Maria Nicolaou, MSc, BCBA

Name: Maria Nicolaou
Role / Credential: MSc, BCBA
Areas of Expertise: Parent Training, Challenging Behaviour, Functional Communication Training, EIBI
Company Name: Senior Behaviour Analyst at Special Learning
Role / Credential: MSc, BCBA
Areas of Expertise: Parent Training, Challenging Behaviour, Functional Communication Training, EIBI
Company Name: Senior Behaviour Analyst at Special Learning
Company URL: www.special-learning.com
Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D.

Name: Peter Gerhardt
Role / Credential: Ed.D.
Special Learning’s Designation: Subject Matter of Expert Transition in Practice Series: Q&A and Case Scenario Reviews with Dr. Peter Gerhardt
Company Name: Organization for Autism Research
Role / Credential: Ed.D.
Special Learning’s Designation: Subject Matter of Expert Transition in Practice Series: Q&A and Case Scenario Reviews with Dr. Peter Gerhardt
Company Name: Organization for Autism Research
Company URL: researchautism.org
Ability to Contribute: Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D., is the Executive Director of the EPIC School in Paramus, NJ.
Sarah Winningham, MA, BCBA

Name: Sarah Winningham
Role / Credential: MA, BCBA
Special Learning’s Designation: Subject Matter Expert of What is Autism?
Company Name: Capella University
Role / Credential: MA, BCBA
Special Learning’s Designation: Subject Matter Expert of What is Autism?
Company Name: Capella University
Company URL: www.capella.edu
Ability to Contribute: Sarah Winningham, MA, BCBA is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst from Indiana.
Shawn Kenyon, BCBA-D

Name: Shawn Kenyon
Role / Credential: BCBA-D
Special Learning’s Designation: Subject Matter Expert of Addressing Challenging Behaviors Ethically in Schools Module 2: Must-have Skills (and Understanding) for School-based BCBAs and Other Service Providers
Company Name:
Role / Credential: BCBA-D
Special Learning’s Designation: Subject Matter Expert of Addressing Challenging Behaviors Ethically in Schools Module 2: Must-have Skills (and Understanding) for School-based BCBAs and Other Service Providers
Company Name:
Company URL:
Ability to Contribute: Dr. Shawn Kenyon, BCBA-D has been in the fields of Applied Behavior Analysis and Special Education since 1995.
Thomas Cunningham, PhD

Name: Thomas Cunningham
Role / Credential: PhD, Behavioral Scientist
Special Learning’s Designation: Subject Matter Expert of Organizational Ethics & OBM Webinar Series-Module 2: Best Practices in Performance Management with Jon Bailey and Aubrey Daniels
Company Name: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Role / Credential: PhD, Behavioral Scientist
Special Learning’s Designation: Subject Matter Expert of Organizational Ethics & OBM Webinar Series-Module 2: Best Practices in Performance Management with Jon Bailey and Aubrey Daniels
Company Name: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Company URL: https://www.cdc.gov/
Ability to Contribute: Dr. Thomas Cunningham is a behavioral scientist and the Chief of the
Ability to Contribute: Dr. Thomas Cunningham is a behavioral scientist and the Chief of the
Taylor Heinsohn, MEd, BCBA, LBA

Name: Taylor Heinsohn
Role / Credential: MEd, BCBA, LBA
Special Learning’s Designation: Panelist
Company Name: 360 Behavioral Health
Role / Credential: MEd, BCBA, LBA
Special Learning’s Designation: Panelist
Company Name: 360 Behavioral Health
Company URL: 360behavioralhealth.com
Ability to Contribute: Taylor Heinsohn, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for over 12 years and is passionate about supporting and teaching families so they can become experts themselves in the principles of ABA.
Ability to Contribute: Taylor Heinsohn, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for over 12 years and is passionate about supporting and teaching families so they can become experts themselves in the principles of ABA.
Tamar Varnai, MA, BCBA

