Joyce M. Palmateer

Joyce McMahon Palmateer, Founder and CEO of Kidspace, Inc., lives with her husband, Jason Palmateer, their son Noah, and their three labrador retrievers, Cody, Lucy and Teddy.

Joyce a Board Certified Family Nurse Practioner, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Loyola University Chicago. She began her career in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Rush University Medical Center where she cared for critically ill infants and children. She went on to earn a Masters of Science in Nursing in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program from Rush University and has since moved to Marshall County, Indiana with her family. Joyce is currently a Nurse Practioner at Holm Medical Clinic in Plymouth and on the nursing faculty of Ancilla College.

Special interests include: growth and development, nutrition, parent education and support, sensory integration, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Mitochondrial Disease.

Marla Murasko

Marla Murasko, an East Coast native, lives in Plymouth, Indiana with her husband Paul and two year old son, Jacob. Inspired by Jacob who was diagnosed during infancy with Down Syndrome, Marla has become an active teacher to Jacob and devotes extensive time learning different activities to help Jacob's motor and cognitive skills.

In addition, Marla is currently writing a curriculum for activities for a children's gym based in New Jersey. She is involved with Mended Little Hearts in South Bend, Indiana and the Michiana Down Syndrome Family Support and Advocacy Group, and also the Edward Hospital NICU Support Group in Naperville, Illinois.

Marla is the author of "Jacob's Journal - My Journey Home," an inspirational and informational book capturing her son's first six months. A portion of the proceeds from the book goes to the Michiana Down Syndrome Family Support and Advocacy Group for educational or social activities. Visit Jacob in cyberspace here.

Deanne Stiles

Deanna began exploring her creative potential at a young age, and eventually found as much joy in teaching others to express themselves through arts and crafts. After graduating from Purdue University with a degree in Elementary Education, Deanna taught art in Indianapolis and Kokomo area schools before taking time off to raise her children.

Now residing in her hometown of Bremen with her husband Joe and two sons, Will and Sam, Deanna uses her free time to knit, paint, sew and explore new areas of creative expression. Her ideas come from simples places and her love of teaching children the joy of art has stayed strong as she volunteers her time to various projects for friends, family and community organizations.

Elizabeth A. Early

Elizabeth A. Early, M.S., CCC/SLP, a former resident of Michigan, Beth attended the University of Michigan from 1976 until 1983 where she obtained her Bachelor's Art in Psychology, Speech and Heart Sciences and Master's of Science in Speech Pathology. For the first ten years of her career, she practiced in the field of speech pathology at hospitals, rehabilitation care agencies and nursing homes.

Owner of Early Communication, Beth is now devoting her time and talent to small children and their families by providing in-home speech/language pathology services. Elizabeth's special interests are Autism Spectrum Disorders, Spanish speaking populations and nutrition.

Marcy Porter

Marcy Porter lives in Bremen, Indiana with her husband drew and four children: Preston, Mason, Emery and Micah. She graduated from Minto State University in 1996 with an elementary and deaf education degree. She taught at Bremen Elementary Middle School from 1996-2001. Marcy, who home schools her eldest child, is active with the Bremen chapter of MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), having served for two years on their steering committee. She is also involved with the development of a Bremen homeschooling co-op.

Joyce McMahon

With 35 years of parenting and almost three years of grand-parenting experience, Joyce brings the grandma factor to Kidspace.

A native of Palos Hills, Illinois, Joyce was a stay-at-home mom who served as Room Mother and Girl Scout Leader while her children were in elementary school. She now spends most of her time helping care for her two grandsons, Nicolas and Noah.