Little Leaves is an organization of professionals who are passionate about working with children.
Our program is supervised by master’s and doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and delivered by highly-trained therapists. We believe that our children’s families and caregivers are integral members of the treatment team and we treat them that way.
Little Leaves knows that providing the highest quality services to your child requires a team effort, and that is how we work. Within Little Leaves, we have created a model for our professionals to collaborate on treatment approaches, share best practices, and continuously learn from each other. Your child will be supported not just by his or her immediate team, but also by the decades of experience and expertise of all of our clinicians, many of whom have studied and trained in the finest ABA programs in the world.
Leadership Team
Bio
Marina Major, President, joined the founding team after 10 years with British Schools of America, a leading provider of British style international education based here in Washington DC. Ms. Major served as both its CFO and COO and was responsible for starting up four schools in the U.S. and assisting in the development of its international school. Ms. Major had oversight and responsibility for all BSA operations, spearheaded its expansion and multimilllion dollar construction projects and served on the school’s board of directors. Previously, she was Director of Administration and International Operations for Micro Analytics Inc., a leading logistics software developer and was responsible for company-wide operations at BT Office Products, where she worked directly for the executive board on corporate development initiatives. Ms. Major received a B.B.A. from the College of William and Mary, majoring in marketing with a minor in Spanish, holds a certificate in accounting from the University of Virginia, and is currently a CPA in the State of Virginia.
Marina Major
President
Bio
Amie Perl, SVP of Operations, has spent the better part of her career working for companies that change lives. Prior to joining Little Leaves, she served in various strategic and operational roles at Strayer University and Weightwatchers.com. She began her career in management consulting at The Boston Consulting Group where she worked with companies across a broad range of industries, and worked in finance at Goldman Sachs.
Amie has developed an expertise in and passion for helping families and providers navigate the challenges of insurance coverage for ABA and has been involved at the state and national levels. In recognition of her efforts, she was awarded the Provider Advocate of the Year award at the Autism Law Summit in 2021. Ms. Perl holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and graduated cum laude with a B.A. in applied mathematics from Harvard University.
Amie Perl
SVP of Operations
Bio
Heather Jennett, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, Vice President of Clinical Services, is a licensed psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has been working with individuals with autism and related disorders for over 20 years. Prior to working at Little Leaves, Dr. Jennett was a Senior Behavior Analyst on the Neurobehavioral Unit at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and held a faculty appointment at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Jennett earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Rutgers University and, while there, worked at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center in a variety of roles. She is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis, and has presented her research at national and international conferences and published in peer review journals.
Heather Jennett, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Vice President of Clinical Services
Bio
R. Justin Boyd, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, Regional Director (DC Metro) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and licensed psychologist with over 15 years of experience working with children diagnosed with ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Before joining Little Leaves, he served as a supervising psychologist with the Neurobehavioral Unit outpatient program at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Boyd holds a M.S. in Special Education and a Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, Association for Behavior Analysis International, and Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis. His research has been presented at regional and national conferences and workshops and published in peer-reviewed journals.
R. Justin Boyd, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Regional Director (DC Metro)
Bio
Erin Camp, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, Regional Director (Baltimore), is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has been working with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities of all ages for over 15 years. Prior to joining Little Leaves, she directed ABA services in a community-based organization in Kansas City, MO. Dr. Camp holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Florida, and is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis. Her research has been presented at regional and national conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Erin Camp Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Regional Director (Baltimore)
Bio
Barbara Davis, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Regional Director (South Florida), is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has been working with individuals with intellectual disabilities for nearly 15 years. Barbara was previously the Little Leaves Regional Director for the DC Metro region before she and her family moved to the South Florida area in 2017. Since moving, she has served as the Clinical Director for two community-based residential programs serving children and adults with intellectual disabilities and severe problem behavior. Previously, she worked on the Neurobehavioral Unit at Kennedy Krieger Institute in various roles. Dr. Davis holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida, an M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis, and a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology – both from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis, International, Association for Professional Behavior Analysts, and the Florida Association of Behavior for Behavior Analysis. Her research has been presented at regional and national conferences and workshops and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Barbara Davis, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Regional Director (South Florida)
Bio
Kendra McDonald, M.A., BCBA, LBA, Regional Director, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who has been working with children and adults with autism and related intellectual disabilities for over 15 years. Prior to working at Little Leaves, Kendra was the Director of Clinical Services for The Arc of Loudoun, overseeing development and implementation of behavior analysis at The Aurora School, Open Door Learning Center, and The Aurora Behavior Clinic. She earned her master’s degree in psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Kendra has presented research with an emphasis on verbal behavior at national, state, and local conferences. She is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the Virginia Association for Behavior Analysis.
