Our Specialists

Sara Beth Keppler (she/her/hers) is co-owner and the lead Developmental Interventionist of Emmé. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Early Childhood Education in 2007 and a Master of Science in Advanced Inclusive Processes in 2008 at Saint Bonaventure University. She went on to obtain an endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education in 2012 at the University of Colorado Denver. 

Sara Beth is a Developmental Interventionist because she loves seeing caregivers energized by their own success. Her work centers caregivers as the experts on both their child and family circumstances. Equally curious and directive, Sara Beth prioritizes an open and reciprocal dialogue with caregivers as she guides client growth.

As Sara Beth draws on 14 years of experience, she equips caregivers, extends grace, and encourages balance to all.There is power in authenticity. The best news for all of us is that nobody functions at one hundred percent, all of the time. 

With candor and humor, Sara Beth believes in you, even if you don’t yet. Her greatest priority in this work is increasing your confidence as a caregiver. She holds herself and others accountable with kindness, dignity and respect. She looks forward to cheering you on through the big moments yet to come.

Sara Beth lives in Colorado with her husband, Cédric, daughter, Zoë, and dog, Achilles. They speak French fluently and love spending time in the mountains together as a family. 

Jenny Riat (she/her/hers) is the lead speech-language pathologist and co-owner of Emmé. She earned her Master of Arts in speech-language pathology from the University of Kansas in 2013. Over the last 10 years, she’s provided services to children birth - 21 in home, online, school, camp, daycare, and community settings.

Jenny works within the healthcare and educational systems, despite their flaws, because of the individuals who rely on these systems daily. While a strong advocate for systems change, she is equally passionate about finding support for families who need it today. She started Emmé because excellence is for everyone.

Jenny’s favorite part about speech-language pathology is the art of play. She loves finding the just right balance between rigor and fun, professionalism and friendship, research and practice. A lover of data, graphs and visual supports, she believes that if you’re not having fun, neither is anyone else! Most of all, Jenny values your story, which deserves to be told. 

Jenny lives in Colorado with her husband, Dustin, her son, Sullivan, and two dogs, Maya and Bentley. Dustin is a teacher and Jenny loves having relaxing summers together with her family.

Ashley Peralta-Fogle (she/her/hers) is a Developmental Interventionist with Emmé. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Colorado at Denver in 2016. Two years later, she earned her Master of Science in Early Childhood Education with a focus in Early Childhood Special Education. 

Ashley became an elementary special education teacher for three years after working as a teacher’s assistant in an inclusive preschool. She brings personal experience with early intervention services to the Emmé team. Ashley’s brother is diagnosed with significant intellectual disabilities and growing up, she saw the impact these programs set him up for success.

She’s thrilled to support families through the caregiver coaching model so that guardians can use tools to support their babies, siblings, and even other family members.  Ashley cherishes her trusting partnership with families. She prioritizes strategies that empower others to center their child’s active participation in their home and respective communities. 

Ashley believes that all kids start with the potential to achieve anything, regardless of diagnosis or delay. As grown ups, our role is to meet children where they are, and build from there, to reach the potential that others may not see. Her giddy joy is contagious when a child and caregiver have a “first” based on the skills she’s taught that family. She lives for all of the Little Big Wins she celebrates with caregivers daily.

Ashley lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, also appropriately named Austin, two black cats Toothless and Chekov, and daughter, Simone. When they're not overly tired trying to catch up on sleep, they enjoy trying food spots as a new family of three!

Julie Lamagna is a speech-language pathologist with Emmé. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky and went on to obtain her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh. She brings experience working in the public school and outpatient clinic settings to the Emmé team.

At her core, Julie believes that everyone has a unique purpose in our world. When we have found that purpose, we feel most alive. Julie became a Speech-Language Pathologist because her work does this for her. Julie’s career is both impactful to others and genuinely life-giving to her! 

Julie is grateful and honored daily as she works with little ones to make positive changes in their lives. As much as she loves to teach and support children, Julie’s amazing clients are constantly teaching her in return! Julie models and encourages integrity in everything she does. She believes honest communication is the foundation to healthy and thriving relationships for all of us.

A dreamer at heart, Julie hopes to one day open up a cafe and employ young adults with disabilities. It is important to Julie to create a more inclusive work environment in her own community. In her free time, Julie can be found traveling! She once had the opportunity to live in Italy for four months during college and met some family there.

