Meet Our Staff

Email: Dan@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Western Washington University, Southern Illinois University
Degrees: BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders, MS in Communication Disorders and Sciences
Memberships: American Speech Language and Hearing Association
Acknowledgments: Contributor to the book, The Mislabeled Child by Brock Eide, M.D. and Fernette Eide, M.D.

In his spare time Dan likes to spend time with his wife and 3 small daughters, wake board and travel.

Email: Sarah@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: University of Portland, University of Washington
Degrees: BA in Allied Health Sciences, Masters of Occupational Therapy
Memberships: American Occupational Therapy Association, Puget Sound area Sensory Integration Interest Group.

Sarah earned her Bachelor of Science from University of Portland, Oregon.  Sarah also met her future husband in Portland and after completing her Masters of Occupational Therapy from University of Washington she joined her husband in Utah while he fulfilled his four year commitment to the Air Force.  In Utah Sarah was excited to pursue a lot of playing in the snow near there home and mountain biking the red rocks of southern Utah.  She also worked in several Occupational Therapy settings including hospital acute care, home health and the school district setting. In the school district setting Sarah identified her interest in working with students with Autism and Sensory Processing Challenges.  Her daughter Annika was born in Utah and after a year of raising her away from the grandparents it was time to move back to the Northwest.  Sarah worked for almost four years in early intervention at Kindering Center in Bellevue, Washington where she continued to work primarily with children with Autism and Sensory Processing Challenges. In this setting she also began using the DIR Floortime model and Parent Coaching to provide services for families. Within that same time frame she also started a private practice providing services in the home setting for children and their families. While enjoying the benefits of having extended family live with and around her family, after her second daughter Rachel was born she was able to balance coming to work for Lakeside a few months after it opened to provide Occupational Therapy services for the children and families at Lakeside.  Sarah is excited to be providing services continuing to use DIR Floortime model, parent coaching and Sensory Integration.  Continuing to be part of a multidiscliplinary team has increases the power of the services that all the providers are offering.  Currently, Sarah is the Director of Occupational and Physical Therapy services at Lakeside Center for Autism.  As Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder impact Sarah’s family, friends and clients she wants to pursue clinical research with specific interests in standardized assessment of praxis in children birth to five.

E-mail: drreilly@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Central Washington University, Seattle Pacific University
Degrees: BA in Psychology, MA in Clinical Psychology, Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Memberships: American Psychological Association (APA), Western Psychological Association (WPA), International Society for Autism Research (INSAR)
Publications: For a complete list of publications and presentations, please click here.

Dr. Reilly is a native to Washington State and has been involved with the treatment and research of children with developmental disabilities since 2003. He received his BA from Central Washington University in 2005 where he was awarded an undergraduate research assistantship examining the delivery of a behaviorally based skill building intervention for children with a range of developmental delays and disabilities at the CWU Developmental Preschool in Ellensburg, WA. He attended Seattle Pacific University for doctoral studies, receiving his MA in Clinical Psychology in 2007 and his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2010. During his doctoral training he completed yearlong clinical rotations on Whidbey Island and at the Autism Spectrum Treatment & Research (ASTAR) Center, providing diagnostic assessment, intervention, and consultation to families in the greater Seattle area. He completed his resident clinical internship at Spokane Mental Health & Sacred Heart Medical Center, providing services to children, adolescents, and families in the eastern Washington area in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Washington Autism Center, serving on appointment as senior fellow on multiple studies examining copy number variations (CNV) and genetic events among children on the autism spectrum funded by the Simons Foundation for Autism Research Initiative (SFARI). He completed his clinical and research training for the Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) from the University of Michigan Autism & Communication Disorders Center (UMACC) in Ann Arbor, Michigan and has received reliability certification for administration and interpretation on all four modules of the ADOS. He has obtained certification to administer the Screening Tool for Autism in Young Toddlers and Children (STAT) from the Vaderbilt Kennedy Center and has certification in Pivotal Response Treatment ABA from the Koegel Autism Center. He served as an adjunct professor on Seattle Pacific University’s undergraduate faculty from 2008-2009 and lectured on current advancement in autism research in the Autism 200 Seminar Series at Seattle Children’s Hospital in 2011.  Dr. Reilly loves the Seattle area and enjoys camping and hiking in the northwest. He is excited and very proud to be a part of the LCA team. He has a particular passion for understanding and treating the father-son relationship among children with autism and hopes to continue to serve as many families as possible.

