Leadership

Marissa Nettleton, M.S.
Assistant Principal

Marissa began working at Milestones in 2011. She holds a Master’s degree and certification in Special Education (K-12) with concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders and is a Licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has also completed her sixth-year advanced studies degree in Educational Leadership from Quinnipiac University and holds her certification in Intermediate Administration (092).

Marissa started with Milestones as an Instructional Assistant, becoming a Special Education Teacher in 2013. She then transitioned into the role of Special Education Coordinator, providing support for students ranging in ages from 3 to 22 and providing mentorship to Special Education teachers across classrooms. She is currently the Assistant Principal at Milestones and is also a TEAM mentor and TEAM reviewer supporting beginning teachers through the TEAM process.

Tracy Sanford, M.S.
Vice President, School Services

Tracy Sanford has been teaching and programming for students with autism since 2002, joining Milestones in 2003. She holds a Master of Science degree in Special Education, certification as a Special Education Teacher and is a Licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has completed her sixth year advanced studies degree in Educational Leadership and holds her certification in Intermediate Administration (092).

Tracy previously served in many positions with the organization including as a Special Education Teacher, Assistant Director of Special Education, Assistant Principal, and Principal, and is currently the Vice President of School Services at Milestones.

Aimee Haray, M.S., BCBA
Licensed Behavior Analyst in CT, NY
Director of Transition Services

Aimee Haray holds a Master of Science in Behavior Analysis, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and has been in the field of autism treatment since 1997, providing services for children with autism across private schools and group homes as well as in home and community settings. Aimee joined Milestones in 1999. During her time here, she has served as a Direct Instructor, Assistant Clinical Director, Clinical Director at the Wolf Harbor Campus, and is currently the Director of Transition Services. In her role, she assists students transitioning into the Milestones program, as well as when they transition into adult life at the age of 22. Aimee also mentors candidates seeking their BCBA certification.

Aimee has presented lectures and workshops on autism and ABA at local and national conferences.

Nicole Playford
Senior Vice President, Finance

Nicole joined Milestones in January 2021 with over 18 years of experience managing corporate accounting functions and developing business strategies for organizations in a variety of industries. Prior to joining Milestones, she served as the Chief Financial Officer at an electrical company, managing all aspects of the financial operations for the organization.

As the Senior Vice President of Finance at Milestones, Nicole oversees and provides strategic direction on the accounting and finance functions for the organization. She collaborates with her team and other departments to develop and maintain streamlined processes to efficiently manage the company’s financial operations.

Theresa Bollmann, PHR
Chief Operating Officer

Theresa Bollmann joined Milestones in January 2019 and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources Management from Bernard Baruch College in New York City. She is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management and has been certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI). She has over 25 years of experience in the field of Human Resources working for both public, private and non-profit organizations. As the Chief Operating Officer, Theresa oversees Human Resources, IT, Training, and Facilities. She is also an active member of many professional organizations.

Lisa Gregory, M.S.
Chief Executive Officer

Lisa joined Milestones in 2003, starting as an intern and serving in a variety of roles over her 20+ year tenure from an Instructional Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer. She has worked in the field of autism since 2002, when she interned at The New England Center for Children, and has provided services for children with autism in private school, home, and community settings.

In her current role, Lisa supports the development, coordination, and implementation of the strategic and operational initiatives across all of the programs at Milestones. She oversees areas of Operations, Educational Services, Behavioral Services, and Marketing, to ensure that all programs operate ethically and with integrity to maintain a high level of services for the individuals we serve.

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University, a Master of Science, and a Sixth Year Professional Diploma in Advanced Studies from Southern Connecticut State University. She also serves on the Board for the Connecticut Association of Private Special Education Facilities (CAPSEF) as the Secretary.

