Owner/Director
Denise Freeman DeCandia / BCABA
Denise discovered her passion for working with children with Autism when hired as a lead therapist for several programs in Albany, NY. She moved to NC in 1997 where she took a management position which allowed her to create and manage Functional Language Programs for children statewide. In 2003 she joined the Board of Directors at The Mariposa School for Children with Autism. She spent the next 4 years as Program Director of the school where she created and managed on-site programming, consulted with school districts/families across the country, and conducted on going seminars for parents and professionals. In 2006 Denise ‘handed over the reigns’ to the well-trained staff at The Mariposa School and sought to open a consulting company for children who were better served by clinic-based and home-based programs. Creative Consultants was formed and a team of highly respected Consultants/ Trainers joined the team shortly after its conception. Her mission is to serve those children/families that need the services the most. She enrolled Creative Consultants as a Tricare/ECHO provider, allowing military families to receive services at little to no cost to them. She is an advocate for affordable services and works diligently in the efforts to secure coverage for services through private insurance. She is dedicated to providing intense, individualized, quality services and looks forward to many more years of serving the Autism community.
Consultants
Monique Baker / BCABA
Monique is a graduate of the University of Central Missouri with a BS in Early Childhood Special Education. Monique began working with children with Autism and related disorders in 1999 doing in home and school programs, first as a tutor and then in 2003 as a consultant under the supervision of a BCBA. Monique completed her BCaBA coursework from FIT and is now a board certified consultant for Creative Consultants.
Brenn Linens, BCABA
Brenn graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a concentration in Speech and Hearing Sciences. She completed her BCABA course work with the University of North Texas. Brenn has been working in the Applied Behavior Analysis field since October 2003 when she joined The Mariposa School for children with Autism. She held several positions at Mariposa: one on one therapist, lead instructor, assistant program director, and program director. Brenn joined the Creative Consultants team in July of 2007 and is the lead Consultant for families in Wake County and the surrounding areas
Katrina Johnson, MS, BCBA, LPA
Katrina Johnson is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a North Carolina Licensed Psychological Associate. Katrina graduated from Elon University in 2004 with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Human Services. In 2008, she obtained her master’s degree in Child Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from East Carolina University and became licensed as an LPA. As a graduate student, Katrina presented research at numerous conferences in Florida and North Carolina and served as the student representative for NCABA in 2006. Following graduation, she worked as a behavior specialist at the May Institute in Georgia and became certified as a BCBA in 2010. Since 2003, Katrina has had experience working in group homes, in-home programs, schools, community and parent workshops, and clinics where she conducted psychological and educational assessments, as well as provided therapy for children and adolescents with Autism, ADHD, behavioral problems, and Learning Disabilities.
Leigh Mahan, BCABA
Leigh is a graduate of Anderson University with a BS in Biology and a double minor in Psychology and Chemistry. Leigh began working with children with Autism in June 2002 within home ABA/VB program settings. After graduation, Leigh joined the staff at the Mariposa School. She served the school as an Instructor I, Instructor II, and Lead Instructor. Leigh completed her coursework for her BCABA via the University of North Texas and received her certification in March 2007. She joined the Creative Consultants team in June 2007.
Ashley Petty
Ashley graduated from Nova Southeastern University in 2008 with a BS in Psychology. She is originally from Dallas, Texas but moved to North Carolina after high school to go to UNC-Asheville. Ashley began working with children with Autism in 2004 when one of her relatives was diagnosed. She worked in in-home programs for two years and spent a summer working at Camp Royall, a TEACCH based summer camp for people with ASD. She moved back to Dallas in 2006 and began working at a verbal behavior and applied behavior based center for children with autism. There she learned the importance of mand training and taught children to speak using vocals, sign language, and selection based communication systems. Ashley completed her coursework for the BCABA examination through Florida Institute of Technology and was certified as an assistant behavior analyst in August, 2009. She has been working with Creative Consultants since March, 2009.
Betsy Pippin, MS, BCBA, LPA
Betsy is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Psychological Associate, with accreditations obtained in December 2003 and July 2004, respectively. In 1998, Betsy earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. In 2003, under the Direction of James M. Johnston, she earned a M.S. in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis in Developmental Disabilities from Auburn University. Post-graduate, Betsy returned to North Carolina and started as a Staff Psychologist at Murdoch Developmental Center. Since that time, Betsy has primarily worked as the Staff Psychologist for the STARS (Specialized Treatment for Adolescents in a Residential Setting) and BART (Behaviorally Advanced Residential Treatment) programs at Murdoch, serving individuals statewide that have developmental disabilities and who demonstrate extreme and dangerous forms of aberrant behavior. Betsy has experience with intellectual and adaptive assessment, design of behavioral techniques, monitoring of behavior intervention plans and client behavior, staff training, and overall program consultation. Betsy joined the Creative Consultants team in July 2009 and provides oversight of behavior programming, as well as supervises the Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts.
