Meet Our Staff

Speech Therapists

Julie Ernest M.S. CCC/SLP
Julie received her Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University Wisconsin Eau Claire. She spent 10 years in hospital, rehab centers and private practice before bringing the speech practice to Functional Kids since 2002.

Julie enjoys working with children of all abilities. Her areas of special interest include: autism, apraxia of speech, oral motor and feeding problems. She loves working with children and their families and finds nothing more rewarding than helping a child find their voice.

Julie has two boys and a big dog named Bob. In her free time, Julie enjoys biking, skiing, playing baseball and spending time with her family and friends.

Kelly Jaeschke M.S. CCC/SLP
Kelly received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech-language pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and has been working in the field since 1995. She started her career working with adults with developmental disabilities and has been working in pediatrics since 2000 and has been working with Functional Kids Clinic since 2007.

Areas of special interest include: literacy development, phonological processing, auditory processing, receptive/expressive language skills, pragmatic language development, and oral-motor skill development. She loves working in a multidisciplinary sensory clinic. Kelly has particular interest in the areas of bonding and attached as she is the lucky mother of two amazing daughters who she adopted from China.

Melanie SanMiguel M.S. CCC/SLP
Melanie earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She started her career working for a non-for profit organization in Missouri and then worked in the Connecticut public school system for four years prior to joining the Functional Kids Clinic team in 2014.

Areas of special interest include: phonological processing disorders, phonological awareness, expressive/receptive language disorders, early childhood language development and language development in culturally and linguistically diverse populations, fluency, and apraxia of speech.

During her free time, she enjoys being active (playing tennis, rock climbing, biking and traveling.

Debbie Holmquist M.A. CCC/SLP
Debbie Holmquist received her Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders from Mankato State University and The University Wisconsin River Falls. She has been working in pediatric clinics and the schools for 30 years and has been with Functional Kids Clinic since 2016.

Debbie’s special interest include: Articulation and Augmentative Alternative Communication, helping children learn and expand language skills, and early speech and language development.

In her spare time Deb enjoys spending time with friends and family, spending time at the lake and going to sporting events.

Kayla Grieger BS, C/SLPA
Kayla received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a minor in Early Childhood Studies. She recently passed her certification exam to become a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant. Kayla began working with Functional Kids Clinic in 2020. Kayla is looking forward to soon returning to school and receiving her master’s in Speech-Language Pathology to further her career in the field.

Areas of interest include: receptive and expressive communication and early childhood language development.

In her free time Kayla enjoys cooking, crafting, and spending time with her husband, family, and dog.

Abby Trebelhorn M.S. CCC/SLP
Abby earned her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Saint Cloud State University. She joined the Functional Kids team in the spring of 2020. She enjoys collaborating with and learning from the other therapists on staff, as well as working with children of culturally diverse backgrounds.

Abby’s areas of special interest include: expressive/receptive language disorders, early childhood language development, and fluency.

During her free time, she enjoys drinking coffee, going up north to her family’s cabin, and spending time with family and friends.

Chelsea Campagna M.S. CCC/SLP
Chelsea earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from St. Cloud State University and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from St. Ambrose University and joined Functional Kids Clinic in 2020.

Areas of special interest include: early childhood language development, receptive/expressive language disorders, pragmatic language development, phonological awareness and phonological processing disorders.

In her free time, Chelsea enjoys reading, traveling, seeing live music shows and spending time with her friends/family.

 

Occupational Therapists

Kris Worrell BS, OTR/L
Kris has been an occupational therapist since 1986 and can’t remember a time when she didn’t see the world through the filter of empowering, informing, and guiding others to be independent in their lives. She graduated from the university of MN with her degree and started working with developmentally delayed adults for 2 years. This group of people is near her heart because she has a brother and an aunt who are developmentally delayed. Kris then shifted to a school job for 5 years where she saw the challenges kids faced fitting in the the large group model. She then worked for a pediatric clinic for 9 years before starting her own in 2001. Kris loves the opportunity to dig beneath the surface of difficulties to try and find the core issues. Kris has been certified in RDI since 2010. This has enabled her to break down the steps to flexible thinking and development of empathy– very good things!

