Our team

Dr. Ashley Whittington-Barnish (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral (BCBA-D), and Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). Having dedicated over 20 years to working with individuals with autism and developmental disabilities across home, school and center-based settings, Ashley has an enduring passion for supporting young children and their families.

Ashley has worked at Stride since the beginning and loves watching clients make meaningful progress. She is also an Associate Professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and previously served as University Chair of the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Department and Department Chair of ABA at TCSPP’s Chicago campus. In addition to teaching numerous undergraduate and graduate classes in ABA and psychology, her research interests include staff training, caregiver training, and using technology to enhance learning opportunities.

Prior roles include developing and launching “Sprouts,” an early intervention preschool program under The Autism Program grant, and providing assessments and treatment at Livingston County Special Services Unit, among others.

Ashley earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Educational Studies from Illinois Wesleyan University, and a PhD in School Psychology from Illinois State University.

Ashley lives in the south suburbs of Chicago with her husband, three kids, and two dogs. In her free time, she loves watching Chicago sports, seeing Broadway Chicago shows, and planning Disney trips with her family.

Kristen Cooper Borkenhagen is a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Kristen is passionate about helping families achieve meaningful outcomes and has been providing behavior analytic services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families since 2001.

Kristen earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University in Campbell, CA before studying Applied Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology. She held several clinical leadership positions with Trumpet Behavior Health in the San Francisco Bay Area and was the Director of Clinical Services with Achieving Collaborative Treatment in Verona, WI. The thing that excites her most about the science of behavior is its application to empower parents to create what matters most to them.

Kristen lives in Madison, WI with her husband, three kids, two cats, and six chickens. In her free time, she enjoys reading, creative projects, outdoor adventures with her family, and fostering kittens with a local animal rescue.

Ryhanna Singleton is a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Ryhanna received a B.S. in Psychology from Iowa State University. Following undergrad, Ryhanna worked with children with autism and developed a passion for ABA. She then pursued her Master of Education degree with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University. Ryhanna completed her independent field work and passed her Board exam to become a BCBA while living in Indiana. She then moved back to her home state of Iowa to be closer to family.

Ryhanna has experience working with individuals ages two to 20 with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is passionate about early intervention for preschool-aged children and finds joy in helping children and their families every day.

Ryhanna lives in Waukee, Iowa, with her husband, daughter and dog, Nelson. Ryhanna and her family love to go on walks to parks, attend hockey games, and spend time with friends and family.

Shelley Swan is a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received a B.S. Ed. in Special Education from Northern Illinois University. While teaching full-time, Shelley began working part-time as a behavior technician, and decided to return to NIU to pursue a M.S.Ed in Advanced Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis.

After 6 years in the classroom and 1 year of school consulting, Shelley moved to the Quad Cities with her spouse and children, and has worked in a clinic setting with children ages 2-12 for the past 4 years. Shelley’s professional interests include staff training and trauma-informed ABA.

Shelley lives in Coal Valley, IL with her partner, 3 children, 2 cats, and dog. In her free time, she enjoys riding her bike, playing board games, and volunteering with her family.

Kyleigh Bromen is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received a B.S. in Human Development & Family Sciences from Oregon State University. Shortly after graduating, Kyleigh began providing ABA services to children diagnosed with autism. Her passion for serving children with autism and their families quickly grew and she decided to pursue her assistant behavior analyst (BCaBA) certification through Florida Institute of Technology. After becoming a BCaBA, Kyleigh then continued her education at Arizona State University to obtain her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction (with an emphasis in ABA) and her behavior analyst certification.

Kyleigh has experience providing ABA services to individuals between the ages of two and twenty diagnosed with autism and other developmental delays; however, her passion is working with early childhood learners. In addition to providing ABA services, Kyleigh spent three years working as a Services Coordinator for the state’s early development network, where she was responsible for providing families of children with developmental delays support and connecting them with local resources. Through this role, Kyleigh saw firsthand the lack of services available to children with autism in Nebraska and is excited for families in the area to have access to more services.

Kyleigh lives in Eagle, NE with her husband and son. She enjoys spending time outside with her family and completing home improvement projects.

Emily is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). While completing her bachelor’s degree at Illinois State University, Emily volunteered with children with developmental disabilities. After graduating, she continued working with children as an ABA therapist, intern, and now a BCBA. She received her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis through Ball State University. While completing her graduate program, she gained experience working with both children and adults with dual diagnosis. She found the opportunity to work with families in different communities invaluable.

