Our team

Stacee is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She received her B.S. in psychology from Illinois State University and her M.A. in psychology from The Chicago School of Psychology, with a specialization in applied behavior analysis. Stacee was first exposed to ABA during her undergraduate coursework where she participated in a research project to provide ABA interventions to young children with developmental disabilities.

Stacee has worked with individuals with disabilities since 2007 and has worked with all ages, birth through adulthood. She has worked in mental health, social work, foster care, schools, residential, and community-based settings. Stacee is passionate about working in early intervention with young children with neurodevelopmental differences and providing assent-based, trauma-informed, and neurodiversity-affirming behavioral interventions.

Stacee lives in the Quad City area and enjoys spending time with her children, reading, and listening to or watching anything paranormal or science-fiction related.

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!

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!

Yira is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received a B.S. degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Behavioral Neuroscience from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. During her undergraduate years, she worked as a research assistant in the neuroscience department, conducting developmental animal research. Her interest in development led her to pursue a career working with children. After working as an assistant preschool teacher, she discovered ABA. She decided to pursue a master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University, following a year of experience as a Registered Behavior Technician.

Yira has experience in early intervention and enjoys teaching technicians how to make ABA sessions fun to promote social skills, communication, and peer interactions.

Originally from Colombia, Yira moved to Ohio in 2010. She currently lives in downtown Chicago with her fiancé and dog. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new places in the city, traveling, and staying active through CrossFit.

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.

Alexis Langenhorst is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received a B.A. in Psychology and Health Systems from Hastings College in Nebraska. After graduating, Alexis started working as a Registered Behavior Technician in a clinic and discovered that she loved ABA. Alexis was an RBT with Stride and then shortly transitioned into the Lead RBT role where she assisted BCBA’s and helped trained new RBT’s. She then attended Arizona State University online to receive her Master’s Degree in Special Education with a concentration in ABA. Following graduation, Alexis passed the board certified exam and became a BCBA. Alexis has experience working with individuals with autism from ages 2-12 years old.

She lives in Lincoln Nebraska with her Husband, Josh, and two dogs, Copper and Woody. In her free time she likes to play sand, indoor, and grass volleyball.

Abbey is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She attended the University of Northern Iowa and received her BA in Social Work. After graduating, she didn’t know what she wanted to do with her degree then happened to stumble upon Stride. She felt a personal connection as she has three nephews and one niece who have been diagnosed with Autism. She started her journey with Stride in 2021, a few months after they opened the first clinic in Clive. It only took a few months for her to fall in love with the profession and she decided to make the decision to go to grad school. In 2023, she graduated with a M.Ed. in ABA through Ball State University.

A little bit about her: she is engaged to her high school sweetheart and will be getting married in April 2024. They have a cat named Pickles and love to do anything outside in their free time. She also loves being crafty and decorating/redecorating her house!

Allison Thorenhill (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.

Amanda Messenger (she/her) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She began working in the ABA field in 2012 as a 1:1 therapist. Amanda received her undergraduate degree in Behavioral Sciences from Bellevue University. She continued working as an RBT while furthering her education. She graduated with a Master’s in Applied Behavioral Analysis from Ball State University and became a BCBA in 2020.

Amanda has experience working with children and adolescents age 2-14 and has worked across home, school, and clinic settings. She is passionate about individualized teaching, functional communication training, and focusing on socially significant behaviors to improve the lives of her clients.

Amanda lives in Omaha, Nebraska and enjoys cooking, being outside, and spending time with friends and family.

I’m a BCBA. I received my undergraduate degree in health and human physiology from the University of Iowa in 2018. I did SCL and respite work with children, teens and adults during my undergrad. I began working in ABA in 2019 as a behavior technician and loved the field immediately. I graduated from Ball State University with my Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis in December of 2021 and became a BCBA January of 2022. I have experience working with individuals with disabilities from the ages of 2 to 30 and ABA specific experience with 2 to 15. I am passionate about teaching communication and socially significant skills while providing trauma-informed, assent-based treatment.

I live in Des Moines with my husband and dog, Buster. In my free time I like to read, watch movies and spend time with friends & family (especially my 2 nephews).

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.

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.

