who is reaching new heights?
leadership
Laina Matuch is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and the Director of ABA at Reaching New Heights. Laina received her Bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio University and Master’s from Cleveland State. Laina spent the first couple years of her career teaching in public schools and at Monarch Center for Autism. During these years, she developed a passion for behavior, why behaviors happen, and how it can be taught. She is so happy every day she spends at RNH, and is thankful to be able to work side by side with such incredible, kind, loving people. Laina and her husband Nick welcomed their sweet baby girl Kaya in January 2023, and she feels this has given her a whole new perspective on her work with children and their parents. When Laina is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her daughter and fur baby (a three-legged rescue pitbull named Champion), reading, and she has become an avid gardener over the last few years. Laina also has a burning passion for Mexican food, and would eat it every single day if she could! Laina’s favorite part of her job is seeing how our work inside the walls of RNH can reach into all different parts of the child’s life. It’s not easy work, but it’s work that truly makes a difference!
Jen Craig is the Clinic Manager and HR Coordinator at Reaching New Heights. She is also an incredible RBT! Jen and Donna were co-workers in Solon City Schools and Donna knew she wanted her to be part of this new team. She has over 19 years of experience working with children, in grades K-12, including those with multiple disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Jen was instrumental in facilitating social skills and language groups where she used behavioral management skills and tools including visual schedules, token economies, and augmentative communication devices. Jen worked with a multi-disciplinary team that included a BCBA, Intervention Specialist, School Psychologist, Speech Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, and Physical Therapist. Jen lights up when she sees a child succeed using the tools and strategies she has provided, and it is her passion to be able to help them reach their highest potential. When not at work, she can usually be found exploring new restaurants, having game night with family, or exploring the lakeside by kayak or foot. She also enjoys salsa dancing and cuddles with her cat, Jasper.
Kara Miller is the lead RBT at Reaching New Heights and the facilitator of FLIGHT. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Communication Disorders at Baldwin Wallace University. After graduation, Kara worked for Akron Community Learning Centers and the Monarch Center for Autism as an associate teacher. Kara quickly learned she had a passion for making a difference in the field of special needs, specifically autism and behavior management.
Every day, Kara comes to work with a positive and enthusiastic attitude. When she is not at work, Kara enjoys playing volleyball, exploring local restaurants, and traveling to new places (mostly the beach!).
Every day, Kara comes to work with a positive and enthusiastic attitude. When she is not at work, Kara enjoys playing volleyball, exploring local restaurants, and traveling to new places (mostly the beach!).
Board certified Behavior Analysts
Madison Whitley is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at Reaching New Heights. Madison recieved her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Master's in ABA from Arizona State University. Madison began her career working as an RBT providing therapy in children's homes. She quickly fell in love with ABA and it's powerful impacts and knew that she wanted to continue in the field. She has experience working with children ages 2-15 with a variety of behavioral challenges. Madison is very passionate about creating individualized goals that meet each child's unique interests and learning styles. Madison is a North Carolina native that recently moved to Kent with her husband, Paul, and two cats, Macie and Jack. When she is not at work, she loves spending time outdoors with her husband, snuggling the cats, reading, and traveling! She is super excited to be living in a new state with tons of places to explore. Madison feels extremely blessed to have found a home away from home at RNH. She loves working in such a positive and collaborative environment and she adores all of the kids with whom she has the privilege of working!
Makeda Winfield is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and the Clinical Supervisor for the ABA Department at RNH. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from Purdue University and her Master’s in Psychology with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from Capella University. Makeda started her ABA journey in 2018 as an RBT. She has experience providing services to learners aged 2-19, across clinic, in-home, and school settings.
Makeda is passionate about providing fun, compassionate, individualized, and culturally responsive care to every learner. She also really enjoys teaching others about the magic of ABA and loves being able to supervise and support others who are new to the field.
When not at work, Makeda enjoys spending time with friends and family, eating good food, or enjoying live music. Makeda is excited to be part of the RNH family, where kindness and compassion are evident each day.