Callie Plattner, MS, BCBA, LPA
Calandra “Callie” Plattner is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Psychological Associate with accreditation obtained in March 2008 and November 2008 respectively. Callie obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Elon University in 2006. She then went on to complete her master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with a concentration in Developmental Disabilities from Auburn University in 2007. While obtaining her master’s degree, Callie worked as a Behavior Analyst for East Alabama Mental Health/Mental Retardation. Post-graduate, she returned to North Carolina and has worked as the Staff Psychologist for the PATH (Partners in Autism Treatment and Habilitation) program at Murdoch Developmental Center. Overall, she has worked in multiple settings including school consultation, 1:1 in-home therapy, group homes, workshop training for staff and parents, as well as presenting research at a number of professional conferences. Callie joined the Creative Consultants team in 2009 and provides oversight of behavior programming as well as supervises the Board Certified Associate Behavior Analysis. Callie is also on the board of the North Carolina Association of Behavior Analysts.
Katie Cole Strathmann, MSW, BCBA
Katie Cole Strathmann is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis since 2003. She has been board certified since August of 2007. Katie began her career in ABA working as a 1:1 Therapist on an ABA team for children with Autism in Pennsylvania. After earning her Masters in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh, Katie began her Behavior Analysis coursework at The University of North Texas and worked alongside several Board Certified Behavior Analysts developing ABA programs for children with Autism. Katie worked as a consultant for children with Autism in Pennsylvania for 1 year before relocating to North Carolina, to work at The Mariposa School. At Mariposa, Katie worked as a 1:1 Instructor and then as a Program Director, for 3 years, designing and implementing programs with a strong Verbal Behavior component. She has since joined the team at Creative Consultants and continues to develop and implement ABA programs within a framework of Verbal Behavior.
Kimberly Tyler
Kim is a graduate of the University of North Carolina with a double major in Psychology and Recreation and Leisure Studies. She began working with children with Autism in 1998 in a home ABA program. She taught 5 and 6th grade special education in a public middle school for a year before joining the staff at the Mariposa School as a therapist in 2003 where she practiced Verbal Behavior. She worked as an instructor, assistant program director, and later as a program director in the 3 years employed at the Mariposa School. In December of 2005, she finished her coursework for the BCABA program through The University of North Texas and became certified in March of 2006. She has been with Creative Consultants ever since.
Tutors
Sara Carbone
Sara graduated from Elon University in 2008 with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. She began working with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the Mariposa school in April of 2008. At the Mariposa School she provided one-on-one instruction focusing on the principals of Applied Behavior Analysis and Verbal Behavior strategies for two years. Sara became part of Creative Consultants team in July of 2008. She is currently pursuing her BCaBA from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Masters degree in Speech Pathology at Eastern Carolina University.
Ashley Chastain
Ashley graduated in 2007 from Elon with a BA in Special Education and Elementary Education. While working as a CAPP worked for children with Down Syndrome she had the opportunity to observe ABA therapy sessions and became interested in ABA. She has also worked as a first grade teacher and as a fourth grade teacher in an inclusion classroom. In 2010 she became a tutor for children with autism and came on board with Creative Consultants. She is working towards a Masters in Education which she will receive in May of 2011. Ashley will also complete her BCBA requirements from Penn State in December 2011.
Suzanne Derby
Suzanne received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Smith College in 2006. It was there that she first began working directly with children with autism however she had been working in early childhood education since high school. After graduating she came back to North Carolina and started working at The Mariposa School for Children with Autism where she also began course work to become board certified. After leaving Mariposa she worked privately as a Verbal Behavior therapist while also working to get a dual master’s degree in Social Work and in Public Health with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was through her master’s program that she came to Creative Consultants initially to meet the field practicum requirements for her degree and now as a full-time tutor. She is currently finishing her BCBA coursework through the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and expects to sit for her board exam in the Spring of 2011.
Mackenzie Eckard
Mackenzie Eckard is currently seeking her undergraduate degree at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She will graduate in May 2011. She is pursuing a degree in Psychology with a Concentration in Clinical Counseling and a Minor in Art. She has been doing ABA privately contracted since August 2009. She plans to get a Master’s degree when she graduates and begin her BCBA coursework. She joined the Creative Consultants team in August 2010.
Christina Erben
Christina Erben is a graduate of Methodist University in North Carolina with a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication and a Minor in Art. Prior to working with Creative Consultants she has worked with The Autism Society of North Carolina, Easter seals, The Arc of Cumberland County, and Team Daniel to provide Developmental Therapy and CAP Services. She has been employed at Creative Consultants since September 2009. She will be enrolling in Graduate School in the Spring of 2011. She is currently enrolled at the Florida Institute of Technology to complete BCaBA coursework and will begin BCBA courseowork after enrolling in Graduate School. Christina is planning on taking the BCBA qualifying exam in 2012.
