Diana Davis-Wilson, DBH, LBA, BCBA, IBA
Chief Executive Advisor
Aspen Behavioral Consulting

Dr. Diana Davis-Wilson, DBH, LBA, BCBA, IBA is an Arizona Licensed Behavior Analyst with extensive experience in providing consultation and training to families, school districts, and organizational personnel across the nation. For several years, Dr. Davis-Wilson held a leadership position at an autism provider organization based in Arizona. In this role, she oversaw applied behavior analysis programs for numerous children throughout the state. Driven by her commitment to professional development and sustainability within the field of behavior analysis, she created an inclusive curriculum-based supervision program that provided employment opportunities and training for aspiring professionals and students. In addition to her clinical leadership roles, Dr. Davis-Wilson has actively contributed to various boards both in Arizona and on a national level. Her positions have included AzABA (Association for Behavior Analysis), the Autism Advisory Council of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Glendale Community College's Behavioral Health Sciences Occupational Advisory Board (BHS-OAB), the Behavioral Health Centers of Excellence Scientific Advisory Board (BHCOE), and the Development Disabilities Safety Council. Furthermore, she has been appointed by the Governor as a board member with the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners. Dr. Diana Davis-Wilson is also a university professor. She actively collaborates with other professional organizations to provide education, advocacy efforts, and guidance on early access to care, best practices, and evidence-based treatment methods. Additionally, she is deeply passionate about offering law enforcement training regarding autism developmental disabilities, crisis response, and behavior analysis. 

Liliane De Aguiar-Rocha, DBH, BCBA, QBA, LBA
Chief Executive Officer

The Behavior Web, LLC

Dr. Liliane Rocha is a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) and Qualified Behavior Analyst (QBA) who has worked with people with developmental disabilities, severe mental illness, parents, and those looking to improve their lives for over 15 years. She serves as a board for QABA. Her research and practice interests involve the implementation of behavioral health integration, specifically in improving the care for people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) starting at the pediatrician’s office. She is a faculty member at the Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies Doctor of Behavior Health program. As a certified Life Coach, ACT Matrix, and Pro-social Matrix trainer and facilitator, she uses ACT in her work helping individuals and organizations move through conflict and towards value-based, purpose-infused action. She serves as a board member and manager for the NYC ACBS, where she is also co-chair of the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) committee. She has published articles in the International Journal of Integrated Care and Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and has presented at several international and national conferences. Founder and CEO of The Behavior Web, an organization that provides consultancy to local schools and hospitals, as well as international consultancy in her home country of Brazil; she has been developing work focused on disseminating ABA practice that is ethical, compassionate, and aware of social justice issues.

Mary DeCarlo, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA
Behavior Health Analyst
Division of Developmental Disabilities

Mary DeCarlo, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA is a Senior Program Development Manager for The Division of Developmental Disabilities for the State of Arizona. She is board certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and is licensed to practice behavior analysis in AZ. She is currently enrolled in ASU's Doctor of Behavioral Health program. Areas of practice and expertise include behavioral assessment and ABA treatment of adolescents/adults in residential and community settings, social skills training, and vocational supports. She has worked in the field of IDD for almost two decades. She is the younger sister to an adult with profound autism and dual diagnosis. She has presented at both regional and national conferences and co-authored peer reviewed articles in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and the Journal of School Mental Health in the areas of social skills training, peer mediated interventions, and video modeling. Current research interests include evidence-based practices for dual diagnosis (IDD and BH), policy development, and increasing access to care for those with significant support needs.

Batoul Dekmak, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA
Area Director of Clinical Services
Centria Autism

Batoul Dekmak is a dedicated Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a strong focus on practicing compassionate care. Their expertise lies in utilizing evidence-based approaches to provide effective treatment and support to individuals in need. With a deep passion for disseminating compassionate assent-based treatment, Batoul is committed to promoting ethical and empathetic practices within the field.Currently serving as the Area Director of Clinical Services at Centria in Phoenix, Arizona, Batoul plays a vital role in overseeing and implementing high-quality care programs. She has chosen Centria due to the organization's foundations of care and commitment to excellence in behavior analysis.