Email: Mari@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Saint Louis University
Degrees: BA in Exercise Science, Masters in Physical Therapy, Doctorate in Rehab Sciences-in process
Publications and Presentations:

McSpadden C, Therrien M, McEwen I. (2012) Care Coordination for Children with Special Health Care Needs and Roles for Physical Therapists. Pediatric Physical Therapy. 24(1). 70-77.

Therrien MS, Therrien MR, Sargent V.  iLearn: Using iPads with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. (March 2012). Presented at the Annual CSUN International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference. San Diego, CA.

Mari has over 11 years of experience as a pediatric physical therapist and has worked in a variety of settings including public schools, aquatic therapy, and early intervention.  She is excited to be at LCA full time and is particularly excited to be taking on a new role as the director of educational services.  Mari is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Rehabilitation Sciences with an emphasis in pediatrics and assistive technology and enjoys sharing new research with Lakeside staff.  She continually challenges herself and the rest of the staff at LCA to stay abreast of current research in order to provide the best possible hope to the children at LCA.  Mari is a huge proponent of evidence-based practice including care coordination, family-centered care, and early intervention.  When she’s not working or doing homework, Mari loves to coach rugby, travel, cook and spend time with her partner Michelle and their two boxer pups!

Email: Tina@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: University of South Florida, Erikson Institute
Degrees: BA Psychology, MS Child Development

Tina earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of South Florida and M.S. in Child Development from Erikson Institute. She has worked with children for over 7 years in a variety of settings. She has specialized experience in behavior management, conducting assessments and creating behavioral plans with children and teens with developmental disabilities. For the past few years she has working as an early childhood education teacher and an ABA tutor proving a combination of ABA services and developmental therapy. She is excited at continuing her work in early childhood while increasing her knowledge of DIR Floortime model. She is especially interested in becoming part of an interdisciplinary team providing more comprehensive care. She values lifelong learning and the joy and amazement that can be shared between children and teachers. In her spare time she likes to explore Pacific Northwest towns and trails, mosaic art and restaurants.

Email: karlee@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Hillsdale College, Washington State University, and Bank Street College of Education
Degrees: BA in Human Development, and MS in Early Childhood General and Special Education.

I am returning to the Seattle area after working in New York City as a Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) for Bank Street Home and Community Center where I provided direct services to preschool age children with a wide range of disabilities.

Before changing my career focus to special education, I was a Lead Teacher in an inclusion classroom at Purple Circle Preschool in New York City.  This setting fostered personal development and growth as a teacher, broadening my foundation in education. Prior to my pursuit of a master’s degree and employment in New York City, I worked as a Lead Teacher at Rainbow Kids Integral School of San Diego, CA.  After the success of my first year, I was offered the position of Assistant Director, which I held for a summer before leaving for New York.

By the end of my first year of teaching and over the past 10 years of experience in the field, I have been profoundly impacted by the theory of teaching to the whole child, stretching the growth process to include both academic and social facets.  As educators, I believe that we should create a warm and inviting environment to stimulate the minds and imaginations of each child, releasing the individual abilities of each student in the classroom setting no matter what type of disability he or she may face.

I look forward to being a part of the Lakeside Center staff and working as a team with therapists, parents, and children alike to create an environment that fosters growth.  During my free time I love spending it outdoors (when Seattle gets a nice day), cooking, scrapbooking, biking, and traveling with my husband.

