While still in elementary school, Marie determined that she would make a difference in peoples lives. Her sister was born with a physical deformity that required surgery and many years of therapy to correct. During those years, she experienced first hand the struggles, hardships, and sacrifices families of special needs children face.

More than 30 years ago she was awarded her Speech Language Pathology degree as a Cum laude graduate from the University of Georgia. Since that time, she has made a difference in the lives of thousands of children of all ages and their families by providing speech language pathology services to local schools, preschool programs, hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient facilities, and physician’s offices. She has used her vast knowledge and skills to passionately assist patients from six weeks to 101 years of age in overcoming speech and feeding difficulties to achieve their potential.

Marie has pioneered and directed three outpatient pediatric rehabilitation facilities providing occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech language pathology and psychological services to rural northeast Georgia.

She is an approved trainer and author of training programs for Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. She is a certified coach, trainer of trainers and instructor for a wide variety of specialized parent training programs including Active Parenting, Babies Can’t Wait, GA PINES, INSIGHT, and the Hanen Program.

In spite of her accomplishments, Marie’s primary role has been learner. Professional instructors and mentors, as well as peer teachers and rehab team members have contributed to her wealth of knowledge. Yet, her son, Ken, and other children and their caregivers have been her most inspirational teachers.

Marie knows children and her delight and joy is to develop strategies and design opportunities to support their development and success. Decoding Kids is another avenue that Marie is using to make a difference in people’s lives by educating families and caregivers in order to maximize the potential of every child.