Tisha Denton, BCBA, LBA
Clinical Director of Pediatric Services
JAVA Autism Services,

Tisha Denton, a seasoned behavior analyst with over a decade of experience, is recognized for her unwavering commitment to principled practice in applied behavior analysis. Renowned for her ability to transform complex behavioral science into practical, life-changing solutions, she excels in maintaining high standards of integrity and ethical decision-making. As the Executive Clinical Director, Tisha oversees clinical staff, ensures regulatory compliance, and collaborates with executives to enhance performance. Her exceptional leadership skills are evident in leading projects, developing feedback systems, and creating high-quality supervision for behavior analysis trainees. Acting as the Chair of the Committee on Behavior Analysts for the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners, Tisha plays a crucial role in safeguarding the public receiving ABA services in the state since 2020. Her dedication to ethical practices is ingrained in every aspect of service delivery, staff supervision, and client interactions, creating an environment where quality and integrity are paramount. Tisha's blend of professionalism, humor, and ethical commitment makes her a standout figure in the field, embodying the ethos of principled behavioral interventions and inspiring others with her unique approach to leadership.

Victoria Diforte, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA
Chief Executive Officer
Enhanced Living Centers LLC

Victoria Diforte-Corona, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA is a highly accomplished and dedicated Arizona Licensed Behavioral Analyst (BCBA) who holds a Master's Degree in Education. With over 20 years of experience in the field, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise in the realm of education and applied behavior analysis. Her journey in the field of education began when she established her own education facility, where she honed her skills and cultivated a deep understanding of the needs of diverse learners. Her passion for empowering individuals through education led her to serve as an adjunct professor at Rio Salado College, where she shared her wealth of knowledge with aspiring educators.

In 2016, Victoria transitioned her focus to the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), where she found her true calling. As the CEO and Founder of Enhanced Living Centers, LLC, Victoria leads a dynamic team dedicated to providing comprehensive services to individuals with complex behavioral needs. Under her visionary leadership, Enhanced Living Centers has become a beacon of excellence in the ABA community, offering innovative in-home and clinical services that prioritize the holistic well-being of clients. Victoria's commitment to enhancing the lives of others extends beyond her role at Enhanced Living Centers. She is deeply involved in supporting the broader community, collaborating with various organizations and insurance companies to advocate for individuals with behavioral health and developmental disabilities. Through her unwavering dedication and compassionate approach, she continues to make a profound impact on the lives of those she serves, embodying the values of integrity, empathy, and empowerment.

Mariel C. Fernandez, M.S., BCBA, LBA (Tx)
Vice President of Goverment Affairs

The Council of Autism Service Providers

Mariel began working in behavior analysis in 2001 and earned her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis at Auburn University in 2004. She has been board certified since 2004 and is licensed in Texas. Mariel has extensive experience in clinical, operations, compliance, and regulatory/public policy.

Mariel is Vice President of Government Affairs for The Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP). Before joining CASP, Mariel led the Regulatory Affairs department at Blue Sprig Pediatrics, focusing on advocacy, public policy, and legislative initiatives across 19 states. Mariel is a member of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Behavior Analyst Advisory Board, Chair of the Metro-Care Services Public Advisory Committee, and President of the Texas Association of Behavior Analysis Public Policy Group (TxABA PPG). She also serves as a subject matter expert for the Policy Council on Children and Families, specific to the Autism Services benefit through Texas Medicaid.

Mariel was honored with the Blue Sprig CEO Award, in 2020, for her work preparing the organization to shift to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was also the co-recipient of the 2022 Autism Law Summit "Implementation Award" for her work in Texas to pass behavior analyst licensure and secure access to ABA for beneficiaries of Texas Medicaid.

