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Children's Specialized ABA

Hospital-Backed Whole-Child Care

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ABA Therapy Services in Maryland

A Message from Our CEO

Welcome to Children’s Specialized ABA!

Our leadership team is bonded by a passion for elevating care, and patient and family experience, for every child diagnosed with autism.

There are many dedicated providers in the world, so you might ask what sets us apart. My answer:

  1. We practice whole-child care, increasing communication and coordination with all relevant clinical and educational stakeholders to ensure progress, clarity, and comfort for the child and family.
  2. Our partnership with Children’s Specialized Hospital/RWJBarnabas Health brings with it a commitment to quality and safety – our staff receive more training and access to resources than you can find anywhere else – and it shows in the milestones our patients receive.
  3. We celebrate with you and your child. Children’s Specialized ABA is filled with leaders who live our tagline: Your milestones are our passion.

As an autism parent, I have experienced every level of service and care. It is my personal commitment that our team will be there to support you every step of the way with compassion, clarity, and excellence. Please reach out if we can help!

Best,

Chad

Meet the Team at
Children's Specialized ABA 

ABA Therapy Services in Arizona

Chad Hill

Chief Executive Officer

New Jersey Autism Diagnostic Evaluation

Miriam Newmark BCBA, LBA

Chief Operating Officer

New Jersey Center-Based ABA Therapy

Kristy Konopka

VP, Human Resources

Phoenix Speech Therapy for Children

Claire Ellis BCBA, LBA

Sr. Director of Clinical Training & Development

Phoenix Comprehensive Parent & Caregiver Guidance

Deanna Deenihan, MS, BCBA

Director, Clinical Quality 

Occupational Therapy near Newark

Katie Talerico

Director, Compliance

Phoenix Speech Therapy for Children

Claire Ellis BCBA, LBA

Vice President, Clinical Training & Development

Phoenix Comprehensive Parent & Caregiver Guidance

Deanna Deenihan, MS, BCBA

Vice President, Clinical Quality

Occupational Therapy near Newark

Katie Talerico

Vice President, Compliance and Privacy

Occupational Therapy Maryland

Alyson Niven, M.OTR/L

Director of Occupational Therapy

Comprehensive Parent & Caregiver Guidance NJ

Falinda C. Dieujuste, MSW, LCSW

Director of Social Work

ABA Therapy Services in New Jersey

Dr. Lindsay Kaffl, SLPD, CCC-SLP, ATP

Director of Speech-Language Pathology

ABA Therapy Voorhees, NJ

Dr. Jaime Ann DeQuinzio, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Director of Psychology, Children’s Specialized ABA

ABA Therapy near Owings Mills, MD

Sera Dore​

Director of Intake

ABA Therapy Greensboro, NC

Kristin Mumpower, MA, LPA, BCBA

Regional Clinical Director, North Carolina

Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy in Greensboro

Catherine Friend, M.A., BCBA, LBA

Regional Clinical Director, Maryland

ABA Therapy Phoenix, AZ

Kelly Bridgeforth, MS, BCBA, LBA-AZ

Regional Clinical Director, Arizona

ABA Therapy Jackson, NJ

Amanda Zahlmann, M.S., BCBA, LBA

Regional Clinical Director, New Jersey

Nicole McMillan, PhD, BCBA-D

Vice President of Clinical Advancement & Innovation

Leidy Garcia

Family Faculty Team Member

Genesis Vargas

Family Faculty Team Member

Your Milestones,
Our Passion

Call Today: 201-719-8222

Connecting with us is the first step

Autism Diagnostic Evaluation near Maryland

Our Locations

Our locations in New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, and Arizona provide children with quality whole-child autism care that makes us stand out in the communities we serve. We are here to build authentic connections by providing a collaboration between professionals and families.

Read About Our Locations
New Jersey

Jackson, NJ

178 West Veterans
Jackson, NJ 08527

Newark, NJ

131 Bergen St
Newark, NJ 07103

Coming Soon!