Alana Greene (she/her/hers) is a Speech-Language Pathologist with Emmé. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Sociology from Tulane University, and in 2019 graduated from Albizu University with a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology. She has been working as a speech language pathologist since then, spending three years in the school and private practice settings in Miami before bringing her experience to Colorado in 2023.

Alana believes that communication is a human right and a vital component of a full and connected life. We all deserve to communicate our wants, needs, and ideas in a way that reinforces rich relationships with others. Alana became a speech-language pathologist to help others speak up for themselves.

As she helps others elevate their voices, Alana emphasizes the shared responsibility for communication success. Teaching caregivers to listen is just as important as teaching kids to talk. Alana is fascinated with sociology and psychology. She enjoys thinking and learning about communication and relationships in different ways.  Her core values of compassion, connection, and justice guide her interactions with others daily.

In her free time, Alana loves spending time with friends and family, getting outdoors or hitting the gym, reading, and volunteering. She loves dogs, herbal tea, and the NBA - Go Miami Heat!

Kathrine Shanahan (she/her/hers) is Emmé’s first Certified Educator of the Deaf! After earning a Bachelor's Degree from Ohio University in Early Childhood Education, she earned her Master’s Degree from Missouri State University in Education of the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing in 2021.

Katie brings Emmé experience as an Educator of the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing in three countries: the United States, Belize, and New Zealand. She is also responsible for starting the Deaf Ed. program in Steamboat Springs, CO in 2022. Katie was drawn to the field of education because she loves seeing students grow. She is honored to be a part of their success stories daily.

Katie believes every child and family deserves access to resources, kindness, understanding, and love. She approaches all she does with her key ingredients for happiness: hard work and passion. A life-long learner, Katie embraces a growth mindset both personally and professionally. She enjoys the process of self-reflection and collaboration to continue to learn about herself and others. 

Katie lives in Westminster with her 3-year-old Aussiedoodle, Bear and cat, Misty. She grew up going to a lake every summer so she loves watersports and boating. She spends her free time reading, hiking, playing sudoku, and drinking lots of iced coffee. 

Amanda Jones (she/her/hers) is a Early Childhood Special Educator with Emmé. In 2017 she earned a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of New Hampshire in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Child Development. Amanda continued at the University of New Hampshire to earn a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She also holds professional licensure in the state of Colorado in Early Childhood Special Education and Early Childhood Education. She brings years of experience in school and home-based settings working with families and children whose needs range from mild/moderate to significant.  

Amanda got into the field of education due to a love for the natural curiosity children have for the world around them. Young children are like little sponges absorbing so much information. She loves that in the early years there is SO much learning that can take place in a child’s natural environment. Fostering this curiosity and desire to learn is something that is special to Amanda when working with families and children.  

Motivated by collaboration and teamwork, Amanda really enjoys the relationships with families most. She has a strong desire to support and advocate for families’ needs. Trying to empathize and understand where someone is coming from is something she believes to bring people closer to effectively meet the needs of a family.  

When Amanda is not working she enjoys traveling, being outdoors, staying active, and spending time with friends and family! 

Holly Estelle (she/her/hers) is an Occupational Therapist with Emmé. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Arkansas and obtained her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Colorado Mesa University.

Holly, who is new to the field, is thrilled to have the opportunity to learn and grow alongside children and their families. Finding joy in the small victories is important to Holly; she strives to learn how to help each child grow and meet their full potential. Passionate about supporting families, she tailors her approach to meet their individual and unique needs. Holly has always been focused on helping others. While working towards her personal and educational goals, she found ways to support herself through jobs centered around providing services, primarily within the hospitality industry.

Holly works to be a positive person and an effective communicator. She loves that occupational therapy takes a creative and holistic approach to care. Empowering people to participate in their lives and do the things that are meaningful to them is what drives Holly to do this type of work. She is dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child and family for a brighter and happier future. 

Holly lives in Durango, Colorado, with two wonderful pups. She loves spending time in nature the most and taking advantage of all the wonderful outdoorsy things Colorado offers. Holly cherishes time with friends and family, streams more than enough shows, loves boba tea and coffee, and enjoys reading and cooking.

