CEO, Executive Clinical Director, Case Supervisor, Parent Consultant

Gabriella Nelson, an accomplished Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with seven years of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Passionate about her career, Gabriella has ventured into establishing her own ABA practice, driven by her commitment to delivering top-quality care to individuals and families in need. With a focus on supporting individuals with autism and other developmental disorders, Gabriella tailors her interventions based on the principles of ABA, ensuring personalized care for each client.

At the core of Gabriella's practice is the belief in creating a nurturing and supportive environment for optimal growth and progress. Additionally, Gabriella takes on the crucial role of training Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) and emphasizes parent training, recognizing the pivotal role parents play in their child's development.

For those seeking a dedicated and experienced BCBA, Gabriella stands out as a professional who possesses expertise and radiates warmth and genuine care.

Chief Financial Officer

Connor Nelson, a Certified Public Accountant, is the Chief Financial Officer at Lively Behavioral Solutions actively contributing to business operations and providing consulting services to fellow ABA business owners. Connor's primary role is insurance credentialing, billing, scheduling, intake processes, and budget/forecasting. Graduating Summa Cum Laude from Wright State University with a degree in Accounting, Connor brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role.

Before joining Lively, Connor dedicated six years to the Air Force as an Intelligence Analyst. His professional journey continued at Baker Tilly, a top ten accounting firm, where he initiated his accounting career post-graduation. Following that, he enriched his skill set by working in financial reporting at Vail Resorts, a public company.

Though his work Connor helps our amazing therapists focus on providing excellent care to the children without having to worry about administrative tasks.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Connor finds joy in traveling, rock climbing, and snowboarding during his leisure time.

Senior BCBA - South County

Natalie Mcilwee has shown dedication and growth in her career within the ABA field. In 2015, she stepped into the field as an RBT and progressed to become a BCBA in 2020. She is committed and passionate about providing effective and personalized ABA services. Natalie's deep empathy and care for her clients and their families are apparent, as she derives joy from helping them succeed in various aspects of their lives.

Outside of work, Natalie prioritizes a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Engaging in activities like exercising, camping, and exploring the world reflects her adventurous spirit and dedication to personal well-being. This balanced approach not only enhances Natalie's own happiness but also enriches her ability to bring positivity and enthusiasm to her work with clients every day.

Senior BCBA - North County

Sarah Rodriguez has been in the ABA field since 2017. She earned her Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Pepperdine University and has been providing ABA services to children and families across Orange County since 2020.

Sarah’s passion for supporting children and families with empathy and compassion is deeply rooted in her experience as the sister of a brother with developmental delays. She is committed to celebrating each child’s unique strengths and special interests while thoughtfully applying the evidence-based principles of ABA to foster meaningful and lasting growth. Sarah prioritizes a play-based approach, creating an engaging and supportive environment where children feel safe, motivated, and empowered to thrive.

Sarah is dedicated to building positive relationships and tailoring interventions to meet each child’s individual needs and goals. She values collaboration with families, educators, and other service providers, believing that a holistic, team-oriented approach is key to achieving the best outcomes for her clients.

Outside of work, you can find Sarah enjoying a good book, golfing, going for walks, or spending time at the dog beach with her pup. 

BCBA - North County

Esther is a dedicated BCBA and plays a pivotal role in implementing behavioral treatment strategies, conducting data collection, supporting Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), providing parent training, and overseeing client programs. Her passion for helping others is matched by her compassion and commitment to ensuring a positive and enjoyable work environment.

Outside of work, Esther finds joy in music, dancing, watching movies, playing computer games, trying new things, and exploring new coffee shops.

BCBA - South County

Sierra is a dedicated BCBA and has been in the field since 2018. She has worked with individuals with ASD and Down syndrome ages 2-20 years old. Sierra loves teaching her kiddos and seeing the world through their eyes. It brings her immense gratitude knowing she is impacting the lives of many children who will grow up to be amazing adults. Sierra loves watching her kiddos reach great milestones and getting to share the progress and success stories with their families.

Outside of her work, Sierra enjoys cooking, baking, being in nature, and spending time with her husband.

Mid Tier Supervisor

Allison Dorman, a Registered Behavior Technician at Lively Behavioral Solutions, has a role that requires her to provide exceptional services to children and their families all over Orange County. Being considerate, kind, and understanding toward clients and their homes is one of her responsibilities and a strong value that Allison strives to display during each session.