Krista Phelps MS, OTR/L
Krista received her bachelor’s degree at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD and received her master’s degree in occupational therapy at the University of Minnesota. She has been working in pediatrics since 2002, with a specialization in sensory integration.

Krista has been part of the Functional Kids Clinic team since she graduated from graduate school and has enjoyed watching the clinic and team grow.

Kara Schultz MA, OTR/L
Kara graduated from The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN with a Master’s of Arts degree in Occupational Therapy. Kara has been employed at Functional Kids Clinic since 2005. She is currently working part time in the clinic and part time in a school based environment. Her post education and certification courses support her interests in sensory processing, postural development, body based strategies (CranioSacral, myofascial release), reflex integration and trauma informed care. Kara provides treatment interventions through a more holistic lens.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time in the outdoors and camping with her family, going to concerts and sports events, traveling and enjoying quality time with family and friends. Kara deeply loves engaging and learning from the children here at FKC and is devoted to promoting the highest level of functioning into their daily lives!

Jan Stine BS, OTR/L
Jan received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from Indiana University and has worked in the field for 34 years. She started her career in an acute medical setting (rehab, occupational medicine, hand therapy) but have been working with children the past twenty years in both school and medical settings.

Areas of interest working in pediatric include: sensory-motor integration, gaining independence/competence in functional skills, and the development of appropriate social skills.

Off duty she enjoys family, entertaining, and water sports.

Kelly Deasy COTA/L
Kelly graduated from Anoka Technical College in May of 2010 with an Associate of Applied Science Degree as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. (COTA) As a student, two of her field work opportunities were with the Bloomington and Hastings school districts. Kelly joined the team at Functional Kids Clinic in 2010.

She has been a martial arts instructor for over 15 years and has worked with toddlers in a child care setting for over 5 years.

In her off time Kelly enjoys being outdoors- camping, hiking and playing softball.

Laura Wilson MS, OTR/L
Laura graduated from The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN with a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. Laura began working at Functional Kids Clinic in 2013 after completing a fieldwork rotation here. She enjoys empowering adults and children to be independent in their daily lives.

Laura’s post education and certification courses include sensory processing integration, Therapeutic Listening, Berard Auditory Integration Training, primitive reflex integration, Crainiosacral Therapy, and trauma and attachment.

In her free time, Laura enjoys exploring the outdoors, traveling, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.

Kandy Moen Designation
Kandy graduated from the University of Minnesota Program in Occupational Therapy in December of 1981. She has been practicing Occupational Therapy ever since. She has a special passion for children of all ages, and enjoys every opportunity to help clients reach their individual goals and maximum potential. Kandy has been with Functional Kids Clinic since 2014

Otherwise, she loves to laugh, enjoys improvising, loves animals, makes efforts at cooking, skiing, bicycling, sailing, and other small adventures.

Kelly Widule MA, OTR/L
Kelly received her Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Carroll University. Kelly began working for Functional Kids Clinic in 2018 after completing a fieldwork rotation here in 2017. She also has experience working in skilled nursing facilities. She enjoys finding creative ways to approach each child in order to motivate them to achieve their goals.

Outside of work, Kelly enjoys spending time with her children and husband, playing outdoors, listening to music, and watching and playing sports.

Alayna McCawley MS OTR/L
Alayna received her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN. Alayna began working at Functional Kids Clinic in 2019 after finishing a clinical rotation here. Alayna’s passions in occupational therapy include making skilled intervention play based and fun, sensory processing, trauma-informed care, reflexive integration, creative thinking and problem solving, and finding motivating ways to encourage children and parents to reach their occupational therapy goals.