Kendra McDonald, M.A., BCBA, LBA, Regional Director
Bio
Jennifer Wade, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, Regional Director (Richmond), is a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst who has worked with individuals ages 18 months to 21 years with intellectual or developmental disabilities for over 20 years. Prior to joining Little Leaves, Jen was the Assistant Director of Clinical Services for Next Steps Behavioral Centers, providing clinic-based, home-based, and community-based services. Over the years, she has worked in private ABA-based school environments and Virginia Commonwealth University – Autism Center for Excellence, in addition to operating her own business as an Educational and Behavioral Consultant. Jen has her B.A. in Psychology and Music from the College of William and Mary, her M.Ed. from Virginia Commonwealth University with a concentration in Early Childhood Special Education, and a post-graduate certificate in ABA from Penn State University. Jen is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts. She is currently serving as the treasurer for the Virginia Association for Behavior Analysis.
Jennifer Wade, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, Regional Director
Center & In-Home Directors
Bio
Jessica Garcia, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (Center Director at Columbia, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. Prior to joining the Little Leaves team, she was the Clinical Director for a center-based ABA program in North Carolina and previously worked at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Neurobehavioral inpatient and outpatient units. Jessica earned her B.S. in Psychology from Towson University, and her M.A. in Human Services Psychology with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Jessica Garcia, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Angela Malo, M.S., BCBA, LBA, (Center Director at Alexandria, VA) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who has more than 8 years of experience working with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and developmental disabilities. Prior to joining Little Leaves, she provided both center-based and home-based ABA services in Michigan. Additionally, she conducted diagnostic assessments specializing in ASD. Angela holds a B.S. in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina, M.S. in General Clinical Psychology from Eastern Michigan University, and a post-graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Angela Malo, M.S., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Jess Poyer, M.S., BCBA, LBA, (Center Director at Germantown, MD)is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 8 years of experience working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities. Before joining Little Leaves, she was an intern at the Virginia Institute of Autism and worked at the New England Center for Children (NECC). At NECC, she worked in both Massachusetts and Abu Dhabi with young adults in a residential program and preschoolers in a day program. Jess holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Virginia and an M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western New England University. She is a member of the Maryland Association of Behavior Analysis and the Association for Behavior Analysis International.
Jess Poyer, M.S., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Maureen Rushton, M.A., BCBA, LBA (Center Director at Ashburn, VA) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who specializes in working with children with Autism. She has worked in the area of early intervention for the past 15 years; providing services in school, home, and clinic settings. Prior to working at Little Leaves, she spent over 5 years as an ABA Program Supervisor at The Shafer Center, a non-public school for children with Autism located in Owings Mills, Maryland. For 2 years, Maureen served as a board member of the Baltimore Autism Society. Maureen holds a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, completed her Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis at The Pennsylvania State University, and earned her M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology. Maureen’s professional interests include the study and application of Organizational Behavioral Management (OBM) to increase staff performance in the workplace.
Maureen Rushton, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Jana Murgia, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, (Center Director at Reston, VA) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Behavior Analyst, and holds a Postgraduate Professional Teaching License for Special Education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She has 15 years of experience working with children with Autism and other disabilities. Prior to working at Little Leaves, she worked for more than 8 years in both teaching and administrative capacities for Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs, which supports students with Autism, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral challenges. Jana earned her B.A. in Psychology from American University and her M.Ed. from Cambridge College, concentrating in Special Education. She is a member of the Virginia Association for Behavior Analysis and the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts.
Jana Murgia, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Bianca Vassare, Ph.D., BCBA, LBA, (Director of Home and Community Services) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a Licensed Behavior Analyst, and a member of Association for Behavior Analysis International. Prior to working at Little Leaves, she spent 5 years applying CABASÒ ABA methodology in school settings to enhance verbal behavior repertoires of children diagnosed with Autism and other developmental disabilities. In addition, she has presented at the Association for Behavior Analysis International annual conference. Bianca obtained her Ph.D. and 2 master’s degrees in Applied Behavior Analysis from Columbia University.
