Welcome to the ohio ASSOCIation for BehAVIOR ANALYSIS

Ohio Association for Behavior Analysis

General Board Service Roles and Responsibilities

Term: Terms vary in length based on the position. Elected positions are 2 years in length. Appointed positions have no expiration.

Estimated Time Commitment:  Times vary in duration based on the position.  Approximately 5-10 hours per month, but possibly up to 20 hours per month immediately prior to and following the annual conference.

1. Participate in Board meetings as scheduled in person.
2. Participate in one committee and attend committee meetings as scheduled.
3. Fulfilling specific responsibilities of board member position.
4. Fulfilling specific responsibilities of committee chairperson position.
5. Attend the annual conference as well as conference events where Board member presence is particularly important, such as the Awards Ceremony, Luncheon, and VIP Reception.

General Overview: 

To advise, govern, oversee policy and direction, and assist with the leadership and general promotion of OHABA so as to support the organization’s mission and needs.

Mission: 

The purpose of OHABA is to promote the science and theory of Behavior Analysis through the support of research, education and practice.

Major Board Member Responsibilities:

1. Organizational leadership and advisement
2. Promotion of the organization
3. Community outreach
4. Oversight of the OHABA conference planning and evaluation
5. Formulation and oversight of policies and procedures
6. Financial management, including adoption and oversight of the annual budget

Expectations of Board Members:

1. Attend and participate in Board meetings in person.
2. Attend and participate in special events.
3. Participate on a standing committee of the board, and serve on ad-hoc committees as necessary.
4. Attend quarterly Board Member meetings.
5. Monitor and manage email no less than on a weekly basis.
6. Be alert to community concerns that can be addressed by OHABA’s mission and objectives.
7. Help communicate and promote OHABA’s mission and annual conference to the community.
8. Become familiar with OHABA’s finances, budget, and financial/resource needs.
9. Understand and comply with the policies and procedures of OHABA, including the confidentiality and conflict of interest policies.
10. In general, utilize personal and professional skills, relationships and knowledge for the advancement of OHABA.

Please click on the position for a description.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A NOMINATION FORM

The Current OHABA Board

President

Jennifer Sweeney, Ph.D., BCBA-D, COBA

Jennifer Sweeney is the Founder and CEO of Solutions Behavioral Consulting. She has over 20 years of experience practicing behavior analysis. Using high-quality Applied Behavior Analysis practices and principles, Dr. Sweeney and her staff provide behavioral consultation services for families with children who have Autism spectrum disorder, and/or other behavioral needs. Dr. Sweeney is the President of the Ohio Association for Behavior Analysis and has served on the Board in various roles since 2011.  She completed her doctorate in 2010 in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavioral Analysis and completed her Masters of Arts in Special Education in 2003 at The Ohio State University. Dr. Sweeney is a Board Certification for Behavior Analysis (BCBA), Certified Ohio Behavior Analyst (COBA) and holds licenses in Special Education-: Grades K-12 and Elementary Education: Grades 1-8. 

Past President:  Coming soon

President Elect

Janet Hansen, PhD, BCBA-D, COBA

Janet Hansen is a licensed Psychologist, Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral level and Certified Ohio Behavior Analyst.  She has worked in a variety of mental health settings including community mental health, psychiatric inpatient and pediatric inpatient. She has owned a private practice since 2004, specializing in children and developmental disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorders. She provides diagnostic assessments, individual and group treatment, consultation to families and schools for a variety of childhood concerns and disorders. She and the BCBA’s in her office provide home, center and school-based interventions based on Applied Behavior Analysis. Dr. Hansen has been an active member of OHABA since 2010, has served on multiple committees, chaired the Membership committee and served on the executive board as Secretary. She is currently serving on the executive board as the President Elect of OHABA. Dr. Hansen is passionate about bringing the science and research of ABA to the practice of ABA as well as pulling from both psychology and behavior analysis to provide a unique blend of evidence-based interventions to clients.

Secretary: 

Bryan Droesch, LPC, BCBA, COBA

Bryan Droesch is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 15 years of experience working in a variety of settings (residential, day programs, and schools) and with individuals of all ages. Bryan has a BA degree in Psychology from The Ohio State University, a MSEd from the University of Dayton in Counselor Education, and completed coursework in behavior analysis at The Ohio State University. Currently, he is the Executive Director of Haugland Learning Centers and a doctoral candidate in Leadership Studies in the College of Professional Sciences at Xavier University. He has been involved with OHABA since 2013. In addition to his current role as secretary, he has also served as President-Elect, President, and Past President. 