As a BCBA, Emily has experience leading a team of both BCBAs and RBTs. She’s gained experience working in residential, community, school, and center environments with her clients. She’s passionate about having a collaborative approach to best support her clients and families in being able to meet their goals. Her areas of interest include Compassionate Care and ACT.

Outside of work, Emily loves to travel to new places as much as possible. She is an avid reader, yogi, and has two cats.

Rachael Cundall is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received a B.A. in Psychology with minors in Criminal Justice and Forensic Science from Nebraska Wesleyan University. Rachael was interested in studying human behavior and was initially interested in Criminal/Forensic Psychology. While applying for graduate school, she began providing ABA services to children diagnosed with Autism. She discovered a passion for working with children and their families and decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis in Autism from Ball State University.

Rachael has experience working with children age 2-10. She enjoys working in Early Intervention to help children learn important skills that will help them throughout their lifetime. Rachael loves watching children and families reach their goals and feels honored to be part of the process.

Rachael lives in Omaha with her husband, son, and two dogs. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and yoga.

Katie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst from Indiana. She graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Psychology and went on to the Florida Institute of Technology to study Applied Behavior Analysis and Organizational Behavior Management. She has over five years of experience working with children diagnosed with Autism and other developmental disabilities. She has training and experience working with children in clinical, preschool, and home settings focusing on teaching functional language, reducing inappropriate behavior and teaching appropriate replacements, and supporting in social skills groups. Katie enjoys teaching therapists to implement effective evidence-based treatments across all skill areas. In her free time, she likes to read, exercise, and spend time with family and friends.

Amanda is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She graduated with a Master’s of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Amanda has committed the past 10 years to providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities across the lifespan (aged 2 to 70 years old). She started her career working exclusively with children with Autism and soon began working with adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health diagnoses. Amanda has been a consultant for school districts, group homes, and adult day centers and is passionate about assisting individuals with disabilities lead a life that is meaningful to them.

Amanda’s professional interests include designing interventions for the dually diagnosed, developing caregiver/staff trainings, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. Amanda was born and raised in Singapore and currently lives in Chicago. She is fluent in both English as well as Mandarin. In her free time, Amanda enjoys trying new restaurants and travelling as much as she can.

Danielle Markowitz is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Danielle received her B.A in Psychology with a minor in Criminology from Butler University. While at Butler, she volunteered as a teacher’s aide for a preschooler who was diagnosed with Autism. She developed such a positive connection with this student that she was inspired to begin a career working with other children and adolescents with developmental differences. Shortly after this, she began working as an ABA therapist. She received her Masters in Education of Applied Behavior Analysis with a certificate in Autism at Endicott College. While in grad school, Danielle led circle time and social groups for preschoolers. Once becoming a BCBA, she provided training and supervision to RBTs and individuals preparing to become BCBAs.

Danielle has experience working with individuals, ages 2 to 15 years old in clinic, home, and school settings. She has a passion working with children and helping others. She finds it important to provide effective supervision and training to RBTs on her team. Danielle loves watching her clients blossom to their fullest potential as well as helping families feel confident in having the tools to concur stressors in their lives.

Danielle is originally from Chicago and loves hosting dinner parties, bouldering, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Victoria Meyer is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She graduated with a M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University. Early on, Victoria developed a passion working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Starting out as a tutor and paraprofessional working up to becoming a BCBA. She has valued every experience she has had that has led her to working at Stride.

Over the past 7 years, Victoria has worked with individuals with autism ages 2 to 24. She has serviced children and adults in a variety of different environments such as schools, clinics, and home settings. When working in this field it is very important to Victoria that she is working to increase independence, improve quality of life for families, and celebrating every milestone her clients achieve.

Victoria has held leadership positions for the past 3 years and is very passionate about working to promote teamwork and collaboration in her teams to provide the highest quality of services possible.

She currently live in Illinois with her husband and furry best friend. She loves to play board games and spend time with family and friends.

Justine Ayres is a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received a B.F.A from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and received her M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Drake University.

Justine has experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities from ages 2 to 80 years old. She has provided ABA services in clinics, home and field settings, teaching functional communication skills, coping skills, and conducting caregiver training. Justine is passionate about providing quality and empathetic care with early intervention clients, and helping them work towards their goals.

