Meet the Providers
Karlette Ford, OTD, OTR/L
Occupational Therapy
My name is Karlette Ford, and I work part-time as an occupational therapist with Lauralee’s Speech Therapy LLC. With 26 years of experience in the field, I have extensive pediatric expertise in various settings, including schools, outpatient services, and home health care.
Additionally, I have dedicated 10-12 years to working with adults in skilled nursing facilities and hospitals. I began my career as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), but my passion for lifelong learning led me to pursue further education. This journey culminated in my earning a doctorate in occupational therapy from Indiana University in August 2025, with a focus on teaching, researching women’s health issues, and working in the Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit (NICU).
Jessica Gruner, SLP-A
Speech Therapy
Hi, I’m Jessica, a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) with Lauralee’s Speech Therapy.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Development from Arizona State University in 2009 and have been working in Early Intervention ever since. In December 2025, I completed my SLPA program through Northern Arizona University and obtained my SLPA license.
I am passionate about supporting children and families as they work toward meaningful communication goals. Providing therapy is incredibly rewarding, but what I value most is seeing the confidence and happiness that comes from families feeling supported and empowered.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and cheering on our four kids at their sporting events. I also value my “me time” and love staying active through working out.
I currently live in Mesa and in my spare time I enjoy exercising, going to the movies, eating out and spending time with my 2 beautiful daughters.
Melissa Haws, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Therapy
My name is Melissa and I’m a home-based Speech Language Pathologist for Lauralee’s Speech Therapy. I have been a speech therapist for almost 14 years. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from Brigham Young University in 2010 and my Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Northern Arizona University in 2016. After receiving my bachelor’s degree I moved to Gilbert and worked in the home setting. A couple of years later I started working in the school and clinic settings. I did that for 7 years. My favorite place to work has been in the home setting where I get to know the child well and build relationships with the families. The best part of being a speech pathologist is seeing a child increase their communication skills. I love working on a child’s receptive and expressive language skills and helping children who use an AAC device.
I currently live in Mesa and in my spare time I enjoy exercising, going to the movies, eating out and spending time with my 2 beautiful daughters.
Ashley Hoste, SLP-A
Speech Therapy
An Arizona native and graduate of Arizona State University, I bring over 14 years of
experience in early intervention, with a strong passion for feeding and speech therapy.
I’m dedicated to helping others grow and thrive, and I value continuous learning both
personally and professionally. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors, being
with friends and family, and keeping up with my daughter and our four dogs—especially
my love for pugs.
Zyerie Ibanez, SLP-A
Speech Therapy
Zyerie began her career in early childhood education in 2014 as a teacher assistant. Her passion for supporting young learners led her to become a Montessori Lead Teacher in 2016. Inspired by the children’s natural curiosity and love of learning, she pursued an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California.
After relocating to Arizona in 2018, Zyerie expanded her expertise by earning a Certificate in Speech and Language Pathology Assisting from Estrella Mountain Community College. She now serves as an SLPA at Lauralee’s Speech Therapy, where she enjoys fostering growth through play-based learning. Zyerie incorporates a multi-sensory approach in her sessions and is dedicated to helping each child reach their individual goals.
Kylie Kester, COTA
Occupational Therapy
I’m Kylie and I’m a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. I received my bachelor’s degree from Newman University in my home state of Kansas and had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings before moving to Arizona three years ago. Around that time, I discovered my passion for working in pediatrics, and I was inspired to continue my education. I will earn my Doctorate of Occupational Therapy in December of 2027.
My goal is to always prioritize connection over compliance by focusing on building a strong and meaningful connection where every child in my care feels safe and understood. I strive to create a space that helps them grow and feel proud of their abilities.
Outside of work, my two rambunctious kitties always keep me on my toes. I find joy in reading, painting, and spending time with my loved ones.
Julianne Kindt, DOT
Occupational Therapy
Julianne Kindt is an occupational therapist working part-time with Lauralee’s Speech Therapy. She graduated with her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Northern Arizona University and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University. Being an avid rock climber, she developed a rock-climbing program for sensory integration as well as motor, cognitive, and social-emotional skill development. She presented this at the 2026 AOTA conference. She enjoys and has experience working with people of all ages, working in a variety of settings, including: hospitals, outpatient neuro, outpatient pediatrics, and home health for both children and adults with a wide variety of needs.
