Meet Our Team


Chief Executive Officer

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Dawnita S

Dawnita Shively
Chief Operations Officer

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Dawnita has over 20 years of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis. She has a Master of Business Administration and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who studied at the Florida Institute of Technology. Dawnita has worked in homes, schools, hospitals and clinic settings with children and adults with autism and developmental disabilities.

Over the past ten years, Dawnita has assisted organizations in growing and scaling home and clinic-based early intervention programs. In addition, she provides consultation on effective supervision and implementing safe behavior reduction strategies. She believes ethical and sustainable growth is necessary and attainable. Dawnita celebrates and embraces our staff and clients’ individuality and personal goals. She leverages the technology of ABA to support her clients in learning skills that are valuable to the individual and their community. Dawnita enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, practicing and teaching yoga, and hanging out with her three chihuahuas.

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Vincent Scarlata
Chief Financial Officer

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Vincent Scarlata is the Chief Financial Officer at EAS and provides support to families throughout their relationship with EAS. He graduated from DePaul University with a finance and business management degree in 2010. He spent 6 years working as a client service specialist and account manager for a Chicago financial institution. He has also been a long time supporter of local nonprofit organizations that provide services to children and adults with autism and other disabilities.

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Sarah Mathison
Chief Clinical Officer

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Sarah Mathison is the Chief Clinical Officer at Early Autism Services. Sarah has over 10 years of experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with a Master of Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University.

Additionally, Sarah graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology from the University of Florida where she served as a research assistant in the field. Prior to joining EAS, Sarah served in various clinical and operations roles. Sarah has multi-site and multi-state experience with in-home and clinic-based settings and helped those locations achieve growth and quality metrics. Sarah enjoys mentoring and training newly-certified BCBAs and challenging clinicians to be innovative in their therapeutic approach.

Sarah is honored to partner with all of our staff to ensure they feel valued, passionate and engaged with the impactful support they provide to our families. The clinical department endeavors to provide opportunities for all of our staff to have an enriched career that is mission driven. Her team strives to increase development initiatives, research and collaboration across professionals. In her free time, Sarah enjoys teaching graduate students about the business of ABA, playing ultimate frisbee, fostering dogs, and going to farmers’ markets.

Jessica Goldberg
Director of Business Development and Community Engagement

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Jessica Goldberg is the Director of Business Development and Community Engagement at Early Autism Services. In this role, she directs strategic planning and growth of the business development, community engagement and marketing teams. She is responsible for leading these departments in building clinical partnerships, brand awareness and streamlined company messaging to make essential developmental therapy more accessible to the families we support.

Jessica joined Early Autism Services in 2019 as a behavior therapist and outreach coordinator in Atlanta. In her previous roles, she was instrumental in expanding business development teams through community outreach. She has over twenty five years of experience in business development, community engagement and special needs advocacy. She offers a parent-centered perspective to this role with a keen understanding, gained through personal experience, of what families need to successfully navigate essential developmental resources.

Sarah Mechling
Director of Clinical Operations

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Sarah Mechling is the Director of Clinical Operations at EAS. Sarah has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis since 2010. She gained classroom, research, and clinical experience in ABA while attending the University of Florida for undergrad and the University of South Florida where she completed her Masters of Arts in ABA.

Sarah has worked with a range of clients (toddlers through adults) across many different settings (home, school, community, clinic, etc.). While supporting the various behavioral needs of her clients, Sarah also has a wide scope of experience supporting behavior analysts and therapists during their professional journey in the ABA field. Sarah’s focus is on mentoring the Maryland team so that each client receives high-quality ABA services that are individualized and attentive to their values and needs to work towards their ultimate goals!

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Krishonna Payne
Clinical Director – Alabama

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Krishonna Payne is the Clinical Director of EAS’ Birmingham Branch. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who received her M.S. from Jacksonville State University. Krishonna has experience providing ABA services to children, adolescents, adults, and families with a range of diagnoses, and has serviced clients in residential treatment facilities, schools, and clinical settings. Krishonna strives to consistently coordinate services for each family and client of EAS, and implements ongoing staff development in order to ensure quality.

Amber Young Clinical Director in Boise Early Autism Services BCBA

Amber Young
Clinical Director – Idaho

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Amber Young is the Clinical Director of the EAS Boise, Idaho branch. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who received her M.Ed. from Boise State University and completed the BACB approved course sequence from FIT. Amber has over 20 years experience working with children on the Autism spectrum, working with families, coordinating services with schools and doctors, and training staff to work with children with severe challenging behavior.

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Graham Green
Clinical Director – Atlanta

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Graham Green is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the Clinical Director of Early Autism Services’ Atlanta, Georgia branch. Graham received her M.Ed in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Georgia. She went on to pursue a Specialist’s degree to learn more about early childhood education and early intervention. Graham has been working in the field of special education for about 8 years and has been a BCBA for almost 5 years. She has experience providing ABA services in school, clinic, and home-based settings! She’s passionate about building effective and appropriate communication systems and problem behavior reduction. When she’s not working, Graham loves to cheer on UGA football, read, walk her dog, and play soccer! Graham aims to provide high-quality and effective ABA services to children and their families throughout the Atlanta area.

