Our core value Grow Forward is all about continuous learning, trying new things, sharing knowledge, and supporting each other along the way. We are spotlighting several TEAM 4 Kids employees who were nominated for demonstrating that commitment to growth.
Get to know Kim, Jamie, Brittany, Melissa, Sarah, and Shandra, learn what brought them to TEAM 4 Kids, what they love about their work, and a few fun facts that show the personalities behind the roles!
Kim, Speech-Language Pathologist
Originally from the East Coast, Kim officially considers Arizona home now. Outside of work, she loves ice cream, a good 5 AM workout, and pretty much anything that keeps her busy and gives her the chance to learn something new.
Her journey to becoming an SLP started somewhat randomly, but once she experienced the field firsthand, she was hooked.
“I loved seeing how much of an impact SLPs can have on someone’s ability to communicate, connect, and participate in everyday life.”
Kim says continuous growth is important to her, both personally and professionally. She is always looking for opportunities to come up with new ideas, learn something new, or reflect on how she can improve. That mindset is one reason she believes her coworkers nominated her for Growing Forward.
“I’m pretty vocal about my goal of continuously growing and improving in any way I can.”
One of the things Kim loves most about TEAM 4 Kids is that growth is encouraged while employees are also given the support they need to pursue it. She appreciates the opportunities to learn, take on new challenges, and grow into new roles alongside people who genuinely support her.
And if Kim could have one wish come true? She’d choose the ability to communicate telepathically, just like Mantis, so she could know exactly what her clients are thinking and trying to communicate. Oh, and she’d definitely use those powers to talk to animals, too!
Kim’s Nominations:
“Kim is incredible and always has the growth mindset! She is continually providing new ways for others to grow in their knowledge of AAC and other topics. She also seems to always be curious to learn as much as she can to provide the best care for her clients.”
“Kimberlee is constantly seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and strengthen her skills as a therapist. What truly sets her apart is that she doesn’t keep that growth to herself; she consistently shares what she learns with the team, inspires others to develop their skills, and encourages those around her to keep growing as well. She truly embodies what it means to ‘Grow Forward.'”
“Kim has shown a genuine interest in learning and wanting to better herself as a therapist. She completes CEUs, listens to podcasts, and does research regularly to continue to grow forward. She also spends a lot of time researching and growing the AAC department. I am inspired by her dedication and hard work!”
“She’s always wanting to get involved in so many things by having such great ideas to help in discipline; she’s just overall someone who I would nominate for this T4K core value.”
“She is great at leading by example and constantly sharing her knowledge while also working on growing her skills as well!”
Jamie, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Jamie has been a pediatric COTA since 2019. A year ago, Jamie, his wife Tanya, and their dog Mauer relocated to Arizona from North Dakota. Outside of work, Jamie enjoys concerts, sporting events, learning new card and board games, and playing pickleball.
Jamie chose a career as a COTA because of his passion for helping others reach their full potential. Working in pediatrics gives him the opportunity to be creative, discover what motivates each child, and help them develop new skills, build confidence, and become more independent.
He believes his coworkers nominated him for Growing Forward because he enjoys creating opportunities for others to grow, whether that’s through leading in-services, building community partnerships, or sharing resources that help advance clinical skills and better support patients.
What does Jamie love most about working at TEAM 4 Kids? The freedom to be creative and find new ways to expand his clinical skills, along with the opportunity to connect with fellow clinicians, amazing kids, and their families.
If he could have one wish come true, Jamie says he would want his family to always have health, happiness, and a lifetime of experiences and memories to share together.
Jamie’s Nominations:
“Jamie is so knowledgeable in his field, and he has such amazing ideas for interventions that he is always so willing to share with others. Jamie creates and shares handouts that are super helpful! He is always lending an ear to offer support when there is a challenging client. He is also so willing to volunteer to help out at the clinic! Jamie truly embodies growing forward! He is very thoughtful in his approach and is curious about new pathways to grow and learn! He is committed to his own professional growth and the growth of the clinic! He introduced a new group, which was much needed! He has offered so much help with supporting other OTs and ABAs on toileting strategies! He is an amazing team member to collaborate with!”
“Jamie is always asking questions in the department chat and looking for new ways to address various OT goals and support families!”
“Jamie is always willing to learn, take on new challenges, and grow in his skills. He is open to feedback, shares his knowledge with the team, and is always willing to support others. His dedication to continuous growth and helping those around him makes him a great example of GROW FORWARD!”
“Jamie is constantly trying to grow and build his knowledge through specialized trainings and spending extra time to build new protocols and a new therapy group for the clinic based on evidence-based research and best practice guidelines. He leads by example with his calm and collected demeanor, his hard work, by asking questions to grow, and sharing resources with the team.”
“Jamie is always looking to learn new things and is always curious about what we do in other disciplines, like speech therapy. He has asked what he could do to encourage kids to talk in his sessions, and I think that is so awesome!”
“If you look up “Grow Forward” in the dictionary, you’ll see a picture of Jamie. Therefore, I can’t think of a better person to receive this award!”
“Jamie truly embodies what it means to Grow Forward every single day. His natural curiosity and eagerness to learn consistently elevate our team’s standard of work. Whenever faced with a new challenge or process, he approaches it with an open, coachable mindset, actively seeking out feedback and immediately putting those insights into practice to refine his skills. Beyond personal development, Jamie leads by example by lifting others up alongside him. Whether taking the time to mentor a colleague through a complex task or sharing helpful resources, he ensures our entire team grows together. His commitment to continuous learning and continuous support makes him the perfect representation of this core value.”
“Jamie is always eager to learn new things and teach his teammates about the subjects he is passionate about. He is a great addition to our team!”
