Staff

Executive Director, QuestKids

Eb Blakely, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Dr. Eb Blakely received a Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialty in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan in 1988 and has co-authored 24 articles and one book. He has worked in the fields of developmental disabilities, mental health, behavioral pharmacology, experimental analysis of behavior, organizational behavior management, and database design.

In addition to his role as the senior behavior analyst at Quest, Inc., Dr. Blakely provides consultation to other agencies and is an assistant professor at the Florida Institute of Technology in the Applied Behavior Analysis program.

Director, QuestKids and QuestKids Academy

Ansley Hodges, M.S., BCBA

Ansley Hodges received a dual Bachelor of Arts in Deaf Education and Elementary Education from Flagler College, a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) in 2005, and full certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2005. Her research and clinical interests include social skills, verbal behavior, functional analysis of problem behavior, and parent training.

Fluent in American Sign Language, Ansley has worked as a deaf education teacher at both the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind and at the National Deaf Academy. She was also previously employed as an instructor in the certification program for Applied Behavior Analysis offered by ABA Technologies and FIT. In addition to her position as director of QuestKids, Ansley provides consultation to the autism unit at the National Deaf Academy.

Lead Behavior Analysts, QuestKids

Carlos Zuluaga, M.S., BCBA

Carlos Zuluaga received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree at the University of Central Florida in 2005 and a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2007. He has been with QuestKids since 2005 and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2007. Carlos is currently involved in various research projects that focus on behavioral momentum, verbal behavior, and functional analysis of behaviors for reduction. He is fluent in Spanish.

Sheldon Ebbeler, M.A., BCBA

Sheldon Ebbeler received a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Central Florida in 2003 and a Master of Arts in Linguistics from the University of Florida in 2005. Sheldon has more than eight years of experience working with children, adolescents and adults facing various learning and behavioral challenges. He joined the QuestKids team in 2005 and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2006. His research interest is verbal behavior among children in both the typical and atypical populations.

Nona Melvin, M.S., BCBA

Lead Behavior Analyst Nona Melvin received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Central Florida in 2002 and a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2005, when she also became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She was with QuestKids from 2002 to 2005, returning in 2008 after several years as an independent analyst providing services in-home and as a school consultant.

Lead Behavior Analyst, QuestKids Academy

Noel Boutin, BCaBA

Noel Boutin received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Flagler College in 1999. She went on to receive her certification as a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst in 2001 and has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for the past eight years. Noel was previously employed as a primary therapist and trainer at the Jericho School for Children with Autism. Fluent in Spanish, she has also worked abroad as a behavior analyst in addition to providing in-home therapy and school consultation. Her research and clinical interests include verbal behavior and autism.

Certified Elementary Education Teacher

Anna Leavitt

Anna Leavitt received a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Florida in 2004 and a State of Florida Teacher Certification from Florida Southern College. She is currently working to become a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst through the Florida Institute of Technology. Anna has taught children with disabilities, predominantly those with autism and Down syndrome, in a classroom setting for the past five years. She has a strong background in American Sign Language.

Primary Behavior Analysts

Joy Rickards, BCaBA

Joy Rickards received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Florida State University in 2004. As a student, she assisted with school-based research to increase academic and social skills while decreasing problem behaviors. She joined QuestKids as a therapist in 2006 and became a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst in 2007. Prior to QuestKids, Joy worked with underprivileged women by assisting them with developing life skills and gaining employment and housing opportunities.

Ellen Mayer, MBA, BCaBA

Ellen Mayer received a Bachelor of Arts from The George Washington University and a Masters of Business Administration from New York University, while working in the fields of journalism and marketing. She received her ABA training as a QuestKids intern in 2005 and became a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst in 2007.

Consulting Speech Pathologist

Reva Fedigan, M.A., CCC-SLP

For the past 12 years, Reva Fedigan has provided behavioral speech and language therapy to children with autism and other developmental disabilities. She received B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Central Florida in communicative disorders and has worked in a school system and at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children. Working closely with behavior analysts, Reva has provided services at QuestKids since 2001.

Consulting Occupational Therapist

Amy McGinnis, M.S., OTR/L, BCBA

Amy McGinnis is an occupational therapist specializing in a behavior analytic approach. Providing direct ABA services since 1998, she has received extensive training and experience in implementing evidence-based procedures to teach motor, language, play, socialization, and self-care skills. She holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy and Applied Behavior Analysis.