Class of 2025 ISHA Honorees

Published in the February 2025 issue of the ISHA Voice.

ISHA’s Honors Committee recognized four members for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the association and the professions.  Honorees were recognized at the 2025 ISHA Convention. 

Honors of the Association - Danila McAsey

ISHA’s Honors of the Association goes to Danila McAsey. Barb Goodson sponsored Danila’s nomination. Her nomination was co-sponsored by Carrie Kerr and Jeni Baron.  Danila is the co-owner and Therapist Emerita of Speech and Language Rehabilitation, LTD, which she joined as partner and owner with Barb Walvoord and Donna Evans in 1994. Prior to this, Danila began her career in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa school system working with hearing impaired students and then went on to work from 1979-1994 at the Peoria Association of Retarded Citizens, now known as EPIC, holding the position of Director of Speech and Language Services.

Within ISHA, Danila’s service to our profession has been vast and wide. She began volunteering within the Representative Council in 1990, also holding the role of Chairperson, which resulted in RC once again being established as a role on the Executive Board. Danila has been the Vice President for Professional Affairs, President-Elect, and President of the Association, during a time when Early Intervention was undergoing large cuts, our professional practice was being encroached upon, and our billing and reimbursement was being questioned. Danila was named an ISHA Fellow in 2006. Danila previously held the role of President for the Peoria Area Speech-Language Hearing Association, and continues to be active with PASHA through her chair role over Membership and Professional Standards. She received Honors of the Association for PASHA in 1993. She continues to serve on the Representative Council.

A consistent theme spoken throughout Danila’s letters of support is her level of humility. Danila doesn’t talk about the countless lives she has touched while living out a resume that walks with the utmost authority in experience, knowledge and passion for volunteerism, all while quietly doing much of her work pro-bono.

Danila invests in clinicians and then reverses the roles from mentor to become the mentee. Carrie Kerr stated, “Danila doesn’t walk around concerned about her ego. She makes space to teach, but also to be open-minded, curious and eager to continue learning.” And, in the world of AAC, Carrie recalled the Central Illinois mindset, “We just send those to Danila. She’s the best.”

Danila’s attention to others’ successes was reiterated in Jeni Baron’s letter of support where she stated Danila always champions those around her and welcomes new SLPs into leadership and volunteerism with grace and encouragement. Jeni wrote, “At my first RC meeting, I was welcomed and encouraged by Danila and felt like the most special little SLP in the room!”

Danila is often overheard directly complimenting or highlighting the work of a specific member of a team, listening intently and concerning herself with the greater good of our profession, while upholding Robert’s Rules of Order. She walks alongside us in her humble leadership, and her mentoring has made impacts on SLPs for decades. In the words of Jeni, Danila is “the whole package: professionalism, decorum, humor, encouragement and mad SLP skills!”

In recognition of her years of service to the Peoria Area Speech-Language Hearing Association, the Illinois Speech-Language Hearing Association, her commitment to volunteerism on committees, boards, councils, and her selfless dedication to the profession, colleagues, and clients, ISHA is proud to present Danila McAsey with Honors of the Association.

Exemplary Practice Award - Mari Bliss

ISHA’s Exemplary Practice Award goes to Mari Bliss. Brenda Gorman sponsored Mari’s nomination. Her nomination was co-sponsored by Tijana Antonic and Sharon Rzyski. 

Mari is a bilingual speech-language pathologist who works in the Evanston/Skokie School District in Evanston, IL. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Latino/Latina studies, she continued on to obtain her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology, a Bilingual English-Spanish Certificate, and in 2024 a Masters in Educational Leadership with a Principal Endorsement. Mari has used her bilingual skills as an SLP to serve multilingual children with communication disorders throughout the state. She has served as the Multicultural Topics Committee Co-Chair, the ISHA Track Chair for Multicultural Topics and most recently the Vice President of Professional Affairs.

Mari’s career has been defined by advocating for the best practices for culturally and linguistically diverse populations while also educating colleagues in evidence-based practice for service delivery. Mari’s skills are highlighted in the areas of over- and under-identification of multilingual children with communication disorders as well as the social and educational outcomes as the result of disparities in this population.

Mari spends time coaching colleagues, provides invaluable continuing education and teaches the next generation of SLPs as an adjunct university instructor. Her niche for conducting high-quality speech and language assessments and language sampling analysis is considered the “gold standard” for assessing language skills of children from culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

Tijana Antonic offered these words of support. “One of Ms. Bliss’ notable strengths lies in her exceptional ability to engage and educate others. She has been one of the most important and influential colleagues I have encountered in my career. Her presentations are not only informative, but also thought-provoking, encouraging attendees to critically examine and enhance their own practice.”

Sharon Rzyski stated, “Ms. Bliss has been a dedicated clinician, author, presenter and professor and has educated numerous professionals on bilingual language development and assessment in the schools and clinical settings.”

Mari’s nominator, Brenda Gorman, described Mari as "a unique master clinician”, and “her numerous contributions have improved the quality of services for countless children and families in Illinois. She is an inspiration and a model.”

