Clinic Director North East Albuquerque

Rachael Middleton, BCBA

Rachael, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) has over a decade of experience in applied behavior analysis, began her career as a Registered Behavior Technician. She earned her BCBA certification in November 2019 after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of New Mexico and a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University.

Servicing:
New Mexico

About Rachael Middleton, BCBA

Rachael, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) has over a decade of experience in applied behavior analysis, began her career as a Registered Behavior Technician. She earned her BCBA certification in November 2019 after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of New Mexico and a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University.

Rachael’s diverse experience spans various settings, including clinics, homes, schools, and the community, allowing her to work with individuals across the age range of 2 to 18 years old. Rachael’s focus is to ensure Cross River Therapy delivers the best possible care to its clients each and every day. Currently serving as a clinic director, Rachael enjoys supporting the growth of fellow BCBAs.  Her philosophy centers on compassionate, data-driven interventions that empower clients and build strong, supportive family systems, driving both individual success and organizational excellence.

Meet the Experts Behind the Care

Our Best-In-Class Executive Team

Steven Zauderer
Chief Executive Officer

Steven Zauderer, CEO of Cross River Therapy, is a leader in the healthcare industry for over 10 years.

Kristin Randy, BCBA LBA
Chief Clinical Officer

Kristin has been working with children diagnosed with disabilities in the home, school and clinic settings since 2012.

Kelley Kallon
Director of Clinical Quality Assurance

Kelley Kallon is the Director of Clinical Quality Assurance at Cross River Therapy, where she supports clinicians and ensures high-quality, ethical care.

Courtney Erker-Knappe, BCBA
Clinical Director, Arizona

Courtney received her board certification in August of 2017 and has been practicing as a BCBA since then in all settings.

Cydney Weinstein, BCBA LBA
Director of Operational Training

Cydney is the Director of Operational Training at Cross River Therapy, supporting new staff and providing ABA services in Charlotte.

Nick Miller, BCBA, LBA
Supervision Program Leader

Nick received a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Bay Path University and passed his board exam to become a BCBA in July

Veronica Tighe, BCBA
Clinical Director, New Mexico

Veronica Tighe values learning and supporting others to achieve their personal, clinical and professional goals.

Pam Rauen
Clinical Research Trainer

Pam Rauen, a BCBA with 14+ years of experience, is a Clinical Research Trainer who advances clinical excellence through research, education, and professional events.

Karen Zitouni, BCBA
Director of Compliance Operations

Karen, with a master’s in Exceptional Education & ABA and 8+ years of experience, is Director of Compliance Operations at Cross River Therapy, ensuring audits, compliance, and quality care.

Katie Smith, MA, BCBA, LBA
Assistant Director of Clinical Training

Katie, a BCBA and LBA since 2020, has experience across settings with ages 2–18 and specializes in behavior reduction. As a clinical trainer, she mentors and supports fellow BCBAs.

Moshe Mandelbaum
Chief Financial Officer

Moshe Mandelbaum serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Cross River Therapy where he oversees accounting, tax, financial operations, and growth initiatives.

Rafaella Gashi BCBA, LBA
Regional Clinic Director

Rafaella Gashi is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who began her work in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in 2012. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, followed by a post-master’s certificate in Behavior Analysis, earning her BCBA credential in 2019.

Ingrid Bravo Nunez, MHA
Director of Clinic Operations

With nearly a decade of experience in healthcare, Ingrid is passionate about helping teams grow and deliver the highest quality care possible. After earning a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2023, she has had the opportunity to work across multiple specialties, including primary care and psychiatry, and is now proud to be part of the ABA field.

Amy Goldberg BCBA, LBA
Regional Clinic Director

Amy Goldberg is the Clinic Director for the South Charlotte location and a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst who has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis since 2017. She began her career as a Registered Behavior Technician and went on to earn her BCBA and LBA certifications after completing her Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University.

Alicia DeLaCruz
Operations Manager

Alicia has a background in administration since 2016. She holds a B.S. in Psychology and will be graduating in in May 2026 with a Master’s in Business Administration. She values organization, teamwork, and effective communication, contributing to an efficient and supportive environment for families and staff.

Sarah Mason, BCBA, LBA
Greenville Clinic Director and Lead Safety Care Trainer

As a certified Safety-Care Trainer, Sarah also provides training, oversight, and ongoing support in crisis prevention, de-escalation, and physical intervention procedures, promoting safety and confidence for both staff and clients.

Kaley Ross
Operational Manager

Kaley Ross has been the Operational Manager at the Cross River Therapy Greenville Clinic for a little over a year. She has seven years of experience in the field of applied behavioral analysis (ABA), having worked as a registered behavior technician (RBT), scheduler, floater, and now operations manager.Kaley's goal in clinic as the Operational Manager is to ensure the clinic runs smoothly, efficiently, and ethically while supporting high-quality care for clients and a positive work environment for staff.‍

Samantha Gupton
Clinic Director at the Nashville Clinic

She is enjoys being part of the Cross River Therapy family and is committed to making a positive impact within the community.

Sarah Harden
Operations Manager

In her role, Sarah helps keep everything running smoothly by supporting staff, addressing day-to-day challenges, coordinating schedules, and celebrating progress with families.

Keelin Shakofsky, BCBA, LBA
Clinic Director

Keeli holds a Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University and a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies (Education) from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She brings six years of experience in the field of ABA, including work with the TEACCH Transition Program, where she supported adolescents and young adults with autism in developing independence and transition-related skills.

Monica Puga
Operation manager

Monica is the Operations Manager at the Clayton Clinic in North Carolina, supporting clients, families, and the clinical team by keeping daily operations organized and running smoothly. She enjoys working closely with parents and assisting with communication and scheduling to ensure a positive experience for everyone involved. Outside of work, Monica enjoys staying active through fitness, and trying new coffee shops, and restaurants.

