OUR STAFF

Erin graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. She has a special interest in sensory integration therapy and early intervention. Erin moved to Alaska in 2002 with her husband and three daughters. She loves doing anything and everything with her family and they have taken her on many great adventures, including camping, fishing, canoeing, hiking, skiing, and all things outdoors. She also enjoys game nights, traveling and reading.

Tracey graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University and a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Fort Hays State University. She loves working with children and has a special interest in early intervention. Tracey originally planned to move and enjoy the adventures of Alaska for a year. Then, to her parents' dismay, she has made a wonderful life for herself here in Alaska. She has three wonderful children, two boys and a girl, that keep her on her toes. In her spare time, Tracey enjoys traveling, camping, fishing, cross-country skiing, hiking, and watching her children play sports.

Marie received both her Bachelors of Science and Masters of Occupational Therapy degrees from Eastern Michigan University. She relocated from Michigan to Anchorage in September 2007 when she joined the AFK family. She has loved exploring Alaska and embracing all it has to offer! Marie enjoys running, taking classes at the gym, celebrating birthdays, fun socks, and all things pink. Marie also loves cooking and experimenting with healthy, fun foods.

Nathan grew up in Riverside, California. He received his Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from California Baptist University, where he also worked as a personal trainer and enjoyed learning more about how the human body works. His true passion is working and having fun with kids while being a big kid himself, so he pursued becoming an occupational therapist at Loma Linda University. Nathan loves backpacking in new countries, international mission trips, yoga, hiking, and all things in the water! One of his dreams is to live in a camper van and visit all of the national parks in our beautiful country. He will miss the beaches and surfing in Southern California, but he can't wait to experience all of the new outdoor adventures that Alaska has to offer!

Janelle graduated from Pima Medical Institute in Tucson, Arizona with an associate’s degree in occupational science. She grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas and has had the pleasure of living in so many wonderful places as a military spouse. After years of moving around, she is excited to be moving back to Anchorage to settle down and call Alaska home. She is passionate about all aspects of occupational therapy and has pursued education in reflex integration and eye movement disorders. She enjoys spending her free time outdoors with her husband and their dogs and enjoys trying new restaurants with friends and family.

Amy was born and raised in Anchorage and after spending over a decade in the lower 48, she is thrilled to be returning to her hometown. She received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Eastern Carolina University and has a passion for working with children with Autism and sensory processing differences. Amy comes to All For Kids with a background in teaching Montessori, and continues to employ the approach of meeting the children she works with exactly where they are to promote independence and self-efficacy. Amy is looking forward to being back alongside her childhood friends, hosting amazing dinner parties, growing the biggest flowers under the long summer sun, and shivering instead of melting, once again.

Shavonne is originally from Decatur, Georgia. She graduated from Agnes Scott College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, she served as an elementary school teacher in Orlando, FL. It was there she witnessed the benefits of OT and wanted to learn more about the field. She returned home to Georgia and worked as a rehab aide at a Pediatric OT and SLP clinic, which solidified her passion for pediatric OT. She received her Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree from Jacksonville University in 2022. She has a passion for helping others and volunteers twice a year with the non-profit, Skilled Connections, where they provide OT and SLP services to children in need in rural Jamaica! In her spare time, she enjoys playing basketball, listening to live music, and hanging out with her partner and pup. Shavonne is looking forward to working with the children of the Anchorage community and learning all about the beautiful state of Alaska!

Jessica was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Following her passion for dance, she moved to NY and later CA to pursue her dream to become a professional dancer. Her interest in body mechanics and creative expression led her to obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at San Francisco State University, and later her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University. She previously worked at an outpatient clinic in Michigan, where she enjoyed working with individuals across the developmental lifespan. In her free time, Jessica likes to travel, all things outdoors (cycle, ski/snowboard, hike, garden), spend time with her family and two pups. Jessica relocated to Anchorage seeking an Alaskan adventure. She is thrilled to be a part of the All For Kids team and to work with your children!

