Staff & Board of Directors
Lorri Unumb, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer
Lorri Shealy Unumb is a lawyer, mother of three teenage/adult boys, and an internationally renowned autism advocate. She began her career as an appellate attorney with the United States Department of Justice and then as a full-time law professor. Following her son’s diagnosis with autism, she began volunteering for autism causes, writing ground-breaking autism insurance legislation for South Carolina (“Ryan’s Law”) that passed in 2007 and served as the catalyst for the national movement toward autism insurance reform. She served for a decade as the national head of state government affairs for the international nonprofit Autism Speaks. Lorri is also the founder of the annual Autism Law Summit, now in its 20th year, and is co-author of the law school textbook “Autism and the Law.” In 2010, she founded the Autism Academy of South Carolina, a nonprofit ABA center now known as The Unumb Center for Neurodevelopment.
For her local, national, and international advocacy efforts, Lorri has been recognized with
- the NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award;
- the Miss South Carolina Pageant “Woman of Achievement” Award;
- the Jefferson Award for Public Service (Charleston, SC);
- the Professional Women in Advocacy “Excellence in a State Campaign” Award; and
- the Civitan International World Citizenship Award.
Her work has been profiled on CNN, on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” and in Town & Country magazine, from whom she received one of three 2009 “Women Who Make a Difference” awards. She is also profiled in the American Academy of Pediatrics 2013 book “Autism Spectrum Disorders: What Every Parent Needs to Know.”
Mike Wasmer, DVM, DACVIM
Chief Operating Officer
Mike Wasmer is chief operating officer at the Council of Autism Service Providers(CASP)
Formerly a Director of State Government Affairs for Autism Speaks, Mike was part of the team (with Lorri Unumb and Judith Ursitti) that led the autism insurance reform movement across the country. Driven by his experience as the father of a child with autism, Mike is passionate about the mission of CASP to promote and ensure access to safe, high-quality, evidence-based services for individuals with autism. A frequent speaker on autism advocacy and policy, Mike has also successfully advocated for the addition of meaningful autism benefits in many self-funded health benefit plans. Mike is the 2026 recipient of the of the Michael Hemingway Behavior Analysis Award.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Mike earned a Bachelor of Science degree Summa Cum Laude from Loyola University, Maryland, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. He also completed a veterinary internal medicine residency at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Mike is the father of two and lives in Kansas City with his wife, never too many dogs and cats, and a pond full of ornamental fish. In his free time, Mike enjoys working in the yard and lazy afternoons at the lake.
Mariel Fernandez, MS, BCBA, LBA
Vice President of Government Affairs
Mariel began working in behavior analysis in 2001 and earned her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis at Auburn University in 2004. She has extensive experience in clinical operations, compliance, and regulatory/public policy.
Prior to joining CASP, Mariel led the Regulatory Affairs department at Blue Sprig Pediatrics, focusing on advocacy, public policy, and legislative initiatives across 19 states. Mariel is the presiding officer of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Behavior Analyst Advisory Board, Chair of the Metro-Care Services Public Advisory Committee, and Past President of the Texas Association of Behavior Analysis Public Policy Group (TxABA PPG) She also serves as a subject matter expert for the Policy Council on Children and Families, specific to the Autism Services benefit through Texas Medicaid.
Mariel was honored with the Blue Sprig CEO Award, in 2020, for her work preparing the organization to shift to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was the recipient of the 2022 Autism Law Summit "Implementation Award" and the 2026 Association of Professional Behavior Analysts Gerald Shook Award recognizing her advocacy work to enhance the value of professional credentials in the practice of applied behavior analysis.
Mariel is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana. She currently resides in Dallas, Texas, with her husband Carlos and two miniature schnauzers, Cooper & Jax. Mariel enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, cooking, and walking/ cycling on the city’s hike and bike trails.
