2021 Conference

September 11, 2021

8:30AM-5:30PM

in person and virtual

Grappone Center
70 Constitution Ave
Concord, NH 03301
 CONFERENCE
SCHEDULE
Time Clinical Track Business Track
7:30 - 8:30 Conference registration

8:30 - 8:45 Welcome & introductions

8:45 - 10:00 Keynote speaker Kelsey Ruppel

10:00 - 10:50 Brett DiNovi & Paul Gavoni

Behaviorial Karma

10:50 - 11:10 Break and vendors

11:10 - 12:00
Peter Gerhardt Karen Lascelle
ABA for Adults with Autism Business Valuation

12:00 - 1:15
Lunch and vendors
Sponsored Tech Demo - CentralReach

Byron Wine Maryann Kristiansen

1:15 - 2:05
OBM Ethics Beth Deragon
Karen Lascelle
2:05 - 2:55 Managing the Challenges of Starting &
Students Research Symposium
Running an ABA Business

2:55 - 3:15 Break and Ice Cream Social

Dr. Antonio Harrison

3:15 - 4:05
Lead With Hello

4:05 - 4:30 Wrap up and Vendors

MEET OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Kelsey Ruppel, Ph.D, BCBA, LABA

Senior Consultant/Director of
Operations

Dr. Ruppel is a practitioner and researcher whose work focuses on the Practical
Functional Assessment and Skill-Based Treatment of challenging and interfering
behavior, as well as preventing the development of severe problem behavior in young
children. She began her career as a teaching assistant in a specialized school for
students with developmental disabilities and eventually served as a school-based
special education teacher, BCBA, and curriculum supervisor.

She has also implemented and supervised in-home ABA programming, taught courses
as a faculty fellow at Western New England University, served as the Associate
Director of Dr. Greg Hanley’s Life Skills Clinic at Western New England University,
and served as a BCBA at an inpatient hospital program for children with severe
problem behavior.

Kelsey is currently a Senior Consultant at FTF Behavioral Consulting, and she has
served as a consultant to a range of organizations, including schools, in-home and
outpatient clinic providers, and residential programs. She holds a Master’s degree in
Special Education from Johns Hopkins University and a doctoral degree in Behavior
Analysis from Western New England University under the supervision of Dr. Hanley.
 KEYNOTE SPEECH
Skill-Based Treatment
for Automatically
Reinforced Interfering
Behavior
The Practical Functional Assessment and Skill-Based Treatment processes (Hanley
et al., 2014) were designed with a focus on problem behavior sensitive to social
reinforcement, such as escape from adult-led tasks to child-led play with specific
forms of adult attention.

However, recent research has extended the Skill-Based Treatment to behavior

sensitive to automatic reinforcement. This presentation will discuss such
applications, drawing a distinction between dangerous behavior and behavior that is
not dangerous but interferes with learning under some conditions. Such a distinction
leads to discussion of when behavior such as stereotypy should and should not be
treated. We will then discuss the use of Skill-Based Treatment to teach learners with
autism to refrain from stereotypy when it interferes with important learning
opportunities and to allocate stereotypy to times and places in which it is not
interfering. The presentation will also discuss the use of Skill-Based Treatment to
address mouthing of non-food items. Future directions in this line of research will be
noted.
MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Brett DiNovi, BCBA

Founder & CEO

Brett DiNovi is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst & the CEO of the largest award
winning behavioral consulting/OBM group of its kind on the East Coast of the United
States. Brett DiNovi & Associates (BDA) deploys over 600 consultants in more than
300 schools/organizations serving NJ, NY, DE, PA, ME, FL, California, &
internationally through the use of remote video consultation. Brett is also a best
selling author with his new book Behavioral Karma.

Brett is also the co-founder of the B.F. Skinner Institute which disseminates
behavioral science worldwide. He has the unique & distinguished experience of
studying the principles of applied behavior analysis under the rigorous scrutiny of
both Dr. Julie S. Vargas (formerly Skinner) and Dr. E.A. Vargas at West Virginia
University's internationally recognized program. For the past 30 years, Brett has
used behavior analytic principles to create large-scale change across businesses using
the principles of organizational behavior management (OBM). Brett has been a
business consultant in Morgantown WV, an instructor at West Virginia University, a
guest lecturer at numerous universities, a world class keynote speaker, an expert
witness in due process hearings, a contributing writer for online blogs, has
publications in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, & has been in executive
leadership positions across schools and residential programs nationwide. In addition
to an award from South Jersey Biz Magazine for "Best Places to Work", an award for
"Best of Families" in Suburban Magazine, the distinguished "Top Ranked U.S.
Executives" award, state of NJ Senator's award, Brett's proudest accomplishment is
being a role model & father of his daughter & two step children one of whom is on
the autism spectrum.
MEET OUR SPEAKERS
Paul Gavoni
Vice President
Organizational Leadership

