Alexis Taylor

ataylor@brighterstridesaba.com

Alexis Taylor

BCBA

Alexis has in the ABA field for over 8 years. She has worked with multiple different populations in settings such as schools, group homes, clinics, and community. She loves to bake and be creative. She also loves to spend time with her family and trying new restaurants.

Alyssa Martinez

amayher@brighterstridesaba.com

Alyssa Martinez, M.S., BCBA brings over a decade of experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis, having served in diverse roles including RBT, leadership, administrative support, and now as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Her experience spans across home, clinic, and school settings, giving her a well-rounded perspective and a flexible approach to supporting clients and families. Known for her compassionate and collaborative style, Alyssa is deeply committed to empowering both clients and caregivers. She values teamwork and believes in building strong, supportive relationships with families, RBTs, and interdisciplinary teams. Her clinical style is rooted in ethical, person-centered care and a passion for making socially significant change. Fun Fact: Outside of work, Alyssa is a lover of the outdoors where she enjoys hiking, playing volleyball, and spending time with her two daughters. As a proud girl mom, she’s passionate about serving her local community and creating spaces where families can thrive.

Amber Thomas

athomas@brighterstridesaba.com

HI! My name is Amber and I started my career in ABA in 2018 where I was an RBT until 2022 when I became a BCBA. I bring a level of compassion and understanding to the community and to Brighter Strides with all clients and families that I encounter. In my free time, I am learning to enjoy cooking and baking with my 1 year old!

Chiara Cunningham

ccunningham@brighterstridesaba.com

I’ve been a BCBA for the past 14 years and have worked in a variety of settings (clinic, home based, school based, community based). I love to build people up and focus on the their strengths to increase confidence. I’m passionate about demonstrating how positive of an impact ABA can be in one’s life. Compassionate care & teaching communicate and social skills are my favorite parts of the job.

Destini Heard

dheard@brighterstridesaba.com

Hello! My name is Destini. I'm a graduate from University of Cincinnati with a degree in Master's of Education in Foundations of Behavior Analysis. I've been a BCBA for a little over a year, but have been in the field of ABA since July 2020. Most of my experience is with early intervention, ages 2-8 years of age. Within the field, I'm a big fan of teaching my clients through play and natural environment teaching. I love celebrating the small wins as those are the stepping stones to the big wins. In my free time, I enjoy reading, watching Disney movies, and hanging out with my standard poodle, Clifford. Fun fact: I took an extra math class in high school just because I needed to fill that time block in my schedule.

Hannah Lowe

hlowe@brighterstridesaba.com

Hannah Lowe

BCBA

Hannah is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a passion for helping individuals reach their fullest potential. Before becoming a BCBA, Hannah was a RBT for four years and has provided ABA services across a variety of settings including schools, daycares, home, community and clinic-based environments focusing on socially significant skill development and caregiver collaboration. Hannah’s strengths include creating individualized treatment plans that reflect what is most important for the individual and their family. Hannah’s approach to ABA focuses on natural environment teaching, functional communication training, parent coaching and building collaborative relationships with caregivers. One of the most rewarding aspects of her job is getting to celebrate the little victories that make up meaningful, lasting progress—one step at a time. Fun Fact: When she’s not writing behavior plans, you can find Hannah playing/cuddling with her two pups, trying out new recipies or creating vision boards on Pinterest!

Joanne Stoner

jstoner@brighterstridesaba.com

Joanne Stoner

BCBA, LBA

Joanne Stoner is a dedicated Regional Clinical Director and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with nearly 8 years of experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). She has worked with individuals ranging in age from 18 months to 24 years across diverse settings and has provided services across three states. Originally from Michigan, Joanne brings a warm, collaborative approach to leadership, striving to cultivate clinical environments where kindness, growth, and teamwork thrive. Professionally, she is most passionate about supporting the development of others—whether it’s mentoring clinicians, guiding families, or making a positive, lasting impact on the field. With nearly six years as a BCBA, Joanne is committed to fostering spaces where both individuals and teams can grow meaningfully and sustainably. Outside of work, Joanne is a proud sports and theater mom to two children, a wife, and an avid fan of DIY projects and the outdoors.

Mackenzie Pass

MPass@brighterstridesaba.com

Mackenzie Pass

BCBA, LBA

Regional Director of BCBA Development, with emphasis in team leadership and commitment to effectively providing clinical onboarding and continued training for data platforms, QA policies and protocols, tailored mentorship needs to novel BCBA's, as well as ongoing collaboration to ensure state credentialing / licensure standards are obtained. Specialized interests include: ABA delivered within public and private educational, and early education (daycare) settings along with AAC communication device training and complex diagnoses (comorbidities).

MIckisha Barboa

mbarboa@brighterstridesaba.com

I’ve been in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for seven years and have been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) for five of those years. Prior to entering the field of ABA, I served in the United States Air Force for 14 years as a flight medic, where I primarily addressed trauma, injuries, and acute medical needs. My professional experience spans working with children and adolescents ages 2 to 18 across home, school, and clinic settings. I specialize in developing individualized treatment plans, training staff and caregivers, and implementing behavior intervention plans rooted in evidence-based practices. My background in both medical and behavioral fields enables me to bring a holistic and compassionate approach to client care. Key strengths I bring to the team include crisis management, interdisciplinary collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and a strong ability to build rapport with both clients and families. I am also passionate about mentorship and supporting newer clinicians and behavior technicians in their professional development. Notable accomplishments include leading a multidisciplinary team in developing and launching an early intervention program for toddlers with ASD, and creating caregiver training modules that improved parent implementation fidelity by over 40%. Fun fact about me: I was born and raised in Jamaica and bring the warmth, resilience, and vibrant culture of my roots into everything I do. I’m also a proud mom of six children—including three on the autism spectrum—which fuels my personal passion and advocacy for neurodiverse individuals and their families.

Molly Wilson

mwilson@brighterstridesaba.com

Molly Wilson

BCBA

With extensive experience across diverse clinical settings, Molly brings a well-rounded perspective to the role of Center Director. Known for her strong leadership and commitment to staff development, she excels in fostering collaborative environments and promoting effective communication across all levels of staff. Molly is passionate about delivering high-quality, individualized care, with a focus on supporting meaningful skill acquisition and reducing challenging behaviors for the clients she serves. She thrives in the day-to-day operational challenges of clinical management and is dedicated to building a positive, growth-oriented clinic culture for both clients and team members.

Sydney Pickford

spilkington@brighterstridesaba.com

Sydney Pickford is a BCBA with clinic, home, and teleheath experience. She works with each client and family based on individualized needs and priorities. She strives for her clients to achieve increased independence and self-confidence. With over 4 years of experience in the field, she remains passionate about the field of ABA and helping others achieve personal success.

Zahra Lococo

zlococo@brighterstridesaba.com

Zahra Lococo

BCBA

Zahra earned her undergraduate degree from Auburn University in psychology and business. After moving to Atlanta, she worked at Devereux Behavioral Health with individuals with autism and other psychological disorders. With a desire to continue to serve this population, Zahra then discovered ABA through a friend and began working as an RBT. Soon after entering the ABA world, she decided to go back to school to earn her masters in Applied Behavior Analysis from Georgia State University. Zahra became a BCBA in June of 2022 and has served clients in home, in clinic and in school settings ever since.