Justine lives in Des Moines. In her free time, she enjoys being outside, painting, and spending time with family and friends.

Morgan Beck (she/her) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She received a B.S. in Psychology and a M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Drake University. She has always had a passion for working with children from an early age. She discovered behavior analysis during her undergraduate coursework, which then sparked her desire to obtain her master’s degree in ABA. During her graduate program, Morgan had the opportunity to work with individuals (age 2-25) on the Autism spectrum, where she delivered behavior analytic services as an RBT and graduate clinician in many different settings.

Morgan has experience implementing early intervention services to children. She enjoys helping them develop important communication skills and become more independent within their daily lives. Morgan is passionate about serving individuals with Autism and their families through parent training, so that they can all live fulfilling lives.

Morgan lives in Ankeny, IA with her fiancé, daughter, and rescue greyhound, Reed. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, going for walks outside, and shopping at Target.

Maddie Blankenship is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received both her bachelors and masters degrees in Psychology with an emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Kaplan University.

Maddie has over 10 years of experience working with children ages 2-10 with 4 and a half of those years being dedicated to working in the field of ABA by providing services for children diagnosed with autism. Maddie enjoys working in early intervention and is honored to have the chance to be a child’s first contact with services in order to provide them with the opportunity of learning early skills that will help them throughout their lifetime. Maddie finds a lot of joy in being able to help the children and families that she serves reach their goals.

Maddie lives in Plattsmouth, Nebraska with her husband, daughter, and dog, Milo. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, enjoying the outdoors, and going line dancing.

Shaela Bruce graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and University of Nebraska Medical Center with a Master of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavioral Analysis. While studying Occupational Therapy in her undergrad, Shaela discovered ABA and fell in love with the idea of working with children who have autism while also being able to use both her analytical and creative skills to better the lives of others.

As a BCBA, Shaela has ten years of experience in Early intervention and Severe Behaviors and enjoys teaching beginning communication skills to early learners and teaching them skills to be successful learners in standard classroom settings.

Shaela demonstrates genuine care and joy when interacting with each child, thriving on seeing their daily successes. When not working at the clinic you can find Shaela baking, drinking coffee, or revisiting her country-girl roots in the outdoors.

Allison Canaday (any/all) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. They received a B.S. in Psychology and an M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Drake University. Allison developed a passion for behavior analysis during their undergraduate program as she learned about behavioral principles and how to apply them to everyday life.

During their graduate program, Allison had the opportunity to work with children ages 2 to 21 with a wide variety of needs in a clinical setting.

She most enjoyed working with children to develop initial communication skills and collaborating with RBTs to create the most effective treatment plan for each individual child. Ever learning, their passion for their career continues to grow as she watches her clients learn in their own individualized ways.

Allison lives in Urbandale with their significant other and their dog. In her free time, she loves working on household projects, playing board games, and baking.

Megan is a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Megan received a B.S. in Family Life and Human Development from Brigham Young University and began providing ABA services to children with autism following graduation. She quickly developed a passion for ABA, as she saw the positive effects it could have on the individuals served, and their families. While continuing to provide ABA services in Utah and then in Iowa, Megan pursued an M.S. in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from Capella University. She became certified shorty after completing her Masters degree.

Megan has experience providing behavioral services to individuals, ages 2 to 18, with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in both home- and center-based settings. She is passionate about helping individuals with autism and teaching their families the skills they need to understand their children and help them to thrive.

Megan lives with her husband in Johnston, Iowa. In her free time, she enjoys watercolor painting, yoga, and spending time outside.

Jordan graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2013. Shortly after graduation, she began working at an inpatient psychiatric hospital on the Behavior Intervention Unit. It was there that Jordan became exposed to Applied Behavior Analysis as she worked with children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and severe maladaptive behavior. Jordan fell in love with the field and decided to pursue her BCBA. She graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a Master of Science degree in Behavior Analysis and Therapy in 2018 and has been a BCBA ever since! Jordan joined the Stride team in April 2023 and is excited to help contribute to Stride’s great mission!