Marisa D’Amico, M.A., BCBA
Licensed Behavior Analyst in CT
Clinical Director, Wolf Harbor Campus

Marisa D’Amico began working for Milestones in 2005 as an Instructional Assistant. Since then she has held the roles of Extra Steps Supervisor, Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst, and completed her Master’s Degree in Special Education. In 2014, she became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Marisa was an Assistant Clinical Director at Milestones for 9 years and is currently the Clinical Director at our Wolf Harbor Road campus, providing support for students ranging from 3-22 years, in addition to providing direct training, and supervision to Registered Behavior Technicians and prospective Behavior Analysts. Marisa is responsible for supporting and consulting with the Special Education teachers and classroom Behavior Analysts, classroom management, and student assessments. She is also an on-site Physical Management Training (PMT) instructor providing initial and on-going training to staff throughout all campuses.

Barbara Aguilar
Manager, Accounting

Joining Milestones in July 2009, Barbara brings over 17 years of experience as a billing specialist to the organization. Prior to joining Milestones, she spent five years working for attorneys focused on immigration and human rights, where she advanced from a secretary to a legal assistant.

As the Accounting Manager, Barbara collaborates with the Vice President of Finance to oversee and manage the accounting and finance departments. She holds an Associate of Science in Accounting from Housatonic Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Sacred Heart University.

She is also a proud parent of two children with autism.

Stephanie McCathron
Director, Information Technology

Stephanie joined Milestones as a consultant in April 2024 with over 20 years of experience in the information technology (IT) space, becoming a full-time employee that August. Prior to joining Milestones, she served as Director of IT for an international manufacturing company where she was responsible for all aspects of the information technology landscape. She holds a Master of Engineering in the Management of Technology and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI). She brings expertise in application development, vendor relations, cyber security, and business process improvement.

In her role as IT Director, she is charged with the creation of the strategic IT plan to help leadership, staff, and students to deliver programs and services that enhance teaching, learning, and operations through technology. She also collaborates with leadership to meet security compliance requirements, while managing expenses within budget.

Robert Sanford
Vocational Program Manager

Bobby Sanford has been with Milestones for thirteen years working with teens and adults on the autism spectrum. As Vocational Program Manager, Bobby has increased the number of job training sites from five to thirty. Prior to this position, he was in the classroom and was Milestones’ Summer Camp and After School Coordinator. Bobby is a graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University. Bobby received the Milestones Going the Extra Miles Dedication and Commitment Award at the 20th Anniversary Gala in May 2018.

Ana Lisboa
Manager, Human Resources
Title IX Coordinator

Ana joined Milestones in October 2021 with over 20 years of experience in human resources. Prior to joining the team, she served as the Human Resources Manager at a local nursing home. In her role, she acted as an advisor and partner to the leadership team, and managed many areas within the department including recruitment, payroll, benefits, and onboarding. During her time there, she also developed a standard performance improvement process that was used throughout the organization.

As the Human Resources Manager at Milestones, Ana works closely with senior management to facilitate employee relations, leave administration, worker’s compensation claims and management, benefit administration, and several other HR related duties. She is also involved in efforts to increase employee engagement and assists with recruiting as needed.

Ana holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration as well as a Certificate in Human Resources from the University of Bridgeport. She is a Title IX Coordinator at Milestones and can be reached at 203-799-4110 x 660 or [email protected].

Katie Dube
Special Education Coordinator, Wolf Harbor Campus

Katie joined Milestones in 2017 as a Special Education Teacher. In 2022 she became a Senior Special Education Teacher and in 2023 took on the role of Special Education Coordinator. Katie currently provides support for students ranging in age from 15-22 including transition planning for next steps upon completion of the program and transitioning to adult life. She is responsible for supporting Special Education teachers within all aspects of their position, some of which include IEP development, classroom management, and student assessments. She is a mentor in the Teacher Education and Mentoring Program (TEAM) and supports beginning teachers through the TEAM process.

Katie has worked in the field of special education since 2001, providing home and in school services for children with Autism from ages 3 and up. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science, a master’s degree in Special Education as well as state certification in Special Education (K-12).

