Meet the CSCSLV Team!
Mikaila Pence
CEO
Dr. Mikaila Heldt Pence, originally from the foothills outside of Denver, has been serving the San Luis Valley community since 2011. Â She attended Mullen High School in Denver, received her Bachelor's Degree in Biochemistry with minors in Biology, Physics in Medicine, Leadership, and Business as well as a Masters Degree in Physical Chemistry at the University of Denver. Â She completed medical school at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and Pediatric Internship & Residency at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City with specialty rotations at Children's Hospital Colorado in Denver.
 She lives with her husband and 3 children in Monte Vista where they pasture raise Miniature Herefords for show, breeding & beef. When not in clinic you'll find her busy attending basketball and soccer games, track meets, cow shows, and 4H meetings. Â
 She is excited to be a part of a community driven effort to improve access to specialty care for pediatric patients and their families and hopes that the clinic will become a true community for these children and families and last long beyond her.
CONTACT:Â mhpence@cscslv.org
Jennifer Clutter
Chief of Operations
I serve as the Chief of Operations and bring over 18 years of experience in healthcare operations. I was born and raised in this community, which has deeply shaped my passion for ensuring children and their families have access to high-quality, compassionate care. Positively impacting the place I call home, helping others, and spreading kindness are values that guide both my work and my life.
In my role, I love working alongside collaborative, multidisciplinary teams to support the delivery of care to children. I am committed to making sure our team members have the tools, resources, and support they need to do their jobs well so they can focus on what matters most, providing meaningful, family-centered care.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our three children. We love being outdoors and exploring the mountains together, and I feel grateful to raise my family in the community that raised me.
Ashley Witherspoon
Chief of Philanthropy
I’m a proud wife and mom to the sweetest husband and our spunky little girl, and it’s both a personal and professional joy to step into the role of Chief of Philanthropy at CSCSLV.
As a born-and-raised San Luis Valley native, this community holds a truly special place in my heart. My drive for expanding resources and opportunities for the children and families who call the Valley home is deeply personal. I believe every child deserves access to the support and opportunities they need to thrive.
At the heart of my work is a belief in the power of people coming together to make a real difference. I am passionate about children, building strong relationships, strengthening our community, and guiding thoughtful giving that truly changes lives. When generosity is rooted in purpose, it becomes powerful. I’m honored to help carry that vision forward and excited to grow our impact alongside this incredible team and community.
Jordan Curtis
Occupational Therapist
Jordan Curtis, originally from the eastern plains of Colorado, has been living and serving in the San Luis Valley community since 2010. She attended Colorado State University and received her Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Studies and Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy in 2008. She has been working with children for more than 20 years in various capacities.
Jordan lives with her husband and 4 children in Monte Vista, CO. Her favorite pastimes include supporting her kids’ various interests and activities as well as painting, photography, hiking, backpacking, biking, and going on new adventures.
DJ Enderle
Board Chair
I am not a Colorado Native, I moved to the San Luis Valley in 1999 to attend college and I settled here to raise my family. After learning that college was not the best path for me I joined the Army; in 2022 I retired as a Command Sergeant Major. I decided that my post military life would be about making the community I chose to make my home better in any way I can. This passion brought me to work for the City of Monte Vista as a City Planner and Community Development Director. Where I strive to improve the City and the surrounding community. My wife and I have three beautiful children and I have a passion to make the lives of the families in the San Luis Valley better. As a business owner, a City Employee and the various boards I serve on, my number one goal is to improve the lives of those around me.Â
Arielle Middlemist
Board Member
My name is Arielle Middlemist and I am a board member for the Children's Specialty Clinic of the San Luis Valley. I am a San Luis Valley Native and grew up in Manassa, CO. I received my B.A. in Psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder and am currently obtaining my M.A. in Communication Disorders from Emerson College to become a Speech Language Pathologist. I have worked as a behavior technician with children in home, school, clinic, and community settings for about 5 years. I am passionate about providing children and their families support and resources to learn, grow, and thrive! In my free time, I enjoy playing and teaching piano, adventuring with my 2 dogs, and spending time with friends and family.Â
Patrick Sparks
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Patrick Sparks received his BS of psychology in 2017 and began working with intellectually disabled adults. The facility and group homes Patrick worked in introduced him to applied behavior analysis. After realizing the best way to improve adults' lives was to work with them as children, he began working on obtaining his BCBA. Patrick became an RBT in 2019, then a BCaBA in 2020. Patrick then graduated with his MA in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of West Florida and became a BCBA in 2021. Patrick enjoys board games, running, hiking, camping, gardening, and playing disc golf in his free time. Patrick will be living in Monte Vista with his wife and their cat.