Emily Hansen is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She attended the University of Northern Iowa where she received a B.A in Communication Sciences and Disorders. While working towards her undergraduate degree, Emily began providing therapy services focused on increasing communication skills with a number of different children with a variety of disabilities. After receiving her B.A., Emily began working in the ABA field, where she gained experience working with children between the ages of 18 months and 12 years. She also spent time working with other professions such as physical and occupational therapy, speech language pathology, and special education.

Emily went on to earn her M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis in Autism from Ball State University. Emily enjoys researching and staying up to date on all things related to communication. Emily is passionate about teaching children how to communicate their wants and needs while promoting a safe and fun environment for children to grow and learn. Emily is honored to be a part of assisting children and families in reaching their goals.

Emily lives in West Des Moines, IA with her husband, Reagan, and their Aussie-Border Collie mix, Penny. Emily enjoys thrifting, gardening, reading, fostering for the ARL, and traveling. In her free time you can find Emily and Penny practicing agility and advanced obedience skills.

Erin is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She completed her B.A. in Biology and Religion at Augustana University and her M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University. During her undergraduate studies, Erin discovered her passion for supporting individuals with disabilities in a residential direct-support role. Erin has experience providing services to individuals ages 3-18. She emphasizes the individualization of programming for each of her clients based on socially significant goals, learning styles, and compassionate care. Erin loves to see the progress her clients and families make through their ABA journey!

Erin lives with her husband (Kyle), dog (Otter), and cat (Lila). In her free time, she enjoys spending time outside, traveling, and doing home improvement projects.

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.

Kasey Villa (she/her) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She graduated with a B.A in Applied Psychology before going on to receive an M.A. in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University. While completing her undergrad, Kasey worked at a non-profit organization, providing individualized educational and behavioral services to children with a variety of needs. From there, she discovered her passion for ABA. Before pursuing her BCBA, Kasey worked as a Registered Behavior Technician for 10 years. She has experience providing services in a variety of settings, including school, clinic, community, and in-home settings with children between the ages of 2 and 19 years old. Kasey is passionate about providing early intervention services to help children develop communication and self-advocacy skills. Kasey lives in Des Moines with her husband, her cat, and her dog. In her free time, she loves to read, bake, and spend time with her husband.

Katie Spellmeyer is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received her B.A. in Psychology & Sociology from the University of Minnesota-Morris. After graduation, she began working as a DSP in a children’s residential facility supporting individuals with a variety of disabilities. There, Katie discovered her passion was to help support these individuals to live their lives as happy and independent as possible. When her company opened up their Outpatient ABA services, Katie moved over into an RBT role, discovering how impactful 1:1 early intervention services were for individuals with disabilities. Katie then received her M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University. Katie has experience providing services from ages 2-16. She enjoys working collaboratively with parents, schools, and other therapies to provide the best services to the child.

Katie lives in Sioux Falls, SD with her husband, two sons, and a corgi named Ruxin. In her free time she enjoys watching sci-fi shows, traveling, and watching her sons grow up.

Kelsey is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She earned her master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from the University of Nebraska at Omaha as an Interdisciplinary Behavior Consultant Scholar.

Kelsey has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with challenging behavior in various settings including, home, clinic, and school. Her fieldwork experience primarily involved coaching and consulting with teachers and administrators in the school environment. She is passionate about collaborating with parents, teachers, and other healthcare professionals to better generalize treatment to the natural setting. Kelsey’s favorite part of her job is connecting with her clients and watching them crush their goals.

In her free time, Kelsey enjoys going on adventures to the zoo with her husband and two little boys, playing at the dog park with her golden retriever, Millie, and eagerly planning her next magical trip to Disneyland.

Kristy Walker is a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over 10 years of experience in the field. She received a B.S. in psychology from the University of Iowa and then obtained an M.A. in clinical psychology from Northern Illinois University before returning to her home state of Iowa. Back in Iowa, she worked in a PMIC for children with internalizing and externalizing disorders before becoming a behavior tech in an early skill ABA clinic. Over the last 8 years, Kristy spent the majority of her career working in the Day Treatment Clinic at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics specializing in using applied behavior analysis to decrease severe and challenging behavior. During her time in the clinic, Kristy worked to obtain her BCBA and graduated from FIT in 2018. During her years in the clinic, Kristy utilized cutting edge interventions with children and adults to quickly and efficiently decrease behaviors such as aggression, destruction, self-injury, and elopement. Wanting to expand her repertoire of knowledge and prevent challenging behavior before it begins, Kristy joins the Stride team excited to continue working in early intervention. Kristy currently lives in Cedar Rapids with her husband, daughter, and two feline friends. In her free time, Kristy likes to explore new restaurants and cuisines, spend time with family, and catch up on any horror-related movies or TV.

