Meet Our Therapists

Board Certified Behavior Analysts

Practitioners of behavior analysis provide services consistent with the dimensions of ABA. Common services may include, but are not limited to, conducting behavioral assessments, analyzing data, writing and revising behavior-analytic treatment plans, training others to implement components of treatment plans, and overseeing the implementation of treatment plans. Behavior analysts are qualified to provide services to clients with a variety of needs, including skill deficits (e.g., communication, adaptive behavior), and problem behavior (e.g., aggression, self-injurious behavior), among others. All programs and treatment plans are supervised by a BCBA.

Elizabeth Ginder, MSSW, BCBA, LBA
Clinical Director, and Owner

Elizabeth Ginder, MSSW, BCBA, LBA | Behavior Analyst and Owner

Elizabeth is a graduate of Bellarmine University (Louisville, KY) and University of Louisville. Elizabeth is passionate about practicing Applied Behavior Analysis and started ABA Interventions in 2015 to teach and help as many families, schools, and children as she could. Elizabeth specializes in working with children ages 2 through early adulthood. She has experience working with children diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as children with severe, challenging behaviors. Elizabeth also has a strong background in parent, teacher and staff training. Her focus is on verbal behavior, skill acquisition and teaching children how to have fun!

“A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.”

Kieran Potterton, BCBA, LBA,
Clinical Operations Manager

Kieran Potterton, M.A., BCBA, LBA

Kieran is a graduate of Bellarmine University (B.A. Psychology) where he was a member of the Men’s Soccer Program. He earned his masters degree from Spalding University (M.A. Applied Behavior Analysis).

Kieran comes to ABA Interventions after working for many years in the East Tennessee area with the adult population under DIDD. With extensive experience in behavior management, daily living skills, staff/parent training, he looks forward to serving all ages. Kieran is excited to be on the ABA Interventions team to help clients and their parents reach their socially significant goals.

Cresanna Kahrl, MA, BCBA, LBA
Clinic Coordinator

Cresanna Kahrl

Cresanna holds a Masters degree in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology, and has worked with children with autism in home, school, and community settings since 2004. She specializes in developing communication systems for non-vocal learners, designing programming to teach meaningful skills, and training others to use current, evidence-based ABA science in daily practice. Cresanna is passionate about building joyful connections with children who find engagement challenging, and is happiest when she’s on the floor engaging with a child to find what makes them smile!

Hannah Shepple, M.S., BCBA, LBA
Behavior Analyst

Hannah Shepple, M.S., BCBA, LBA

Hannah graduated from Taylor University with a B.A. in Psychology in 2005. She received her Masters Degree from Eastern Kentucky University in Clinical Psychology in 2007. She became a BCBA in 2011 and has worked in a variety of settings including a residential facility, school setting, and in the home. She has experience working with children and adolescents with autism and developmental disabilities conducting functional communication training, FBA’s, assessments, parent and staff training, using assistive technology and leading social skills groups. I am excited about helping the children and their families at ABA Interventions achieve their goals and reach their potential.

Allie Messer, MA BCBA, LBA
Behavior Analyst

Allie Messer

Allie began working with kids when she was 19 years old, in both privately and publicly funded settings, including early childhood through middle school ages. While working at a Montessori school in Knoxville, TN Allie was introduced to many children with a variety of special needs, and came to love the individual time she got to spend with these children helping them learn how to navigate their environments in a way that was most beneficial to them. She has always always had a passion for advocating and guiding families and caregivers in their search for support and resources, especially after watching her parents struggle to find and maintain the right support for her younger sister following a 7 year journey toward an Autism diagnosis. Following the completion of her bachelor’s in psychology from University of TN, Allie began her ABA journey in 2019 with a MA in special education with an ABA concentration from Arizona State University. Allie has been a BCBA since October 2021.

Deanna Purslow, BCBA, LBA
Practicum Coordinator

Deanna Purslow, BCBA, LBA

Deanna Purslow is a BCBA that has been within the field for nearly a decade. Deanna’s first experiences where with the Human Developmental Neurobiology Unit within the Children’s Research Centre at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology. Upon returning stateside she began to formalize her education within ABA and the competencies of ASD and PTSD, as both were relevant within her life. As learning is a continuous process she began research into and presenting on ”The Effects of Conditioning Faces & Voices on the Emergence of Novel Observing Responses” and expanding further into verbal behavior. The combinations of recent societal shifts have also created a shift for Deanna to now focus on obtaining her PhD in Organizational Leadership. She hopes we engage in knowledge sharing found through a diversity of experiences!