Bianca Vassare, Ph.D., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Abby Brown, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (Center Director at Silver Spring, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. Prior to joining the Little Leaves team, she worked at a behavior analyst at a clinic in Texas and previously worked at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Neurobehavioral Inpatient Unit. Abby earned her B.A. in Applied Behavior Science and Sociology from the University of Kansas and her M.A. in Human Services Psychology with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Abby Brown, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Lisa Guerrero, Ph.D., BCBA-D, (Center Director at Weston, FL), is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has been working with children with developmental disabilities for nearly 10 years. Dr. Guerrero specializes in the assessment and treatment of pediatric feeding disorders. Prior to working at Little Leaves, Dr. Guerrero worked at the Pediatric Feeding Disorders Intensive Program at Children’s Specialized Hospital and Rutgers University. Dr. Guerrero earned her Ph.D. in School Psychology at the University of Florida and completed her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the Munroe-Meyer Institute. She is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis, International, and the Florida Association of Behavior Analysis. Her research has been presented at regional and national conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Lisa Guerrero, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Supervising Behavior Analysts
Bio
Leslie Brittain, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (Reston & Ashburn,VA) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 5 years of experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. She has worked with children and young adults in multiple therapeutic settings including homes, private schools, clinics, and public schools. Leslie holds a B.A. in Psychology and Special Education from James Madison University and a M.A. in Psychological Sciences, with a concentration in Behavior Analysis.
Leslie Brittain, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Brittney Lazor, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (Weston, FL) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Prior to becoming a Supervising Behavior Analyst, she was a Behavior Specialist at Little Leaves, a research assistant at Towson University’s Cognitive Development Lab, and an intern on the Neurobehavioral Unit (outpatient and inpatient) at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Brittney earned her M.A. in Applied Developmental Psychology from George Mason University, where she specialized in Atypical Development and Behavior Interventions. She is a member of the Maryland Association of Behavior Analysis, the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis, and the Association for Behavior Analysis International. Her research has been presented at regional conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Brittney Lazor, M.A., BCBA, LBA,
Bio
Carrie Scheffenacker, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (White Marsh, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Behavior Analyst. She has worked with children with ASD and developmental disabilities for over 10 years in multiple academic and therapeutic settings. Prior to joining Little Leaves, she worked at the Model Asperger Program at The Ivymount School in Rockville, MD. Carrie holds a B.A. in Psychology from West Virginia University and a M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis with a concentration in Autism from Ball State University.
Carrie Scheffenacker, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Maureen Grajewski, M.S., BCBA, LBA, (Silver Spring, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 7 years of experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. Prior to joining the Little Leaves team, she previously worked as a Supervising Behavior Analyst in Honolulu, HI where she provided both center-and-home-based services to children with ages ranging from toddler to teenager. Maureen earned her B.S. in Psychology from Shippensburg University, and her M.S. in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. She is a member of the Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis.
Maureen Grajewski, M.S., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Yudelkis Fuste, M.S., BCBA, (Weston, FL) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has more than 5 years of experience working with children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. In the past, she has provided services across multiple therapeutic settings including in-home, schools, and clinics. Prior to joining Little Leaves, Yudelkis obtained experience as a Center Director at an early intervention center in Gainesville, FL, where she eventually proceeded to serve as the Lead Clinical Supervisor. Yudelkis earned her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida, and her M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of South Florida. She is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis, where her research has been presented.
Yudelkis Fuste, M.S., BCBA
Bio
Rebecca Strawbridge, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (Germantown, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who has worked with children with developmental disabilities for over 7 years in both home and school settings. Prior to her current role, Rebecca was a Behavior Technician with Little Leaves and also worked as an ABA therapist for a local organization that services individuals with autism across the lifespan. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Salisbury University and her M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology.
Rebecca Strawbridge, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Cristina Palacios, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (Silver Spring, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst. Prior to transitioning into her Behavior Specialist role, Cristina was a Behavior Technician and Training Specialist with Little Leaves. She has been with Little Leaves for 6 years working in both home services and at our centers. Before joining Little Leaves, she worked for 2 years as an undergraduate research assistant in the Child Study Center examining treatments of specific phobias and Oppositional Defiant Disorder in children and adolescents. Cristina holds a B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Tech and a M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology, where she conducted research on skill acquisition and delays to reinforcement. She is also fluent in Spanish.
Cristina Palacios, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Matthew Halstad, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (White Marsh, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst. He has worked with children in the field of behavior psychology for over 10 years, in a wide range of residential and school-based settings. Prior to joining Little Leaves, he worked as a Behavior Resource Specialist with the Kennedy Krieger Institute, where he designed and implemented behavior interventions for students in their early childhood program. Matthew holds a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Towson University and a certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Penn State University.
Matthew Halstad, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Jessica Schuwer, M.Sc., BCBA, LBA (Alexandria, VA) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who has worked with children with developmental disabilities for over 6 years in both home and school settings. Prior to becoming a Behavior Specialist at Little Leaves, she was a Behavior Technician with the company and worked as a Behavior Therapist in London, England. Jessica earned her B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Surrey, her M.Sc. in Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology from the University College London and her post-master’s certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Johns Hopkins University School of Education.
