Cortney Baker

Ed.D, M.S., CCC/SLP; Owner

Dr. Cortney Baker grew up in the Dallas area and graduated from Cedar Hill High School.  While attending Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, she discovered speech therapy was a natural fit and went on to earn her master’s degree in Communications Disorders & Sciences. After graduating from SIUC, Cortney worked in the school system for a year to complete her CFY, but longed for something different. In 2002 she discovered home health from a friend and fellow speech pathologist and decided to make a career change.

Cortney quickly realized she’d found her true calling in pediatric home health. She loved all aspects of what the setting had to offer—parent involvement in the child’s familiar environment, individualized attention and carryover from the initial visit. For the first time, she felt like she was actually making a difference with each of her patients. Cortney was able to provide personalized, quality care and focus on individual patients’ specific needs because all sessions were one-on-one.

Cortney wanted to allow other therapists the same opportunity to provide quality services to the pediatric population in Dallas and surrounding areas. KidsCare Therapy was soon formed with the sole intent of being a supportive, positive work environment where therapists felt they could excel in their careers while being valued and heard. Cortney envisioned a great place to work, while supporting therapists in what she believes is the best avenue of providing therapy—home health.

Cortney has been thoroughly amazed at what KidsCare Therapy has accomplished since opening on October 27, 2003. The company started out in a house in Garland with 10 patients, and has since grown into a successful agency with operations all throughout Texas and Denver, Colorado. Cortney is thankful to those who have supported the vision of KidsCare Therapy and have put so much time, effort and energy into what it is today—an indication that people really care about what the company is doing in the community.

Cortney earned her doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University in 2015; she focused her research on women leaders in healthcare and identifying the challenges and obstacles they overcome to climb the corporate ladder. However, Cortney quickly realized that the challenges aren’t industry-specific; they are gender-specific. As a result, Cortney wrote the book Unlimited: Conquering the Myth of the Glass Ceiling, released August 2017. She has become a much-sought after corporate speaker with a focus on leadership development.

Cortney was honored to be named 2016/2017 Texas Business Women of the Year by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce-Texas. She resides in the Dallas area with her husband, Jason, two of their three children, two dogs and a cat. In her spare time, Cortney loves spending time with family (fur babies included) and friends. She also enjoys reading and learning new things.

Jason Baker

CFO

Jason grew up in a small farming community in Central Illinois.  He attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (Go Salukis!) and graduated in 2001 with his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering.  Carbondale is also where he met Cortney and, shortly after graduation, they moved to Texas.

Jason had been involved in KidsCare Therapy from the very beginning when Cortney decided to create a home health agency. Starting up meant helping with everything, from getting the company set up to cutting out pieces for some of KidsCare’s first therapy materials.  In early 2006, he began working in a full-time role at KidsCare Therapy managing daily business operations and directing human resources. In his current role as CFO, he is responsible for ensuring that KidsCare Therapy remains financially healthy.

For Jason, The best part about working at KidsCare Therapy is seeing and hearing about how the service we provide changes the lives of children, their families, and our communities.  He is pleased to know that KidsCare Therapy has a lot of great people that make great things happen, and each one of them is essential for the successful treatment of our clients.

Jason and Cortney are married with three children. Outside of the office, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing hockey, golfing, and traveling.

Micki Roget

M.S., CCC/SLP; Vice President of Operations/Administrator

Micki graduated from the University of New Mexico with a master’s of science in communication disorders. In 2010, she came to KidsCare Therapy as a part-time therapist, but her long standing clinical and leadership experience quickly proved invaluable. In 2013, she became the VP of Clinical Operations, bringing over 28 years of clinical experience to KidsCare’s leadership team.
Throughout her career, Micki has held management, operations and clinical positions in a variety of settings including, educational pediatrics, private practices, skilled nursing, home health and outpatient clinics. Her broad ranging experience has brought a multi-faceted perspective to KidsCare Therapy strategic outlook, which has been instrumental in the growth success of both established and new markets.
In her spare time, she enjoys her family, cooking, and reading.

