about us

Margie Avila, M.S., CCC-SLP
Rehabilitation Director of Lake Worth

Margie has a passion for working with children with communication disorders and feeding disorders, and has approximately 20 years’ experience working in the school setting, hospital setting, and private therapy setting.  Through this extensive experience, it has enabled her to work with some of the most challenging children, and she enjoys helping the child and parents overcome challenges.  She specialized in children with both medical and behavioral feeding difficulties, nonverbal children needing an alternative means of communication (AAC), Autism, and children with language disorders who are struggling with school.

Mary Olmstead, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist

Mary Olmstead is a pediatric speech language pathologist with over thirty years of experience. Mary received her master’s degree from the University of Florida in 1984. She has worked in multidisciplinary rehabilitation settings for most of her career. Mary has been a provider for the Early Steps program for the past fifteen years and was a parent advisor for the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. She has been involved with the local cleft palate team, evaluating and making treatment recommendations for children with craniofacial anomalies. She has received advanced training in Auditory Verbal Therapy, feeding disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and speech apraxia. Mary is bilingual (English and Spanish) and knows some American Sign Language.


Luz Rojas, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist

Luz graduated from the University Catholic of Manizales with a Master Degree of Science in Speech/Language Pathology and Audiology.  She is experienced with both pediatric and the adult population.  She has worked in a variety of settings including home, school, and rehabilitation. 
Luz's clinical areas of interest include receptive/expressive language disorder, stuttering, phonological/articulation disorder, childhood apraxia of speech, feeding disorders, and vocal cord dysfunction.

Kathryn Hogg, MA, CCC-SLP

Speech and Language Pathologist

Kathryn Hogg is a pediatric speech-language pathologist. She completed her Bachelors of Health Sciences in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Masters of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Florida. Go Gators! She has worked in pediatric private practices, schools, Tacachale Developmental Disability Center, UF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, and North Central Florida Early Steps. She has assisted in Hanen parent-child social-communication classes for children 0-3 years of age and social groups for school-aged children.

Kathryn is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Her areas of interest include Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), receptive and expressive language impairments, sensory and behavioral needs, functional communication, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) and visual supports. She believes in advocating and encouraging families as she comes alongside them and other professionals to provide the best care for their children.

Natalia Gurina Zakrzeski, M. Ed., CCC-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist

Natalia loves working with children and feels fortunate to be a pediatric SLP. Natalia earned a B.S. and M.Ed. degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Valdosta State University in 2015. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Natalia also holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in linguistics and translation from Pskov Volny University. 

She has treated clients all of ages and has experience working with children with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Dysarthria, Aphasia, and APD. Her expertise includes assessment and treatment of language disorders, motor speech disorders, articulation disorders, phonological disorders, alternative communication methods, reading fluency and comprehension, and fluency.

She believes therapy should be functional and fun. She takes the time to get to know each child and their family and finds creative ways to help them achieve their goals. 

Natalia was born in Russia where she grew up. She is a new busy mom of a beautiful girl and she enjoys spending time with her family and taking weekend trips.

Sarah Brickner, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist

Sarah comes to Progressive Pediatric Therapy with 4 years of experience as an SLP.  She earned her Bachelor's degree at New York University with an area of focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders which included internships, work experience, and learning from a variety of professional perspectives.  She earned her Master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and graduate certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders at the University of Central Florida in 2013.

Mallory Jaffe, M.S., CCC-SLP

Speech and Language Pathologist

Mallory has provided therapy for clients of all ages in the school, hospital, and private practice settings. She has experience working with children with Autism, intellectual disabilities, augmentative and alternative communication, articulation disorders, phonological disorders, fluency, and language impairment. Mallory enjoys working with children and their families as part of a multi-disciplinary team!

Molly Arbitbol, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech and Language Pathologist

Molly was born and raised in Gaithersburg Maryland. She graduated with her Bachelors of Arts in Hearing and Speech Science from The University of Maryland College Park in 1999. She moved down to Florida in 2000 to attend Nova Southeastern University where she earned a Masters of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2003. Throughout her 15 years as a Speech-Language Pathologist, she has worked in a variety of settings including schools, private clinics, home health, PPEC, and Hospital IN Patient and Out Patient settings. She has experience with individuals of all ages with a variety of disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Medically Fragile, Feeding Disorders, Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders, Pragmatic Disorders, and Articulation and Phonological Disorders. She has a passion for working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. When she is not treating, she enjoyes spending time with her 10 year old daughter.

Stephanie Herrera, SLPA

Speech and Language Pathology Assistant

Stephanie Herrera graduated from Cal State University Long Beach, CA with a double bachelor in Family Life Education and Human Development, and a minor in Child Development and Family Studies. After working as a preschool teacher and noticing speech delays and disorders, she obtained her license as a Speech and Language Pathology Assistant in Santa Ana. As a bilingual therapist she has used her skills at a nonprofit speech and hearing clinic in Orange, CA and at a private clinic in Long Beach, CA. With a heart for pediatrics, Stephanie strives to work with her clients, and their families, to use their voice throughout various stages of their development. It’s always a process, but the journey is worth the wait!

Manuela Yepes, SLPA

Speech and Language Pathology Assistant

Manuela is a recent graduate from the University of Central Florida where she received a Bachelors of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders.  Following her graduation, Manuela enrolled in one semester of courses regarding audiology and hearing disorders where she learned about diagnosis and treatment for patients with hearing, central auditory processing, and balance disorders as well as aural rehabilitative strategies for prevention and awareness of hearing loss.  Throughout college and her semester in Audiology, Manuela volunteered and observed in a variety of pediatric settings including Nemour's children's hospital of Orlando, the Mailman center for child development, and several other private practices and clinics.  Manuela has a passion for working with children and is excited for new experiences to come as an employee of PPT!

Regina Reynolds, SLPA

Speech and Language Pathology Assistant