David E. Kuhn, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Licensed Behavior Analyst in CT
Licensed Psychologist in CT, NY
Director, Intensive Treatment Services

Dr. David Kuhn is the Director of the Advanced Intervention Program at Milestones Behavioral Services. He earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Louisiana State University, specializing in intellectual and developmental disabilities. David is a licensed psychologist in New York and Connecticut, a licensed behavior analyst in Connecticut, and a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Prior to joining Milestones, David was the Clinical Director of the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Co-Director of the Behavioral Psychology Program at the Westchester Institute for Human Development, and Senior Behavior Analyst on the Neurobehavioral Unit at Kennedy Krieger Institute. He has held faculty appointments at Columbia University Medical College, Weill Cornell Medical College, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, New York Medical College, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Queens College, and the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. From 2006-2007, David served as President of the Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis. He has been a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis since 2006 and has co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. His clinical and research interests focus on the application and adaptation of principles of applied behavior analysis towards skill acquisition and behavior reduction among individuals diagnosed with autism or other intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Elena Almodovar
Executive Team Administrator

Elena joined Milestones in 2011 and has spent over a decade supporting the school program to ensure children and families are accessing the services they need. She worked in instructional roles in the classroom for six years and then began coordinating behavioral services with families and school districts.

As the Executive Team Administrator, Elena serves as the point person for parent and school district inquiries for student placement. She collaborates with the Intake Team to process student referrals and supports the Executive Team with tuition contract management, event planning, and a variety of other projects.

Elena holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UCONN.

Britta Wehmann-Bell, M.S., BCBA, LBA
Clinical Director, Milestones Clinic

Britta joined Milestones in March 2019 as a Senior Behavior Analyst before transitioning to her role of Clinical Director in 2020. She has over 25 years of experience working in the field of autism treatment and applied behavior analysis. Prior to joining Milestones, Britta provided school consultation, as well as ABA services in a residential program, in home, and in communities throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts.

As the Clinical Director of the Milestones Clinic, she oversees the outpatient treatment program and staff while maintaining accepted standards of medical practice throughout the facility. She also provides consultation to adult programs.

Britta holds a Master of Science in Applied Behavioral Analysis from Northeastern University. She is a Licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has presented research and lectures on autism and behavior analysis at state and national conferences.

Glenn Vaill
Director, Facilities & Transportation

Glenn Vaill has been with Milestones since 2015 as the Director of Facilities and Transportation. He first worked with this not-for-profit as the Project Superintendent on the 30,860 square-foot new construction of the Wolf Harbor school, 2009-2010. In 2016-2017, he was part of the team that planned and oversaw the renovation to the 30,000-square-foot Boston Post Road facility. This turned medical offices into four floors of classrooms, an administrative office wing, gym, student kitchen, recreation rooms, conference rooms and an outside play area. Glenn is responsible for the upkeep, maintenance and overseeing the security technology of all Milestones’ campuses. In addition, there is a fleet of 17 vehicles that are maintained for student activity transportation and the Adult Day Program. Prior to joining Milestones, Glenn spent 32 years in commercial construction working for three companies as foreman/superintendent of jobs throughout Connecticut.

April Begin
Director, Marketing & Communications

April joined Milestones in September 2022 with over 15 years of experience developing marketing strategies for businesses across a variety of industries. Prior to joining Milestones, she worked for a healthcare communications company where she helped establish the marketing infrastructure and further develop the brand.

As the Director of Marketing and Communications, her goal is to drive awareness for autism in our local communities and effectively communicate the support Milestones provides to children and their families, school districts, and other local organizations for professional development.

April holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Southern Connecticut State University.

Roger Letso
Chief Financial Officer

Roger Letso is the co-founder and CFO of Milestones Behavioral Services. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in Operations Management and Marketing from Bowling Green State University, an MBA in Finance/MIS from Case Western University, passed the CPA exam in 2002 and has taken and passed FINRA Series 7 General Securities Representative and Series 63 Uniform Security Agent exams.

