Meet the Staff
Get to know us by clicking on our names.
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Nicole Beurkens, M.Ed.
Founder and Director, RDI® Certified Consultant
In 2003 I founded Horizons, along with my incredibly supportive husband, with the intent of offering summer programs for area children on the autism spectrum. Over the past four and a half year… »
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Erin Roon, MA CCC-SLP
RDI® Certified Consultant and Speech Language Pathologist
Autism became a passion of mine approximately 10 years ago and I have been learning ever since. I can’t believe how lucky I was to have Nicole introduce me to RDI®. The improvements and… »
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Michelle VanderHeide, BSW
RDI® Certified Consultant
RDI® has been the most wonderful, rewarding, and challenging job I have ever had. It has sparked a passion in me to see families come out of crisis and begin enjoying a changed relationship with… »
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Courtney Kowalczyk, M.Ed.
RDI® Certified Consultant and Supervisor of Instruction
I joined the Horizons family over 3 years ago and I thoroughly enjoy the work I do here! I have teaching experience with children with a variety of disabilities, including cognitive impairments… »
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Christine Gavin,
Administrative Manager
I graduated from GVSU with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and taught Middle School Language Arts for two years. »
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Sarah VerMerris, OT
Occupational Therapist
I love pediatric OT because of the interaction with both children and their families, and feel so strongly about educating parents, who are truly the greatest agents of change in a child's life! »
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Alicia Baker, BA
Lead Teacher
I have been working at Horizons since the summer of 2008 with the Summer CAMPS program. Last fall, I started working in the Individual Instruction program and am now the Lead Teacher and am getting… »
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Tracy Enden,
Instructional Assistant
I love children and enjoy the rewards of meeting their individual needs each day. I can honestly say it is a beautiful experience to see the hope, joy, and peace the families and children gain here.… »
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Bill Beurkens,
Instructional Assistant and Facility Manager Extraordinaire
Being married to Nicole for almost her entire professional career has enabled me to watch her take a dream of helping families of children with autism and make it a reality in this clinic. Now I get… »
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Mary Foley, D.V.M.
Instructional Assistant
I wear two hats at Horizons. Sometimes I am here as an employee and sometimes as a client and mother of a son with autism. »