Greensboro, NC

1196 Pleasant Ridge Rd
Greensboro, NC 27409

Beltsville, MD

12240 Indian Creek Ct.
Beltsville, MD 20705

Owings Mill, MD

500 Redland Ct.,
Suite 102,
Owings Mills, MD 21117

Phoenix Metro, AZ

In-Home Only

Chad Hill

Chief Executive Officer

Chad is an experienced executive and adviser in the healthcare services and life sciences industries and a passionate advocate for children diagnosed with autism. Prior to joining Children’s Specialized ABA he spent 10 years leading transformations with global companies, with focus on customer experience, people strategy, and operational excellence. Personally, Chad is an ABA and autism dad and brings to his role sensitivity to family experience, whole-child care, and neurodiversity affirming practices. Beyond his responsibilities at Children’s Specialized ABA he is a Board Member of Scenic Utah and enjoys being in the mountains and on the ski slopes.

Miriam Newmark BCBA, LBAl

Chief Operating Officer

Miriam Newmark, BCBA, LBA is the Chief Operating Officer at Children’s Specialized ABA. With a strong foundation in special education as well as advancing her career with her BCBA certification from Florida Institute of Technology, Miriam has dedicated her career to supporting children and their families. Her passion for making a difference drive the company’s vision of providing exceptional care and innovative therapy practices for those diagnosed with autism. Miriam’s leadership reflects her commitment to creating a supportive and empowering environment where both teams and families can thrive. Outside of work, Miriam enjoys spending time with her family.

Claire Ellis BCBA, LBA

VP, Human Resources

As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Claire Ellis blends clinical expertise with a passion for mentorship and creativity, ensuring every client and team member feels supported and empowered. Known for developing engaging training programs and fostering compassionate care, Claire turns opportunities for learning and growth into meaningful & measurable progress- all while keeping a sense of humor and a sharp focus on excellence. When not working, Claire loves spending time with her family, exploring new cities, cycling (both as an enthusiast and a fan of professional racing), diving into books that offer fresh perspectives and sharing laughs with the people she loves most.

Kristin Mumpower MA, LPA, BCBA

Regional Clinical Director, North Carolina Kristin Mumpower serves as North Carolina’s Clinical Director, where she is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of clinical quality. Kristin is passionate about delivering assent-based care and neurodivergent-affirming, evidence-based autism treatment.

Catherine Friend, MA, BCBA, LBA

Regional Clinical Director, Maryland

As the Regional Clinical Director in Maryland, Catherine oversees all clinical operations, including the review, monitoring, and evaluation of treatment integrity to ensure the highest standards of protocol implementation by the clinical team. She plays a key role in developing strategies to drive growth across the state, while also nurturing strong relationships with local communities. Catherine’s ability to unite her team and effectively promote Children’s Specialized ABA cultivates an environment where parents feel assured and confident in choosing the company to entrust with their children’s care. In her free time, Catherine enjoys spending time with her husband and three children.

Kelly Bridgeforth MS, BCBA, LBA-AZ

Regional Clinical Director, Arizona As the Regional Clinical Director for Arizona, Kelly provides clinical oversight of BCBA’s, RBT’s and BT’s. This includes ongoing staff training, competency assessments, and performance management. She works closely with health plans, case managers, and other clinical teams to build relationships that foster superior service delivery to our families. Kelly’s focus on family partnership and clinical excellence have resulted in a rapid expansion of ABA services in Arizona.

Nicole McMillan, PhD, BCBA-D

Vice President of Clinical Advancement & Innovation

Dr. Nicole McMillan leads the efforts in advancement and innovation at Children’s Specialized ABA as the Vice President of Clinical Advancement & Innovation. Nicole earned her Doctoral degree in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences with an emphasis in ABA from Auburn University. As a BCBA-D with nearly two decades of experience in the field, she is a recognized voice in the clinical community, having contributed extensively through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national conferences.

Nicole’s leadership is dedicated to translating complex research into practical, life-changing interventions.  By bridging high-level academic expertise with a genuine appreciation for the human impact of our work, she helps push the boundaries of what is possible in behavioral health while staying grounded in the everyday needs of families.

  • Favorite part of the job: By bridging high-level academic expertise with a genuine appreciation for the human impact of our work, she helps push the boundaries of what is possible in behavioral health while staying grounded in the everyday needs of families.
  • Beyond the job: A true Disney enthusiast, Nicole loves spending time with her husband and young daughter at Disney World. She recharges through hot yoga, beach trips, and time with the family’s two rescue dogs.