Roger Faias, BCBA, LBA
Clinic Director

Roger has been in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2014 across various setting (clinic, home, school, and other settings). He started as a Registered Behavior Technician and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2017. Roger enjoys discussing the various areas and activities associated with ABA. Roger is passionate regarding support across professionals (RBT, BCaBA, and BCBAs) as well as the sponsors supporting behavioral growth (parents, guardians, or caregivers). Roger is dedicated to providing compassionate and effective ABA therapy services to the patients and families within the clinic setting.

Maria Clark
Clayton Office Manager

Maria is a California native who moved to Fayetteville in 2015. She has been married to her Army veteran husband for 25 years. Maria was given her first opportunity to serve the Autism community in 2019 as a front desk associate and is excited to now be part of the Cross River Family as an Office Manager. She strives to provide a consistent support system for all of our therapists and to establish genuine connections with our clients and their families.

Dora Berry, MA, LBA, QBA
Wilson Clinic Director

Dora has been part of the ABA field since 2019 and joined Cross River Therapy in 2021, with a passion for making a difference in children’s lives. She earned her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University in 2023. Dora loves building strong relationships with the children and families she supports and believes in meeting each child where they are to help them grow and succeed. As the Wilson Clinic Director, she is devoted to creating a space where growth, compassion, and connection come together every day.

Tarekia Kelly, MS, CCM
Operations Manager

Tarekia is dedicated to fostering thriving individuals, families, and communities through person-centered support and advocacy. Her passion for helping others began at the Nancy W. Darden Child Development Center at East Carolina University, where a course in Early Childhood Intervention sparked her calling to advocate for individuals with developmental differences.

Jamie Trapp BCBA, LBA
Clinic Director

Jamie is originally from Florida and moved to Wilmington, NC a year and a half ago. She earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Special Education from Florida State University. Jamie has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) for four and a half years. She began her career as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and pursued her board certification in Florida and Tennessee, gaining experience across home, school, and clinic settings.

Jade Kienas
Operations Manager

Jade began her career as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), where she developed a genuine appreciation for high-quality client care and the heart of ABA services. With a degree in Business Administration & Management, she now blends her clinical experience with her passion for supporting families, helping ensure smooth, supportive operations across the organization.

Alex Ramsey MA ABA, BCBA
Bryant Clinic Director

Alex has been in the field of ABA for seven years. He discovered his passion for working with children on the autism spectrum while earning a bachelor’s degree in special education. Alex worked as a Special Education teacher in an ABA facility, applying ABA interventions in the classroom while promoting academic growth and individualized learning. While completing a master’s degree, Alex continued to deepen knowledge of the field and gained hands-on experience that shaped an approach as both a clinician and educator. Alex joined Cross River Therapy in July 2024 and brings a blend of clinical expertise, teaching experience, and a strong commitment to collaborative, compassionate care.

Hannah Perkins, BCBA
Interim Clinic Director

Hannah has been working with children with special needs since 2015 and in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2020. She earned her master’s degree in Special Education with a focus in ABA from Arizona State University in 2022 and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in 2023.

Janira Cordova, MA, BCBA
Clinical Director, New Mexico

Janira is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) with a Master of Arts in Special Education in 2021. Janira began in the field of ABA as a behavior technician, later becoming a Board-Certified Autism Technician (BCAT) and Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) prior to becoming a BCBA. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico in Speech and Hearing Sciences and in Spanish. As a BCBA, she has provided services to families in New Mexico within the home, school, clinic, and community environments.

Rachael Middleton, BCBA
Clinic Director North East Albuquerque

Rachael, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) has over a decade of experience in applied behavior analysis, began her career as a Registered Behavior Technician. She earned her BCBA certification in November 2019 after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of New Mexico and a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University.

Joshua Wright, MA, BCBA
Regional Clinic Director of New Mexico

Originating in Michigan and having built his career in Florida, Josh now resides in New Mexico, providing Cross River Therapy with a wide range of experience and skills. His background spans residential treatment for severe aggression and self-injurious behaviors, school-based settings, and early intervention, gives him broad exposure across the field. Josh received his undergrad at Western Michigan University and his master’s from Ball State. His primary focus across all his experiences has been to develop and encourage language and communication skills. Now, as Regional Clinic Director at Cross River Therapy his focus has shifted towards creating a warm, community-based environment where clients feel welcome and safe.

Ronee Murphy, RBT
Office Manager- Yuma, Az

Ronee received her Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) certification in 2022. She has been employed with Cross River since 2023, working as an RBT and then as a manager in the clinic setting. Ronee received her master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2025 and is working towards her Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification. She is passionate about supporting high-quality, life changing therapy for the clients we service.

Jessica Goncharov, BT
Office Manager

Jessica is the Office Manager for the New Jersey clinic. With a background in psychology and ethics, along with 3 years of experience working directly with children with special needs in a variety of settings, and 4 years in client relations. She strives to create and maintain an organized, welcoming clinical environment for staff, clients, and families. Jessica works closely with the Clinic Director to maintain high clinical standards and ensure maximum positive outcomes for the children that light up our clinic.

Lisa LoCascio, MA, BCBA, LBA
Clinical Director of NJ

Lisa has professional experience working with children in group home settings, child welfare, and leadership development programs within New York City schools. She later provided individualized services as a behavior technician, which led her to pursue certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Lisa completed her graduate training at Felician University, where her academic focus included autism, fitness-based interventions, and motor stereotypy. She has contributed to scholarly work examining martial arts and fitness for autistic children, with findings presented at the 2024 ABAI conference. Lisa is dedicated to supporting children, families, and technicians by building on each child’s strengths to promote meaningful communication, social skills, and quality of life.

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