California

Your California Autism Specialists

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  Martina Barnhart

  MS, BCBA

  Executive Director

  Martina Barnhart received her master’s degree in special education from National University and is a certified Behavior Analyst. She began her career in ABA over 20 years ago, as an undergrad at UCLA, where she worked with children and adolescents with autism and other developmental disabilities and their family, by delivering behavior intervention services, parent training and developing and providing clinical oversight of ABA programs and staff training. In her role, she is responsible for providing leadership and oversight of clinical service delivery by supporting clinical directors, program supervisors and behavior technicians in their work with families. “Each day is a new beginning filled with possibilities.  I am inspired by the courage and dedication I see in our families, staff and most importantly our clients.  I feel blessed each day we celebrate a success and feel grateful to be a part it.”

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  Denise Buenrostro

  MSW, BCBA

  Executive Director

  Denise Buenrostro has been working in the field of ABA for the last 10 years. She began working with children at the tender age of 12 babysitting and volunteering in classrooms. Denise attained her Bachelor’s in Social Welfare from Cal State Northridge. Her educational journey continued on at the University of Southern California where she earned her Master’s in Social Work. A few years later, she became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2013. Denise’s training and expertise includes working with the family as a unit and implementing strengths based approach coupled with ABA techniques. Denise has been a partner since 2013 working as the Clinical Director in the Inland Empire. “My philosophy includes finding the positive in every person and situation and helping others in any way I possibly can. I lead by example and am fueled by my passion for the field. I consider myself extremely lucky to have been given this opportunity and treasure it daily.”

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  Celina Lopez

  MS, BCBA

  Executive Director

  Celina Lopez has been actively working in the field of ABA and special education for over 12 years. Celina specializes in providing individualized ABA treatments to families and individuals with Autism and other learning disabilities. “I wake up every day thankful for the opportunity to make a positive and lasting change in someone’s life.  I am passionate about providing a better quality of life for my families.” Celina oversees the clinical directors, program supervisors and direct staff in their work helping families  in the North Los Angeles region.

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  Robin L Palm

  MS, BCBA

  Executive Director

  Robin Palm is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 20 years of experience working with autistic children and other developmental disabilities. She has been working with Autism Learning Partners for over 15 years. Her passions include developing social skills groups, school consultation and working with IEP teams to help students access the curriculum as well as collaborating with parents to best support their family’s needs. In her role as Associate Clinical Director, she oversees program managers and behavior technicians in their work with children and families in the San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley areas.

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  Sandhya Suresh

  MS, BCBA

  Executive Director

  Sandhya is passionate about providing effective, creative and relevant programming. She has a background in creating programs for children aged 18 mos. – 21 years old. Sandhya also has experience in center based programming to teach children readiness skills to be successful in classroom environments. Sandhya started in the ABA field as a direct service provider and has a keen interest in up and coming research related to the behavioral field.” Working in this field doesn’t feel like work. Analyzing behavior is a puzzle and the more creative you try to be, the more effective the solution is. I also have the pleasure to meet the most amazing children and be humbled by their extremely committed and loving families ” 

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  Deanna Teramoto

  MS, CCC-SLP

  Executive Director

  Deanna Teramoto earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and her Master of Science degree from the University of Arizona (UA). She has been a part of the CLC family since January, 2006, and was previously their Social Skills Group Program Director and Speech Therapy Department Manager. She has also worked at Chapman University as Adjunct Faculty for their Speech-Language Pathology graduate program. Deanna enjoys CLC’s collaborative, family-friendly, developmental approach to treatment, viewing each child not as a disorder, but as a unique individual. Her interests include spending time with her husband and son, visiting family (and eating) in Hawaii, and participating in various church activities.

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  Megan Addiego-Hutton

  Clinical Director

  Megan Addiego-Hutton is the Clinical Director for the Redwood Coast, Sacramento, and Stockton regions.