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.

Maddie Judkins is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she received a B.A. in Psychology, minoring in Educational Psychology. While working towards her undergraduate degree, Maddie began providing services to toddlers with autism as a Registered Behavior Technician. She fell in love with the field of ABA and the idea of getting to work with such an amazing population every day. Maddie went on to earn her M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Nebraska-Medical Center and became a BCBA.

Maddie has experience providing early intervention services to kids between the ages of 2 and 10 years old in clinical, in-home, and in-daycare settings. During her graduate experience, Maddie also provided outpatient parent coaching services to families via telehealth. Additionally, Maddie enjoys staying up-to-date on and conducting research, particularly in the area of imitation skills. Maddie is passionate about teaching communication and independent daily living skills, promoting autonomy and providing compassionate care. She loves helping kids and families reach their goals and feels lucky to be part of their growth.

Maddie lives in Omaha, NE with her fiance. In her free time, Maddie enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing soccer, watching her sister play soccer for Creighton, and shopping.

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.

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.

Nahomi (she/her) is a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received her Bachelor’s of Forensic Psychology from Tiffin University before receiving her M.A. in Applied Behavior Science from the University of Kansas. While working towards her master’s degree, she developed a passion for working with children and worked as a behavior technician with individuals with Autism aged 2-26. Nahomi has a particular interest in teaching functional communication and staff training. When not at work, Nahomi coaches kids of all ages in soccer and enjoys lounging, crafts around the house, and spending time out with family and friends.

Taylor received her BA in Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa. After graduation, she worked in several ABA clinic settings and decided to further her education in the field. Taylor received her MA in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University and finished in 2023.

Taylor has experience working in a variety of settings, including in home and in the clinic with clients ages (2-10). She has been with Stride for 3 years and was previously an RBT before transitioning into this new role as a Behavior Analyst. Taylor is looking forward to taking what she’s learned with Stride as an RBT to continue helping families and clients achieve their goals while at Stride.

Taylor currently lives in Cedar Rapids with her husband Adam and 2 dogs, Stella and Trigger. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Taylor Vogt 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.

Tressa Phelps is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, originally from Decatur, Illinois. She received her master’s degree in Special Education from Liberty University and studied Applied Behavior Analysis at Florida Institute of Technology.

Tressa has a myriad of experience that she brings to the Stride team – ranging from early intervention to the school system to adults with developmental disabilities. Her passion lies in early intervention to teach young learners and their families on their autism journey. Tressa is also a mom of a son with autism, which brings a unique perspective to her treatment to provide quality services and care to learners as they work to reach their goals.

Tressa lives in Omaha, Nebraska, with her new husband, Jason, and her two children, Clayton and Carly. Often found with a Diet Coke in her hand, Tressa enjoys reading, spending time with her family and friends and baking yummy chocolate chip cookies.

Katelyn Dethlefs is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Katelyn received her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from College of Saint Mary in 2019. After a few years working with people who have sustained traumatic brain injuries and/or spinal cord injuries, she joined Stride as a RBT in Omaha in 2022. After seeing the impact that early intervention can have on a child with an Autism diagnosis, she decided that this was a field that she was passionate about and could make a real impact in. She began pursuing her Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University in 2023 and graduated in 2024 before becoming a BCBA in 2025. 

Katelyn has worked in the clinic setting with children aged 2-6. She lives in Omaha with her husband, Mark, their 2 daughters, Raelynn and Cecilia, and 2 dogs, Yadi and Archie. In her free time, Katelyn loves to cook/bake, take walks with her family, sports, outdoor activities, and trying new restaurants. 

Delaney Krumsee (she/her) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received her B.S in Neuroscience and her M.Ed. in Behavior Analysis from the University of Cincinnati. Delaney has always been passionate about working with children and discovered the field of ABA in her last year of her undergraduate education, which she has loved ever since. She has been in the field of ABA for 4 years, and has worked with kids for over 10 years. Delaney has provided ABA services to clients ages 2-22 with a wide range of needs in clinic, home, and school settings. She is dedicated to teaching her clients how to functionally communicate and learn readiness skills for their next journeys at their own pace.

