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.
Olivia Villa, MS, BCBA
I grew up in Michigan, but have spent my adult life in different parts of Florida and Chicago. I got my Masters at Nova Southern University graduating with a dual concentration of Counseling and Applied Behavior Analysis. Outside of work I love to travel the world, go to concerts and festivals, as well as spending time with my dog Bato who is a Xoloitzcuintli. I started working as an RBT in 2018 while I started graduate school to be a counselor. I saw the positive impact and the change I was making with my client and knew the science worked. I have been so fortunate to have been mentored by fantastic BCBAs that have shaped me into the BCBA I am today. I take an approach to ABA while honoring my background in Mental Health Counseling. My goals are to help the individual by identifying their strengths and acquiring new skills to navigate the world. Doing this while also collaborating with the family on goals that will have the biggest positive impact on their day to day lives.
Kendra Smalls, MS, BCBA
Coming soon!
Registered Behavior Technicians
Samantha Bradshaw (McNamara)
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. I am now back in ABA accruing my hours needed to sit for the BCBA exam. I hope to be a BCBA within the next year!
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!
Alexandra Cruz
Hi, my name is Alex! I grew up in New Jersey and spent much of my childhood playing sports, especially softball. I began my college career at Ithaca College in upstate New York, where I played DIII softball and studied Sports Psychology! After two years, I transferred to the University of Central Florida, where I’m currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Neuroscience. After graduation, I am planning on pursuing a Master's in Social Work in hopes of becoming an LCSW!
While working at an after-school program, I was introduced to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and saw firsthand the impact RBTs were making in school settings. That experience inspired me to pursue the field more seriously, and I’m currently working toward my RBT certification. I’m incredibly excited to grow in this field and be part of this amazing team!
Outside of school and work, I still enjoy staying active through workouts, and I also love reading, painting, and swimming!
Jaylah Ivy
Coming Soon!
TBD
Coming Soon!