Kayla Chandler, CMP
Director of Events
Kayla brings 6+ years of experience in managing special events, conferences, and meetings. Prior to CASP, she worked for Global Genes, a rare disease advocacy nonprofit, leading the planning and execution of various events. She has planned and executed domestic and international events ranging from small symposia, golf tournaments, and galas to large conferences and summits both in person and virtual.
Kayla graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a BS in Sports, Entertainment, and Event Management and, more recently, received her certification in meeting planning, Certified Meeting Planner (CMP).
Kayla resides in Boston, MA. In her free time, Kayla loves to travel and spend time at the beach, paddle boarding, or relaxing with family and friends.
Kimberly McGillan
Senior Membership Manager
Kimberly McGillan is the senior membership manager at CASP. A 2020 graduate of Clemson University, Kimberly currently lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with her husband and enjoys hiking and traveling to national parks in her free time.
Andy Beres
Director of Marketing and Communications
Andy Beres is the director of marketing and communications at CASP. He brings 17 years of experience in public policy nonprofits and local organizations. Most recently, Andy served as marketing and communications director at the Maryland SPCA, where he developed thriving TV partnerships and revitalized storytelling. He also led major campaigns on poverty issues and the criminalization of homelessness at the Center for Law and Social Policy and National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, respectively.
Born in Cockeysville, Maryland, Andy earned his B.A. in English from Stevenson University. He currently lives in Virginia with his loving wife, two children, and Beagle.
Sara Weinkauf, PhD, BCBA, LBA
Director of Education and Resources
Sara Weinkauf is the director of education and resources at CASP. Sara has been a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) since 2010. While she has gained behavior analytic experience across a wide variety of contexts, she has dedicated the majority of her career to enhancing quality of life for individuals with autism and their families as well as supporting service providers in achieving that goal within a collaborative and supportive environment. Her primary area of expertise and interest has been increasing the quality of autism intervention services across home, clinic, school, and other community settings through high-quality staff training and support, along with systematic treatment program evaluation and guidance.
Additionally, Sara has experience with conducting and publishing behavior analytic research and book chapters, providing support services across the lifespan for individuals with a variety of developmental disabilities and behavioral disorders, training staff to use effective behavior management strategies in residential facilities, working with parents and caregivers of children with a history of abuse and/or neglect, and providing consultation to support school staff in overall classroom management strategies and individualized support for neurotypical children with behavior challenges.
She began her behavior analytic education and training in 2004 while receiving her undergraduate degree in psychology, with an emphasis in behavior analysis, from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She went on to receive her master’s degree in behavior analysis from the department of behavior analysis at the University of North Texas and her doctorate degree in infant and early childhood development with an emphasis on mental health and developmental disabilities from Fielding Graduate University.
Caryn Crabb
Executive Assistant & Office Manager
Caryn recently completed a 30+ year career in education and comes to CASP as a temporary executive assistant at the SC office. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and an M.A.T. in English, as well as an Online Learning certificate from Duke. Former employers include Hammond School (Columbia, SC), Seattle Christian School, and WVOC Radio (Columbia).
When not at work, Caryn enjoys reading, watching, and writing sci-fi/fantasy adventures.
Rebecca Giammatti, BCBA
Director of Government Affairs
For more than two decades, Rebecca Giammatti has focused her career on advancing high-quality, evidence-based autism services that meaningfully improve outcomes for children and families. She began working in the field in 1999, providing direct clinical services as a behavior analyst across home, school, and center-based settings. Throughout her clinical career, she developed particular expertise in the intensive early intervention of toddlers and preschool-aged children with autism, with an emphasis on building foundational communication, social, and learning skills during critical developmental windows.
Rebecca co-founded and led a multi-site autism services organization in Connecticut that served hundreds of children and families. As chief clinical officer and later chief ethics and compliance officer, she oversaw clinical program development, quality assurance, provider training, and regulatory compliance across multiple locations. Her leadership was grounded in the integration of strong clinical standards with operational rigor-translating complex federal and state requirements into sustainable systems that supported ethical practice, clinical excellence, and responsible growth. Under her leadership, the organization achieved accreditation from nationally recognized quality assurance bodies.