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Makeda is passionate about providing fun, compassionate, individualized, and culturally responsive care to every learner. She also really enjoys teaching others about the magic of ABA and loves being able to supervise and support others who are new to the field.
When not at work, Makeda enjoys spending time with friends and family, eating good food, or enjoying live music. Makeda is excited to be part of the RNH family, where kindness and compassion are evident each day.
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Behavior Technicians
Alex Bruzdzinski a Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. Alex earned her bachelor degree in early childhood education at Cleveland state university. Quickly after graduation, Alex realized her love for behavior and kiddos with Autism Spectrum Disorder and began working at the Lerner School for Autism as a behavioral therapist. Alex also has experience working with children with various behavior challenges at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital where she worked as a Mental Health Specialist. She has a true passion for helping children grow and learn. When she's not at RNH, Alex enjoys spending time with her two boys and cheering them on at their sporting events.
Rana Garelnabi is a Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Kent State University. During her last semester, she took a class about psychological disorders of childhood and adolescence, where she learned about ABA therapy. She also participated in two research labs and worked as a writing consultant on campus. Throughout her own adolescence, the “why” of psychology always interested her the most, making ABA therapy a great field to go into. Rana is passionate about helping those around her, and helping people understand themselves better. In her free time, Rana loves to spend time with her family and friends, discover new places, and enjoy music.
Chloe Hayes is a Registered Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. Chloe earned her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Psychology at Ohio University and would like to continue her education in the near future. She has continuously worked with adolescents, ages 5 months to 13 years, since the age of 15 in a variety of settings. As a tutor, babysitter, and nanny, Chloe found the most comfort spending time with children and teaching essential life skills for their growth. Her enthusiasm for research in behavioral psychology led her to quickly discover that child therapy was the ideal way for her to integrate and apply her knowledge, also enhancing her practical experience. Chloe loves music, coffee, and animals, especially her senior dog, Bam. She looks forward to bringing her passion for child therapy, her dedication to helping children thrive, and making a positive impact to her role at Reaching New Heights.
Alyssa Krepps is a Registered Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. She is currently working towards her bachelor's degree in Public Health from Kent State University, and hopes to continue her education in the near future by getting her Masters degree as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Alyssa found her passion in working with children with autism spectrum disorder when she started at Reaching New Heights and finds new things to love about her job, and the children, every day. Alyssa has always known that she wanted to work with children to make a meaningful difference in their lives. Watching these kids grow and learn brings so much joy and happiness to her life. When she is not at work, Alyssa enjoys reading, hanging out by the pool with her partner Abbey, and playing with their two cats, Paris and Fiji. Alyssa also loves to travel and see new things to expand her knowledge about the world.
Gillian Maitland is a Registered Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, with a minor in Organizational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati, with hopes to continue her education in the near future. During her time in Cincinnati, she interned at a nonprofit organization for disadvantaged youth called Mentoring Plus. Through this experience, Gillian quickly found her passion for empowering children and adolescents to fulfill their potential. In her last year at Cincinnati, she also worked as a Behavioral Health Specialist at Cincinnati Children’s hospital, where she gained experience working with children of all ages with all different types of disabilities and mental health illnesses. Her favorite part about working with kids is watching them learn new life skills and grow as people. It is incredibly heartwarming to her knowing that she is making a difference in someone else’s life. When Gillian is not at work, she enjoys going to the gym, hanging out with friends and spending time with her dog, Gunner.
Allison Nadiak is a Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. In May 2024, Ally graduated magna cum laude from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology. Ally is currently in graduate school for her master's in clinical Mental Health Counseling. She always knew she wanted a career that could make a positive difference in someone’s life. Through her daycare experience she discovered a love for watching children grow and learn. Ally also gained internship experience at Kidslink School where she worked with children that have many different types of disabilities and mental disorders. Ally is excited to continue to learn and make a difference at Reaching New Heights. In her free time, Ally enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also likes snowboarding when the weather permits, traveling, and playing with her cat, Midnight.
