Standards Committee

The Autism Commission on Quality’s (ACQ) essential accreditation decisions are made by independent committees comprised of experienced experts and diverse representatives involved in receiving, delivering, supporting, and funding applied behavior analysis services for autism. The ACQ Standards Committee is responsible for developing and approving accreditation standards, making committee appointments, and developing policies and procedures that support ACQ’s accreditation activities.

The ACQ Standards Committee is charged with developing accreditation standards that are:

The ACQ Standards Committee typically meets monthly. Past dates listed below reflect previous meetings and future dates reflect tentative meeting dates that are subject to change.

Eric Larsson, PhD, LP, BCBA-D (2025 – 2027) (Chair)
Executive Director of Clinical Services, Lovaas Institute Midwest

Dr. Larsson is the Executive Director of Clinical Services at the Lovaas Institute Midwest, where he implements and researches the renowned program of intensive early intervention services with families of children who suffer from autism. He is a Licensed Psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral. Dr. Larsson is the current President of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Fundación Lovaas in Barcelona. He has served on the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and as Associate Research Director of the NIMH Multi-site Replication Study of the UCLA Young Autism Project. Dr. Larsson actively supports advocacy efforts to increase access to ABA services for autism and consults internationally on clinical programming and evaluation. In 2013 he received the Provider of the Year Award from Autism Speaks in Washington, DC, and the Leadership Award from the California Association for Behavior Analysis (CalABA), in Anaheim, CA.

Leila Allen, MA, BCBA, LBA (2025 – 2027) (Vice Chair)
Vice President of External Affairs, Lighthouse Autism Center

Leila has worked in the ABA field for over 15 years professionally. Her passion for the autism community started as a child with a very personal connection. Starting out as a direct therapist with a child with autism in college, her career has expanded, working with a wide variety of clients in several different settings, including adults, young children, in schools, group homes, day and psychiatric programs and center-based programs. In 2012, Ms. Allen went back to her center-based ABA roots when she joined an upstart program in Northern Indiana, Lighthouse Autism Center. Over the last 10 years, she has been a part of growing and developing this organization and functioning as the Chief Clinical and Compliance Officer for the last few years. In the last 2 years, Leila’s passion for advocacy, compliance, and regulatory impacts has grown, leading towards roles on Indiana’s Licensure Committee and involvement in several groups working towards better access to care and high-quality outcomes.

Christine H Barthold, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, NBC-HWC (2024 – 2026)
Associate Professor and Academic Program Coordinator of ABA, George Mason University
Practicing Clinician, Private Practice

Dr. Christine Barthold is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D™) and is licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. Barthold is the only person to hold both a BCBA-D and National Board Certification as a Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). Dr. Barthold has almost 30 years’ experience working with individuals with ASD and other developmental disabilities. She has worked with individuals across the lifespan and in a variety of settings. These settings include home-based intervention, public and private schools, houses of worship, hospitals and places of employment. This gives Chris a unique, holistic approach to intervention that is based upon both her experiences and the best available evidence. In addition to her clinical experience, Dr. Barthold is an Associate Professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. She has been the Academic Program Coordinator for the ABA program at GMU for 10 years. She likes to say she stays “on the ground floor of the ivory tower” by maintaining a clinical practice alongside her teaching, scholarship, and administrative duties.

Jerome T. Chiu, MPA, BCBA, LABA (2025 – 2027)
Lead Consultant / Owner, RadBX

Jerome T. Chiu is the Lead Consultant and Owner of RadBx, an ABA Management consultant company based in Boston, MA. Jerome is also an Associate of the Insurance Resource Center for Autism and Behavioral Health, where he works to resolve insurance coverage issues and support families as they navigate their complicated health insurance coverage. Jerome has dedicated his professional career to ensuring access to services and enhancing the quality ABA treatment. In 2015, Jerome implemented MassHealth coverage of ABA services for individuals with ASD in Massachusetts. In 2020, Jerome served on the Steering Committee for the CASP Organizational Guidelines and Standards. Currently, Jerome consults with providers to ensure compliance with clinical standards and enhance the quality of treatment. He also works with health insurance companies to investigate Fraud Waste and Abuse. Jerome is a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst and Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst in the state of Massachusetts. He holds a Masters in Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education from NYU Steinhardt, and a Masters in Public Administration from Suffolk University. Jerome is also a graduate of the Leadership in Education and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) fellowship program at the Shriver Center at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, MA.