Email: Morgan@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: University of California San Diego
Degrees: BS in Biology with minors emphasizing Health Care Social Issues & Psychology

Born and raised in the Seattle area, Morgan ventured to San Diego in order to pursue her Bachelor’s of Science in Biology at the University of California, and has since graduated in June 2011. During her career at UCSD, she assisted with the implementation of a research project examining social skill development of children with autism during early stage intervention. This gratifying experience has educated her about the prominence of research in health care and has since driven her to gain further experience and a deeper understanding for the welfare of individuals facing developmental disabilities. Initially beginning as a volunteer for LCA in the summer of 2010, Morgan is excited to return to the LCA team and collaborate with an exceptional group of therapists and families in order to support children with autism and enhance their overall well-being. In her spare time, Morgan loves to play and coach soccer, hike, snowboard, and travel!

Email: mandy@lakesideautism.com
College: Central Washington University
Degrees: BA in Elementary Education, Minor in Early Childhood Education

Born in Edmonds, Washington, Mandy grew up in a family of educators and knew early on working with and educating children was what she wanted to do. She followed her passions and graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2010. She began working immediately in the Mukilteo School District in an IEP classroom and spent time as a substitute teacher. During her time in the public schools, Mandy developed a desire to help support and work with children who have autism. Mandy is excited to learn more and grow as a new member of the LCA staff.

During her spare time, Mandy can be often be found rock climbing, camping and hiking, playing at a dog park with her dog Bogie, or relaxing with a good book.

Email: Jaimi@lakesideautism.com
College: Washington State University
Degree: B.S Psychology, minor in Child Development

Born and raised in Montana where her parents are both teachers, Jaimi went to Washington State University knowing she wanted to work with kids and families.  After graduating from college she moved to California where she got a job at the Creative Learning Center for children with autism working as an ABA therapist in both home and school settings.  At the Creative Learning Center Jaimi received training in both ABA and SCERTS models and has specific experience creating and implementing positive behavior support plans.  Jaimi spent the last two years as the lead ABA therapist for Autism Specific Classrooms at a local elementary school where she developed great relationships with children, their families, and school staff.  After her boyfriend graduated from chiropractic school they decided to move back to Washington to be closer to family and friends. Jaimi is excited to join the Lakeside team and work with more great children and their families and to continue to grow professionally. In her spare time she enjoys exploring the Seattle area, spending time with family and friends and playing with her bulldog Diesel!

Email: Charlotte@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: University of Phoenix
Degrees: Bachelors of Science in Human Services

Charlotte has 8 years experience working with children with Autism ranging in ages from 2-7. She previously worked as a Teacher Assistant and Family Resources Coordinator for 3 years at the Kindering Center. She has also worked as an Interventionalist on the Denver STAART research project, which is a home based intervention project based at the University of Washington Seattle campus.

Charlotte is the parent of two children ages 16 and 14 who are very outgoing, creative, and fun! When she is not at work; she loves spending time with her family and friends. She loves to travel to new places and try new things.

Email: chris@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Skidmore College, Johnson State College, Higher Education Collaborative of Vermont

Degrees: BS in Elementary Education, MA in Special Education

Chris grew up in Vermont and was involved with students in special education from an early age. Both of his parents were involved in special education, and as such he had the opportunity to start with mentoring and tutoring, and at 16 started working as an individual aide to a young boy with autism for a summer camp. He majored in education at Skidmore College in New York and during three summers was the director of a summer program for students with special needs. After receiving a teaching license he returned to Vermont where he worked with students with autism in a public school while working on a Masters in Special Education. In 2010, after completing his Masters he spent a year in Maryland where he worked as a Special Education Classroom Teacher for high school students, with autism, transitioning into adult services.

During his year in Maryland he discovered that his true passion was to work with younger students, where the possibility of growth and success knows no limits. In his free time Chris loves to listen to and play music, play and coach soccer and hockey, and read a good book.