Emily Pohlman is a Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. In 2022, Emily graduated from Cleveland State University with her bachelor's degree in English with a minor in secondary education. After graduating, Emily worked as a 10th grade teacher for 2 years. Emily loves working with children in any capacity, but she knew she wanted to be able to work with exceptional learners more often. While searching for jobs, she found out about the field of ABA through a friend and set out to join the field. In her free time, Emily likes spending time with her daughter and her miniature schnauzer, Frankie. She also enjoys being in nature and baking desserts.
Sydnee Raines is a Registered Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. Sydnee earned a bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Kent State University in August 2023. She is excited to begin graduate school with plans of pursuing a career as a BCBA or SLP. Sydnee has experience working with people of all ages and loves helping as much as she can. She loves to see the difference she is making in someone’s life. Sydnee is excited to learn and grow as much as possible.
When Sydnee is not working, she can be found playing with her dog, Gus, running, shopping with friends, reading, and listening to country music. Sydnee has a love for Italian food (specifically cannoli’s) and learning about her heritage.
When Sydnee is not working, she can be found playing with her dog, Gus, running, shopping with friends, reading, and listening to country music. Sydnee has a love for Italian food (specifically cannoli’s) and learning about her heritage.
Ashley Saxton is a Registered Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. Ashley earned a bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Kent State University . She currently is in graduate school with plans of pursuing a career as a BCBA. Ashley has experience working with typically developing preschoolers and school age children but has found her true passion for working with kids on the autism spectrum and the field of ABA as a whole. Entering the field so early in her career, Ashley is eager to grow and learn alongside wonderful coworkers at RNH! When she’s not working, Ashley enjoys baking, trying new restaurants, and gardening. She has a passion for coffee and loves to be outside, usually with her dog, Dash.
Gina Tedesco is a Registered Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. In 2022, she received her bachelor of arts in English with a minor focused on secondary education. Shortly after graduating, Gina started teaching ninth grade in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. While teaching, she realized it was young children she wanted to work with, and began a new career search. She always had a passion for learning and helping children meet their goals, which is why she pursued education. While searching for another field that enabled her to continue her passion, Gina discovered the field of ABA and immediately knew this was what she wanted to do. Having nannied in the past, Gina worked with children from 6 months to 7 years old which helped her discover the rewarding field of ABA. In her free time, Gina loves reading, writing fiction stories, playing her ukulele, and spending time with her cat, Chunk.
Ayesha Williams is a Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. Ayesha has her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a minor in ethnic studies from Bowling Green State University. Ayesha has worked 10 years in outpatient mental health with youth and adolescents. During her time in Toledo, she branched off into ABA, practicing as a RBT for 8 years. She is passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and helping them learn new skills. When not at work she enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 children, traveling to new places, playing tennis, spending time with friends.
Morgan Valente is a Journey facilitator and a Behavior Technician at Reaching New Heights. Morgan graduated from Kent State with a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Special Needs Education. She has been working with children for the last six years. Morgan loves working with children and seeing them grow and learn new skills. She is excited to learn new skills that will help children grow more. When Morgan is not working, she loves to read and spend time outside. She also loves to travel and see new things and places.
""We had tried speech and OT therapies for our kiddo for over 2 years at two other places, but our child didn’t make progress. I threw a lot of money away before I talked with Donna, the owner of Reaching New Heights. How she has handled our child is heartwarming and we see the light at the end of the tunnel. Her assessments and goals are to the point. She talks to you and understands you like a friend who means well. Donna works very hard and treats all her patients as her own children. She is the greatest!
We also started ABA therapy for potty training at RNH six weeks ago. Heather understood what would work for our child as soon as she met him. And guess what? Our kiddo just started going potty this week. She never ceases to amaze me with her knowledge. Love her!
The whole RNH team is very good at communication. We have worked with most of Donna's team and we have come to the conclusion that she hires only the best. Since we started going there we have had countless numbers of tear jerking moments because our child is now excelling at all the goals and milestones. Hats off to this group of professional and compassionate women!"
-Mother
