Leadership

NSLHA President
Michell Ruskamp
Columbus Community Hospital
3912 38th Street, Suite A
Columbus, NE 68601
(402) 562-3333

NSLHA President- Elect
Noel Griffith
Active Hearing Health
18010 R Plaza, Suite 107
Omaha, NE 68135
(402) 318-7863

Secretary/Treasurer
Staci Stoehr
Children’s Rehab of Lincoln
5930 Vandervoort Drive #A
Lincoln, NE 68516
(402) 420-2099

VP Advocacy
Nikki Kopetzky
Active Hearing Health
18010 R Plaza, Ste. 107
Omaha, NE 68135
(402) 318-7863

VP Education
Stacie Delezene
Powerback Rehabilitation
2305 S 10th St
Omaha, NE 68108
(402) 472-3816

VP Schools
Lorene Kelly
7030 S 110th St
LaVista, NE 68128
(402) 597-4985

VP Medical
Samantha Peñas
Bryan Medical Center
2300 S. 16th Street
Lincoln, NE 68502
(402) 481-1111

VP Membership
Shannon Frey
14464 Erskine St
Omaha, NE 68116
(815) 441-8537

University of Nebraska at Omaha
Mitzi Ritzman (UNO NSSLHA Faculty Advisor)
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Roskens Hall 512N
Omaha, NE 68182
(402) 554-2203

University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Alicia Davis (UNL NSSLHA Faculty Advisor)
One Barkley Memorial Center
PO Box 830738
Lincoln, NE 68583
(402) 472-5476

University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Kelly Pritchett (UNL Student Academy of Audiology Faculty Advisor)

One Barkley Memorial Center
PO Box 830738
Lincoln, NE 68583
(308) 865-8924

University of Nebraska at Kearney
Whitney Schneider-Cline (KSSLHA Faculty Advisor)
University of Nebraska at Kearney
905 W. 25th St.
COE B136
Kearney, NE 68849
(308) 865-8612

University of Nebraska at Kearney
Jill Wilson  (KSSLHA Faculty Advisor)
2002 W 35th St.
P.O. Box 830738
Kearney, NE 68845
(308) 865-8300

Region I Liaison
Amy Salerno
Encore Rehabilitation, Ambassador Health Home
1540 N 72nd St.
Omaha, NE 68114
(402) 350-4755

Region II Liaison
Andrea Kremeier
Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital
5401 South Street,
Lincoln, NE 68506
(402) 489-7102

Region III Liaison
Melissa Brown
Wiggles & Giggles Therapy for Kids
3912 38th Street, Suite B
Columbus, NE 68602
(402) 562-3341

Region IV Liaison
Meredith Davis
Grand Island Public Schools – Early Development Network
123 S Webb Road
Grand Island, NE 68803
(308) 385-5900 ext. 201266

Region V Liaison
Emily Johnson
ESU #16
1221 W. 17th Street
North Platte, NE 69101
(308) 534-2416

Region VI Liaison
Jennifer Splichal
Mitchell Public Schools
1439 13th Avenue
Mitchell, NE 69357
(308) 623-2828

Sophia Mule – University of Nebraska at Omaha Speech-Language Pathology (UNO NSSLHA) Student Liaison

Erin Henn – University of Nebraska at Lincoln Speech-Language Pathology (UNL NSSLHA) Student Liaison

Olivia Scott – University of Nebraska at Kearney (KSSLHA) Student Liaison

Schools Committee
Chair: Theresa Mourey
Role: Addresses current practices and issues relative to speech, language, and hearing services in the school, and monitors, reviews, and recommends association action on state, federal and ASHA legislation which affects the speech/language pathologists and audiologists working in school environments.

Public Relations Committee
Contact: Mitzi Ritzman
Role: Suggests content for the NSLHA website and suggests information to post NSLHA Connects (Facebook group) and the Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. Oversees marketing activities as they relate to membership recruitment, engagement and promotion of the audiology and speech-language pathology professions. Promotes Better Hearing and Speech Month in Nebraska. Selects NSLHA’s Better Hearing and Speech Month representatives.

Legislative Affairs Committee
Chair: Jessica Thoene
Role: Works with the NSLHA lobbyist to develop strategies to monitor and respond to legislation and licensure issues on behalf of audiologists and speech-language pathologists. Provides resources and information to help NSLHA members build relationships with their lawmakers. Helps plan the program for the annual NSLHA Legislative Day at the State Capitol. Supports issues and concerns related to speech, language, and hearing professionals in schools, clinics, hospitals, research facilities, industry and universities throughout the state of Nebraska. Attends legislative committee hearings and testifies on behalf of NSLHA as needed.

Insurance and Reimbursement Committee
Audiology Chair: Leisha Eiten
Speech-Language Pathology Chair: Jessica Thoene
Role: Works with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Medicaid managed care organization representatives to resolve issues, with a focus on providing the best quality care and services possible to clients. Identifies possible solutions and offers recommendations to DHHS. The committee also regularly discusses changes in regulations, processes and reimbursement that affect audiology and speech-language pathology services and offers constructive comments to DHHS.

Continuing Education Committee
Chair: Stacie Delezene
Role: Solicits feedback from members regarding professional development and continuing education needs. Contact prospective speakers. Plans education for NSLHA professional development and continuing events, including the Fall Convention and webinars.

Membership Committee
Chair: Shannon Frey
Role: Oversees marketing activities as they relate to membership recruitment, engagement, and promotion of the audiology and speech-language pathology professions.

Awards Committee
Chair: Miechelle McKelvey
Role: Reviews nominations and selects recipients for NSLHA awards, to nominate professionals who have earned recognition as “outstanding contributors in their field” or individuals with “a significant hearing, speech and/or language challenge” who have done great work to address those challenges

SEALs
Chair: Theresa Mourey

STAMPs
Chair: Jessica Thoene

STARs
Speech-Language Pathologists Representative: Jessica Thoene
Audiologists Representative: Cindy Johnson

Sherri Jones
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
301 Barkley Memorial Center
Lincoln, NE 68583
(402) 472-5496

Garrett Nathan
Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers
545 Fortune Drive
Papillion, NE 68046
(402) 330-3211