In recognition of her promotion of best practice for culturally and linguistically diverse populations, as well as the professionals who serve them, ISHA is honored to present Mari Bliss with the Exemplary Practice Award.

Exemplary Practice Award - Karen Kockler 

ISHA’s Exemplary Practice Award goes to Karen Kockler.   Diane Barnes-McGuire sponsored Karen’s nomination. Her nomination was co-sponsored by Linnea Anderson Guither, and Julie O’Brien-Smith.

Karen works as a private practitioner.   She retired recently from working in the Woodstock/McHenry County area.  Karen has used her previous training as a public-school teacher to enhance her career as a speech-language pathologist. Karen is the past Vice President for the Division of Professional Services, Past Chair of the School Affairs Committee, and has been a member of the Illinois Speaking for Children Advocacy Group.  Karen is a Fellow of ISHA and has served as ASHA’s State Advocacy Leader (SEAL) for many years.  Karen is also a member of ISHA’s 2024-25 Leadership Development Program demonstrating her ongoing commitment to learning.

Karen has spent her retirement years advocating for the working conditions of speech pathologists in Illinois.  Karen’s nominator, Diane Barnes-Maquire, shared that Karen "embodies advocacy and ethical behavior in her daily activities.”

Karen has assisted SLP students applying for Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Professional Regulation licenses and graduates transferring their licensure.  She has created numerous documents that can be shared with directors of special education or district superintendents.  Many of these documents have been published by the ISHA School Affairs Committee.

When speaking about a speech-language pathologists’ caseload in Illinois, the name Karen Kockler will soon follow.  Karen has worked tirelessly and continually for the advancement of the use of a Workload Analysis in reviewing caseloads and assignments for speech pathologists in Illinois.  Karen has worked closely with and presented to the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education.  She advocates for fair and equitable working conditions and increasing the retention of SLPs in the schools.   She has presented at the last two ASHA conventions; one year to fellow State Advocacy Leaders and the next year as a panelist sharing information about her work and the Illinois’ workload model.  Karen reaches out to universities, develops surveys, and shares data and information with the goal of advocating for the school speech language pathologist.

Julie O’Brien-Smith stated, “Karen has made numerous contributions to the field of speech pathology and audiology and is a fierce advocate for the professionals in this field.”

In recognition of her exceptional leadership for clinical and school-based services, and advocacy in furthering workload analysis, ISHA is honored to present Karen Kockler with the Exemplary Practice Award.

ISHA Fellow - Kim Pritikin

Kim Pritikin is recognized as an ISHA Fellow.  Karen Kockler sponsored Kim’s nomination.  Her nomination was co-sponsored by Diane Barnes-McGuire and Jordan Bowman.

Kim received her B.A. at Butler University and her M.S. at Illinois State University.   In addition to her Illinois license, Kim holds multiple state licenses.

Kim has an extensive history of service to the profession and to ISHA.  Kim has volunteered and served in some leadership positions on ISHA’s Early Intervention Committee, the Regulations and Reimbursement Committee, the Billing and Reimbursement Committee, the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee, and the Telepractice Committee.   Kim is the current ISHA Vice President for the Division of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs.  Diane Barnes-Maguire noted that Kim searches out answers to tough questions and spends endless hours advocating on behalf of clients and business entities related to services and benefits.

Kim is an exemplary clinician.  Kim provides clinical excellence in her service to clients and their families in Early Intervention through telepractice. Kim’s passion and expertise have translated to both positive client and family outcomes. Her articles in the ISHA Voice describing her clinical best practice and advocacy for this population are both informative and inspiring to read. Kim is well-known in the EI world for her amazing clinical skills.

Kim is a visionary when it comes to interprofessional practice and collaboration.  Kim has represented Illinois for ASHA as a State Advocate for Medicare Policy (StAMP). Kim’s service to ISHA and ASHA as a liaison between groups demonstrated best-practice communication and advocacy.  Kim advocated for reimbursement issues and policies for patients and clients across the state of Illinois.  Kim initiated and represented ISHA and Illinois SLPs on the Early Intervention (EI) Coalition in partnership with leaders from the Illinois Physical Therapy Association and the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association. Together, this group has successfully advocated for increased reimbursement for clinicians and increased access to care for clients and families.

Karen Kockler noted that Kim’s” input and feedback …are well informed, considerate, and help to determine appropriate actions on the part of a committee and ISHA.”

Amanda Albright, an ISHA EI Coalition Member Steering Committee Representative, remembers collaborating with Kim in the spring of 2019 to oppose the differential raises being proposed in early intervention. ….. We talked often over the next few months, and she was always so kind, listened to my frustrations and helped me figure out the next best steps to take. I truly feel she was a bright spot in a very challenging professional period for me. Kim also encouraged me to get more involved in ISHA and committees within EI, which I have been since 2019.  Kim is a truly wonderful person and an amazing advocate for SLPs in Illinois.”

Because of these outstanding achievements and service to the profession, ISHA is pleased to recognize Kim Pritikin as a Fellow of the Association.

ISHA’s Honors Committee congratulates the Class of 2025 on their achievements.  All ISHA members are encouraged to nominate a colleague, friend, or mentor for an ISHA Honor.  Nomination information is available on the ISHA website.