ERIC W. MAIER, M.A., B.C.B.A.
Director, Senior Behavioral Architect
Eric W. Maier, co-founder of California Unified Service Providers (CUSP), is currently the Director and Senior Behavioral Architect. He started working with individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities in 1992 at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology. At that time, he was involved in implementing behavior intervention therapy to children diagnosed with autism and related disorders and was supervised by Dr. Ivar Lovaas. He obtained his Master’s degree in psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. Eric W. Maier is currently completing all the requirements for his Ph.D. in Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Los Angeles Campus.)
Eric has traveled throughout the United States and around the world providing seminars and workshop services to families and school district personnel. He has taught graduate-level courses in Observation & Measurement, Ethics for behavior analysts, and an Applied Practicum course for the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. As a behavior analyst, Eric specializes in curriculum development, organizational behavior management, verbal behavior, stimulus equivalence procedures, functional assessments, staff training, and ABA program evaluation.
Eric has made it CUSP’s mission to help people meet their maximum potential by designing programs/ interventions with the aim of changing human behavior to meet each client’s needs.
SARA A. KISER, B.A.
Executive Administrator
Sara A. Kiser started working as a behavior therapist with children diagnosed with developmental disabilities in 2002. She used her experience as a behavior therapist to assist the administrative staff with schedules and other administrative duties in 2003. Sara’s organizational skills and her commitment to detail allowed her to assume the role of office manager within one year of working in the administrative department. In 2003, Sara earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University and she started working for CUSP in 2004. She currently holds the position of Executive Administrator and oversees CUSP’s business operations in both the Torrance and Garden Grove offices.
In 2010 Sara Kiser earned her Instructor Certification in CPR, First Aid, and Bloodborne Pathogens. Sara’s field and office experience has provided her with the foundation for a better understanding of the organizational needs of our families. Sara has been an integral part of the CUSP family for the past 8 years and continues to participate with the organizational planning of CUSP’s future endeavors.
MONICA SAYDAK YENOKIDA, M.S., B.C.B.A.
PROGRAM DESIGNER
Monica Saydak Yenokida first began in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis in 2002 when she began working with children with special needs as a behavior therapist. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University in 2003 and began working at CUSP in 2004. Monica went on to get her masters in Applied Behavior Analysis from St. Cloud State University in 2008 and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2009.
Currently, Monica is a Program Designer at CUSP where her main responsibilities include: writing goals and objectives for IEP’s and IFSP’s, designing programs to target the goals, conducting functional assessments and analyses, designing behavior intervention plans, and providing ongoing training to behavior technicians, senior technicians, case supervisors, BCBA candidates, and parents with children with special needs. She has worked with children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder, PDD-NOS,
Emotional Disturbance, and Traumatic Brain Injury. She also travels to work with families that live outside the state of California and provides supervision, workshop trainings, and program design support.
Monica is excited to be a part of the CUSP family and looks forward to her continued growth in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis.
CARRIE SUSA, M.S., B.C.B.A.
PROGRAM DESIGNER
Carrie, currently a Program Designer for CUSP, LLC., has been working with individuals with developmental disabilities since 2002. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University in 2004. In 2006, she returned to school at the California State University of Los Angeles (CSULA) to study Psychology with renowned behavior analyst, Dr. Hank Schlinger. After presenting her thesis on Lag Schedules of Reinforcement, she graduated in 2009 with a Master’s of Science in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. In 2010, Carrie became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has presented her research at the CSULA Research Symposium, the California Association of Behavior Analysis Conference (CalABA), as well as the Association of Behavior Analysis International Conference (ABAI). Additionally, she has taught a graduate level course on single-case research design at the California State University of Los Angeles.
As a CUSP Program Designer, Carrie is responsible for conducting functional assessments and analyses, developing behavior intervention plans (BIP), developing IEPs and IFSPs, designing programs based on goals and objectives, and mentoring Case Supervisors and BCBA candidates. She has worked with individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, PDD-NOS, Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Childhood Bi-Polar Disorder, Emotional Disturbance, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Fragile-X Disorder, and a variety of other chromosomal disorders. Carrie has a true passion for Behavior Analysis and hopes to see it disseminated in not just the field of developmental disabilities, but in many different fields.
