Mascot, NewCastle Speech Services

Niko the Sound Dragon is the friendly and encouraging mascot of NewCastle Speech Services, PLLC! With a big heart, a bright smile, and a passion for helping others communicate, Niko brings fun, confidence, and positivity to every therapy session.

Niko loves helping children learn new sounds, practice speech skills, build language, and grow their confidence in communication. Whether cheering on a child during articulation practice, helping with social communication, or celebrating therapy successes, Niko is always there to make learning exciting and encouraging.

Just like every child is unique, Niko believes every voice matters and deserves to be heard. Through kindness, patience, and teamwork, Niko helps create a welcoming environment where children feel safe, supported, and proud of their progress.

When Niko is not helping with speech therapy adventures, you can find him spreading smiles throughout the community, encouraging positive communication, and reminding everyone that learning can be both fun and rewarding.

At NewCastle Speech Services, Niko the Sound Dragon represents courage, confidence, friendship, and the joy of finding your voice!

Business Manager

Steven Russell serves as the Business Manager for NewCastle Speech Services, PLLC, where he plays an essential role in the daily operations and continued growth of the practice. Known for his strong leadership, dedication, and commitment to serving others, Steven brings a diverse professional background and a passion for supporting both the team and the community.

Steven is a graduate of Wilkes Community College, where he earned an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. He also holds certifications in Basic Law Enforcement Training and General Instructor Certification. In addition to his work at NewCastle Speech Services, Steven proudly serves the community as a part-time bus driver for Wilkes County Schools and also works fulltime as the Captain of Day Shift Crew C on patrol with the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office.

Throughout his law enforcement career, Steven has demonstrated exceptional courage and dedication to public service. In 2015, he was awarded the Purple Heart after being shot in the line of duty. He also holds the Advanced Law Enforcement Certification and continues to serve the citizens of Wilkes County with professionalism and integrity.

Steven is deeply involved in community outreach and crisis support efforts. He serves on the Wilkes County Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) and was honored to become the first CIT officer at the Sheriff’s Office, helping connect individuals in crisis with the support and resources they need. He also helps out with Safe Kids Wilkes County.

Outside of law enforcement, Steven has dedicated more than 20 years of service to the Roaring River Volunteer Fire Department. He is also a Past Master of the North Wilkesboro Masonic Lodge #407 and a member of the Wilkes York Rite Bodies where he enjoys giving back to the community and supporting local service initiatives.

At NewCastle Speech Services, Steven wears many hats in his role as Business Manager. His responsibilities include:

• Human Resources
• Marketing and Community Outreach
• Payroll Management
• Social Media Coordination
• Information Technology Support
• Financial and Expense Oversight

Steven’s leadership, organizational skills, and commitment to excellence help ensure NewCastle Speech Services continues to provide high-quality, compassionate care to the families and communities it serves.

Office Manager/Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

Donna graduated from CCC&TI with an Associates in Applied Science degree for Speech-Language Pathology Assistance in May 2008. She has worked primarily with children ranging from age 18 months and up, in a variety of settings including homes, daycares, and schools.

Donna has provided direct therapy services for children with disorders and delays including autism, articulation disorders, phonological disorders, fluency disorders, expressive-receptive language delays, and numerous other disorders that impact a person’s ability to communicate with the world around them.

Recently, Donna has found that she really enjoys the business side of speech therapy and works diligently as our Office Manager to tackle many areas including insurance authorizations, billing verifications, and parent/agency liaison tasks. 

Speech Language Pathologist

Cassandra earned her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of South Florida.

With over 33 years of experience in speech therapy, she specializes in swallowing, cognition, aphasia, head injuries, and Parkinson's.

Cassandra is certified in Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) and VitalStim.

Her experience and expertise is a welcomed facet to our company, and she plays a vital role in supervision of our Speech-Language Pathology Assistants.

Speech Language Pathologist

Marla S Crotts, MEd., CCC-SLP graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelors of Education in Communication Disorders and obtained a Masters of Education in Speech-Language Pathology with a Minor in Audiology and a teaching certification from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Marla brings a wide variety of experience working with both children and adults over the last 3 decades across diverse settings.

Marla began her career working for an Audiologist in Wake County, then migrated into the hospital setting in Catawba County and became the Speech and Hearing Clinic Manager at Broughton Hospital in Morganton, before landing in the public school system after the birth of her oldest son where she obtained a certification in English as a Second Language from Lenoir Rhyne University.

While working in the public school system, the vast majority of her work targeted Homebound, Homeschooled, Private School placements, Preschool and Separate Setting students with an emphasis on Assistive Technology as the lead of the County AT team.

Marla is thrilled to take on the role of supervisor for our Speech-Language Pathology Assistants.

Speech Language Pathologist

Cindy’s journey into the field of Speech-Language Pathology is deeply personal and faith-centered. Cindy began her career in the Florida public school system in 1995 and dedicated nearly three decades to serving students and families.

Throughout her career, she has been committed to clinical excellence and innovation. Cindy was the first Speech-Language Pathologist in Florida to dispense the SpeechEasy device to support individuals who stutter. She is also trained in Visualizing and Verbalizing through Lindamood-Bell and holds the LSVT LOUD certification. In recognition of her contributions to the profession, she was honored as Florida’s Clinician of the Year by the Florida Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 2017–2018.