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  Rosalia Alvarado

  MA, BCBA

  Associate Clinical Director

  Rosalia “Rosy” Alvarado is the Associate Clinical Director for the Central Los Angeles Region. She is a behavior analyst who received her master’s in education with an emphasis in applied behavior analysis from National University. Rosy started her ABA journey working 1:1 with clients and has now been in the field for 9 years. She is passionate about helping clients and families succeed and finds it extremely rewarding to mentor supervisors and help them grow within the field. As a leader, Rosy leads with love, care, and compassion. Her teams and families inspire her every day.

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  Joanne Alvarez

  MA, BCBA

  Clinical Director

  Joanne Alvarez received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from CSUN and is the Clinical Director for Autism Learning Partners. Her experience includes supervising after-school playgrounds, which led her to work with children with special needs. Joanne started as a Behavior Therapist and fell in love with ABA. Over 14 years, she has worked as a Behavior Therapist, Staff Trainer, Supervisor, and now Director. She is passionate about the field and enjoys working with colleagues and families. Joanne pursued her BCaBA and completed a master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, graduating in 2014 and obtaining her BCBA. She is continuously learning and grateful for the opportunity to work within her community every day.

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  Kenneth Cantero

  M.S., BCBA

  Associate Clinical Director

  Kenneth Cantero graduated from Cal State Los Angeles in 2010 with a master’s in Counseling and an emphasis in ABA. He became a BCBA in 2014 and joined Autism Learning Partners in 2019 as a Sr. Behavior Analyst, overseeing the Glendale and Antelope Valley regions. Promoted to Associate Clinical Director in 2021, Kenneth supports his team by encouraging connections outside of meetings and organizing shadow sessions for new supervisors. He provides feedback during in-person observations and models strategies. Kenneth values consistency and cohesiveness through communication, fostering a strong sense of community among his supervisors.

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  Nelly Chavez

  M.S., BCBA

  Associate Clinical Director

  Nelly Chavez is a dedicated Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over 20 years of experience working with children on the autism spectrum. She currently serves as the Associate Clinical Director for the South Bay Region at Autism Learning Partners (ALP), where she continues to lead with compassion, clinical expertise, and a deep commitment to quality care. 
   
  Nelly has been with ALP for 10 years. Over the past decade, she has made impactful contributions across multiple regions, including Orange County, West L.A., and South Bay. Her leadership is driven by a passion for client-centered services, team development, and advancing the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. 
   
  Outside of her professional life, Nelly is a proud wife and mother of two. She enjoys spending her downtime at Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm, indulging in sushi, Korean BBQ, and iced coffee. 
   
  Nelly is excited for this next chapter and looks forward to continuing to support and empower her team in the South Bay Region.

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  Samantha Dominguez

  MS, BCBA

  Clinical Director

  Samantha has worked in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2014. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Counseling with an emphasis in ABA from California State University, Los Angeles. Samantha has experience in clinic, home, and school settings, specializing in early intervention, toilet training, and severe challenging behaviors. She joined ALP in 2018 as a supervisor, became a Senior Behavior Analyst in 2019, and Director of the Gateway Region in 2022. Samantha is passionate about mentoring and teaching to ensure quality services, believing her true purpose is to foster growth in clients and clinicians alike.

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  Kameron Elenz-Martin

  B.A., BCBA

  Clinical Director

  Kameron has been working in the field of ABA for 20 years across various settings. She started her journey working in a residential group home and on-site school setting for adolescent boys with various diagnoses. After experiencing the progress each client and student could make when given the right tools and supports, she quickly decided to make a career of working with kids with special needs. She received her M.A. degree in Special Education and Clear Teaching Credential from San Diego State University. The daily positive impact she has seen ABA make on the lives of the clients and families she serves keeps her passionately focused on continuing ALP’s mission of providing the highest level of clinical expertise to facilitate significant and sustainable improvement. Kameron is currently responsible for overseeing clinical services provided in our San Diego region.

