Our Founder
Lisa Koenigsberg, MSCCC-SLP, is the founder of The Center for Speech & Language Development. She has been in the field of Speech-Language Pathology for over twenty years. She is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as a certified Compton PES-L trainer. She regularly participates in continuing education courses to maintain her state of the art skills. She is committed to the success of her clients.
Throughout her career, she has worked to evaluate and treat children with varied diagnoses in a variety of settings. Her pediatric practice focuses on feeding and swallowing, oral-motor coordination, language development, apraxia, dysarthria, articulation and parenting assistance. Her adult practice focuses on Accent Reduction with heavily accented non-native English speakers to a more standard American accent. Lisa has worked with professionals who did not learn English as a first language or clients who have a strong regional accent.
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS
– Certified, Licensed Clinician in Speech Language Pathology
– MS, Boston University, in Speech-Language and Hearing
– PESL Certified Accent Modification Instructor
-DIR/Floortime trained
– Early Intervention Credentialed Therapist and Evaluator
-PROMPT trained
– CPR Certified
OUR THERAPISTS
Leraaen Abbott, MA, CCC-SLP, has been a valued member of this practice since 2024. She is a speech-language pathologist who graduated with her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from Northern Illinois University. Leraaen is passionate about working with children of all abilities through a play-based, neuro-affirming, and family-centered approach. She has experience with expressive and receptive language, articulation, apraxia of speech, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Leraaen enjoys working with families and children of all ages.
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS
-ASHA and State of Illinois Certified Licensed Clinician in Speech Language Pathology
–MS, Speech Language Pathology – Northern Illinois University
-Trained in: ADOS-2, CITI, MBSlmP (student version), Lingraphic
-License(s): IL, IL PEL, IN
Marissa Baras, MS CCC-SLP has been a vibrant member of this practice since 2012. She is extremely passionate about working with young children and their families. Throughout her career, she has worked to evaluate and treat children with varied diagnoses in a variety of settings. Marissa specializes in working with young children and is focused on feeding and swallowing; oral-motor coordination; language development; apraxia; articulation; and parenting assistance. She is committed to the success of her clients.
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS
-ASHA and State of Illinois Certified Licensed Clinician in Speech Language Pathology
–MS, Speech Language Pathology – Emerson College
-Early Intervention Credentialed Therapist and Evaluator
–PROMPT trained
-S.O.S and Ask Permission trained
Catie Pappas, MS, CCC-SLP, has been a valued member of this practice since 2019. She has an MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Midwestern University. She has experience working with children ages 6 months through high school. She has worked with children and their families in the areas of articulation, receptive/expressive language, hearing, AAC devices, and pragmatic language. She believes it is important to incorporate the child’s interests during therapy to maximize motivation and to empower the child to learn.
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS
-ASHA and State of Illinois Certified Licensed Clinician in Speech Language Pathology
–MS, Speech Language Pathology – Midwestern University
-Early Intervention Credentialed Therapist
-Ask Permission Trained
Sarah Roffe M.S. CCC-SLP has been a valued member of this practice since 2023. She has experience working with the pediatric population in the areas of speech, language, pragmatics, literacy, fluency, and AAC. In the past, Sarah has worked in settings including clinics, schools, and a therapeutic preschool. Sarah enjoys meeting clients and their families where they are at and creating engaging therapy to meet their goals.Â
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS
-ASHA and State of Illinois Certified Licensed Clinician in Speech Language Pathology
–MS, Speech-Language Pathology – DePaul University
Kaylee Tolley, M.S., CCC-SLP, has been a valued member of this practice since 2023. She is passionate about working with the pediatric population to allow children to participate across environments with as much independence as possible. Her experience includes working with children who have neuromotor impairments, feeding disorders, oral-motor impairments, apraxia of speech, and speech and language disorders.
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS
–ASHA and State of Illinois Certified Licensed Clinician in Speech Language Pathology
—MS, Speech Language Pathology – University of Central Missouri
–Early Intervention Credentialed Therapist
–NDT Trained
—PROMPT Trained
—DIR/Floortime Trained
–SOS Trained
Rose Zavaleta, M.S., CCC-SLP, has been with this practice since 2025. She is a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist who received her master’s degree from The University of Tulsa. She has pediatric and adult experience in the areas of receptive/expressive language, articulation, stuttering, autism, traumatic brain injury, and more. Rose is a heritage speaker of Spanish and skilled in bilingual speech-language treatment in all pediatric areas. She is passionate about providing individualized and evidence-based therapy for each client and their families.
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS
–ASHA and State of Illinois Certified Licensed Clinician in Speech Language Pathology
—MS, Speech Language Pathology – University of Tulsa
–Early Intervention Credentialed Therapist
