Shannon Shaffer joined the Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing Center as Executive Director in November 2024. She holds a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from Jefferson College of Health Sciences and brings more than 20 years of diverse healthcare leadership experience serving the Roanoke Valley community.
Throughout her career, Shannon has been passionate about improving access to quality healthcare and building meaningful partnerships that benefit the communities she serves. As Executive Director, she is committed to expanding the Center's impact through innovative programs, community outreach, and exceptional patient care. Under her leadership, Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing Center continues to grow its services while remaining dedicated to its mission of helping children and adults communicate effectively and improve their quality of life.
Shannon believes every individual deserves access to compassionate, high-quality speech and hearing services, regardless of their circumstances. She enjoys collaborating with community organizations, healthcare providers, schools, businesses, and long-term care facilities to increase awareness and access to hearing and speech services throughout the region.
Outside of work, Shannon enjoys spending time with her husband, their daughter and son, and family and friends. In her free time, she loves working on her farm, cooking, and making memories with the people she cares about most.
Dr. Kimberly Lower, Au.D., joined the Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing Center in 2022, bringing more than 40 years of experience in the field of audiology. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to helping individuals improve their hearing, communication, and overall quality of life through compassionate, patient-centered care.
Dr. Lower earned degrees from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, the University of Virginia, and the Arizona School of Health Sciences. Her extensive clinical experience and commitment to excellence have made her a trusted provider serving the Roanoke Valley community.
She is passionate about building lasting relationships with her patients and believes that better hearing leads to stronger connections with family, friends, and the world around us.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Lower enjoys spending time with her husband, their two grown daughters, and son-in-law. She is actively involved in her church and enjoys running, Pilates, playing golf, cooking, and embracing an active, healthy lifestyle.
Dr. Hannah Maner joined the Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing Center team in June 2026 as a Doctor of Audiology. A Knoxville, Tennessee native, she earned her undergraduate and doctoral degrees from the University of Tennessee.
Hannah's passion for audiology began through her own experience with chronic tinnitus. Wanting to better understand the condition, she became fascinated with hearing and balance disorders, ultimately leading her to pursue a career dedicated to improving the lives of others through better hearing healthcare.
Prior to joining Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing Center, Dr. Maner had the privilege of serving veterans at the VA Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee, where she gained valuable experience providing comprehensive audiological care. She is excited to bring that knowledge and compassionate approach to the Roanoke community.
Dr. Maner is committed to helping patients improve their hearing, communication, and overall quality of life by providing personalized, evidence-based care in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Outside of the clinic, Hannah enjoys spending time with her partner, Michael, and their cats. She also loves singing karaoke and taking every opportunity to enjoy music and time with family and friends.
Amy Field joined the Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing Center team in January 2025. Born and raised in Vinton, Virginia, she recently returned to the area after spending several years in northwestern Illinois. With more than six years of experience in the hearing healthcare industry, Amy has been practicing as a Hearing Instrument Specialist since 2021 and is licensed by the Virginia Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians.
Amy is passionate about building meaningful relationships with her patients and helping them reconnect with the people and moments that matter most through better hearing. She is committed to providing personalized care and education, with the goal of helping each patient hear their best and maintain their hearing health for years to come.
Outside of the clinic, Amy enjoys reading and writing. She is also a published author, having self-published three books. When she's not helping patients, she enjoys spending her free time pursuing creative projects and enjoying a good book.
Autumn Collins, HIS, is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist at Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing Center. With more than 20 years of experience in the hearing healthcare field, she has served in multiple roles throughout her career, including as a Hearing Care Coordinator before earning her licensure as a Hearing Instrument Specialist in 2024.
Autumn's clinical expertise includes hearing evaluations, hearing aid fittings, hearing aid programming, troubleshooting, and minor hearing aid repairs. She is passionate about helping patients improve their hearing and quality of life by providing individualized care and ensuring they receive the best possible hearing solutions.
