Meet Our Team

Our team includes Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), registered behavior technicians (RBTs), and other skilled professionals who have a passion for improving the lives of those we serve.

Our Clinical Team

Dr. Laura Forkum

BCBA-D, LBA

Executive Director / Founder

laura@autismbehaviorservices.org

Laura's Bio

Jessica Shelley

M.S., BCBA, LBA

Clinical Supervisor

jessica@autismbehaviorservices.org

Jessica's Bio

Rachel McAllister

M.S., BCBA, LBA

BCBA and RBT Trainer

rachel@autismbehaviorservices.org

Rachel's Bio

Behavior Technicians

Courtney Thacker, B.S

Lead Floater RBT

Courtney's Bio

Tori Sexton, B.S

Lead Floater RBT

Lauren Garmany, B.S

Lead RBT

Monica Riley

Lead Admin RBT/RBT II

Monica's Bio

Marla McCary

RBT II

Logan Ross

RBT

Chelsea Moody

RBT

Chenequa Neil

RBT

Aubrey Miles

RBT

Ella Sanders

RBT

Hannah Arnold

RBT

Savannah Mitchell

RBT

Desoto

Desoto's Bio

Our Team

Owner / Director

Laura Forkum is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She has a Masters in Special Education with a concentration in autism from University of Louisville and she has a PhD in Exceptional Learning with a concentration of ABA from Tennessee Tech University. She has experience working with children with autism and related disabilities in home, clinic, and school setting with a focus on early intervention. She is an approved Division of Mental Retardation Services (DMRS) approved Behavior Analyst in the East Region of Tennessee. She is a member of the Association of Behavior Analysis, Tennessee Association of Behavior Analysis, the Autism Society of Middle Tennessee, Council for Exceptional Children, and Division of Early Childhood.

Jessica Shelley grew up in a small town in Northwest Georgia and attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama where she graduated with an undergrad degree in psychology and a Master’s degree in Behavioral Psychology. During her time at JSU, she became interested in applied behavior analysis while completing her practicum at an early intervention preschool program. While completing her Master’s she worked as a graduate assistant at The Little Tree Preschool in Jacksonville providing services to children in an inclusion setting. After graduate school in 2011, Jessica moved to Chattanooga where she took a job working with children and adults in day programs, classrooms, and residential settings. After a few years with adults as a DIDD approved BCBA, Jessica decided to make the return to a clinic setting and has been working with school aged children. Jessica is a Tennessee licensed BCBA and a member of ABAI.

Our Team

Lead RBT

Rachel is originally from Greenback TN and graduated in December of 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She been a camp counselor for Friends Discovery Camp and Camp Zooability. She has always known that I wanted to work with children with disabilities. Rachel has recently been accepted into grad school and will soon be starting her masters in ABA therapy. She is very excited to learn and grow in this field.

Our Team

RBT ll

Courtney has been in the ABA field for 1.5 years. Courtney started her ABA career here with us at ABS where she started as Behavior Tech, Registered Behavior Technician , and now she is one of our RBT ll! Courtney has a B.S. in Psychology from Dalton State College, and she is currently working on her Masters in ABA at Mary Baldwin University. At work Courtney loves to pair with her clients, work on communication, and try new activities to learn her client's interests! Outside of work, she enjoys reading, hiking, camping, and playing with her two Australian Shepherds!

Our Team

Behavior Technician

Monica is originally from Xenia, OH, and moved to Chattanooga in the summer of 2021. She is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She has previously worked with kids as a nanny, camp counselor, and with the Admissions Department at UTC. Monica became interested in ABA when learning about it during her studies, and observed the field at Autism Behavior Services, where she found her passion for working in ABA. She is new to the field of ABA and is very excited to get to learn more about it!

Our Team

I'm Desoto, our Clinical Supervisor's furry son. Although our team usually refers to me as “Soty” or “employee of the month.” You may see me frequently in clinic, napping at my mom’s feet. When I’m not sleeping on the job I love spending time with our tiny hoomans. It makes me feel extra special when our friends include me in their play and reinforcement during sessions. Whether it’s a cuddle, fetch, or walks I am always a patient play pal offering a fluff-ton of comfort and encouragement!

Serving Families in Chattanooga and Surrounding Areas

info@autismbehaviorservices.org

(423) 664-0903

Meet Our Team

Our Clinical Team

Dr. Laura Forkum

BCBA-D, LBA

Jessica Shelley

M.S., BCBA, LBA

Rachel McAllister

M.S., BCBA, LBA

Behavior Technicians

Courtney Thacker, B.S

Tori Sexton, B.S

Lauren Garmany, B.S

Monica Riley

Marla McCary

Logan Ross

Chelsea Moody

Chenequa Neil

Aubrey Miles

Ella Sanders

Hannah Arnold

Savannah Mitchell

Desoto

Our Team

Our Team

Our Team

Our Team

Our Team