Founders & Administration

Applied Behavior Consultants, Inc. also known as ABC, Inc. was founded twenty years ago in 1987 by Behavior Analysts, Joseph E. Morrow, Ph.D., BCBA and Brenda J. Terzich, M.A., BCBA who continue to serve as President and Vice President of Applied Behavior Consultants, Inc.

Joseph E. Morrow received his Ph.D. in experimental Psychology in 1965 from Washington State University. He has taught at the California State University, Fullerton; Indiana University, South Bend; (where he was department chair) and California State University, Sacramento where he was Professor of Psychology and Behavior Analysis (Emeritus). Dr. Morrow was a pioneer in the academic development of Behavior Analysis in California, creating one the first courses in 1966. He has published several papers on behavioral psychology and his first publication on the behavioral treatment of autism was in 1966. His academic career received many awards culminating in the Livingston Lecture at Cal-State Sacramento in 2002. “This award recognizes a sustained and unique contribution to the campus community in providing intellectual leadership and has important significance to the life of this university.” 

Dr. Morrow has been an active member of the behavioral community and a member of The Association for Behavior Analysis, International (ABAI) since 1974. In 2006, he was given an award from that organization for “Outstanding Contributions to the International Dissemination of Behavior Analysis” . He is a former president of the Northern California Association for Behavior Analysis, was active in its merger with the southern California sister organization into the California Association for Behavior Analysis, where he served as Board Member and Conference Chair. Currently he is a long time Board of Directors Member of the B.F. Skinner Foundation. Additionally, he is a member of the International Society for Behaviorology and has served as Conference Chair. Since 1999, he has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

In 1987 Dr. Morrow co-founded Applied Behavior Consultants, Inc. (ABC, Inc.) with Brenda Terzich-Garland.  This company, formed to provide Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to special needs persons in the Sacramento community, now serves throughout California at six locations with schools and in-home programs specializing in behavioral treatment for children with autism. Additionally, ABC has now provided behavioral services in other US States and ten foreign countries.

In addition to publications and papers presented at conferences, Dr. Morrow has given invited lectures on autism in several US states and was the Keynote speaker at the Behavior Analysis Association of Michigan (BAAM) conference in 2007. He has presented lectures on autism in thirteen non US countries and has published papers on autism in China and Romania.

Brenda J. Terzich-Garland received her Masters degree in Psychology (with a concentration in Behavior Analysis) from the California State University, Sacramento. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has also been certified by Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc. as a PECS Supervisor and Implementer. Ms. Terzich-Garland is Co-founder, Vice-President/CEO, and Chief Clinical Officer of Applied Behavior Consultants, Inc. (ABC, Inc) and has been an officer of the California Association for Behavior Analysis (CABA). She is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), California Association for Behavior Analysis (Cal-ABA), International Society of Behaviorology and served as a Board Member of Easter Seals-Superior, California.

Ms. Terzich-Garland has received the Certificate of Merit: Outstanding Poster Award (1988, Association for Behavior Analysis), Outstanding Alumni Award in Psychology, Outstanding Service Award presented by Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT), and Outstanding Service on Behalf of Children and Adults with Mental Retardation.

Ms. Terzich-Garland has over 21 years of extensive clinical experience in the behavioral treatment of Autism/Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She is the developer of ABC’s generalization program R.E.A.L. (Recreating Environments to Accelerate Learning, 1996) by which all ABA programs are built on for home, school and infant-toddler centers.  Ms. Terzich-Garland is also the developer of ABC’s clinical staff training programs (Caring and Effective Education, 1993).  This publication is the basis for ABC’s staff training nationally and internationally. 

She has conducted numerous workshops and in-services on ABA including discrete trials; verbal behavior; PECS; social behavior, play assessment analysis and generalization.  She has also presented nationally and internationally on a wide range of topics concerning the treatment and education of children with Autism, ADHD and other developmental disabilities. Ms. Terzich-Garland has co-authored and presented several research papers on the behavioral treatment of autism.  Her work is described in the textbook, “Behavior Analysis and Learning (Epling and Pierce, 1995).”

In 1987 Ms Terzich-Garland Co-founded Applied Behavior, Consultants, Inc. where she continues to oversee and manage all domestic and international clinical programs for ABC, Inc./ABC School, Infant-Toddler Programs and Center-Base Sites.  She works toward keeping the mission and vision of the company alive by cultivating a culture of compassion and caring for clients as well as employees.  She assures that “the kids continue to come first” and that employees are treated with respect and dignity, that all clinical programs meet the ABA standards, that both client and parent receive the highest standard of clinical care while also adequately assuring that all staff are appropriately educated and trained to provide care for ABC’s clients.

Internationally ABC has been instrumental in disseminating ABA in Europe (including Iceland), Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.  These services include, consultation, setting up in-home ABA programs and behavioral schools in, Iceland, Algeria, Romania, China, Portugal Bahrain and Durban.  Ms. Terzich-Garland and Dr. Morrow have participated in ABAI’s international delegations. They continue with their efforts in spreading ABA to all who need the technology world wide. For more information on ABC’s international contributions email Ms. Terzich-Garland here.

Phyllis Williamson, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and is the Educational Consultant of ABC, Inc. She has a distinguished publication record and a scholarly career in experimental and Applied Behavior Analysis and has held adjunct teaching positions in universities in California and New Mexico. Dr. Williamson has over 25 years of experience providing direct clinical services and program development with a variety of populations, including children and adults with Developmental Disabilities, Psychiatric Disorders, and Neurological impairment. She continues to be active in research and has specialized in the diagnosis and behavioral treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Ron Sandell, B.A., CFO is the Chief Financial Officer  of ABC, Inc. Mr. Sandell has been responsible for all of the fiscal and business aspects of ABC, Inc. since 1997. He oversees all property management, new ABC sites, and business negotiations/contacts for company development and growth. Mr. Sandell has over 20 years of business management and administrative experience in such positions as Executive Vice President and Executive Director of private educational institutions. Mr. Sandell has a B.A. degree as well as graduate degree for a California Lifetime Teaching Credential. In addition to his business management experience, Mr. Sandell has four years of experience as a classroom teacher in secondary schools.

Kathy Tucker, B.S., MBA, MAT is the Chief Operations Officer and holds a Master's degree in business administration, Master's degree of Arts in Teaching with specialization in early childhood education, and a Bachelors of Science degree in business management. She has over 20 years of business experience covering knowledge in areas such as statistical analysis, accounting, marketing, meeting planning, audit report writing, employee benefits, human resources, computer technology, counseling, coaching and education.  Mrs. Tucker holds a Teaching Credential in Adult Education and has over ten years teaching in classrooms and online. She is currently an Adjunct Professor of Business at Sacramento City College (SCC) where she teaches computer applications classes. Mrs. Tucker is also a former computer and business instructor for Sacramento City Unified School District teaching Computer Applications and Business Communications to adult learners.

Mrs. Tucker is responsible for managing the Accounting, Staffing, Human Resources, and Computer Technology departments. In addition to overseeing these departments, Mrs. Tucker also conducts company investigations, handles immigration issues, is involved in legislative changes to the industry and oversees all administrative issues of ABC's Schools, Infant and Toddler programs and In-Home services located throughout Northern, Central and Southern California. Mrs. Tucker is also a Notary Public for the State of California, Commission Number: 1781260.