Aliyah Segura
Therapy Technician
My name is Aliyah, and I am excited to be a part of the team here at Children’s Specialty Clinic as a Therapy Technician. I am passionate about helping others , building meaningful connections ,and creating a positive and welcoming environment. My connection to the SLV is 6 Years ago I moved here from Greeley Co with my mother and two younger sisters. Outside of work some hobbies I enjoy include spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, and trying new activities and experiences. One thing people may not know about is I love taking pictures and capturing memories. I am excited to be a part of the CSC SLV because I look forward to growing professionally while learning new skills along with helping our community. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the team here at Children’s Specialty Clinic!Â
Sara Hindes
Therapy Technician
I have proudly called Monte Vista and the San Luis Valley home for the past 30 years. I have always had a passion for working with children and feel honored to be part of their journey as they learn, grow, and discover new skills.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my dogs, exploring the beautiful Colorado mountains, and getting creative with all kinds of arts and crafts.
I am excited to be part of the Children’s Specialty Clinic of the San Luis Valley and look forward to continuing to grow my knowledge and experience in ABA therapy while making a positive difference in the lives of the children and families we serve.
Angela Heersink
Licensed Counselor
Excited to join the San Luis Valley Children's Specialty Clinic as an LPC! I provide child-centered play therapy for kids aged 3-10 and also work with adolescents and teens. I use an integrated, indivdualized approach to support each child and family.
Shannon Slover
Speech Language Pathologist
Shannon Slover is a Speech Language Pathologist entering her 30th year as a clinician. She completed her training at Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Lubbock, Texas. Shannon is licensed in Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. She has worked in home health, hospital, private practice, nursing home, skilled nursing, and school settings. The majority of her experience is evaluation and treatment of preschool and school age children within the public school setting. Â
Shannon is the mother of five grown children, and the grandmother of eight. Her daughters, Ashlyn and Ava attended Sargent Schools while her husband, Greg was the superintendent there a few years ago. During that time, Shannon worked for the BOCES providing speech language services to children in schools throughout the San Luis Valley. Her family has been full or part time residents of the San Luis Valley for the past twenty years.
Shannon is honored to join the staff of the Children’s Specialty Clinic of the San Luis Valley. She is excited to reacquaint herself with former colleagues and build real relationships with staff and community members. Shannon looks forward to establishing connections with children and their families within the therapeutic process.
Shannon is able to evaluate, diagnose, and treat children with developmental delays, deficits or disorders in a variety of areas. Some of the most common include: feeding, swallowing, articulation, language expression, comprehension, fluency (commonly known as stuttering), pragmatics (social communication), hearing loss, executive function, reading and writing.   She can also help with improving voice quality and the use of augmentative communication devices.
Lindsay Miller
Patient Services RepresentativeÂ
My name is Lindsay, and I am excited to join the Children’s Specialty Clinic of the San Luis Valley as a Patient Services Representative. I look forward to welcoming our patients and families and helping them navigate the services and support they need. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of a team dedicated to serving children and families throughout the San Luis Valley.
After spending some time away, I recently returned to the San Luis Valley and am happy to once again call the Valley home. I am also a proud mom of three boys who keep me busy, laughing, and on my toes—and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Outside of work, my family and I love spending time outdoors, exploring, and going on new adventures together. I am excited to be part of the CSCSLV team and look forward to getting to know and serving the wonderful families in our community.
Jillian Aloisi
Certified Occupational Therapy AssistantÂ
Jillian earned her occupational therapy assistant degree at Maria College in Upstate New York. Now, she resides near family in Del Norte, Colorado. Her experience in a nursing and rehabilitation setting, as well as in an elementary school, has fueled her enthusiasm about practicing occupational therapy.
In her leisure time, Jillian loves spending quality time with her family and friends, engaging in outdoor activities such as hiking, snowboarding, and running, and participating in creative pursuits like painting and playing the piano. She is delighted to join the CSC SLV team.Â