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FirstSteps for Kids Headquarters at Redondo Beach, California

Our Leadership

Global

Meet the people who, with roughly 215 years of combined ABA and leadership experience, serve all office locations at FirstSteps for Kids in Northern and Southern California!

First Steps for Kids CEO Matt McAlear on a boat with child

Matt McAlear

M.A.,BCBA

Chief Executive Officer

First Steps for Kids Founding Director Jennifer Harris and two children

Jennifer Harris

Ph.D., LMFT, BCBA-D

Founding Director

FirstSteps for Kids COO Anne Swinney and child

Anne Swinney

BSBA

Chief Operations Officer

First Steps for Kids Chief Clinical Officer Courtney Tarbox sitting with child

Courtney Tarbox

M.S., BCBA

Chief Clinical Officer

First Steps for Kids Director of Clinical Operations Jenna Battaglia carrying a child

Jenna Battaglia

M.S., BCBA

Director of Clinical Operations

First Steps for Kids Director of Operations Karyn Lew kneeling with two children

Karyn Lew

Director of Operations

Redondo Beach Director Janine Strack with a child and dog on a beach

Janine Strack

M.S., BCBA

Director of Quality and Risk

First Steps for Kids Director of Research Jonathan Tarbox carrying his son

Jonathan Tarbox

Ph.D., BCBA-D

Director of Research

First Steps for Kids Clinical Advisor Lisa Stoddard holding her child

Lisa Stoddard

M.A.,BCBA

Clinical Advisor

Our team's strength lies in our unity, passion, and unwavering commitment to teach the children we serve. We inspire one another and make every day an opportunity to create lasting change. Together, we have the priviledge of shaping brighter futures, one step at a time.

Anne Swinney, BSBA, COO

Regional

Meet the clinicians who, with roughly 90 years of combined ABA experience, serve and lead our Regional Learning Center locations at FirstSteps for Kids!

Erin Connelly and toddler smiling with a doll

Erin Connelly

M.Ed., BCBA

Redondo Beach

West Los Angeles Director Erica Baron holding an infant

Erica Baron

M.S., BCBA

Region Director, Los Angeles & Alhambra

Jessica Escobar

M.S., BCBA

Covina

Calabasas Director Taira Bermudez and child with their tongues out

Taira Bermudez

Taira Bermudez

M.S., BCBA

Calabasas

Walnut Creek Director Caitlin Holmes and child wearing teenage mutant ninja turtle masks

Caitlin Holmes

M.Ed., BCBA

Walnut Creek

Megan LaVal

Megan LaVal

M.S., BCBA

Culver City

Lauren Turner

Lauren Turner

M.Ed., BCBA

Los Alamitos

Faye Angeles

M.S., BCBA

Downey

FirstSteps For Kids