Name: Tamar Varnai
Role / Credential: MA, BCBA
Special Learning’s Designation: Panelist
Company Name: Applied Behavioral Mental Health Counseling, P.C.
Role / Credential: MA, BCBA
Special Learning’s Designation: Panelist
Company Name: Applied Behavioral Mental Health Counseling, P.C.
Company URL: www.appliedabc.com
Ability to Contribute: Tamar Varnai, MA, BCBA is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst originally from New York.
Ability to Contribute: Tamar Varnai, MA, BCBA is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst originally from New York.
Tabitha Kirby, MA, BCBA, COBA

Name: Tabitha Kirby
Role / Credential: MA, BCBA, COBA
Special Learning’s Designation: Panelist
Company Name: The Autism Peace, LLC
Role / Credential: MA, BCBA, COBA
Special Learning’s Designation: Panelist
Company Name: The Autism Peace, LLC
Company URL: www.autismspeaks.org
Ability to Contribute: Tabitha Kirby received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in special education with specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Ohio State University.
Ability to Contribute: Tabitha Kirby received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in special education with specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Ohio State University.
Mike Marroquin, PhD, BCBA-D, NYSLBA

Name: Mike Marroquin
Role / Credential: PhD, BCBA-D, NYSLBA
Special Learning’s Designation: Subject Matter Expert of ADHD Strategies: Family Training and Involvement (RECORDED)
Company Name: Mike Marroquin PhD, BCBA-D, NYSLBA
Role / Credential: PhD, BCBA-D, NYSLBA
Special Learning’s Designation: Subject Matter Expert of ADHD Strategies: Family Training and Involvement (RECORDED)
Company Name: Mike Marroquin PhD, BCBA-D, NYSLBA
Company URL: mikemarroquin.weebly.com
Ability to Contribute: Mike E. Marroquin, PhD, BCBA-D, New York State Licensed Behavior Analyst Franklin Square School District, New York Dr. Michael “Mike” Marroquin, is an Autism graduate & undergraduate professor at Queens College (CUNY).
Ability to Contribute: Mike E. Marroquin, PhD, BCBA-D, New York State Licensed Behavior Analyst Franklin Square School District, New York Dr. Michael “Mike” Marroquin, is an Autism graduate & undergraduate professor at Queens College (CUNY).
Melanie Olson Giles, MA, MEd, CCC-SLP, BCBA, LABA

Name: Melanie Olson Giles
Role / Credential: MA, MEd, CCC-SLP, BCBA, LABA
Special Learning’s Designation: Subject Matter Expert of SLP & ABA Collaboration Series: Using Collaboration to Generate Best Outcomes… Quicker
Company Name: The Verbal ABA Clinic@STG
Role / Credential: MA, MEd, CCC-SLP, BCBA, LABA
Special Learning’s Designation: Subject Matter Expert of SLP & ABA Collaboration Series: Using Collaboration to Generate Best Outcomes… Quicker
Company Name: The Verbal ABA Clinic@STG
Company URL: speechtherapygroup.net
Ability to Contribute: Melanie is a dually certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She is the Clinic Director of the Speech Therapy Group and The Verbal ABA Clinic at STG.
Ability to Contribute: Melanie is a dually certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She is the Clinic Director of the Speech Therapy Group and The Verbal ABA Clinic at STG.
Marla Root, Advocate Expert

Name: Marla Root
Role / Credential: Advocate Expert
Special Learning’s Designation: Subject Matter Expert of Training on the BACB Autism Task List Sections A & E
Company Name: Step by Step Academy
Role / Credential: Advocate Expert
Special Learning’s Designation: Subject Matter Expert of Training on the BACB Autism Task List Sections A & E
Company Name: Step by Step Academy
Company URL: stepbystepacademy.org
Ability to Contribute: Marla Root is the Director of Community Affairs and Advocacy with Step By Step Academy in Worthington, Ohio.
Ability to Contribute: Marla Root is the Director of Community Affairs and Advocacy with Step By Step Academy in Worthington, Ohio.
Marc Zimmerman, PhD

Name: Marc Zimmerman
Role / Credential: PhD
Special Learning’s Designation: Panelist
Company Name: School of Public Health University of Michigan
Company URL: sph.umich.edu
Ability to Contribute: Dr. Zimmerman’s research focuses on adolescent health and resiliency, and empowerment theory. His work on adolescent health examines how positive factors in adolescents’ lives help them overcome risks they face.