MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Greetings to all Missouri Speech-Language-Hearing Association (MSHA) members, colleagues, and friends! I am honored to welcome you to the MSHA website. Did you know MSHA has been an active association serving the public and its members for over 50 years? When it comes to communication, we are the organization to know!

Our organization consists of over 1,300 speech-language pathologists, audiologists, students, and related professionals. These professionals provide services in a variety of employment settings including schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, and private practice. MSHA and its members advocate for and promote the education and welfare of those who have communication disorders and their families via engagement in governmental affairs and agencies. In addition, MSHA and its members advocate for our professions and encourage collaboration with related professionals.

To help serve MSHA members and those we serve, MSHA is governed by an Executive Board.  The Executive Board (EB) consists of a President (Carlotta Kimble), President-Elect/Treasurer (Gilbert Phon), Past-President (Beverly Jean Zimmer), Vice President for Communication (Jane Webb), Vice President for Legislative Affairs (Lynnette Cowherd), Vice President for Audiology Services (Amy Fleetwood), Vice President for School Services (Brenda Martien), Vice President for Clinical Services (Sharon Sowder), Vice President for Professional and Public Relations (Teresa Kemper), and a Graduate Student Board Member (Jessica Deutsch).  The MSHA Executive Board conducts meetings at least four times each year to discuss Association business, set budgets, and review MSHA’s contracts with outside agencies.  In addition to hearing reports from each Board member, the EB also hears updates from MSHA’s Business Manager, Robert Craven, Central Office Account Manager, Kristen Pefferman, ASHA’s Advisory Councilors/STARs/MICs/SEALs, the Convention Planning Team, and MSHA committees.  Members are encouraged to serve on committees and attend Executive Board meetings.  Dates, times, agendas, and locations of scheduled EB meetings are posted on this website as they are scheduled.  

I invite you to browse our website and consider attending meetings, serving on a committee, running for Executive Board office, and keeping informed on MSHA business.  In our website, you will find contact information, information related to the work of each Executive Board office, and information beneficial to individuals and their families regarding communication and hearing disorders and services.

We take our obligation to provide you the best possible service very seriously and invite you to share your thoughts and recommendations to ensure we effectively provide leadership to our professions and serve public interest. We look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Carlotta Kimble, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

President, Missouri Speech-Language-Hearing Association

carliekimble@yahoo.com