Meet Our Team

Clinical Leadership

Cailin M. Ockert Cailin M. Ockert

Cailin M. Ockert

Executive Director

MS, BCBA, LBA

Cailin has been working with children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities since 2005.  She holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology and Child Development from Arizona …

Emily-Davis Emily E. Nuño

Emily E. Nuño

Clinical Director

M.Ed., Behavior Analyst

Emily has been working with children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities since 2009. She holds a Bachelors of Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Psychology and Family …

Matthew LeVac Matthew LeVac

Matthew LeVac

Director of Therapy

MS, OTR/L

Matthew LeVac is a licensed and registered Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Specialist. He holds a Master of Science degree from A.T Stills University and a Certificate in Assistive Technology …

Liz Singer Liz Singer

Liz Singer

Assistant Director

MS, BCBA, LBA

Liz has been working with children and teens with developmental disabilities since 2014. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. …

Behavior Analysts

Alicia Smith

Alicia Smith

BCBA

M.A., BCBA, LBA

Alicia moved to Arizona from California in 2024. She became a BCBA in 2015 and is passionate about working with children, specializing in social skills and ACT. Alicia has two …

Isabelle Comfort

Isabelle Comfort

Behavior Analyst

MS, BCBA, LBA

Isabelle is an Arizona transplant from Mississippi. She moved to Arizona in 2021 for her master’s program at Arizona State University. Has always enjoyed early intervention and ACT. She likes …

Jennifer C. Santoemma Jennifer C. Santoemma

Jennifer C. Santoemma

Behavior Analyst

M.Ed., BCBA, LBA

Jenny graduated from Belmont Abbey College in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.  After graduating, Jenny moved to Arizona and began working in the …

Chaynee Tabet Chaynee Tabet

Chaynee Tabet

Behavior Analyst

MS, BCBA, LBA

Chaynee graduated from Texas A&M University in 2018. After graduation, Chaynee moved to Arizona to begin working in the field of applied behavior analysis. In 2021, she completed a Master …

Dylan Nikkel Dylan Nikkel

Dylan Nikkel

Behavior Analyst

MS, BCBA, LBA

Dylan has been working with children, teens, and adults with developmental disabilities since becoming a behavior technician at Bista in 2015. He graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor …

Stephanie Bakazan Stephanie Bakazan

Stephanie Bakazan

Senior Behavior Analyst

MS, BCBA, LBA

Stephanie has been working with children and teens with developmental disabilities since 2015. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016 and holds a …

Laura Milstrey Laura Milstrey

Laura Milstrey

Behavior Analyst

M.A., BCBA, LBA

Laura Milstrey started her career in applied behavior analysis in 2004, completing her Masters degree and practicum experience at The Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, an affiliate of John’s …

Speech Therapy Team

Charles Hicks Jr.

Charles Hicks Jr.

SLP Assistant

CJ Hicks is a compassionate Speech-Language Pathology Assistant who believes every child deserves to be heard and understood. He earned his SLPA Certificate from Northern Arizona University and has experience …

Lauren Schillig

Lauren Schillig

Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

BA, SLPA

Hello! My name is Lauren, and I am a speech language pathologist assistant. I graduated from Arizona State University in 2024 with my bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing science. …

Sarah Savage

Sarah Savage

Speech Language Pathologist

M.S., CCC-SLP

Sarah Savage began her career as a behavioral specialist and while going to school to become a BCBA she made the switch to become a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) and …

Headshot of Mariana Gertz Mariana Gertz

Mariana Gertz

Speech Language Pathologist

MS, CF-SLP

Mariana is a compassionate and highly dedicated speech-language pathologist (SLP) who possesses an unwavering commitment to helping individuals find their voice and overcome communication challenges. Her journey in the field …

Occupational Therapy Team

Theresa Ricci

Theresa Ricci

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

COTA/L

Theresa has worked in the pediatrics industry since 2011. She started out volunteering in the special needs ministry and loved it. Theresa then became a respite and habilitation provider for …

Headshot of Gabby Alcantar Gabby Alcantar

Gabby Alcantar

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

COTA/L

Gabby Alcantar is a certified and licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant. She formerly worked as an RBT in our Bista Clinic while completing her Occupational Therapy Program. She graduated with an Associate Degree in Occupational Science from Pima Medical Institute in 2023.