THE EXPERTS

LINDSEY HOLTSMAN

CEO OF EMERGENT LEARNING CENTER
SENIOR BEHAVIOR TECHNICIAN

Lindsey has her degree in Psychology from the University of Missouri - Columbia, and has over 8 years of experience working in the field of behavior analysis.  Lindsey is known throughout the world as the co-creator/designer of such innovative projects as TelePEAK, the PEAK Youtube Channel, and Mindful-U.  Lindsey is PEAK Level 2 Certified.

TAYLOR LAUER

DIRECTOR OF EMERGENT LEARNING: O'FALLON
LICENSED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Taylor completed her BCBA at Missouri State University. Taylor has 3 years of research experience in many areas-- including language and cognition, PEAK, verbal behavior and neurological research with autism.

KATHY ROUSTIO

DIRECTOR OF EMERGENT LEARNING: EDWARDSVILLE & TROY
LICENSED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Kathy has 30 years of teaching experience and a master’s degree in education. She is a level 2 Certified Peak Implementer and currently working on her BCBA certification.

LINDSEY SCHNEIDER

DIRECTOR OF EMERGENT LEARNING: SPRINGFIELD 
LICENSED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Lindsey completed her master’s degree at Missouri State University and is a licensed BCBA in the state of Missouri. Lindsey has over 5 years of experience in the field of ABA—including working with children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities in a variety of settings.

CALLIE GILSENAN

DIRECTOR OF EMERGENT LEARNING: CHICAGOLAND
LICENSED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Callie graduated from Southern Illinois University with a master's degree in Behavior Analysis. Callie has 4 years of experience with PEAK, 2.5 years of experience with the AIM Curriculum, and have worked with a variety of people and in various settings.

AMY VERNAGALLO

BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST

Amy earned both her master's degree in Educational Psychology and Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology from Loyola University in Chicago. She completed her Behavior Analysis coursework through Southern Illinois University and became board certified in 2018. She has worked for the past 15 years as a School Psychologist in the public school system and served the past 5 years as a Behavior Specialist/Consultant that supports school systems, staff, and parents effectively program supports across a wide range of need. Amy has extensive experience working with individuals aged preschool through adult transition. She has led programmatic implementation of the AIM curriculum across elementary and middle school classrooms and is Level 2 PEAK certified.

LAURA GARRETT

SSP / NCSP
LICENSED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Laura is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist with ten years of experience in the public and school setting. Additionally, she has worked in a consultative role to support staff and parents to coordinate research based treatments for individuals. Laura is also level 1 certified in PEAK.

LISA FIELD

LICENSED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Lisa has 15 years of experience working with students with disabilities. She started her career as a mild/moderate special day class teacher for 7 years before pursuing her BCBA and working in the non-public agency sector and as a behavior analyst. Lisa is committed to working with students and staff to teach functional communication and to increase a child's ability to learn skills beyond what has been previously taught.

HEATHER DERIJKE

AIM CONSULTANT

Heather  has years of experience as both a special education and general education classroom teacher in a variety of setting. Heather has utilized the AIM curriculum in a public school special education classroom, and serves as a consultant on AIM throughout the country.

THE SCIENTISTS

Designing Our Interventions

DR. MARK DIXON

PRESIDENT OF EMERGENT LEARNING CENTER
DIRECTOR OF EMERGENT RESEARCH
LICENSED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Dr. Dixon is one of the highest published authors in the entire field of behavior analysis.  His work/expert opinions have been featured in Newsweek, Time, National Public Radio, and many other global media outlets.  

Mark is also the author of both the PEAK and AIM curriculums, and has worked with 100s of children with autism over the past twenty years.

DR. BECKY BARRON

DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL TRAINING
LICENSED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Dr. Barron has many years of experience working with children with autism and related disabilities and their families. She has also trained many university students and future practitioners in contemporary and best-practice ABA approaches. 

Dr. Barron has worked as a clinical director for an autism center and research clinic, and has published single subject and group design research on PEAK. She also has experience working with communities to ensure appropriate access to ABA intervention. 

DR. CALEB STANLEY

LICENSED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Dr. Caleb Stanley is an Assistant Professor at Utah Valley University. He obtained his masters and doctorate degrees in Behavior Analysis and Therapy at Southern Illinois University. Dr. Stanley expertise is in the application of contemporary behavior analytic interventions to facilitate the development of complex language and cognition. He has years of experience implementing PEAK and has published many peer reviewed articles.

DR. AUTUMN MCKEEL

LICENSED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Dr. McKeel is a Level 3 PEAK trainer, former professor, and owner of Emergent Learning DSM-Ankeny Clinic.

Autumn was one of the original researchers on PEAK, and her work is cited repeatedly throughout the scientific community.  She conducted the first Randomized Controlled Trial on PEAK, and subsequent work explored building complex language skills. 

DR. RUTH ANNE RHEFLDT

BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Dr. Rehfeldt is a world famous scholar of behavior analysis.  Her work with autism, language, and social development has been published in every single scientific journal in the field.

Ruth Anne is also the author of multiple books on human learning, autism, and behavioral science.  She has built and managed multiple autism centers and clinics over the past two decades.

DR. JORDAN BELISLE

BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST

Dr. Jordan Belisle is an Assistant Professor at Misouri State University and one of the most prolific authors on PEAK.  Jordan has authored or coauthored many of the peer-reviewed PEAK.

LISA SCHIPPERS

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
SENIOR BEHAVIOR TECHNICIAN

Lisa is an ASHA (American Speech - Language - Hearing Association) certified and Missouri State licensed Speech Language Pathologist who has worked in the field of ABA in various settings since 2008. 

She is also a Level 2 Certified PEAK Implementer and currently working on her BCBA certification.

STEPHANIE CRONIN

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
BEHAVIOR TECHNICIAN

Stephanie is an ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) certified and Missouri State licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. She earned her Master’s degree at Missouri State University, and has 4 years of experience working with a vast variety of communication disorders.

PAM SPARKS

OFFICE AND BILLING ADMINISTRATOR

Pam has her degree in Marketing Management and has been working in healthcare for over 15 years. Pam graduated from an accredited AHIMA program for billing and coding.  Pam has been an AHIMA member since 2018 and a credentialed medical coder.

TIFFANY WEILAND

INSURANCE SPECIALIST

Tiffany has over 8 years of healthcare insurance experience along with billing and coding. Tiffany verifies all client benefits and assists in client intake processes.

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