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Meet the Platinum Therapeutics Team
MS, BCBA, LBA, Owner of Platinum Therapeutics
Teresa Gingras
Teresa Gingras is a remarkable professional who wears multiple hats as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at Platinum Therapeutics and a Mother of 5. With a passion for helping individuals with autism and a unique perspective as a mother of a child with autism, Teresa has dedicated her career to making a positive impact in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
With over 10 years of experience, Teresa has amassed a wealth of knowledge and expertise in providing comprehensive ABA services. She has a deep understanding of behavior analysis principles, conducting assessments, developing behavior intervention plans, and overseeing their implementation. Teresa's leadership skills and business acumen have allowed her to successfully build and grow Platinum Therapeutics into a reputable and trusted provider of ABA services.
Teresa's personal journey as a mother of a child with autism has shaped her approach to therapy and advocacy. This unique perspective fuels her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. She understands the challenges and triumphs faced by both clients and their caregivers, allowing her to empathize and provide the highest level of support.
As a BCBA, Teresa actively seeks opportunities for professional development and remains up-to-date with the latest research and best practices in the field. She continuously expands her knowledge base, integrating innovative techniques and evidence-based interventions into the services provided by Platinum Therapeutics. Teresa's dedication to ongoing learning ensures that her clients receive the most effective and individualized care possible.
Teresa's remarkable leadership skills are evident in her role as a BCBA of Platinum Therapeutics. She fosters a collaborative and supportive environment for her team, promoting growth and professional development. Teresa's strong interpersonal skills and ability to build effective partnerships with families, caregivers, and other professionals are instrumental in creating a comprehensive and cohesive approach to therapy.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Teresa actively contributes to the autism community through her advocacy work. She is passionate about raising awareness, promoting inclusion, and empowering individuals with autism to reach their full potential. Teresa's personal experiences as a mother and a professional drive her to make a lasting impact in the lives of those she serves.
Teresa Gingras is a visionary leader in the field of ABA, driven by her personal experiences and a genuine desire to improve the lives of individuals with autism. Her expertise, compassion, and dedication make her a trusted resource for families and professionals alike. Through Platinum Therapeutics, Teresa continues to make a significant difference, providing top-quality ABA services and advocating for individuals with developmental disabilities.
MA, LBA, BCBA, Clinical Director of Autism Services
Heather Nicolle
Heather is a passionate Board Certified Behavior Analyst with expertise in providing behavior
analytic services to diverse populations across home, community, and school-based settings.
She earned her Masters in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology
and demonstrates a track record of dedication to the dissemination of best practices within
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Heather is committed to improving the lives of individuals on
the autism spectrum and their families.
As the Clinical Director of Autism Services at Platinum Therapeutics, Heather oversees the
development and implementation of comprehensive, evidence-based programs tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual served. She leads a team of highly skilled professionals, including student analysts and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT), in delivering high-quality services that promote independence, social skills, communication, and overall well-being.
In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Heather is actively involved in training and supervision,
providing mentorship to aspiring behavior analysts and other professionals entering the field of autism services. She is committed to fostering a culture of ongoing learning and professional
development within the organization, ensuring that staff members remain abreast of the latest
research findings, best practices in the field, and adhere to anti-ableist principles.
In her spare time, Heather enjoys spending time with her family and two dogs, reading thrillers,
and traveling. She is deeply committed to making a positive difference in the lives of individuals
with autism and is honored to serve as the Clinical Director of Autism Services at
Platinum Therapeutics.
MEd, LBA, BCBA
Samantha McDuffie
Samantha is a dedicated ABA professional that began her journey in 2010 through the autism waiver in-home services program. She then obtained her MEd in special education at the University of Maryland, followed by a post- Masters Certification for ABA at John Hopkins University.
At Platinum Therapeutics, Samantha is dedicated to overseeing her RBTs, clients, and providing families with plenty of resources as their children progress through ABA services.
What Samantha enjoys most as a BCBA is implementing treatment plans and watching the growth in the individual.
When Samantha has downtime, she can be found with a book in hand, going on camping trips with her family, and lounging at the beach/pool.
RBT, Administrative Operations Manager
Jacqueline Smith
Jackie has always loved working with children and has always had a soft spot for neurodivergent kiddos. Once she discovered that there was a career dedicated to helping those children flourish, she was determined to join the ABA field.
Along with being a Registered Behavior Technician, she is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology.
The most reinforcing thing about working in the ABA field to Jackie is that she Ioves to watch the children's progress! Any time she gets to see a child meet a new goal or develop a new skill, it makes her day.
In her free time, Jackie is a plant fanatic! She has had several large flower gardens, vegetable gardens, herbs, and is now working on starting her journey with house plants. In the colder months, Jackie can be found under a warm, fuzzy blanket with a book, tea, and a fire going.
RBT, Student Analyst, Clinical Operations Manager
Samantha Croote
Samantha entered the ABA field in January of 2023. They began as a BT and obtained their RBT certification in December of 2023.
Samantha graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor's of Psychology and is currently working on obtaining a Master's degree with Eastern Kentucky University in Applied Behavior Analysis to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
The most reinforcing part about working in the ABA field to Samantha is seeing the real-time and gradual progress of the kids, seeing them do things they have never done before, communicating with other kids, and learning how to navigate their world more independently.