Email: Shana@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: University of Wisconsin – Madison; Washington University in St. Louis
Degrees: BS in Occupational Therapy; Doctorate in Occupational Therapy
Memberships: American Occupational Therapy Association

Shana is so excited to be back out west and working with so many great kids! After completing her undergraduate degree at University of Wisconsin—Madison, in OT, she came out to Seattle for a couple of amazing years! But, she felt the pull to go back to school and ended up back in the midwest to complete her Doctorate in OT, at Washington University in St. Louis. While there, she focused her education and research on children with developmental disabilities, specifically autism. She has worked in both public and private schools, has done in-home intervention as an early intervention therapist, but by far has enjoyed providing Occupational Therapy in private clinics the most. She has extensive training in Autism Spectrum Disorders and completed an intensive mentoring program in Sensory Processing Disorder. She has also received training in various intervention approaches including Integrated Listening Systems, Handwriting Without Tears, and the Kawar Protocol. Shana truly believes in the importance of research in expanding and improving the services for the children she works with. She hopes to continue her involvement in various research areas, including the efficacy of sensory based treatment for children with autism, and the benefit of increasing core strength and praxis in children with autism. Shana has been working at Lakeside Center for Autism since October of 2009. In addition to seeing children for individual therapy, she helps to incorporate handwriting and fine motor into the preschool curriculum and helps to identify the individual sensory needs of each preschooler.

Shana loves spending her free time outdoors hiking and exploring with her friends and family. And while most of her family lives a plane ride away, she tries to see them as often as possible. She is so excited to be at the Lakeside Center for Autism and working with such amazing therapists and families.

Email: Amanda@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Earlham College, Endicott College, University of Washington
Degrees: BA in Psychology, MA in Montessori Education, MA in Occupational Therapy
Membership: American Occupational Therapy Association

A native Oregonian, Amanda moved to Indiana for college and continued the trek east to land in Boston. While in Massachusetts, she became a certified Montessori teacher and taught 3-6 year olds for 5 years. During her teaching, Amanda encountered many children with sensory processing differences and decided to study occupational therapy to learn how to best meet the sensory needs of all children in a preschool setting. Grad school brought her back to Seattle, where she completed a 3 month fieldwork working in Early Intervention with young children with developmental delays, including children on the autism spectrum. Amanda enjoys clear days with views of the mountains, baking, and geocaching with her husband.

Email: Katie@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Messiah College, University of Puget Sound
Degrees: B.A. in Psychology, M.S. in Occupational Therapy

Katie earned a BA in Psychology from Messiah College in Pennsylvania, and then worked as an assistant teacher at Easter Seals Central PA Child Development Center. In this job Katie realized how much she loved working with children with disabilities! She had always wanted to head west, so after a year at Easter Seals she moved across the country to Tacoma to attend OT school at UPS. During grad school, Katie volunteered with Outdoors for All’s alpine ski program and taught ski lessons to children with autism spectrum disorders. This experience fed her love of working with children with autism and also became the focus of her thesis. Now she is excited to return to Washington and start her career at Lakeside! In her free time, Katie likes to concoct delicious meals, sew new creations, and actively enjoy the great outdoors.

Email: Erica@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: California Polytechnic University – San Luis Obispo, University of Washington
Degrees: BA in Child Development, Masters in Occupational Therapy
Memberships: American Occupational Therapy Association

Erica was born and raised in San Francisco, CA and moved out to Seattle after completing her undergraduate studies to attain her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. She went back to California for an internship at a pediatric clinic specializing in sensory processing where she gained valuable experience in working with children with autism and sensory processing differences. From a young age, Erica has enjoyed working with children with disabilities in a variety of settings, including coaching for the Special Olympics and as an aide in a Special Education classroom. She was drawn back to Seattle after completing her degree because she missed hiking in the mountains and sailing on Lake Washington. When it’s raining, however, she enjoys baking, reading, remodeling her house, and cheering on her San Francisco Giants!

