Meet the Team | Lead The Way Therapies

Our Team

Kristy Baranik, CCC-SLP

Co-Owner, Speech Language Pathologist

Kristy has been a speech-language pathologist for 13 years, with experience working in the clinic, outpatient and school settings. She specializes in treating various speech sound disorders, including Childhood Apraxia of Speech. In 2016, she was recognized for advanced training and expertise in Apraxia by Apraxia Kids. She is currently in the process of becoming PROMPT trained. Kristy’s passion lies within connecting with families and guiding them to help their children succeed. She strongly believes all children need to be heard and celebrated and she values celebrating her clients every step of the way. As a business owner, she wants families feeling comfortable, empowered, and relieved when stepping into Lead the Way Therapies. We are here for you!

Candace Peterson MS, OTRL

Co-Owner, Occupational Therapist

Candace has been an occupational therapist for 10 years, working in the clinic, school, and home environments. She is passionate about working with children & families in all areas within the scope of OT, but is especially passionate about sensory, feeding, and infant interventions in which she has completed advanced training. Candace has taught at the graduate level, presented at several conferences, and is currently in the certification program for Ayres Sensory Integration. Candace utilizes a child-led therapy approach & focuses on parent/caregiver education and engagement. As a business owner, she values the impact Lead The Way Therapies can have in the community through advocacy of respectful therapy approaches--and that families and children always feel heard and a sense of belonging.

Tammy Nordbeck, MPT

Physical Therapist

Tammy has over 20 years of experience treating children from birth-teenage years. Her fun, respectful, progressive treatment approach combined with her extensive knowledge in treating a wide variety of diagnoses and needs makes her a great fit for many families! Tammy’s clients are enthusiastic to report that she is a PT that takes the time to sit down, listen, and truly understand who their child was—not just a child with gross motor needs, but a person with interests, strengths, and a unique personality. We truly believe that is something so special about Tammy! Some areas Tammy enjoys treating babies with torticollis or other developmental gross motor needs, sensory-based gross motor needs/safety awareness when navigating environments, and the needs of children with neurological or genetic diagnoses. Outside of work Tammy is a wife and mom of 4 and you can usually find her enthusiastically cheering one of her kids on at a sporting event!

Jill Freeman, MA, CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist

Jill graduated with Master of Arts from Wayne State University and has been working in the field for 7.5 years-all in Outpatient/clinic setting. Pediatrics has her heart-she loves working with littles! Jill enjoys treating receptive/expressive language, apraxia, and fluency disorders. She’s always loved running groups as well. Jill believes in collaborating to provide the most comprehensive services to clients and see them thrive in the home and community. Jill is always looking for ways to work with a child's strengths through her play-based treatment approaches and continuing education.

Jill is the mom of 2 babes and a rescued pit bull. She is almost always training for some kind of race-a marathon or triathlon

Liz Engelsen, MS, OTRL

Occupational Therapist

Liz graduated from Grand Valley State University with her Master’s in Occupational Science and
Therapy in 2016. Since then, she has been a pediatric occupational therapist with a focus in
sensory integration and feeding therapy. Liz is passionate about respectful, neurodiverse-
affirming therapy approaches and values autonomy, engagement, and connection in her
sessions. Through child-led, play-based therapy and working closely with families, she enjoys
being able to help children grow and thrive in the ways that feel and work best for them. Liz has
extensive feeding therapy training and loves being able to help children feel safe and have fun
while learning about new foods. She also works with the Autism Alliance of Michigan, regularly
sharing her knowledge and passion through presentations, projects, and guest lectures. In her
free time, she enjoys being outdoors, spoiling her mini golden doodle Nomi, and spending time
with family and friends.

Mary Mauro, MA CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist

Mary is a Speech Language Pathologist with over seven years of experience working with children with a variety of speech and language impairments.

Prior to joining Lead The Way Therapies, Mary worked at a pediatric hospital in which she treated clients, served in specialty clinics and supervised graduate students.

She is passionate about providing child-led speech and language services and giving parents the tools they need to help their children become successful communicators. Mary holds certifications for advanced training in Autism and pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. She is also a clinical instructor at Wayne State University.

Outside of work, Mary enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors with her husband, son, family and friends.

Callan Gavigan, MA, CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist

Callan has been a practicing speech language pathologist for the past 5 years. She completed her Masters degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from Michigan State University (Go Spartans!). She has presented her research in voice at both local and national conferences. Her therapy experience includes patients from birth through adulthood with a wide variety of speech, voice, language and swallowing diagnosis in hospital and outpatient settings. She enjoys seeing clients with both acute and long term diagnosis for therapy.

Like her colleagues at Lead The Way Therapies, Callan focuses on an evidence-based client and family-centered approach. She believes each child should be celebrated for their individual characteristics and incorporates that into her therapy practices. She actively works to facilitate open communication with families throughout their therapy journey to achieve a successful, positive experience.

During her free time, Callan enjoys traveling, baking and spending time with family and friends!