CHARLESTON, W.Va. --The Childhood Language Center, a Charleston nonprofit speech therapy clinic, has named Holly Martin as its new executive director.

"Through my experience, I've really seen the importance of community health programs. This is a great fit," Martin said. "I'm so impressed by the work they've been doing for 20 years and it deserves tremendous support -- that's the main reason I accepted the job. The Center is making a huge difference in the lives of kids and their families."

The Childhood Language Center provides free therapy for children with speech and language disorders, autism and other disabilities.

The center was founded in 1990 by the Scottish Rite Masons and serves more than 90 children from the region, without any charge to the family.

"We are pleased to have Holly on board as executive director. She shares in our mission and vision of providing high-quality services to West Virginia children and families," said CLC Board President Donna Kelly in a news release. "The services provided by the Childhood Language Center continue to be increasingly necessary. We are extremely grateful for the community support that allows us to provide these services while lessening the financial and emotional burden on the families we serve."

The Childhood Language Center recently completed a strategic planning process made possible through a Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation grant.

"This board is on track and very technologically integrated. We have a real vision to grow the Center and keep it sustainable in the future," Martin said. She received her master's degree in English at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. and her bachelor's from Marshall University in print journalism.  She recently worked in health-care communications at a nonprofit hospital in Virginia and served on the board of the Virginia Society for Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations.

For information on the Childhood Language Center, call 304-342-7852 or visit www.childhoodlanguagecenter.org.