We are a passionate group of individuals dedicated to creating a warm and inclusive environment for all members. Our team of admins and moderators work diligently behind the scenes. Together, we’re here to support and uplift one another, making this community a vibrant and welcoming place.
Thank you for your interest!
Moderators are asked to select one day a week they can give the group. On this day we ask them to review posts submitted, member request approvals, and monitor comments in the group. Our current moderators give anywhere between 1-5 hours of their time a week depending on what they are able to give.
Our moderator applications are currently CLOSED.
Meet our Admins!
Hillary Laney, M.Ed, BCBA
Fun Facts: Hillary has a chalk phobia. Please don’t test this if you see her.
Not only can she not handle spicy foods, She is pretty sure she is actually allergic to things that are spicy!
She is the middle child of 7.
She can read 600+ words per minute.
*DEI Committee member
Nicky Schneider, MA, BCBA
PUBLIC SCHOOL BCBA / CONSULTANT
Fun Facts: Nicky has zero athletic ability but enjoys and is very good at axe throwing!
Nicky is always up for any outdoor adventure, but is terrified of snakes and spiders!
Nicky’s mom is British and that’s why her name is Nicola and not Nicole. Her middle name, Regina, means queen.
Nicky loves tie-dye, her kitty Goosey and camping!
*DEI Committee member
Edward Sidley, MA, BCBA
Fun Facts: Ed’s dad has been struck by lightning… at two different times during his life! Maybe this is where Ed gets his spark from?
Ed hates cream cheese. Like really, really hates. To the point that if he finds out something he ate had cream cheese in it, he will never eat that food again even if he actually enjoyed it.
Ed loves his family (wife, 2 kiddos, and doodle), the Grateful Dead, and the beach.
Liisa Podosek, MSW, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA
Fun Facts: Liisa absolutely despises coffee. She can’t handle anything that has even the slightest hint of coffee flavoring.
Yes, her name has two i’s in it! It is the Finnish spelling.
Meet our Moderators!
Taylor Johnson, MS, IBA, BCBA
Johnson ABA
Fun Fact: Taylor lives in Germany with her husband, two teenagers, and two rabbits. She loves reading, banana slugs, and saying yes to random experiences. For example, she has ridden an Ostrich in China, and allowed a complete stranger in Morocco to give her a head massage with a tangerine.
Cindi Kennedy, MA, BCBA
Fun Fact: Cindi is a native Floridian who’s HRE includes hiking mountains, camping, kayaking, and spending time with loved ones. She is passionate about empowering our learners to have a hand in designing their own treatment and modifying our approach until we have assent.
*DEI Committee member
Emily Kearney, MA, BCBA, LBA
Sunrise ABA & Kearney Behavior Consulting, LLC
Fun Fact: Emily is a classically-trained singer whose original career goal was to be an opera singer. These days she’s more at home on a karaoke stage singing 70s hits.
*DEI Committee member
Brittany Bauerle, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA
Fun Fact: Brit has had horses in her life since she was 5 years old – and continues to have the same reaction now as she did at 5 when she sees a horse! Brit is a lover of Spence (son) and Tim (partner), horses, dogs, family, and ice cream. Brits love language is quality time. Absolute passion to disseminate, learn, and watch others grow within the compassionate shift our field is headed.
AnnaMarie Stoudenmire, MA, BCBA
Fun Fact: AnnaMarie enjoys hiking with her husband, and son.
Ed Sanabria, BCBA
Fun Fact: Ed wore a purple suit to his wedding! He enjoys going out and trying new restaurants with his wife and spending time with his daughter and two dogs.
Joe Smith, MAT, BCBA, LBA
BCBA Program Supervisor
Fun Fact: Joe loves to sing karaoke and he is an Eagle Scout.
Bethany Creech, MS, BCBA, LBA
Public School BCBA
Fun Fact: Bethany thought she was going to be an art teacher. She spent a couple of years designing sets for a theater company she and her friend started many years ago!
Batoul Dekmak, BCBA
Fun Fact: Batoul’s favorite things include traveling, abusing her credit card, and sharing enjoyment (aka food).
Rebecca Brooks, MA, BCBA, LBA
Fun Fact: Rebecca is an analytic thinker in all parts of her life, and has attributed it to being an engineer’s daughter. When she’s not working or reading, she is probably working on some sort of puzzle (jigsaw, crossword, sudoku, picross).
Kaylyn Weber, MS, BCBA, LBA
BCBA
Fun Fact: Kaylyn loves all things outdoors and her cat, so she decided to combine the two. Kaylyn’s cat (Silver) goes pretty much everywhere with her including hiking! They haven’t tried camping yet, but stay tuned.
Kelly Bryson, MA, BCBA
Director of Behavior Supports, The Babcock Center (Adult Residential Setting)
Fun Fact: Kelly loves going to concerts. Her favorite bands right now are Manchester Orchestra and Rainbow Kitten Surprise. On her 16th birthday, Kelly jumped off a dock onto a fish feeding frenzy on fish chow. She was trying to touch a fish… and she sure did! The fish spines went into the arch of Kelly’s foot and she had to go to urgent care to get the wounds cleaned out. Yay, you did it, Kelly?!
Heather Hester, BCBA, LBA
Fun Fact: Heather enjoys adventuring in the US National Park Units and is committed to visiting them all (she is currently over halfway through). Heather loves strategy board and card games. She is currently playing Wingspan, Rolling Heights and Spirit Island.
Heather Tauchen, M.S., BCBA, LBA
Accelerated Learning Clinic & Academy
Fun Fact: Heather grew up in Reno, NV and loves the ocean, dogs, and hiking.
Elishia Merryweather, BCaBA
Behavior Consultant
Fun Fact: Elishia hated trying new foods as a child, but as an adult has worked hard to expand her palate. She now enjoys raw tomatoes, broccoli, avocados, sushi and trying new dishes prepared by friends. Despite two decades of effort, however, olives remain revolting.
*DEI Committee member
Miranda Cavaness, MA, BCBA
Owner / BCBA
Fun Fact: Miranda’s personal HRE is being in nature, the mountains, the ocean, or the forest. She loves to hike, kayak, camp, boat, and cook outdoors on cast iron. Cooking for others brings her so much joy.
Lee Geer, BCBA
Public School BCBA
Fun Fact: Lee’s two children are his world. His favorite place to play is the beach, when he can get there. He used to play “bike polo” and travel all over the country for tournaments. (his kids rule his priorities now!)
Deanna Purslow, BCBA, LBA
BCBA Program Supervisor
Fun Fact: Her bookends are unicorns and giant crystals.
Nathan Dennis, M.Ed, BCBA
Balance Speech and Behavior & Behavior Works Consulting
Fun Fact: Nathan loves camping, mountain biking, and cooking. He and his wife have a family goal of visiting as many national parks as they can as a family! They are currently around 12! You can always find him outside with his wife and kids!