Owner/Co-founder

Maureen Weckerly is the owner/co-founder of Empower Speech, LLC. Maureen brings 20 years of clinical experience and knowledge from the healthcare and rehabilitation industry. Throughout her career journey, she has worked in the following settings: outpatient, skilled nursing, acute care, home health, inpatient rehabilitation, and school settings. Maureen’s focus has been swallowing and cognitive/communication rehabilitation of the adult through geriatric population. Maureen has also gained experience in clinical instruction as an adjunct professor at PennWest University of Clarion PA for 9 years. Maureen taught the Speech Disorders and Dysphagia courses as well as provided clinical supervision to graduate clinicians throughout their on-site/off-site clinical practice courses. Currently, Maureen’s passion is to specialize in cognitive treatment and maintenance of individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment through advanced Dementia. She has developed a cognitive program that includes caregiver training to not only improve the life of her clients, but to also assist the caregiver in management strategies throughout each stage of the progressive neurodegenerative disease.

Maureen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders in 2002 from Clarion University of PA and a Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology in 2003 from Clarion University of PA. She has maintained a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology throughout her career and posseses a Pennsylvania Educational Specialist Teaching Certification. She continues to expand her knowledge and has earned her 3rd ASHA ACE award by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Continuing Education Board in recognition of exceptional commitment to lifelong learning in the field of Speech Language Pathology. Maureen is an Evergreen Certified Dementia Care Specialist, Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist, and a certified VitalStim provider. She is currently enrolled in a Medical Speech Language Pathologist certification program to further specialize in the medical role of the SLP.

Maureen was born and raised in western PA and enjoys spending time with her family. She has personal experience as a caregiver to her son with Autism, which has sparked her passion to include caregivers of family members caring for their loved ones experiencing cognitive decline/Dementia into her cognitive program. Maureen’s goals are to improve the lives of her clients and their families through education, training, and development of a client centered maintenance program that will enable the highest potential for living their best life.

Owner/co-founder, Speech-Language Pathologist

Leslie Vlcek, co-founder of Empower Speech, LLC, brings 25 years of diverse clinical experience in speech-language pathology. Her extensive career spans various settings, including early intervention, pediatric outpatient clinics, schools, acute care, intensive rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and home health. Leslie specializes in speech sound disorders, language and literacy, fluency disorders, aphasia, and cognitive rehabilitation.

Leslie earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders from Penn State University in 1998 and her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from Edinboro University in 2000, where she was honored with the Richard A. Forcucci Scholarship Award. Leslie holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology and a Pennsylvania teacher certification as a Speech-Language Pathologist Educational Specialist. She has continually advanced her professional expertise through ongoing education, obtaining certifications in Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid M&R Foundation Level 3, and as a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialist (CASDS). Leslie earned the ASHA ACE award in 2023 in recognition of her commitment to lifelong learning.

When not working, Leslie loves spending quality time with her husband, four daughters, and their pets. Her hobbies encompass playing games, shopping, skiing, hiking, and reading. Leslie's passion for the field of speech therapy is deeply rooted in personal experiences. Her journey began when her brother suffered a stroke at a young age and received speech therapy at their home. Additionally, as a parent of a child with 22q deletion and other children who have received speech and language therapy, Leslie brings a unique perspective to her practice. She is dedicated to enhancing the lives of her clients and their families by providing evidence-based care, education, and tailored therapeutic interventions.

Owner, Speech-Language Pathologist