About Us
Jennifer Meyer, M.A., CCC-SLP
I am a Speech-Language Pathologist and Developmental Therapist with a deep love for teaching and facilitating team-building, So in addition to my private practice, I spent many years teaching courses nationally and internationally. My favorite part was just getting to hang out with other professi
Jennifer Meyer, M.A., CCC-SLP
I am a Speech-Language Pathologist and Developmental Therapist with a deep love for teaching and facilitating team-building, So in addition to my private practice, I spent many years teaching courses nationally and internationally. My favorite part was just getting to hang out with other professionals, swapping stories, sharing ideas, and learning from others. Then, I got sick. Couldn’t travel, couldn’t teach, couldn’t work much at all. Had to get my continuing education from online courses. They were mind-numbing. For someone already fighting the brain fog of chronic illness, they were excruciating! I missed the interaction and the collaboration, the problem-solving, the encouragement of my professional community. Luckily, I’m married to Jim…
Jim Meyer, N/A
I am very definitely an Outside-the-Box, “Why not?” kind of thinker and I just happen to work in IT. I am also happiest when working for myself. So when Jennifer got sick, I thought, “Hey, why not build that experience online??” So, we’re putting together a place where therapists and nu
Jim Meyer, N/A
I am very definitely an Outside-the-Box, “Why not?” kind of thinker and I just happen to work in IT. I am also happiest when working for myself. So when Jennifer got sick, I thought, “Hey, why not build that experience online??” So, we’re putting together a place where therapists and nurses can teach, hang out, share ideas, learn and encourage each other. All that’s missing is the coffee!
Meet Our Instructors
Jennifer Meyer, MA CCC-SLP
Jennifer Meyer is a popular international speaker in the areas of NICU and Pediatric Dysphagia and has received exceptional ratings for her courses. She has over 20 years experience specializing in pediatric feeding disorders, working in Neonatal Intensive Care Units, developing outpatient hospital-
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Jennifer Meyer, MA CCC-SLP
Jennifer Meyer is a popular international speaker in the areas of NICU and Pediatric Dysphagia and has received exceptional ratings for her courses. She has over 20 years experience specializing in pediatric feeding disorders, working in Neonatal Intensive Care Units, developing outpatient hospital-based feeding programs, providing consultation and program development for Early Childhood Intervention Programs and Home Health Companies, and serving as Assistant Clinical Professor at Texas Woman’s University and Clinical Coordinator of the Center for Assisting Families with Feeding and Eating (CAFFE). Through her private practice she continues to serve as consultant and mentor in her mission to teach therapists to see themselves as facilitators in treating the child, supporting the family, and bringing back the fun, joy and family connection in eating.
Laurie Berger, MBA RD LD
Laurie Berger, MBA RD LD is a Regional Manager for Simplythick LLC in the Midwest Region. She works with acute, long term care and chain accounts, and distribution and home healthcare customers in educating on dysphagia and the use of Simplythick. Laurie earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Diet
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Laurie Berger, MBA RD LD
Laurie Berger, MBA RD LD is a Regional Manager for Simplythick LLC in the Midwest Region. She works with acute, long term care and chain accounts, and distribution and home healthcare customers in educating on dysphagia and the use of Simplythick. Laurie earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics and Restaurant Hotel Management from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and her Masters of Business Administration with a Marketing emphasis from Webster University in St. Louis, MO. Laurie is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian. Besides working in the dysphagia area for the last 18 years, Laurie has worked in various areas in nutrition and food service, including sales and marketing for adult and pediatric medical nutritional products, soy protein products, as a clinical dietitian and in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Laurie is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She is also a member of Dietitians in Health Care Communities, Medical Nutrition Practice Group, Dietitians in Business and Communications and Clinical Nutrition Management.
John Holahan
President and Founder of SimplyThick, LLC. Mr. Holahan is also the inventor of the company’s patented thickener - SimplyThick. He graduated from the University of Minnesota a B.S. in Paper Science and Engineering in 1992. In 2001, Mr. Holahan graduated from the Executive MBA program at Washington
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John Holahan
President and Founder of SimplyThick, LLC. Mr. Holahan is also the inventor of the company’s patented thickener - SimplyThick. He graduated from the University of Minnesota a B.S. in Paper Science and Engineering in 1992. In 2001, Mr. Holahan graduated from the Executive MBA program at Washington University in St. Louis. As part of his academic career, he has been elected to both the honor societies for forestry and business – Xi Sigma Pi and Beta Gamma Sigma. Mr. Holahan has worked with thickeners – and not just in healthcare -- for his entire business career. Initially, he worked for Kelco – a thickener company owned by Merck and eventually sold to Monsanto – where he became an expert in several industrial thickeners. During his MBA, Mr. Holahan developed the business plan for SimplyThick and upon graduation in 2001, founded the company and has worked there ever since.