Sara Gershfeld
Chief Executive Officer
Behavioral Health Center of Excellence

Sara Gershfeld is a healthcare executive and entrepreneur who is the founder of Jade Health, a healthcare services holding company which operates numerous offerings within behavioral health. Sara is most known for her innovation in product development, and overseen the development of the largest accrediting body for autism services (BHCOE), a delegated credentialing business (ADC), the National Autism Data Registry (NADR), the Jade Health Learning Hub, and two industry-specific conferences which attracts hundreds of attendees annually. Under Sara’s leadership, Jade Health received a $75 million equity investment from Newlight Partners to accelerate strategic growth. Newlight Partners LP is a growth equity firm spun out from the Strategic Investments Group at Soros Fund Management LLC (Soros) in 2018. According to Pitchbook, in 2022, companies founded solely by women garnered just 2% of the total capital invested in VC-backed startups in the United States.

Through her 8 year tenure as Founder and CEO, Sara has been adept at pivoting with the rapidly changing market, has facilitated large-scale change management through significant market retraction and shift, overseen and led product development and product launch, and has facilitated crisis management solutions as needed. Sara also has a keen understanding of privacy and security issues and has served as the Compliance Officer for the organization ensuring HIPAA compliant operations through rigorous risk assessment and mitigation system creation.

Sara currently serves as a strategic advisor and consultant to various organizations within the healthcare services space varying from guidance on go-to-market strategy, expansion, acquisition activity, operational efficiency, and more.

Sara received both her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Neuroscience, then Developmental Psychology from Scripps College and Claremont Graduate University, respectively, and is affiliated with numerous professional and industry associations. Sara was awarded 2022 Woman of the Year by the Commerce Industrial Council Chamber of Commerce. She was also a Finalist in 2022 for the LA Business Journal Health Care Innovator of the Year Award.

Adam D. Hahs, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA
Chief Science Officer
Hopebridge

Dr. Adam D. Hahs is the former Director of the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis program in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University, and currently the Chief Science Officer at Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers. He earned his doctoral degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale where his where his research foci were language generativity, complex human behavior, high-risk behavior assessment/reduction, and clinical behavior analysis with individuals with autism and related developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and addiction. Dr. Hahs was a Missouri Association for Behavior Analysis Board member for 3 years prior to moving to AZ, and he was President for the Arizona Association for Behavior Analysis. He is on the Editorial Board of Behavior Analysis in Practice and serves as a guest reviewer for the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science and Behavioral Interventions, three of the top journals with behavior analysis as a focus. Dr. Hahs has dedicated over 10 years to supporting and training others in a variety of settings via behavior analytic methods, and he views behavior analysis as science capable of facilitating widespread, societal change.

Ashley Hamilton, BCBA, LBA, MSA
Director of Clinical Services
Centria Autism

Ashley Hamilton, MA, BCBA, LBA-AZ is an experienced professional in clinical services and behavior analysis, currently serving as the Director of Clinical Services at Centria Autism. She has a strong teaching background, having spent six years as a Special Education Teacher, working with students with diverse needs. Now, she supports clinicians in improving client outcomes through mentorship and data-driven initiatives. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, reading, and exploring new places, bringing a passion for compassionate care to all her endeavors.

Summer Kamal, M.Ed, BCBA
Medical Management Senior Project Manager
Mercy Care

Summer has been with Mercy Care since 2017. She is a proud Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) bringing in more than a decade of clinical experience working with the I/DD population. In her most recent position, she worked as the clinical DDD behavioral health coordinator supporting multiple internal departments, DDD and behavioral health providers to support some of the most vulnerable members throughout the State of Arizona. Summer has worked diligently to ensure teams were focused on an integrated care model, as well as, putting member voice and choice to the forefront in every meeting. Part of this role included participating in projects both internally and with the State to further enhance Arizona's system to support this population. One project that stands out is her work with the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) and DDD to determine future priorities and plans for the State of Arizona. As a BCBA, Summer has focused on clinical and systematic improvements, striving to enhance the system for members, staff, and colleagues. Her dedication extends to serving on the Board of AZ WISE, co-chairing Health Equity, and participating as a committee lead in the newly formed Middle East North African (MENA) CRG, empowering individuals from these backgrounds and fostering community impact. Summer has recently switched roles as the Senior Project Manager for Mercy Care's largest department, Medical Management.