The Friends One-Day Conference is a wonderful opportunity for families to come together and learn more about stuttering, supporting their child, and to begin building community. Children’s programming is activity-based and focuses on exploring attitudes and emotions, increasing understanding of stuttering, and instilling a greater sense of confidence — while making FRIENDS! SLPs and students will learn more about stuttering, current therapies, and the support available for those who stutter.

Financial assistance is available. If you would like to attend this one-day conference but you are experiencing financial difficulties and find the cost prohibitive, please reach out to Sara MacIntyre at: sara@friendswhostutter.org 

Nic Brow M.A., CCC-SLP works as a speech language pathologist at the Sisskin Stuttering Center and as an Adjunct Faculty at George Washington University. He has worked as a speech therapist within multiple public schools with students from the preschool to high school level. Nic frequently presents on stuttering affirming therapy both nationally and internationally. He predominantly works with youth who stutter and their families, within the framework of Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®). In his free time, Nic enjoys surfing, pickleball, and spending time with family and friends.

Rosie Brown, MA, CCC-SLP, is a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist at Deer Park ISD. She helped revive the Houston National Stuttering Association as Chapter Leader and is actively involved in the local chapter. She has participated in hosting the Stuttering Fun Day at Deer Park ISD, a one-day National Stuttering Association conference in Houston, and was a host on Stutter Social. Rosie Brown is on the Non-Profit Houston Stutter Social for Kids. She likes to spend time with family, cooking, and hiking.

Cara Duggal is a parent and sister to people who stutter. She is the founder of Houston Stutter Social for Kids (501c3) and is an advocate for people who stutter starting with her own son. She has a marketing degree from the University of Houston and has spent over two decades working in experiential marketing. In her spare time, Cara enjoys spending time with her husband and kids, cuddling her cats, and being active.

Jennifer Hartis, M.S., CCC-SLP, is the Lead Speech-Language Pathologist for Deer Park ISD, a Spero Ally of Stuttering, Trained in Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS®), a Trained SOS Approach to Feeding Therapist, as well as a private practice clinician. She has been a speech pathologist for 30 years, working in various settings mentoring/ training speech pathology assistants, graduate students, interns, and fellow speech-language pathologists. One of her deepest passions is supporting students who stutter – creating spaces where students who stutter can connect, learn, and grow. She founded the Houston Stuttering Fun Day, a half-day event supported by respected organizations like NSA, SAY, etc. which provides students and their families with a supportive environment to share experiences, learn from one another, and build a strong community. She enjoys singing, crafting and spending time with family/ friends.

Ana Paula G. Souza Mumy, SLPD, CCC-SLP, is a trilingual Speech-Language Pathologist, Program Director and Associate Professor. She teaches stuttering at the graduate level and has provided and supervised clinical services for people who stutter across the lifespan. She is the co-founder and president of Spero Stuttering, Inc., a nonprofit organization that seeks to help, empower, and advocate for the stuttering community and their families by equipping those who work with people who stutter. Ana Paula is also a facilitator at Camp Shout Out, a one-of-a-kind camp for youth who stutter. She received the NSA’s 2022 Professional of the Year award and the 2024 Burtis-Vogel-Elkins Community Service Award for her service and initiatives through Spero Stuttering. She enjoys singing, writing, reading, and traveling with her husband and kids.