Leidy Garcia

Family Faculty Team Member

As the mother of four boys, two of whom currently receive services at Children’s Specialized Hospital, Leidy’s connection to the world of neurodiversity is both professional and deeply personal. Her journey navigating complex care systems has spanned several years, giving her a firsthand understanding of the hurdles and triumphs families experience. She believes that when parents are equipped with the right advocacy tools and a supportive community, they can more effectively champion their children’s growth and independence.

Leidy is passionate about sharing practical strategies that turn overwhelming systems into manageable roadmaps. In her role as a Family Faculty member, she ensures that every family she supports feels heard, respected, and fully prepared to navigate their own unique developmental journey.

  • Favorite part of the role: Watching families move from overwhelmed to empowered. There is something powerful about being in the room where a parent realizes they already have what it takes and need the right support to see it.
  • Beyond the job: Leidy is a passionate advocate for children and families navigating complex systems and brings that same energy into her personal life.

Genesis Vargas

Family Faculty Team Member

As the parent of a child diagnosed with autism, Genesis’s deep connection to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) began in 2014 when her child started early intervention services at Children’s Specialized Hospital. Over the past decade, her family has navigated a comprehensive care journey involving ABA, physical, occupational, and speech therapies, alongside specialized medical support. Her decision to re-engage with Children’s ABA in 2025 reflects a decade-long path defined by both transformative progress and a persistent sense of hope.

In her role as a Children’s Specialized ABA Family Faculty member, Genesis utilizes her personal experience navigating complex medical and genetic conditions to support and guide other families. As a bilingual Latina, she is a passionate proponent of representation and culturally sensitive care, ensuring that families from diverse backgrounds have access to clear communication and a supportive community. Her perspective is further enriched by raising children both on and off the spectrum, allowing her to offer practical insight into balancing the diverse needs of a modern household.

Genesis is a strong advocate for active parent involvement, believing that the strongest therapeutic outcomes happen when there is a true partnership between families and providers. Having seen firsthand how the right tools and consistent intervention can strengthen a family’s foundation, she is dedicated to helping others realize the same sense of possibility and accomplishment for their children.

  • Favorite part of the role: Seeing firsthand how meaningful progress happens when parents are empowered to be active partners in therapy and carry those skills into daily life.
  • Beyond the job: Genesis prioritizes finding balance and joy within her busy family life, advocating for the neurodiverse community, and ensuring that hope and possibility remain at the center of everything she does both personally and professionally.

William Klein, M.Ed., BCBA, LABA

Director of Quality Assurance

William Klein is a licensed and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) dedicated to driving clinical excellence and operational success in healthcare. As Director of Quality Assurance, he leads the development of robust quality frameworks and leverages healthcare informatics to enhance patient care and streamline service delivery. William’s commitment to fostering accountability and advancing care standards has made a measurable impact across diverse populations. A bilingual Cuban American, he is passionate about exploring different cultures through travel and starts each day with a café con leche—a nod to his roots.

Brooke Feinstein, CPA

Chief Finance Officer

As CFO Brooke is responsible for financial reporting in both forward facing strategic projections and historical accuracy to support key decision making. She continuously implements business processes to optimize strategic planning, performance management and monitor risks. Brooke comes with a depth of experience seasoned from various industries. She was the CFO and Treasurer at IDW Media Holdings Inc. an NYSE traded company and has had CFO advisory clients in the healthcare and not-for-profit sectors. She has an audit and accounting background having worked at Grant Thornton LLP and Buchbinder Tunick & Company LLP. She received her BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and also holds her CPA in New Jersey and Canada. In her spare time, she enjoys spending with her family in nature usually hiking, running, canoeing, and/or swimming.

Maxime Von Zeman, MPH

Chief Strategy Officer

Maxime is a seasoned Chief Strategy Officer with extensive expertise in healthcare strategy. With over a decade of experience in the industry, she has successfully led multiple high-profile projects in technology, real estate, design, operations, activations, and customer experience. Maxime is known for her strategic vision, ability to analyze market trends, passion for sustainable development and focus on staff and patient experience. She holds a BS Health Education from San Francisco State University and an MPH from Tulane University. She is committed to building thriving communities through effective leadership and collaborative partnerships. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors with her husband and two sons.