About the Board

Mr. Nocera is a Licensed Behavior Analyst with 28 years of experience in the field. His work at Pathways Community Mental Health currently concerns itself with the diagnosis and treatment of severe problem behavior in adults with intellectual impairments. He also possesses significant experience in early intervention and language teaching. While earning his bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida, completing a post-baccalaureate internship at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and his master’s degree at Western Michigan University, Rocco received instruction and guidance from seven people who were either past editors-in chief of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis or presidents of ABAI. He has helped hundreds of children and adults providing early intervention to ameliorate core diagnostic signs of Autism as well as reduce severe problem behavior. He served as Committee Chair on Public Policy for the Hoosier Association for Behavior Analysis, is a published author, is the current President for the Upper Peninsula Association for Behavior Analysis, and has presented over 25 papers and workshops to national and regional audiences. Rocco’s academic interests are in learning efficiency, memory, delay discounting, language acquisition, functional analysis of problem behavior, and translating research to practice. 

Dr. Ashley Shayter received her Masters degree in Behavior Analysis and Therapy and her Doctorate in Psychology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. She is both a licensed and board certified behavior analyst as well as a certified brain injury specialist with over a decade of experience providing behavioral health services to individuals with and without disabilities throughout their lifespan. She currently serves as a BCBA-D for Pathways Community Mental Health, is the CDC’s Act Early Ambassador for Michigan, and is a member of the Community Liaison Board for the ABCD Study. Dr. Shayter also has experience championing system change for the utility of high-quality evidence-based practices and the equitable access to education and support services for individuals with disabilities. She was previously appointed as a faculty member of Northern Michigan University’s Department of Psychological Science where she provided instruction and supervision within the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and is the former Associate Director of the Behavior Education Assessment and Research (BEAR) Center.  

Jacob Daar, of Marquette, received his bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Sociology at the University of South Florida, his M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of South Florida, and his PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences from the Behavior Analysis and Therapy program at Southern Illinois University.  He is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the Doctorate Level and a Licensed Behavior Analyst.  Dr. Daar is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Northern Michigan University and the coordinator of NMU's Applied Behavior Analysis Master's Program where he teaches a variety of coursework on behavior assessment and therapy, research methods, and behavioral theory.  Daar is also the Director of the Behavior Education Assessment and Research (BEAR) Center where he oversees multiple service and practicum training programs including comprehensive behavior analytic services for school aged children, an early intervention language learning clinic, community and school based behavioral supports, and programs designed to enhance staff training and performance. Dr. Daar also serves on the state of Michigan's Autism Council, where he represents the state university programs.  Dr. Daar's research focuses on promoting emergent verbal repertoires and improving language acquisition programming, understanding choice making and gambling behavior, and enhancing behavioral technologies. 

Carrissa is a Masters level clinical social worker, as well as, a Board Certified/ Licensed Behavior Analyst.  Carrissa’s career of providing supports for persons with Autism, developmental disabilities, and social-emotional impairments began as a paraprofessional in 2005. While working in this role at the local Community Mental Health Center she continued her education which resulted in her Board Certification in Behavior Analysis in 2010 and a Masters of Social Work from Michigan State University in 2013. From the beginning of her career she developed a passion for helping individuals decrease undesired behaviors and increase their ability to lead productive and meaningful lives.

In 2015 Carrissa founded Functional Behavior Services, (FBS). FBS is a multidisciplinary agency located in Marquette, Michigan which provides outpatient mental health therapy in their Marquette office and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to individuals throughout the Upper Peninsula.  The FBS team is comprised of 17 professionals ranging from Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analysts, Licensed Master Level Therapists, Behavior Technicians, and Support Staff.

Carrissa is actively advocating for increased funding coverage to support individuals with behavioral challenges whom do not present with the diagnoses to quality for insurance/ funding coverage for ABA services. Through these efforts increased access behavior services may become more accessible to those in need which will lead to increased inclusion and a better quality of life.

In her free time she enjoys serving on the Upper Peninsula Applied Behavior Analysis Board (UPABA) and engaging in many community activities with her husband and three young children. 

Angela Thiel is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Behavior Analyst in Michigan and Wisconsin. Angela received her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University. Angela began her career in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis in 2011. Throughout this time, she has had the privilege of supporting children and their families in a variety of environments including home, school, and clinical settings. Angela is the Founder and Clinical Director of Northwoods Learning Center, and her desire is that all children diagnosed with autism have access to quality autism care in her community and the surrounding region. Northwoods Learning Center provides Applied Behavior Analytic services to children diagnosed with autism and other developmental disorders. Angela hopes to add on more services in the future to make a multi-disciplinary company and allow for even greater support of children with autism and their families.

Amy Edwards is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and licensed Behavior Analyst located in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Amy earned her Masters degree in 2021 from Northern Michigan University and has been working in the field since 2018. Amy has provided school-based services, in-home services, and clinic-based services to clients and families in the Upper Peninsula as well as Northern California. Currently Amy is providing school-based services for two schools in the EUP. Here she is working on creating a cohesive school-based program that is functional for staff, students, and families that also incorporates and connects the small community she lives in. Currently she is focusing on teacher and paraprofessional training regarding implementation of behavior interventions and supports in the classroom, assists in completing functional behavior assessments, skill assessments and behavior support plans, and provides training and assistance regarding inclusion in general education classrooms. In an area where resources are limited, Amy is passionate about bringing ABA services not only to her community, but to the schools in her area to provide as much support and knowledge regarding behavior analysis as possible. 

Kara received her master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northern Michigan University and her PhD in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from Ohio State University. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the Doctorate level and a Licensed Behavior Analyst. Dr. Shawbitz is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences and in the School of Education, Leadership, and Public Service. She also works with children with disabilities in school settings as a consultant. 

Her work has focused on developing models of teacher training that supports teachers to train paraeducators to implement

evidence-based practices, vocational training for adults with IDD, and examining and evaluating how

students are educated in the least restrictive environment across U.S. schools.