San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire Staff

The Behavior Analysts and Teachers on ABC's staff all have University degrees and academic training in Applied Behavior Analysis. Additionally, ABC has a comprehensive Continuing Education Program and an extensive supervision structure which includes PhD’s, licensed Psychologists as well as Board Certified Behavior Analysts.

Clinical Administrator

Rick Gutierrez, M.S./B.C.B.A
Clinical Administrator
Southern California

Rick Gutierrez is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of experience in the treatment of individuals diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum. Mr. Gutierrez holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside and a Masters of Science degree in Behavior Analysis from California State University, Los Angeles. Mr. Gutierrez has served as Program Manager, Regional Director, and currently as the Clinical Administrator of Southern California services for Applied Behavior Consultants, Inc. As Clinical Administrator Mr. Gutierrez coordinates ABC services with multiple regional centers and school districts and is responsible for overall staff clinical support throughout the region. Mr. Gutierrez has given numerous workshops on ABA throughout the United States, Europe, Africa, and Asia. He is level II certified in Teaching through Acoustical Guidance (TAG). He specializes in Verbal Behavior Theory and has published work in The Analysis of Verbal Behavior. Mr. Gutierrez is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis and the California Association for Behavior Analysis.

Program Managers

Nicole Justine Tisdale, M.S./B.C.B.A
Program Manager
San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire

Nicole Justine Tisdale earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from BIOLA University in 1996. While pursuing a BA degree, Miss. Tisdale worked as a Program Specialist, tutoring children from 2 to 15 years of age diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) for the following ten years. Miss Tisdale received her Master of Science degree in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2008. In 2005 she became the Program Manager for Applied Behavior Consultants, Inc. (ABC).  Her duties include managing Senior Behavior Consultants and Behavior Consultants who supervise in-home, school based services, community, and parent training programs for children diagnosed with ASD and other developmental disabilities. She trains staff on assessments, lesson development and implementation. She has conducted various workshops for school district staff in the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire areas of Southern California, on Applied Behavior Analysis. Miss Tisdale has also traveled to South Africa conducting workshops on special education as well as general education concerning reduction of behavior problems in the classroom and the teaching of appropriate skill deficits.

Stephanie M. Sheridan, M.S.,B.C.B.A.
Program Manager
San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire

STEPHANIE M. SHERIDAN is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst and acquired her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at Western Michigan University and subsequently her Master of Science degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, under the supervision of John T. Rapp, Ph.D., BCBA-D, at St. Cloud State University in March 2011. Ms. Sheridan has been a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International since 2004, the American Psychological Association since 2005, and the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts since 2009. Ms. Sheridan works in the capacity of Program Manager with Applied Behavior Consultants, Inc. During the time period of September 2008 through July 2010 was a research assistant under the supervision of Dr. John T. Rapp. The project titled, "Altering Motivational Variables to Treat Stereotyped Behaviors" (with Greg Swanson). In January 2011, Ms. Sheridan completed her thesis study in fulfillment of the M.S. degree, titled "The Effects of Abolishing and Establishing Operations on Stereotypy and Academic Training." She has acquired experience within the field of Behavior Analysis as a behavior consultant, senior behavior consultant, associate program manager, research assistant, undergraduate therapist, behavior therapist, and as a behavior technician. The populations that she has worked with include infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.

Brian Mahorney, M.S./B.C.B.A.
Program Manager
San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire

Brian Mahorney is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and acquired his Master of Science degree in Counseling and Applied Behavior Analysis at California State University Los Angeles. Mr. Mahorney has over 10 years of experience working with individuals with Autism and other developmental disorders. He began his career working as a direct interventionist and has held various positions including Behavior Consultant, Senior Consultant and Program Manager for a previous agency. Mr. Mahorney is passionate about working with parents, as he feels they are an integral part of a child's growth. He has given numerous workshops in English and Spanish for a wide range of audiences in the United States, Taiwan, and Portugal. Mr. Mahorney is a current member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the California Association for Behavior Analysis.

Senior Behavior Consultants

Heather Barker, M.A., B.C.B.A.
Senior Behavior Consultant
San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire

Heather Barker is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and began working with children with Autism in 2003. She began working in at an elementary school as an educational assistant for 5 years. In August 2008, she started working for Applied Behavior Consultants as an in-home tutor while pursuing her Bachelor degree in Psychology. In February 2010, Mrs. Barker received her Master's in Teaching with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis. Currently, Mrs. Barker is a Senior Behavior Consultant in which she supervises various Behavior consultants and their clients' in-home, community and school based programs in order to increase the child's current behavior excesses and deficits. Mrs. Barker is passionate about increasing functional skills such as self help and community-based routines that will ultimately increase their independence within their home and in the community.

Heather Estep, B.A.
Senior Behavior Consultant
San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire

Heather Estep is a Senior Behavior Consultant at ABC, Inc. She began helping children with disabilities while in elementary school and middle school as they were mainstreamed into her classes. During high school, she worked at an Easter Seals after school recreational center. As Heather earned her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology at California Lutheran University, she worked as a respite care provider and then as a tutor with children both in-home and at school. Additionally, she concentrated in Family and Child Development, and took various early education classes. With ABC, Heather worked as a behavior consultant for over a year before becoming a senior behavior consultant.

Portia Thomas, M.A., B.CB.A.
Senior Behavior Consultant
San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire

Portia Thomas has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis since 2006, shortly before graduating from California State University, San Bernardino. There, she acquired a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology as well as in Human Development across the Lifespan. Portia has been working with ABC, Inc. since January 2007, and has worked hard to make each child a priority. While she loves working one-on-one with children, she feels that the most important part of the puzzle is parent involvement within each program. Her passion for the field continues to grow with each day. Portia completed her Master’s in Teaching with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2010, and became Board Certified in Applied Behavior Analysis in May 2011.

Woan Tian Chow, Ph.D., B.C.B.A.
Senior Behavior Consultant
San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire

Dr. Woan Tian Chow is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2007 and has over 6 years of experience working with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dr. Chow earned her doctoral degree in Psychology, with an emphasis in Autism and Developmental Disabilities from Western Michigan University (WMU) under the supervision of Dr. Richard W. Malott. Prior to joining Applied Behavior Consultant, Inc. (ABC, Inc.), Dr. Chow worked at the Discrete Trial Preschool Classroom at Croyden Avenue School, a practicum site for WMU psychology students, and held various positions including tutor, supervisor, and teaching assistant (shift manager). As a graduate instructor, Dr. Chow has experience in teaching the Basic and Advanced Principles of Behavior courses, and the Autism Practicum course. Currently Dr. Chow served as a Behavior Consultant at ABC, Inc. and has recently promoted to the position of Senior Behavior Consultant. Dr. Chow has delivered poster presentations at numerous conferences including the Association of Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention, and has also delivered paper presentation at the WMU Behavior Analysis Research Conference. Dr. Chow is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International since 2005.

Behavior Consultants

Briseida Catalan

Alondra Rickman

Jason Francisco

Anna Martirez

Kristine Gonzalez

Ian Agustino

Crystal Pino

David Berumen

Jeff Silva

Colleen Cochran

Davette Williams

Romila Dasgupta

Angela Borruso

Rosita Woods

Jonnay Wenger

Julie Sanchez

William Fant

Romelle Lladones

Regina Gamboa

Amy Sager

Elizabeth Sandoval