Erik Baker

Vice President, Finance and IT

Erik has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Technology from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and began working for KidsCare Therapy in 2010. Prior to his time with KidsCare, Erik spent eight years in the Illinois Army National Guard, serving in several countries, including a 13-month tour in Iraq as the team lead.

As the Vice President of Finance and IT, Erik oversees the day to day finance and IT operations. He performs financial analyses and produces internal financial statements to ensure the business is run in a cost-effective manner. In addition, he works with the IT Manager on project planning to ensure KidsCare Therapy is utilizing efficient and effective IT infrastructures.

For Erik, being able to work with both technology and numbers with a holistic, large-scale approach is a dream job. Having the ability to view these two sectors in their entirety opens his eyes to different creative possibilities for the company. He enjoys working for KidsCare Therapy because of the family-oriented culture. Erik believes that KidsCare Therapy’s outstanding work environment is what allows the company to provide such exceptional care for their patients.

In his spare time Erik enjoys staying up-to-date on all sports, especially his beloved Chicago Cubs and Blackhawks. He also likes to play the guitar and spend time with family and friends.

Jeanette Reinert

Community Relations Director

Jeanette Reinert joined the KidsCare family in 2014.  She comes from an extensive healthcare-oriented background and brings both experience and integrity to KidsCare. Not only is she an integral part of the growing KidsCare Therapy staff, but is a mentor and leader to those she supervises as the Community Relations Director.  Jeanette graduated cum laude from Texas Christian University with a double major in Marketing and Management in 1992.  To date, she has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare, starting her career as a Licensed Nursing Facility Administrator. In 2000, she found her calling in Marketing and Business Development. Through various organizations, she has earned over 14 years of experience in Sales Management. Her most recent venture, prior to joining KidsCare, was  sales/marketing oversight of 14 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities throughout the state of Texas.

Jeanette switched to pediatrics after hearing about KidsCare’s sterling reputation within the medical community and was highly impressed by the mission statement and core values established by the company’s owners.

Well established within the Weatherford community for over two decades, Jeanette lives with her husband of 23 years, Charles, and has two daughters, Ashley (21) and Rachel (17). She enjoys travelling, relaxing by the pool with a good book, and games, particularly dominoes or spades, with family and friends.

Dustin Thompson

Director of Business Development

Dustin has served as the Director of Business Development for KidsCare Therapy for the past four years. During his tenure at KCT he has helped expand the company into four new markets in Texas and continues to work on other company diversification endeavors.
In addition to business development task, Dustin also is on point to handle all government relations responsibilities and manages the company’s contracting department. He leads contract negotiations and maintains lasting relationships with the company’s various payors.
Prior to his time at KidsCare Therapy, Dustin earned his MBA and has a BA in Communications from Southern Illinois University. He brings over 10 years of health care contracting and consulting experience with him to KCT and has worked in the healthcare field since 2006.
He finds his role within KidsCare very rewarding, and enjoys being part of such an ethically-driven company. “The service KidsCare Therapy provides to our patients drastically improves the patients’ quality of life, and my part in the process makes coming to work each day very rewarding.”

Deadra Thomas

M.H.A., B.S.N., R.N.; Director of Nursing Operations

Deadra Thomas brings over 28 years of unique experience in healthcare that includes leadership and clinical expertise. Her clinical experience includes both adult and pediatric care in the acute and post-acute settings, and in nursing education. Deadra’s motto is “I am a leader first and a nurse second.” She believes her greatest assets include her ability to build relationships and her innovation.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Concordia-West Suburban College of Nursing in River Forrest, IL, and her Masters of Arts in Healthcare Administration from Ashford University in Clinton, IA. Deadra completed a one year leadership program at Word of Life Christian Center in Honolulu, HI.

Deadra served as commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, and received several awards and recognition during her active duty service which included the Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal, and Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Deadra received several awards and recognition for leadership, numerous program roll-outs, and innovative program enhancements. Her awards included: 2011 Baylor Healthcare System’s President and CEO Award, 2013 D Magazine’s Excellence in Nursing Awards finalist, 2014, featured employee in the Baylor Scott & White’s newsletter for excellence and innovation, and in 2017, Deadra was a recipient of the honorable DFW Great 100 Nurses for nursing excellence, leadership and community service.