With a high school diploma and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University of Fullerton as of Spring 2024, Allison is equipped with the knowledge and skills to work with children and their families to meet their needs and desires. Allison plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Special Education — Applied Behavioral Analysis at Arizona State University with the goal of becoming a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst.

Allison finds joy and contentment through her role as an RBT every day. Seeing her clients grow and progress with each session excites her to go to work every day.

Allison enjoys listening to music, attending concerts, trying new coffee shops, and spending time with her friends in her free time.

Mid-Tier Supervisor

Krystine Santiago, born and raised in the Los Angeles County, is a passionate and dedicated Registered Behavior Technician at Lively Behavioral Solutions. She works 1:1 with clients building connections, taking data, and implementing ABA strategies to strengthen skills that not only helps the client but the entire family. Her passion for ABA started in high school when she was handpicked by one of her teachers to join a basketball team that included students on the spectrum. Working together on a team with a group of incredible individuals, she saw the difference she was making by boosting their confidence while working on increasing their social skills. She has a bubbly and outgoing personality that allows her to easily connect with her clients.

She graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in child and adolescent studies. Her combined knowledge in psychology and child and adolescent studies allows her to apply what she has learned to understand behaviors, individual and cultural differences, and to promote child well-being in real-world situations across diverse populations. She is currently working towards her master’s degree and BCBA credentials to further immerse herself and grow in the ABA field.

When Krystine is not working or studying, she loves to spend her free time with her family, baking, going to Disneyland, or trying new restaurants!

Mid-Tier Supervisor

Ne’chelle received her B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton, and earned her M.A. in Special Education with a concentration in Behavior Analysis and Autism from San Diego State University. She is currently working toward becoming a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Ne’chelle has been in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2020 and brings over a decade of experience working with children in various capacities, including through Best Buddies International, teaching piano, and child development roles. She is passionate about helping children reach their full potential while promoting autonomy and independence. Ne’chelle believes strongly in a family-centered approach that honors and integrates family values.

Outside of her professional work, Ne’chelle enjoys reading, playing the piano, walking her dogs, and adding to her growing plant collection. She also loves traveling back to New Jersey, where she grew up, to visit family—especially in the fall to watch the leaves change

Registered Behavior Technician

Courtney Calderon, a behavior technician, works at Lively, providing behavior analysis services and practices under the direction and supervision of a BCBA. Courtney’s primary role at Lively is providing 1:1 ABA therapy services to children, assisting them in mastering new skills and achieving their goals through data collecting and collaboration with the supervisor to ensure the quality of services. Courtney has been providing services to children and adults in various settings since 2016, which speaks to her love for this work. Courtney's aspirations are to finish her degree and continue to grow in her professional career in this field.

Courtney's goal is to continue her professional growth with Lively and serve as a BCBA on the team.

Before joining the Lively team, Courtney worked at various ABA companies throughout Orange County, which she calls home. When not working, Courtney enjoys playing tennis, roller skating and relaxing with her cat. A random fact about Courtney is her secret love for the limelight, as a child she had the aspiration to be a beat boxer or singer.

Registered Behavior Technician

Eliana Moore works as a Behavioral Technician at Lively Behavioral Solutions, using her background in psychology and specialized training in ABA techniques to provide specialized care for her clients. Eliana collaborates closely with other therapists and supervisors to implement individualized treatment plans, and is committed to finding what works for each child.

Eliana is currently working to earn a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Performance at Chapman University, as well as a minor degree in Psychology. At Chapman, Eliana serves as the Co-President for “Cross the Line”, a student created theatre for social change group.

When Eliana began her career in ABA, she discovered her passion for helping her clients not only “get through” life, but enjoy it, and live lively! Eliana is dedicated to the ongoing learning component of ABA, which she believes is crucial in the field; she is committed to staying up to date on the latest research, and best practices being discovered.

In her free time, Eliana loves hiking with her friends and family, and is always on the lookout for new trails to try!

Registered Behavior Technician

Nolan Soto is excited to overcome any challenge given to him as a Behavior Technician at Lively Behavioral Solutions. His inspiration to join the profession stemmed from his bond with his two cousins with autism. Through these personal experiences, Nolan has gained an understanding of the unique needs and challenges that people with autism have. He is also not afraid to jump for hours and definitely enjoys the exercise.