Email: student@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: California Lutheran University
Degrees: BA in Psychology, working toward Masters in Occupational Therapy

Jill graduated from California Lutheran University in 2009 with a degree in Psychology. Through her past work experiences as a swim instructor, volunteering in the Everett School District, and helping take care of her stepfather, she realized she wanted a career helping people. She is currently finishing her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy. Jill spent a summer volunteering and working at Lakeside Center for Autism in 2011, and found a passion for working in pediatrics. She completed her first internship at the Seattle Veterans Hospital and is now completing her second (and last) at Lakeside. In her free time Jill enjoys swimming, watching movies, and playing with her dog.

Email: carrie@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Saint Louis University

Degrees: BS in Exercise Science, Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy
Memberships: American Physical Therapy Association

Carrie is thrilled to be joining the LCA community! She has been working as an outpatient orthopedic physical therapist in the Puget Sound area since she graduated from physical therapy school. She has taken every opportunity to work with children at her previous position and is now looking forward to working with children full time. Carrie is originally from Iowa (Go Hawkeyes!) and though she loves the Midwest, she decided to start her career in the beautiful Northwest following physical therapy school. Carrie previously worked at a summer camp for children with behavior and social difficulties in the northwoods of Minnesota. She served as a health care assistant, counselor, and canoeing instructor. She learned so much from the amazing children at the camp about how to enjoy life and the world around us. She realized that there’s no better feeling than helping a child realize his/her own potential! Carrie has also served as a counselor for camps for children with Lupus and Epilepsy and taught swimming lessons to children with cerebral palsy. Carrie enjoys sharing her love of the outdoors with children and helping children learn as they find new adventures.

Carrie loves to travel and try new adventures. When not working, she can be found hiking, cycling, running, kayaking, or just spending time outside with friends. She never misses an Iowa Hawkeyes football game on TV and will tell any listening ear all about the great state of Iowa!

Email: Andy@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Western Washington University
Degrees: BA in English, MA in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Andy has numerous years of experience interacting, working and playing with individuals with autism spectrum disorders and special needs.  After helping raise a sibling with autism, Andy became interested in improving the quality of life of those with special needs.  Andy worked as a respite care provider and as a para-educator in a high school life skills classroom, but quickly realized that he could make a bigger difference in the lives of his clients if he continued his professional and academic development.  So, in the summer of 2009, after three extra years of college classes, all-nighters, instant ramen soup and federal loans, Andy graduated with a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.  Andy completed his internship at the Lakeside Center for Autism (LCA) and was then promptly hired to work as a speech-language therapist at LCA.  Andy loves working with all of the parents, clients and fellow staff at LCA. He approaches each session as a learning moment, a positive experience and an opportunity to apply evidence-based principles and techniques.

Andy believes that in all facets and foci of speech-language therapy, it is crucial to establish a solid, professional, empathetic relationship between the clinician and the client.   Andy seeks to establish a bond with each individual he works with by structuring therapy around the interests of the client, the use of playful humor and the ability to quickly analyze and respond to a client’s emotional or communicative signaling.  When interacting with clients with autism spectrum disorders in particular, the ability to establish a strong relationship with a client represents the bedrock of a successful therapy program; a foundation from which all goals pertaining to language and social-emotional function are built on.

In his spare time, Andy enjoys playing guitar, watching movies, exercising and fantasizing that the Seahawks will be good again.

Email: Vina@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Western Washington University
Degrees: BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders, MA in Speech-Language Pathology
Presentations:
Therrien MS, Therrien MR, Sargent V.  iLearn: Using iPads with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. (March 2012). Presented at the Annual CSUN International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference. San Diego, CA.

Vina was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska and in 2004 moved to Bellingham to attend WWU. She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in 2008 and her Master’s Degree in 2010. During graduate school, Vina was the Clinic Coordinator of the WWU Speech-Language Clinic and thoroughly enjoyed being a part of helping families find services. She also gained experience working with children and adults with communication needs ranging from mild to profound. In June 2010 Vina completed her full-time internship at LCA before joining the team as an employee, and is very excited to be a part of such a collaborative, supportive, and fun environment.

Currently, Vina is just living the dream. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, crossing things off of her to-do list(s), gallivanting, and spending time with her family and friends.

