Founder/Senior Vice President
Before joining forces with the team at HealthPro Heritage, Susan acted as the founding Executive Director at Alternatives ABA. Alternatives ABA was originally founded as a non profit in 2015 as a direct response to Susan’s experience as a mom and her frustration with finding the right services for her son. Her mission is largely based on her experiences as the mother of an absolutely brilliant child profoundly impacted by autism.
She is a behavior analyst with over 30 years of experience in human services. Her passion is fueled by her desire to create ABA centers that produce remarkable outcomes and improve quality of life for the families that they serve. Susan believes strongly that “a well supported family is better able to support the child with autism.” Alternatives ABA was built on the belief that raising a family impacted by autism is vastly different than raising a “typical” family and that success requires proper support.
Susan also believes that ABA needs to be fun, strength based, and individualized in order to be effective. She also feels strongly that the addition of coordinated evidence-based ancillary services, like speech and occupational therapies, produces unmatched results. She is allegiant to the principles and practices of ABA, but well aware of the human spirit. (A notion that drives radical behavior analysts crazy and makes for fun conversation among scientists!)
Much of what Susan believes coincides with traditional Hawaiian values. One of those values is that of Kakaou, or inclusiveness. Essentially, together we are stronger. The other can be summed up in the Hawaiian saying: “Pupukahi I holumua”, which means: “Unite in order to progress.”
Susan is a fierce proponent for positive social change, particularly when it comes to children and those living with disability. She enjoys educating and advocating for state and federal policies that work to make the lives of children and families better.
Throughout her 30+ years career in human services, Susan has worked as Director of Behavioral Health Services for two of the largest providers in their industries, one a for profit and the other a non-profit. She has received many grants and written and taught original behavior management curriculum at the college level for those pursuing degrees in the health care field. Susan has traveled throughout the country as a behavior consultant and taught behavior management strategies to both large and small groups.
Susan is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and holds a Master’s Degree in Education and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis for Special Populations from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and a Masters in Public Administration from Suffolk University She is also an alum/former fellow of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver/UMASS Medical Center “Leadership Excellence in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (LEND)” program. Some former fellows of this program are the very ones that you can thank for critical policy changes related to autism, like ARICA, and countless other systems and policy changes at the state and national level, most of them moms.
After a beneficial merger in 2020, Susan acts as the Senior Vice President of the ABA division at HealthPro Heritage. In this role, she continues to lead Alternatives ABA and expand access to ABA services across the United States.
Vice President Operations
Vice President ABA Clinical Operations
Director of Training
Sarah is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She has worked with children of all ages for over 12 years. Sarah became a preschool teacher assistant after she graduated High School & went on to get her Lead Teacher Certification. She taught her own classroom for a few years before switching to a position as a nanny. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology & Legal Studies from UMass Lowell and then continued on to earn a Master’s Degree in Behavior Analysis from Endicott College.
Sarah thoroughly enjoys working with kiddos of all ages & feels that everyday she learns something new from all of them. She says that she loves how their worlds are always changing and evolving. She finds great joy in being part of the lives of the children and families that we serve.
Sarah is a born teacher and lover of all things ABA. She acts as Alternatives ABA’s Director of RBT/BT Training Programs. As part of that position, she implements the Alternatives ABA 40 hour RBT training program and ensures that our therapists not only understand the principles and practices of ABA and how to effectively implement ABA, she makes sure that new members of our team have a firm grasp on our mission and commitment to being an outstanding family and child centered organization. Sarah also makes sure that our team is up to date on all sorts of training throughout the year.
Sarah grew up in Hingham, MA and still lives there with her husband, son & two dogs! In her free time, she loves being outdoors! She is a huge Boston sports fanatic and loves spending the summer’s out on my family’s boat! (We can vouch for Sarah’s infectious laugh!)
Sarah influences Alternatives ABA’s growth at the national level via her contributions to policy & Procedures, best practices, training components, etc.