Chanti Fritzsching Waters, EDD, BCBA-D (2024 – 2026)
VP of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, ABS Kids
Director and Secretary, Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA)
APBA Member, ABA Coding Coalition

Dr. Waters brings over 30 years of experience in the field of ABA, spanning diverse roles across home, school, residential, and community settings from local to multi-state organizations. Her career has focused on understanding and meeting client and stakeholder needs, driving her dedication to achieving clinical excellence and socially meaningful outcomes. Throughout her tenure, Dr. Waters has collaborated closely with clinical and administrative teams to shape organizational objectives, emphasizing rigorous clinical standards. She earned an MS in ABA Psychology from California State University, Stanislaus, followed by an Education Specialist and Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of West Florida. Dr. Waters has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2002, known for her expertise in early intensive behavioral intervention, training, supervision, and curriculum development. Currently, as Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs at ABS Kids, she plays a pivotal role in developing key performance indicators, overseeing regulatory compliance in service documentation, advising operations in clinical standards and training development, and orchestrating public policy efforts. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, Secretary on APBA’s Executive Committee, and a member of the ABA Coding Coalition.

Naa Garrido, MS, BCBA, LBS (2025 – 2027)
Founder/CEO, Galena Autism and Behavioral Services (GABS)

Naa Ameley Garrido is the founder and CEO of GABS and GABS Academy, serving neurodiverse children and their families with compassionate evidence-based care. Located in Bucks County, PA, both her companies provide Applied Behavior Analysis and educational services, through intensive early intervention services, private state licensed special education, school district consultation, caregiver training, and clinic-based, home-bases, and community-based services. Her experiences as a Ghanian immigrant informs her mission for equitable access to health for all children regardless of what family they were born to, or where they live. Her passion for building supportive relationships and community drives her enthusiasm for the Autism and ABA community. As a mother to three incredible children, she finds joy in sharing in their curiosity for the world around us.

Gina Green, PhD, BCBA-D (2025 – 2027)
Consultant, Private Practice

Gina Green received a PhD in Psychology (Analysis of Behavior) from Utah State University in 1986 following undergraduate and master’s-degree studies at Michigan State University. She is currently a consultant in private practice, having been a faculty member in Behavior Analysis and Therapy at Southern Illinois University; Director of Research at the New England Center for Children in Southborough, Massachusetts; Associate Scientist at the E.K. Shriver Center for Mental Retardation in Waltham, Massachusetts; Research Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School; a Lecturer in Public Health and Special Education at San Diego State University; and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts. She has authored numerous publications on the treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities and brain injuries as well as the experimental analysis of behavior. Dr. Green co-edited the books Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism and Making a Difference: Behavioral Intervention for Autism and is a co-author of Strategies and Tactics of Behavioral Research and Practice (4th ed). with James M. Johnston and Henry S. Pennypacker. She serves or has served on the editorial boards of several professional journals in developmental disabilities and behavior analysis and the advisory boards of several autism programs and organizations as well as the B.F. Skinner Foundation. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral, former president of the Association for Behavior Analysis and the California Association for Behavior Analysis, a former member of the Board of Directors of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, a founding Director and former CEO of the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Council for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health, and the Association for Behavior Analysis. Other recognitions and awards include Psychology Today’s “Mental Health Professional of the Year” (2000); honorary Doctor of Science degree from The Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland (2005); California Association for Behavior Analysis Award for Outstanding Contributions to Behavior Analysis (2013); New York State Association for Behavior Analysis John W. Jacobson Award for Contributions to Behavior Analysis (2013); Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis & Therapy Sidman Award for Enduring Contributions to Applied Behavior Analysis (2014); Friend of the Kendall Centers, Modesto, CA (2014); Autism Speaks Provider of the Year (2014); Behavior Analyst Certification Board Michael Hemingway Award (2017); American Psychological Association Division 25 Don Hake Translational Research Award (2017); California Association for Behavior Analysis Gerald L. Shook Advocacy Award (2018); ABA in PA Initiative Trailblazer Advocate Award (2019); and Autism Law Summit Award for Sustained Outstanding Advocacy (2023). Dr. Green lectures and consults widely on autism and related disorders, behavioral research, effective interventions for people with disabilities, and public policies affecting the practice of applied behavior analysis.

