About Us AudiologyOnline is a recognized leader in online professional development and careercenter resources for audiologists and hearing care professionals worldwide. Carolyn Smaka, Au.D. Editor-in-Chief As Editor-in-Chief, Carolyn is responsible for developing editorial content and facilitating seminars, articles and interviews from leading authors, researchers and experts in audiology. She brings nearly 20 years of experience as an audiologist to the position. Carolyn earned her Au.D. from AT Still University. She is an active volunteer with national audiology associations as well as in her community, and serves on the board of trustees for a non-profit organization. "You know that feeling you get when you leave a really great conference, that mixture of excitement, energy and a renewed sense of enthusiasm for audiology? I truly feel that every day at AudiologyOnline!" Joanne Slater, Au.D. CE Administrator and Associate Editor Prior to joining AudiologyOnline, Joanne worked as a clinical audiologist in the ENT department of St. Louis University Health Sciences center, performing a variety of diagnostic services and fitting amplification. She has been an audiologist for over 20 years, and earned her Au.D. in 2010 from AT Still University. "I love my job because I work with some of the brightest and most talented people in the world, and my responsibilities keep me in touch with the latest happenings and top experts in hearing healthcare." Anna L. Smith, M.S., CCC-A, CNIM Continuing Education Manager Anna earned a Master’s degree in Audiology from Rush University in Chicago, IL. Prior to joining AudiologyOnline, she worked as a clinical audiologist and spent many years performing intra-operative monitoring, and was also a technical support audiologist with a leading manufacturer. "AudiologyOnline is an amazing website and wonderful employer. We all work hard to make sure that we support professionals in as many ways as possible." Melissa Freund Continuing Education Manager Melissa brings more than 12 years of hearing industry experience to her role as Continuing Education Manager. Prior to joining AudiologyOnline, Melissa served as eMarketing Manager with Oticon. She earned a BS degree from Allentown College and completed graduate coursework in neuropsychology at Hunter College of the City University of N.Y. "Working for AudiologyOnline allows me to truly do what I love. I get to help my clients succeed in online education and show them what it can do for their staff and customers." Gus Mueller, Ph.D. Contributing Editor As a Contributing Editor, Dr. Mueller's role includes providing editorial advisement, as well as managing a popular monthly feature, 20Q with Gus Mueller, that examines the latest topics in audiology and hearing science with other leading experts in the field. He is Professor of Hearing and Speech Science at Vanderbilt University, a senior audiology consultant for Siemens Hearing Instruments, and an internationally known workshop lecturer and noted author, particularly in the area of hearing instrument technology and best practices for achieving successful outcomes with amplification. "What I like about working with AudiologyOnline - professionalism, enthusiasm, and efficiency, with a lot of good laughs along the way." Andi Seibold, Au.D. Technical Copyeditor Andi is a technical copyeditor for articles, interviews and text courses, and assists in the development of content. She has been an audiologist for 4 years, and currently provides pediatric audiology clinical services at ENT for Children in Southlake, Texas. She earned her Au.D. from the University of North Texas. "My education didn't stop when I crossed the stage at graduation. At AudiologyOnline, I'm privileged to learn from the best and the brightest in the field and to expand my knowledge of audiology every single day." Michael Berthelette, MSM, OT/L Vice President, Community Outreach & Education A value-oriented, mission-driven entrepreneur, Michael has successfully integrated over 28 years of administrative and clinical experiences in the fields of school based practice/pediatrics and early intervention services. As a co-founder of Progressus Therapy, he helped establish the company as a leading special education provider for speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and physical therapy services. He is a proactive advocate in policy and government affairs, speaks at healthcare conferences, and has been a panelist at numerous Staffing Industry Analysts Healthcare Summits. "As a former corporate partner, I experienced firsthand the quality of the continuing education opportunities and the impact they had on professionals in the field. I joined this team because I believe I can make a difference in patient care by introducing our CEU programs to professionals, organizations, businesses and universities." Leigha Jansen M.A., CCC-A Director, Continuing Education As an audiologist for nearly 20 years, Leigha has had the privilege of working in many different environments. From clinical settings to industry, she has always found a way to fuel her passion for education. Leigha is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Master of Arts degree in Audiology and is currently pursuing an Ed.D. from Nova Southeastern University with a concentration in instructional technology and distance education. "At AudiologyOnline, we never lose sight of our mission to positively impact the quality of patient care through education. Working with an outstanding group of people is a great added benefit." Wendy Bradbury Career Center Director Wendy has extensive experience in healthcare executive recruiting and research/background screening. Having worked in the healthcare, pharmaceutical and allied health industries, Wendy believes she has found her niche in sales and utilizes her recruiting contacts and expertise to work with allied health therapy providers. She earned her B.S. in Human Resource Management at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA. "I really enjoy talking with different people and getting them excited about AudiologyOnline. We have a service to fit just about every single person's needs." Jill Connolly Career Center Representative Jill graduated from University of Minnesota at Morris, with degrees in English and Human Services. