How did you initially get started in the field of ABA?
In high school, I always thought I wanted to be an engineer—specifically a biomedical engineer—until I started tutoring a boy with autism after school. I quickly became fascinated by how he learned and loved the challenge of adapting my teaching methods to make learning more enjoyable for him. Seeing the joy on his face when he succeeded was incredibly rewarding. That experience sparked my curiosity about how I could help more children with autism, leading me to discover Behavior Analysis. I pursued my undergraduate degree at UW–Eau Claire, drawn to their Behavior Analysis program and the Campus Autism Program. From there, everything fell into place, and the rest is history!
Can you describe your journey within Mindcolor, from your starting position to where you are now?
I joined Mindcolor after connecting with the co-founders through mutual connections. Through multiple conversations, I realized we shared a deep passion for providing high-quality ABA therapy—ensuring the therapy we provide is not only effective for the families and clients we serve but also creating a supportive and compassionate work environment for our employees and teammates. I had the unique opportunity to help design and open the first Mindcolor location in Franklin, WI, as the first Lead BCBA (now called Center Director). As the Wisconsin region grew, I transitioned into a Regional role, overseeing both the clinical and operational aspects of our Wisconsin centers. During this time, I also took on a dual role as Regional Director of Wisconsin and Director of Clinical Quality, where I began focusing on assessing and improving the quality of care across all our locations and states. Now, as the VP of Clinical Quality & Outcomes, I have the privilege of collaborating across departments and consulting with fellow BCBAs to enhance the services we provide. My focus is on ensuring that all our clients receive high-quality, effective care and continue making meaningful progress.
How did Mindcolor support your career growth?
During my early years at Mindcolor, I had the opportunity to 'wear many hats,' as the organization was still growing and had not yet expanded into multiple departments. This experience pushed me beyond the clinical realm, allowing me to gain firsthand insight into the inner workings of business operations, employee engagement, people management, and insurance. As I took on regional and company-wide roles, I was able to apply these experiences to help shape the company's growth while continuing to develop as a leader. Mindcolor, and specifically the co-founders, supported my career growth by providing opportunities to build new initiatives, collaborate across teams, and focus on the quality and outcomes of our services—an area I'm especially passionate about. I've also had the chance to mentor other BCBAs, refine processes to improve access to care and contribute to the larger conversation around measuring and improving service quality in ABA. The ability to evolve within the company, take on new challenges, and contribute to meaningful changes has been invaluable in shaping my career and deepening my impact in the field.
What is your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part of my job is the opportunity to collaborate with Mindcolor's leadership team—learning from others, sharing ideas, and continuously expanding my skill set. I love being part of a team that is not only passionate about high-quality ABA services but also committed to innovation and growth. Beyond leadership collaboration, I find a lot of enjoyment in mentoring and supporting fellow BCBAs, helping them develop their clinical skills and leadership abilities. I also enjoy working on company-wide initiatives that improve service quality, remove barriers to care, and ensure that the work we do has a meaningful impact on the lives of the clients and families we serve. Being in a role where I can both contribute to big-picture strategy and see the direct impact on clients and clinicians makes my work deeply rewarding!
Favorite Mindcolor memory? This could be work-related, team fun, events, competitions, etc.
Ahh—there are so many great memories! One of my favorites is when Wisconsin launched our first-ever Field Day, bringing teams together for a little fun and friendly competition. Celebrating initial client graduations has also been incredibly meaningful—it was a powerful reminder of the impact we make every day! I've also loved our team outings, like holiday parties meeting at a restaurant, or open houses for new centers. Having the opportunity to travel to different centers across the states to get to know other team members and seeing their dedication firsthand has also been incredibly fun!