Deadra has spent most of her adult life being a servant leader. She has led teams of multi-specialty healthcare providers volunteers in delivering healthcare services to the underserved and community via multiple outreach services and International Medical Missions trips.

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her family, watching movies, and genealogy.

Marcy Cisneros

BSN, RN; Supervisory Nurse

Marcy is from Sherman, Texas. She received her bachelor’s degree from Texas Woman’s University in nursing, and afterwards she served six years in the army, two years enlisted and then four years as an officer in the Medical Center. Marcy also served on active duty during Desert Storm.

Marcy has always wanted to work with sick babies and premature infants. She spent 15 years as a NICU nurse before she began looking into other pediatric healthcare options—which led her to KidsCare Therapy in 2009.

Marcy enjoys working at Kidscare Therapy because it has allowed her to learn how different therapies work together to treat the special children we service.  She’s also grateful because it’s allowed her and her husband of 21 years to spend more time together and grow closer as a couple. In their spare time, they enjoy being with friends and family, traveling, and shopping for their granddaughter.

Thomas Barton

Human Resources Director

Tom received his bachelor’s degree in Management and Human Resources from Cal Poly Pomona University in California. He began working at KidsCare Therapy in June of 2012, but came to us with over 15 years of experience in HR consulting and management. Tom is also an SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources).

As the HR director, Tom oversees the entire Human Resources department. He completes all leadership and management training, is responsible for employee development, employee relations, as well as recruitment of office staff.

Tom’s decision to enter the HR field stems from the same place as his passion for working in the pediatric healthcare industry. From a young age, he lived in East Africa with his parents who were missionaries. Living amongst different cultures, religions, and in a poverty stricken country gave Tom the awareness of cultural diversity, and the drive to want to help others. In college, HR was a natural progression from this for him.

Tom’s favorite part of working for KidsCare Therapy is knowing he works for an organization that enables him to have an even further impact on the lives of others. He says that knowing his efforts each day contribute to the betterment of the patients and employees gives him fulfillment in his career.

Although his passion for assisting others is the reason he started his career, Tom says his favorite part thus far has been meeting his wife of over 23 years while working for a medical equipment company together. In his spare time, Tom enjoys food, traveling and sports – especially when they can all be combined!

Evelyn Frye

Director of Operations/Alternate Administrator

Evelyn graduated from the University of Oklahoma, and headed back to Dallas to begin her career in marketing and business development. After coming on with KidsCare Therapy in 2010, she knew pediatric healthcare was where she wanted to grow her career. Since then, Evelyn has held many responsibilities, including roles in marketing and communications, quality assurance, and operations. Through her time at KidsCare, Evelyn has gained extensive knowledge of the pediatric home health community, healthcare policies, and strategic business management. Her eclectic background allows Evelyn to look at all aspects of the company with an outside of the box perspective and a holistic problem solving approach to growing the company and streamlining operations.

Evelyn enjoys working for KidsCare Therapy because of their high ethical standards, and consistent priority to continue to be one of the leading pediatric home health agency in Texas in all aspects of the company.

Outside of the office, Evelyn enjoys traveling and spending time at the lake with her husband and labradoodle.

Jason Olson

IT Director and Network Administrator

Jason was born and raised in the Dallas area. He attended Mountainview College, the University of Texas at Arlington and WGU. He is currently studying certifications in Cisco CCNA Security. He currently holds certifications in MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional), MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist), MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator 2003 and 2008), CSSA (Certified SonicWall Security Administrator) as well as an entry level certification CCENT in Cisco.

Jason came to KidsCare Therapy in 2010 with over 15 years of IT-related experience. Knowing that healthcare IT is one of the largest growing industries, Jason was excited about the opportunity to come into a growing company.

As IT Manager at KidsCare Therapy, Jason is responsible for the network infrastructure and systems analysis, as well as the administration of our server and virtual infrastructure. His favorite part about his career is solving complicated problems on a daily basis and having the chance to work with new technologies. He enjoys the opportunity to continue to be challenged and learn within his profession. Jason enjoys working for KidsCare Therapy because of the difference they make in the lives of so many children.

