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Our team

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Dr. Ashley Whittington-Barnish, PhD, LCP, BCBA-D, NCSP

Chief Clinical Systems Officer

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…

Kristen Cooper Borkenhagen, BCBA, LMFT

Chief Clinical Operations Officer

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…

Ryhanna Singleton

Ryhanna Singleton, BCBA

Clinical Supervisor

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…

Shelley Swan, BCBA

Clinical Supervisor

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…

Headshot of Kyleigh Bromen, the lead BCBA at Stride Autism Centers in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Kyleigh Bromen, BCBA

Clinical Supervisor, Lincoln

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…

Emily Brown, BCBA

Clinic Director, Hickory Hills

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…

Headshot of Rachael Cundall, Lead BCBA in Omaha, Nebraska at Stride Autism Centers.

Rachael Cundall, BCBA

Regional Clinic Director, Omaha

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…

Katie Haggerty, BCBA

Clinic Director, South Loop

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…

Amanda Lam, BCBA

Clinical Supervisor, Hickory Hills

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…

Danielle Markowitz, BCBA

Clinic Director & Family Support, Cedar Rapids Metro

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…

Victoria Meyer, BCBA

Clinic Director, Hickory Hills

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…

Justine Ayres, BCBA

BCBA, Des Moines Metro

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…

Morgan Beck, BCBA

BCBA, Urbandale

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…

Maddie Blankenship, BCBA

BCBA, West Omaha

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…

Shaela Bruce, BCBA

BCBA, Omaha

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…

Allison Canaday, BCBA

BCBA, Des Moines Metro

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…

Headshot of Megan Blount, BCBA at Stride Autism Centers in Des Moines Metro, Iowa.

Megan Corbridge, BCBA

BCBA, Des Moines Metro

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…

Jordan Creed, BCBA

BCBA, Davenport (Quad Cities)

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…

Julie Dauterive, BCBA

BCBA, Des Moines Metro

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…

Headshot of Aly Forbes, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in Des Moines, Iowa at Stride Autism Centers

Aly Forbes, BCBA

BCBA, Des Moines Metro

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…

Kelly Furbur, BCBA

BCBA, Davenport

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…

Morgan Jungwirth, BCBA

BCBA, Des Moines Metro

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…

Jordan Karlson, BCBA

BCBA, Sioux City

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…

Jamie Kenney, BCBA

BCBA, Hiawatha

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…

Dr. Zijie Ma, BCBA-D

BCBA-D, Iowa City

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…

Headshot of Maithri Malladi, a BCBA at Stride Autism Centers in South Loop, Chicago.

Maithri Malladi, BCBA

BCBA, South Loop

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…

Chelsey Olson, BCBA

BCBA, Lincoln

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…

Annie Palmer, BCBA

BCBA, Omaha

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…

Taylor Rassel, BCBA

Senior BCBA, Hiawatha

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…

Emily Rodman, BCBA

BCBA, Hickory Hills

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…

Paulina Snopek, BCBA

BCBA, Hickory Hills

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…

Kaleigh Vesely, BCBA

BCBA, Clive

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…

Amber Wehrenberg, BCBA

BCBA, Des Moines Metro

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…

Stephanie Wilson, BCBA

BCBA, Hiawatha

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…

Colt Young, BCBA

BCBA, Lincoln

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…


Clinical Advisors

Linda A. LeBlanc

Linda A. LeBlanc, PhD, BCBA-D, Licensed Psychologist

Clinical Advisor

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…

Hedda Meadan-Kaplansky

Hedda Meadan-Kaplansky, PhD, BCBA-D

Clinical Advisor

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…


Operations

Brad Zelinger

Brad Zelinger

Founder & CEO

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…

Lynn Biederman

Billing Specialist

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 Cortes-Duarte

Recruiting Specialist

‪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…

Abrianna Cummings

Contracting & Credentialing Specialist

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…

Headshot of Anett Drac, the Billing Specialist at Stride Autism Centers

Anett Drac

Billing Specialist

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…

Headshot of Abbi Fletcher, the Recruiting Specialist at Stride Autism Centers.

Abbi Fletcher

Talent Acquisition Lead

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…

Angela Giordano

Intake & Authorizations Coordinator

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…

Tanya Howard

RCM Manager

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…

Megan Kanan

Intake & Authorizations Coordinator

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…

Conner Kimbell

Operations Supervisor

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…

Sandy Ridker, M.Ed.

Billing Coordinator

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…

Katie Saltzman

Director of Operations

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…


Other Stride Advisors

Zach Fertig

Growth Advisor

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…

Sam Schwartz

Sam Schwartz

Center Architecture & Design Advisor

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…

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