Rebecca’s work has consistently operated at the intersection of clinical care, quality oversight, and healthcare regulation. She has collaborated with researchers, advised provider organizations, and contributed to policy discussions to ensure that reimbursement structures and regulatory frameworks align with best clinical practices and patient-centered care.
As director of government affairs for CASP, she brings a clinician’s perspective to state and federal policy initiatives, working to ensure that legislation and regulatory decisions reflect the realities of clinical service delivery and uphold high standards of care. She also serves on the Connecticut Association for Behavior Analysis (CTABA) Public Policy and Legislative Outreach Committee. Rebecca holds a master’s degree in autism and aplied behavior analysis from The Sage Colleges.
Autism Commission on Quality (ACQ) Staff
Rachael Coburn
Executive Director
Rachael Coburn is a seasoned autism services leader with more than 25 years of experience supporting children with autism and their families through evidence-based care. She began her career working directly with young children with autism and went on to found Prism Autism Education & Consultation, where she served as Founder and Chief Executive Officer for over a decade.
Earlier in her career, Rachael also worked in health intelligence, serving as a client-facing functional lead supporting large, complex organizations with reporting and data systems used for operational and strategic decision-making. This experience informed her ability to build service organizations that are both clinically strong and operationally sound.
Under Rachael’s leadership, Prism grew into a multi-site organization recognized for strong clinical practice, ethical operations, and a deep commitment to families and clinicians alike.
Rachael lives in Connecticut with her husband and teenage daughters, and an ever-changing number of permanent and foster cats and kittens. She loves to travel, particularly to warm destinations, and rarely passes up a beach sunrise or an empty hammock.
Erick Dubuque, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Director of Standards & Quality
Erick Dubuque is Director of Standards and Quality for the Autism Commission on Quality (ACQ). Erick is a former assistant professor with over a decade of experience coordinating three graduate training programs in applied behavior analysis domestically and internationally. His professional, voluntary, and scholarly activities have centered around quality control in the training and application of behavior analysis. As an accreditation administrator, expert witness, licensure board chair, and consultant, Erick has shaped legislation, regulations, and policies designed to protect the public and increase access to effective and ethical applied behavior analytic services for individuals with autism.
Erick is a former U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer (Kenya), a 4-time recipient of the Faculty Favorite Award at the University of Louisville, and a past recipient of the Bazemore, Edwards, and Warner Award for his leadership promoting social justice issues for the LGBTQ community.
Erick currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife, son, and two dogs. He enjoys playing and relaxing with his family, programming in his spare time, and reading.
Thea Davis, MS Ed, LABA (MA), BCBA
Accreditation Review Manager
Thea Davis, MS Ed, LABA (MA), BCBA, is a seasoned professional with over 20
years of experience in the field of autism and applied behavior analysis. As
the founder and former executive director of Autism Bridges, LLC, Thea
established a network of four service areas including clinic-based, home-
based, and school-based services in Bedford, NH, Portsmouth, NH, Methuen
MA, and Burlington, VT. Her leadership and dedication have positively
impacted the lives of thousands of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families.
As a mother of a child with autism, Thea's commitment to improving the lives of individuals with autism is both personal and professional. Her expertise in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum and other related disorders has led her to co-author and present dozens of presentations at ABAI, BABAT, NHABA, HABA, and the national Autism Law Summit.
Thea has a proven track record of leadership in the field of applied behavior analysis, having served as the founder and president of NHABA and as a founding member of Massachusetts Coalition of Applied Behavior Analysis (MassCAP), where she also served as the Director of member education. In the fall of 2022, she was appointed to serve on the Accreditation Committee for the Autism Commission on Quality (ACQ) and was invited to become a member of the Profession Practice Committee for the Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy (BABAT) in early 2023. Thea also served as a subject matter expert for the Council of Autism Service Providers'; Organizational Guidelines (CASP, 2022).
