Staff
Our team is dedicated to turning little steps into big progress — one playful path at a time!
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Our team is dedicated to turning little steps into big progress — one playful path at a time! 〰️
“Life happens on the way to your goals, not once you get there.”
Lauren Butland, MA, CCC-SLP
Therapy Director
Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology and Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology -2017
National certification from The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
As a native Floridian born and raised in Orlando, Therapy Director - Lauren Butland has lived throughout Central Florida and the Tampa Bay area. She graduated from the University of South Florida in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts and began her career as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant at a private special needs school before moving into the public school system in Orlando, FL.
She went on to pursue graduate studies at the University of Central Florida, earning her Master of Arts in 2016 and obtaining her ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) in 2017. Since then, she has gained diverse experience across a variety of settings and populations.
Her passion for early intervention grew while working in home health with the birth-to-three population, focusing on early language and child development. This experience opened many doors, including the opportunity to work at a PPEC (a medical day care), which greatly expanded her skill set. She also developed a strong interest in pediatric feeding therapy and dysphagia.
As Therapy Director of Playful Paths Speech Therapy, she is dedicated to making a positive difference in children’s lives. Her vision is to ensure that therapy is accessible for all families by removing barriers that may prevent children from receiving the care they need. She looks forward to continuing to support children and families throughout their developmental journeys.
“Always help others, but don’t let them help themselves to you.”
Joseph Allen B.S. Biology
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Bachelor of Science in Biology - 2016
Joseph Allen is a Virginia born east coast man and scholar. He graduated from James Madison University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science and a focus in General Biology. Joseph has had a knack for business creation, management, and growth in many fields and brings a strong attention to detail in the day to day operations of Playful Paths Speech Therapy. He has run businesses with many different styles/sizes of teams and puts an emphasis on the work-place morale. As COO, Joseph strives to keep the organization in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and occupational safety standards.
He helps to translate the CEO’s vision and the company’s strategic plans into actionable operational strategies and implement them across the organization while monitoring the analytics/metrics of the company to explain what is happening and why.
With a strong goal of fostering a culture of high performance, accountability and success. He plans on paving the path as the trailblazer of the team in our operations. One Playful Path at a Time.
“There are many ways to get to where you want to be, which is why the path is the goal.”
Mckenzi Donahue, B.S. SLP-A
Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - 2022
Minor in Speech and Hearing Science - 2023
McKenzi Donahue is a dedicated Speech-Language Pathology Assistant who is currently pursuing her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology at Nova Southeastern University, where she maintains an impressive 3.95 GPA. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Binghamton University, along with a minor in Speech and Hearing Science.
At Playful Paths, McKenzi brings valuable hands-on experience in pediatric speech therapy, providing engaging one-on-one and group sessions tailored to the unique needs of each child. Her background also includes leadership roles in early childhood education, classroom support as a teacher’s aide, and organizing enrichment activities that promote creativity and developmental growth.
Passionate about helping children find their voice, McKenzi combines her clinical skills with a warm and playful approach that embodies the mission of Playful Paths Speech Therapy. Families can count on her energy, creativity, and genuine care in every session.
“Use your voice to help others find theirs.”
Samantha Outhouse, B.A. SLP-A
Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science Disorders - 2024
Minor in Secondary Teacher Education - 2024
Samantha Outhouse is a commited Speech-Language Pathology Assistant who attended the University of Pittsburgh where she majored in Communication Science Disorders and minored in Secondary Teacher Education.
Her inspiration behind becoming an SLPA is her passion for working with children. Since she was young she knew she wanted to help people, and as she got older her passion lead her to working with children with special needs. She was a nanny and pre-school teacher, which solidified her passion for working with children. She loves to talk, and when she had to go to speech therapy as a child, she loved it, and knew it was something she was interested in.
Samantha has worked with many different populations. Her areas of special interest include early language development, and swallowing and feeding disorders. Her approach to working with clients is centered around empathy, patience and individualized care. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and strives to build a trusting relationship by creating a supportive and encouraging environment where clients feel comfortable and motivated. Building rapport with children and families by creating a supportive environment where they feel seen, heard, and valued. With children, she takes time to connect through play, active listening, and following their interests so they feel safe and engaged during sessions. She also values patient and family centered care by respecting each family’s unique background, routines, and goals.
What she loves about being an SLPA is having a direct role in helping people find their voice, literally and figuratively. She says it’s rewarding to see a child grow more confident in their communication.
“The only way to predict the future is to create it.”
Scott Somerville
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
As CEO, Scott Somerville brings a strong business background and a passion for building organizations that make a difference in people’s lives. His leadership is focused on growth, innovation, and ensuring families can access high-quality services without barriers. Scott believes in creating opportunities where others see obstacles and guiding the company with a clear vision for the future.
Scott is an entrepreneur and community-focused leader dedicated to building sustainable, people-centered businesses. At Playful Paths Speech Therapy, his role as CEO is to ensure the company grows with integrity, empowers its team, and makes meaningful contributions to families across the region.