Julie is a BCBA in the Des Moines metro area. She received her B.S. in Psychology from Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida. After graduating, her first job was working at a private school for kids with Autism, which was her first exposure to ABA. Julie worked as a tech/RBT for 14 years before going back to school to get her masters in ABA. Julie has worked in home, school, and clinic settings with individuals ages 2-18. She received her masters in ABA at Ball State University and became a BCBA in 2019. Julie has four children (boys), one with severe special needs. She has worked in the special needs community since having a special needs child who is now 21. Julie just moved back to Iowa after living in Florida for a year and bought her first home in Urbandale with her husband.

Aly is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received B.A. degrees in Psychology and Spanish from Creighton University, where she was first introduced to the field of ABA and began providing in-home ABA services to an individual client with autism. Through this experience, she became inspired to pursue a career in providing early intervention services to children on the autism spectrum. She went on to receive a Masters in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis through a hybrid program with the University of Nebraska-Omaha and University of Nebraska Medical Center. During grad school, Aly worked as an ABA therapist in various in-home, school, and clinical settings with children ages 2-18. After receiving her BCBA certification in 2020, she provided services in a center-based environment in Missouri for a year before moving back to Iowa to be closer to family.

Aly lives in Des Moines and enjoys reading, cooking, attending sporting events, and spending time with family and friends.

Kelly Furbur is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received her M.A. in Special Education with an emphasis in ABA and Autism from Ball State University in 2019. Prior to entering the field of ABA, Kelly was a Special Education Teacher at an elementary school, teaching children with a variety of different needs, which is how she found behavior analysis. She began working as a behavior technician while teaching to learn more about ABA. After graduating and working towards her BCBA certification, she wanted to focus on providing services to children and their families.

Kelly has experience working with children diagnosed with autism, ages 2 to 14, in home, center, and school based programs. She enjoys implementing services to those in early intervention and preparing them to transition into a school setting.

Kelly lives in East Peoria, IL with her fiancé, dog, and cat. In her free time, she likes to hang out with friends and family, walk her dog, and stay active.

Morgan Jungwirth (she/her) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in Clive. She received a BS in Behavior Analysis and Therapy from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. While there, she worked at a research clinic as a behavior technician where she provided behavior analytic services to children aged 3-7 with a wide range of disabilities. She then moved on to receive a M.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Cincinnati. Morgan then spent an additional 2 years working as a Behavior Technician with individuals on the autism spectrum (age 2-27) where she delivered a wide range of behavior analytic services in various settings.

Morgan has worked in home, clinic, and field settings. She has also worked on and published research related to teaching communication and perspective taking skills to children with ASD as well as research on the benefits and utilization of coping skills. Through her time in the field, she has grown strong interests in teaching communication skills, conducting parent trainings, and teaching coping skills to clients. She looks forward to utilizing these interests and skills with all of the clients she serves at Stride clinics!

Morgan lives in Norwalk, IA with her fiancé and their kitten Frankie. In her free time, she loves anything crafty, time outdoors, and a good book.

Jordan Karlson is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). He received his B.S. in Accounting and Business Administration. While putting himself through school in California, he started working as a special education teaching assistant. Through his experiences with various ages and disabilities in that role, he fell in love with ABA.

After moving to South Dakota, Jordan re-entered the field of ABA as a teaching assistant. A promotion to a BCABA role inspired him to go back to school. He obtained his M.S in Applied Behavior Analysis from National University in December 2020.

Jordan has experience with various disabilities and has worked mainly worked with ages 3-21, but has experience with adults with developmental disabilities as well. He also has experience in clinical supervision, supervising staff, trauma informed care and specializes in severe problem behavior. He enjoys working with early intervention clients to ensure they get the treatment they need and deserve to catch them up to neurotypical peers and to prevent escalation of problem behavior later in life. The progress he sees from his clients inspires him to maintain his clinician role in the field.

Jordan lives in South Dakota with his wife, toddler, and dog. He enjoys playing video games, teaching his son who has autism, and watching the Saints try to win another Super Bowl (hopefully soon!).

Jamie Kenney is a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received a B.S. in Early Childhood education from Kendall College and a B.S from Oregon State in Anthropology. In 2019, Jamie began working part-time as a behavior technician, while she was attending Northern Illinois University to pursue a M.S.Ed in Early Childhood Education with licensure. However she fell in love with ABA and decided to pursue a second Masters and added Applied Behavior Analysis.

After 13 years in an early childhood classroom, Jamie decided to change her profession to ABA. Jamie has experience providing behavioral services to individuals, ages 2 to 12, with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in both home and clinic based settings. She is passionate about helping individuals with autism and teaching their families the skills they need to understand their children and help them to thrive.