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of customer service-related jobs, most recently providing support for brokerage account clients and their financial advisers. "I enjoy the daily customer interaction that I receive in the AudiologyOnline Career Center, both with job seekers and employers. In addition, the caliber of people employed by this company is second to none!" Ronaldo Olivas Director of Customer Experience While at Arizona State University, Ronaldo worked for a program that utilized National Science Foundation funds to provide minority students with financial assistance within the STEM disciplines. He got hooked on helping others and today he oversees the Customer Service Department ensuring that professionals have the tools they need to earn CEUs and better serve their patients. "The most enjoyable part of my job is having the opportunity to improve the day of one of our AO family members (customers and co-workers) by offering assistance and providing exceptional customer service." Tanya Leyba Customer Experience Specialist Tanya has been in the customer service field for seven years. Prior to joining AudiologyOnline, she worked as a Senior Customer Service Representative for a local electric and gas provider, Public Service Company of New Mexico. "My passion is helping others in any way possible. AudiologyOnline gives me the freedom to do what I do best – serving our customers is my specialty!" Kurt Stull Vice President of Corporate Partner Relations Prior to joining AudiologyOnline in 2008, Kurt served as Director of Physician Relations with a large health system in the state of Ohio. Drawn to healthcare for all the right reasons, Kurt has held a variety of positions in the industry during his distinguished career. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University. "This is the most committed and passionate group of professionals with whom I have ever worked. Everyone has a "get it done" attitude while always maintaining focus on the high levels of service we strive to provide to the professionals and industry partners we serve." Stephanie Miller Marketing Manager Stephanie has more than 14 years of experience in the hearing health industry. A former employee of Siemens Hearing Instruments, Stephanie brings a wealth of knowledge and marketing expertise to her role as Marketing Manager. In 2009, she completed her MBA with a concentration in Marketing at Centenary College, NJ. "I'm always learning something new either in healthcare, technology or marketing. The best part about my role at AudiologyOnline is getting to share new information, new applications, and best practices with my colleagues and our customers." John Lucas Butchart Video Production Manager Prior to joining AudiologyOnline, Lucas was a partner in a video production company that worked with clients such as Degussa and The Center for Creative Leadership. He has more than six years of video production experience and has worked as a producer on two feature films. "I enjoy working for AudiologyOnline because people treat each other like family. Everyone is positive and excited about their work, which naturally influences and encourages me." Kelly O'Keefe Director, AudiologyDesign Kelly O'Keefe is the Director of AudiologyDesign, the industry leader in website development, providing customized web solutions for audiology and hearing aid practices in North America. Prior to joining AudiologyDesign, Kelly worked for a major hearing aid manufacturer for five years in sales and business development. He has a degree in Business Administration from Marquette University. "The best part of working at AudiologyDesign is the excitement that comes with delivering a new, state-of-the-art website for one of our customers, and watching the positive impact it has on that practice's business." Craig Knowles Senior Project Manager With a BSc in Computer Science, an MSc in Computer Graphics, and 15 years of Web experience, Craig guides the design and management of large, complex projects that cross multiple disciplines. He has a particular affinity for training, simulation, and creative projects in general. "Working with some of the best and most-respected individuals in their respective fields is very rewarding." Alan Blount Director of Development and IT Alan has been professionally making Web applications since 2004 and playing with Web technologies since 1997. Prior to joining AudiologyOnline he worked on a large intranet at Mercer HR Consulting, developed a variety of Web applications for clients at Via Studios, and served in several technology support roles. At AudiologyOnline, he oversees the development of large Web applications built on LEMP technologies. "This company is ready to move forward all the time - it listens, it innovates, and its main function is to provide valuable services that advance our collective health." Bill LaCalle Cofounder and Chief Strategy Officer - Allied Health Media Bill founded AudiologyOnline with his wife Aimee in 1999. He is a graduate of the business school at the University of Texas at Austin. "I love working with this amazing group of people! It's so fun to be able to make a difference in people’s lives; from the professionals we serve to the patients they serve." Kevin Havens Chief Executive Officer - Allied Health Media Kevin has more than 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, operations, management, and manufacturing both nationally and internationally, and has worked for a variety of successful companies including small entrepreneurships, mid-market organizations, and publicly-traded corporations. Kevin earned his B.A. in Journalism from The Ohio State University. "My objective continues to be centered on creating an efficient, resilient, and profitable organization where individuals enjoy what they do, support one another, and strive daily to fulfill our mission - to provide the professionals we serve with the latest tools and resources to better serve the patients in their care." Stacy L. Williams, Ph.D. Chief Operations Officer - Allied Health Media Stacy is the Chief Operating Officer, and also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research focuses on integrating simulation technology into the field of speech-language pathology by providing clients and professionals with cutting edge media applications. "Every day I get to do what I love - develop innovative online technology applications for the allied health professions that provide a valuable service and resource to clinicians across the world. I'm proud to be a part of that innovation and to work with such talented people." Paul Dybala, Ph.D. Chief Web Officer As Chief Web Officer, Paul is responsible for the company's Web presence including site design, usability, site upgrades, workflow, information data/architecture, analytics, intranet, social media, and security. Working at AudiologyOnline enables him to combine his two professional interests - audiology and the Internet - to ensure the site is the best it can be. He earned his Ph.D. in audiology from the University of Texas at Dallas/Callier Center for Communication Disorders. "My passion is making the Internet a useful tool for audiologists and the patients they serve."