As Nolan works towards his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at the University of California, Irvine, he is enthusiastic about furthering his understanding of behavior analysis and expanding his skills in helping those with autism. His academic pursuits are not just a means to an end but help with continuous growth and his desire to help people.

Outside of work and studies, Nolan finds joy in hanging out with friends, whether it's playing beach volleyball, having weightlifting sessions, or simply critiquing the latest music albums with them.

With dedication to continuous growth, Nolan is excited to continue his journey of empowering children with autism and their families at Lively Behavioral Solutions.

Behavior Technician

At Lively, Anna is dedicated to helping work 1:1 with kids, collaborating with Mid-Tier and BCBA to follow treatment plans, working with parents, collecting data, and implementing treatment goals utilizing ABA strategies. Anna combines fresh creativity with solutions. Her goal is to empower clients to reach their full potential. Anna is a Pilates Instructor and aspires to achieve her Master’s degree for her professional career.

Outside of work, Anna prioritizes exercise and a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle. She enjoys hiking, flag football, and volleyball.

Behavior Technician

Dana Yan, a behavioral technician at Lively Behavioral Solutions, uses her background in Psychological Sciences to provide individualized service and care for her clients. As she collaborates with families, peers, and supervisors to cultivate personal goals, she also encourages positive growth and development using ABA therapy for each client.

She has a background working with younger kids as a teacher's assistant in dance studios; when she discovered ABA, she became greatly interested in how she could help her clients and make an impact by watching them reach their goals.

Dana is currently working to earn a Bachelor of Arts in both Psychological Sciences and Dance at University of California, Irvine, and wishes to pursue a PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology in the future.

Outside work, she enjoys dancing, working out, trying new food, and spending time with friends.

Behavior Technician

Hi! My name is Lorraine, and I’m a behavioral therapist. I started working at Lively at the beginning of August 2024, and it has been such an honor to work with such an amazing company! I’m also working part-time as a preschool teacher, and I’ve been working with little ones ages 6 weeks to 7 years old since April 2021! I’m passionate about working with, shaping, and supporting young minds. I utilize my skills from working in the classroom when doing 1:1 sessions with my clients. I love making sessions as fun as possible and efficiently targeting goals. 

A little bit about myself is that I’ve lived in the Orange County area most of my life and attended Orange Coast College. I plan on going back to school to pursue my passion for working with young children and working in special education. I enjoy going on walks, hanging with friends, thrifting, and relaxing at home with my cats during my free time!

Behavior Technician

Nina was born in Japan and spent the first 14 years of her life in Hong Kong, raised by her British father and Japanese mother. This multicultural upbringing gave her a global perspective from an early age. At 14, she moved to San Diego, where she still resides today.

Nina has been passionate about working with children with special needs since high school. She co-founded an inclusive cheerleading team alongside her school’s Adaptive P.E. teacher, creating opportunities for students in the special education program to participate in school activities. This initiative earned her a local chamber of commerce award and helped solidify her passion for inclusive education and behavioral support.

Nina is driven by the joy of helping children discover their strengths and celebrate small victories that lead to big change. Her natural empathy and enthusiasm help her build strong, supportive relationships with the clients and families she works with.

Currently, Nina is a Behavioral Technician at Lively, where she’s excited to continue to grow—gaining hands-on experience and learning from her supervisors at Lively. She is also pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences at Cal State San Marcos, with a primary focus in psychology and secondary focuses in sociology and communications. In the future, she hopes to pursue a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis and become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Outside of work and academics, Nina is actively involved in her campus sorority, enjoys spending time with friends, cooking with her mom, and singing. Fun fact! Nina is bilingual and can speak Japanese fluently!

Behavior Technician

Leticia is very passionate about ABA and continues to blossom in the field for the betterment of the clients she works with. She is graduating in June of 2025 with her BA in Criminology, Law, & Society and a Minor in Public Health Science. She has been working with children since 2020 and hopes to continue bringing “Lively” sessions to her clients.