Heather Faber
Heather Faber is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a bachelor’s in biology with a minor in psychology. After graduating in 2005, she worked as a mental health case manager implementing person centered plans with adult and adolescent clients. In 2007 she enrolled full time in the Master’s of Social Work (Concentration in Mental Health and Substance Abuse) program at Fayetteville State University. At this time she began to work with children with autism at The Autism Society of North Carolina. She assisted children in learning functional language, socialization, and life skills allowing them to become more independent. In May of 2009, Heather graduated with a Master’s in Social Work.. She is currently continuing her education at The University of North Texas, where she is completing BCBA coursework. Heather plans to take the BCBA exam in May 2011. Heather has been employed at Creative Consultants since January 2009.
Sharonda Ferguson
Sharonda is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a major in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism and a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. She began working with individuals on the ASD Spectrum in 2000 as a 1:1 at the Autism Society of North Carolina. She supported adults and children in developing functional language, socialization, and life skills. Since then, she has held positions within the organization as a Community Services Supervisor and Community Services Coordinator in which she developed, coordinated, and implemented person centered plans. Sharonda graduated from Webster University in 2008 with a MA in Mental Health Counseling and will be working on obtaining her LPC. In the fall of 2009 she will begin her coursework to obtain her BCBA through Penn State University. Sharonda joined the Creative Consultant team in June 2009.
Katie Finnegan
Katie is a graduate of the University of Milwaukee Wisconsin with a B.S. in criminal justice. After working in the juvenile division of the Milwaukee Police Department, Katie decided to pursue her master’s degree in special education. During that time she worked for the Early Autism project in Wisconsin as a Behavioral Therapist providing in-home therapy with children along the Autism Spectrum. Katie recently moved to Fayetteville NC with her husband as he is stationed there at Ft. Bragg. Katie joined the Creative Consultants team in May of 2009 and is working to complete her BCABA coursework through the Florida Institute of Technology.
Rachael Herring
Rachael attended the University of NY at Oswego for her undergraduate work in Secondary Education. She moved to NC in 2003 and began educating herself in ABA/Verbal Behavior. She took a position where she was an ABA tutor for children with Autism, working under the direction of an ABA Consultant. She joined the Creative Consultants team in January of 2008 and will begin BCABA coursework in 2009.^
Melissa Holt
Melissa graduated summa cum laude from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and became part of the Creative Consultants team in August 2010. In addition to working with children on the autism spectrum, Melissa is the mother of a child with Asperger’s Syndrome. She is also a fluent Spanish speaker.
Kyle Jones
Kyle graduated from Penn State University with a BS in Elementary Education. He is currently working to complete his BCABA coursework through the Florida Institute of Technology. Kyle first began working with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in 2007 as a Therapeutic Staff Support worker in Pennsylvania school-based settings. In 2008, Kyle moved to North Carolina and worked as a 1:1 therapist at the Mariposa School for Children with Autism and at A Small Miracle as a habilitation technician. Kyle joined the Creative Consultants team in January of 2010.
Kim Piper
Kim is a graduate of the University of Montana/Bozeman with a B.S. in Film and Television Production. She worked in the Montana public school system for two years assisting with the implementation of speech and language services to children between the ages of 3-21 and with a broad range of disabilities including Aspergers, Down Syndrome, and Autism. As a military wife, Kim was transferred with her husband to southern California and continued to work in the public school system. She had the opportunity to spend three years assisting in an Autism specific-ABA infused grade school classroom. Now in North Carolina, Kim is working to complete her BCABA coursework through Penn State University and has joined the Creative Consultants team in January of 2009.
Felicia Stokes
Felecia graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with double major in Psychology and African American Studies. She has also completed her coursework for certification in Special Education General Curriculum K-12. She has worked with individuals with autism since 2001. Her career started in group homes in which she facilitated development of social, life, and vocational skills. She has also worked with children with Autism in the school setting, as well as, Maripos. in a summer program focusing on social skills. She will begin her coursework to become a certified BCABA in October 2010.
Amy Wilhelm
Amy graduated from Penn State University in 2003 with a B.S. degree in Psychology and Anthropology. She began working with children with Autism and other disabilities during her time at Penn State and have been ever since. She moved to North Carolina in 2004 to begin working at the Mariposa School for Children with Autism. While at the Mariposa School, She was an Instructor I and an Instructor II. She has finished her coursework for her BCABA which was completed through the University of North Texas. Amy began working with the team at Creative Consultants in August of 2009.
Front Office
Rosanne Jones
Rosanne relocated from Long Island, NY in 2007. She came to NC to join her four daughters, and her wonderful grandson. Since relocating to NC she has welcomed two more grandsons into her family. She has been the Office Manager for more than a year now, and is very excited to be a part of the team. She loves the atmosphere at the Creative Consultants Clinic, and adores all the children and families that she has contact with. Her role allows her to support all Creative Consultants staff and the families in which they serve.
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