An expert in human performance, coaching, and organizational leadership, Dr. Paul

"Paulie" Gavoni is the Executive Director of Organizational Leadership for Brett
DiNovi and Associates. He has worked in education and human services for 20
years where he served in a variety of positions including COO, Director of School
Improvement, Leadership Director, Professor, Assistant Principal, School
Turnaround Manager, Clinical Coordinator, Therapist, and Behavior Analyst. Beyond
his direct work with students in poverty and those suffering from behavioral and
mental health issues, Dr. Gavoni specializes in providing administrative teams,
teachers, and staff with training, coaching, and consultation in analyzing and
developing behavior and performance management systems to positively impact key
performance indicators. As a behavior scientist, Dr. Gavoni is passionate about
applying organizational behavior management (OBM) strategies to establish positive
environments that engage and bring out the best in people so they can bring out
the best in the children they serve.

Known for his passion and authenticity, Dr. Gavoni continues to be sought out as
featured and keynote speaker at educational conferences across the country. Most
recently he co-authored Quick Wins! Accelerating School Transformation through
Science, Engagement, and Leadership and Deliberate Coaching: A Toolbox for
Accelerating Teacher Performance. He is also an author of the best selling book
Behavioral Karma.
 BEHAVIORAL KARMA

Using the 5 Laws to

Navigate Crisis
For many, a crisis may be an insurmountable challenge that results in a failed
business as countless individuals and organizations tend to engage in habits that
allow for the sustainability of a "comfort zone," which may be in conflict with
organizational success and survival. While we all seek balance, the comfort zone is
often contradictory to the optimal performance zone desired where individuals and
organizations are able to realize their greatest potential. However, those equipped
with the 5 Laws rooted in Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) are far more
prepared to adapt and systematically navigate crises. In fact, "crisis equals
opportunity" can ring true as those with the 5 Laws toolbox can pivot and leverage
the occasion to improve performance and business outcomes.

This discussion will focus on applying Organizational Behavior Management through

the 5 Laws during crisis to effectively adapt to chaotic conditions, promote
psychological safety, and promote value based agile responding aligned with an
organizations Vision, Mission, and Goals.

Buy Quick Wins

Buy Behavioral Karma

MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D.

Executive Director

Dr. Gerhardt has more than 30 years experience utilizing the principles of Applied
Behavior Analysis in support of individuals with autism spectrum disorders in
educational, employment, residential and community-based settings. Dr. Gerhardt is
the author or the coauthor of many articles and book chapters on the needs of
adolescents and adults with ASDs and has presented nationally and internationally on
this topic.

Dr. Gerhardt is the founding chair of the Scientific Council for the Organization for
Autism Research (OAR) and currently sits on numerous professional advisory boards
including Behavior Analysis in Practice, the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies,
the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, and the Autism Society of America.
He received his doctorate from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey,
Graduate School of Education.
 ADULTS
Applied Behavioral
Analysis for Adults with
Autism
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has a long history of both research and practice in
the effective intervention in support of individuals with autism. But the
effectiveness alone is, apparently, insufficient to develop the skills and abilities
necessary for a positive and enjoyable adult quality of life. Among the possible
explanations are the reliance on: 1) instruction provided outside the natural context
of the instructional target; 2) a set of professional contingencies that negatively
reinforce our behavior contingent on the absence of challenging behavior rather than
contingencies were we are positively reinforced for relevant skill acquisition; 3) an
overly simplistic interpretation of social validity and its central importance to
determining how, and what, we teach, and; 4) an tendency to view persons with
autism as a collection of behaviors in need of change rather than a whole person
who may, in fact, not need or want to be changed. This presentation will provide a
more detailed discussion of these, and other, challenges behavior analysts must
overcome if our current repertoire of effective intervention is to result in behavior
change that improves the quality of life of adults with autism.
MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Dr. Antonio Harrison, BCBA-D

Behavior Scientist
Motivational Speaker
Wellness Coach
Educator

Dr. Antonio Harrison has over a decade of public speaking experience for national
and international conferences. Affectionately known as “Coach Doc,” he strives
to help others actualize their greatness.

He is a published author in both scientific peer-reviewed journals and mainstream

periodicals, including currently working on a children’s book. He works with
individuals, teams, and organizations on self-discipline, leadership, ABA therapy,
diversity & inclusion, parent training, and fitness.

