Hopebridge Florida Spotlight: Center Leadership and Clinicians Make an Impact Through Pediatric Therapy

From Clinical to Operational Roles, Florida Team Shares One Mission

From nursing to teaching to retail management, Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers’ Florida team had a wide range of experience before planting their roots in our therapy centers, but together, their diverse backgrounds come together to flourish for our children.

The clinical team is comprised of board certified behavior analysts at all stages of our BCBA Career Pathway, students studying to become BCBAs through our unrivaled Fellowship program, and other skilled clinicians. On the operations side, regional managers, center managers and trainers serve as the backbone of our centers. Through their collaboration, this team dedicates their time to Florida families, providing quality, compassionate care for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental delays.

We’d like to introduce you to a few of our dedicated team members who help make our Florida autism services so strong:

Lexi Weber, Regional Manager of Center Operations, Florida Region

What is your background and what drew you to working in pediatric therapy?

I received my undergrad from Bowling Green State University in Ohio with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. My intent was to pursue a speech pathology route but wanted more hands-on experience before grad school. I started worked with Hopebridge to gain that experience and fell in love with the work that we do and the access we provide to families and kids!

What do you like most about working at Hopebridge?

There are so many things I could list here but ultimately the best part of working at Hopebridge is being in each center and connecting with the teams onsite to provide them with the tools/resources to be the most equipped and successful in their roles. Our care-model driven by compassion towards our families and kids is such a beautiful thing to see come to fruition in our day-to-day practice.

What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far at Hopebridge, or the learning opportunity you valued most?

Having the opportunity to be an RBT, ACM, CM and now RM has given me the ability to learn at so many different levels. I have a deep appreciation for all of these positions and what they do for Hopebridge on a daily basis.

Are there any future career goals you’d like to share?

We have an amazing team that continues to challenge and push one another here in Florida. I would love to continue to develop my skillset and learn from our onsite and offsite stakeholders to be the best leader I can possibly be! I am excited to continue learning and growing in my current role as a Regional Manager.

What is your favorite dance party song with our kids in the centers?

This is a TOUGH one, but you cannot go wrong with the Cocomelon version of “Wheels on the Bus.” It’s always a hit!

What is your reinforcer?

Spending time with my dog-child, Archie, and have recently been getting into pickleball 🙂

What is your favorite spot in Florida to visit?

My husband and I love to visit Anna Maria Island! I also just found a Buccee’s gas station in Daytona Beach, FL.

Meghan Brower, BCBA, Hopebridge Brandon, FL

What is your background and what drew you to working in pediatric therapy? 
I started my career as a special education teacher at a residential ABA placement/school. As I learned more about the school and the field, I decided to move away from teaching and got my master’s degree in ABA!

What do you like most about working at Hopebridge? 
The people I have met and the fun we have! This has the potential to be a stressful job, but having a support system makes every day a good one 🙂

What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far at Hopebridge, or the learning opportunity you valued most? 
I was able to travel to other centers when I started with Hopebridge. As a new BCBA, this was the perfect start for me – I was able to work with experienced BCBAs and learn about different methods, programs, and styles in this field. Definitely my most valued time.

What about your future career goals … are there any you’d like to share? 
My goal is always to learn as much as I can in order to provide the best quality services I can. In a field that’s always growing and changing, my goal for myself is to never fall behind!

What is your favorite dance party song with our kids in the centers? 
Any Gracie’s Corner or Moana

What is your reinforcer?
coffee 🙂

What is your favorite spot in Florida to visit (either locally or while on vacation)?
St. Pete! Love the beach and downtown

Michelle Brown, Center Manager, Hopebridge Maitland, FL

What is your background and what drew you to working in pediatric therapy? 
I primarily had a retail management background. I decided last year that I wanted to do something where I could make a bigger impact on the people around me. I have family and loved ones in my life with ASD and loved the idea of merging my operational skillset to work with families and make a difference in their day-to-day lives!