Janine Howe M.S. BCBA, LABA (2025 – 2027)
Owner, Foundation Lane

Janine Howe is the Owner and Executive Director of Foundation Lane, LLC, a leading ABA therapy provider based in Medfield, Massachusetts. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst with more than a decade of executive leadership experience, Janine is deeply committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care to young children with autism and related developmental differences. Since founding Foundation Lane, Janine has guided the company’s growth with a clear mission: to provide evidence-based, child-led therapy that supports the whole family. Under her leadership, the organization has become known for its warm, collaborative culture, strong clinical integrity, and personalized approach to care. Foundation Lane specializes in early intervention services for children ages one to six, integrating natural environment teaching, family-centered support, and play-based learning into each treatment plan. Janine holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Mary Washington and a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern University. In addition to leading her organization, she serves on the Advisory Board for the ABA Graduate Program at Regis College and remains actively engaged in professional organizations that support best practices in autism treatment. Respected for her thoughtful leadership and dedication to ethical care, Janine continues to drive innovation in ABA service delivery – prioritizing quality, sustainability, and meaningful outcomes for every child and family served.

Portia James, M.A., BCBA (2024 – 2026)
Founder/CEO at Behavior Genius

Portia James is a sought-after board-certified and licensed Behavior Analyst and Organizational Behavior Management Specialist. With a career that spans nearly two decades, Portia doesn’t just break down barriers; she builds bridges for Black business owners and advocates for inclusive and psychologically safe workplaces. In 2023, she published “Radical OBM: Organizational Behavior Management for Regular Folks” with a clear and bold mission to “build workplaces that people don’t have to recover from.” As founder and CEO of Behavior Genius® and co-founder of Genius Operations™, she helps launch and scale businesses that thrive. With her expertise, Portia has touched the lives of thousands of families impacted by autism and staff impacted by systemic racism and workplace trauma. Outside of work, Portia is a wife, a mother of three, and a collector of experiences in the form of concert tickets, sky miles, and recipe books.

Alleta Selene Johnson (Selene), M.Ed., BCBA, LBA (she/her/hers) (2024 – 2026)
Executive Director, ABC of NC

Selene Johnson, M.Ed., BCBA, is the Executive Director of ABC of NC, a specialized center in Winston Salem, NC, providing diagnostic, therapeutic, and educational services for Autistic individuals and their families. She is a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) and a formerly licensed special education teacher. Selene received her master’s degree in special education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She served on the governor-appointed Joint Study Committee on Autism Spectrum Disorder and Public Safety, studying autism health insurance legislation in NC and led advocacy efforts towards behavior analyst licensure in North Carolina. Selene served on the board of the North Carolina Association for Behavior Analysis for eight years and is a past President of the organization. She formerly served on the NC Department of Public Instruction Council on Educational Services for Exceptional Children and the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) Board. She currently serves as Chair of the NC Behavior Analyst Licensure Board and on the APBA Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is a graduate of Leadership Winston Salem and of the Advancing Strong Leadership in Intellectual and developmental Disabilities NC program.