Brittany, Registered Behavior Technician
Brittany has been an RBT for three years and is currently working toward her master’s degree with the goal of becoming a BCBA. When she’s not working or studying, you’ll probably find her enjoying music, movies, or soccer. Brittany’s path to becoming an RBT began while she was working in a school with children on the autism spectrum. She quickly discovered how much she enjoyed working with this community, which eventually led her to an RBT position.
She thinks her coworkers nominated her for Growing Forward because she is always looking for new ways to grow and expand her expertise.
One of the things she loves most about TEAM 4 Kids is the culture.
“It’s so structured and you always feel supported.”
And her one wish? A sequel to the amazing movie Shark Tale, with the original cast and the same vibe for the soundtrack.
Brittany’s Nominations:
“Brittany displays the core value of growing forward by taking the big leap of going to grad school to continue her education in the field of ABA!”
“Brittany consistently demonstrates a strong willingness to learn by asking thoughtful questions and engaging in effective communication with colleagues across departments. She is an attentive listener who demonstrates an understanding of new information and effectively applies feedback to her daily practice.”
“She is always receptive to learning new things, and even though she is a coachable person, she is also the person to go to when in need of coaching!”
“Brittany is always willing to learn, ask questions, and share what she knows with the team. I really appreciate that we can learn from each other and encourage one another!”
Melissa, Referral Coordinator
Melissa is a wife, mom of four, grandma of four, and self-proclaimed lover of all things pink and sparkly! She says spending time with her family is her favorite thing to do, especially when she gets to spoil her grandkids.
As a Referral Coordinator, Melissa loves connecting with prospective families and helping them get started on their therapy journey.
“I’m grateful to be able to help put them at ease!”
Melissa says she was incredibly appreciative of her Growing Forward nomination because she genuinely loves being part of TEAM 4 Kids and believes strongly in what the organization does. She especially loves watching the company grow and being able to grow alongside it.
Her favorite part of working at TEAM 4 Kids? The culture.
“It really is people focused, not just business focused. I also love knowing that we are genuinely helping people on a daily basis.”
For her personal wish, Melissa would love to have a cabin up north where she and her husband could escape for weekend getaways. On a bigger-picture level, she would wish for equal rights for all people.
Melissa’s Nominations:
“Melissa is always embracing new challenges and looking for ways to grow and be better. She does so with enthusiasm and a positive attitude. She is the perfect picture of someone who grows forward!”
“Melissa is so sweet. She is open to learning, welcoming feedback, and always looking for ways to improve. She shares her knowledge and encourages those around her to grow and succeed.”
“Melissa is always willing to learn and has asked clarifying questions to learn more about each policy. If she thinks she made a mistake, she wants to know what she can do to fix it and grow!”
“I am always seeing Melissa curious and eager to learn to be able to help better serve our families. She is always ready to answer any questions and support her teammates. :)”
“As she steps into her new role as a referral coordinator, I am excited to see how she embraces change and continues growing forward!”
Sarah, Physical Therapist
Sarah describes herself as highly motivated and someone who loves a challenge, both at work and in her personal life. She also has a passion for movement and wants to help others learn to love moving their bodies, too.
When asked why she thinks her coworkers nominated her for Growing Forward, her answer was simple:
“I want to know everything, so I am always trying to learn.”
That love of learning and challenging herself is a big part of who Sarah is.
And what does she love most about working at TEAM 4 Kids? The kiddos.
If Sarah could have one wish come true, she’d choose to have the strength of the Hulk.
Nominations for Sarah:
“She is always available to share knowledge and for coaching! A lead-by-example mentor who I have learned so much from.”
“Sarah is always looking for evidence-based research to support her interventions. She watches CEUs and makes great takeaways to share with the team!”
“Sarah is incredibly hard-working, always growing in her knowledge, and being super open through mentorship/questions whenever I need help.”
“She consistently pursues growth and education, which I find very admirable. I am so inspired by her!”
Shandra, Billing Specialist
Shandra has been part of TEAM 4 Kids since her very first job out of college, and she has found plenty of ways to grow along the way. She is also a huge basketball fan. Her dogs are named Taurasi, after WNBA legend Diana Taurasi, and Booker, after NBA player Devin Booker. She even got to attend Diana Taurasi’s final home game! Shandra discovered her interest in healthcare administration after getting an opportunity to explore the field. She enjoyed it so much that she pursued it as a career.
Her commitment to growth goes beyond her own professional development. Shandra regularly shares her knowledge with her teammates and even created a training program for billing assistants to help streamline onboarding and improve accuracy. That dedication to helping others learn is one reason her coworkers nominated her for Growing Forward.
Shandra says she feels incredibly fortunate to have started her career at TEAM 4 Kids.
“I love how active TEAM 4 Kids is with their employees and the community.”
Outside of work, Shandra’s dream is to have a pool with a grassy backyard where she can plant a garden and enjoy her own little outdoor space.
Shandra’s nominations:
“Shandra is always willing to come up with new creative ways to solve problems and always helps educate our newest TEAMmates to help us grow as a company! She is amazing!”
“Shandra is always there to help and train where needed. She always welcomes feedback and is willing to do whatever the TEAM needs.”
“She is willing to learn and ask questions, receive feedback, and willing to turn around and help someone else. She definitely makes the TEAM stronger!”
Growing Forward Together
At TEAM 4 Kids, we’re proud to have a team that encourages each other to keep learning, keep improving, and keep bringing their unique talents to the work we do every day. We’re grateful to Kim, Jamie, Brittany, Melissa, Sarah, and Shandra for sharing a little bit about themselves and for being examples of what it means to Grow Forward at TEAM 4 Kids!