In his spare time Jason spends time with his wife and children, including two daughters and a son. He also enjoys playing his electric and acoustic guitars.

Belinda Salinas

Administrative Operations Manager

Belinda began working for KidsCare Therapy in 2004, when the company was only about a year old. She says she had a strong feeling when she met Cortney Baker that this is where she wanted to be, and was excited when given the opportunity to be a part of KidsCare Therapy, growing into what it is today.

During her time at KidsCare Therapy, Belinda has had a part in many different positions revolving around billing, processing and office management – making her an expert on the inner workings of KidsCare Therapy. In her current role as Administrative Operations Manager, Belinda oversees the training and processes of all administrative employees in the company, as well as managing all administrative functions in the Fort Worth office.

Her favorite part of working at KidsCare Therapy is knowing she makes a difference in the lives of children with disabilities. She also enjoys the challenges that come with ensuring things run smoothly and efficiently, collaborating with her teammates, and all the wonderful people that she works with on a daily basis.

In her spare time, Belinda enjoys spending time with her three boys who she says, “keep their mommy on her toes.” She also enjoys traveling with her husband and shopping.

Karen Wade

M.S., CCC/SLP; Clinical Manager

Karen received her master’s degree in communication disorders from the University of Texas at Dallas.  She became interested in speech therapy in 1996 when her niece began receiving speech therapy services through Garland ISD for a severe phonological disorder.

Karen spent four years working in the schools right after graduate school.  She then spent a year working for the Ministry of Education in Palmerston North, New Zealand, working with a wide variety of disorders in the schools.  Upon return to the United States in 2005, she began working with KidsCare Therapy.  As a result of working with Spanish-speaking families of KidsCare patients, Karen was inspired to learn to speak Spanish.  While her Spanish is far from perfect, she is now able to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients and families.

Karen is certified in the use of VitalStim Therapy and Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS).  She loves working for KidsCare Therapy because of their dedication to making sure children of all ages, backgrounds, and disabilities receive the services they need.   She is excited to have the opportunity to impact children’s lives through the training and education of therapists.

Shannon Hanberry

M.S., CCC/SLP Clinical Manager

Shannon is originally from Stillwater, OK.  She received her bachelor’s degree in speech, language and hearing sciences and her master’s degree in speech –language pathology from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

Shannon has worked as a speech-language pathologist for KidsCare Therapy since June 2006, and became a clinical manager in May 2010.  Her favorite part about this position is being able to oversee fellow therapists, as well as mentor speech therapy assistants and CFs.

Her interest in the field developed from taking speech therapy as a child and helping her brother, who is diagnosed with an Auditory Processing Disorder.  Shannon volunteered for a speech-language pathologist at a hospital while in college and realized that speech therapy was her true calling.  She enjoys working with the pediatric population and helping them with the variety of challenges that they face.  Shannon is VitalStim certified and has a special interest in feeding and swallowing disorders, autism, cochlear implants and the preschool population.

Shannon enjoys working for KidsCare Therapy because of the support they have given her to grow as a therapist, and now a manager.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, attending musicals, and catching up on her DVR.

Tonya Dickey

M.S., CCC/SLP; Clinical Manager

Tonya is a Clinical Manager with KidsCare Therapy. As a native of Richardson, TX, she received her undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology from the University of North Texas, and her graduate degree from Texas Woman’s University.

While Tonya always knew she was going to make a career out of helping others, it wasn’t until she was introduced to the Speech Pathology program that she knew she had found her true calling. After graduation she began working as a speech therapist assistant during the day, and attended graduate school at TWU during the evenings. After graduating from TWU, she began working for KidsCare Therapy in August of 2008, and has been with us ever since.

Tonya enjoys the home health field because it allows her to get to know her patients and their families on a much more personal level in their natural environment. She feels this helps  focus on the functional communication needed for that particular child’s environment.

In her spare time, Tonya enjoys canoeing and camping with her husband, scuba diving, reading, bowling and spending time with her family.

Victoria Jackson

M.S., CCC/SLP; Clinical Manager

Victoria received her master’s degree in communication disorders from Arizona State University.  She became intrigued by the field of Speech-Language Pathology in her freshman year of college when she met a Speech-Language Pathologist on the airplane going home for the holidays; she was especially interested in how reading and writing related to language functioning in children and so also studied reading education as part of her degree program.