Roger was a Purchasing Agent for industrial and telecommunication divisions of Exxon, Purchasing Manager for a medical device manufacturing arm of Baxter Travenol Labs, Vice President of Marketing for an import business and a Marketing Executive for appliance manufacturers Cuisinart and Waring as well having experience with a local CPA firm. Roger has extensive experience in product and business development, purchasing, company acquisitions, operations and branding and shares 3 patents. Roger has served on various boards including the Alpine Learning Center and the Newtown Public Building and Site Commission.

Roger was instrumental in Milestones’ 2010 expansion to the new Wolf Harbor Road facility in Milford, and continues to be involved with MBS’s development and expansion into new sites. Roger oversees a growing staff responsible for finance and accounting, physical plant and transportation, technology, communication, security and human resources. In recognition of Milestones 20th Anniversary, Roger received Milestones Going the Extra Miles Founders Award.

Roger is also the parent of a son with autism.

Suzanne Letso, M.A. BCBA
Licensed Behavior Analyst in CT, MA, NY
Chief Executive Officer

Suzanne Letso is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Milestones Behavioral Services (formerly Connecticut Center for Child Development). Suzanne currently serves as the Vice President of the Behavior Analyst Leadership Council, as a member of the the Scientific Advisory Board for the Organization for Autism Research, as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Marrakech, Inc., and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Elijah Foundation.

Suzanne has also served as the Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, and has participated in the establishment and management of a number of other service organizations, autism-related initiatives, and state task forces. Suzanne was the recipient of: the Association for Professional Behavior Analysts’ 2016 Jerry Shook Award, which honors individuals whose achievements have enhanced the value of sound professional credentials in the practice of applied behavior analysis; the Marrakech Founders’ Advocacy Award in 2009; and Enterprising Women magazine’s Advocate of the Year Award in 2007. In recognition of Milestones 20th Anniversary, Suzanne received Milestones Going the Extra Miles Founders Award.

Suzanne is a registered lobbyist for the Connecticut General Assembly, and has worked as an advocate on a number of legislative issues in the states of Connecticut and Alaska. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, licensed as a Behavior Analyst in New York and Massachusetts. She holds #000001 license in Connecticut as a Behavior Analyst.

As an expert in her field, Suzanne is invited to speak at large conferences and small events around the world. Through Milestones, Suzanne is part of the team that works to initiate or grow ABA schools and programs in other states.

She is also the parent of a son with autism.

Joanna Berardesca, M.S., BCBA
Licensed Behavior Analyst in CT
Clinical Director, Boston Post Road Campus

Joanna Berardesca holds a certification in Special Education for grades K-12, a Master’s Degree in Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and is a Licensed Behavior Analyst in Connecticut. She began working at Milestones in 2007, since then she has held various positions including Special Education Teacher and Special Education Coordinator, supervising and overseeing student programming. She is currently a Clinical Director, providing support for students ranging in ages 3-22, in addition to providing mentorship to certified teachers. Joanna is responsible for supporting and consulting in areas such as training, supervising, and evaluating. She also acts as a Teacher Education and Mentoring Program (TEAM) mentor and supports beginning teachers through the TEAM process.

Rebecca Pleckaitis, M.S.
Special Education Coordinator, Boston Post Road Campus

Rebecca Pleckaitis holds a Masters in Educational Leadership and is certified in Special Education and Elementary Education. She has been teaching Special Education since 2005, and programmed for students with special needs in both residential facilities and public school before joining Milestones in 2008. Rebecca has served as a Special Education Teacher at Milestones, and is currently the Special Education Coordinator. She provides support for students in grades K-12, overseeing programming and IEP development and implementation for students with higher functioning autism. Rebecca is responsible for consulting with Special Education teachers in developing goals and objectives related to transition planning, grade level curriculum, inclusion and social skills. She is also a TEAM mentor for the Connecticut Teacher Induction Program.

Megan McCarron, M.S., BCBA
Licensed Behavior Analyst in CT
Director, Support Services

Megan McCarron holds a Master of Science in Child Development, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and has worked in the field of autism treatment since 1992. Megan has experience providing services for children with autism in private school, home, and community settings and in new program startup. She joined Milestones in 1999 and has served as an Assistant Director in what is now the Wolf Harbor Campus, the Clinical Director at the Bridgeport Ave. Campus, and is currently overseeing the Registered Behavior Technicians training program across campuses.