STEPHANIE AMMARI, M.S., B.C.B.A.
PROGRAM DESIGNER
Stephanie Ammari joined the CUSP family in 2006 as a Case Supervisor and is currently a Program Designer. She first began working with children diagnosed with developmental disabilities in 2000 while completing her undergraduate degree at Eastern Michigan University; in 2001, she graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. With a desire to learn more about behavior analysis and to continue working in the field, Stephanie returned to school at Eastern Michigan University; in 2004, she graduated with a Master’s degree in Clinical Behavioral Psychology. Stephanie became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2007.
As a Program Designer at CUSP, Stephanie is responsible for developing behavior intervention plans (BIP), writing goals and objectives for IEPs and IFSPs, designing programs based on goals and objectives, conducting functional assessments and analyses, and providing parent training to those with children with special needs. Additionally, she provides on-going training to Behavioral Technicians, Senior Technicians, Case Supervisors, and BCBA candidates. Furthermore, she is responsible for conducting data reliability assessments, along with treatment integrity measures to ensure correct implementation of programs and BIPs. Stephanie has worked with children and adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, Down syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Schizophrenia.
DOREECE TAYLOR, M.A., B.C.B.A.
CASE SUPERVISOR
Doreece Taylor received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University in 2006. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she went on to pursue a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Psychology at Pepperdine University. Upon completing her M.A. in 2009, she decided to pursue post-graduate studies in applied behavior analysis at St. Cloud State University. Upon completing her coursework, internship hours, and board examination, she became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in January 2011.
Ms. Taylor is currently employed as a Case Supervisor at California Unified Service Providers in Torrance, CA. She is responsible for training new staff, completing initial cusp repertoire assessments, creating IEP and IFSP goals, and developing programs and interventions to target each individual’s deficient and excessive behaviors. In addition, she is responsible for providing parent training, assessing treatment integrity, and conducting data reliability assessments. She has worked with individuals with developmental disabilities for more than 6 years.
ALLISON DEGRAAF, M.S., B.C.B.A,
CASE SUPERVISOR
Allison received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, from Western Michigan University in 2005. Following graduation, she began her work in behavior therapy for children with disabilities as a teacher assistant in an ASD preschool classroom at Doris Klaussen Developmental Center in Battle Creek, MI.
Allison joined the CUSP team in 2006 as a Behavioral Technician and became a Senior Behavioral Technician in 2008. She received her Master of Science degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from California State University, Los Angeles in 2010 and was promoted to Case Supervisor.
In 2011, she became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a certified Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) instructor. In addition, she presented research conducted for her master’s thesis at both the California and national conventions for the Association of Behavior Analysis International.
VALERIE GONZALEZ, M.S., B.C.B.A.
CASE SUPERVISOR
Valerie Gonzalez has enjoyed working with children of all ages in the educational setting since 2001. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from California State University Los Angeles in 2005. With a passion for children and families she pursued her Master’s degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. She began working at CUSP in 2008 and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2011.
Currently, Valerie is a Case Supervisor at CUSP where her main responsibilities include: writing goals and objectives for IEP’s and IFSP’s, designing programs to target the goals, designing behavior intervention plans, and providing ongoing training to behavior technicians and parents with children with special needs. She has worked with children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder, and PDD-NOS.
At CUSP, Valerie is encouraged when applied behavior analysis fosters change in children and families allowing their combined growth that impact their daily lives.
DIANE GLICK, L.C.S.W.
CLINICAL SUPERVISOR
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 30 years experience, Diane has treated children, adolescents and families dealing with a variety of difficult issues. One of Diane’s special interests is working with Autistic children, as well as helping their families cope and manage the many struggles that come with this diagnosis. In addition, Diane is the grandmother of a ten year old girl with autism. Through her granddaughter, Diane has learned first hand the challenges and joys of raising a child with special needs.
