We start with HEART. Our culture is one of creativity, out of the box thinking and doing, and fun. Through our unique hiring process we screen our staff to ensure they have the 5 essential qualities necessary to be a part of our professional family. We hire for attitude by modeling our interview process around asking specific questions that draw out qualities unique to our environment. By discovering who will and won’t succeed, we are able to hire people with HEART.
Amy earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Central Michigan University. She earned her master's degree from Western Michigan University's highly acclaimed Applied Behavior Analysis program, studying under Dr. Richard Malott. She has served as the lead psychologist for a residential neurobehavioral and medically complex children’s unit, and has served as the director for several Applied Behavior Analysis programs serving children with Autism in schools, homes, and clinical settings in southeast Michigan. Amy holds a Limited License in Psychology and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, as well as a Licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of Michigan and participates in several behavior analytic groups, including the Association for Behavior Analysis International, the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts and the Behavior Analysis Association of Michigan. She has presented at a wide variety of conferences, including groups for parents and professionals. Amy has been active on the Education Support and Services subcommittee of Michigan's Autism Council. She has received extensive training in B.F. Skinner's analysis of verbal behavior and its application to children with autism and regularly attends professional conferences and workshops in order to bring the most current research into her treatment of children.
Jessica started at the Strive Center for Autism in July of 2018. She received her master’s degree in Clinical Behavioral Psychology and completed her BCBA coursework through Eastern Michigan University.
Jessica’s interest in psychology began with her jobs at Oakland County jail and Oakland County Children’s Village. She worked as a behavior technician, then a behavior analyst at the Guidance Center’s Autism program in Wayne County. Jessica worked as a BCBA at Easterseal’s autism program in both Oakland and Genesee counties.
Jessica enjoys reading, hiking, sky-diving, laying on a beach, yoga, eating gluten-free dairy-free treats and spending time with her family.
Evelyn (Evey) earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Oakland University. She earned her master's degree from Oakland University's Special Education Program with an emphasis in Autism. She then returned to Oakland University to receive an endorsement in Applied Behavior Analysis. She began her career as a special education teacher in the public school setting in a classroom for children with autism for 4 years. Inspired by the principles of applied behavior analysis, Evey began studying ABA. This led her to work in a clinical setting at Strive Center for Autism as Registered Behavior Technician while completing her coursework. She progressed to being a Lead Technician for Strive Center for Autism before becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Evey is currently a BCBA at Strive Center for Autism’s Brighton location. Evey is a Licensed Behavior Analyst and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
Emily started at Strive in 2024. She’s worked in ABA since 2016, when she started as a behavior technician. She quickly fell in love with the field and became a BCBA in 2019 after obtaining her Master’s in Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University.
She is passionate about working on functional communication, increasing independence with daily living skills, and social skills with clients while planning to generalize those skills across settings.
In her free time, she enjoys walking her dogs, playing board games/card games, going to farmers’ markets, and spending time with her family.
Anne and Don Haley live in Genesee County and have 5 kids, one of whom has autism, so they can relate first hand to loving and supporting a child on the spectrum. Anne has served as the Executive Director of Garrett's Place (formerly the Autism Support and Resource Center) since 2015. They offer social, recreational and lifeskills programs to those on the spectrum. Don is the 3rd generation owner of Italia Gardens restaurants, which was the first Italian restaurant in Flint in 1931. In their free time they enjoy cooking, high school sports, spending time with extended family and traveling. Anne and Don are thrilled to carry on the excellence Strive has offered and are proud of the team who works so hard to provide relief and create possibilities for the children and their families.