Jenny McGlothlin, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC
Jenny McGlothlin, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC is a certified speech-language pathologist and certified lactation counselor specializing in the evaluation and treatment of feeding disorders for children from birth through the teen years. McGlothlin developed the STEPS feeding program at the Callier Center for C
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Jenny McGlothlin, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC
Jenny McGlothlin, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC is a certified speech-language pathologist and certified lactation counselor specializing in the evaluation and treatment of feeding disorders for children from birth through the teen years. McGlothlin developed the STEPS feeding program at the Callier Center for Communication Disorders at the University of Texas at Dallas almost 15 years ago, where she works with families on a daily basis to foster feeding skills that will serve a child for a lifetime. Her passion is teaching children how to eat when they just can’t figure it out on their own, and McGlothlin has been inducted into the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Hall of Fame for her work in the field. McGlothlin has spent many years teaching graduate-level courses on feeding as well as early child development. McGlothlin co-authored a book for parents and providers, Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating: A Step-by-Step Guide for Overcoming Selective Eating, Food Aversion, and Feeding Disorders, which was published in May 2015 and Conquer Picky Eating for Teens and Adults: Activities and Strategies for Selective Eaters in May 2018. She frequently provides feeding workshops for parents and continuing education seminars and webinars for therapists and is mom, cook, and chauffeur to three children.
Melanie Van Noy MS, CCC-SLP, CLC
Melanie is an ASHA certified Speech-Language pathologist of 8 years, and has worked in various settings including home health, outpatient, and presently the acute care setting within the NICU. She specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing and has also obtained certifications as a lactation cou
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Melanie Van Noy MS, CCC-SLP, CLC
Melanie is an ASHA certified Speech-Language pathologist of 8 years, and has worked in various settings including home health, outpatient, and presently the acute care setting within the NICU. She specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing and has also obtained certifications as a lactation counselor and neuromuscular electrical stimulation with Vitalstim. Melanie has a passion to educate colleagues at the local, state, and national level in regards to pediatric feeding and swallowing to enable them to practice at the highest levels of evidence-based care. She has also taken on the role of adjunct faculty with the new Speech-Language Pathology program through the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio to educate students how to best support the development of healthy feeding relationships and the treatment of feeding disorders.
Ellen Carlin, M.S., CCC-SLP, IBCLC
Ellen is a board-certified speech language pathologist with a private practice in The Woodlands, TX.
Ellen completed her master’s degree in Speech Pathology at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She specializes in feeding and myofunctional disorders, structural and sensory-motor based speech
Ellen Carlin, M.S., CCC-SLP, IBCLC
Ellen is a board-certified speech language pathologist with a private practice in The Woodlands, TX.
Ellen completed her master’s degree in Speech Pathology at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She specializes in feeding and myofunctional disorders, structural and sensory-motor based speech disorders, developmental speech/language disorders, social- pragmatic disorders, and interventions for breastfeeding infants.
For 28 years, she has worked together with lactation consultants to provide infant feeding programs for breastfeeding infants. Ellen obtained her certification as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2015 and Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) in 2019. She works with infants, preschool and school-aged children, teens and adults; and presents nationally and international on topic areas of her specialty.
Nina Ayd Johanson, MA, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, CEIM, CHHP
Nina Ayd Johanson, MA, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, CEIM, CHHP, a highly regarded clinician and renowned teacher with more than 25 years experience, is a senior speech language pathologist for an acclaimed children’s hospital where she is the founder and lead therapist of the TOTS Program (for infants with f
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Nina Ayd Johanson, MA, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, CEIM, CHHP
Nina Ayd Johanson, MA, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, CEIM, CHHP, a highly regarded clinician and renowned teacher with more than 25 years experience, is a senior speech language pathologist for an acclaimed children’s hospital where she is the founder and lead therapist of the TOTS Program (for infants with feeding problems due to tethered oral tissue). A Certified Lactation Counselor and Certified Educator of Infant Massage, Nina also works in private practice in Baltimore and lectures nationally. She has extensive experience in home-based early intervention and parent training specializing in the evaluation and treatment of children with oral motor/feeding disorders, complex medical issues, autism spectrum disorders, and other developmental disabilities. She holds a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Loyola College, and a Master of Arts in Applied Healing Arts from the Tai Sophia Institute. She is a board-certified Holistic Health Practitioner and was trained in integrative nutrition through the Center for Mind-Body Medicine’s “Food As Medicine”, the nation’s leading clinical nutrition training program for healthcare professionals.