Treasurer: 

Nikki Williams, BCBA, COBA 

Nikki (Bordner) Williams is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Certified Ohio Behavior Analyst with over 8 years of experience serving children and adults with Autism and Developmental delays in Ohio. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate in the School Psychology program at The Ohio State University. She is an Instructor at Kent State University, a Clinical Auditor for the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) and a Supervision Facilitator at Solutions Behavioral Consulting. Prior to her current roles, she worked as a Clinical Director in a center-based program for children with Autism in addition to providing in-home services to adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. In those roles, she utilized a variety of assessment tools (e.g., VB-MAPP, ABLLS-R, AFLS, ADOS-2, and Vineland-2). She served as the Professional Standards Chair for The Ohio Association for Behavior Analysis (OHABA) from 2016-2019 and currently serves on the executive board as the Treasurer for OHABA. Nikki is very passionate about working with young educators, ensuring they have a firm foundation in the science of behavior, theoretical, and philosophical concepts. 

Membership Chair

Brittany Buffy, BCBA, COBA

Brittany Duffy is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Certified Ohio Behavior Analyst, and licensed Intervention Specialist. She graduated from The Ohio State University’s Masters program in ABA in 2014 and earned her Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2016. She has been working with children with autism and related developmental disabilities since 2005 in a variety of settings. Currently, she is a behavior consultant and RBT Coordinator under Dr. Janet Hansen. She primarily provides consultation to schools for a variety of concerns and disorders. Her interests include collaborating with other professionals and providing evidence-based services to serve her clients and train other professionals.

Program Co-Chair

Andrew Penmer, BCBA, COBA

Andrew Penmer is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Certified Ohio Behavior Analyst. He is the founder of ABA for Me, which uses the science of behavior and motivation to accelerate learning. He received his Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Special Education at the University of Texas at Austin in 2011. He has worked at agencies as a Clinical Director and in other roles, and developed staff training for a group of State Run Intermediate Care Facilities in Texas. He is serving as Program Co-Chair for The Ohio Association for Behavior Analysis (OHABA) and previously served on the Programming Committee for OHABA. His interests include building a strong network of BCBAs in Ohio, particularly in NE and NW Ohio through events. 

Education Chair: 

Dacia McCoy, PhD, BCBA-D, COBA

Dacia McCoy is an Assistant Professor- Educator at the University of Cincinnati in the graduate level Behavior Analysis Programs and provides supervision to students and professionals in the community pursuing becoming Board Certified Behavior Analysts. Since 2006, Dr. McCoy has experience in the education field in a number of different positions including being an elementary school teacher, middle school special education teacher, school psychologist, Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the doctoral level, a Certified Ohio Behavior Analyst, and consultant. She actively serves as the Education Chair for The Ohio Association for Behavior Analysis (OHABA) and in national organizations related to behavior analysis. She has published and presented research to assist in bridging the gap between evidence-based interventions and their application in practice. She also enjoys collaborating with students, teachers, parents, and administrators to develop effective and efficient interventions to support students both academically and behaviorally.

Professional Standards Chair: 

Janette Long, MA, BCBA, COBA

Janette Long has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis since 2005 and received her Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Ohio State University in 2012. Janette has been a board certified behavior analyst since May 2013. She works at Nationwide Children’s Hospital: Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders currently as a Clinical Supervisor, with duties that include serving as the agency’s ACE Provider, the RBT requirements coordinator, and supervising the Transition-age services in the Behavioral Intervention Program. Janette has previously served on the OHABA board as Program Chair from 2015 to 2017.

Public Policy Chair

Jen Gonda, BCBA, COBA

Jen Gonda is the Associate Director at Proactive Behavior Services, an agency providing ABA in homes, public, and private schools. Jen has over a decade of experience passionately working in various settings with individuals with moderate to intensive disabilities as a teacher and behavior analyst. She received her Bachelor degree in American Education and Inequality from New York University, a Master's degree in Education in Special Education--Autism and Related Disabilities from Youngstown State University, graduate certificate in ABA from Penn State University, and is working on her doctoral dissertation in special education. Her research interests include functional behavior assessment with children in poverty, policies on the use of restraint and seclusion, and least restrictive settings for children with emotional and behavioral disorders. Jen has presented many times at state and regional conferences due to her excitement regarding behavior analysis and the growth of her clients. Jen enjoys non-profit work, she spearheaded a non-profit, developing community programming for children with disabilities, served on the board of the Autism Society of Ohio, and serves on the strategic planning committee for the Ohio Speech and Debate Association. 

Marketing and Technology Co-Chair

Ron DeMusesy, MEd, COBA, BCBA

Ron has worked in the field of special education for over fifteen years. As a certified MH teacher and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, he has worked directly with a variety of special needs populations at all age levels. In addition to supporting students and teachers within the context of the classroom, he has created and presented at local and statewide conferences in the areas of functional assessments, writing behavior plans, positive behavior support planning and establish peer collaboration programs. Ron has served as an Adjunct Instructor for the University of Dayton and Capital University. Ron is also a certified PEERs instructor and has facilitated social skills groups for students on the Autism spectrum.

Marketing and Technology Co-Chair:

Lee Geer, MS, COBA, BCBA

Lee is a behavior analyst for a public school district in central Ohio. He graduated from Southern Illinois University's Masters program in Behavior Analysis and Therapy. He has been working with children with autism and related developmental disabilities since 2001 in a variety of settings. His interests focus on functional analysis, complex behaviors and parent/caregiver training. 

Student Chair: