Key People
Committed to the Cause
Since our formal founding in 2019, Communication is Key AAC has developed and grown in a positive direction. We’re very proud of our volunteer team, and their abilities to contribute their own unique experience and skills to our success. Find out more about some of our team members below.
Rachel Rick
Secretary
Rachel resides in Metro Detroit, with her family and full time working mom to Haven and Remy. Rachel is CiK secretary and shares a passion for inclusion and awareness for special needs children and their families. Rachel is an advocate for Haven who is a successful low tech AAC user, and recently has acquired an Ipad with Proloquo2go from another Michigan nonprofit. Despite the multiple hats she wears, her organizational skills, resourcefulness, dedication, and selflessness are a vital component to our organizations success! When she’s not working, or doing therapy runs, she enjoys cooking, photography, and genealogy research.
Joseph Dapkus Jr
Program Lead
Joe Dapkus Jr, husband to founder Julia, and father to Isabelle. Joe is a successful business owner and entrepreneur of a commercial building restoration company in the Detroit area, JMD Building Restoration. Joe is a dedicated father, who is driven to help children like Isabelle have the most happy and successful life possible. In a previous life, Joe would have been an elementary school teacher, as his love for children still shines through whenever he is around them. He is definitely the FUN parent and Isabelle's thrill seeking partner. Joe's business experience as well as knowledge has allowed CiK to grow at a rapid rate, as he contributes to our marketing, fundraising, and business development. Although downtime is scarce, Joe enjoys doing anything that makes Isabelle smile especially dancing and swimming! He is an avid golfer and bowler and enjoys a good murder mystery show.
Dawn LaBonte
Treasurer
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Dawn has an impressive long career in finance and accounting in a variety of industries including oil and construction. She began her career in finance with Awrey Bakeries, where she worked for 20 years. She is committed to maintaining strong financial foundations that allow the company to grow responsibly, serve clients effectively and sustain long term success. Managing financial operations with a focus on accuracy and internal controls while building efficient financial systems to support operations. She is committed to helping individuals and organizations make smart, forward focused decisions.
As a mother of two, she values integrity, responsibility and long-term stability – principles she brings to her professional, personal and community leadership. She believes success is built through determination, consistency and a willingness to evolve. She loves to be with family and friends, garden, read, travel and ride her motorcycle. She is committed to long-term improvement both professionally and personally.
Rachael Hendzell M.A. CCC-SLP
Board Member/ SLP
Rachael Hendzell M.A. CCC-SLP is an American Speech and Hearing Association certified Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist. She currently works in a public school in Southeast Michigan and owns her own private practice, Super Sweet Speech LLC. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Central Michigan University and her Master of Arts from The University of Toledo. Her clinical experience has focused on pediatric speech and language therapy. Her main focus is early intervention, language, literacy, and implementing core in the community. Rachael has quickly realized the importance of early intervention in her field and just how important authentic and genuine interactions with children are!
Katie Hiltz
Board Member/ SLP
Katie Hiltz is an American Speech and Hearing Association certified Speech-Language Pathologist. She currently serves multiple public schools ages preschool through upper elementary. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University. Her passion is AAC advocacy and accessibility. Katie also works part-time as a Community Living Services provider for disabled adults and is a long-time volunteer at the Miracle League of Plymouth. In her free time, she enjoys reading, photography, painting, fishing, coaching MLP baseball, and spending time with her cat, Ziggy Stardust. Her duties with CIK include consulting, assistant to the director, and general support on projects, outreach, and fundraising. Katie is excited to use her passion for advocacy and her communication sciences knowledge to increase awareness and access to AAC.