With her extensive experience and unwavering commitment to the field, Thea continues to drive meaningful change and progress in improving the lives of individuals with autism and their families.
Eileen Mendes
Director of Accreditation
Eileen Mendes has worked in the human services field for more than two decades, serving in leadership positions at center-based programs, special education schools, and residential programs. In these roles, she has supported initiatives related to risk, compliance, licensing, accreditation, and related performance improvement initiatives.
As states enacted autism insurance legislation, Eileen helped programs and families navigate legal and regulatory changes. Her areas of expertise risk management, state, and federal compliance, quality improvement, licensing and accreditation activities, operational excellence, and trauma-informed care.
Eileen was a founding member of the Massachusetts Coalition of ABA Providers (MassCAP), previously served as vice chair of the ACQ Standards Committee, and currently serves as Chair of the Professional Practice Committee of BABAT (Massachusetts Professionals in Behavior Analysis) and Member-at-Large of the New Hampshire Association for Behavior Analysis (NHABA).
Abigail Blackman
Accreditation Reviewer
Abigail Blackman serves as an accreditation reviewer for ACQ. Her training is in Applied Behavior Analysis and Organizational Behavior Management. She has over ten years of experience consulting with human-service organizations to assist with their training and systems-level initiatives, as well as working directly with consumers of service and their families. She has also worked as a product manager working to deliver sound technological solutions to support ABA service delivery.
Abigail's passion lies in improving clients' lives by equipping staff and supervisors with the tools to carry out their job responsibilities successfully. She serves on editorial boards for multiple behavior analytic journals, teaches supervision-related courses, and enjoys conducting research to evaluate effective procedures to improve the repertoires of staff and supervisors and the influence of integrity on consumer outcomes.
In her free time, she enjoys reading psychological thrillers, riding her peloton, and spending time with her son, husband, and dog.
Allie Sewell
Director of Business Development
Allie Sewell is director of business development for ACQ, working closely with ABA organizations to support their accreditation journeys and ongoing commitment to quality. With a background in psychology, Allie takes a thoughtful, relationship-driven approach, partnering with providers to understand their goals, navigate the accreditation process with confidence, and strengthen the care they deliver.
She is passionate about improving outcomes for clients and families and believes that accreditation plays an important role in advancing ethical, high-quality care across the ABA field. Allie finds purpose in helping organizations grow in ways that support both their teams and the individuals they serve.
Outside of work, Allie enjoys spending quality time with her daughter and her dog. Whether it’s making memories together or enjoying quiet moments at home, family time is an important part of how she recharges and stays grounded.
Brenna Perez
Business Development Associate
Brenna is a business development associate with ACQ. Marketing is her passion, enabling her to connect with people in the autism service field who are meaningfully supporting children and families. Brenna is from a small Texas town and married her high school sweetheart. Local values shaped her strong sense of connection, commitment, and community in both her personal and professional lives.
Amelia (Millie) Fontenot, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Clinical Evaluator
Amelia Fontenot is a clinical evaluator with ACQ. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over eight years of experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Holding a Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from McNeese State University, she has served in a variety of capacities across multiple settings, including clinic, home, community, and school-based behavioral services. During this time, she cultivated a specialized interest in educating both herself and others on best practices that foster effective and ethical service delivery, with an emphasis on client prioritization and achieving meaningful outcomes.
In her role at ACQ, she is dedicated to assisting organizations in developing sustainable practices that optimally support their clients and advance the field of ABA.
A Louisiana native, she currently resides in Alabama with her husband and two cats. Outside of work, you may find her traveling to a new destination, playing board games with friends and family, exercising at the gym, or curling up with a book and cup of coffee.