Jonathan Keefe, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA (2024 – 2026)
Director of Clinical & Quality Compliance, One80Wellness Group

A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Jonathan first received training in Applied Behavior Analysis in 1997. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience at Kenyon College, then completed a Master of Education in Special Education at the University of Louisville, in addition to the VCS in Applied Behavior Analysis at Florida Institute of Technology. He has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since January of 2013. Jonathan initially worked to build the largest independently-owned ABA clinic for Autistic individuals in Kentucky. Following that company’s acquisition in 2019, he moved into leadership roles that progressively increased in both scale and interdepartmental collaboration across multiple providers operating at both regional and national footprints. He is passionate about issues of neurodiversity, progressive ethics, and data-based leadership, and how those values align to affect meaningful change on a systems level, which inspired him to earn his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification in 2022. He has served multiple terms as a Subject Matter Expert with the Behavior Analysis Certification Board and as an expert witness in due process hearings pertaining to the provision of behavior analytic services in school-based settings, and he has served as the Chairperson of Kentucky’s ABA Licensing Board.

Junie Lazo-Pearson, PhD., BCBA-D (2024 – 2026)
Chief Clinical Officer, Advanced Behavioral Health, Inc.

Dr. Lazo-Pearson serves as the Chief Clinical Officer for Advanced Behavioral Health, Inc. She provides oversight and leadership to the core clinical team. She is responsible for fostering superior quality patient care, standardizing clinical protocols, developing clinical strategic goals and program expansion and contributing to the recruitment and retention of clinical staff. She promotes inter-departmental collaboration working closely with the CEO and director of operations. She has served as a member of the board directors for the California Association for Behavior Analysis in various positions. She was selected as the Chair to the Insurance Workgroup of the Orange County Autism Task Force under the Senate Select Committee for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Currently, she is the Behavioral Health Representative on the Provider Advisory Committee for CalOptima and Chair of Behavioral Services for Regional Center of Orange County. She is passionate about community service which is demonstrated by her many volunteer positions.

Aamir Rehman, MD (2024 – 2026)
Partner, Clinical Innovation and Digital Health Advisory

Aamir is a physician executive who has worked in the provider, employer, health plan and digital health space in senior roles. Most recently, Aamir served as the CEO of a precision medicine company in the cardiometabolic space. Prior to this, he held roles as a Partner and Chief Clinical Officer at Mercer (working with large employer clients), as SVP of Clinical Innovation at Consortium Health Plans (Blue Cross Blue Shield), as Partner at the Advisory Board Company, as Chief Clinical Integration Officer for VHASE, and as Executive Vice President of a health system. In his current role, he serves as a commercial and clinical advisor to digital health start-ups (autism management, Medicare Advantage AI, minimally invasive diagnostics).

Penny Schenkkan, PhD, BCBA-D (2025 – 2027)
Director of Clinical Excellence, Boost

Penny began her career in the field of behavior analysis in 2004 working in a full inclusion model preschool. She has provided clinical supervision to technicians working with individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities and supervised the clinical experience of BCBAs and individuals seeking BACB certification. In addition to providing direct care services, Penny has held leadership positions in multi-state organizations, spearheading the efforts to develop and implement practice standards to support the clinicians and clients receiving in-home, clinic-based, and school services. Penny is currently a Director of Product for a practice management software company aiming to transform behavioral healthcare practices. Finally, Penny serves as a BACB Subject Matter Expert, a member of the Autism Commission on Quality Standards Committee, and as the Public Policy Committee Chair for the California Association for Behavior Analysis (CalABA).

Sarah Schmitz, CPB, CPC, CMRS-I (2025 – 2027)
President, Comprehensive Billing Consultants

Sarah Schmitz is the Founder and President of Comprehensive Billing Consultants. She has over 15 years experience in Medical Coding and Billing. She started out taking some night classes at a local college to learn this profession and fell in love with it. She finished at the top of all her classes and went on to become a Certified Professional Coder, receiving Magna Cum Laude from the American Academy of Professional Coders. In addition, she is an American Medical Billing Association CMRS Instructor. Sarah’s qualifications include Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Certification, Inpatient Coding Specialist Certification, Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist, Medical Record Management, Business Management, HCPCS Level I and II Procedure Coding and ICD-9 CM, ICD-10 CM Coding as well as over 15 years of medical billing. Sarah has done everything from front end medical office work all the way to the collections process. To quote Sarah, “Medical Billing and Coding is my passion, not just my career.” Sarah is the co-author of Revenue Cycle Management for ABA Therapy. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and researching new innovations in the field of ABA and autism.

