Who We Are
FRIENDS is a 501 (c)(3) 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. FRIENDS events provide workshops for children, adolescents, parents and adults who stutter. Some topics addressed during our workshops include self-advocacy, self-disclosure, navigating middle school, navigating high school and college, bullying, teasing, successful academic outcomes, successful career outcomes, navigating employment issues, interviewing skills, diversity in the workplace, educating our peers in academic and employment environments. Workshops for parents include discussing how best to support your child, advocating for your child, working with schools to ensure academic success, how to talk about stuttering with your child, family, school and extended families. 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. Caryn’s research interests include the process of desensitization for people who stutter and the role of voluntary stuttering. Caryn has been involved with Friends since 2010, running workshops, 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. My husband and 3 children and I live in Columbus, Ohio, and both my husband and I work for The Ohio State University. I am a Speech 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
Joel Korte
Joel Korte is a person who stutters and the owner of www.chasebliss.com, a Minneapolis based company that designs and manufactures guitar pedals.
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
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.
Mark O'Malia
Mark O’Malia, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and person who stutters. He is a full-time clinician at The American Institute for Stuttering (AIS) in NYC, working with people who stutter across the lifespan.
Ryan Pollard
Ryan Pollard, Ph.D. CCC-SLP BCS-F is a stutterer, speech-language pathologist, and clinical professor at the University of Colorado Boulder where he trains graduate students and teaches courses in stuttering, disability studies, counseling and other areas. Read more
Development and Advancement Board
Haley Warner
Co-Chair
Haley Warner, M.S. CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and currently pursuing her PhD in the stuttering and vvariability (savvy) lab at New York University. She attended her first FRIENDS Annual Convention in Chicago in 2019 and is passionate about the important work FRIENDS does.
Jackie Winter
Co-Chair
Jackie Winter is a long-time member and supporter of the FRIENDS community. She and her husband, Paul, are the proud parents to Ray, a 20-year-old adult who stutters, and to Lily, a 23-year-old and an amazing sibling to her baby brother. Jackie is a VP and Senior Operations Manager at First American Title Insurance Company.
Ernie Canadeo
George Daquila
George Daquila has stuttered his whole life. He found the stuttering community later in life at the age of 28, he loves being part of it and the broader disability community. George is an Engineering Manager at Google, where he is also a member of the disability community and a leader of the stuttering group. George is a fierce advocate for equality of people with disabilities in the Read more
Gerald Maguire
Kate Popovich-Gargiulo
Kate has been involved with FRIENDS since 2005. After her first 3 day conference which she attended with her family, she was inspired and knew immediately FRIENDS would always be a part of her life. She is the proud mom of three children, two of whom stutter. All of her children have remained active in the organization and have made lifelong friendships. Read more
Anthony Saleh
I am the proud parent of a daughter who stutters and eternally grateful to the entire Friends organization for providing so much support, knowledge, and comfort to our entire family. Friends has been life changing for us and we are so privileged to be part of this phenomenal organization!!
Friends Committees
Noura Embabi
Bookkeeper
Chaya Goldstein
Stepping Up Program Coordinator
Dhruv Gupta
Virtual Program Coordinator / Administrative Assistant
Gardener, Yoga Teacher, Whole Plant-Based Cooking Instructor, Compassion Cultivation Teacher in Training, Adult Stuttering Self-Help Group Facilitator at The Indian Stammering Association.
Hallie Mintz
Social Media Coordinator
Hallie Mintz, M.S. CCC-SLP is the owner of Philly Speech Services, a private practice in the greater Philadelphia area, where she works with children of all ages and abilities. Hallie has a passion for supporting children and adolescents who stutter by encouraging confident communication. Read more
Allison Ladavat
One-Day Conference Program Director
Allison Ladavat, MA, CCC-SLP is a person who stutters and a speech-language pathologist. She currently works at Duquesne University as the clinical adjunct instructor for the stuttering clinic. She is dedicated to educating SLPs Read more
Mark O’Malia
Stepping Up Program Coordinator
Mark O’Malia, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and person who stutters. He is a full-time clinician at The American Institute for Stuttering in NYC, working with people who stutter across the lifespan. Mark is actively involved in the stuttering Read more
Ed Samp
Convention Scholarship
My son Eddie is a stutterer. Our family attended the 2nd annual FRIENDS convention in 1999 in Boston when Eddie was 9. It changed our lives. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed staying connected with our FRIENDS family through the annual conference. Our Read more
Allison Tichenor
Outreach & Marketing Coordinator
Allison Tichenor is the spouse of a person who stutters. She is a family nurse practitioner specializing in palliative care, working in Pittsburgh, PA. She attended her first FRIENDS conference in 2017 and is passionate about stuttering advocacy.
Professional Advisors
Joe Donaher
PhD, CCC-SLP, Board Certified in Fluency Disorders
Heather Grossman
PhD, 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.
Support
Get Involved
Contact Us
FRIENDS
23429 County Road 1
Berthoud, CO 80513
friends@friendswhostutter.org