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

Kayla Williams

MS, BCBA, LBA

BCBA Supervisor II

kayla@autismbehaviorservices.org

Kayla's Bio

Behavior Technicians

Rachel Moffett, B.S.

Lead RBT

Rachel's Bio

Hayley Stevens, M.S.

Lead RBT

Hayley's Bio

Ashley Miller

RBT II

Laura's Bio

Lauren Garmany

Behavior Technician

Lauren's Bio

Alexie Inman

RBT I

Alexie's Bio

Holly Nunn

RBT II

Holly's Bio

Sarah Agee, B.S.

RBT

Sarah's Bio

Kynzie Sartain

RBT I

Kynzie's Bio

Julia Mott

RBT

Julia's Bio

Leondria Weatherspoon

Leondra's Bio

Tex

Tex'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.

Kayla is from Collierville, TN and moved to Chattanooga to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she began her career in ABA as a Registered Behavior Technician then decided to pursue the field further by beginning coursework to obtain her master’s degree. Kayla completed her master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis through Mary Baldwin University in August 2021 and is now a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Kayla has loved working in the field of ABA for the last few years and looks forward to continuing to grow in the field while helping the clients here at Autism and Behavior Services.

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

BCBA Supervisor II

Alexandria Magee grew up in Orlando Florida and attended University Of Central Florida where she graduated with an bachelors degree in psychology. During her time after college, she became a Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst and worked with kids ages 1-18 in home and school settings. After 4 years in the field, she moved to Oregon to supervise in the clinic setting and pursued a Master’s degree in special education. Alexandria graduated in August 2021 and is now a certified Behavior Analyst. She recently moved to Chattanooga and is so excited to be a part of the Autism and Behavior Services team.

Our Team

RBT II

Ashley is originally from Madisonville, TN. She moved to Chattanooga last year from North Carolina, where she earned her bachelors in Psychology from Fayetteville State University. She plans to attend grad school. She has spent several summers at an orphanage in Honduras, where she found her passion for working with children. She is excited to advance her knowledge and progress in the field of ABA.

Our Team

Behavior Technician

Lauren is originally from Medina, TN moved to the area to attend University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She pursued her degree in psychology with a concentration in social science and graduated undergrad in December 2021. She has had previous experience with children in a preschool setting and loves working with children. She is new to the field of ABA and is looking forward to helping children while also learning from them. She is also looking at pursuing a graduate degree in counseling in the future.

Our Team

RBT I

Alexie is from Crossville, TN. She has moved to the Chattanooga area for school and is studying exercise science at UTC. She plans to continue her education by pursuing graduate school for Occupational Therapy. Alexie has had previous experience working with children as summer schools, the Special Olympics, volunteering with the Best Buddies program and also being a peer tutor in high school. She is excited to learn more about the field of ABA.

Our Team

RBT II

Holly is originally from Cartersville, GA and moved to Chattanooga in October 2021. In the process of receiving her degree in Interdisciplinary Studies she heard about ABA in one of her psychology classes and was immediately interested. She then finished her education and graduated from Young Harris College in north GA in 2018. Holly has had previous experience with kids working as a preschool teacher, a full time nanny, a camp counselor in Alaska, and early intervention ABA. She has been an Registered Behavior Therapist for a while now and plans to continue working as an RBT with the potential goal of going back to school to pursue her interest in ABA even further.

Our Team

RBT

Sarah is Originally from Greenville, SC and moved to Chattanooga to study Psychology and Sociology at Covenant College and graduated May 2022. She had experience in high school as a peer tutor in high school and volunteered with special Olympics. During her time in school she discovered ABA in my psychology classes which led her to pursue an internship with us during the Spring of 2022. As Sarah interned with us she decided the field of ABA was where she wanted to be and was gladly added to our team. Sarah is passionate about working with children, especially children with disabilities. She plans to continue in the field of ABA and working with children.

Our Team

RBT I

Kynzie is originally from Columbia, TN and moved to Chattanooga for college. She graduated in May 2022 with a degree in Exercise Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She previously worked with kids all throughout high school and loved to volunteer with the Best Buddies program. This is where she grew a passion to work with children! She is new to the field of ABA and is very excited to get to learn more about it!

Our Team

RBT

Julia grew up in Nashville and moved to Chattanooga to attend UTC. She graduated in May 2022 with her Bachelors in Child and Family Studies. Julia has worked in various preschool settings, mainly with two year old age groups. She has also volunteered for 2 years at a camp for pediatric cancer patients and has loved having fun and helping the kids at the camp!
Julia is new to ABA and is really excited to learn what it entails!

Our Team

Tex is the clinic’s in-house pet who frequently visits ABS when his owner, Jessica, is present. Tex loves to sleep under desks, play fetch, and work for treats. He enjoys making new friends and greets everyone enthusiastically with a wagging tail and a smile. He helps at the clinic in encouraging smiles, play, and relaxation. His favorite clinic activity is when a friend chooses time with him as their reinforcer, especially when they want to throw him a tennis ball!

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

Kayla Williams

MS, BCBA, LBA

Behavior Technicians

Rachel Moffett, B.S.

Hayley Stevens, M.S.

Ashley Miller

Lauren Garmany

Alexie Inman

Holly Nunn

Sarah Agee, B.S.

Kynzie Sartain

Julia Mott

Leondria Weatherspoon

Tex

Our Team

Our Team

Our Team

Our Team

Our Team

Our Team

Our Team

Our Team

Our Team

Our Team

Our Team