Director of Development & Outreach
Stacey is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and also a Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst (LABA) in the state of Massachusetts and New York. She received her Masters Degree in Special Education from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY. She became interested in ABA after finding Florida Tech at an Autism Conference in Atlanta, GA. Stacey pursued her BCBA while gaining experience in a clinic in Savannah GA. She then moved back to New York to develop a clinic for that company in a underserved area. She then settled in Massachusetts to start a new adventure.
Stacey has worked in multiple areas serving both children and adults in many different settings. She has a passion for functional communication, social skills groups, parent training, and decreasing maladaptive behaviors. Stacey loves working with families and staff and seeing their growth.
Her role as “Director of Development & Outreach” affords her the opportunity to “rally the troops” and promote a positive supportive culture. Additionally, Stacey is able to share our mission with the communities that we serve and educate all that we can regarding the science of applied behavior analysis and the outcomes we see at Alternatives ABA. Stacey also oversees the “BCBA Mentor Program” at Alternatives ABA.
In her free time she loves working out, playing with her dogs, and being outside. Stacey is excited to bring her experience and skills to the Alternatives team.
Stacey influences Alternatives ABA’s growth at the national level via her contributions to outreach and staff development, policy & Procedures, best practices, training components, etc.
Billing Coordinator
Marci has a degree from The Ohio State University in Special Education. She worked for several years teaching at an alternative high school that was part of the South Shore Educational Collaborative. After having her first child, she left the teaching field to raise her family. During that time she consulted to Long Term Care Facilities and Hospitals on their insurance collections and receivables.
Marci says that working at Alternatives ABA, makes her feel like she has come back to her roots as a special educator! Marci also does a stellar job making sure that we are in compliance, receive payment for the services that we provide, and works closely with our team to do so.
In her spare time Marci enjoys spending time with her husband and three children. She also enjoys yoga, the beach, and the mountains.
Marci influences Alternatives ABA’s growth at the national level via her outstanding understanding of insurance reimbursement for the services that we provide. She leads the billing and insurance department.
Care Coordinator
Carol comes to us with extensive knowledge of the “back end” of insurance and authorizations. She works closely with the administrative team to make sure that cases are opened efficiently so that clinicians can get into the field and do what they do best. Carol oversees contracting, credentialing, and authorizations across sites and insures compliance.
Carol is a “jack of all trades” in that her career also includes being an elementary educator!
Carol impacts growth at the national level via her leadership in contracting/credentialing/compliance.
Director of ABA Operations: Norwell, MA
Catherine is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and has accumulated more than 11 years of experience in the field of ABA working with children. While most of her experience has been in the area of early intervention using the verbal behavior approach, she also has extensive experience teaching daily living and independent skills, social skills, functional communication, and crisis intervention across multiple settings.
Catherine was born and raised in Massachusetts and lived and worked in Florida for 10 years after obtaining her Master of Arts degree in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of South Florida. She has held multiple management and operations positions within an organization in Florida while continuing to provide direct care to the clients she supervised.
In addition to her passion for working with children who have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Catherine also has strong interests in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and applying the ABA principles to health, sports, and fitness goals. Outside of work, Catherine enjoys being active outdoors, traveling, and spending time with her dogs and cats.
Catherine influences Alternatives ABA’s growth at the national level via her contributions to policy & Procedures, best practices, training components, etc.
Director of Speech Language Operations: Norwell, MA
*Kristy is a distinguished recipient of “The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.” This means that Kristy is among a select group of individuals who have made a concerted, personal effort to continue professional learning beyond an academic degree.
Kristy graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor’s Degree in Cognitive Science and a specialization in Linguistics and Language Development. She went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Rhode Island in 2014. Before joining the ALTABA team, Kristy worked in public schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island at the elementary level. She especially enjoys working with the pediatric population and developing AAC systems to enhance communication for all individuals.
Kristy currently lives in Rhode Island with her husband, Shaun and her kitty, Phoebe. She loves to read and incorporates literature into her speech and language sessions whenever possible.