Jamie moved from Northern Illinois to Cedar Rapids, IA with her 2 teenage boys, 2 cats, and a dog. She has another 19 year old son that stayed back in IL. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with family.

Zijie Ma is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral (BCBA-D). He earned a master’s degree and a PhD in special education from the University of Kansas. He believes knowledge and expertise become most valuable when used to serve the public good. He is passionate about serving individuals, families, professionals, and communities in ways that can improve the quality of life of individuals with ASD.

Zijie’s previous experience focused on three areas: service, research, and teaching. He has experience providing ABA service for children aged 3-10 in clinic, school, and home settings. He also provided parent training centered on practical, evidence-based strategies caregivers can use in daily activities. Relatedly, his research interest focused on evidence-based communication interventions for children with ASD and telehealth parent training. He had also taught several graduate classes in special education service for children with ASD.

Zijie lives in Iowa city with his wife, and son. He likes playing volleyball, hiking, and video games.

Maithri is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst from Michigan. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Neuroscience. She helped conduct an encopresis research study in the child behavioral health department at the children’s hospital where she learned and fell in love with ABA therapy and decided to pursue her masters in ABA at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Maithri has over 3 years of experience working with children diagnosed with Autism and other developmental disabilities. She has provided clinic-based ABA services for children ranging from 2-15 years old in pre-schools, early intervention, and pediatric clinics. She is passionate about teaching functional communication, targeting socially significant daily living skills and social skills, reducing challenging behaviors while teaching appropriate replacement behaviors, and helping parents learn more about ABA through parent training to better help their child in the home setting. Maithri has a special interest in incorporating ABA principles with technology in the education system and hopes to pursue higher education to continue learning and adding more research about this topic!

Maithri lives in downtown Chicago with her husband and loves to try new restaurants, watch a good TV show, travel, and spend time with her family and friends.

Chelsey Olson (she/her) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received her B.S. in Psychology and Philosophy from Elmhurst University. Shortly after graduating, she began working in the ABA field as a Behavior Technician where she realized her passion for helping children on the autism spectrum learn new skills. While earning her M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University, she worked as a mentor for new Behavior Technicians where she gained valuable knowledge about motivating employees. Chelsey has over 5 years of working in the ABA field with children on the autism spectrum between the ages of 2 and 13. She has experience working in home, daycare, school, and clinic settings. She enjoys helping her clients reach their full potential, while teaching families to incorporate ABA techniques in their daily lives.

In her free time, Chelsey enjoys horseback riding, taking her dog on hikes, and going on weekend adventures with her son.

Annie Palmer is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst from Arizona. She received her masters degree in Psychology from Grand Canyon University and studied Applied Behavior Analysis at Florida Institute of Technology.

Since beginning work in this field, Annie has gained experience working with clients ages 1-23. Her passion is working in early intervention to teach foundational skills to young learners. Annie’s priority in treatment is to provide quality, empathetic care to individuals and their families as they work towards their goals.

Annie lives in Omaha, Nebraska with her dog, Spooky. In her free time, Annie loves to do puzzles and watch scary movies.

Taylor Rassel is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in Hiawatha. She received her BA in Psychology from University of Northern Iowa. After graduation, she discovered ABA and began her work as an RBT in a clinical setting. While working in the clinic, she quickly developed a passion for the field and decided to further her education in the field. Moving forward, she received her MA in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University. After completion of her degree in 2020, Taylor became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Taylor has experience in various settings and has worked with individuals throughout all stages of life (2-65). Taylor’s true passion lies in early intervention and serving children and their families. She also has experience providing ABA remotely and is looking forward to sharing here knowledge and experience in providing services in this way. Additionally, she is looking forward to taking what she has learned and using it to help families and clients achieve their goals throughout her time at Stride.

Taylor lives in Centerville with her boyfriend and 2 dogs, Edith and Olive. In her free time, she loves spending time with family, baking/cooking, and spending time outdoors.

Emily is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She attended The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where she received her Master’s of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis and her Master’s of Art in Counseling Psychology, concentrating in trauma studies. Prior to entering the field of ABA in 2019, Emily worked as a special education teacher for children and adolescents in the public school system. Through her ABA clinical experience as both a Behavior Therapist and BCBA, she has worked with individuals across the lifespan diagnosed with various developmental disabilities, including individuals with dual diagnoses (e.g., anxiety, depression, OCD). Emily has experience providing in-home, clinic-based, and consulting services. She is passionate about advocating for her clients and their individual needs across all of life’s settings.

