Jennifer Malone Priest, MA CCC-SLP is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, as well as co-owner and Executive Director of Central Speech & Language Clinic, Inc.  Jennifer received her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology at Miami University and her Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology at Kent State University.

She began her career in long-term care, working on an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team, with adults who had a variety of diagnoses including; aphasia, dysphagia, apraxia, dysarthria, as well as cognitive deficits. She then returned to working with children in the Evanston / Skokie school district within the early childhood program, as well as the middle school.

In 2002, she began working in private practice where she now continues to provide treatment to children and adolescents, ages 2 - 18, with various speech and language disorders.

Jennifer's areas of specialty include auditory-language processing, reading, and early childhood phonology and language. She has been trained in Orton Gillingham, Fast ForWord® and Lindamood Bell programs, including Lindamood Phonemic Sequencing (LiPS)® and Visualizing/Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking (V/V)®.

Jennifer is a certified member, in good standing, of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), ASHA's Special Interest Division 1 (Language Learning and Education), ASHA's Special Interest Division 16 (School-Based Issues), the American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology (AAPPSPA), the North Suburban Speech and Language AssociationNational Coalition for Auditory Processing Disorders (NCAPD), the International Dyslexia Association, and the Illinois Speech-Language Hearing Association (ISHA).

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Karen Malone Gonzalez, M.S., CCC-SLP is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, as well as co-owner and director. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology at Augustana College. She then earned her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Marquette University.

Karen began her career in the Arlington Heights school district where she provided service for children in grades kindergarten through fifth. She gained experience working with children who have articulation, phonology, expressive language, processing, and vocabulary deficits. In 2002, she began working in private practice where she continues to provide services to children and adolescents, ages 2 - 18, targeting various speech and language disorders.

Karen's areas of specialty include phonemic awareness, vocabulary, auditory-language processing, and academic language. She has been trained in Lindamood Bell programs, including Lindamood Phonemic Sequencing (LiPS)® and Visualizing/Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking (V/V)® as well as Wilson Language Training. She is a certified member, in good standing, of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), ASHA Special Interest Division 16 (School-Based Issues), the Illinois Speech-Language Hearing Association (ISHA), the American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology (AAPPSPA), the National Coalition for Auditory Processing Disorders (NCAPD), and the International Dyslexia Association.

Kristin A. Chmela is a licensed, certified speech-language pathologist and a member of the initial cadre of Board Recognized Specialists in Fluency and Fluency Disorders who has dedicated her career for over twenty years to helping individuals with fluency disorders.

She received her undergraduate training from Arizona State University and her Master of Arts in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from Northwestern University, where she currently serves as an adjunct faculty member and clinical supervisor.  She is founder and director of the Central Speech & Language Clinic Fluency Center.

As a recognized author, consultant, and lecturer in the area of stuttering, Kristin presents on numerous topics related to stuttering at local, national, and international levels, is an invited keynote presenter at conferences, and has been called “one of the best clinicians” by colleagues. She consults extensively for the Stuttering Foundation of America, and currently serves on the Task Force for Fluency Services in the Schools through the American Speech Language Hearing Association.

Kristin also provides general communication counseling for individuals seeking to improve their overall communication skills and conducts workshops on listening and talking with children for parents and other professionals. 

Kristin is trained in the evidenced-based Lidcombe Program for young children who stutter.  She is a certified member, in good standing, of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ISHA), the International Fluency Association, the Fluency Special Interest Division, the National Stuttering Association, and Friends: The National Association for Young People Who Stutter.   

To learn more about Kristin and her services, follow this link to CSLC Fluency Center / Kristin Chmela.

Mary Wirka Mantilla is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist who received her Bachelor's degree in Communicative Disorders and her Master's degree in Speech and Language Pathology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Her work has focused on servicing both children and adults with a variety of communicative disorders including stuttering for the past thirty years. In addition to fluency disorders, her experience ranges from phonological and language disorders as well as physical and cognitive impairments and aphasic clients.

She has dedicated the past fifteen years of her career to the treatment of individuals who stutter utilizing a family-centered service delivery model.

Mary has been an invited discussion group leader for conferences sponsored by the Stuttering Foundation of America and she is trained in the evidenced-based Lidcombe Program for young children who stutter. 

Mary is a certified member, in good standing, of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), ASHA's Special Interest Division 1 (Fluency Disorders), International Fluency Association, Friends of Children Who Stutter, The National Stuttering Association, and the Illinois Speech-Language Hearing Association (ISHA).

Lisa McManama is a licensed, certified speech-language pathologist who received her undergraduate degree from Purdue University and her Masters of Arts in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from Northwestern University.

In addition to servicing clients at Central Speech Language Clinic and the CSLC Fluency Center, she is employed at Schaumburg School District 54 and provides diagnostic and treatment services for children with a variety of speech and language needs.  She also developed and currently leads a monthly group for parents of children who stutter in the district.  As a former student of Kristin Chmela, she is excited about pursuing her interest in the area of fluency disorders.

Lisa is trained in the evidenced-based Lidcombe Program for young children who stutter.  She is a member of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), ASHA Special Interest Division 4 (Fluency and Fluency Disorders), the Illinois Speech-Language Hearing Association and the National Stuttering Association.

Susie McManus is a licensed, certified speech-language pathologist who received her undergraduate training at California State University and her Master of Arts in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from Northwestern University.

In addition to working with clients at Central Speech & Language Clinic and individuals who stutter in our CSLC Fluency Center, she is employed by District 30 and works collaboratively with the Northern Suburban Special Education District to provide services for preschoolers, with an emphasis on phonological and social language issues.  As a former student of Kristin Chmela's, she looks forward to pursuing her interest in the area of fluency disorders.

Susie is trained in the evidenced-based Lidcombe Program for young children who stutter as well as Lindamood Phonemic Sequencing (LiPS)® .  She is a member of the Response to Intervention committee within her district .  Susie is a certified member, in good standing, of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, ASHA's Special Interest Division 4 (Fluency), and the Illinois Speech-Language Hearing Association.