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  Jacqueline Figueroa

  BCBA

  Clinical Director

  Jacqueline Figueroa is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for 20 years. She joined ALP in 2018 and earned her Master’s degree in Education, Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University (ASU). She serves as the Clinical Director where she oversees staff who provide ABA services in the home, in schools and in a clinic setting. Jacqueline values her colleagues and provides coaching to her team to meet individual staff and agency goals and maintains high expectations for providing quality services by creating organizational systems to ensure client progress. She is leading the way to build strong future BCBA’s through the BCBA mentorship program in the SGV region. She continues work towards building relationships within the San Gabriel Valley community.

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  Kristi Flegal

  Associate Clinical Director

  Kristi Flegal is the Associate Clinical Director for the San Jose region.

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  Luis Gonzalez

  MS, BCBA

  Associate Clinical Director

  Luis Gonzalez is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Associate Clinical Director who is passionate about supporting children, families, and clinical teams. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Dominguez Hills and his Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from National University.

  Luis has experience working with children, teens, and adults across a variety of settings, including homes, schools, centers, and the community. He has worked with individuals with a wide range of needs and has particular experience supporting clients who engage in high-intensity or more challenging behaviors. Some of Luis’s favorite areas of ABA include early intervention, parent consultation, and mentoring clinicians. He enjoys working closely with families, learning what is most important to them, and developing practical strategies that can be used in everyday life.

  As an Associate Clinical Director, Luis also enjoys supporting and mentoring clinicians so they can continue to grow and provide high-quality care to the families they serve. He believes ABA should be compassionate, collaborative, and individualized, and his goal is to make sure families feel heard, supported, and included throughout their child’s journey.

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  Dolores Grajeda

  MA, BCBA, LMFT

  Clinical Director

  Dolores Grajeda MA, BCBA, LMFT (#87286) entered the world of ABA in 2001; while she completed her BA in Psychology/Sociology from the University of California, Riverside. Dolores earned her MA in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2010 from Chapman University. She then took a break from ABA to work with families and youth in the mental health field. However, missed working within the ABA field and returned 2 years later and earned her BCBA in November 2014. Shortly after, she also earned her license in Marriage and Family therapy in 2015. Dolores’ background in both counseling and ABA is a strength as it adds a different perspective when working with families and clients. Her area of expertise if working with challenging family dynamics and the nonverbal population.

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  Aileen Herrera

  MA, BCBA

  Associate Clinical Director

  Aileen Herrera earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish from the University of California, Riverside, and her Master’s degree in Professional Behavior Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology. She has dedicated over 16 years to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, working across a variety of settings. Throughout her career, Aileen has held roles including therapist, trainer, supervisor, social skills group leader, lead BCBA, and currently serves as Associate Clinical Director.

  Outside of her professional work, Aileen is a proud wife and mother of two boys. She enjoys coffee, thrifting, gardening, and crafting in her free time.

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  Brionna Huerta

  M.S., BCBA

  Associate Clinical Director

  Brionna’s career in ABA began in 2018 as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), where she quickly learned clinical skills and developed a deep dedication to client outcomes. In 2019, she advanced into multiple key roles including Field Trainer, Program Manager, and a member of the Hiring Team, contributing to staff development, clinical quality, and organizational growth. In 2020, Brionna earned a Master of Science degree with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and in 2021, she earned her Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification, further solidifying her role as a clinical leader.

  Brionna is known for her empathic, team-centered approach, prioritizing individualized treatment for clients and meaningful collaboration with caregivers. She is passionate about teaching others that ABA can be fun, engaging, and enjoyable for clients, families, and practitioners alike, fostering positive learning environments where everyone can succeed.

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  Michelle Jesolva

  MSW, BCBA

  Clinical Director

  Michelle “Shelli” Jesolva graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a Masters in Social Work and completed her BCBA coursework from Florida Institute of Technology. She has worked in the field of ABA for 9 years, specifically in Orange County. Shelli’s primary role is to facilitate the implementation of high quality ABA services by training staff and collaborating with our BCBAs, RBTs and BT’s.