Hannah Lee (she/her/hers) is an Occupational Therapist with Emmé. Hannah received her doctorate in occupational therapy from Creighton University in 2020. She has spent the last 4 years working in the outpatient pediatric setting both in the clinic and aquatic environments. After developing an interest in infant feeding, she became a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist in December of 2022.

Hannah was first drawn to the idea of occupational therapy because of the emphasis on supporting others to do the things they need or want to be able to do to lead a meaningful life. She is drawn to working in early intervention because of the emphasis on nurturing little ones to have a strong start in life.

Creativity and adaptability are at the core of everything Hannah does. She strives to understand each client's individual needs and empower the client and their family to grow and thrive.

In her free time, Hannah enjoys spending time with her family, and friends, cuddling with her cat Maverick, frequent visits to the movie theater, attending live concerts, getting lost in a good book, and swimming. She would love to return to horseback riding and learn to play the piano.

Marybeth Toerpe (she/her/hers) is a Speech-Language Pathologist with Emmé. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences at The Ohio State University in 2011, continuing on to a Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology in 2013. She brings 9 years of experience in the public school setting to the Emmé team including: evaluating and providing services to children ages 3-18 and developing Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) programming in many settings. Marybeth supports children and families with the transition from early intervention to school-based services as a member of her local Child Find. 

Marybeth became a speech-language pathologist because she wants to help all children confidently communicate and be heard! She loves seeing the look on a child’s face when they successfully communicate with others. She equally enjoys seeing the pure joy and pride from caregivers when they help their child grow.

A strong believer in consistent and honest communication, Marybeth believes collaboration is vital when supporting child development. As a caregiver coach, it is just as important for her to provide feedback, as it is for her to listen to each family’s unique story. Marybeth loves a challenge, thrives when problem solving, and enjoys learning new things.  

Marybeth lives in Denver with her 2-year-old Labrador retriever, Walter. In her free time, she loves moving her body in Pilates, playing soccer, running, skiing, snow shoeing, and hiking! She’s a big Ohio State football fan and loves rooting for the team on Saturdays in the fall. Go Buckeyes!

Maria Devlin (she/her/hers) is an Occupational Therapist with Emmé. Maria earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and Doctor of Occupational Therapy in 2011 from Creighton University. Maria has a strong background in sensory integration and over ten years of experience in school-based practice including: early childhood, intensive and affective needs, Child Find, elementary, and vocational-aged programs. Maria is also passionate about playground design and development. 

Maria believes everything is connected… starting foundationally with the unique unity of every individual’s mind, body, and spirit… And spreading to the intricate relationships we have with people in our lives, and with the environments where we live, learn, and play. When we work with people, we are working with wonderfully complex beings and networks, where “every drop creates a ripple.” By connecting and being a support to individuals and their families, we can ignite a kinship to bring lasting change. Isn’t it exciting to think of the infinite potential you could unlock by simply connecting.. and creating a ripple in someone’s life.. for the better?

Maria’s passion is fueled not just by working with kids, but also by the meaningful relationships she develops with families and caregivers - the most important people in the lives of a little one! 

In her free time, Maria loves spending quality time with friends and close family. Maria can be found exploring outside, traveling to new (or revisiting familiar) places with her favorite people to refresh her spirit. Maria loves a good Netflix series, breathing mountain or ocean air, a warm cup of coffee in the mornings and time unplugged. 

Megan Jinks (she/her/hers) is a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with Emmé. Megan earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication, Science, and Disorders from Missouri State University in 2020. She earned her Master of Arts in Early Intervention in Deaf Education from Fontbonne University in 2023. Megan brings a wide range of experience to the Emmé team. She’s worked with all age groups from babies to high school students! Megan is looking forward to returning to the practice that first brought her to the field of deaf education.

Megan is passionate about elevating the voices of children and families with unique needs. She loves collaborating with, listening to, and advocating for everyone that she serves. Megan loves to watch the exponential growth that children make in the first years of their lives. She is honored to be a part of this journey on a daily basis. As she supports growth and development, Megan brings joy to each child and family that she meets. 

Megan came to Colorado in 2022 with her husband and their three dogs: Athena, Titan and Atlas. Born and raised in Missouri, she loves spending time outside and hanging out with friends and family. In her free time, Megan can be found crafting and creating!