While Victoria has over 20 years of experience working in a variety of settings, including owning her own pediatric private practice and mentoring graduate students in diagnostic practicum at UT, Austin, she knows there is still a great deal to learn about this vast field of communication disorders.

Victoria joined KidsCare Therapy in February, 2014 as a Clinical Manager growing the Central Region of Texas which includes Waco, Temple, Austin, and San Antonio.  She loves working with her team of physical, occupational, and speech therapists and believes it is her job to facilitate their work to best meet the needs of their clients, and to help to make KidsCare Therapy the gold standard of pediatric home health agencies.  She has been most impressed with KidsCare’s high level of ethics and organization within the company.  It’s a great place to work!

Angela Marunowski

M.S., CCC/SLP; Clinical Manager

Angela attended the University of Arizona for her Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences and completed her Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology at Stephen F. Austin State University. She is entering her 20th year of practice as a Speech Language Pathologist. Angela has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient clinic, home health, long-term care, and educational settings. She has worked in home health with both adults and pediatrics for the majority of her career and has always loved all aspects of the medical practice of speech pathology. Angela’s specialty area is feeding and oral motor disorders. She also has experience with management of behavioral difficulties and medically complex patients. Angela has held positions in clinical management since 2009, first as a speech therapy department supervisor, then as an clinic director and now with as a Clinical Manager with KidsCare. She enjoys mentoring new clinicians and helping them feel supported and empowered to move forward in their clinical practice skills.
Angela is married to Robert and together they have a combined total of 6 kids in their blended family. Three of them are “grown,” living on their own and 3 live with at home with them. When she can find the time, she enjoys reading historical fiction and watching HGTV, especially Fixer Upper and House Hunters.

Erin Carter

M.S., CCC/SLP; Clinical Manager

Erin graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s of science degree in speech/language and hearing sciences and then went on to complete a master’s of communication disorders at Louisiana State University. Erin has experience in a variety of adult and pediatric clinical settings, including hospitals, rehab and skilled nursing, educational settings and private practice.
In 2011, Erin became the first therapist hired for KidsCare Therapy in Waco, TX, working PRN for two years. After moving away from Texas for her husband’s career, Erin returned to KidsCare in 2014 as a full-time SLP in the Fort Worth area. Due to her avid interest in mentoring and educating fellow therapists, she served as a Lead Therapist and Feeding Therapy Coordinator for the company. In 2017, Erin became the Clinical Manager for KidsCare Therapy of Colorado, working as an integral component for initiating and building the KidsCare team in the Denver area.
Erin has a passion for working with children and families, especially in the area of feeding and swallowing, as her own child had difficulties with feeding/swallowing as an infant and young child. Having first-hand knowledge of the feeling that parents experience when they are struggling to provide basic nutrition to their child has pushed Erin to continually learn and grow clinically in the area of feeding/swallowing to become a sound and compassionate therapist for the children and families that we serve.
In her spare time, Erin enjoys spending time with her family and friends, distance running, exercising, traveling and cooking.

Gerardo Osorio

M.S.W. Operations Manager

Gerardo holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Originally from Puerto Rico, Gerardo relocated to Dallas in 2012 to further expand his academic and professional career in the healthcare business.

Gerardo has held a wide variety of roles throughout his tenure at KidsCare Therapy, including performing medical intakes, assisting therapists with Spanish translation services, and directly supporting clinical staff coordinating patient services. Alongside other KidsCare employees, Gerardo has also developed multiple projects aimed at improving the efficiency of administrative operations, and modernizing existing processes.

Currently, Gerardo is a member of the administrative leadership team and oversees multiple departments who work with coordinating patient services, and supporting the company’s therapists. His academic background in the social sciences coupled with his professional experience in the pediatric therapy world allows him to provide effective administrative leadership alongside empathic, culturally-sensitive, and patient-focused services.

In his spare time, Gerardo enjoys exploring the great outdoors, gardening, and spending time behind his DSLR working on his favorite hobby – photography.