Cathy Booth, MS, EdS, BCBA, LABA, CCC-SLP
Clinical Evaluator
Cathy is a dually certified BCBA and Speech Language Pathologist with over 27 years' experience. She's worked in a variety of settings, including schools, clinical centers, homes, and private practice.
She served in leadership positions focused on clinical oversight and consultation, development of quality clinical programming, and consultation and interdisciplinary training for BCBAs and SLPs.
Cathy was a founding member and vice president of the New Hampshire Association of Behavior Analysis (NHABA), is a current member at large of NHABA, and is a member of the professional practice committee of BABAT. She has presented at NHABA, BABAT, and the American Association of Speech Language Hearing (ASHA) conference. Cathy is passionate about improving the lives of individuals with autism and their families by educating and supporting providers on delivering quality clinical programming and improving interdisciplinary practices to benefit the individuals’ receiving services.
Cathy has a son with autism and brings that perspective to her work.
Sarah Newcome
Client Services Manager
Sarah is ACQ's client services manager. She brings over a decade of experience supporting various organizations across the addiction, mental health, and autism space. She's known for creating organized, people-centered processes through systems optimization and workflow improvement. Sarah is also passionate about ensuring the people she encounters feel heard and supported. Her goal is to act as a bridge between ACQ and its applicants. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, her two dogs, and her horse.
Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) Staff
Stephanie Schenk
Director of Accreditation
Stephanie is the director of accreditation at BHCOE. She is a behavior analyst who has spent the last 12 years working in the field of ABA. After beginning her career in Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention, she had the opportunity to help develop and lead group learning opportunities for patients within the clinical setting to prepare patients to enter the school environment. This role inspired her to seek other leadership opportunities, supervise behavior analysts in training, and eventually move into a quality assurance role. Stephanie is passionate about protecting consumers of ABA and supporting other behavior analysts in developing skills that enhance the integrity and effectiveness of our science.
Myrtho Charles, MS, BCBA, LBA
Clinical Evaluator
Myrtho is a clinical evaluator with BHCOE. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over a decade of experience across clinical practice, supervision, education, and quality assurance within the field of applied behavior analysis. Her work focuses on evaluating clinical quality, strengthening organizational systems, and supporting providers in delivering services that are ethical, effective, and grounded in best-practice standards.
Myrtho began her career in education as a Special Education teacher before transitioning into clinical ABA, where she progressed from Behavior Technician to Program Director. In her leadership roles, she supported clinicians at multiple levels, guided clinical decision-making, and developed systems to improve documentation accuracy, treatment integrity, and regulatory compliance. She brings a collaborative, thoughtful approach that emphasizes accountability, consistency, and meaningful outcomes for those receiving services.
She is deeply committed to protecting consumers of ABA services and advancing the quality and integrity of care across the field. Myrtho is especially passionate about helping organizations and clinicians build sustainable systems that support ethical practice, professional growth, and high standards of care.
The CASP Board of Directors has 13 seats, each serving a 3-year term.
2025-2026 CASP Board of Directors Composition:
Data refreshed annually for board of directors election. Last updated: January 2026
Julie Adcock, M.S., LBA, BCBA, BCBA-D
Kaleidoscope Behavior Analysis and Therapy,
Executive Director
Current Board Term Ends: June 2028
Julie Adcock is a dedicated BCBA and proud founder of Kaleidoscope Behavior Analysis & Therapy. Her journey in the field began with the completion of her M.S. in Behavior Analysis and Therapy from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 2007 and earning her BCBA credential. Julie has experience providing behavior analytic services in clinic, home, school, and community settings with children, adolescents and young adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Development Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities, Emotional Disorders and Behavior Disorders. She also has experience with the application of behavior analysis in classroom and school-wide behavior management systems.