Lindsey Leonard (she/her/hers) is a Speech-Language Pathologist with Emmé. Lindsey earned her undergraduate degree from University of Colorado, Boulder in 2012. Following this, she earned her Master’s degree from Chapman University of Southern California in 2014. Lindsey brings ten years of experience as an SLP in the public school and home health settings to the team.

Lindsey is a speech-language pathologist because communication and connection are vital for relationships. She finds joy in targeting speech and language skills to enrich her clients’ daily lives. As she builds skills with clients, they feel seen, heard, and valued. Lindsey also has fun with the great variety of skills she gets to work on in a day. 

Wherever she goes, Lindsey cultivates relationships where vulnerability is welcome and empathy is always present. There is no such thing as a stupid question! Lindsey believes knowledge is power. Sometimes, all it takes are a few small tweaks to change and transform your child and family’s life. 

Lindsey lives in Colorado with her husband, Bryce, son, Theo, and daughter, Remi. In her free time, Lindsey can be found organizing and watching reality TV. She especially enjoys trips to the mountains, trying new foods, and cheering on her favorite sports team together with her family.

Funny story: I became a Speech Pathologist by accident. When I transferred to a 4-year university, I was signed up for the ‘Speech Pathology’ program instead of the ‘Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Audiology” program (In the same building, same floor, same professors). It was one of the best things that ever happened to me and here I am almost 12 years later in the public school system. I wanted to work only in the medical setting as a speech therapist…look at me now! 

I adore helping and improving communication for my students and their families. The work is challenging, but it lets me problem solve and create every day. That is how I approach not only therapy, but life. I am an artist at heart and I enjoy painting, digital art and I’ve even illustrated a book! If I am not doing therapy, you’ll most likely find me building something, drawing something or learning something!

I lived in Pennsylvania for the first 27 years of my life where I earned both of my degrees at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). I have a Master’s of Science degree in Speech Pathology and a Bachelor’s of Education degree. I have also earned my Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association.

I am a huge Pittsburgh fan. Go Penguins!  I am currently a happy resident of Colorado along with my husband and little fur family of two cats and one dog.  I enjoy spending time with my little family, hiking, reading, making art and playing/watching sports. I have a mini-obsession with the TV Shows “New girl” and “Parks and Rec” and everyone should read the book “Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfus. If you are reading this, I can’t wait to work with you!

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Kyle Dodgion (he/him) is a Registered Dietitian with Emmé. Kyle earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Nutrition - Dietetics from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2021. He completed a Master of Science in Human Nutrition at the University of Alabama in 2023. Kyle brings experience providing nutrition services in the private practice setting since 2022 to the Emmé team.

Kyle became a dietitian in early intervention because of my deep-rooted belief that nurturing a healthy relationship with food starts early in life. Growing up, Kyle spent countless hours in the kitchen with his grandfather, a former cook in the US Army after WWII, who shared his love for cooking traditional Japanese dishes. Those moments—standing on a stool, watching his expert knife skills, and learning to prepare meals from scratch—instilled in Kyle an appreciation for how food can bring joy, connection, and nourishment. Kyle learned that food is more than fuel; it’s a way to care for others and yourself. This early exposure to the kitchen and a family structure that fostered intuitive eating practices inspired Kyle to help other families build positive connections with food. By focusing on early intervention, Kyle works with children and families to create nourishing, joyful eating experiences, guiding them toward healthy habits that will support their growth and well-being throughout life.

Kyle believes that kindness, knowledge and creativity create an environment where positive, lasting change is possible, starting with a healthier relationship to food from an early age. Kindness guides Kyle to build strong, trusting relationships, ensuring each family feels heard and supported on their unique journey. Kyle prioritizes knowledge as he seeks out the latest evidence-based research to offer strategies that are both effective and personalized. Kyle knows creativity is vital when helping families find solutions that fit seamlessly into their everyday lives, making healthy eating both enjoyable and sustainable. 

Kyle strives to actively engage with families, inspiring them to embrace the transformative power of food—not just as fuel, but as a tool for growth, connection, and lifelong well-being. In his free time, Kyle enjoys indoor rock climbing, cooking, hiking, walking in parks with friends, and yoga. Kyle is mixed race (half japanese and half caucasian), queer, and proud. Kyle’s favorite movie is About Time and he loves dogs!