Megan presents lectures and workshops on autism and Behavior Analysis at local and national conferences and served as a subject matter expert at the Behavior Analysis Certification Board.

Kate S. Marcel, M.S., BCBA
Licensed Behavior Analyst in CT
Special Education Coordinator, Wolf Harbor Campus

Kate S. Marcel holds a Master’s Degree and certification in Special Education (K-12) and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in 2017. She began working at Milestones in 2012 as an Instructional Assistant and became a Special Education Teacher in 2013. In 2016, she became a Special Education Coordinator. Kate currently provides support for students ranging in age from 15-21. Kate is also responsible for supporting Special Education teachers within all aspects of their position, some of which include IEP development, classroom management, and student assessments. She is a mentor in the Teacher Education and Mentoring Program (TEAM) and supports beginning teachers through the TEAM process.

Giacoma Venditti, M.A., BCBA,
Licensed Behavior Analyst in CT
Assistant Director

Giacoma Venditti is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of Connecticut. She has a Masters of Arts degree in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology. Giacoma joined Milestones in 2002 as an Instructional Assistant and has had the opportunity to work with a wide range of students and provide training and supervision to many employees as she has grown and advanced both within the organization and within the field of Behavior Analysis. In her current role as an Assistant Director, Giacoma assists with the Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT) credentialing of Milestones staff, as well as providing support with clinical operations and training. Additionally, she has served as a BACB subject matter expert on RBT related topics and has presented lectures and workshops at local conferences.

Elizabeth Cranmer, M.S., BCBA
Licensed Behavior Analyst in CT
Director, Training

Liz Cranmer holds a Master of Science in Behavior Analysis, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and is a Licensed Behavior Analyst in Connecticut and New York. She has worked in the field of autism treatment since 2001, providing services for children with autism in private school, home, and community settings. She is currently the Director of Training across Milestones programs. During her time at Milestones, she has also served as Clinical Director at the Wolf Harbor Campus and Clinical Director of Consultative Services. She has provided in-home consultation, professional trainings for public schools, as well as mentorship for candidates pursuing their BCBA certification. In addition, Liz has presented lectures and workshops on autism and ABA at local and national conferences.

Amanda Dix, M.S., BCBA
Licensed Behavior Analyst in CT
Assistant Clinical Director, Wolf Harbor Campus

Amanda Dix holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and is a Licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of Connecticut. Amanda began her career at Milestones in 2001 as an Instructional Assistant, has held various positions throughout the organization, and now serves as the Assistant Clinical Director at the Wolf Harbor campus. She currently provides support to students aged 3-16 across classroom, home, and community settings in collaboration with special educators. Additionally, Amanda provides support and consultation to current behavior analysts as well as mentorship to those pursuing BCBA and BCaBA certification.

Judith L. Palazzo, M.S., BCBA
Licensed Behavior Analyst in CT, NY
Vice President, Behavioral Services

Judith Palazzo holds a Master of Science Degree in Special Education, is a Licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and has been in the field of autism treatment since 1990, providing services for children and teens with autism across public and private schools as well as home and community settings. In 1999, Judy joined Milestones as Clinical Director for both center-based and outreach programs.

Judy currently serves as the Vice President of Behavioral Services for Milestones. She is responsible for overseeing and supporting all clinical directors for Milestones center-based programs, ensuring effective student programming, staff/parent training, and continued implementation of ABA strategies across all areas of programming. In recognition of Milestones 20th Anniversary, Judy received Milestones Going the Extra Miles Inspiration and Leadership Award.

She has presented lectures and workshops on autism and ABA at national and international conferences, served on the Executive Council of Connecticut ABA, and published in Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. Judy currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Behavior Analyst Leadership Council (BALC).

Where to Begin

About

MBS Schools

Insurance Funded Services

Consulting & Clinical Services

Contact