About Us
Our Approach
Our goal is to provide comprehensive speech, language, and occupational therapy assessments and develop individualized treatment programs for both children and adults with developmental delays, neurologic and genetic disorders, as well as brain injuries. We collaborate with care teams and families to provide evidenced-based treatment plans for you or your loved one. We encourage parent and caregiver participation in treatment sessions in order to improve progress and carryover between treatment sessions or following discharge from therapy services. When working with children or adults, we provide the caregiver with easy strategies they can use to reinforce what is learned during sessions.
We provide a comprehensive range of services focusing on community integration skills critical for the transition to independent living, school, work or volunteer activities. We work with children and adults in a variety of settings including your home, schools, group homes, after school care facilities, and our clinic at 3552 Avon St., Hartland, MI 48353. Services include looking at and treating the body as a whole, meaning treating not only the speech or language deficits, but considering the body in its entirety and how it could contribute to the disorder and the underlying causes. A combination of rehabilitation and compensatory strategies are provided to aid in skill building and functional carryover to improve memory, safety and pleasure at mealtimes, interpersonal communication, literacy needs, and problem-solving skills needed for long-term success.
Meet Our Team
Leigh Harter M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Texas born and raised, Leigh lives in Brighton with her husband and two sons, William and Elliott. She is passionate and dedicated to serving those around her with various developmental and acquired brain injuries. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin and her Master of Speech-Language Pathology from Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. She is experienced in acute, inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings as well as leading various group therapies. She prides herself in working with multi-disciplinary teams while providing individualized treatment plans focused on returning to work and community reintegration. Her strong educational foundation and skilled mentorships have helped move her career in a direction that enhances the quality of life of her patients. She thrives on the ability to use her creativity, compassion and dedication to serve others. She is licensed through the State of Michigan and maintains a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA).
Credentials:
- Education
MS, SLP Texas Tech Health Sciences Center; BS Communication Sciences, U of Wisconsin-Madison - Year Graduated: 2014
- License No. and State: 2202000753 Michigan (License Details)
- Years in Practice: 9 Years
- Membership: American Hearing and Speech Association/Clinical Competence – Member Since 2014. MSHA – Member since 2023
- Training/Certifications: LSVT LOUD certified, SPEAK OUT! provider, PROMPT trained, Oromyofunctional trained, Mary Massery Breathe Support Trained, Beckman Oral Motor trained, Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Feeding Approach trained, craniosacral trained, LAMP trained, graduate intern supervisor, clinical fellowship mentor
Kaylee Torok M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Kaylee is devoted to serving the community around her and making a positive difference in the lives of her patients. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders, after receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Allied Health Sciences, emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology from Grand Valley State University. She has experience working with both children and adults of all abilities in a variety of settings, but is passionate about working in a private practice. Kaylee truly enjoys working with individuals to achieve their goals and ensure they have a bright and successful future! She is licensed through the State of Michigan and maintains a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé, family, and friends, exercising, reading, and going to coffee shops.
Credentials:
- Education
MA, Communication Sciences & Disorders Eastern Michigan University; BS Allied Health Sciences with emphasis in SLP, Grand Valley State University - Year Graduated: 2020
- License No. and State: 7101008271 Michigan (License Details)
- Years in Practice: 3 Years
- Membership: American Hearing and Speech Association/Clinical Competence – Member Since 2020. MSHA – Member since 2023
- Training/Certifications: LSVT LOUD certified, SPEAK OUT! provider, Hanen trained, Beckman Oral Motor trained, Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Feeding Approach trained, Orton Gillingham Trained, graduate intern supervisor.
Kendall Burmeister M.A., CFY-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist – Clinical Fellow
Originally from the Upper Peninsula, Kendall moved to downstate Michigan in pursuit of higher education. She received her Bachelor of Science from Northern Michigan University and her Master of Arts from Western Michigan University. She is currently licensed through the State of Michigan and is completing her Clinical Fellowship through the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). Kendall is passionate about providing quality, evidence-based, client-centered care to all her clients and their families. She loves working with people of all ages and from all walks of life! She enjoys reading, watching movies, baking, and relaxing with family and friends.