Delaney lives in Clive, Iowa with her husband and mini bernedoodle, Aspen, after they moved from the Chicago suburbs to continue their education and professional careers. In her free time, Delaney likes to read, try new foods and restaurants, and cook with her husband.

I have been working with Stride as an RBT since 2022 and became a Recruiting Specialist in January of 2026! My wife and I live in Dallas, Texas and have 3 pugs. I am a nerd at heart, loving all things from superheroes to Pokémon. I played college baseball at Midland University in Nebraska, and love sports. The Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Cubs are my favorite sports teams, and I am an avid golfer as well. Between all of that, working for Stride has been the best experience of my life. I would not change a thing, and I am thankful to be a part of a company that puts their clients first while still focusing on their employees.

Madeline is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a Minor in Child & Youth Development in 2019 from Augustana University and a Master’s of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis from Augustana University in 2023. She has spent the last 10 years working with children with developmental disabilities whether it was in a volunteer or work capacity. After graduation, she started her career working in an elementary school for 4 years as a speech therapist before pursuing her degree in ABA therapy. She then moved onto working as an Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) in an ABA clinic working with individuals with autism aged 2-18. After graduating with her masters degree, she continued working in a clinic with individuals with autism. Madeline is passionate about working with individuals with autism, and assisting them to lead a fulfilling life. Madeline was born and raised in Southern Minnesota on a farm and currently resides in Sioux Falls with her fiance, Tim, dog, Remy and lizard, Loki. In her free time, she enjoys reading, knitting, watching hockey, and traveling.

Tracy Nichols has over 20 years of experience as a Medical Billing Specialist working in psychiatry, radiology, and ABA billing, and is a graduate of The Texas School of Business. Originally from Tennessee, Tracy currently lives in Houston, Texas, with her two sons and loves reading, cookin,g and spending time outdoors.

Emilly is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who received her Bachelor’s degree in Health and Human Services with an emphasis in Child Development and her Master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis from Northern Illinois University.

Before entering the field of ABA, Emilly worked for Northern Illinois University in their child development laboratory with children aged 3 months to 5 years old. During this time, she discovered her passion for supporting children and families and became interested in working with children with developmental and behavioral needs. She began her graduate program for ABA in 2019 and started working in the field of ABA in 2020, providing both in-home and clinic-based services to clients aged 2 to 16 years old. Emilly became a BCBA in September 2023 and since then she has worked in clinic-based settings with families and children. 

Emilly enjoys helping children build meaningful skills while supporting families through each step of their journey. She especially enjoys helping families navigate new autism diagnoses and assisting caregivers to better understand and advocate for their child’s needs. As a bilingual clinician, Emilly enjoys connecting and supporting both English and Spanish-speaking families. She also enjoys mentoring and training therapists and collaborating as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide the most effective individualized care. 

Outside of work, Emilly enjoys challenging herself by completing 1000+ piece puzzles. She also enjoys cooking new recipes, walking her dog (Junie B.), reading thriller books, listening to music and spending time with her family.

I joined Stride as an RBT in early 2023 after spending a few years in Special Education. After seeing how life-changing this work is for both clinicians and families, I transitioned into recruiting to help others discover the same career path and passion that I have found through my time at Stride! I love connecting passionate, driven people to the world of ABA. In my spare time, you’ll find me wherever the coffee and arts and crafts are!

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and spent 12 years working in the classroom before joining Stride. I began my in-clinic experience at Stride’s first Omaha center as a Center Coordinator, where I supported daily operations by coordinating staffing, scheduling, communication, and overall center organization.

After two years, I stepped into a Lead Center Coordinator role and transitioned to the Des Moines – Fleur clinic. In this position, I supported center operations while also helping guide and mentor other Center Coordinators. This experience helped prepare me for my current role as Central Operations Supervisor, where I support Clinic Directors and Center Coordinators across our Western region centers. I enjoy partnering with center leadership to solve problems, build strong systems, and create consistency in daily operations.

Outside of work, I enjoy low-stress, routine activities that help me recharge. I like reading, going on long drives with music, playing video games, spending time with family, and meeting up for coffee with friends