About Us

Our goal is to help children successfully
participate in their homes and communities
with their families, caregivers, teachers, and peers.

Jessica Cordier, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA (CT/NY)

Jessica is Co-Director of Gold Coast Children’s Center, LLC. Jessica is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and a Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in CT and 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 since 2003. 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, LBA (CT/NY)

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 (LBA) in CT and NY. Lori has worked with children, adolescents, and adults with autism and behavioral challenges in home, school and community settings since 1995. 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.

Taylor Logan, MSC, BCBA, LBA (CT)

Taylor is a Behavior Analyst at Gold Coast Children’s Center, LLC. She holds a Master’s Degree in Behavior Analysis and Therapy from the University of South Wales. Taylor is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in CT. Taylor has been serving children with special needs since 2008. 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.

Holly Doyle

Holly Doyle is a Senior Behavior Technician at Gold Coast Children’s Center, LLC. Holly has been serving children with special needs (including autism, language delays, Down Syndrome, and medical diagnoses) since 2006. 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.

Fionna Mullarkey, B.S.

Fionna is a Senior Behavior Technician at Gold Coast Children Center, LLC. Fionna holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Sacred Heart University, and is currently completing a Masters of Science in ABA at Simmons University. Fionna has been serving children, adolescents and adults with special needs since 2008. She previously worked as a volunteer coordinator for the Special Olympics World Games in Idaho. As a Volunteer coordinator, she focused on inclusion and training of volunteers with all different abilities. She interned with Massachusetts Early Intervention program, working with infants and toddlers with special needs. She also served as a camp counselor for children with physical disabilities and medical restrictions at Round Up River Ranch in Colorado, a Serious Fun camp. Her thesis focuses on adolescent self care skills. Other research interests include autism, attention disorders, teaching methods, program implementation and growth mind set.

Leah Mahoney, A.A.

Leah Mahoney is a Senior Behavior Technician at Gold Coast Children’s Center, LLC. Leah holds an Associate’s Degree in Social Science from Westchester Community College, and Child Behavior Certification from the Ontario Early Years Centre. Leah has been serving children with autism, developmental disorders, and other special needs in a variety of settings including public schools, private preschools, daycare centers and in homes since 2003. In addition, Leah worked as an Early Intervention Associate for the CT Birth to Three program. In this role, her responsibilities included planning and implementing curriculum, providing parent coaching/training, conducting assessments, participating in development and implementation of Individual Family Service Plans, and monitoring outcomes as part of transdisciplinary teams. She also supervised early intervention assistants, maintained record keeping and reporting to families and appropriate agencies, including mandated service coordination responsibilities.

Christina Cassarini, B.A.

Christina is a certified teacher at Gold Coast Children’s Center, LLC. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education and history from Kean University, and is certified in Elementary Education (K-5) in CT. Christina has been educating children since 2013 across many different environments. She has worked with children with special needs using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques within public schools and community-based programs. For three years, she taught kindergarten at a private school setting in Greenwich where she was dedicated to promoting social and academic growth. Christina volunteers her free time to the American Heart Association where she raises awareness for heart disease. Her other research interests include autism, management of problem behavior, and effective inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities within the community.

Bethany Reade, M.S.

Bethany Reade is a special education teacher at Gold Coast Children’s Center, LLC. Bethany holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Miami University and a Master’s degree in education from Hunter College. She holds a Special Education Comprehensive certification for grades K-12 in the state of Connecticut, a Childhood Education Certification for grades 1-6, and Students with Disabilities Certification for grades 1-6 in the state of New York. Bethany has been serving typically developing children and children with learning disabilities in public, private and home school settings since 2010. She previously worked at Middlesex Middle School in Darien, CT as a special education teacher and prior to that she worked at Brooklyn Preschool of Science as a teacher and administrator. It was there that she developed and implemented a response to intervention plan for struggling students in the classroom and led teacher workshops on topics which included; classroom management, curriculum development, and differentiating instruction. She has been a contributing writer on Tiggly.com focusing on activities that can be done at home to support a child’s development. Her research interests include; differentiating instruction, inclusion, self regulation and executive functioning disorders, curriculum development, and advocating for children with special needs.

Nour Millstein, Business Office Coordinator

Nour joined Gold Coast Children’s Center, LLC in 2016 and has been facilitating the relations between the insurance companies and families with claim submissions. Nour has extensive knowledge in handling a variety of insurance payers and in healthcare reimbursement.

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.

2019 interns

This year, Gold Coast Children’s Center is thrilled to welcome 3 senior interns: Emma Gilbert decided to intern at Gold Coast Children’s Center to learn more about Applied Behavior Analysis. Emma loves working with children and is interested in finding a career that would help her do so! This fall, she will be attending Texas Christian University to study Nutrition, but is also interested in psychology and education. Sarah McLaughlin chose to intern at Gold Coast Children’s Center because of her interest in learning more about ABA and her love of working with children. This fall, she will be attending College of the Holy Cross where she hopes to major in biology and minor in psychology. Sarah Hoyt choose to intern at Gold Coast Children’s center because of her interest in psychology and desire to learn more about Applied Behavior Analysis, as well as her love of working with children. In the fall she will be attending Elon University with interests in Psychology and Sociology.

2018 interns

Hailey King went on to study psychology and play softball at Sacred Heart University. She elected to intern at Gold Coast Children’s Center to learn more about Applied Behavior Analysis. Stefani Gentile went to the University of Connecticut to pursue a major in business. She chose to intern at Gold Coast Children’s Center because of her interest in Applied Behavior Analysis and love for working with children.

Darien senior interns Hailey and Stefani practicing community inclusion skills with a Gold Coast Children’s Center learner.

2017 interns

Meaghan Waldron went on to attend Bates College to play field hockey and study psychology and sociology. She chose to intern at Gold Coast Children’s Center to learn more about Applied Behavior Analysis. Emma Lesko went to Dartmouth College, to play lacrosse and study psychology and Spanish. She became interested in learning more about Applied Behavior Analysis after her friend, Jane Bredahl, interned at Gold Coast Children’s Center last year.

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

2016 interns

Morgan Tienken went to Colgate University 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 went on to study at the University of Michigan to pursue a degree in biology. She chose to do her senior internship at Gold Coast Children’s Center because she loves children and has an interest in behavior, psychology, and learning. She loved the experience and hopes to do something similar again in the future.