Cindy holds a B.A. in Communication Disorders from University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida and a M.A. in Communication Disorders from Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina. She loves combining her passion for effective communication with her belief in the power of kindness through new ventures and will provide SLP supervision at NewCastle to continue helping others find their voice and meaningful communication.

Speech-Language Pathologist

Martha Martinat earned both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She has served as a speech-language pathologist for 47 years, working across a wide range of settings and treating individuals with diverse communication needs throughout the lifespan.

Martha began her career in 1978 at a residential facility in Morganton, North Carolina, serving children and adults with severe and multiple disabilities. In 1980, she pursued a more medically based path and established the Speech Pathology Department at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, North Carolina. There, she worked with inpatients, outpatients, neurological patients, and home health patients of all ages and communication abilities. During this time, she developed a strong interest in voice disorders and collaborated closely with several ear, nose, and throat offices in Hickory.

In 1985, after starting her family, Martha transitioned into private practice. She provided contracted speech-language services in daycare settings, skilled nursing facilities, ENT clinics, and home health. In 1996, she joined Burke County Public Schools as a speech-language pathologist, where she served students from Pre-K through high school.

Martha has a special interest in articulation therapy, particularly in the treatment of /r/ sound errors and lateral lisps. Throughout her career, she has also supervised new graduates in communication disorders as well as speech-language pathology assistants. In recent years, she has continued her work through teletherapy, evaluating and treating children virtually while also supervising speech-language pathology assistants through online platforms.

When asked why she has not retired, Martha says that helping people who have difficulty communicating was her first love, and she is not ready to give that up. She considers it a blessing to have spent her life helping others communicate more effectively and more functionally, and finds great joy in watching her patients grow and succeed.

Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

Chastity holds an Associates in Applied Science degree from Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute and brings 10 years of experience as a Speech and Language Pathology Assistant.

Currently, Chastity is pursuing certification as a Registered Behavior Technician through the Autism Partnership Foundation.

Her passion is specializing in autism by combining behavioral techniques with speech and language services to provide well-rounded, supportive care.

Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

Amanda was born and raised in Caldwell County. With 20 years of experience spanning from daycares, clinical settings, in-home therapy, and North Carolina's school systems, Amanda embodies a wealth of knowledge in effective therapy techniques. 

Her background equips her with the ability to address a wide spectrum of communication needs among children of all ages.

As a proud graduate of Appalachian State University, Amanda earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders, along with an Associate degree in Applied Sciences in Speech and Language Pathology Assistant. Her fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) enhances her ability to connect with children from various backgrounds.

Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

Kristi is a graduate of St. Stephen’s High School in Hickory and holds an Associates in Business from Catawba Valley Community College (2014).

Most recently, she completed the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Program at Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute (2023).

Kristi's background combines a strong foundation in business with specialized training in speech and language services.

Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

Shannon has been working as an SLP Assistant since 2008, after earning her Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in SLP Assistance from CCC&TI. Over her career, she has supported both children and adults across various counties.

She loves working with kids of all ages, addressing a wide range of speech and language needs. Currently, Shannon is taking a sensory integration course to better support the sensory and communication needs of the families and children she works with.

Shannon is passionate about learning new techniques and finding fun, effective ways to help children reach their full potential. She believes strong communication builds strong families, and she’s dedicated to helping every family feel connected and confident.

Before her career in speech therapy, Shannon proudly served in the US Navy. She was on active duty from 1998 to 2001 and spent five additional years in the Reserves. She served on the USS Simon Lake AS-33 in Sardinia, Italy, as part of the Decom Crew, and was later stationed on the USS Theodore Roosevelt CVN-71 in Virginia.

Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

Anesa is originally from Ashe County and currently resides in the Wilkes County area. She brings 18 years of experience in the field of speech-language services, with a background that includes tele-speech therapy, daycare settings, clinical environments, and public-school systems across North Carolina.

Throughout her career, Anesa has worked with a diverse population of children ages 0–21, supporting individuals with a wide range of disabilities. She is deeply passionate about helping children develop communication skills and take pride in helping them find their voices.

Anesa is a graduate of Caldwell Community College, where she earned an Applied Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology Assistance.

Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

Monicia resides in the Lansing community of Ashe County, North Carolina. She earned an Associate in Applied Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology Assistance from Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute in May 2007.

Since entering the field, Monicia has worked primarily with children ages 18 months and older across a wide range of settings, including homes, daycares, and public schools. She began her career in Wilkes County Schools from 2007 to 2012 and later served in Johnson County Schools in Tennessee from 2012 through May 2025.

Throughout her career, Monicia has provided direct therapy services to children with a variety of communication disorders and developmental delays, including autism spectrum disorder, articulation disorders, phonological disorders, fluency disorders, expressive and receptive language delays, and other conditions that impact communication. She specialized in working with students with the most significant special education needs in Johnson County Schools—a role she found especially meaningful and rewarding.

Monicia is deeply committed to supporting children with complex communication challenges and is passionate about helping them achieve meaningful progress and improved quality of life.