Behavior Technician

I am an undergraduate student at the University of California, Irvine, pursuing a double major in Psychology and Criminology, Law & Society. Originally from the Coachella Valley, I take pride in representing my Latino background. My passion for mental health and child development has inspired me to pursue a Psy.D in Clinical Psychology, with the goal of working with children in the future.

My experiences as an older sister to three younger siblings and my time babysitting have strengthened my ability to care for and connect with children, reinforcing my commitment to their well-being. Outside of academics and work, I enjoy dancing and singing as creative outlets. I believe in the power of community and advocacy, and I strive to make a meaningful impact through my studies and future career.

Behavioral Technician

Behavioral Technician

I am a dedicated and compassionate behavioral technician committed to providing lively, professional care to each of my clients. My goal is to support their growth while ensuring they feel comfortable and happy.

Currently, I am a student at Biola University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the goal of becoming a registered nurse. I aspire to specialize in pediatrics or mother and baby care.

Beyond my studies and work, I have a background in youth ministry and church programs, which has deepened my passion for serving others.

In my free time, I enjoy playing volleyball, practicing yoga, and sharing great food with friends and family.

I am an undergraduate student at the University of California, Irvine, studying Public Health Sciences with a minor in Health Informatics. Growing up, and as I learn more about the Public Health field, I have become passionate about uplifting others, especially younger generations.

 I’ve had the opportunity to work with children of a range of ages, from infants to those in late elementary school. Having a brother with processing and learning disorders, and with my work as a leader in my church's youth services and a babysitter, I have been able to cultivate meaningful skills. These experiences have shaped me to be emotionally intelligent and adapt to unique situations. In my role as a Behavioral Technician, my goal is to create a supportive and productive environment! 

In my free time, I love hanging out with friends, hiking, going to the beach and making art!

At Lively, Brielle works as an RBA providing 1:1 ABA therapy to children, using behavior analysis techniques to help clients grow and supporting them in reaching their fullest potential. Though new to the field, Brielle approaches every session with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to help others.

Currently, Brielle is a student at UC Irvine, majoring in Film and Media Studies while also pursuing a double major in Psychological Sciences. She hopes to one day blend her love for psychology and storytelling into films that shine a positive and informative light on the intricacies of the human mind.

Originally from Arizona, Brielle moved to California to be closer to family and embrace new opportunities. Outside of work and school, she enjoys analyzing movies, attending concerts, reading, and exploring new crafts. Brielle is driven by a deep love for helping people achieve their goals and is excited to learn and grow alongside the children and families she serves. She is committed to making a meaningful difference and ensuring that every day is a “lively” day!

Vi Trinh, a Behavior Technician, is delighted to be a member of the Lively team. Vi is currently a student at the University of California, Irvine, pursuing two Bachelor's degrees in Psychological Science and Public Health Policy. Beyond her work at Lively Behavioral Solutions, Vi serves as a Research Assistant in the Behavior, Emotions, Affective, and Neuroscience Research Lab as well as the Outreach Chair for the Psychology Student Association. These roles have enabled Vi to further hone her skills—especially when it comes to implementing protocols, collecting data, and collaborating with others. As an individual who understands the importance of community, having been raised in Stockton, CA, Vi consistently prioritizes her duty to serve others. In the future, Vi wishes to pursue a career as a researcher, dedicating herself to the advancement of science and worldly development.

Vi values spending quality time with her family and friends. She especially enjoys traveling, visiting new places, and trying new foods in her free time.

Using behavioral analysis techniques, Vi looks forward to giving her all to the children and families whom she serves—allowing them to embark on their “lively” journeys.

Iluna Angela Dano earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton in December 2024 and holds certifications in BLS, CPR, and First Aid. She has gained professional experience as a Behavioral Therapist. Iluna has supported children in developing communication, social, and daily living skills through applied behavior analysis (ABA), while collaborating with families, BCBAs, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure consistent, individualized interventions. These experiences have strengthened her expertise in data collection, therapeutic communication, and evidence-based behavioral strategies.

Passionate about making a difference, Iluna aspires to pursue board certification and continue advancing her career in behavioral health by designing and implementing interventions that promote independence and growth. She finds joy in celebrating the small and big milestones of her clients, believing that meaningful progress can transform lives. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys staying active, spending time with family, and exploring creative outlets. Bilingual in English and Tagalog, she values building connections with diverse families and thrives on making a positive impact in her community.