Meet the Nona ABA Team
Board Certified Behavior Analysts
Lianne Hurtado, MS, BCBA
Owner
Lianne has lived in the Lake Nona area since 1996. She is married to her wonderful husband Ryan and they have 3 children together: Rylan (8), Layla (4) and Alayna (0).She received her Bachelors of Science in Biology from the University of Central Florida in 2010. She started working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in 2012. In 2015, Lianne graduated from the Florida Institute of Technology with her Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis. She has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since August of 2015.
Since Lianne has seen the Lake Nona area grow, she recognizes the lack of resources for families with children with special needs. Therefore, this led to the creation of Nona ABA to deliver ABA therapy to the families in the Lake Nona and nearby communities.
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Katia White, MS, BCBA
Katia embarked on her ABA journey in 2017 and quickly discovered her passion for the field. She went on to earn a Master’s in Exceptional Student Education from the University of West Florida, becoming a BCBA in 2019. Katia has gained diverse experience working in schools, in-home settings, and ABA centers, helping individuals ranging from ages 2 to 20.Katia finds joy in celebrating both the little and big victories with the families she supports. She is passionate about taking a progressive approach to ABA, focusing on learning through empowerment and bringing joy.Outside of work, Katia loves spending time with her husband and son and indulging in shopping trips with an iced coffee in hand.
Samantha Bradshaw (McNamara), MA, BCBA
My name is Sam and I grew up in New England. I have a blended family with 5 siblings, all brothers! I am the second oldest and have always felt motivated to be a model for my younger siblings to look up to. I am a huge fan of all New England sports, I love going back to visit family and go to sports games. I love to travel when I can and am always planning trips. I have been to Dublin, Paris, Florence, London, Amsterdam, Berlin and most recently Cartagena, Colombia! My journey in ABA started in 2017 when I was attending Florida State University. My client demonstrated so much growth and the support and connections built with the family and teachers made being an RBT not feel like a job or work, that's when I knew this was the career for me! After graduating I moved to Orlando and taught Special Ed while getting my masters in Special Education/ABA as well as getting my professional teacher certificate.
Danielle Wethered, BCBA
Danielle started her career in ABA in 2018 working as an RBT while completing her Masters in Psychology with a Specialization in ABA from Capella University. She earned her board certification in 2021 and has provided various school-based, center-based, and in-home services for individuals ages 3-22. She prides herself on taking a compassionate and resourceful approach to services and building trusting relationships with families to ensure meaningful, lasting behavior change.
Danielle is making the move from Connecticut to Florida with her two daughters, and is looking forward to the year-round warm weather, spending more time outdoors and visiting their favorite places like the beautiful beaches and Universal!
Layla Elmorabit, BCBA
My name is Layla. I grew up in south Florida but moved to Orlando for college (go knights!). I graduated with a bachelors in psychology & then went on to study Applied Behavior Analysis, earning my masters degree to become a BCBA. I love helping families learn to support & understand their child, build connection, & foster communication skills. I am passionate about learning through joy & I take a collaborative approach working with your child’s school team, medical providers, & other therapies. When I’m not working I enjoy being outside in nature, spending time with my loved ones, plant shopping, or hitting the gym.
Registered Behavior Technicians
Irene Bultron
My name is Irene Bultrón. I grew up in Puerto Rico and I recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Central Florida “UCF”. I am now starting my master’s in Mental Health Counseling at Nova Southeastern University “NSU”. I am proficient in four languages: Spanish, English, American Sign Language, and Portuguese. My hobbies include working out and reading.My passion for psychology led me to (ABA). This interest was further fueled by my experience as a research grant writer for a nonprofit organization called Love Serving Autism, as well as my time as a substitute teacher for Osceola County. These roles allowed me to help students and faculty staff, and I discovered my passion for making a positive impact on individuals who are neurodivergent.
Vania Calcano
Hi my name is Vania! I have been an RBT since 2021 and have been loving it ever since. I graduated from the University of Central Florida in the spring of 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychology. I like to spend my free time exploring new coffee shops, and small businesses in the Orlando area. I’m in grad school for a Masters in ABA and Special Education, hoping to become a BCBA in the near future. I am so happy to be a part of this team!
Camryn Balbi
Hi, my name is Camryn Balbi and I am working on becoming an RBT! I was born and raised in Philadelphia and moved to Orlando about a year ago with my family. I graduated from Temple University with my Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health last year. What led me to ABA therapy was I originally wanted to get into autism research but my love for working hands on with children and seeing their progress inspired me to get into this field! I love trying new restaurants, baking, and watching true crime documentaries. I am excited to be apart of the team!
