Meet Laurel Mendoza and Lacey Carter | Speech-Language Pathologists and Co-Owners

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laurel Mendoza and Lacey Carter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laurel Mendoza and Lacey Carter, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
We wanted to continue to work within the field of speech-language pathology but also wanted a better work-life balance. It occurred to us that we were capable of making that happen and a plan started to form. We liked the idea that if we were to hire other therapists in the future, that we could make them feel valued and respected. We’ve had experiences with companies in the past that were less than ideal, and want to make sure others don’t have the same barriers. Burnout is common in our field, and we want to be part of a positive change to turn that around.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We are proud that we want the absolute best for our clients. We are constantly learning and know that there is always room for growth. The decision to start our own business was easy, but the process definitely hasn’t always been! There has been no shortage of researching, relying on others for support, resilience, adaptability, and persistence on this journey. Oak Tree Speech and Language will always be an accomplishment we take pride in.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The hard part about this one is how much there is to do in Colorado in general! As for Northern Colorado, a trip to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National park would have to be at the top of the list! We would eat at Taste Local, stop by Feel Love Coffee, and walk around shops in downtown Loveland. We would make sure to take a yoga class at Resilient Soul Yoga studio with Madison Polansky, yoga teacher extraordinaire. Exploring the art at Benson Sculpture Garden or Chapungu Sculpture Park would also be a must!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The countless numbers of individuals and families we have worked with over the years who are the reason we continue to work hard to be the best therapists we can be. We are also both grateful to our families and close friends that have encouraged us from the beginning. And of course, each other!

Website: https://www.oaktreeslps.com/