Committed to Improving the Lives of
People of All Ages with Hearing and Communication Challenges
Meet Our Team
Our compassionate team of professionals are dedicated to the provision of exceptional service that changes lives.
Sandra Abbott Gabbard, Ph.D. | CEO/President | Clinical Audiologist
Sandra Abbott Gabbard, PhD is the President/CEO of the Marion Downs Center and has over 30 years of experience as an audiologist, administrator and professor. She continues to practice audiology as well as teach and mentor audiology students. Dr. Gabbard has a PhD in Audiology and has extensive clinical experience diagnosing hearing challenges in children and adults and supporting their technology needs. She has published and presented extensively in the areas of infant hearing assessment, pediatric amplification and communication access. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and adjunct faculty in the Speech, Language, Hearing Science Department at the University of Colorado. Working closely with individuals and their families provides Dr. Gabbard with continual inspiration.
Maeline Barnstable, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist | Director, KidScreen
Maeline Barnstable is the Director of Screening and Speech-Language Outreach at the Marion Downs Center. She received her BS in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Illinois, where she was on the Dean’s List, and her MA in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston. She has almost 20 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist and administrator. Maeline is a nationally certified member of the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). She is also a member of the Colorado Speech Language Hearing Association, volunteering as the ASHA Continuing Education administrator from 2008-2012. She was accepted into ASHA’s Leadership Development Program for Emerging Leaders in 2014. Maeline sits on several Health Advisory Committees for various Early Head Start and Head Start programs in metro Denver. She has worked with adults with speech-language and swallowing disorders, as well as neurological impairments. She has also worked with preschool and elementary students with developmental delays as well as speech and language problems. Maeline has provided in-service training for healthcare staff, preschool staff and the general public regarding communication development and flags for referral. She likes directing the screening program to identify educationally significant obstacles to learning such as hearing, vision or speech-language problems. She wants all children to have maximum success in school and believes screening is the first step towards that goal.
Jordan Belanger, AuD. Clinic Practice Manager | Clinical Audiologist
Jordan Belanger, AuD, is a clinical audiologist at the Marion Downs Center and completed her Audiology Fellowship there. She earned her Doctorate of Audiology from the University at Buffalo and her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Maine. Jordan provides comprehensive audiologic care for both children and adults, including diagnostic evaluations, hearing technology, and communication support. She is passionate about helping individuals and families better understand hearing differences and access the tools they need to communicate confidently. Originally from Maine, Jordan enjoys spending time with her horse and her family outside of work.
Austin DeffnerAudiology Fellow
Stephen DulanyOccupational Hearing Conservationist
Our new hearing conservation technician, Stephen hails from Glendale Heights, Illinois and moved to Aurora three years ago. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology and a Minor in Health Education. Stephen is passionate about health in every aspect of our lives. In his free time, Stephen live to hike, climb, camp and spend time outdoors. He also enjoys taking landscape photography while hiking.
Erin Hazelwood
Clinic Administrative Assistant
Katelyn Gladden Clinic Administrative Coordinator
Katelyn comes to the Marion Downs Center with multiple certificates in Emergency Management through the FEMA and has a Bachelors of Science in Psychology. She spent eight years working with the elderly population in a variety of settings. Before joining the team, Katelyn worked with the general public supporting Crisis Mental Health.
Katelyn's passion is to help others improve their quality of life and enjoys working with older adults. In her free time, she enjoys live music, singing, reading, and watching hockey.
Cynthia Gomez
Billing Specialist
Cindy is the new Patient Care Coordinator, and Billing Specialist with the Marion Downs Center. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management and Minor in Business Health Administration.
With her years of experience as a dedicated Healthcare Reimbursement Supervisor at AMR/Access2Care, she focused on bridging the gap between quality patient care and operational excellence. With over 20 years of experience in Revenue cycle management, she specialized in navigating regulatory compliance and driving financial performance. She is enthusiastic about mentoring team members to deliver compassionate care. She is committed to fostering a supportive environment that allows her billing experience to focus on patient wellness.