For the past 15 years, Julie has focused on founding and growing Kaleidoscope Behavior Analysis & Therapy with the mission of providing quality behavior analytic services. Throughout this quest, she has been able to learn invaluable knowledge regarding collaboration with stakeholders, advocacy, insurance reform and the trajectory of our field. Julie is passionate about mentorship and is dedicated to nurturing the growth and development of her staff to optimize client outcomes. She is enthusiastic about the application of OBM principles to drive operational excellence within her organization, as well as fostering a culture of continual growth and innovation to meet the evolving needs of the community.
Yvonne Bruinsma, PhD. BCBA-D
In STEPPS, Executive Director
Current Board Term Ends: June 2028
Yvonne Bruinsma founded In STEPPS in 2010. She has more than 25 years of experience in the field. She previously gained extensive experience as the clinical director and clinical manager at several agencies and brought PRT to the Netherlands. She has been an active researcher and continues publishing in the field. Yvonne has written articles in peer-reviewed journals and in 2015, wrote and published a seminal article with other top researchers in autism treatment about Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions such as PRT. Yvonne also has co-written a book about Naturalistic Developmental Behavior Interventions (NDBI) currently in press. She has worked in a variety of settings, including developmental centers, group homes for adults with developmental disabilities, vocational sites, and schools. She earned her master’s in developmental psychology from the University of Leiden, the Netherlands, and her master’s and doctorate in special education, developmental disabilities, from University of California, Santa Barbara. Yvonne was certified as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) in 2008.
Lani Fritts, MBA
CASP Treasurer
Current Board Term Ends: June 2027
In 2008, Lani left a 15 year career in logistics and technology related companies, and in 2009 he co-founded Trumpet Behavioral Health, a leading provider of Applied Behavior Analysis and related services to individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Since that time, Lani has been active in the ABA provider community, advocating for access to services and developing and sharing organizational and clinical standards. Lani was a founding board member and the first treasurer of The Council for Autism Service Providers (CASP), a nonprofit association focused on cultivating, sharing, and advocating for provider best practices in autism services. Lani has an undergraduate degree in Economics from Georgetown University and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Rita Gardner, MPH, LABA, BCBA, CDE
CASP Board Chair; Melmark, Inc. President and CEO
Current Board Term Ends: June 2028
Rita M. Gardner is President and CEO of Melmark, a multi-state human service provider with premier private special education schools, professional development, training and research centers. Rita has devoted 35 years to non-profit management in the field of community-based services for children and adults with the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders, acquired brain injuries, neurological disorders and severe challenging behaviors. In addition to leading Melmark’s $95-million operations across all of its divisions, Rita is the co-founder of Melmark New England in Andover, Massachusetts and a co-founder of Melmark Carolinas in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Rita has been recognized by the Commonwealth Institute and Boston Globe, on the organizations’ list of Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts for the past two years (#35 in 2018 and TBA in 2019). She is dedicated to creating opportunities for skills growth and advancement for women in the field of human services. Rita does this through her work with CASP (Council of Autism Service Providers), for which she and Melmark are founding members; her leadership role as a board member of MAAPS (Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Schools); and her vital role in WIBA (Women in Behavior Analysis), for which Rita volunteers her time and expertise as a mentor.
Rita received her Master of Public Health degree from Boston University’s School of Public Health in the School of Medicine. Most importantly, she holds the heart of Melmark’s mission at the core of her professional standards. She is dedicated to every child, adult and family served at Melmark, as well as every member of Melmark’s professional staff.
Joanne Gerenser, Ph.D.
The Eden II Programs, Executive Director
Current Board Term Ends: June 2026
Dr. Joanne Gerenser is the Executive Director of the Eden II Programs. Eden II is a set of programs that provides educational, vocational, family support and residential services to children and adults on the autism spectrum. She has worked at Eden II for the past 38 years. She received her Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the City University of New York Graduate Center.
Joanne teaches courses in autism as well as communication disorders at Temple University and the Penn State World Campus. She has authored several articles and book chapters as well as Co-Editor of the book ABA for SLPs: Interprofessional Collaboration for Autism Support Teams. Joanne has been an invited speaker at conferences in Ireland, Sri Lanka, China, Cyprus, Australia, and Canada.
