314-275-0506
THE EXPERTS
Delivering First-Class Care
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.
KATHY ROUSTIO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ILLINOIS
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.
LISA SCHIPPERS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MISSOURI
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.
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.
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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.
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. 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.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM
Blended Approaches
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.
INSURANCE AND ADMININISTRATIVE TEAM
Supporting Staff and Clients
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.