Jessica Schuwer, M.Sc., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Lisa Beard, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (White Marsh, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst. Lisa has worked with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for the past seven years. She received her B.S. in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology from Drake University in Des Moines, IA and her M.A. in Human Services Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Prior to joining Little Leaves, Lisa worked for the Inpatient Neurobehavioral Unit at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and participated in behavior-analytic research at Drake University. Her research has been presented at regional and national conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Lisa Beard, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Amanda Menke, M.S., BCBA, LBA, (Reston & Ashburn, VA) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst. She has 6 years of experience working with children with autism and other disabilities. Prior to her employment with Little Leaves, she worked for Grafton Integrated Health Network, a community based residential facility. Her experience ranges from working in community group homes, in clients’ homes, and in private school. Amanda earned her B.A. in elementary and early childhood education from Shepherd University and her M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Shenandoah University.
Amanda Menke, M.S., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Meacha Coon, M.S., BCBA, LBA, (Reston, VA) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of experience working with children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. She has worked with individuals in home, community, school and residential settings. Before joining Little Leaves, she volunteered at the Kalamazoo Autism Center and worked at the New England Center for Children (NECC). While at NECC, she worked in both Massachusetts and Abu Dhabi, with students between the ages of 3 and 22, in both a day and residential settings. Meacha holds a B.S. in Psychology from Western Michigan University and an M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western New England University. She has presented research projects at local and national conferences and is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International.
Meacha Coon, M.S., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Melissa Spear, M.A., BCBA, LBA, (Columbia, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst. Since 2010, he has worked with children with developmental disabilities in a variety of settings conducting assessments, developing and implementing behavior programs, and providing social skills training. She also has experience training parents, teachers, and clinic staff on behavioral principles and interventions. Before holding her current role, Melissa worked as a Behavior Technician with Little Leaves. Melissa holds her B.S. in Psychology from West Virginia University and her M.A. in Professional Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology.
Melissa Spear, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Stephanie Orozco, M.S., BCBA (Weston, FL) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 15 years of experience working with individuals with Autism Spectrum and other related disabilities. She obtained her Masters in Science in Special Education from St. Thomas University and began her career teaching vocational and transitional skills to high school students with autism. Here, she quickly realized she wanted to do more to help her students. She went on to receive a Masters in Psychology with an Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration from Purdue University Global. Upon completion, she became the lead teacher for an early intervention program in Miami, Fl where she gained experience in assessment, data interpretation and creating individualized programs. Stephanie is versed in the areas of Verbal Behavior and Naturalistic and Incidental Teaching.
Stephanie Orozco, M.S., BCBA
Bio
Tina Dang, M.A., BCBA, LBA (Germantown, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who has been working with Little Leaves since 2013 in home, school, and clinic settings. In addition to her work at Little Leaves, she volunteers at the Children’s Developmental Clinic at University of Maryland where she works with children who need ongoing fine and gross motor development, language development, reading support, coordination difficulties, and difficulties with recreational motor skills. Tina holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from University of Maryland a M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology.
Tina Dang, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Caitlin Selden, M.A., BCBA, LBA (Silver Spring, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Since joining the Little Leaves team in 2016, she has worked with children with developmental disabilities in home, after-school care, and clinic settings. In 2017, Caitlin was part of the clinical team who piloted Little Leaves’ first center-based program. Caitlin earned her B.A. in Psychology from Salisbury University, where she also volunteered at a residential training facility for adults with developmental disabilities. She earned her M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology.
Caitlin Selden, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Natalie Odio, M.A., BCBA, (Miami Lakes, FL), is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over five years of experience in the ABA field. Her experience ranges from providing services in home, school, community and center-based settings to individuals from the ages of 2-13. Natalie is passionate about disseminating the ABA science and has traveled with the Global Autism Projects Skill Corps to Czech Republic as well as created a podcast (Monday Morning Coffee) to cultivate a community of support for current and future behaviorists. Natalie holds a B.A. in psychology from Florida International University and a M.A. in Professional Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology (Go Panthers!).
Natalie Odio, M.A., BCBA
Bio
Megan Orth, MSEd, BCBA, LABA (Columbia, MD), is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Behavior Analyst and Special Education Teacher. She has worked with children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities for over 8 years. Prior to joining the Little Leaves team, she worked at the New England Center for Children, in both their Boston and Abu Dhabi locations with students between ages 3 and 22 in day, residential, and public school settings. Meg holds a B.A. in Comparative Cultures & Politics and in Social Relations & Policy from Michigan State University as well as a M.S.Ed in Special Education from Simmons University and a Master’s Specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western New England University.
Megan Orth, MSEd, BCBA, LABA
Bio
Sarah James, M.Ed., MSW, BCBA, LBA (Richmond, VA), is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, licensed to practice in Virginia, with over 6 years of experience in the ABA field and 10 years of experience in health and human services. She holds masters’ degrees from George Mason University in special education and social work, with a concentration in social change. Prior to joining Little Leaves, she worked in various leadership positions in clinic-based, home-based, and private day school settings within the ABA community. She also has experience working on federal contracts for the Children’s Bureau and has a special interest in policy advancement. Her professional interests include early intensive behavioral interventions and parent and sibling support training.