Joanne has been the past president of the New York State Association for Behavior Analysis as well as the Interagency Council of NY. She was a founding board member of the Council of Autism Service Providers, serving as the first board president. Joanne is the Vice Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council for the Organization for Autism Research.
Joanne has been recognized for her work in autism as well as her work in her local community with numerous awards and honors. These include the Lou Miller Business Leadership Award, the Albert V. Maniscalco Community Service Award, the Autism NJ Distinguished Provider award, to name a few.
Natesh Kumar, MBA
Empower Behavioral Health, CEO
Current Board Term Ends: June 2027
Natesh Kumar is the CEO of Empower Behavioral Health. Under his leadership, it is among the few in Texas that offer a wide range of services with individualized care plans for both patients and their families.
Natesh is passionate about making healthcare services accessible to everyone. He actively contributes to several Executive and Investment Boards, including his recent involvement with Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. His commitment to the healthcare community extends to professional organizations, where he co-founded the podcast PodCASP with CASP.
Outside of his professional responsibilities, Natesh enjoys spending time with his wife, Reema, and their three children. His hobbies include watching sports, playing golf, and traveling the world.
Natesh holds an MBA in Operations and Strategy from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus on Management Information Systems from the University of Texas. With 15 years of executive experience, he has successfully overseen multiple businesses across various industries. His expertise includes financial analysis, business model valuation, process optimization, and project management.
Eric Larsson, PhD LP BCBA-D
Lovaas Institute Midwest, Executive Director
Current Board Term Ends: June 2027
Dr. Larsson is currently the executive director of clinical services at the Lovaas Institute Midwest, where he implements the renowned program of intensive early intervention services for families of children who suffer from severe behavior disorders, including autism. He is a Licensed Psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral.
Dr. Larsson is a member of the clinical faculty in the Psychology Department at the University of Minnesota, where he teaches classes in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and autism. He is currently the President of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment and is the Honorary President of the Lovaas Foundation of Barcelona, Spain. He also serves on the boards of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, the Autism Recovery Foundation, the Minnesota Northland Association for Behavior Analysis, the Autism Treatment Association of Minnesota, and Erik’s Ranch and Retreats. He is a past member of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts.
Brian McCann, Esq.
The Faison Center, President and CEO
Current Board Term Ends: June 2026
Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Brian earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the College of William & Mary and graduated from William & Mary’s Marshall-Wythe School of Law, where he was member of The Order of the Coif, Law Review and the Moot Court team. Brian devoted his legal practice to civil litigation with an emphasis in education law to help families of children with disabilities.
Since joining The Faison Center in 2015 as President and CEO, Brian has overseen the growth from a small school to a world-class center for autism. Today, The Faison Center provides services to individuals with autism of all ages all along the autism spectrum in its Early Education Center, The Faison School in Richmond, the Peninsula School in Newport News, the Faison Residence, Family Partner program, Adult Day program and Behavioral Health Clinic.
Brian routinely works with members of the Virginia General Assembly on legislation involving special education laws and other laws that impact individuals with autism and those who provide services to them. In an effort to advocate for and expand best practices for autism service providers, Brian currently serves on the Board of the Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP), where he served four years as that organization’s Chair. Most recently, he was appointed by the Governor to Virginia’s Autism Advisory Council.
Steve Muller, MA
Balance Autism, CEO
Current Board Term Ends: June 2026
For over 30 years, Steve has served children and adults with autism and other intellectual disabilities. For the past 23 years he has served as CEO of Balance Autism, a nonprofit organization focused entirely on developing innovative solutions for children and adults with autism. At Balance Autism we balance science with imagination, evidence with creativity and research with compassion. Services span the lifespan and address skill development in residential, recreational, social, vocational and other needs. Steve has presented at state, national and international conferences sharing unique and entertaining stories to help families and professionals better serve this special population.