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  Gurpreet Jolly

  M.A. BCBA

  Associate Clinical Director

  My name is Gurpreet Jolly, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and express how excited I am to be a part of the North/Central OC ALP Team.  I have been with CLC for the past 18 years. I started off as a BT, straight out of college, and throughout the years have held various titles, the most recent being, Associate Clinical Director. In my free time I enjoy reading, spending time with my husband, kids and dog. We have a 1-year-old very active Golden Retriever named Fiona. On the weekends you will most likely find me being the “loud mom” at my children’s soccer games. I am a huge Laker fan and enjoy watching and going to the games.

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  Sharla Kliebenstein

  MA, BCBA

  Associate Clinical Director

  Sharla Kliebenstein has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for over a decade, supporting children and families across a variety of home, school, clinic, and community settings. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and her Master of Arts in Professional Behavior Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology. Throughout her career, she has remained passionate about developing meaningful, individualized treatment plans while mentoring clinicians to provide high-quality, compassionate care.

  Sharla was drawn to the field of ABA because of the opportunity to create meaningful, lasting change in the lives of children and their families. She believes that every child has unique strengths and potential, and she is passionate about helping families build practical skills that improve independence, communication, and overall quality of life.

  As Associate Clinical Director for the North County San Diego Region, Sharla’s mission is to foster a culture of clinical excellence, collaboration, and continuous growth. She is committed to supporting both families and clinical teams through evidence-based practices, strong mentorship, and compassionate leadership, ensuring every client receives individualized care that empowers them to reach their fullest potential.

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  Crystal Lucatero

  MS, BCBA

  Clinical Director

  Crystal has been working in the field of ABA for the last ten years, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UC Riverside, and a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy from California Baptist University. Crystal fell in love with the field of ABA early on as a Behavior Technician and eventually switched career goals to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has been a part of the ALP IE team since 2013, where she leads with compassion and support and with the ultimate goal of providing the best level of care for the families we serve. Crystal is passionate about mentoring and developing the clinical skills of Behavior Technicians, Clinical Supervisors, and aspiring BCBAs. She strives to uphold ALP’s mission statement and core values in her everyday work.

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  Emile Martin

  MA, BCBA, LBA

  Associate Clinical Director

  Emile Martin been in the field of ABA for 20+ years, and it’s been quite the journey! She started her career as a BT, then grew into a Supervisor, BA, Senior BA, and now Associate Clinical Director. One of her favorite parts of being in a leadership role is having the opportunity to mentor and support others as they grow into strong, confident clinicians. She loves sharing what she’s learned along the way and helping others find their own clinical style. She also has a special love for naturalistic teaching! “I believe some of the best learning happens when we make it fun, meaningful, and part of everyday life. If we can turn a teaching moment into something that feels less like “work” and more like play, even better!” After 20+ years, She’s still learning, still growing, and still excited to help others grow along the way.

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  Kristi Martinez

  MS, BCBA

  Clinical Director

  Kristi began her career in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in 2013 as a Behavior Technician (BT). After discovering ABA post-undergrad, she quickly fell in love with the field and pursued a Master’s Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in ABA. Kristi earned her BCBA certification in 2016 and has primarily worked with youth and adolescents (ages 18 months to 18 years), with some experience in adult group homes. She is passionate about teaching ABA and improving service quality for clients. Kristi also enjoys data analysis and modifying programs to fit individual needs.

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  Anh Nguyen

  MA, BCBA

  Clinical Director

  Anh Nguyen, MA, BCBA received her Bachelors of Art in Psychology from the University of California at Los Angeles and her Masters of Art in Counseling from Loyola Marymount University. Anh has been working in the field of ABA for the last 10 years. She first got into the field because her nephew was diagnosed with Autism and was receiving early start services. She previously held direct service provider, parent trainer, and case supervisor positions. She is passionate about social skills group and providing mentorship for upcoming Program Supervisors. “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” –Helen Keller

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  Ben Olch

  MS, OTR/L

  Associate Clinical Director

  Ben Olch graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Masters in Occupational Therapy from Washington University in St Louis. He has been with Children’s Learning Connection since 2015 and has previously had the roles of Senior Occupational Therapist and Motor Department Manager. Ben is deeply committed to CLC’s mission of providing collaborative care, working closely with speech, occupational, physical, and ABA teams to ensure the highest quality of care for families. He is interested in staying updated on the latest advancements in therapy techniques and evidence-based practices to continue to improve our standard of care. Outside of work, Ben enjoys spending time with his family and exploring the outdoors.