Sarah James, M.Ed., MSW, BCBA, LBA
Bio
bio coming soon.
Located at Alexandria, VA.
Mikhail Ignatov, BCBA, LBA
Bio
Jannette Puisseaux, M.A., BCBA, LBA (White Marsh, MD), is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has been working with individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Diagnosis (ASD) and other developmental disabilities for nearly 15 years. Prior to joining the Little Leaves team, Jannette was the Director of Related Services at The Auburn School and previously, she worked at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Neurobehavioral Units (inpatient and outpatient).
Jannette earned her B.S. in Psychology from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain), her M.A. in Clinical and Health Psychology from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain) and a post-graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Jannette Puisseaux, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Bio
Sarah James, BCBA, LBA, LLC (Midlothian, VA)
Sarah is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, licensed to practice in Virginia, with over 6 years of experience in the ABA field and 10 years of experience in health and human services. She holds masters’ degrees from George Mason University in special education and social work, with a concentration in social change. Prior to joining Little Leaves, she worked in various leadership positions in clinic-based, home-based, and private day school settings within the ABA community. She also has experience working on federal contracts for the Children’s Bureau and has a special interest in policy advancement. Her professional interests include early intensive behavioral interventions and parent and sibling support training.
Sarah James, BCBA, LBA, LLC
Behavior and Training Specialists
Bio
Tara Brightbill, M.A., BCBA, (White Marsh, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Since joining the Little Leaves team in 2015, she has worked with children with developmental disabilities in home, school, and center-based settings. Tara earned her B.A. in Psychology from Goucher College, where she worked as an undergraduate research assistant in child development and presented her research at two nationally recognized conferences. She earned her M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology.
Tara Brightbill, M.A., BCBA
Bio
Sabrina Sanchez, M.S., BCBA (Weston, FL) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has worked with children with developmental disabilities for over 2 and a half years. Prior to joining Little Leaves as a behavior specialist, she provided center-based ABA services to children with ASD in an intensive early intervention clinic. Sabrina holds a B.A. in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University and an M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Miami.
Sabrina Sanchez, M.S., BCBA
Bio
Daritza Lahoz, RBT, (Silver Spring, MD) is a Registered Behavior Technician. She has worked with children with developmental disabilities for over 3 years in both home and clinic settings. Prior to working at Little Leaves, she served many families in the Prince Georges County Region as a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Facilitator and a Group Leader at a Family Crisis Center. Prior to transitioning into her role as a Training Specialist, she was a Behavior Technician for two years who worked in home sessions and was also part of the clinical team who piloted Little Leaves’ first center-based program in Silver Spring. Daritza earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland with a concentration in Family Studies. She plans to pursue a dual masters degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and Counseling. She is also fluent in Spanish.
Daritza Lahoz, RBT
Bio
Paulina Lauria, M.S., (Weston, FL) has worked with individuals with learning and developmental disabilities for over 4 years. Before joining Little Leaves, she provided center-based ABA services to infants with ASD in an intensive early intervention clinic. She also provided evidence-based behavioral interventions and social skills training to elementary-school aged children with ADHD in a school setting. Paulina holds a B.A. in Psychology and a M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis, both from the University of Miami. She recently completed all BACB-required coursework in the pursuit of national certification.
Paulina Lauria, M.S.
Bio
Ashley Panetta, RBT, (Reston, VA) is a Registered Behavior Technician and is pursuing national certification in the field. For over 4 years she has worked with children and young adults with physical and developmental disabilities in multiple therapeutic settings including homes, public schools, and clinics. Prior to her current role at Little Leaves, she was a Behavior Technician with the company and also worked in Tucson, Arizona both as a Behavior Technician providing in home care as well as a Transition and Rehabilitation Specialist for young adults transitioning out of the public school system. Ashley earned her B.A. in Health Sciences from Boise State University and is currently completing her M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis at Arizona State University.
Ashley Panetta, RBT
Bio
Emma Rauscher, RBT, (Germantown, MD) is a Registered Behavior Technician and is pursing national certification in the field. Before her current role, she worked with Little Leaves for two years as a behavior technician. She has experience working with children with developmental disabilities in the hone, school, and clinic setting. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from American University and is currently pursuing her M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis and her M.A. in Counseling Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Emma Rauscher, RBT
Bio
bio coming soon.
Located at Alexandria, VA.