Sarah Velez
I grew up in Orlando and also lived several years in Colombia during my childhood. I attended the university of Central Florida and majored in biomedical sciences with a minor in psychology. I love nature and being outside, so anything that pulls me to the outdoors is something I can enjoy. I had previously worked with children with cerebral palsy. I really enjoyed working with the kids and playing a part on the lasting impact therapy had on their motor and cognitive skills. I learned about ABA and was really fascinated about how it uses scientifically based methods and how impactful the work can be to the individuals receiving treatment and their families.
Na'Jae Berkeley
Hey! I’m Na’Jae. I grew up in Denver, Colorado, and I’m the oldest of four sisters. I’ve always loved being around kids—babysitting growing up and working in elementary schools since 2020. I recently graduated with my degree in Elementary Education and then got certified as an RBT. I’m excited to use what I’ve learned to help all kinds of learners succeed. When I’m not working, I love hanging out with my family and checking out new restaurants. I’m super excited to be moving to Florida and starting this new chapter with Nona ABA!
Jaylah Ivy
Hi everyone! My name is Jaylah Ivy and I am currently a Registered Behavior Technician at Nona ABA. I grew up in Sunrise, Florida, which is a nice little suburbia near Fort Lauderdale. I recently graduated from the University of Florida in the spring of 2024 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science. I am now currently pursuing my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at UCF; as a former gator it only breaks my heart a tiny bit to say ‘go knights!’ Although I have always been interested in behavior, it was only once I understood the positive impact of applied behavioral analysis that I decided to join the world of ABA. I, personally, am very passionate about children’s mental health and a strong advocate for early intervention based treatment. What I enjoy about working in the field of ABA is that it allows me to channel this passion in a way that is extremely rewarding. There’s nothing more fulfilling than helping clients become the best version of themselves with respect to their unique individual capabilities and culture. I’ve been working as an RBT for almost two years and have worked with clients ranging from three years old to ten years old. I’ve worked with clients in-home, in-school, and in-clinic. I hope to use my experience in the field of ABA to better my ability to work with children as a licensed mental health counselor.
Emman Ameen
Hi, my name is Emman, and I’m currently an RBT working toward becoming a BCBA. I've always loved working with kids, so finding my way into ABA felt like a perfect fit. Before this, I worked as a Neurology medical assistant, so I've always enjoyed being in roles where I can help others and keep learning. I'm originally from Orlando, Florida, but I spent three years living in Atlanta, Georgia, which was a fun change of pace! When I'm not working, you'll probably find me spending time with my family, trying to convince my friends to join some kind of team activity, staying active, or finding any excuse to be outside. I'm also a huge movie lover so I'm always down for a good movie recommendation or binging a series. I'm excited to continue learning, and growing in the field!
Jada Rivera
Hello! I'm Jada, and I have 2 years of experience working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis as a Registered Behavior Technician. I am currently a student at Rasmussen University. My interest in ABA was sparked at a young age by a family member who is a BCBA, and seeing her work is what ultimately led me to pursue this path. Working with children and seeing their progress is what I love most about the field, and I am so passionate about supporting my clients every single day!
Paola Lopez
Hello! My name is Paola. My family is from Venezuela but I have grown up in the south Orlando and Lake Nona area all my life. I am a student at Valencia college working towards my degree in Elementary Education. Seeing the progress young children make through the dedication and support of RBTs has opened my eyes to the incredible impact that one-on-one intervention can have on a child’s life. Watching children develop new skills, gain confidence, and achieve milestones they once struggled with has inspired me to pursue this path. I look forward to continuing to learn, grow, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of the children and families I have the privilege of working with.
Amanda Cooper
Hi! My name is Amanda! I grew up in Texas, but have lived in various other states as an adult. I completed my undergraduate degree at Rider University where I played division 1 softball. I have always been a number one supporter of keeping open arms in our communities and bringing people together. I created a program in high school to integrate our special education peers into our lunches, football games and social events because I realized they were never given the opportunities to be a part of their own community. I have since then been involved in Special Olympics and other various integration events. I have been an RBT for a year and a half, and have loved every minute of it. I am pursuing the path to becoming a BCBA. We all deserve the opportunity to be a part of our own communities.
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