Brendan O’Connor Webster, M.A., CCC-SLP, BRSCL founded the Center for Speech and Language Disorders in 1982. Although Mrs. Webster has been recognized by the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) as a Specialist in Child Language, she remains dedicated to working also with adults with speech, language, and voice problems. Accented communication remains an interest as well. She holds ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence, and has twice received ASHA’s Continuing Education Award. Mrs. Webster has been trained in PROMPT therapeutic methods for individuals with motor speech and articulation disorders, has taken multiple trainings in the SCERTS Model for children with Autism, and is certified in the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment method for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Mrs. Webster received her license to practice speech pathology from the State of California Speech Pathology and Audiology Licensing Board. She lives at home in Menlo Park with her husband and has three grown children.

Eileen McCourt, M.A. is a Managing Partner/Professional Development Specialist for McCourt & Calvo Consulting LLC, which delivers training and technical assistance to early learning professionals. Eileen’s experience strengthening quality in child development programs helped McCourt & Calvo win workforce development contracts in Monterey County. Eileen also served as the Executive Director and CFO of Children’s Services Inc., a nonprofit child development agency in Salinas, CA. Eileen holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, possesses a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and is currently completing the final requirements for her Child Development Program Director Permit.

Pouneh Azadi was the Lead Teacher and Program Manager for Yikes Tikes! from 2002 to 2010. Pouneh designed, implemented and perfected the curriculum for Yikes Tikes! in collaboration with Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists from the Center for Speech Language and Occupational Therapy (CSLOT). As an early childhood educator, Pouneh was fundamental to founding the Yikes Tikes! program, and infused her passion in multiculturalism to create a diverse environment for children. Pouneh collaborated with CSLOT’s professionals and presented in numerous workshops to raise awareness in various early childhood issues among families and community. Currently, Pouneh is a Master’s candidate in Marriage and Family Therapy at California State University of East Bay.

Anita Garcia  is the Principle of Momentous, Events By Design, an event planning company in San Jose. Prior to her work in event planning, Anita worked for Hewlett-Packard Company for over 30 years where she held a variety of positions focused on training and development worldwide and led the Latino Employee Resource group in the Bay Area.  Anita works with local Hispanic organizations and leading members of the Hispanic community of San Jose to implement community building events.  Anita enjoys music and co-manages two bands, Tortilla Soup (Latin Funk music) and Showtyme (R&B music) in her spare time.

Helen J. Simon, Ph.D., has been a research audiologist for over 30 years, first at the VA Medical Center in Martinez, CA and most recently at Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute from 1986 to the present.  She has been successfully funded for her research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Smith-Kettlwell and the Department of Education. Dr. Simon has been awarded two research chairs at Smith-Kettlewell in the last 15 years.  She also has been a clinical audiologist for over 40 years and has taught Speech and Hearing Science and Audiology at Hunter College, Columbia University Teacher’s College, Arizona State University and San Jose State. Dr. Simon holds dual licenses in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the State of California Speech Pathology and Audiology Licensing Board. In addition, she is deeply influenced by her sense of Tzedakah, the Hebrew concept of giving back to the community. She has volunteered to help raise funding for numerous organizations including the Jewish Community Federation, KQED, and Hillary Kalish Memorial Scholarship Fund, and actively participates in local community groups.