Melissa received her bachelor's degree in exercise science at The College of Charleston in South Carolina. Shortly after graduating, she returned to Alaska to be closer to family. She is a 5th generation Alaskan and knew she wanted to be in the mountains for the rest of her life. While back home in Alaska, she completed her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree with Creighton University through the UAA pathway. Melissa has always loved kids and enjoyed working with them whether in school, as an ABA therapist and now an occupational therapist. She has two little ones at home that she gets to go home to at the end of the day. Being a Mom is one of Melissa's favorite roles in life! When she is not at work, you can find her at the nearest park, bookstore, or coffee shop with her family enjoying time together. In the summer, you will find her out on the trails or in the mountains with her little ones.

Christine was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Linguistics. After college, she completed her Master of Science degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Arizona. She returned home to Alaska after completing her education. Christine enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, family, and pets (2 dogs and 3 cats). She loves animals, gardening, the Alaskan outdoors, and home improvement projects. Some of Christine's professional interests include early intervention, reading/writing intervention, and alternative augmentative communication (AAC).

After Leah received her Master's Degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2008, she and her husband, Jordaun, moved to the Anchorage area to pursue adventure! She enjoys dancing, going to the movies, playing in the outdoors, and spending time with her family (including her two daughters). Her particular work "passion" includes providing therapy on horseback ("hippotherapy"). She looks forward to working with your kiddos!

Vonda Kay graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She loves working with children and specializes in phonological and language disorders, early intervention, PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), and working with children with autism and apraxia. Vonda Kay has lived in Alaska for many years and has worked at All For Kids since 2008. She enjoys the mountains, hiking, biking, skiing, traveling, church, and spending time with her family. Vonda Kay and her husband, Mark, have three children (Kate, Max, and Sam)

Randi was born in Dover, Delaware, but traveled around due to being a part of a military family. She moved back to Alaska in 2018 to finish her degree. She received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Communicative Disorders from Eastern New Mexico University. Her interests are Augmentative Communication, working with children with autism, and language disorders. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband, walking her two dogs, crafting, and outdoor adventures. She is excited to start her career at All for Kids!

Heather was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Colorado and her Master's degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Nevada, Reno. She loves going on outdoor adventures and traveling to new places. In her free time she enjoys camping with friends and family, reading books, and hiking with her dog. She is passionate about working with children and is excited to join the team at All For Kids.

Samantha was born and raised in Kodiak, Alaska. She attended Eastern Washington University where she completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. After graduating, she headed back to her home state and joined the team at All for Kids. She is looking forward to pursuing her interests in feeding therapy, phonological and language disorders, and Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Sam enjoys spending time with her family, reading, fishing, four-wheeling, and going for walks in her spare time. She is very excited to be a part of the team at All for Kids!

Reece was born and raised in Minnesota. He graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a Master's of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. He enjoys hunting, fishing, sports, house plants, video games, and traveling. He chose to move to Anchorage for a job opportunity with All For Kids and is excited to explore Alaska. He looks forward to helping your children grow in their skills!

Kimberly has decades of experience as an SLP and loves what she does. She has worked with all ages of children, including early intervention and school-age. In recent years, Kimberly has specialized in offering virtual speech therapy to families. Kimberly finds that virtual therapy offers so many benefits, including engaging kids in motivating activities, working on goals in a home setting, incorporating parents, and offering families a convenient way to access services. She is skilled at managing attention and behaviors to make virtual therapy as fun and beneficial as in person. She looks forward to helping our clients grow and she is excited to be a part of the All For Kids team!

Sara graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Abilene Christian University and her Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. She moved to Alaska from Searcy, Arkansas, in 2013. Sara is passionate about working with kids and has a special place in her heart for hippotherapy. She spends her free time snowboarding, cross country skiing, backpacking, and traveling.

Hannah was born and raised in Anchorage. She graduated from the College of Saint Benedict (Minnesota) with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She then attended Angelo State University (Texas) for her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. In her free time, Hannah loves to read, travel, swim, and spend time with friends and family. She also enjoys many of the great outdoor activities that Alaska has to offer such as camping, hiking, running, and fishing.

Lauren was born and raised in Loretto, Minnesota. She attended the University of South Dakota and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She then went to the University of Iowa where she received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Lauren has had a long time passion of working with kids, including being a summer camp counselor before completing her degrees. She chose to move to Anchorage for a job opportunity with All for Kids and is enjoying every minute with kids as well as friends and co-workers! In her free time, she takes time to explore all the beautiful Alaskan outdoors has to offer with her friends, family, and dog including hiking, snow shoeing, and camping.