In Alayna’s free time, she enjoys exploring nature, completing new art projects, and playing with her dog and ferret.

Holly Brown BA, COTA/L
Holly graduated from the University of St. Thomas with Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Psychology in 2018. She then went on to receive her Associate of Applied Science degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant from St. Catherine University. Holly joined the Functional Kids Clinic team in 2021 after completing a fieldwork rotation here. She enjoys working with and empowering children of all ages to discover and develop their capabilities.

Holly enjoys exploring restaurants and adventures in the Twin Cities, spending time outside, learning a new creative hobby, making music, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.

 

Physical Therapists

Miranda Swensen DPT
Miranda has been with Functional Kids Clinic since 2021. Miranda received her doctorate in physical therapy from Saint Catherine University in 2011, but began her career path in massage and bodywork in 2001. After gaining 5 years of experience working with the geriatric population and building a therapy team as the director of rehab for a skilled nursing facility, Miranda followed her heart and jumped to the opposite end of the lifespan to play with kids and help them move their bodies to the beat of their own drum. For Miranda, there is no greater purpose than facilitating functional growth in our youth.

Miranda enjoys dancing and creating with her 2 spirited kids, chasing down and snuggling her 2 crazy dogs, and catching local live music and theater with her significant better half. She feels most at home when elevated within the mountains of Utah or grounded among the lakes of Minnesota.

Kali Rasmussen Physical Therapist
Kali started working at Functional Kids Clinic as a physical therapy student in January of 2021 and working at the clinic as a licensed physical therapist in July of 2021. She graduated from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree in May of 2021 and from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology in May of 2018. She has a special interest in the youngest of patients starting at 2-3 months old. She has always known she has wanted to work with kids and decided on a career in pediatrics before deciding on physical therapy. She is passionate about helping kids learn skills needed to succeed and participate in activities with their peers.

In her free time she enjoys spending time being active, kickboxing, spending time in the sun and at the cabin.

 

Administrative Staff

Laurie Emerson OT/PT Billing Administration
Laurie worked as a special education paraprofessional for 4 years, then joined the Functional Kids team in June of 2005. She works for the Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy departments taking care of insurance billing and appeals, parent billing and other miscellaneous administrative and insurance duties.

In her spare time she enjoys baking, hiking, camping, spending time with family and friends.

Kim Bauer Billing Administrator
Kim started at Functional Kids in February of 2006 as the morning receptionist. In 2011 Kim joined the speech therapy billing department verifying insurance, submitting authorizations and referrals, processing claims and payments and other administrative duties.

When not working she enjoys reading, camping and spending time with her kids and grandkids. Kim
resides in Maplewood, MN with her husband Ed and dog Max.

Jenny Michlitsch OT/PT Billing Administration
Having grown up with several relatives with special needs Jennifer was drawn to Functional Kids Clinic and joined the team in 2007. She is an insurance billing administrator for the occupational therapy and physical therapy businesses. She processes claims and payments, verifies eligibility, submits authorizations and referrals, and other administrative duties. Jennifer attended St. Catherine University and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

In her spare time she enjoys reading, listening to music, visiting art museums, and watching foreign films.

Faith Larson Billing Administrator
Faith stayed home for 19 years to raise her now adult boys. During this time she volunteered in many capacities in the Minneapolis Schools. She graduated from Metropolitan State University with a BA in Accounting. She is the Speech Billing Specialist taking care of insurance billing and processing claims and payments along with other administrative duties. Faith has been with Functional Kids Clinic since 2015.

In her spare time she likes to spend time with family and friends, cook and garden.

Amy Scaramuzzo OT/PT, Administrative Assistant
Amy joined Functional Kids staff in March of 2019 as an Administrative Assistant.

Amy is responsible for answering incoming calls, scheduling and a variety of clerical duties.

Amy grew up in St. Paul and currently lives in Vadnais Heights. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time doing all kinds of different activities and projects with her children.

Tess Receptionist