With Gratitude, Affection and Respect

PA spent a beautiful evening celebrating Laurie Gambetta, Sarah Akin, Ginger Smith, Melanie Brownie and Beth Dinman and their many years of dedicated service to Peninsula Associates. Family and friends were invited to the Hiller Aviation Museum on Friday, January 27, 2012 for dinner and an awards ceremony to honor these amazing women.

Laurie Gambetta, M.S. CCC-SLP: 20 Year Service Award: Laurie received her Bachelor's degree from UC-Santa Barbara and her Master's degree from San Francisco State University. She began working at PA in 1992 and honed her skills as an SLP in a number of settings: Morgan Autism Center, Portola Valley School District, Woodside School District, San Mateo/Foster City School District, and Creative Learning Center. She plays an integral role as a supervisor to new clinicians and mentor to everyone in the practice. She currently serves a variety of clients in our San Mateo office and is a vital part of the PA management team, serving as Schools and Agencies Manager. A local director of student services at one of our contracted school sites says this about Laurie - “Working with Laurie has been fabulous. She is a true professional and has one of the friendliest and happiest personalities.” We couldn't agree more!

Sarah Akin, M.A. CCC-SLP: 20 Year Service Award: Sarah joined PA in 1992 with Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Louisiana State University. She came with the unique experiences of working at the Louisiana School for the Deaf as a communication specialist and auditory training teacher and directing the deaf high school sign-language singing group. Sarah has provided therapy in public schools, non-public schools, private schools, and in the PA office. She has been a leader within the practice for many years, serving as supervisor, mentor, associate director, and director. She currently serves as Co-Manager of Staff Development and Menlo Park office coordinator. A parent of one of Sarah's young clients says it best: “As a parent of a child with speech apraxia, you savor every word your child utters, even the ones that sound nothing like the actual word. But hearing him say that he wanted “More Sarah” sent me over the moon. At that moment, I realized that it wasn't clear who loved Sarah more-me or my son!”

Ginger Smith, M.S. CCC-SLP: 10 Year Service Award: Ginger came to her career as an SLP via the drama and theater arts path. Her theater arts degree is from the world-famous Pasadena Playhouse College of Theater Arts. She earned an AA in Liberal Arts from College of San Mateo and has Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Communicative Disorders from San Francisco State. Ginger's first love has always been working with adults, especially stroke and brain injury patients. In her career, she has been a therapist, case manager, rehab coordinator, home health provider, and dysphagia instructor for many facilities. At PA, Ginger has been the “go-to” person for high schools and middle schools, although she has provided services in both home health facilities and elementary schools. She is truly versatile! Her previous class assistant at the Foothill REACH program speaks for all of us when she says: “Watching Ginger's patience, dedication and humor in her classroom was both a joy and an inspiration.”

Melanie Brownie, M.A. CCC-SLP: 5 Year Service Award: Melanie came to speech-language pathology as a second career, having previously worked as a supervisor for San Jose Hilton, guest relations manager for Great America, and recruiting coordinator for a San Francisco international management consulting firm. She received her Bachelor's degree in Social Science and Master's degree in Communicative Disorders and Sciences from San Jose State. Melanie has provided school- and clinic-based services for PA and is one of our most reliable therapists. She is always willing to consider if she can help out and makes a sincere effort to do so-subbing for PA colleagues or helping at PA events such as the PA-sponsored summer music concert. One of Melanie's colleagues, an OT at her elementary school says: “She is an amazing combination of qualities: professional, good sense of humor, dependable, flexible, skillful therapeutic approach, down-to-earth, fantastic ability to connect with the kids. She is globally loved.” Well said!

Beth Dinman, M.S. CCC-SLP: 5 Year Service Award: Beth came to PA with an undergraduate degree in Human Development from UC-San Diego and Master's in Communicative Disorders from San Francisco State. Foreshadowing things to come, she also arrived with a resume full of experience with autistic children. At PA, Beth has provided school- and clinic-based services to children all over the peninsula. Each school site has begged to have her return in subsequent years. She currently provides services at Palo Alto Medical Foundation and the PA San Mateo office, where she is office coordinator. As Co-Manager of Staff Development, she oversees PA staff meetings and continuing education activities. Beth has also found time to be active in the California Speech Language Hearing Association, currently serving on the Nominating Committee. One school administrator says: “Beth does nothing but support the teaching team and the kids. She's calm, pleasant, positive and competent-what more could we ask for?” What more, indeed!

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