President: Jennifer Branchini
Jennifer Branchini has been a speech-language pathologist since 2011. Since completing her degree, she has worked in schools, early intervention, and private practice. She enjoys using her leadership experience to help others grow. In 2014, she started her own practice called District Speech, where they service the full age spectrum, from as young as one month old to adults in their 60s and 70s. Jennifer now supervises and manages 8 SLPs at this practice. In 2023, she launched a second company called Speechfully, where she helps SLPs start and grow their own practices to continue to serve those with special needs. Jennifer recently launched Therapists Unite, a local networking group aimed to bring together SLPs, OTs, PTs, and psychologists to build relationships and learn from each other. Additionally, she is a member of Smile Train and has had the privilege of helping the craniofacial population abroad, specifically in Ukraine. Finally, Jennifer is launching a podcast where she interviews speech therapists and related professionals and entrepreneurs to explore the dynamics of speech pathology in their everyday personal and professional lives. She has sought out and created various leadership opportunities to connect with fellow service providers and families to enhance her practice as an SLP and inform her therapeutic interventions. Her hope is to use these skills to help DCSHA become a source of community, connection, and service.
President-Elect: Jodi Kumar
Jodi received her Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics in 2001 at the State University of New York at Albany. Her Linguistics degree gave her a foundation in the structure of language. Wanting to use this knowledge in a functional and meaningful way with people, she continued her studies in Communication Sciences and Disorders and received a Master’s Degree from the College of Saint Rose in 2004. The mentorship she received at Saint Rose was formative in shaping the basic tenets by which she still serves her clients today: collaborative, person-centered, evidence-based, functional, and meaningful. Since 2004, She has worked across the lifespan in hospitals (Outpatient, Inpatient, and Acute care), University Speech Clinics, and home and community settings. While she has served many populations and disorders, her areas of expertise/interest include speech sound disorders, motor speech disorders, and myofunctional disorders. She has extensive training and clinical expertise in evaluating and treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). Since 2011, she has served as a clinical educator at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. There she supports graduate-level clinicians in their pursuit to become certified Speech-Language Pathologists. While at GWU, she developed The Childhood Apraxia and Motor Planning Camp (CHAMP). CHAMP garnered both local and international attention as it supported children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech and their families from 30 different states, Canada, and even as far as Qatar in the Middle East. In late 2022, she founded Sound Speech, LLC where she provides private speech and language services to those in her local community. In addition to clinical teaching, she also educates future SLP’s in the classroom. She has taught as an adjunct instructor since 2018 teaching Phonetics, Speech Sound Disorders, Language Development, Speech and Hearing Science, and Advanced Pediatrics (Complex Communication Disorders) at several universities. She has presented nationally and internationally on a variety of topics: Intensive Therapy for CAS, brain injury support groups, project-oriented interventions, and using movement to enhance speech therapy.
Secretary: Amanda Granoff
Amanda is the founder and owner of DC Speech Language & Literacy Center. She received her B.A. in Hearing & Speech Sciences with Honors from the University of Maryland College Park and her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Vanderbilt University. Before transitioning to private practice, Amanda worked in both public and private school settings, serving students in elementary, middle, and high school. At the Lab School of Washington, Amanda implemented daily 1-1 reading intervention, led professional development for literacy instructors, and served as the reading coordinator for the summer program. In private practice, Amanda has further developed her expertise in working with clients with learning differences while also gaining experience evaluating and treating speech-sound disorders. Amanda prides herself in providing individualized, evidence-based intervention to her clients. She is also passionate about empowering parents and other caregivers with the knowledge and tools they need to best support their children. Amanda speaks nationally on the topics of language, literacy, and executive functioning.
Treasurer: Darius Thomas
Darius Laron Thomas is a professor, visionary, and trailblazer in the field of speech-language pathology, whose innovative approach has revolutionized the way clients are evaluated and treated around the world. As the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dynamic Therapy, Darius has established himself as a global leader in the profession, renowned for his expertise, mentorship, and motivational speaking. In addition to his pioneering work in speech-language pathology, Darius has further demonstrated his entrepreneurial prowess by successfully founding and managing four thriving businesses, a testament to his multifaceted talents and dedication to making a significant impact in various industries. Beyond his clinical work, Darius is an accomplished volunteer, serving in various leadership positions within the District of Columbia Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing. He is a true advocate for minority representation and played a pivotal role in giving voting rights to student representatives on the board of NBASLH.