Deborah D. Magers
Deborah Magers is a speech-language pathologist with 40 years of experience and the CEO and Founder of Decker Therapy Services, LLC, which she established in 2010. She continues to provide hands-on therapy for children while managing every aspect of the business, including recruiting, hiring, retaining staff, expanding caseloads, supervising clinicians, and maintaining close relationships with clients and their families. Her clinical expertise focuses on feeding and early language development, and she is passionate about delivering in-person services for children, recognizing that telehealth is not always the best option for every child.
Throughout her career, Deborah has developed extensive specialties in pediatric speech and language, including apraxia, articulation delays and disorders, autism spectrum disorders, central auditory processing, cleft palate, developmental disabilities, fluency disorders, language acquisition and disorders, oral-motor/feeding and swallowing disorders, and phonological awareness and early literacy development. She has also created consultation, mentoring, and training programs for professionals in her field, ensuring high-quality care and professional growth across pediatric therapy disciplines. One of her proudest achievements is winning Small Business of the Year in 2021, awarded by the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to her clinical practice, Deborah founded Practice Pathways, a coaching company that supports small business owners in speech pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and related fields. Through this venture, she provides strategic guidance, operational solutions, and mentorship to help practices grow sustainably while fostering a collaborative and innovative culture. Deborah holds degrees from the University of South Florida and the University at Buffalo and maintains active membership in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.
• Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A)
• Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech/Language Pathology
• University of South Florida - MS, Speech Pathology & Audiology
• University at Buffalo - BS, Communicative Disorders and Sciences
• Top Speech Pathologist
• Winner of Small Business of the Year (5-20 employees) in 2021
• ASHA ACE Award
• Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• 100 Plus Women Who Care
What do you attribute your success to?
First of all, I attribute my success to caring about the kids and their families. I've always wanted to make a difference in their lives and help them be more successful. That genuine care and desire to help children reach their potential has been the foundation of everything I do. It's not just about providing therapy services - it's about truly investing in these families and being committed to seeing them thrive.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from a supervisor I had at a VA hospital while I was in graduate school, Tom Scanio. He told me that the highest paying jobs are not necessarily the best. He said to go where your heart is, not necessarily where the money is, because there's a reason they have to pay so much money. That advice has stayed with me throughout my entire career and guided my decisions. It's why I've been able to stay passionate about what I do for 40 years.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's an amazing field. It's a wonderful field. I love it. It's been good to me. My advice is to find what really lights you up, because that's going to make your days worthwhile. It may not be the highest paying job, but it will be the most rewarding. When you find that thing that truly excites you and makes you passionate about coming to work every day, that's when you know you're in the right place. The fulfillment you get from doing work you love is worth more than any paycheck.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges are finding therapists who want to still work with children in person. Everybody wants to do telehealth these days, and that's not necessarily the best for every child. We do offer telehealth services, but only for those children who can benefit from it. It's really difficult to find people who are really passionate about the field and about working with children face-to-face. The shift toward remote work has made it harder to recruit therapists who understand that some kids need that in-person connection and hands-on therapy to truly thrive.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are compassion, honesty, and integrity. I truly care about the clients I work with and want to make sure they get the best possible care. But it's not just about the clients - I also deeply care about my employees and want to create an environment where they feel valued and supported. These values guide every decision I make, both in running my business and in my personal relationships. Treating people with respect and genuine care is at the heart of everything I do.