Samantha Renner
Samantha received her Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Science from Eastern Washington University in 2011 and 2014. Samantha is a licensed mental health counselor and a Nationally certified counselor. She is also a member of the American Psychological Association and served on the board of directors for the Washington Counseling Association. She works with clients to address both mood and behavioral concerns from a patient centered perspective. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and dogs, crafting, and reading.
Carren Axtman
Carren received her Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Eastern Washington University in 2016. She is a licensed mental health counselor and a nationally certified counselor. Carren has experience working with children and families with high needs including behavior, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. In her free time she enjoys spending time on the water with family, friends, and her dog – Sophie.
Krista Branson
Krista earned her Bachelors degree (1997) and Masters in Early Intervention/ Early Childhood Special Education (1998) from the University of Oregon. She worked for eight years in the Portland area with children from birth to five years of age in a variety of educational settings. She was the lead EI teacher in a county wide Autism program, where she worked directly with children, and provided training to teachers from districts state wide in the implementation of Applied Behavior Analysis teaching strategies. Krista loves working with children and their families, and is excited to now be a part of the amazing team at Stepping Stones. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially her husband, three kids, and two dogs.
Krystal Foree
Krystal is a Family Resource Coordinator here at Stepping Stones. She helps coordinate services for families with children ages birth to 3. She has a passion for working with families who are struggling with resources. She has a lot of compassion for life experiences as her mom was paralyzed due to polio. She has a background in childcare. She enjoys playing softball and spending her free time with her husband and three kids. 
Ky Beck-Gmeiner
Ky works as a Family Resource Coordinator and an Office Administrator in the Mental Health Offices. Ky loves accessing resources for parents and caregivers to meet the needs of their children and family. She has a passion for supporting people of all ages with the their mental health, and loves connecting our counselors with those requiring services. She also has a passion for dogs, and will stop to boop their noses if allowed. When she’s not in the office or with dogs, she’s working for a local church. 
Chelsea Bray
Chelsea works as a Family Resource Coordinator here at Stepping Stones. She helps coordinate services for families with children ages birth to 3. As a parent with a child with special health care needs, Chelsea has a passion for working with families navigate the healthcare system and find resources. Prior to Stepping Stones, Chelsea spent the last 12 years working in healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys spending time her family, cooking and being outdoors.
Kaely Santos
Kaely works as a family resource coordinator at Stepping Stones. She received her Bachelor’s in business administration from Central Washington University while also playing volleyball there. Kaely has a heart for working with families and is passionate about connecting them with the services they need to advocate for their children. In her free time, Kaely enjoys reading, traveling with her husband and coaching club volleyball.
Sarah Herrera
Sarah began working for Stepping Stones Pediatric Therapy in 2010 and enjoys all aspects of managing the office, especially the interaction with the therapists and the families they treat. Prior to SSPT, she spent sixteen years as a stay at home mom, and for seven of those years home-schooled her three children. Sarah graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Human Development from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, and taught at a Montessori school for 5 years after graduation.
Ashley Renner
Ashley is originally from a very small town in Montana and moved to Idaho with her family at 10 years old. She finally landed in Spokane after getting married in 2015. Ashley has over 10 years experience in the medical field. Starting out as a CNA at a senior living facility, then running a mental health office and then happily joining the Stepping Stones family in 2018. She does a little bit of everything around the main “milk bottle” clinic and her favorite time is throughout the day when all the little kiddos come say hi/bye, ask for a sticker or need a hug. Her free time is usually spent at some sort of sporting event for her husband or her 2 daughters, where she is always the loudest un-official coach/cheerleader. After that Ashley is very happy and comfortable to be at home relaxing with her family and friends, enjoying every day to its full potential.
Heath Morphis
Heath has had the pleasure of working, chatting, and occasionally joking around with the SSPT administration team. He also works to keep equipment safe, to help coordinate with the Infant Toddler Network, and to keep Speech Therapy flowing for our wonderful patients. In his words, “I couldn’t find a better group of professionals to work with!” Also, you can’t beat the view from his home office window (Newman Lake, pine trees, deer, and the occasional elk)! He loves learning, watching documentaries, hiking, and spending time with the three rescue cats that are a part of his family.
Johnie Moore
Johnie was born in Salt Lake City, UT and raised in Spokane. She’s the oldest of 3 siblings (and the shortest 😉). Her career in the medical field started at an urgent care clinic, which lead her to Shriner’s Hospital for Children – where her passion of working with children began – and then to Stepping Stones. Outside of work, Johnie loves spending time with her husband and daughter – who happens to rock an extra chromosome. They find their happy place in the sunshine and at a lake place – spending time with family and friends, BBQ, boating and camping.
Duane LaMotte
Duane comes to Stepping Stones after years of being a stay at home dad to three crazy girls. He brings a breadth of invaluable skills to Stepping Stones as a former warehouse manager and Deputy Sheriff in Ventura California.
Jodi Chacho-Fay
Jodi works as an office administrator in the Mental Health Offices welcoming families and supporting our team. Previously, she worked as a church secretary and administrative assistant at a financial services company. When Jodi isn’t greeting, encouraging, and helping people reach their goals- she can be found in the kitchen trying new recipes! She and her husband enjoy exploring new places, hiking, and photography. Fun facts: actively avoids roller coasters and delights in people with a “punny” sense of humor!
Lindsey Messerschmidt
Lindsey received her Master’s degree in Communication Disorders in 2010 and is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. Lindsey and her husband Brad have had three children with a rare disease causing global developmental delays, and she knows first hand what it’s like navigating through weekly therapies and advocating for her children’s needs. She enjoys her current role as a Family Resource Coordinator because she is able to combine her professional background and personal experiences to help families advocate and access necessary resources for their children. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family at their cabin on the Pend Oreille River when possible.