Chelsea Tolliver, MA, BCBA, LBA
Behavior Analyst

Chelsea Tolliver, MA, BCBA, LBA

Chelsea received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee in Psychology. She then attended Tennessee Technological University where she received her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Applied Behavior Analysis. Chelsea has worked at ABA Interventions since 2019 and served a variety of families. Chelsea enjoys working with children and families to open new environments and opportunities for learners through building communication skills and curiosity about their world.

Amber Perry, MA, BCBA, LBA
Behavior Analyst

Amber Perry, MA, BCBA, LBA

Amber graduated from the University of Tennessee with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2012 and received her Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Union University in 2015. Shortly after relocating to Michigan with her husband, she returned to her psychology roots with the Michigan School for Psychology and received her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2020. She became a BCBA in November 2020. Her experience and interests in the fields of psychology and ABA include assessments and diagnostics, working with early learners, and researching and incorporating self-care into Applied Behavior Analysis. She has been with ABA Interventions since July 2021 and continues to enjoy the work she does with her clients, their families, and her coworkers.

Amanda Tucker, MA, BCBA, LBA
Certification Coordinator

Amanda Tucker, MA, BCBA, LBA

Amanda enjoys working with marginalized populations and excels in preparing clients for educational and life transitions. Amanda earned her undergraduate degree at Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee in Child Development with Kindergarten through sixth grade teacher licensure. She taught in public school settings in North Carolina, Okinawa Japan, and Tennessee before leaving the field of education to pursue a graduate degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. Amanda graduated with her Master of Arts in special education with a concentration in applied behavior analysis from Arizona State University in 2021. She has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed to practice ABA in the state of Tennessee since June 2021.

Leslie Kidd, MA, BCBA, LBA
Behavior Analyst

Leslie Kidd, MA, BCBA, LBA

Leslie Kidd is a BCBA that has been within the field for nearly a decade. Leslie graduated from Franklin College with a B.A. in Psychology in 2014. She received her Masters Degree from Ball State University in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2017 and became a BCBA in 2022. Leslie gained her first 8 years of experience as an RBT in Indiana. For 5 years, Leslie worked on a team providing ASL to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population. During this time, Leslie gained a passion for ensuring ABA was accessible to diverse populations.

Hannah Pendleton, MA, BCBA, LBA
Behavior Analyst

Hannah Pendleton, MA, BCBA, LBA

Hannah graduated from Western Michigan University with a B.S. in Behavior Psychology in 2017. She received her Masters Degree from Purdue University in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2022. She became a BCBA in October of 2022. Hannah has been in the field of ABA since 2014 as an RBT and has worked in a variety of settings including school, clinic, in home and community. Her primary experience is working with children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder as well as developmental disabilities. She has additional experience with adults with autism spectrum disorder, and developmental disabilities. Hannah was a practicum student here at ABA Interventions from May 2021-August 2022. She is excited to join our team of BCBAs and continue to help the children and their families at ABA Interventions stive to reach their potential!

Matthew Olds, BCaBA, LABA
Assistant Behavior Analyst

Matthew Olds, BCaBA, LABA

Matthew Olds is a graduate of the Crown College (B.A. missions/ Sign Language Interpreter Training Program.) where he has learned to communicate using American Sign Language. He earned his Associates degree from Florida Institute of Technology ( Applied Behavior Analysis).

Matthew Olds is a BCaBA that has been in the field since 2018. Matthew’s first Experience was working with individuals with ASD and other neurological developmental disabilities in a residential setting, where I worked there for ten years, training daily living skills and staff and parent and parent training prior to starting my formal education in 2018, to become a BCaBA. Matthew has been working at ABA Interventions for the last two years, where he has been able to work with individuals with ASD, as he continues his journey into serving this wonderful population.

Theresa Blankenship
Assistant Behavior Analyst

Theresa Blankenship

Theresa graduated from The University of Tennessee with a BA in Academic Psychology. She then earned her Montessori teaching certification and taught a diverse population of children in a classroom setting for 20 years. Next, Theresa joined ABA Interventions in 2019 and obtained certification as a Registered Behavior Technician. In 2022, Theresa completed the Assistant Behavior Analysis program at Florida Institute of Technology and has become licensed in the state of Tennessee.

Registered Behavior Technicians

The Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) is a paraprofessional who practices under the supervision of a BCBA. Our RBTs are responsible for direct implementation of behavior analytic services and following treatment plans and goals designed by a BCBA.