Email: Piera@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: University of California at Davis, and University of Oregon
Degrees: AB in Linguistics, and MS in Communication Disorders and Sciences
Memberships: American Speech Language and Hearing Association

A San Francisco Bay Area Native and Northwest enthusiast, Piera earned her

Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics at the University of California at Davis in 2002 and h

er Master of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences from the University of Oregon in 2005. Upon graduation, Piera returned to Northern California and worked in pediatric private speech language pathology practices for the next 3 1/2 years. In 2009, Piera fulfilled her dream of working with occupational therapists when she opened her own private speech therapy office in collaboration with OTs at Kidspace in San Francisco. She enjoyed integrating sensory processing theory and therapy into her speech and language sessions with clients and their families and found the results to be extremely positive.

Piera began working with children with ASD in 2001 and throughout her career has sought out continuing education to expand her therapeutic skills and knowledge base. She is particularly excited about DIR/Floortime and the SCERTS models. Connected to these interests, she is committed to a family centered approach and enjoys providing parent education and support. She has received training to lead three Hanen Centre programs; It Takes Two to Talk, a family-focused early language intervention for young children with expressive and/or receptive language delays, More Than Words and Talkability, which are both family-focused programs that give parents of children with ASD and related social communication difficulties, practical tools to help their children communicate.

In her free time, Piera is usually hiking, knitting, baking, traveling, watching football, or rooting for the Vancouver Canucks!

Email: mary@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Indiana University- Bloomington, University of Wisconsin- Madison

Degrees: BA in English and Political Science, MS in Communicative Disorders
Membership: American Speech Language and Hearing Association

After graduating from Indiana, Mary became a live-in nanny for four boys in Arizona; the youngest boy had a repaired cleft lip and palate. She accompanied him to speech therapy at his local school and Arizona State University and provided at-home practice. Seeing the impact therapy had on his success with and joy for talking with others inspired her to pursue a career in the field. After one too many Wisconsin winters in graduate school, Mary was looking for a change of scenery. She had close friends and family in Western Washington and decided to give it a try. She loves it and plans to stay. Mary worked in the Kent School District for four years providing therapy for children with a range of developmental disabilities from ages 3 to 14. She participated as part of an interdisciplinary team providing services within a preschool classroom that specialized in programs for children with autism. She has a particular interest in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) ranging from low to high technology. When she’s not at work, Mary likes to see live music, bake bread, read and hang out with friends and family. She also gets a serious case of March Madness every year.

Email: Michelle@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Saint Louis University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, University of Washington
Degrees: BA English, Secondary Teaching Certification, MA Computational Linguistics
Memberships: International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) &  United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (USSAAC)

Presentations:
Therrien MS, Therrien MR, Sargent V.  iLearn: Using iPads with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. (March 2012). Presented at the Annual CSUN International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference. San Diego, CA.

Michelle started her career as a middle school English teacher, but quickly realized that she was most passionate about making sure that everyone had the means to communicate thoughts, feelings and ideas. In pursuing an interest in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Michelle began the University of Washington’s Computational Linguistics MA program and attended many trainings and courses about AAC implementation and development. Michelle is excited to work to support the increase in Assistive Technolgy use at Lakeside. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading and playing rugby.

Email: Megan@lakesideautism.com
College: Boise State University
Degree: BS in Biology – Pre-health

Megan graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Biology with an emphasis in pre-Physical and Occupational Therapy.  She spent her college summers working in the home health field with clients with neurological injuries and disorders.  She enjoys traveling to other countries, and spent a summer teaching HIV/AIDS education in northern Ethiopia.  In her free time, Megan enjoys running, hiking, being with family and friends, playing and watching sports, and reading.

Mike is active in the Issaquah Community. He is a proud volunteer at the Issaquah Food Bank and involved with the Issaquah Community Center. Mike also enjoys art class and bowling at the Bellevue Highland Center.

Mike joined Lakeside Center for Autism in May through Provail and helps as an Office Assistant once a week.