Emily’s professional interests include trauma-informed care, organizational behavior management/people operations, and collaborative care. In her free time, Emily enjoys going on walks on the lakefront, watching reality TV, and spending time with her family, friends, and 2 cats!

Paulina is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with 10 years of experience in the field. Paulina received her B.S in Health Sciences with a double minor in Psychology and Biology from Dominican University and her M.S in Applied Behavior Analyst from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. After graduating with her Bachelors she began working as a 1:1 therapist in one of Midwest’s first Verbal Behavior Based Schools. She quickly developed a passion for ABA as she saw the impact it was making on her students. Paulina went on to work at a variety of settings including in-home-based therapy, community settings and therapeutic day schools.

Paulina has a passion for working on a team and has worked closely collaborating with a variety of therapists to design individual educational opportunities for her clients. She is passionate about working with our early learners and their families to help them reach their individual goals.

Paulina lives in Hickory Hills with her husband and two sons, Wyatt and Rowan. In her free time she loves spending time outdoors, hiking and exploring National Parks.

Kaleigh Vesely is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She graduated with her B.S. in Psychology from Iowa State University. After graduation, Kaleigh worked as a special education aide in a middle school where she discovered ABA and decided to pursue a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Drake University. During graduate school, she had the opportunity to work with children aged 18 mos – 21 yrs in a severe challenging behavior unit at a developmental clinic.

Following graduation and certification, Kaleigh moved to South Florida where she spent a few years providing both early intervention and challenging behavior reduction services to children with autism aged 2-6. She is excited to be back in Iowa and bring all she has learned to her home state. Kaleigh is passionate about helping children with autism grow and teaching their families the skills to help them be successful.

Kaleigh lives in Ankeny, IA with her dog. In her free time she enjoys hiking, reading, and acrylic painting.

Amber Wehrenberg is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in the Des Moines area. Amber earned her BS in Speech Language Pathology from University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in 1997. After graduation, Amber chose to stay home with her daughter and then with her son. During this time, she volunteered at her children’s school, coached gymnastics, and spent time traveling for her children’s activities. In 2013, she moved with her family to Aledo, Texas where she earned continuing education credits in education. She began student teaching and realized she had a passion for the children and their families who needed more support. In 2019, Amber earned her MEd in Curriculum and Instruction (emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis). While attending graduate school, Amber worked as a behavior therapist in the home setting as well as in the clinic setting, helping clients and families build socially significant behaviors.

After moving to Iowa in 2019, Amber and her husband organized a tennis program through ACEing Autism providing the opportunity for children to experience social connections while learning tennis. They utilized grants allowing children to attend the program at no cost to the families, and work with area high schools to give students the opportunity to earn volunteer hours. Amber recently became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and is looking forward to working with families to navigate Applied Behavior Analysis.

Amber lives in Waukee with her husband and two dogs. She enjoys spending time doing outdoor activities and spending time with family.

Stephanie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She attended National Louis University and earned a Master’s of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis. Throughout her career, Stephanie has provided services to individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health diagnoses across the lifespan (ages 3-70). She has worked in clinics, in-home, and has done consulting work in schools, day programs, and group homes. Stephanie is passionate about promoting independence and goes into each opportunity with a caring, optimistic, and encouraging attitude.

Stephanie’s professional interests include developing caregiver/staff trainings, organizational behavior management, and trauma-informed care. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys spending time with friends/family, walking her dog along the lake, and baking sweets!

Colt is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). He received a B.A. in Psychology from Hofstra University in 2017. After graduating, Colt began working as a behavior technician in his home state of Pennsylvania. He became a RBT in 2018 and began working with young children diagnosed with Autism in home, school, and community-based settings. Colt moved to Nebraska with his wife in 2019 and continued working as an RBT, where he gained experience working with neurotypical teenagers and other diagnoses, while also continuing to work with clients diagnosed with Autism.

In 2020, Colt began attending Arizona State University, where he received his MA in Special Education with a concentration in ABA. Following graduation, Colt became a BCBA in July, 2022. Colt is passionate about teaching learners with deficits skills that they can use for a lifetime, while also reducing behaviors to help learners access least restrictive environments as they age.