Karrie Page, MSLP, R.SLP, S-LP(C), COM®, IBCLC
Karrie Page, MSLP, R.SLP, S-LP(C), COM®, IBCLC has been a Registered Speech Language Pathologist since 2002 and became a Certified Orofacial Myologist in 2016 and qualified as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 2021. Karrie owns and operates a successful private practice focus
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Karrie Page, MSLP, R.SLP, S-LP(C), COM®, IBCLC
Karrie Page, MSLP, R.SLP, S-LP(C), COM®, IBCLC has been a Registered Speech Language Pathologist since 2002 and became a Certified Orofacial Myologist in 2016 and qualified as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 2021. Karrie owns and operates a successful private practice focusing on orofacial myofunctional disorders and infant feeding and lactation. Karrie also works part time for Alberta Health Services as the Stroke Outpatient Rehabilitation Team speech pathologist.
Nicole Dickson, MSLP, R.SLP, S-LP(C), COM®
Nicole Dickson, MSLP, R.SLP, S-LP(C), COM® has been a Registered Speech Language Pathologist since 2003 and qualified as a Certified Orofacial Myologist in 2016. She owns and operates a successful private practice focusing on speech, language and social communication as well as orofacial myofunctio
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Nicole Dickson, MSLP, R.SLP, S-LP(C), COM®
Nicole Dickson, MSLP, R.SLP, S-LP(C), COM® has been a Registered Speech Language Pathologist since 2003 and qualified as a Certified Orofacial Myologist in 2016. She owns and operates a successful private practice focusing on speech, language and social communication as well as orofacial myofunctional disorders in pediatrics and adults. Nicole has taken extensive training in tethered oral tissues and airway and collaborates with local professionals in order to provide a comprehensive team approach to care for her clients.
Katlyn Baker, M.S. CCC-SLP
Katlyn Baker, M.S., CCC-SLP is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist who graduated from the College of Saint Rose with both her Bachelors and Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Katlyn began her career in the Capital District of NY, gaining experience in acute care, long term care, and
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Katlyn Baker, M.S. CCC-SLP
Katlyn Baker, M.S., CCC-SLP is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist who graduated from the College of Saint Rose with both her Bachelors and Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Katlyn began her career in the Capital District of NY, gaining experience in acute care, long term care, and outpatient settings. Katlyn developed a passion for caring for patients with head and neck cancer and worked closely with patients undergoing chemo therapy and radiation treatment. Katlyn identified very early on the need for improved diet modification to support patients with acute and chronic dysphagia. After having their daughter in 2017, Katlyn and her fiancé, Dan returned to her roots, moving back to CT for career advancement and to be closer to family. Katlyn took a position with Hartford Healthcare where she works at an inpatient speech pathologist in a level one trauma center. Katlyn has continued her passion in acute care speech pathology. As part of the surgery and trauma team she continues her passion for caring for others and focusing on acute post-surgical treatment of speech, voice and swallowing disorders. Katlyn is a long term member of the American Speech and Hearing Association and recently the US & Territories IDDSI Reference Group (USTIRG), supporting the only evidenced based framework to modified diets. Katlyn was offered the opportunity to become the project lead for the implementation of IDDSI at Hartford Healthcare. Having supported a system wide transition of modified diets in the past, Katlyn eagerly accepted the challenge of mastering the IDDSI framework, adoption and implementation across the state wide system. Over the course of approximately 2 years and a global pandemic, Katlyn supported the transition of IDDSI in 7 acute care hospitals, 3 long term care sites, an inpatient rehab hospital, over 30 outpatient locations and a home care division. Katlyn has spent the last year and a half presenting her implementation process in CT and neighboring states to support the ongoing adoption of IDDSI across the US.
Amy C Bollam, RDN, LD, MPS
Amy Bollam, RDN, LD, MPS, is the Vice President of Products and Innovation at Health Technologies, Inc. In her dietetic career, Amy has focused in food service management including areas of cost control, staff development, safety, sanitation, and compliance. With Health Technologies, Ms. Bollam prov
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Amy C Bollam, RDN, LD, MPS
Amy Bollam, RDN, LD, MPS, is the Vice President of Products and Innovation at Health Technologies, Inc. In her dietetic career, Amy has focused in food service management including areas of cost control, staff development, safety, sanitation, and compliance. With Health Technologies, Ms. Bollam provides Culture Change consulting for dining services in healthcare paired with customer service training, employee development, and menu design. Amy holds Bachelor degrees in Dietetics and Nutrition, as well as Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of Dayton, and a Master’s degree in Human Resources from the Pennsylvania State University. In her free time, Amy enjoys traveling, cooking, and of course, eating with her husband and son.