Credentials:
- Education
Bachelor of Science – Northern Michigan University, Master of Arts – Western Michigan University - Year Graduated: 2023
- License No. and State: 7152000606 Michigan (License Details)
- Years in Practice: 1
- Membership: American Hearing and Speech Association/ Clinical Fellowship
- Training/Certification: SPEAK OUT! Provider, Hanen trained
Paige Syjut OTRL, MOT, CBIS, CAPS
Lead Occupational Therapist
Paige is dedicated to serving the members of her community by developing an Occupational Therapy program with Leigh Harter Speech Services. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with her Bachelor of Science and Master of Occupational Therapy. Additionally, Paige is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist and Certified Aging in Place Specialist. She is experienced in acute care, inpatient, outpatient, and community based settings, working with children, adults, and older adults. Paige is passionate about providing home evaluations and modifications to ensure access and safety for patients in their homes and community. Utilizing an evidence-based, creative, and positive approach to care, Paige loves fostering independence and recovery for her patients. She is registered with the National Board Certification of Occupational Therapy and licensed through the State of Michigan. In her spare time, Paige can be found with her nose in a book or spending time with her family.
Credentials:
- Education
BS, MOT Eastern Michigan University - Year Graduated: 2013
- License No. and State: 5201008778 Michigan (License Details)
- Years in Practice: 10 Years
- Membership: National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) #324046
- Certification: SPEAK OUT! Provider; Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS); Certified Aging In Place Specialist, Certified Kinesiotaping Practitioner, NeuroIFRAH trained, LSVT BIG certified, Interactive Metronome Certified, NDT trained, Certified Clinical Instructor, Certified Rock Steady Boxing Coach.
Kaitlyn Kramer
SLP-A, Office Assistant
Kaitlyn is currently in her first-year of graduate school at Michigan State University studying Speech-language pathology. She is a member of MSU’s Tower Guard and is a part of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association club at MSU. Kaitlyn has volunteered and shadowed in the clinical setting and loves seeing the patients’ journeys toward success. She enjoys how this profession uplifts the patients it serves by improving their quality of life and daily communication, and she cannot wait to become a speech-language pathologist herself in the future. In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys crafting, hiking, being outdoors, and spending quality time with her family and her dogs.
Kari Wolfe
Office Administrator
Kari comes to us from working in dentistry for over 25 years. Her dental career extends from chairside assisting in both general and pediatric dentistry to office administrator and office management in orthodontics. She enjoys meeting new people, strives to help others meet their goals, and hopes to make everyone’s experience a positive one. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, attending concerts, crafting, shopping, spoiling her nephews and spending quality time with her husband, family and friends.
Jennifer Klavitter
Operations Manager
Jen is an exceptionally skilled Office and Operations Manager with a wealth of experience in managing and administering various businesses. With over 8 years of experience in Office Management and Administration, paired with 7 years of managing two small family-owned businesses, Jen came to Leigh Harter fully equipped to handle any operational challenge thrown her way.
Jen pursued an Associate’s degree in Business and Human Resource Management from Baker College and later worked to obtain a Bachelor’s degree from American Intercontinental Online. With her extensive knowledge and expertise, Jen has become a seasoned professional in managing daily business operations and ensuring that everything runs like clockwork.
Outside of work, Jen is a nature enthusiast who loves spending her free time outdoors, indulging in activities such as gardening, hiking, kayaking, and caring for her backyard flock of chickens. She is also very devoted to her family and cherishes spending quality time with her husband and three daughters (and occasionally her in-laws 😉).
GusGus
Support Staff
GusGus, a vital member of our support staff affectionately known as “Esophagus,” plays a significant role in assisting our clients simply by being his charming self. His fluffy presence works wonders in smoothing transitions, diffusing tense situations, and bringing joy and laughter to everyone. GusGus’s primary responsibility is to offer social and emotional support to all who cross our threshold, be they clients, their families, or our therapists. Interactions with GusGus typically lead to smiles, enhanced eye contact, physical connection, and improved communication.
GusGus’s presence within our clinic serves as a beacon of positivity, offering individuals a welcome distraction from their worries, helping to reduce blood pressure, and providing much-needed stress relief. To learn more about the remarkable impact of service and therapy animals, we invite you to explore our blog.