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Our Leadership

Global

Meet the brilliant people who, with roughly 215 years of combined ABA and leadership experience, serve all office locations at FirstSteps for Kids in Northern and Southern California!

Headshot of First Steps for Kids CEO Matt McAlearFirst Steps for Kids CEO Matt McAlear on a boat with child

Matt McAlear

M.A.,BCBA

Chief Executive Officer

Headshot of First Steps for Kids Founding Director Jennifer HarrisFirst Steps for Kids Founding Director Jennifer Harris and two children

Jennifer Harris

Ph.D., LMFT, BCBA-D

Founding Director

Full Bio
Headshot of First Steps for Kids COO Anne SwinneyFirst Steps for Kids COO Anne Swinney and child

Anne Swinney

BSBA

Chief Operations Officer

Full Bio
Headshot of First Steps for Kids Chief Clinical Officer Courtney TarboxFirst Steps for Kids Chief Clinical Officer Courtney Tarbox sitting with child

Courtney Tarbox

M.S., BCBA

Chief Clinical Officer

Headshot of First Steps for Kids Clinical Operations Analyst Jenna BattagliaFirst Steps for Kids Clinical Operations Analyst Jenna Battaglia carrying a child

Jenna Battaglia

M.S., BCBA

Clinical Operations Analyst

Headshot of First Steps for Kids Director of Operations Karyn LewFirst Steps for Kids Director of Operations Karyn Lew kneeling with two children

Karyn Lew

Director of Operations

Full Bio
Headshot of First Steps for Kids Director of Professional Development Kate NasutiFirst Steps for Kids Director of Professional Development Kate Nasuti and child at the beach

Kate Nasuti

M.Ed., BCBA

Dir of Professional Development

Headshot of First Steps for Kids Director of Research Jonathan TarboxFirst Steps for Kids Director of Research Jonathan Tarbox carrying his son

Jonathan Tarbox

Ph.D., BCBA-D

Director of Research

Headshot of First Steps for Kids Clinical Advisor Lisa StoddardFirst Steps for Kids Clinical Advisor Lisa Stoddard holding her child

Lisa Stoddard

M.A.,BCBA

Clinical Advisor

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Our team's strength lies in our unity, passion, and unwavering commitment to teach the children we serve. We inspire one another and make every day an opportunity to create lasting change. Together, we have the priviledge of shaping brighter futures, one step at a time.

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Anne Swinney, BSBA, CEO

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Directors

Meet the brilliant clinicians who, with roughly 90 years of combined ABA experience, serve and lead our Regional Learning Center locations at FirstSteps for Kids!

Headshot of Redondo Beach Director Janine StrackRedondo Beach Director Janine Strack with a child and dog on a beach

Janine Strack

M.S., BCBA

Redondo Beach

Headshot of West Los Angeles Director Erica BaronWest Los Angeles Director Erica Baron holding an infant

Erica Baron

M.S., BCBA

West Log Angeles

Calabasas Director Taira Bermudez and child with their tongues out

Taira Bermudez

M.S., BCBA

Calabasas

Headshot of Walnut Creek Director Caitlin WinemanWalnut Creek Director Caitlin Wineman and child wearing teenage mutant ninja turtle masks

Caitlin Wineman

M.Ed., BCBA

Walnut Creek

Headshot of Alhambra Director Wai-Ling Wu

Wai-Ling Wu

M.A., BCBA

Alhambra

Headshot of Los Alamitos Director Lauren Turner

Lauren Turner

M.Ed., BCBA

Los Alamitos

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