will babysit for other Paws raisers when she is in between raising her own fosters. In 2023/2024, she fostered Ace and from July-November 2024, fostered Magee (see picture). Both dogs have since returned to Paws for the rest of their training. Will she get another dog? Only time will tell…

…but probably yes.