Cindy enjoys working out at the gym, and downtime with her family, friends, and fur babies, she loves traveling as well. She is continually seeking new opportunities for personal growth. I was drawn to the opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives at a scale I hadn't imagined before.
Ryan Krewer Programs and Operations Coordinator
Caleb Kronen, AuD Clinical Audiologist | Director, Hearing Conservation
Dr. Caleb Kronen, AuD, is Director of Hearing Conservation at the Marion Downs Center and a clinical audiologist specializing in hearing healthcare for musicians, audio engineers, and individuals exposed to occupational and recreational noise. A CAOHC Certified Professional Supervisor in Audiometric Monitoring, he oversees hearing conservation services for more than 300 industrial organizations, partnering with safety and HR teams to deliver OSHA compliant programs that prevent noise induced hearing loss. Dr. Kronen also founded the Marion Downs Center Music Audiology Program and has worked with thousands of musicians, providing diagnostic evaluations, custom hearing protection, in-ear monitors, and sound exposure measurements. A lifelong musician and former touring performer, he brings firsthand insight into the auditory demands of music professionals and is committed to helping individuals protect their hearing while preserving performance and long-term communication.
Sara Kurutz, MA Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellow
Sara Kurutz is a Speech Language Pathologist in her Clinical Fellowship at the Marion Downs Center. She earned her Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Colorado Boulder and is further expanding her training by partcipating in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program. Sara provides client and family-centered care, focusing on functional communication and individualized, evidence-based treatment tailored to each client's unique needs. Being a Colorado native, Sara enjoys any and all outdoor activities like hiking and skiing, along with playing and listening to live music.
Ben Livingston, AuD Clinical Audiologist
Lynne Lyons Chief Financial Officer
Lynne Lyons is the Chief Financial Officer. Lynne has a Masters in Public Administration and has worked in the non-profit healthcare sector for over 35 years. Lynne has significant hearing loss, so the mission of the Marion Downs Center is both professional and personal for her. Lynne finds her job at the Center very rewarding because she sees firsthand the many ways that the Marion Downs Center improves the lives of those who live with hearing loss.
Ally Maurer Director of Development and Operations
Devin McVey Audiology Fellow
Pam Miller Patient Care Coordinator
Pam serves as the Patient Care Coordinator and comes from over twenty years of customer service experience, including nine years in a family practice setting. She takes pride in her kind, patient nature with getting to know each person as an individual.
Pam has been married for almost thirty-four years, has three children and four grandchildren. Having lived in Colorado for the past forty-eight years, Pam’s favorite place to be is camping in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her family. Pam also enjoys boating, bike riding and painting.
Julie Peterson, AuD Clinical Audiologist
Julie Peterson, AuD, is a Clinical Audiologist with over 30 years of experience in diverse practice settings. Dr. Julie earned her Doctor of Audiology degree in 2013 after practicing under her Master of Science in Audiology degree for many years. She continues to use her extensive clinical experience addressing the hearing needs of infants, children, and adults, and training Doctor of Audiology students. Dr. Julie finds great satisfaction in working with a diverse population to provide access to technology and services that best support each person on their journey to better hearing. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, gardening, music and time with family, friends, and her cat!
Nan Thompson, CCC-SLP, LSLS Director of Speech and Language Services
Nanette Thompson, MS, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT has spent more than 30 years working alongside children with hearing differences, their families, and the professionals who support them. As Director of the Speech and Language Clinic at the Marion Downs Center in Denver, she helps develop programs that strengthen listening, language, and early learning for young children. Nanette is known for her collaborative approach—bringing together families, audiologists, therapists, and educators to create practical strategies that fit naturally into everyday life. Her work focuses on empowering families with the tools and confidence they need to support their child’s communication and learning. She also mentors professionals and provides training to help expand listening and spoken language services in communities across the country.