About Us
At American River Speech, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to communicate, connect, and thrive. Founded in 2017 by speech- language pathologists Melissa Fischer and Vicki Norman, our clinic was built on the vision of creating a warm and supportive space where families feel welcomed and children are celebrated for who they are.
With decades of combined experience, our team specializes in pediatric speech therapy, feeding therapy, and Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC). We are passionate about working with children of all abilities and supporting their families every step of the way. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do-we partner with parents, caregivers, educators, and other professionals to provide individualized, family-centered care.
At American River Speech, we are more than a therapy clinic-we are a community dedicated to helping children grow, build confidence, and reach their
full potential.
Our Team
Vicki Norman M.A., CCC-SLP
Clinic Owner
Vicki is a licensed speech-language pathologist and co-owner of American River Speech. With over 20 years of experience supporting children and their families. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston.
Her expertise includes the assessment and treatment of complex speech and language disorders, with specialized training in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), parent coaching, consultation, and clinical supervision.
As co-owner of American River Speech, Vicki is passionate about providing individualized, evidence-based care that empowers children to thrive. She values collaboration, compassion, and practical solutions to help communication skills grow in everyday life.
Outside of her professional work, Vicki enjoys staying active and spending quality time with her children.
Melissa Fischer M.S., CCC-SLP
Clinic Owner
Melissa is a licensed speech-language pathologist and co-owner of American River Speech. She began her academic journey at the University of Oregon, earning a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing before discovering her passion for speech-language pathology. In 2007, she completed her master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at California State University, Sacramento, and has since dedicated her career to helping children find their voices and reach their fullest potential.
With more than 18 years of professional experience, Melissa has worked in schools, private practice, and hospital settings, giving her a well-rounded perspective on the diverse needs of children and families. She has extensive training in complex communication and feeding disorders and is an experienced Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) Specialist. Melissa thrives on collaborating with families and multidisciplinary teams to support children in their growth and development. She is passionate about creating a space that is welcoming, comfortable, and focused on empowering families. When she’s not in the clinic, you’ll find her spending time with her family, enjoying the outdoors, or cheering on her favorite Oregon Ducks.
Thuy Hoang M.S., CCC-SLP
Thuy Hoang is a licensed speech-language pathologist with over eight years of clinical experience, specializing in various pediatric services. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from San Jose State University and began her career as a behaviorist supporting and working with children on the autism spectrum and with related disorders. Motivated by a passion for helping others communicate and thrive, Thuy went on to earn her master's degree in communication sciences and disorders from California State University, Chico. Her clinical interests include early language intervention, family-centered intervention, and play-based therapy for neurodiverse learners. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys crafting, traveling, biking, and baking, especially when it involves adventures and experiences with her daughter.
Hilary Simas M.S., CCC-SLP
Hilary is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, with over 13 years of clinical experience. She received her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Speech Pathology and Audiology from California State University, Sacramento. Hilary holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is licensed by the State of California.
Dedicated to collaborative care, Hilary emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary team and family involvement and integrates multi-sensory strategies in her therapy sessions to help each child connect, express themselves, and thrive socially. Since beginning her career, she has been a proud member of the American River Speech team.
Outside of her professional life, Hilary enjoys quality time with her husband and two children and can often be found supporting her kids from the sidelines at their soccer games.
Alex Faeh, M.S., CCC-SLP
Alex is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist at American River Speech. She earned her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from California State University, Sacramento, and her M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Baylor University. With over three years of experience at American River Speech, Alex is passionate about the field of speech pathology and works with clients ages 2 to 22, providing assessments, intervention services, and family support for articulation, language, and augmentative and augmentative communication needs. Outside of work, Alex enjoys reading mystery novels, running, and traveling.
Sarah Cox SLPA
Sarah is a licensed Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA). Sarah graduated from Sacramento State University with her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and obtained her SLPA license from the colleges accreted program.
Sarah has worked for American River Speech since 2020. As an SLPA, she is dedicated to helping our clients find their voice and increase their communication in a fun and supportive environment. Sarah believes each step toward progress can be a huge victory! She enjoys incorporating fun as well as learning into her therapy sessions.
When Sarah is not in a therapy session you can find her enjoying outside, trying out a local new coffee shop, baking new recipes in her kitchen, or enjoying a good book!
Annie Skinner SLPA
Annie Skinner is a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) and has had over a decade of experience in the education field working with students from the ages 3-22 with disabilities and the neurodivergent. She has 2 associates degrees, one in Elementary Education and another in Speech-Language Pathology from American River College where she earned and completed her SLP-A licensing. Annie did her internship right here at American River Speech and loved it so much that she wanted to stay. Annie is passionate about speech and language therapy because she loves helping children learn how to communicate because she believes that everyone deserves to have a voice. Whether it’s verbal, gestures or through an AAC device, every voice is important.
Outside the clinic Annie enjoys travel, good food, spending time with family and her dogs, going to movies and anything with music.
Brittany Balbuena SLPA and Billing Specialist
Brittany Balbuena brings 10 years of experience as a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant, including three years right here at American River Speech. After spending a few years away, she's rejoined the team, equipped with expanded skills and valuable experience that strengthen both her clinical and operational contributions.
She earned her B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from California State University, Sacramento, and completed her SLP-A licensing through Sacramento State's post-baccalaureate program. Brittany has supported children ages 2-22 across a variety of settings, including providing teletherapy for students
enrolled in a virtual charter school. She also brings a unique background in EdTech project management.
At the clinic, Brittany plays a key role behind the scenes by coordinating our billing process, managing projects, and taking initiative to identify and resolve operational gaps, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
Outside of work, she enjoys listening to audiobooks and spending time with her husband and daughter, especially when they're baking sweet treats together.
Jen Holtry
Jen is the welcoming face at the front desk and one of the first people you'll meet when you visit our clinic. As our Front Desk Coordinator, she helps ensure everything runs smoothly—from scheduling appointments to assisting clients with care and professionalism. Though new to the company, she’s enjoying being part of a supportive team and a clinic that makes a difference in people’s lives through communication.
Outside of work, Jen enjoys spending time with her husband and their dog, Daisy. With her three kids now grown, she’s embracing life as a recent empty nester and exploring this new chapter with enthusiasm.
Subie
Subie is a facility dog trained by Canine Companions for independence to work with a variety of children. She knows and understands 30+ commands but is also happy to just hang out and snuggle.