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Dawn Boston, MA, CCC-SLP Director & Founder
Speech-Language Pathologist
 Dawn is a graduate of The College of New Jersey (formerly called Trenton State College) and holds two Masters Degrees in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. She also holds the Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and California State licensure. She has over 20 years of experience in Communication Sciences.
Dawn has practiced in both pediatric and adult rehabilitation at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Jersey. She has served as an associate adjunct professor at the New York Medical College.
In 2001 Dawn founded Progressive Speech to work with clients in a warm, upbeat environment without the “red tape” of larger corporations. Dawn believes that all clients progress best in a family-centered practice where they are made to feel welcome, safe, important and special. She is proud that Progressive Speech is the special place she dreamed it would be when she opened the doors and greeted her first client!
Dawn is passionate about working with children and adults of all ages and exudes that in her daily undertakings. Although she treats all disorders, she has a special interest in motor speech disorders and dysphagia (feeding) therapy. Dawn is especially proud of the feeding disorders program and the social skills camp (CAMP CHATTERBOX!) at Progressive Speech.
Dawn serves as a co-organizer of the Northern CA Apraxia Support Group, a group she co-founded to support parents of children who have Apraxia of Speech.
Dawn and her husband, Richard relocated to California in 2000 from Hoboken, New Jersey. They currently reside in San Jose. Dawn enjoys gardening, cooking and lounging while indulging her addiction to the Food Network.
Mary Waltz, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
 Mary graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Communication Disorders from California State University, Fullerton. She holds the Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and California licensure. Her professional experience includes working with children from pre-school to high school with disorders of speech, language, Autism, Down Syndrome. Additionally, she has worked with adults in the area of accent reduction.
Mary joined Progressive Speech Corp. in 2007. She is a sweet, warm, good-natured person. She loves helping children become better communicators, which is apparent in her therapy sessions. She tells us she likes to work with young children because it gives her a chance to be “silly”! Mary always is smiling in the clinic and we love having her here.
Mary’s professional interests include the treatment of pediatric speech and language disorders from early intervention through school age.
Mary resides in San Jose with her cats Phoebe and Finny. In her free time she enjoys reading, music, live concerts, museums, art, theater and playing cards with friends and family.
Joyce Halper, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
 Joyce graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts from Douglass College at Rutgers and a Master of Arts from San Jose State University. She holds California State Licensure and the Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Joyce’s past experience includes working in the public schools, post-head trauma rehabilitation and skilled nursing. She also has volunteered as an ESL teacher and with the Humane Society. Joyce’s professional interests include auditory processing, pediatric language disorders, adult neurological disorders, the language of post-institutionalized/adopted children and feeding disorders (dysphagia). Joyce resides with her husband, Bill and daughter, Mollie. Her canine friends are Taylor and Maggie. In her free time, Joyce enjoys dog training and cooking.
B. Angela Jarret Quarles, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist 
Angela graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders and Speech Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She received her Master of Arts in Speech Pathology from the University of San Francisco. Angela joins our company with over 25 years of experience in Speech-Language Pathology. Her professional experience includes working with both pediatrics and adults across a broad range of settings including early intervention, rehabilitation hospitals, medical centers, public schools and university clinics. Angela’s professional interests include childhood language development and early intervention.
Angela resides in the Bay Area with her husband, daughter and Border Collie, Foxie. Angela expresses her creative side as the owner of X Cess Yourself Boutique in Hayward, established in 2008.
Kathleen Vargha, MA, SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist 
Kathleen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and English from San Diego State University and a Masters of Arts in Communicative Disorders and Sciences from San Jose State University. Her professional experience includes working in the public school and private clinical settings in Palo Alto. Kathleen’s professional interests include social-cognitive disorders, childhood apraxia of speech and childhood language development.
Kathleen served as a Board Member on the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education in Palo Alto. She has also provided counseling to parents of children with disabilities. Kathleen resides in the Bay Area with her husband, Doug and their three children, Andrew, Nathan and Sophie. In her free time, she enjoys playing games with her kids, reading, cooking and yoga.
Annette Waters, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist 
Annette earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from San Francisco State University. She received her Master of Arts in Communicative Disorders with Honors from San Jose State University.
Annette began her career with children as a Behavioral Therapist working with children with Autism. She was part of a team at San Jose State University that developed an infant screening for early signs of Autism.
Her areas of professional interest include articulation, voice, fluency, language and pragmatics. She enjoys working with social groups to enhance the language of children with disabilities. Her professional experience includes working with hundreds of children with varying disabilities and ages in charter schools, home schools, preschools and public schools. We welcome Annette back to the Bay Area where she resides with her husband Ludwig and their daughter, Alexandria. They love to run and go to the park to play on the swings. Annette also enjoys travel in her free time.
Colleen Iverson
Administrative Assistant  Colleen comes to Progressive Speech after working for two local Surgeons. She finds Pediatric Speech Therapy livelier though and we are happy to have her fantastic organizational skills and calm demeanor here to ground us.
Colleen is a native Californian with strong roots in Santa Clara County. She lives in South San Jose with her husband. They have three adult children and three ever-growing grandchildren to fill their free time. Colleen enjoys gardening, movies, board games and watching the San Jose Sharks live at the Shark Tank. This former travel agent also has the itch for travel.
Toan Nguyen
Administrative Assistant, Accounts Receivable
 Toan holds an Associates Degree in Business and Arts. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in business management and marketing, at San Jose State University. His past experience includes working in marketing and banking.
Toan is bilingual in English and Vietnamese. He enjoys singing, martial arts, dancing, snow boarding and tennis. Toan enjoys working with children has volunteered with children in catechism, tutoring and tennis.
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