In their free time, Samantha enjoys playing video games, watching anime and sitcoms, making playlists, baking, and listening to true crime podcasts.
RBT, Student Analyst
Amber Rusko
With a background in Psychology, Amber knew she wanted to find a career path that allowed her to help others. After some searching, she found the field of ABA. Amber has been in the field of ABA since 2020.
What Amber enjoys the most about her role is seeing the day-to-day success of ABA implementation. From a client saying their first words or learning to tie their shoes, the little successes found in sessions are what she enjoys the most!
Outside of work, Amber's guilty pleasures are listening to true crime and mystery podcasts and binge watching 90 Day Fiance. She also loves spending time with her 2-year-old son and exploring nature.
Amber currently holds a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Howard University. She is currently pursuing her Masters in ABA at Florida Institute of Technology.
RBT
Emily Dalrymple
Emily entered into the ABA field in April of 2024. She graduated from Chopticon High School and is excited to continue her career in ABA in the future.
Emily's favorite part about her role as an RBT is watching her clients learn new things and getting to know the kids that she is working with!
In Emily's spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her daughter and other loved ones.
RBT
Syreeta Smith
Syreeta entered the field of ABA because she was looking for a career change that would serve a bigger purpose than herself. Syreeta has a passion to help children no matter the challenges they may face.
Syreeta started in this field in April 2024 and obtained her RBT credential in September of 2024. She has fallen in love with how amazing ABA changes the life of individual children to become independent and the best amazing versions of themselves!
Some of Syreeta's hobbies are spending time with her son, serving the community of Waldorf, and serving the Lord. She also enjoys going to the beach, monster trucks, drag racing, swimming, dancing, and anything that make her son happy.
Syreeta graduated from Friendly High School in 2005. In 2007, she graduated from Sanford Brown with an Associates Degree for Allied Science. In August 2022 she started her Bachelors program in Psychology, specializing in Christian Counseling.
RBT, Student Analyst
Dorothy Hawkins
Dorothy has been in the ABA field since 2021. She moved to ABA after working in a daycare setting and wanting to try something new.
As for Dorothy's favorite parts about working in ABA, Dorothy loves that since the day to day is unpredictable--it challenges her to always perform to her best abilities and to keep learning. She also loves when her clients achieve something they work super hard on.
On her days off, Dorothy likes to watch tv, do puzzles, color, paint, and spend time with family and friends.
Dorothy has obtained a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Mary Baldwin and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in ABA from Florida Tech.
BT
Gina Messineo
Gina entered the ABA field in the Spring of 2024. She has previous experience as a paraprofessional in the school setting where she worked primarily with Autistic students. Gina recently switched to ABA from the medical field and is hoping to expand her knowledge and experience within the field.
Gina loves working with people in general, but quickly found a passion within working with the autistic community and the progress that can be made with ABA intervention.
As for education, Gina graduated from Thomas Stone high located in Waldorf. She received her paraprofessional license through PGCPS and worked at Oxon Hill Middle, as well as graduating from the Career Technical Institute of Washington DC for medical billing and coding. She also obtained her CNA through a program at Charles County Nursing and Rehab, and received her CMT through Sagepoint assisted living.
When Gina has downtime, she can be found bike riding with her husband, reading, watching movies, spending time with family and friends.
Gina is very excited to continue working in ABA and hopes to obtain her BCBA in the future.
RBT, Student Analyst
Melissa Lopez
Melissa found ABA while working in the school system in Arlington VA in 2010. She worked in a life skills classroom during the day and ABA in the evenings. For several years she took on both roles until she realized her passion was in Behavior Analysis. She is now 14 years strong in the field and has not looked back since.
To Melissa, there is nothing quite like seeing the impact you make on both the clients and their families. It is her favorite part about her role as an ABA professional.
Melissa holds a Bachelors of psychology from the University of Charleston. Since graduating from UC, she worked in the field as an RBT for almost 13 years before deciding to further her education and pursue her BCBA license. She is currently enrolled at Florida Tech and will complete her Masters Degree in November of 2024. Her goal is to pass the board exam and finally be a Board Certified Behavior Analyst!
When Melissa has down time, she mostly enjoys hanging out with her 3 kids and her husband. Melissa's family are supporters of the Annapolis Blues and love catching their games! At home, Melissa is guilty of being a reality tv junkie--especially 90 Day Fiance.
RBT
Alexis Sullivan
Alexis entered the ABA field in April of 2024.
Alexis loves watching her clients light up when they learn something new; it is her favorite thing about working as an RBT!
In Alexis's free time, she loves to watch love horror movies and spending time with her family.
Alexis has some college experience under her belt as well as graduating from Great Mills High School.
RBT
Christiana Mankey
Christiana obtained her RBT certification in December of 2023.
For Christiana, she first considered perspectives of autistic individuals as a child. She read a Babysitters Club book about a girl with autism and connected to the story. She has always been passionate about advocating for others in need and helping them find their voice ever since.
Before shifting to her career in ABA, providing childcare led her to nanny on a farm where she got to work with kids and animals together. She then decided to pursue her dream of providing therapy for kids. Christiana has a variety of passions ranging from reading, working with alpacas and horses, to working for a full contact joust troupe. She eventually hopes to run a therapy riding program with horses.
Christiana is looking to go back to school to pursue ABA and animal therapy programs in the future.