Holly Knotowicz, MS, CCC-SLP
Holly Knotowicz, MS, CCC-SLP, holds a Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Nazareth College. She is a Speech Language Pathologist specializing in pediatric feeding with over 10 years of experience. Her areas of clinical interest include behavioral, oral motor and or
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Holly Knotowicz, MS, CCC-SLP
Holly Knotowicz, MS, CCC-SLP, holds a Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Nazareth College. She is a Speech Language Pathologist specializing in pediatric feeding with over 10 years of experience. Her areas of clinical interest include behavioral, oral motor and oral sensory feeding disorders, including mealtime dynamics. She specializes with working with children who have eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases, including eosinophilic esophagitis and working with children who have food allergies, FPIES and neurogenic disorders. She is an active participant in research, has been published in Gastroenterology Journal and is an international speaker on feeding.
Amy Ryan M.S, CCC-SLP
Amy Ryan M.S, CCC-SLP received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Purdue University in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and a Master of Science Degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Amy has worked for SSM Rehabilitation Network as a Speech-
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Amy Ryan M.S, CCC-SLP
Amy Ryan M.S, CCC-SLP received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Purdue University in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and a Master of Science Degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Amy has worked for SSM Rehabilitation Network as a Speech-Language Pathologist since 2012 and has served as the Regional Rehab Therapy Manager for Speech Pathology since August 2015. Amy has been devoted to quality and safety during her tenure as an SLP, she has initiated a step-by-step process to facilitate safety and quality improvement in order to increase safety and awareness of dysphagia and swallowing with stroke patients. Amy has developed new programs and practice guidelines for Speech/Swallowing disorders with Head and Neck Cancer patients, stroke patients, geriatric patients, patients with TBIs. Amy has developed and published research for swallowing screeners and is devoted to ensuring quality practices are implemented to keep patients safe. Amy currently holds membership in Midwestern Adult Communication Disorder Group where she is President; she also holds membership with American Speech-Language & Hearing Association. In addition, Amy belongs to ASHA Special Interest Group 13, Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders and ASHA Special Interest Group 11, Administration and Supervision.
Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP
Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP is a feeding specialist and international speaker who presents a variety of live ASHA and AOTA approved courses listed on her website www.MelaniePotock.com or www.MyMunchBug.com. Melanie treats children with feeding challenges from birth to age seventeen years while balan
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Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP
Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP is a feeding specialist and international speaker who presents a variety of live ASHA and AOTA approved courses listed on her website www.MelaniePotock.com or www.MyMunchBug.com. Melanie treats children with feeding challenges from birth to age seventeen years while balancing her career as an author and media expert on parenting and feeding children.
Mary Rybicki, MS, RDN, LDN
Mary Rybicki, MS, RDN, LDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with diverse clinical and management experience in post-acute care settings. She is Editor-in-chief of the NCM Diet Manual and has incorporated the IDDSI texture modified diet levels. Mary has worked within multiple healthcare setting
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Mary Rybicki, MS, RDN, LDN
Mary Rybicki, MS, RDN, LDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with diverse clinical and management experience in post-acute care settings. She is Editor-in-chief of the NCM Diet Manual and has incorporated the IDDSI texture modified diet levels. Mary has worked within multiple healthcare settings for quality improvement processes of texture modified foods and with the transition to IDDSI. She has presented on the IDDSI topic within variable settings and is a volunteer on the United States IDDSI Reference Group (USIRG). Mary has and continues to use IDDSI testing methods to test foods within all aspects of IDDSI implementation and testing is often the emphasis during educational presentations. For many years, Mary has had opportunities to test texture modified foods/fluids on the market and provide feedback to companies. She also enjoys working with food and nutrition staff along with the health care team using IDDSI testing methods for quality control efforts. These roles provide ongoing communication with others regarding the roadblocks and successes with the IDDSI implementation process. Mary has an MS in Dietetics from MGH Institute of Health Professions and a MMHS, Master of Management of Human Services, from Brandeis University. She has held multiple leadership positions with the national DHCC DPG and remains active at the state level.