Dr. Harrison is a professor of Behavioral Analysis at the University of West

Florida, and also teaches at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of
Education and Psychology.
MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Mary Ann Kristiansen

Executive Director

Mary Ann Kristiansen was born and raised in Minnesota. She received a Bachelor’s
Degree in Communications from Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. After
college, she moved to New York and worked for J. Walter Thompson Advertising
and Merrill Lynch. While she was there, she earned her Master’s Degree in Public
Administration from New York University.
She moved to New Hampshire in 1991 and bought Buckminster Farm in Roxbury.
She started a home-based soap making business in 1991 and also gardens and
raises sheep and chickens at her farm. Through her soap making, gardening, and
farming contacts, she began to realize that there was a shortage of markets for
locally-made products from small-scale businesses, while at the same time, there
was a shortage of skills on the part of local producers to enter and succeed in
those markets.

She started the Hannah Grimes Marketplace in 1997 to create a thriving

marketplace for local products and to help the people who make those products
build sustainable and successful businesses and added the Hannah Grimes Center
for Entrepreneurship in 2006 to support the successful start up and growth of
local small businesses.

At TEDxFargo in 2018, Mary Ann spoke about how ideas shape people and give
them the skills needed to get the work done – they shape us and we shape them.
She talks about how vital new ideas are for our communities and encourages the
audience to allow themselves to be “possessed by an idea”.
MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Beth Deragon, J.D.

of Counsel

Beth A. Deragon focuses her practice on counseling and training businesses on

sound employment practices, and defending businesses in employment litigation
before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. Her areas of
concentration reach across all aspects of the employer/employee relationship and
include anti-discrimination training, employment contracts (non-competition,
non-solicitation, and independent contractor agreements), wage and hour
compliance, severance/separation agreements, investigations, employee
handbooks, employee leave issues (FMLA, Worker’s Compensation, Short-Term
and Long-Term Disability) and recruitment through termination and layoffs.
Beth’s employment work extends to individuals seeking advice regarding the
enforcement of restrictive covenants and review of severance agreements.

Beth represents employers when working with state agencies, including the New
Hampshire Commission for Human Rights, New Hampshire Department of Labor,
New Hampshire Department of Employment Security, the Massachusetts
Department of Unemployment Assistance, and the Massachusetts Commission
Against Discrimination. She has extensive experience working with clients
operating in multiple jurisdictions, helping them craft global policies that comply
with employment laws of those jurisdictions and localities. Additionally, she has
conducted numerous internal investigations for private employers into allegations
of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.
MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Karen M. Lascelle, CPA, CVA, CFE

Senior Manager

Karen has been working in public accounting for over 20 years and is very happy
to be back practicing in the Concord area. Having worked extensively with
businesses and individuals in commercial services and tax compliance, Karen is a
business valuation expert specializing in the valuation of closely held businesses
for a variety of purposes including succession planning, gift and estate taxation,
buy-sell agreements, mergers & acquisitions, marital dissolutions, shareholder
disputes, subchapter S elections, purchase price allocations and bank
relationships with SBA loan funding. She works closely with small businesses on
tax compliance, financial statement and business consulting matters.

Karen enjoys conducting seminars to educate people on business valuations,

forensic investigations and tax compliance. Karen participates actively in several
boards and professional organizations, including
Treasurer, New Hampshire Society of CPAs (NHSCPA)Chair, Ethics Oversight
Board, National Association of Certified Valuators & Analysts (NACVA)
Immediate Past-President and Board Member, Rotary Club of Nashua West
Board Member, Greater Nashua Mental Health
Adjunct Professor, Southern New Hampshire University & University of
Phoenix
2014 - 40 Under Forty Award from the NACVA and Consultants’ Training
Institute

When Karen is not working, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, and
kickboxing.
MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Byron Wine Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA

Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Byron Wine worked in early intervention and taught English as a Foreign
Language to adults while in graduate school. He then served as a behavior
analyst , and later a senior behavior analyst, in a residential setting for adults
with disabilities. Since 2013, he has worked as an assistant professor at the
Florida Institute of Technology. Byron joined Faison in January 2016 as a senior
behavior analyst and continues to function as the Virginia site director for the
Florida Institute of Technology.

Byron finds The Faison Center to be a unique setting made up of dedicated

professionals that work tirelessly to provide the best outcomes for the
individuals they serve. Byron is proud to contribute to the goal of providing the
highest quality evidence-based treatment for individuals in need.

Byron received his doctorate in Educational Psychology from Temple University,

and completed both his master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, and
bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology. He is a
Virginia-licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and has published over 20
research articles and book chapters on behavior analysis.
VENDORS
Invited vendors include CentralReach, Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, KUDOS,
Total ABA, Autism Curriculum Encylopedia. More information to come!