(203) 883-8827 | E-mail: info@goldcoastchildrenscenter.com
 

About Us

Jessica Cordier, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Jessica is Co-Director of Gold Coast Children’s Center, LLC. Jessica is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and a Licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of NY. She graduated from Caldwell University in 2014 with a Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis and has been serving children with developmental disabilities and their families for 12 years. The Department of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at Caldwell University awarded Jessica a graduate assistantship that included working at the Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis as a staff trainer. She trained with the faculty in the ABA department to conduct assessments, parent training and deliver individualized programs and treatment plans for learners. In addition, Jessica provided staff training to the graduate and undergraduate students. She has also worked with children in the public school, home, and community settings. Jessica was previously a lead teacher and staff trainer in a classroom serving children with autism in Bernards Township School District, NJ. She has also coordinated home programs targeting skills at home and in the community for children and their families. Jessica is a past student representative of the New Jersey Association for Behavior Analysis (NJABA). She has served as a guest reviewer for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA) and has authored contributions for the Association for Science and Austin Treatment (ASAT) online newsletter. Jessica has presented her research at numerous conferences in the areas of autism and ABA. Her thesis research addressed including children with autism in religious ceremonies. Her dissertation research included combining behavior skills training and generalization strategies to train staff across and within multiple instructional areas. Other research interests include staff training, parent training, autism, effective inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities in community settings, and teaching social skills.

Lori Mastrogiacomo, M.A., BCBA

Lori is Co-Director of Gold Coast Children’s Center, LLC. She holds a Master’s degree in clinical psychology (behavior analysis track) from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and a Licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of NY. Lori has worked with children, adolescents, and adults with autism and behavioral challenges in home, school and community settings for over two decades. She was previously Director of Outreach at Milestones Behavioral Health (formerly the Connecticut Center for Child Development, CCCD), a private nonprofit program serving individuals with autism. She developed and implemented a parent training program at New Jersey Medical School-UMDNJ, which served as an internship site for graduate students working towards their Master’s degree in ABA. Other previous experience includes serving as Clinical Director and Behavior Analyst at private, nonprofit school programs serving children with autism, and working as an Outreach Case Manager at Alpine Learning Group. She has served as an Adjunct lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Caldwell University, and has presented at numerous conferences in the areas of autism and ABA. She has been a guest reviewer for the Journal of Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention and has authored contributions for the newsletters of ASAT, NJABA, and Autism New Jersey. Lori is Past President of the New Jersey Association for Behavior Analysis (NJABA), and Past President of the Autism SIG of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). She has also served as Coordinator of the Clinical Corner section of the newsletter, a member of the grants committee, and an externship co-coordinator for the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT). Lori’s thesis research addressed teaching pediatric residents to identify early signs of autism. Other research interests include parent training, autism, management of problem behavior, and effective inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities in community settings.

 

Holly Doyle

Holly Doyle is an ABA Instructor at Gold Coast Children’s Center, LLC. Holly has been serving children with special needs (including autism, language delays, Down Syndrome, and medical diagnoses) for 15 years. She was previously an instructional aide in an inclusion classroom in a public elementary school.  She also worked as a home-based ABA instructor and as a nanny for typically developing children and a child with autism.

 

Taylor Logan, MSC

Taylor is an ABA Instructor at Gold Coast Children’s Center, LLC. She holds a Master’s Degree in Behavior Analysis and Therapy from the University of South Wales.  She is currently accruing supervised fieldwork hours to meet requirements to sit for the BCBA exam with the intention of becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Taylor has been serving children with special needs for 5 years.  She previously worked as a behavior therapist for a family in Wales, a behavior therapist at a non-profit organization in South Carolina, and a specialist summer camp counselor for children with special needs. Taylor also completed an internship as a family support worker at Caudwell Children in Scotland to help provide funding to families in need of therapeutic services. She has served as a volunteer at weekend events for adults with special needs. Taylor’s dissertation research addressed the current Preschool Life Skills curriculum and assessed its effectiveness for children with special needs. Other research interests include autism, staff training, school inclusion, and language development.

 

Minoo Makkencherry, M.Ed.

Minoo is an ABA Instructor at Gold Coast Children’s Center, LLC.  She holds a Master’s of Education Degree in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis from Endicott College with a certification in Autism Spectrum Disorders.  She is currently accruing supervised fieldwork hours to meet requirements to sit for the BCBA exam with the intention of becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Minoo has been serving children with autism and developmental disorders for over 12 years.  She previously worked as an Early Intervention Associate for a birth-to-three company in Fairfield County, as well as a Behavior Therapist in various public schools in regular education and inclusion classroom settings.  She also has experience working as a Site Director for a YMCA and summer camp in Portland, CT.  Minoo is a member of Connecticut Association for Behavior Analysis (CTABA) and The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). She has served as a volunteer for various Autism Speaks events held within the greater New York City Area.  Her thesis research addressed fostering understanding and interaction among typical peers.  Other research interests include language development, social skills groups, and staff training.

 

Brielle Heinl

Brielle is an ABA Instructor at Gold Coast Children’s Center, LLC. Brielle holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University, and is currently completing a Master’s Degree in Psychology at Southern New Hampshire University. Brielle has been serving children with special needs including autism, physical disabilities, and language delays for seven years. Previously, she worked as a home-based ABA therapist in NYC, and as an instructor at a charter school for individuals with autism. Brielle also has experience working as a counselor at a special needs summer camp in California. She is currently accruing supervision hours to meet the requirements to sit for the BCBA exam, with the goal of becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Gold Coast Children’s Center is proud to participate in the Darien High School Senior Internship Program, which strives to enable students to apply their social, civic, and academic knowledge and skills while exploring an area of interest outside the boundaries of their formal educational program.  The internship program provides seniors with workplace experience and opportunities for career exploration.

2017 interns

This year, Gold Coast Children’s Center is thrilled to welcome senior interns Emma Lesko and Meaghan Waldron.

Meaghan chose to intern at Gold Coast Children’s Center to learn more about Applied Behavior Analysis. Next year, she will be attending Bates College, where she will play field hockey and is interested in studying psychology and sociology.

Emma became interested in learning more about Applied Behavior Analysis after her friend, Jane Bredahl, interned at Gold Coast Children’s Center last year. Emma will be attending Dartmouth College next year where she will be playing lacrosse and hopes to study psychology and Spanish.

 

Darien senior interns Emma and Meaghan playing “Go Fish” with one of the learners at Gold Coast Children’s Center

 

2016 interns

Morgan Tienken recently finished her freshman year at Colgate University where she is planning to major in chemistry. She chose to do her internship at Gold Coast Children’s Center because she enjoys working with children and has an interest in behavioral psychology. She appreciated the opportunity to learn about Applied Behavior Analysis through the senior internship program.

Jane Bredahl recently finished her freshman year at the University of Michigan where she plans on pursuing a degree in biology. She chose to do her senior internship at Gold Coast Children’s Center because she loves kids and has an interest in behavior, psychology, and learning. She loved the experience and hopes to do something similar again in the future.