Maggie Boldry, RBT
Bio
Madison Foster, M.S., RBT, (Millersville, MD) is a Registered Behavior Technician and is pursing national certification in the field. She has worked at Little Leaves for over 2 years starting as a community therapist in homes and schools prior to transitioning to center-based therapy at Little Leaves White Marsh in January 2019. She received a B.A. in Public Health and Psychology from Johns Hopkins University in 2018 and completed an M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis through Northeastern University in 2021.
Madison Foster, M.S., RBT
Bio
Diana Le, RBT (Columbia, MD) is a Registered Behavior Technician. She has been part of the Little Leaves team since 2015, working with children with developmental disabilities in homes, after-school care, in school support, and clinic settings throughout Maryland. Diana received her B.A. in Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is currently completing her M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology and is pursuing national certification in the field.
Diana Le, RBT
Bio
Kristin Pennewill, RBT, (White Marsh, MD) is a Registered Behavior Technician and is pursing national certification in the field. She has worked at Little Leaves for over 2 years now starting in homes and in preschools prior to transitioning to center-based therapy. Before joining Little Leaves she worked as a one-on-one aid and was also a preschool teacher. She received for B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently pursuing her M.A. in Special Education with an emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis at Arizona State University.
Kristin Pennewill, RBT
Bio
Maaham Usmani, RBT (Reston, VA) is a Registered Behavior Technician. She has been with Little Leaves for almost 2 years during which she has provided early intervention services to children with physical and developmental disabilities in the home, school, and clinic setting. Before holding her current role, Maaham worked as a Behavior Technician and a Senior Technician with Little Leaves. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Economics from George Mason University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Maaham is currently completing her M.A. in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from Pennsylvania State University and is pursuing national certification in the field.
Maaham Usmani, RBT
Bio
Sarah Bendekovits, M.Ed., RBT (Germantown, MD) is a Behavior Specialist who has worked with children with autism for over 5 years in the school, clinic, and home settings. Sarah completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Shippensburg University and graduated from Arcadia University in August 2020 with her master’s in education, with a concentration in ABA. Sarah is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in Applied Behavior Analysis degree at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She is also pursuing her national certification in the field. Prior to working at Little Leaves she was employed at the Ivymount School in Rockville, MD as a Lead Registered Behavior Technician in their Early Childhood Clinic.
Sarah Bendekovits, M.Ed., RBT
Bio
Carmen Albernas, BCaBA, is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst that has worked with individuals with developmental disabilities for over 3 years. Before joining Little Leaves, she provided services in diverse settings including center-based and home ABA services for infants with an ASD diagnosis in an intensive early intervention format. She also provided evidence-based behavioral interventions to middle-school-aged individuals focusing on social skills and verbal behavior training. Carmen holds a B.A. in Sociology with a focus on Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida International University. She is currently completing her M.A. in Professional Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology and is pursuing national certification in the field.
Carmen Albernas, BCaBA
Bio
Megan Walberer, RBT, (Ashburn, VA) has worked with Little Leaves for over 2 years during which she has provided early intervention services to children with physical and developmental disabilities in the home and clinic setting. Prior to her current role, Megan worked in a preschool setting and as a Behavior Technician with Little Leaves. She received her B.S. in Psychology from West Virginia University and is currently completing her M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology to pursue national certification in the field.”
Megan Walberer, RBT
Bio
Dyana Cabal, RBT, (Weston, FL) is a Registered Behavior Technician that has worked with Little Leaves for over a year providing early intervention services to children with physical and developmental disabilities in pre-school settings, home services, and the center in Weston, Florida. Dyana has a bachelor’s in Psychology from Florida International University. She is currently working on obtaining her Master’s in psychology with a specialization in ABA and pursuing national certification in the field.
Dyana Cabal, RBT
Bio
Abby DiGate, RBT, (White Marsh, MD) is a Registered Behavior Technician pursuing national certification in the field. She has worked as an RBT since 2019, gaining ABA experience with children with autism both in-home and in-center throughout the Baltimore-D.C. Metropolitan area. Abby graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. During her time at the University of Maryland she assisted in a child development research lab and worked in developmental clinics. She is now pursuing a dual Master’s in Special Education with an Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate at George Mason University.
Abigail DiGate, RBT
Bio
Kilee Sullivan, RBT, (Weston, FL) is a Registered Behavior Technician that has worked with Little Leaves since 2020. Prior to joining the Little Leaves family, Kilee spent time working with children and adults with disabilities in school and community settings. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Coe College of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and plans to pursue her Masters and national certification in the field.
Kilee Sullivan, RBT
Bio
Miranda Courteaux (Silver Spring, MD)
Bio coming soon.