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  Chelsea Rocha

  M.A., BCBA

  Clinical Director

  Chelsea has a Master’s Degree, with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. She has been in the field of ABA for 13 years and has been a BCBA since 2017. She is passionate about mentoring and developing upcoming Behavior Analyst in the field. She emphasizes compassionate and client focused care with her team. Chelsea is passionate about including all important stakeholders into a client’s care to ensure it is individualized and will make a lasting impact for that client and those close to them.

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  Amanda Ruiz de la Peña

  M.A., BCBA

  Clinical Director

  Amanda received her undergraduate degree at UCLA and completed her Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis with Ball State University. She discovered this field after her niece and nephew were diagnosed with autism; learning about ABA and observing how it transformed lives was what inspired her to pursue a career in ABA. Amanda started as a behavior technician and through the years and various roles, continues to find passion for every aspect of the field. Aubrey Daniel’s wrote, “You don’t teach someone to the end of their ability, you teach to the end of your own.” This quote continually inspires her to engage her team with dynamism, and to foster a community of compassionate, skilled, and committed professionals. 

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  Solina Seng

  MS, BCBA

  Associate Clinical Director

  Solina Seng is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Associate Clinical Director for the South Los Angeles region. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UC Irvine and a Master of Science degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from National University. She has been a part of the region since 2015. Her experience spans across home, clinic, school, and community settings as well as across all age groups. Solina’s passions include early intervention, mentorship of clinicians, and collaboration with clients and their families. Her goal for her team of clinicians is to provide quality ABA services in a compassionate manner within the community of South Los Angeles.

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  Gina Shim

  MS, BCBA

  Clinical Director

  Gina Shim is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and an Associate Clinical Director at ALP. She has her bachelor’s degree in Child Development from CSU, Stanislaus and a masters degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from CSU, Los Angeles. She also has over 10 years of experience working with autistic individuals and other developmental disabilities. Her expertise includes early intervention, behavior management, parent education, school consultation, and clinical supervision.

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  Bianca Uriarte

  MA, BCBA

  Clinical Director

  Bianca Uriarte is the Clinical Director for the Murrieta region. Bianca has been working for ALP since 2014. Bianca considers her colleagues as family and enjoys working in a supportive and dedicated environment. Bianca has been working with families the Inland Empire for several years. Bianca is thrilled to open a separate region for Murrieta and provide support to underserved families in this area. Bianca is driven by passion. Seeing progress with the children and the families she works with is what motivates Bianca.

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  Bridgette Walker

  M.A., BCBA

  Associate Clinical Director

  Bridgette is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 14 years of experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. She completed her undergraduate degree at California State University of Long Beach, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She completed her graduate degree at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles. She currently serves as the Associate Clinical Director for the West Los Angeles region where she continues to lead her team in implementation of behavior analytic principles in the home, clinic, and school settings. Her expertise includes, early intervention, behavior management, and programming for executive functioning skills. Bridgette is passionate about making significant change in the lives of families while supporting and mentoring clinicians. Beyond behavior analysis, she enjoys practicing yoga and spending time with her family.

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  Amy Wilson

  MS, BCBA

  Clinical Director

  Amy Wilson has been in ABA for about 20 years. In her free time she enjoys hanging out with my horse and 3 dogs, camping, and binge-watching TV. If she had to pick a favorite food, it would be tacos or pizza, but it’s really anything that keeps her from getting hangry!