Daniel Openden, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, President and CEO
Current Board Term Ends: June 2028
Dr. Daniel Openden became SARRC’s President and CEO in July 2013, after having served as Vice President and Clinical Services Director since 2007. Dr. Openden earned his doctoral degree in special education, disability, and risk studies at UC Santa Barbara. His first pivotal encounter with autism occurred when he was a college senior working as a second-grade aide with a girl with autism in a mainstream classroom. Attending school with her every day (while he took college classes at night), forever changed his perspective about what’s possible for people with ASD: “That experience led me to believe that kids with autism can be educated in the same environments as anybody else and integrated with the rest of the community.” Since then, Dr. Openden has worked extensively with families and children with ASD on both federal and state funded research projects. He has also provided consulting and training for school districts across the country, published peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and presented research at regional, state, and national conventions. He credits taking acting lessons as a child and playing in small television roles until he was 14 with giving him the confidence to become a talented presenter and leader. He and his wife Erica have two young sons. The Phoenix Business Journal in 2011 named Dr. Openden one of Phoenix’s “Forty Under 40” up-and-coming community leaders.
Heather O'Shea, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Verbal Behavior Associates, President
Current Board Term Ends: June 2027
Dr. Heather O’Shea has spent over 20 years working with families and children with special needs. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology, specializing in services with children and families in the educational, medical, and legal systems. She started her career in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2004 and enrolled in the very first BACB Course Sequence ever offered in California. She left her role as the Chief Clinical Officer at a large national organization in 2020 to join Verbal Behavior Associates (VBA) as President. She is proud to oversee an organization committed to providing evidence-based intervention and specializing in serving clients with profound needs. Her commitment to quality service delivery, ethics, training and mentorship have driven her dedication to the field. Her mission is to impact the field and leave a lasting positive impact on all of those impacted by and committed to improving the lives of those touched by autism. She is also known for creative ways to encourage community. After winning the Spirit Award (aka giant stuffed pickle) at the Autism Law Summit, she traveled the country with it, promoting autism awareness.
John Randall, MPA, M.Ed., BCBA
CASP Board Clerk
Amego, Chief Executive Officer
Current Board Term Ends: June 2027
John has been working in the fields of Human Services and Education since 1988. As is common at Amego, he began his career providing direct services. John was named President & CEO of Amego in 2008. John has worked in leadership positions in both the private and public sectors. He holds Masters Degrees in Education and Public Administration. John is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst. John has held advisory and board positions for numerous professional organizations including past service as President of the Massachusetts Association of Applied Behavior Analysis. John has also served on many Human Rights Committees in various capacities.
Rachel Taylor, Ph.D., BCBA-D
CABA, Co-Founder and Owner
Current Board Term Ends: June 2026
Dr. Rachel Taylor (formerly Dr. Tarbox) has supported individuals diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders for over 25 years. Dr. Taylor started her career working for several prestigious organizations, including the New England Centerfor Children and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. She is the former Co-Director of Research and Development for CARD and the Founder and Director of CARD's Specialized Outpatient Services. In 2008, Dr. Taylor was the founding ABA Department Chair at The Chicago School Los Angeles and has also held faculty positions at California State University Los Angeles and Channel Islands. She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, is a previous member of the Executive Council for ABAI, and more recently served as the 2020 CalABA Conference Chair. Dr. Taylor also serves as a member of the Scientific Council for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) and as an Advisor to the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. She is the founder and former CEO of the Center for Applied Behavior Analysis (CABA), a behavioral health organization that provides ABA-based services across a wide range of service settings, diagnoses, ages, and levels of severity. Her current areas of focus as a consultant for CABA Consulting include 1) protecting against a potential divide between science and practice and 2) supporting ABA practitioners to maximize desired outcomes and minimize risk.