Miranda Courteaux
Bio
Kaleigh Vesely, M.S., BCBA, (Weston, FL) has worked with individuals with behavioral disorders and developmental disabilities for the past 6 years in clinical and residential settings. Prior to joining Little Leaves, she spent 2 years providing evidence-based early intervention and challenging behavior reduction services to children aged 2-12 at a hospital-based developmental clinic in partnership with her university. Kaleigh holds a B.S. in Psychology from Iowa State University and a M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Drake University.
Kaleigh Vesely, M.S., BCBA
Bio
Alyssa Goldsmith, RBT, (Alexandria, VA) is a Registered Behavior Technician. Since joining the Little Leaves team in 2018, she has worked with children with autism in home and clinic settings. Prior to her current role, Alyssa served as a Behavior Technician for over two and a half years. At the University of Maryland, Alyssa earned a Bachelor’s of Science (B.S.) in Psychology and Human Development. While earning her degree, she worked at multiple research labs at the University of Maryland and Children’s National Hospital, including one for preschool-aged children with symptoms of anxiety. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science (M.S.) in Applied Behavioral Analysis and Special Education with the goal of obtaining the Board Certified Behavior Analyst credential.
Alyssa Goldsmith, RBT
Bio
Tori Smith, RBT, has worked with Little Leaves for over 2 years. While at Little Leaves, Tori has passionately provided early intervention ABA therapy to children with physical and developmental disabilities in-home and clinical settings. Prior to working with Little Leaves, Tori worked providing ABA early intervention services with a similar company as an RBT in the home setting. She received her B.S. in Biological Science and Spanish from Virginia Tech in December 2018. Tori is currently enrolled in a Master’s Program in Applied Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology and hopes to pursue national certification in the field as a future BCBA.
Tori Smith, RBT
Bio
Samantha Sterbenz, M.S., BCBA (Silver Spring, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 5 years of experience working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Prior to joining Little Leaves, she worked at the New England Center for Children (NECC) with adolescents and young adults in a residential setting. Samantha holds a BA in Psychology from Gettysburg College and an MS in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western New England University.
Samantha Sterbenz, M.S., BCBA
Bio
Jennifer Pratt, M.Ed, BCBA (White Marsh, MD) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Prior to joining Little Leaves, she worked 5 years as a special educator working with learners with autism and intellectual disabilities in self-contained classrooms. Jennifer holds a B.S. and M.Ed in Special Education from the University of Maryland and a Post Master’s Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Johns Hopkins University.
Jennifer Pratt, M.Ed, BCBA
Bio
Nicole Herrera (Reston, VA)
Bio coming soon.
Nicole Herrera
Bio
Iness Smadhi, RBT (Germantown, MD) is an RBT and training specialist currently pursuing her Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Over the last 5 years, she has gained experience in the field of ABA through working as an early intervention behavior therapist and as an assistant teacher at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. She joined the Little Leaves team in the Fall of 2020 as a behavior therapist and quickly grew as a Senior Behavior Therapist before settling into her current role as a training specialist.
Iness Smadhi, RBT
Behavior Technicians
Behavior Technicians work under our Supervising Behavior Analysts and implement the treatment according to the plan. Our therapists have extensive experience working with children and a true passion for what they do. Before working with your child, all therapists receive intensive training from us both in the theory of ABA and how to work specifically with your child. They either have or are pursuing certifications as Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs).
Administration
Bio
Catherine “Cassie” Raley, Director of Operations (Mid-Atlantic), comes to us from St. Mary’s County, MD where she started her career in Health Administration. Since 2014, Cassie has served in various roles supporting clients, staff, and the growth of the organization’s overall operations. She graduated cum laude with a B.A. in conflict analysis/dispute resolution and anthropology from Salisbury University.
Catherine “Cassie” Raley, Director of Operations
Bio
Erin Schaller, MA, BCBA, LBA, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 20 years of experience working with children. She has worked in schools as an educator, in a hospital setting at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Neurobehavioral Unit, and in community-based settings as a behavior analyst working specifically with children with autism and developmental disabilities. Erin earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Notre Dame of Maryland University and her M.A. in Human Services Psychology with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis. Her research has been presented at regional and national conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Erin Schaller, Talent Acquisition and Career Development Manager
Bio
Jasmine Robinson, MSW, HR Coordinator, supports the diverse HR needs of Little Leaves. Prior to her current role, Jasmine supported the intake and recruiting functions of the organization. She is also a licensed social worker with experience providing outpatient mental health services for children, youth, and adults in Maryland. Jasmine holds a B.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Jasmine Robinson, MSW, HR Coordinator
Bio
Mel Valier, Billing Manager, joined Little Leaves with 15+ years of healthcare accounting, auditing, and contract analyzing experience. Prior to joining Little Leaves, Mel worked for OPTUM as a Contract Analyst for over 11 years; where she was the top performer in the territory while retaining high quality. Mel has extensive knowledge and expertise in handling a variety of insurance payers and in healthcare reimbursement methodology. She is a part time student in college studying for her B.S. in Social Work.