Kristy also enjoys watching the Great British Baking Show and attempting to recreate the bakes at home, with varying success. She loves to travel, especially back to her husband’s hometown of Monaghan, Ireland where she likes to hike, watch the sheep, and enjoy a cuppa (Lyons) tea.
Director Occupational Therapy Operations: Norwell, MA
Stephanie graduated from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University in 2018 with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree. While at MCPHS University, Stephanie completed her pediatric fieldwork at Nemours Children’s Hospital, where she provided OT services to children in the outpatient and autism diagnosis clinics.
Prior to joining the Alternatives ABA team, Stephanie provided occupational therapy services to children and adults in the acute care, school system, and skilled nursing/sub-acute care settings.
Stephanie loves working with the pediatric population and before becoming an OT worked as an ABA behavior technician and a special education teacher assistant.
Stephanie is passionate about collaborating with children and their families to help kids reach their personal and developmental goals through a fun, play-based approach.
In her free time Stephanie enjoys working out, playing with her dog, traveling, and spending time with family and friends!
Site Manager, Norwell, MA
Courtney was born and raised in Columbia, SC. She is a graduate of Newberry
College where she earned a B.S. in Physical Education. Courtney developed a more
intense passion for children with special needs while spending three years as an
assistant in special education classes in SC.
In 2011, Courtney took an opportunity to join a start up non profit and began as one of the initial three RBT’s at The Unumb Center For Neurodevelopment.
Courtney served in numerous roles through her years at The Unumb Center. She worked as an RBT, a lead therapist, and served most recently as the Director of Operations for
the 5 years previous to her joining Alternatives ABA. In this role Courtney wore numerous hats overseeing the day-to-day operations for the ABA program (serving ages 2-21) working closely with the clinical team, families and RBT’s to ensure the
best services were provided to all clients & families served.
Courtney has a huge passion for individuals on the spectrum and serving
others. Courtney loves developing relationships with clients, families and
staff and possesses a huge desire to inspire others.
Her professional interests include OBM, staff development, and performance management.
Courtney recently moved to Massachusetts with her wife Kristen and dog
Oliver to start the next chapter of their lives in New England. Courtney is
ecstatic to join the Alternatives ABA team in an operational role as a Site
Manager. She is eager to meet everyone, learn the organization and jump
in wherever needed.
In her free time, Courtney loves being outdoors, photography, exercising & traveling as well as being an avid sports fanatic. You will ALWAYS see Courtney inevitably with a new hat or new pair of fun socks-both of which she admits she has an obsession with and will never pass on!
Director of ABA Operations-Plymouth, MA
Kristen is a North Shore native and grew up in Peabody, MA. After graduating with a degree in Sociology from Salem State University in 2010, Kristen began her work in Applied Behavior Analysis. She began her career in ABA working as a behavior therapist in early intervention at Beacon ABA. While pursuing her Master’s degree in Special Education at Cambridge College in Cambridge, MA, Kristen taught in a substantially separate ABA pre-k/Kindergarten classroom from 2011-2013. Kristen received her CAGS (Certificate of Advance Graduate Studies) in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Massachusetts – Boston/Melmark. Kristen worked as a behavior specialist at the Northeast Arc in Danvers, MA from 2013-2015, overseeing in-home ABA therapy cases for clients 3-9 years old.
In 2015 Kristen relocated to South Carolina to work as the Director of Professional Development at the Unumb Center of Neurodevelopment. She was promoted to Director of ABA Services in 2016. Kristen relocated back to Massachusetts in August 2020 to work for Alternatives ABA. Kristen’s professional interests include mentoring new BCBA’s, staff development, and performance management.
Kristen resides in Plymouth, MA with her wife Courtney and her rescue dog Oliver. Kristen loves walking her dog, traveling, cooking, running and kickboxing.
Kristen influences Alternatives ABA’s growth at the national level via her contributions to policy & Procedures, best practices, training components, etc.
