Who We Are
FRIENDS is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support and education to young people who stutter, their families, and professionals, through annual conferences, one-day workshops, and outreach. Our vision is to help build a world in which all young people who stutter feel empowered to communicate whenever, wherever, and however they want to. FRIENDS is directed by Lee Caggiano, the mother of a son who stutters and a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP).
Our Story
In 1997, FRIENDS was founded by John Ahlbach and Lee to meet the need for organized support and education for young people who stutter and their families. Over the years, we have expanded into a national organization that hosts a large annual convention each July and many regional one-day conferences around the country throughout the year. We primarily serve young people and their families, but also provide invaluable education to SLPs and graduate students and welcome adults who stutter into our community as volunteers.

Executive Director, Co-Founder
Lee Caggiano, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-F
Lee is the Director of Stuttering Therapy and Resources of Northern Colorado and treats children, adolescents and adults who stutter. Lee is the mother of a son who stutters and is co-founder and Director of FRIENDS: The National Association for Young People Who Stutter. She is committed to providing a high level of parent education and training and has developed and coordinated workshops for children who stutter, families and professionals for the past several years. She has presented at local and national conferences regarding the needs of young people who stutter and their families. Lee serves as a consultant to many school districts as well as teaching the graduate level fluency courses at New York University, Queens College, and Long Island University-Post.

Co-Founder
John Ahlbach
I co-founded FRIENDS in 1997 with Lee to provide young people and their families with their own space, their own identity within the stuttering community. I have loved every minute of it with all my heart!
Board Members

Caryn Herring
Chair Person of the Board
Caryn Herring, M.S. CCC-SLP is a person who stutters and a speech-language pathologist, currently pursuing her PhD at Michigan State University. Read more

Stavros Ladeas
Vice Chair Person
I am a person who stutters and have been involved with FRIENDS during these last few years. I live in Queens, am involved in the tech scene, I enjoy hiking and exploring different parts of the city.

Arin Sheeler
Secretary
I am the proud parent of a young boy who stutters. Our family found FRIENDS through The Ohio State University One-Day Conference in 2018, and we attended our first Annual Convention in Chicago in 2019.Read more

Rick Arenas
Treasurer
I am a person who stutters and a parent of a child who stutters. I work at the University of New Mexico as an associate professor where I teach and conduct research in the area of stuttering. I’m honored to be able to be part of FRIENDS. The organization does an amazing job supporting young people who stutter and their families.

Eric Jackson

Joe Klein
Read more

Sara MacIntyre
Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP is the director of YouSpeak, a private practice in Philadelphia, where she works with individuals of all ages who stutter. She is also the Director of Programs and Education for The Stuttering Foundation.Read more

Mary McLoughlin

Roisin McManus
Róisín McManus is a proud stutterer. She has volunteered with FRIENDS, StutterTalk, the National Stuttering Association, and was co-founder of the NYC Stutters Conference. She is a nurse practitioner specializing in palliative care at a NYC hospital.
Friends Committees

Angelina Bruno-Metzger
Convention Auction Coordinator
Angelina is a person who stutters and has been a part of the FRIENDS family since 2003 and continues to be inspired by every member’s brilliance, boldness and compassion. When she’s not in the courtroom, Angelina can be found planting in her garden, cooking in her kitchen, or hiking with her husband and two dogs.

Bridget Chapman
SLP Convention Program Coordinator

Noura Embabi
Bookkeeper

Jim Fortunato
Raffle Fundraiser

Cheryl Goettsche
Outreach Coordinator

Chaya Goldstein
Stepping Up Program Coordinator

Dhruv Gupta
Virtual Program Coordinator / Administrative Assistant
Co-founder of Ahara.org, Yoga Teacher, Whole Plant-Based Cooking Instructor, Compassion Cultivation Teacher in Training, Adult Stuttering Self-Help Group Facilitator at The Indian Stammering Association.

Dave Hankins
Convention Store Coordinator

Brooke Leiman Edwards
Graduate Student Training Program Coordinator
Brooke Leiman Edwards, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-F is the Director of the Stuttering Clinic at National Therapy Center and a Board Certified Specialist in Fluency Disorders. She has been presenting at FRIENDS annual conventions since 2016 and recently began volunteering as a One Day Conference Coordinator.

Mark O’Malia
Stepping Up Program Coordinator

John & Sue Parisi
Merchandise Managers

Shelly Roney
Hotel Liasion

Ed Samp
Convention Scholarship
Professional Advisors

Joe Donaher
PhD, CCC-SLP, Board Certified in Fluency Disorders

Heather Grossman
PhD, CCC-SLP, Board Certified in Fluency Disorders

Patty Walton
M.A, CCC-SLP, Board Certified in Fluency Disorders

Tricia Zebrowski
PhD, CCC-SLP, Board Certified in Fluency Disorders
FRIENDS
FRIENDS: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter is a non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization under section 501(c)3.
About
Upcoming Events
Community Series
Kids Groups
Teens Groups
Adults Groups
Parents Groups
Get Involved
Contact Us
FRIENDS
23429 County Road 1
Berthoud, CO 80513
friends@friendswhostutter.org