In her spare time, she loves spending time outdoors, concerts, traveling, baking, crafting, and being with friends and family.”
Lauralee Larkin, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Therapy
Lauralee is the founder and owner of Lauralee’s Therapy. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Worcester State College in Massachusetts.
Lauralee began her career in the public schools before transitioning to in-home services, where she found her passion for supporting individuals and families within their everyday environments. With over 20 years of experience, she has worked with individuals of varying ages and abilities, with a special interest in autism and sensory-based feeding.
At this time, Lauralee primarily focuses on supervising her team and completing speech-language evaluations, while continuing to support families through collaboration and guidance. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughters, and friends.
Angela Lee, OT
Occupational Therapy
Angela is an occupational therapist with over nine years of experience supporting children with special needs. She is passionate about helping each child reach their full potential by using a compassionate, individualized approach that builds on their unique strengths while addressing their challenges.
She is certified in the SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding, a specialized method focused on creating positive and effective mealtime experiences for children with feeding difficulties. Angela is committed to ongoing professional development and plans to pursue certification in nutrition to further support the children and families she serves.
Ashley Morawski, MOT, OTR/L, BCP
Occupational Therapy
Hi, I’m Ashley Morawski, a board-certified pediatric occupational therapist specializing in feeding, sensory processing, and nervous system function. I have been an OT for over a decade and truly believe I have the best job in the world! At Lauralee’s Therapy, I use a child-led, play-based approach, because I truly believe therapy should always be fun, engaging, and rooted in play—that’s how children learn, grow, and feel most supported.
I’m passionate about building strong connections with the children I work with and helping them feel safe, regulated, and connected to their environment and family. I also have a deep love for learning and am constantly expanding my skills through continuing education courses and trainings so I can bring the best possible support to each family I serve.
My goal is always to honor each child’s individuality, celebrate their strengths, and create meaningful, fun experiences that help them thrive.
Grace Nemecek, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Therapy
I graduated from Minot, North Dakota with my Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology. I have now been working as an SLP for 4 years and 2 years officially in Arizona.
I love meeting new people and creating relationships. I am driven by seeing those around me succeed. My favorite part about my job is getting to help my clients gain or regain skills to be able to live their best life!
I am committed to serving families and my clients and using my social work skills to meet each client where they are.
Shannon Randall, SLPA
Speech Therapy
Hi, I’m Shannon Randall, a compassionate Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) with over 9 years of experience supporting children and families in school-based and therapy settings. I earned my Associate of Applied Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Northern Arizona University and an Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Central Arizona College.
I have experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome, developmental delays, articulation and phonological disorders, language delays, fluency disorders, and AAC communication needs. My background also includes working as a Low Vision Braille Technician, where I supported students with visual impairments through IEP implementation, braille instruction, and accessible materials.
As a mother of three, I bring a family-centered, compassionate approach to therapy. I focus on individualized, functional communication using strategies such as articulation therapy, AAC, visual supports, modeling, and caregiver education. My goal is to create supportive, engaging sessions that build confidence and meaningful communication skills for everyday life.
Leigh Ratificar, COTA
Occupational Therapy
Hi! I’m Leigh, a certified occupational therapy assistant specializing in pediatrics. I’m an Arizona native and a 2022 graduate of Pima Medical Institute. I have since worked in home health, outpatient clinic, telehealth, and school settings. I am passionate about helping others and supporting my clients and families—seeing my clients succeed is the best part of my job! When I’m not working, you can find me crocheting, rock climbing, playing tennis, baking, or hanging out with my dogs!
Josh VanGundy, COTA
Occupational Therapy
Josh has been a certified occupational therapist since 2013 with extensive experience across outpatient orthopedics, pediatrics, skilled nursing, and home health care. Known for delivering patient-centered, evidence-based treatment with a strong focus on functional recovery and long-term wellness. Josh brings a unique background as a former professional basketball player, contributing a deep understanding of human performance, discipline, and teamwork. Dedicated father of two daughters and committed to helping individuals of all ages achieve meaningful improvement in their daily lives.