We recently connected with JoAnn Ridge and have shared our conversation below.

JoAnn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Setting goals has been a cornerstone of success for me personally as well as our company. From the time I was a young girl growing up in a small, rural town, I set goals. When I decided what I wanted to do, I wrote it down, and then devised a plan and looked for opportunities to realize my plan. I wrote lists of personal, professional, and financial goals as well as the date by which I would accomplish them. My goals were measurable, and I swore I would hold myself accountable; I was writing SMART goals before SMART goals were a thing.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

After an uninspired semester of pre-law at Arizona State University, I decided to explore the field of speech-language pathology. I fell in love with every aspect of it. As an undergraduate, I worked at my university’s speech and hearing clinic, where graduate students applied their learning and treated clients with a variety of communication disorders. It not only showed me the practical part of being a speech-language pathologist, but I also learned a business model for running a clinic. My first job as a speech-language pathologist was in the public school system, and I purposely took a position that would afford me mentorship as opposed to a higher salary. My plan was to learn as much as possible from well-respected, skilled professionals. I worked for the public school system for eleven years in various districts, honing my craft and gleaning best practices. In 2008, Meghan Zeller and I combined our respective companies to form Ridge Zeller Therapy and provide speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and school psychology services to individuals from birth to adulthood in our clinic, in homes, and in schools throughout the metropolitan Phoenix area. Meghan and I each had one employee–today, we have over 70 employees. Starting a company during a recession as a mother of four young children, a 7-year-old son and three-year-old girl boy girl triplets, may seem a little crazy, but when you see an opportunity, you take it.

We built our company on the tenant that great mentorship and training produces the best providers and the highest quality of care. We continue to invest in our staff by providing in-house continuing education for our providers to ensure they stay abreast of the most current therapy treatments. This ultimately benefits the clients we serve. I believe this is what sets us apart from other therapy companies.
I am most proud of the outstanding team of professionals we have had the pleasure to mentor and work with throughout our 15 years of practice. Our team has made significant contributions to hundreds of individuals with disabilities. I am also proud of the relationships that have been developed with employees and clients, in addition to the relationship my business partner and I have built and continue to foster.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

In 2001, I met Meghan Zeller, my fantastic business partner over 20 years ago in a small farming town in central Arizona. She was a new graduate who had moved to Arizona during one of the hottest times of the year. Dressed in east coast attire (business suit, silk blouse, tights, and high heeled pumps), she toured the town with me in my dilapidated brown Honda. Although I was excessively embarrassed about my car, and she felt like a fish out of water, we immediately clicked. As did I, Meghan chose this job over one that paid a higher salary because she wanted me to be her mentor; which was and continues to be a great honor. We started out in a mentor/mentee relationship, then we became business associates as we developed individual practices, eventually becoming business partners. Most importantly, we have always been friends.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Name recognition is key. Despite the suggestion that it’s ill advised to name your company after yourself, Meghan and I had a stellar reputation in our community for providing excellent speech-language therapy, so when we formed our company, we named it after ourselves. We stand behind our services because it’s our name and reputation on the line. When our employees represent Ridge Zeller Therapy in the community, or put Ridge Zeller Therapy on their resume, it means something: Quality. Professionalism. Relationships.

Contact Info:

• Website: RidgeZellerTherapy.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/ridge_zeller_therapy
• Facebook: facebook.com/ridgezellertherapy
• Linkedin: Linkedin.com/company/ridge-zeller-therapy-llc
• Twitter: twitter.com/RZTherapy
• Youtube: Youtube.com/c/Ridgezellertherapy
• Yelp: Yelp.com/biz/ridge-zeller-therapy-chandler
• Other: Pinterest.com/rztherapyllc