Colt lives in Lincoln with his wife and three cats. He loves exploring new places, hiking, and playing different styles of music on the banjo.

Dr. LeBlanc is the President of LeBlanc Behavioral Consulting. She previously served as a professor at Claremont McKenna College, Western Michigan University and Auburn University and as the Executive Director of Trumpet Behavioral Health. She has published over 100 articles and book chapters on topics such as behavioral treatment of autism, technology-based behavioral interventions, behavioral gerontology, and systems development in human services. Dr. LeBlanc is an Associate Editor for Behavior Analysis in Practice and the Literature Review Editor for Education and Treatment of Children. She has previously served as an Associate Editor for The Analysis of Verbal Behavior and the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. She is the 2016 recipient of the American Psychological Association Nathan H. Azrin Award for Distinguished Contribution in Applied Behavior Analysis.

Dr. Meadan-Kaplansky is a professor at the Department of Special Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Goldstick Family Scholar, and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Her focus areas include social-communication skills and challenging behavior of young children with autism and intervention methods to enhance these spheres of functioning, including developing a parent-implemented intervention program for children with limited expressive language.

Having published more than 100 articles and book chapters in leading journals in the field of special education, Hedda has a strong track record of grant management, scholarly activity, and student mentorship. Two of her current research projects study the use of technology to support service providers, therapists, and families of children with disabilities. She is also the Principal Investigator (PI) on three US Office of Special Education Programs leadership grants and the Co-PI on two grants: (1) a cross-university federal grant focused on ABA and (2) an Institute of Education Sciences research grant to develop and test Family Behavior Support mobile software application.

Brad is the Founder and CEO of Stride Autism Centers. Inspired by his adult sister who has a severe ASD-related disorder called Rett Syndrome, Brad is personally and professionally dedicated to supporting individuals with complex needs.

Brad began his career in investment banking at Moelis & Company in New York. Before founding Stride, Brad was a private equity investor at Madison Dearborn Partners and TZP Group, where he evaluated, executed and oversaw investments in growth-oriented companies.

Brad earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BBA with High Distinction from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Brad serves on the Board of Rett Syndrome Research Trust (RSRT) and in 2015 founded Reverse Rett Chicago, a fundraiser that has generated ~$2.5 million for Rett Syndrome Research since inception. Brad also serves on the Board of Aspiritech, a non-profit that employs adults with autism. Brad previously served as Treasurer of the Illinois Association for Behavior Analysis (ILABA).

Lynn has 20 years experience in Home Health and Hospice billing. Lynn’s past responsibilities were multifaceted including billing, posting payments and AR review. Lynn is looking to using her experience and growing with Stride Autism Centers.

‪Vanessa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. ‪She first got introduced to the ABA field in 2018 through a clinic that provides behavioral and mental health services to children and adolescents. From that day forward, her passion for ABA has gotten stronger and bigger. ‪‪‪She enjoys seeing the positive impact ABA has on Stride’s clients and their families, thus making her want to be a part of their journey! ‪Vanessa first joined Stride as an RBT when the Omaha clinic opened. She’s excited to transition to a Recruiting Specialist to help find more great team members who want to join this impactful movement of ABA at Stride!

‪During her free time, ‪she loves to spend time with her two boys and being outside, exploring! ‪When ‪not with her busy toddlers, ‪you can find Vanessa at the gym doing some heavy lifting or comfortably reading a book in bed!

Abrianna is the Contracting and Credentialing Specialist for Stride Autism Centers. Her areas of responsibility include coordinating and managing payer relationships and provider enrollment. Abrianna has five years of revenue cycle experience, working in multi-site healthcare systems for both hospital medical staff offices and physician group practices. Abrianna is excited to contribute to expanding the population of children who receive improved outcomes with evidence-based treatment plans.

Anett enjoys the many facets of medical billing, which is why she is excited to be with Stride Autism Centers. Medical Billing and Coding Certified since 2005, Anett’s experience includes billing for Hospitals, Home Health, Private Physicians and now ABA Therapy.

Abbi is the Talent Acquisition Lead for Stride Autism Centers. She was first introduced to ABA therapy while working in special education classrooms for the Wichita Public School system. Abbi fell in love with ABA after witnessing the impact this therapy made on her students and their families in their daily lives. She has gotten to work alongside many wonderful ABA therapists and BCBAs during her time as an educator. Abbi has since left the classroom and transitioned into supporting ABA clinics behind the scenes as a recruiter. She is passionate about bringing great talent to work with Stride’s clients and their families.