Kristie Thompson, Ph.D., LP, BCBA-D (2024 – 2026)

Licensed Psychologist, Mosaic Pediatric Therapy
Kristie is a licensed clinical psychologist and behavior analyst with 20+ years working within the field of ABA, autism, and developmental disabilities. After working at Optum Healthcare for the past 15 years where she led clinical teams in utilization management, fraud, waste, and abuse, project management, and client implementations, Kristie returned to her roots and is once again helping to identify and diagnose children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In addition to her clinical work, Kristie will be part of a community outreach program to enhance medical professionals’ knowledge in the identification of ASD. Kristie served on the North Carolina Association for Behavior Analysis board serving as Vice President, President, and Past President.

Jeron Trotman, MS, BCBA, IBA (2025 – 2027)
President & Founder, Black Men in Behavior Analysis (BMBA)
Executive Producer, Beyond the Science Podcast
Founder, ABAVerzus

Jeron Trotman, MS, BCBA, IBA, is a dedicated behavior analyst with over a decade of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). He is the founder and president of Black Men in Behavior Analysis (BMBA), an organization committed to advancing diversity and leadership among Black men in the field. Jeron also founded ABAVerzus Block Party, a pioneering initiative that merges education, celebration, and connection to reimagine community engagement in ABA. Most recently, he launched the Behavior Technician Association (BTA), a national organization elevating the voice and visibility of behavior technicians through community, resources, and recognition. As the host and executive producer of the Beyond the Science podcast, Jeron amplifies diverse perspectives and bridges the gap between clinical science and lived experience. He holds a Master of Science in Psychology with an emphasis in ABA from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of New Hampshire. He also serves on the Georgia Association for Behavior Analysis (GABA) Board as Co-Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Based in Atlanta, Jeron continues to lead transformative initiatives that promote equity, mentorship, and systemic progress in the field.

Andrea Waks, JD, MA (2024 – 2026)
Consultant, Proactive Strategies

Andi Waks is the Director of Client Services at Autism Partnership. She began working with children with autism spectrum disorder in the late 1970s at UCLA on the Young Autism Project, where she served as a Senior Therapist, Research Assistant, and Teaching Assistant. Andi has worked with Drs. Leaf and McEachin on the Young Autism Project, the Behavior Therapy and Learning Center, Straight Talk, and Autism Partnership. She earned her master’s degree in General Psychology at Pepperdine University and returned to school to pursue a law degree. She practiced special education law, representing families of children with ASD, before returning to Autism Partnership full-time. She consults with families and school districts both locally and nationally and currently serves on the Board of Autism Partnership Foundation.

Ashley Williams, PhD, LABA, BCBA-D (2024 – 2026)
Vice President, LEARN Behavioral
Lecturer, Northeastern University

Dr. Ashley Williams is Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at LEARN. She received her PhD in Behavior Analysis from Simmons College. In 2020, Ashley joined the Massachusetts licensure board for Allied Health and currently serves as one of two licensed behaviors analysts on the Board. Ashley is the Assistant Director of Professional Practice for BABAT and Advisor to the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. Her scholarly work includes peer-reviewed journal articles, local and national conference presentations on public policy, clinical strategy/operations, and assent-based ABA. Ashley was a contributor to CASP’s Organizational Guidelines and ACQ’s Accreditation Standards. Dr. Williams currently teaches at Northeastern University in their graduate and undergraduate ABA programs.

Katherine Wooten, MSSW, LCSW, BCBA, CCM (2025 – 2027)
Owner/Principal, Cross Creek Collaboration

Katherine Wooten is a healthcare consultant with more than 15 years working in managed care. She works with providers, payers, advocacy organizations, and healthcare technology companies to improve access to high-quality behavioral healthcare for individuals with autism and other behavioral health conditions. Her work focuses on helping organizations navigate complex clinical, operational, and policy challenges while building sustainable, stakeholder-centered solutions. Katherine is particularly passionate about helping providers and payers better understand one another in a healthcare environment where the two groups often seem to speak different languages.