Samantha was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She graduated from San Francisco State University with her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. Sam then headed to Miami, where she attended the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences and earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Sam's younger cousin inspired her to become a Pediatric Physical Therapist and she has always enjoyed working with kids. She was previously a youth outdoor educator and also worked in the school setting. In her free time, Sam loves to do anything that gets her outside -- she loves to hike, snowboard, ski, go camping, and play volleyball and she also loves to craft. She is also looking forward to picking up new hobbies and trying new things while in Alaska!

Erin was born and raised in St. Michael, Minnesota. She attended Saint Catherine University where she received her associates degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant. She will be joining us from Hawaii where she has been living for the last 2 years. Erin is very excited to explore all the beauty Alaska has to offer with her dog. In her free time, Erin enjoys hiking, fishing, camping, and traveling. She is passionate about working with children and is excited to be a part of the All For Kids team!

Joy grew up in Canton, IL. She graduated from Maryville University in St. Louis, MO with her Bachelor's of Science in Health Science and Doctorate of Physical Therapy. She has had a longtime interest in pediatrics - lifeguarding, teaching swim lessons, substitute teaching, and volunteering with kids. After visiting Alaska on a family vacation and completing a clinical internship at All for Kids, Joy knew she wanted to return. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, weightlifting, baking, biking, crafting, and hiking. Joy adores her pet fish and takes pride in her houseplants. She is excited to work at All for Kids!

Jenny was born and raised in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. She graduated from Concordia University, St. Paul in Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Psychology in 2017. She continued her studies at Concordia to earn a Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2021. Jenny has always had a passion for pediatrics and is especially excited to explore the field of hippotherapy. She moved to Alaska in 2021 seeking adventure and enjoys snowboarding, hiking, hanging out with friends, playing board games, seeking out the best coffee and breakfast joints, and participating in a wide variety of outdoor activities.

Sarah Sherman, OTR/L

Jeff Clift, OTR/L

Melissa Swamidass, CCC-SLP

Emily Atton, CCC-SLP

Lindsey Mast, CCC-SLP

Lauren Nelson, CCC-SLP

Kirsten was born in Ogden, Utah, where she was very active and adventurous. She was always on the go playing soccer, going to gymnastics, and backpacking. Looking for a new adventure, she moved to Alaska in 2004 and now calls it her home. She enjoys exploring the outdoors, biking and traveling. She spends her days chasing her two little boys, Grayson and Beckham, working with the youth in her church, baking sweet concoctions, and spending time with her husband, Jesse.

Jennifer graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business and Management from the University of South Florida. She then moved to Busan, South Korea, and Tokyo, Japan, before relocating in 2007 to pursue a Master’s Degree in Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she practiced until moving to Alaska in 2017. She loves traveling, exploring new places, reading, cooking, and hiking with her husband and dogs.

Karen has been in Alaska since 1977, when her step-dad was transferred from San Angelo, Texas, to Elmendorf AFB. She graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 1991 with a BA in Economics. She has been in the medical billing field since 1991 and became a Certified Professional Coder in 2008. Karen enjoys hiking with her husband, Lee, and dogs, Benelli and Maevis; hanging out with their kids (son Jared and daughter Jordan); playing volleyball; and watching football. Her favorite place to be is at a beach with WARM water.

Kaitlin moved to Alaska when she was three years old. She grew up going camping, hiking, and being outdoors. Although now, she likes baking, crafting, playing with her puppy, trying to keep her plants alive, and watching TV. She is currently attending UAA to earn a degree in Psychology and plans on finding a job in pediatrics after graduation.

Paige was born right here in Anchorage, but grew up in Colorado and Texas. She enjoys reading (especially about history), drawing, hiking, baking/cooking, and spending time with friends and her three pets, Nia, Styx, and Dante. She looks forward to attending school for archaeology soon.

Kate was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, which is probably where her love for the outdoors came from. She loves to hike, camp, kayak, and ski. When not outside, she loves to read, bake sweets, cook over-salted food, and be active in her community. She recently graduated from Grand Canyon University in Arizona, and is excited to begin Occupational Therapy grad school in the Fall of 2024. She and her husband just moved back to Anchorage from Texas and are loving living in the mountains again!Dante. She looks forward to attending school for archaeology soon.