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Amy Ehnes
Clinical Director – Missouri

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Amy Ehnes is the Clinical Director for EAS’s Missouri region.  Amy is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and holds Behavior Analyst licensure in Missouri. She received her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Lindenwood University.  Amy received a Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida.  Amy’s experience includes clinical and administration-level work with individuals aged 2-65 in settings that include schools, clinics, in-home services, residential treatment facilities, daycares, and individualized supported living homes (ISLs).  Amy’s passion is supporting the Missouri team so that they can provide the best possible therapeutic services to the individuals we serve and find fulfillment and purpose in their roles.

Clinical Director – Illinois

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Clinical Director – Maryland

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Gabby Naula-Quintero
Clinical Director – Michigan

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Gabby Naula-Quintero is the Clinical Director as EAS for Michigan. She is a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) and the Clinical Director for Early Autism Services’ Michigan office. She received a master’s degree in educational psychology at Wayne State University. Her main priority is to provide high quality services, and to include the parent in their child’s progress every step of the way.

Courtney Zonca, Portland Clinical Director, CEAS

Courtney Zonca
Clinical Director – Oregon

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Courtney Zonca is the Clinical Director of EAS’ Oregon Branch. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst who received her M.A. in Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of Michigan- Dearborn. Courtney has experience providing ABA services to children with a range of diagnoses and has serviced clients in the home, school, and clinic setting. She began her work with EAS as a behavior technician in Michigan and has since expanded to oversee clinical operations for our Oregon branch.

Lori Druding
Clinical Director – Pennsylvania

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Lori is a dedicated, passionate professional who has worked with children with Autism and other special needs for more than 20 years in a variety of settings and positions. Lori received her Masters Degree in Special Education with an additional certification in Elementary Education in 2005 and a post-masters certification in Applied Behavior Analysis from Penn State University in 2008. She has received training and mentorship in a variety of evidenced-based interventions for individuals with Autism, such as Verbal Behavior and Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention. In tandem with her education and experience, she applies the latest research in Applied Behavior Analysis, Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Psychology and Special Education, in order to tailor strategies and interventions to fit the unique needs of the child.

She is committed to empowering caregivers, teachers, and providers to use these strategies and interventions to make meaningful change and increase the child’s overall quality of life. Lori has recently become certified in Project ImPACT, an evidenced based parent coaching model for teaching Social Communication skills to young children with Autism. In her spare time, Lori enjoys spending time with her husband and her two Star Wars loving, Lego building boys. She enjoys any activity that taps into her creative side and is a crafter extraordinaire!

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Jessica Ventimiglia
Clinical Director – Tennessee

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Jessica Ventimiglia is the Clinical Director for EAS’ Nashville office. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and graduated with a Master of Arts in Special Education with an emphasis in applied behavior analysis from Arizona State University in 2017. She has been practicing ABA since 2014 and has worked with children and teens in a variety of settings, including clinic, school, and home environments. Her professional interests include early intervention and parent training, as well as ongoing staff development.

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Elizabeth Pfister
Clinical Director – Virginia

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Elizabeth is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in the Richmond, VA office. Elizabeth completed a bachelor of science in biology from James Madison University and a master of science in psychology from Walden University. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) as well as a Licensed Behavior Analyst in Virginia with eight years of management and business experience and ten years of teaching experience in various fields. Elizabeth’s career in the ABA field began while working in a residential facility for adults with a variety of intellectual disabilities and mental health disorders. Elizabeth has been working with children providing in-home ABA services since 2015.

Suchitra Bangaluru

Suchitra Choudhury
Chief Clinical Director – India

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Suchitra Choudhury is the Chief Clinical Director of Early Autism Services Private Limited (EASPL) in India. She completed her ABA course sequence from the University of Florida and is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst. She has a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Amity University, Noida. She pursues towards ethical application of the science of Applied Behaviour Analysis in various domains.

Suchitra has 8 years of experience working with individuals on the autism spectrum and is passionate about effectively using scientifically proven techniques in the reduction of problem behaviour and to increase appropriate behaviour. She takes a keen interest in learning and spreading knowledge and information about ABA with people from all walks of life.

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Debra Goldfinch
Chief Executive Officer – Australia

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Deb Goldfinch demonstrates that success in the business world doesn’t have to come at the sacrifice of ethics. Her influence extends into the highest echelons of government, and she uses her influence solely to advocate for vulnerable people.

She has a genuine passion for contributing to her community and providing better outcomes for people at risk. Over the last 20 years, she has been involved in numerous state committees, boards, and advisory groups with a focus on the ‘health and at risk’ community and to bring about better healthy living conditions and support systems.
She will not stop nor compromise when it comes to advocating for some of the most
disadvantaged people in our community. Deb has had an extensive career in the Not-for-Profit and Health Sectors with a focus on Business Growth, Strategic Planning, Change Management, and working within Communities to make a change in people’s lives.

The focus of Deb’s career for many years has been within Autism across, Academia, Health, and Non-Profit organisations, and she is committed to advocacy and working with Families to bring about change for improved lives for all.

Deb is also on the Boards of Early Childhood Intervention Australia Victoria/Tasmania and Emerge Children and Family Network.