A bit about Provail: Meeting the personnel needs of businesses PROVAIL is a locally non-profit based organization that matches qualified job seekers to positions in local businesses. Our specialty is improving recruitment, training, productivity and customer service in consultation with employers in King and Snohomish County. We support you in teaching your new employee their job and use your methods to guarantee high performance. PROVAIL utilizes trained, professional staff who can analyze your personnel needs and fill positions with capable applicants.

“Life Opportunities for People with Disabilities”

www.provail.org

Email: joann@lakesideautism.com; Billing@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Griffin Buisness College, University of the Philippines
Degree:  Airlines and Travel, Business Administration

Jo Ann was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to Seattle in 1983. She returned home in 1991 to take some business classes at University of Philippines. In addition to being the AR person at Lakeside, her background includes 5 years in the Banking industry, 10 years in Administration and AP/AR, 11 years in Customer Service and is currently working part time as the Office Manager for a Construction company in Issaquah. She loves to dance and is a Certified Zumba Instructor. Jo Ann is a single Mom and enjoys spending time with her 3 boys, jet skiing, tennis, going to the gym, reading, listening to music, running, cooking and gardening.

Email: Shari@lakesideautism.com
College: Bellevue College, Renton Technical College
Degrees: Associates in Applied Science, CCS-P, MAA, CMBS

Shari’s experience has been providing direct client service for the past several years with management, marketing and sales. The last few years Shari has been working in the health care industry. She is excited to be part of LCA and is always happy to assist families with any insurance inquiries.

She is a native to the area, growing up in Newcastle, Washington. Shari would not rather live anywhere else than the beautiful Puget Sound area. She has two beautiful children, a wonderful fiance and two beautiful soon-to-be stepchildren.  She and her family love to get out in nature, kayak, and hike and spend time together.

Email: Kristin@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Washington State University, Gonzaga University
Degrees: BA in Fine Arts

Kristin was born and raised in Spokane, Washington where she grew up riding horses on her family farm and enjoyed spending summers at her lake cabin in Couer d’ Alene, Idaho. She is a PROUD Washington State University Alum who spent her junior year studying abroad on the Gonzaga in Florence Program adventuring to over 15 countries. It was a year she will never forget! Kristin has a big heart and passion for children.   Just last year she traveled with a volunteer group to Udon Thani, Thailand where she taught English and improved living conditions for an all girls orphanage. Kristin is extremely grateful to be part of the LCA team where she can continue to support, love and interact with children. Kristin enjoys hanging out with family and friends, event planning, boating, and staying active by hiking, running and playing tennis.

Email: Heather@lakesideautism.com
College: Washington State University
Degrees: BS in Sociology and Business Administration

Heather has worked in marketing and event planning and is excited to bring her most recent experience as a preschool teacher to the LCA family.  Being a parent has changed her perspective for the better and she is excited to learn more about the LCA families and the autistic community.  Adventurous by nature, Heather has traveled solo throughout Europe, loves Lake Tahoe visits with her husband and friends, attempts a triathlon every now and then and hopes to ride to work one day on a moped.

During her spare time, Heather enjoys volunteering in PCC’s cooks classes, finding adventures with her kids, Haley(6) and Tanner(8), skiing, yoga, bike riding and spending time at the family cabin on Treasure Island in the South Sound.

Email: Rebecca@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Washington State University
Degrees: BA in Business Administration

Rebecca loves to play with her two young children, go running outdoors, and anything that involves sunshine!  She also likes to cook and loves trying out new recipes!

Email: Amy@lakesideautism.com
Colleges: Western Washington University
Degrees: BA in Communications

Amy has worked in the Marketing & Sales field for the last 7 years and is now so excited to be a part of LCA.  Working with the LCA families has been amazing & very inspiring.  She enjoys event planning, being a part of the community & meeting new people. She is very passionate about helping families & supporting the Autism community.  In her spare time, Amy loves spending time with her husband and 2 little girls, being outdoors, boating & traveling.