As the intake and authorizations coordinator for Stride Autism Centers, Angela works closely with insurance providers to ensure each child receives approval to enroll in the ABA therapy with Stride. Born and raised in Upstate New York, Angela’s passion for helping others is what drew her to the medical field. She graduated in 2014 with a degree in health administration. While living in Rochester, she worked for a local radiology facility and specialized in insurance authorizations. In July of 2021, she moved to Chicago. She enjoys spending her time with family, especially her two nieces.

Tanya earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Frostburg State University and comes with over 27 years of healthcare experience. Tanya recently served as the Director of Revenue Cycle Management for a large Oncology and multi-specialty practice and also has a history in Long Term Care, Public Health and Autism.

During her free time, she enjoys traveling and sports with the family. Tanya is a #boymom of 3 and avid football fan. She is Baltimore, MD born and raised (go Ravens) and has lived in Johns Creek, GA for going on 5 years (go Dawgs).

Working in the healthcare industry for over a decade, Megan has seen the ins and outs of many areas including family practice, many forms of therapy, oncology, hematology, and infusion services. She has an extensive amount of knowledge with insurance companies and obtaining authorizations for all forms of treatment. She is excited to grow with Stride, helping guide families through the journey of getting their child/ren enrolled with ABA therapy. Megan is from a small town in Michigan where she enjoys the country life with her husband, four boys and many dogs.

Conner is the Operations Supervisor at Stride Autism Centers. Conner graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from Iowa State University in 2020. After graduating he began exploring work closely related to his degree. In 2021 he was met with an opportunity to work as an RBT with Stride. Inspired by the story of Stride and feeling a personal connection to ABA through the presence of autism in his own family, Conner eagerly entered the Stride team in Johnston, IA.

In just a little over a year Conner worked his way up through Stride from RBT to Center Coordinator, added in the Logistics Coordinator role and now he is the Operations Supervisor. The progress he’d seen clients make and the collaborative nature of Stride helped motivate Conner to keep finding more ways to help.

Conner currently lives in Des Moines, Iowa. He enjoys spending time with his cat and painting with his close friends.

Sandy is a retired special education teacher who went on to be a high school administrator, Dean of Students and Special Education Administrator at a large public high school.

Sandy started her career as a special education teacher and an educational specialist in public schools, private schools and hospitals. She has worked with students of all ages, ability levels and a variety of disabilities. After years of being in the classroom, Sandy moved into school administration. She was an Assistant Principal in a private school and then Dean of Students and Special Education Administrator in a large public high school.

Sandy earned her BS in Ed from Illinois State University, her M.Ed. from National College of Education (now National Louis University) and her Type 75 school administration certificate from Aurora University.

She now enjoys the freedom retirement offers to allow her to explore new avenues including being part of Stride.

Katie (she/her) is the Director of Operations for Stride Autism Centers. Katie entered the ABA field as a behavior therapist in 2013. While working with children and teens ages 2-17 she quickly became interested in the day-to-day operations and moved into an Office Manager role. Originally from Louisiana, Katie moved to Chicago in 2018 to pursue a career in ABA. Starting in the billing department, she worked her way through each non-clinical department and found her calling in operations. She loves seeing the progress that each child makes and how life changing ABA is for families! She also loves seeing the growth of behavioral therapists and new BCBAs!

Katie lives in Chicago with her wife and two cats. In her free time she enjoys cooking and working on home improvement projects.

Zach serves as Growth Advisor for Stride Autism Centers where he advises on strategies for reaching new families and driving awareness of new centers. Zach is currently the President and co-founder of Swift Homes, a rapidly growing real estate marketplace that connects home sellers and home buyers. Zach began his career in investment banking and earned dual-degrees in Finance & Accounting from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Sam is a developer and manager of award-winning hotels and restaurants, overseeing ~50 properties across the Midwest. Sam’s experience realizing brand vision helps Stride develop joyful centers that meet the unique needs of its clients and staff. Additionally, Sam’s leadership role within the hospitality industry provides Stride with important insights on managing physical spaces’ health and safety during COVID-19. Sam earned a Bachelor’s in Engineering and a Masters in Design & Innovation from Northwestern University where he specialized in human-centered design.