Meet the team
Courtney Grysen, M.A. CCC-SLP
Owner and Speech-Language Pathologist
Courtney is the owner and lead speech-language pathologist at Early Foundations Speech & Feeding Services. She is passionate about helping children feel confident and successful in their communication and feeding skills. Courtney specializes in pediatric feeding therapy, infant feeding, early language development, oral-motor delays, speech sound disorders, picky eating, and pediatric myofunctional therapy.
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Her approach to therapy is warm, supportive, and family-centered. She believes parents should feel informed and encouraged throughout the process, and she takes time to create treatment plans that truly fit each child’s developmental stage and personality.
Early Foundations began as a small, one-therapist practice, and Courtney has grown it into a team that shares her commitment to child-led, evidence-based, and relationship-focused therapy. She loves creating a space where families feel seen, supported, and understood.
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Outside of the clinic, Courtney enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters, being involved in her church, and pouring into the practice she loves.
Jessica McConnell, M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Jessica is a speech-language pathologist who is passionate about helping children build confident, functional communication skills through play-based, child-led therapy. She brings a warm and engaging presence to her sessions and has a natural ability to connect with kids of all ages.
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Jessica earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Central Michigan University and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Grand Valley State University. She has experience across a variety of pediatric settings, including schools, outpatient clinics, early intervention, and private practice.
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She enjoys supporting children with language development, speech sound disorders, and social communication. Jessica has completed continuing education in areas such as autism spectrum disorder, gestalt language processing, and evidence-based approaches for speech sound disorders including Cycles, Complexity, and R therapy. She is committed to making therapy playful, meaningful, and individualized for every child.
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Outside of the clinic, Jessica enjoys walking her dogs, Callie and Cooper, spending time with family and friends, taking cycling classes, traveling, and exploring local coffee shops.
Stacy Pelon, M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Stacy is a speech-language pathologist with more than 11 years of experience, and she has been part of the Early Foundations team for the past three years. She brings a calm, encouraging presence to her sessions and has a strong ability to connect with children and families.
Stacy earned her bachelor’s degree from Hope College and her master’s degree from Western Michigan University. She has worked in a wide variety of pediatric settings and has enjoyed mentoring graduate students and new SLPs throughout her career.
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Her favorite areas to treat include early intervention, articulation, fluency, and myofunctional therapy. Stacy has a special interest in myofunctional therapy because it allows her to look at the whole picture, understand the root of a child’s challenges, and tailor therapy in a way that truly fits each individual.
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She loves the variety that comes with this field and finds so much joy in seeing progress, whether it is a child saying their very first word or mastering a sound they have been working on together. For Stacy, building strong relationships with families is what makes this work meaningful.
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When she is not in the therapy room, Stacy is often camping somewhere in Michigan with her husband and two kids, soaking up sunshine, s’mores, and family time.
Riley Smith, M.S. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Riley is a pediatric speech-language pathologist who is passionate about helping children find their voice and thrive through meaningful, functional communication. She brings a warm and collaborative style to therapy and loves creating sessions that feel both fun and purposeful.
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Riley earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Central Michigan University and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Michigan State University. She has experience in both clinic and school settings and enjoys supporting children with speech, language, and AAC needs. In addition to her work at Early Foundations, Riley also works for a durable medical equipment company, where she helps families access the assistive technology and support they need in daily life.
Her favorite part of being an SLP is building strong relationships with the kids and families she serves. Riley takes a thoughtful, individualized approach to therapy and keeps each child’s unique needs and interests at the center of her care.
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Outside of the clinic, Riley enjoys reading historical fiction, taking long walks, trying new recipes, and visiting local coffee shops. She recently discovered a love for gardening after buying her first home. She also enjoys spending time up north at her family’s cottage in Charlevoix. At home, she shares life with her husband and their golden retriever, Poppy.
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Fun fact: gummy candy is her favorite treat, and she dreams of traveling to Switzerland and Australia one day.
Jessica McConnell, M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Andrea Ross, M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Andrea is a speech-language pathologist with four years of experience, and she brings an engaging, fun, and upbeat energy to every session. She enjoys working with all areas of speech and language and also provides feeding therapy, with a special interest in infant feeding. Kids connect with her easily, and families appreciate how she makes therapy feel comfortable, encouraging, and meaningful.
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Andrea loves partnering with parents and creating simple, effective strategies that help progress carry over at home. Whether she is supporting early communicators, school-age learners, or infants just beginning their feeding journey, she brings warmth, creativity, and enthusiasm to her work.
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Outside of the clinic, Andrea enjoys life with her husband and their daughter, especially spending time together as a family and taking in all the little moments of everyday life.
Erin Beaudry, M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Erin is one of our wonderful speech-language pathologists at Early Foundations. She is originally from Illinois and earned her degrees from Elmhurst University and Northern Illinois University. She moved to West Michigan three years ago and has enjoyed building a life here with her husband, Garrett, and their two dogs, Mixie and Freyja.
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Erin brings six years of pediatric experience from both schools and private practice. She enjoys working with a wide range of ages, but she has a special place in her heart for early communicators and loves getting on the floor to play, connect, and support emerging language skills. Erin also provides feeding therapy and has a patient, calm approach that helps picky eaters feel more comfortable at mealtimes. In addition, she offers myofunctional therapy for children who need support with oral rest posture, tongue movement patterns, or related speech and feeding concerns.
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What Erin loves most about being an SLP is watching kids grow in confidence and seeing progress unfold in meaningful ways. She values strong relationships with families and enjoys helping parents feel supported and hopeful throughout the therapy process.
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When she is not in the therapy room, Erin enjoys reading, baking, and spending time outside. She also loves exploring new places around West Michigan with Garrett and their dogs.
Dianna Rietman
Office Manager
Dianna is the office manager who keeps everything running smoothly at Early Foundations. She is truly our behind-the-scenes powerhouse and the person who makes sure families feel welcomed, supported, and cared for from the moment they reach out. Scheduling, communication, insurance, billing, organization, problem solving… she does it all, and she does it with kindness and calm.
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Families appreciate how approachable and helpful Dianna is, and our team relies on her attention to detail and her ability to keep the office running with ease. She brings warmth, professionalism, and a steady presence that helps create the friendly atmosphere families feel when they walk through our doors.
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Outside of work, Dianna enjoys life with her husband and their two daughters. Their dog, Walter, is always close by and very much part of the family. When she’s not managing the whirlwind of the office, she loves spending time with her girls and soaking up family moments.