South Dakota Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Leadership

Executive Board

Shelly Grinde, President

Shelly lives in Sioux Falls with her family. She graduated from SDSU with a BS in 1992 and from USD with an MA in 1994. She has been ASHA certified since 1994, and practiced in the medical field as a speech/language pathologist until 2004. She currently works at the Center for Disabilities as the Director of Services & Supports, and continues to provide speech/language evaluation services for the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome clinic. She has been a member of SDSLHA for the past few years, and is excited to be a part of the organization!

 

Kris Kelley, Past President

Kris lives in Sioux Falls with her family.  She is originally from the Tyndall, SD area.  Kris received her undergraduate degree from USD and graduated with her Master's degree in 1995.  Upon graduation, she worked in contract rehabilitation and is currently working in an elementary setting for the Sioux Falls School District.

 

Solveig Korte , Vice-President of Speech Language Pathology

Photo Coming Soon.........

I received my B.A. in Sociology and Religion from Luther College in Decorah Iowa and my M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from The Ohio University, Athens Ohio, in 1979.  I worked in public schools in Nebraska for a number of years and have been an Instructor at The University of South Dakota since 1995.  In addition to teaching courses and clinical supervision, I am the Internship Coordinator for the Department of Communication Disorders.  I have two adult daughters and enjoy reading, travel, and music in my “spare” time.

Marni L. Johnson , Vice-President of Audiology

Marni received her Bachelors and Masters degrees (2000 and 2002) in Audiology from the University of South Dakota, and her Doctor of Audiology degree (2005) from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. She is currently Audiology Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Audiology at the University of South Dakota.

Terri Kussart, Secretary

Terri Kussart has been a speech therapist in Rapid City, SD since 1996. She received her Bachelor's degree majoring in speech pathology from University of Southwestern LA in 1981. She worked in LA and FL with her bachelors degree as an SLP for the school systems until she decided she had enough of the heat and bugs and decided to return to school and work on her Master's degree in l994. In June l996 she obtained her M.Ed majoring in speech pathology from Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA. Since she arrived in Rapid City in June of l996, she has worked in the following settings; nursing homes, out patient rehab's and filled in at the Regional Hospital. In the last 4 years she has worked part-time for the Rapid City School System and established her own speech practice called the Black Hills Speech Inc.

Kathleen Mays, Treasurer

My career in speech began when I served as a certified “Speech Teacher” in the state of Colorado for 12 years. With the loss of my husband and with two young children in tow I went back to school (I also hold a B.S. in Physical Education-1980) and earned my B.S. in Communication Disorders in 1997, M.S. in Speech Language Pathology in 1999 from Fort Hays State University – Hays, Kansas. I worked in Wyoming at a Child Development Center doing Birth to Three and the Regional Hospital for 3 years. I began working for Children’s Care of Rapid City in 2003, mainly serving schools on the Pine Ridge Reservation. I became the Clinical Lead for the Speech Department in 2005, and in October of 2006 became the Clinic Manager of our new facility. I live in Rapid City with Kurstin and Michael who are now teenagers.

Officers

Brittany Schmidt , Editor

I am currently the Director of the Center for Disabilities Autism Spectrum Disorders Program. I received my Masters of Arts teaching degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. I live outside of Sioux Falls and I love being with my kids at home and at their "activities", and also riding motorcycles and reading.

Ruth Samuelsen, Legislative Councilor

I am currently Supervisor of Speech Pathology and Audiology at Black Hills Rehab. and Rapid City Regional Hospital. I received my BA from USD and MS from Colorado State University. I have been a member of SDSHA since 1965, and ASHA Legislative Councilor since 1988. I am so proud to have received. Honors of SDSHA in 1995 and of being made Fellow of ASHA in 2001; membership in both organizations has been a most rewarding experience.

Cristy Schaffan, Membership Chair

Cristy graduated from Minot State University with my B.S. degree in Communication Disorders in 2000. She then attended the University of Wyoming where she received her M.S. degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2002. Cristy currently works as an SLP in the Meade School District in Sturgis, SD. and has private, Part C clients. Before moving to Sturgis,Cristy worked for Children's Care Rehab and Development Center in Rapid City and Wyoming Child and Family Development centers in Wheatland, Guernsey, and Lusk, WY.

Cristy lives in Sturgis with her 2-year-old son Bryan, two dogs Chipper and Cosmo, and a cat named Chubs.

Shelly Grinde, CEU Coordinator

Shelly lives in Sioux Falls with her family. She graduated from SDSU with a BS in 1992 and from USD with an MA in 1994. She has been ASHA certified since 1994, and practiced in the medical field as a speech/language pathologist until 2004. She currently works at the Center for Disabilities as the Director of Services & Supports, and continues to provide speech/language evaluation services for the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome clinic. She has been a member of SDSLHA for the past few years, and is excited to be a part of the organization!

Jamie Griffith, State Advocacy Education Leader (SEAL)

Jamie Griffith received her B.S. in Communication Disorders from USD in 2002, and her M.A. in Speech Pathology from USD in 2004. She has worked in the Gettysburg and Hoven School Districts with kids birth through 18 years of age. Currently, Jamie works in Buchanan Elementary School in Pierre with children pre-school through 5 th grade. Jamie resides in Onida with her husband, Casey and one-year old son, Kellen.

Becky Bolzer, MICS and STARS Reps

Becky graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from South Dakota State University, and graduated in 2004 with Master of Arts degree from the University of South Dakota. Becky has been a member of ASHA since 2005. Becky has worked as a medical Speech-Language Pathologist in the Northern Black Hills region since 2005. She works for Spearfish Regional Hospital in multiple settings, including acute care, outpatient care, long-term care, home health and hospice. In April 2007, Becky became the MICS and STAR representatives for the South Dakota Speech-Language Hearing Association.