Mel Valier, Billing Manager
Bio
Lisa Mummey, Billing Manager, joined Little Leaves with 12+ years of experience in medical billing for non-profit facilities and physician offices, and provider relations for an insurance company. She has extensive experience supporting patients in ensuring they receive the full benefits available through their plan.
Lisa Mummey, Billing Manager
Rebecca Reese, MBA, Marketing and Development Manager, Florida
Bio
Rebecca Reese, MBA (Market and Development Manager, Florida), joins Littles Leaves after working in marketing and business development for Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Mailman Segal Center for Human Development for 13 years. Rebecca earned her BS with a concentration in Marketing and her MBA with a concentration in Management at NSU and found her passion serving the community by connecting children and families impacted by autism to critical resources. In addition to her professional experience, Rebecca has served on the Broward County Autism Speaks Board, the Gilda’s Club South Florida Young Professionals.
Georgia Edet, MPS, Recruiter
Bio
Georgia Edet, MPS, Recruiter, has a passion to develop long-term recruiting strategies and nurture trusting relationships with potential hires within organizations. She aspires to help businesses implement strong talent pipelines for current and future hiring needs. Georgia joins Little Leaves after graduating with a M.P.S in Industrial Organizational Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park. She also holds a B.S. in Psychology from Bowie State University.
Stephanie Palmer, MSW, Family Support Specialist
Bio
Stephanie Palmer, MSW, Family Support Specialist, joined the Little Leaves team in 2018 as a Behavior Technician. She has since transitioned to the role of the Family Support Specialist where she helps new and inquiring Little Leaves families navigate through the intake and onboarding process in order to receive appropriate care coordination and support. Stephanie holds a B.S. in Health Management from Howard University and a Master of Social Work from the Catholic University of America.
Jacob Schafer, Clinical Support Coordinator
Bio
Jacob Schafer, Clinical Support Coordinator, graduated Magna Cum Laude from George Washington University with a B.A. in International Affairs and Psychology. Jacob has been with Little Leaves since 2019, working as an RBT at the Little Leaves Center in Silver Spring as well as providing home services in Maryland. Jacob plans to attend graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology.
Trish Sprekelmeyer, ABA Authorization and Financial Consultation Specialist
Bio
Trish Sprekelmeyer, ABA Authorization and Financial Consultation Specialist is the wife of a US Marine and a proud mother of two teenagers. Born and raised in California, Trish currently lives in Texas and has resided there for over 16 years. Following her own personal experience of supporting a family member with developmental delays, Trish left a career in IT to begin a career in the ABA field. She was a registered behavior technician for 4 years and has over 8 years of ABA center operations experience. Most recently, she led the effort for developing an ABA program in Maine, by building, supporting, and training employees on their EMR system. Her mission is to continue to support the growth of individuals and families impacted by developmental disabilities, and she is excited to be part of the Little Leaves team to continue in that mission.
Molly Bednar, M.A., BCBA, LBA, Director of Clinical Quality Assurance and Compliance
Bio
Molly Bednar, M.A., BCBA, LBA (Director of Clinical Quality Assurance and Compliance) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 10 years’ experience working with children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. Prior to joining the Little Leaves team, she previously worked at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Neurobehavioral inpatient unit in various roles. Molly holds a B.A. in Psychology from John Carroll University and a M.A. in Human Services Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis, International and the Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis. Her research has been presented at regional and national conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Nicole Hollins, Ph.D., BCBA, LBA, Director of Training and Professional Development
Bio
Nicole Hollins, Ph.D., BCBA, LBA, Director of Training and Professional Development, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has worked with neurotypical children and children with developmental disabilities for over 7 years. Prior to joining Little Leaves, Dr. Hollins served as a project coordinator and supervising behavior analyst for several grants that focused on evaluating current teacher practices while providing systemic recommendations for improving equity in the public schools. During that time, she provided services and developed efficient systems to over 40 various applied settings including schools, autism treatment centers, family homes, and group homes. Dr. Hollins holds a B.S. in Psychology and Spanish from Central Michigan University and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University. Dr. Hollins is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International. She has presented her research at national and regional conferences and published chapters in books and in peer reviewed journals.
Autumn Keener, Director of ABA Programming
Bio
Autumn Keener (Director of ABA Programming)
bio coming soon.
Maria Pineda, Operations Manager
Bio
Maria Pineda, Operations Manager
bio coming soon.
Jennifer Polkes, Marketing Manager
Bio
Jennifer Polkes, Marketing Manager
bio coming soon.
Serving Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland and Florida