Inspired by her own experience using a medical device, Autumn understands the positive impact that healthcare can have on a person's daily life. She is dedicated to helping patients and their families reconnect through better hearing, and her favorite part of the job is seeing the joy on a patient's face when they are able to hear their loved ones clearly again.
Outside of work, Autumn enjoys spending time with her husband of 19 years and their two dogs. She values family, enjoys making lasting memories with loved ones, and is committed to serving the Roanoke Valley community with compassion and excellence.
Gared joined the Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing Center team in March 2026 as a Certified Hearing Conservationist. Prior to entering the healthcare field, he built a successful career as a beverage delivery driver before discovering his passion for helping others through hearing healthcare.
In his role, Gared is dedicated to protecting hearing health by providing hearing conservation services and supporting individuals with professionalism, compassion, and exceptional customer care. He enjoys building relationships with patients and partnering with local businesses to promote workplace hearing safety.
Outside of work, Gared is a devoted husband and proud father to one daughter. He enjoys spending quality time with his family, embracing his faith, and taking advantage of the outdoors whenever he can. In his free time, you'll often find him fishing, hiking, or enjoying nature.
Akirah Mattox joined the Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing Center team in January 2022 as a Speech-Language Pathologist. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and her Master of Education in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Virginia.
Akirah is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia and earned her Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) in March 2023. She is passionate about helping children and adults strengthen their communication skills, empowering them to reach their fullest potential and improve their quality of life.
Akirah is dedicated to providing individualized, evidence-based therapy in a supportive and encouraging environment. She enjoys building meaningful relationships with her patients and celebrating every milestone they achieve on their communication journey.
Outside of work, Akirah enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and making lasting memories with the people she loves.
Marty Smolak joined the Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing Center team in 2016 as an Audiology Assistant, where she provides compassionate support to both the audiology team and patients throughout their hearing healthcare journey. Originally from the beautiful state of West Virginia, Marty relocated to Roanoke in 2012 and has proudly called the area home ever since.
With a diverse background in healthcare, Marty is passionate about serving others and helping patients receive the highest level of care. She assists with a variety of audiology services, helping ensure each patient has a positive, comfortable, and seamless experience from the moment they arrive.
Marty often says, "The favorite part of my job, hands down, is our patients! Providing the best level of care to our patients is our top priority and the most rewarding part of my job." Her warm personality, dedication, and genuine compassion make her a valued member of the Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing Center team.
Outside of work, Marty enjoys spending time with her two sons and grandson. She also loves music, gardening, fishing, trying new restaurants, and expressing her creativity through decorating.
Shelleen Zeaman joined the Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing Center team in December 2025 as an Audiology Assistant, where she supports both the audiology team and patients throughout their hearing healthcare journey. She is committed to creating a welcoming, positive experience for every patient and enjoys helping ensure each visit runs smoothly.
Originally from the Midwest, Shelleen relocated to the Roanoke Valley in 2006 and has enjoyed calling the area home ever since. She values building relationships with patients and takes pride in being part of a team dedicated to improving communication and quality of life through exceptional hearing care.
Shelleen has been married to her husband for 19 years, and together they have four children and five grandchildren. Outside of work, she loves spending time with family and friends, especially enjoying the outdoors and being on the water. Whether she's kayaking down a river, relaxing on an ocean beach, or boating on Smith Mountain Lake, Shelleen enjoys making the most of every opportunity to be outside with the people she loves.
Paris Atkinson joined the Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing Center team in December 2025 as a Patient Care Coordinator. She is dedicated to creating a welcoming and positive experience for every patient, helping each person feel comfortable from the moment they walk through the door. With her upbeat personality, friendly communication, and patient-first approach, Paris plays an important role in ensuring each visit runs smoothly.
Paris enjoys building relationships with patients and their families and takes pride in providing exceptional customer service while supporting the clinical team. She believes that a warm smile and compassionate care can make a meaningful difference in every patient's experience.
Outside of work, Paris is newly married and a proud mother to her son. She enjoys traveling, spending quality time with her family, and capturing life's special moments through photography.
