No Connections, No Problem: How Maureen Built a CAS Practice from Scratch in Nashville

From Private Practice Success Stories by Jena Castro-Casbon

April 6, 2026 · 32 min · Episode 367

About this episode

Maureen Neukirch shares her journey of building a specialized private practice in Childhood Apraxia of Speech in Nashville.

What if you could build a private practice so strong, you could retire early—without letting go of the clients you love? Today's guest is a speech-language pathologist who turned decades of specialization into a thriving practice, a legacy plan, and a roadmap to hiking the Amalfi Coast while still staying connected to the field she's passionate about. I'm thrilled to introduce you to Maureen Neukirch, a speech-language pathologist and the owner of Little Speech Boutique in the greater Nashville area. Maureen provides in-home, preschool, and community-based services but she's not your average generalist. With over 25 years of experience across a variety of early childhood settings, Maureen’s journey is built on a deep foundation. Her research background in sensorimotor integration, prerequisites for early reading success, and rural service delivery via teletherapy has always set her apart. After decades in the field starting in schools, transitioning to neurodegenerative work during COVID, and learning what kind of boss she never wanted to be — Maureen made a bold decision: she would specialize in Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). That decision didn't just change her caseload. It…

People in this episode

Guest: Maureen Neukirch

Topics covered

private practice
speech-language pathology
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
early intervention
teletherapy

Keywords

Nashville
Little Speech Boutique
early childhood
neurodegenerative work
Amalfi Coast

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Nashville, the Amalfi Coast