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Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America (CASANA)
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KATHLEEN H. BAUER - Conference Director
Kathleen H. Bauer has a B.A in Theatre and Communications from St. Marys College, Indiana. Kathy has spent many years working in various professional theater and nonprofit organizations in the Pittsburgh area. Kathy has authored and developed inclusive community arts programs for children including the popular Journeys program. She has been an award winning community leader in public education in the region and currently also serves as the Apraxia-KIDS Helpline Director and CASANA Board Secretary. Kathy is the parent of two children diagnosed with apraxia.
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TIMOTHY R. BURNS
Timothy Burns has been a technology consultant and entrepreneur for nearly 18 years. He has a B.S. degree in Computer Science. In 1992, Mr. Burns founded and led a company that would become the worlds largest provider of pharmacy software. Mr. Burns has served on numerous trade and national regulatory panels, been published in various industry trade magazines, and has been a featured speaker at national trade organizations. Currently Mr. Burns works as a business consultant in a new firm he has founded and is an active CASANA board member coleading its business planning efforts. Tim is the father of a son diagnosed with apraxia.
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SUE FREIBURGER, M.S.P.H.
Sue Freiburger has an M.S.P.H from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has worked as a human health risk assessor for a large international consulting firm. Sue has also worked in medical research and taught college chemistry. Sue is married and has three children, one of which has apraxia. Sue is the organizer of CASANA's first annual walk-a-thon for children with apraxia of speech in Pittsburgh, PA.
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SHARON GRETZ, M.ED. - Executive Director
Sharon Gretz, M.Ed. is the founder of CASANA and currently serves as Executive Director. In 2001, Sharon was awarded the National Distinguished Service Award at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, presented to her by the National Council on Communicative Disorders and in 2008 she was named a Community Hero by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette for her work with CASANA. Sharon has nearly 25 years experience in nonprofit services for people with disabilities, disability rights advocacy, and program management. She is also the parent of a child diagnosed with apraxia of speech and has completed all coursework toward Ph.D. in the Dept. of Communication Disorders and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh.
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GARY A. NOVAK, Treasurer
Gary Novak has recently retired as Vice President of AT&T Business Services Small Business Markets Division. He was responsible for the attainment of a $3.7B revenue stream and approximately 2400 sales people. Mr. Novak holds a Masters in Business Administration from Duquesne University and a BA in Economics from St. Vincents in Pennsylvania. He currently serves as CASANA's Executive Director (volunteer capacity) and as a board member. Mr. Novak is an uncle to a child diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech.
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MARY F. STURM, M.D., Board President
Mary Sturm MD has served as a board certified emergency physician and clinical instructor for UPMC St. Margaret's Hospital. She has serves as President of the Board of Directors of CASANA. In 2001, she co-produced the popular children's CD, Time to Sing!, a collection of popular children's music rearranged with a slower tempo to enable children with speech problems to sing along, and which was awarded a Parents Gold Choice Award and a Dr. Toy Award (Time to Sing! is available in the Apraxia-KIDS online store). Currently, Mary serves as Board President. She is the mother of a son diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech and Dyslexia.
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JOHN WILSON
John Wilson is the retired CEO of The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh, a premiere rehabilitation hospital for children with developmental disabilities. Mr. Wilson guided the organization for nearly two decades and through various capital fund drives and building expansions. Wilson was recently recognized for his leadership with the Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities Rehabilitation Leadership Award and also in 2004 received the Community Hero Award from United Cerebral Palsy of Pittsburgh. Mr. Wilson is also the grandfather of a child with apraxia of speech.
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Date Last Modified: 3/22/2010
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|  CASANA 2010 COMMUNITY AND SPEECH PROFESSIONAL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
We are pleased to announce the winners of the CASANA 2010 AWARDS, recognizing individuals and professionals improving the lives of children with apraxia of speech and their families. MORE | 2010 NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH
Announcing CASANA's Annual Conference for Thursday, July 8 - Saturday, July 10, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Read more | 2010 WALK-A-THONS FOR CHILDREN WITH APRAXIA
UNLOCK OUR VOICES; OPEN UP OUR FUTURE!!
Join us for the 2010 WALK-A-THON for CHILDREN with APRAXIA; Multiple walk locations.... COORDINATE a walk in your own city ... raise awareness & help CASANA's apraxia programs and research! ... MORE |  REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS - TREATMENT RESEARCH GRANTS
CASANA announces its 2010 Apraxia Treatment Research grant application process... MORE
| SUPPORT OUR APRAXIA PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH!
Midwest Apraxia Picnic
Join the Allseits family on their Pearl City, Illinois farm for a fun day of games, conversation, and relaxation for kids with speech apraxia, their families, and professionals who care! Also, help raise funds for our apraxia programs and research.. Saturday, June 26, 2010 .... MORE | | APRAXIA RESEARCH SUBJECTS NEEDED
Researchers are seeking child subjects and family participants for their studies... MORE | NEW ONLINE INTERVIEW WITH CASANA FOUNDER
CASANA's founder Sharon Gretz is interviewed about childhood apraxia of speech by Stephanie Bruno, with ADVANCE Magazine's Early Intervention Blog ...
Go to Interview Part 1
Go to Interview Part 2 |
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