What do you like most about working at Hopebridge? 
I love that I get to engage my team and families in my own unique way. We get to do meaningful work and make it fun!

What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far at Hopebridge, or the learning opportunity you valued most? 
I’ve learned to rely on the amazing team of experts I have around me for all the things I’m needing to *Learn and Grow​*​ on! I learned you are only as good as the people surrounding you and that it takes a village to truly impact our families at a high-level capacity. 

Are there any future career goals you’d like to share?
I’ve always been interested in growing in the HR field. I love being consistent and clear, but in a positive and impactful way! 🙂 Ultimately, I love being here!

What is your favorite dance party song with your kids in the center? 
When I first started, we had a kiddo who loved the song about the ants marching. We would just march and march around the center to “… and they all go marching doooown.” We can count marching as dancing right? 🙂

What is your reinforcer?
I’m a foodie! Any time of fun new food with the people I love engages my heart! ❤️

What is your favorite spot in Florida to visit? 
I love all of our state parks. We have such a beautiful ecosystem with beautiful plants and wildlife. I love to kayak through our springs and walk through our beautiful forests!

Ashlyn Pace, Case Manager, Hopebridge St. Petersburg, FL

What is your background and what drew you to working in pediatric therapy?

I originally started working as an RBT for the Chattanooga, TN location. After a couple months of being a RBT, I fell in love with the profession and wanted to continue my education in hopes of pursing a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis. Shortly after being accepted into FIT’s graduate program, I applied for Hopebridge’s Fellowship Program, where I have continued to level up to case manager. In August of 2023, I transferred to the St. Petersburg, FL location where I have been collecting my last few hours before graduating in December 2023. 

What do you like most about working at Hopebridge? 

In the past 2 and a half years that I have worked for this company, I have most appreciated the opportunity I’ve been given to work under the most incredible supervisors and to build my knowledge and expertise in being a BCBA. I can confidently say that the Fellowship Program has invested in me, as well as readied me to transition into my role as a BCBA after I take my exam.

What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far at Hopebridge, or the learning opportunity you valued most? 

The learning opportunity that I have valued the most is getting the opportunity to collaborate with other occupational therapy students for the Hopebridge Fall Fest Coalition. We have been tasked with learning from one another about each other’s disciplines to develop fall festival activities that combine ABA and OT skills together for our clients!

Are there any future career goals you’d like to share?

My number one career goal at the moment would be to pass my BCBA exam, which I am aiming to take in the Spring!

What is your favorite dance party song with your kids in the center?  

“The Stomp Clap Dance Song” by Danny Go!

What is your reinforcer?  

Free time! In-between working full time, collecting hours, and being in grad school, any extra free time I can get is the most reinforcing reward of all time.

What is your favorite spot in Florida to visit? 
This may be cliche… but the BEACH. I’ve always been a beach girl at heart so living so close to it has definitely made it my number one spot on the weekends!

Grace Ayala, Center Manager, Hopebridge Mount Dora, FL

What is your background and what drew you to working in pediatric therapy?  
My background is nursing. I was a Registered Nurse (RN) for 20 years in the Cornell University Emergency room. Nursing in the pediatric unit and having nephews on the spectrum drew me in to shift my work to pediatric therapy.

What do you like most about working at Hopebridge? 
I love coming to work and seeing the smile on the kiddos’ and parents’ faces every morning and making a difference in their lives. 

What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far at Hopebridge, or the learning opportunity you valued most? 
How to be the best CM ever and engagement with my parents, kiddos and staff. 

Are there any future career goals you’d like to share?
My future goals are to keep my clinic growing as much as possible.

What is your favorite dance party song with your kids in the center?  
“The Floor is Lava” and the Barbie Song. 

What is your reinforcer?  
Here at Mount Dora, we love to eat, so pizza, donuts and lots of candy.

What is your favorite spot in Florida to visit? 

My favorite spot is SeaWorld.

Open for Immediate Scheduling: Find Compassionate Care Through Florida Autism Services for Your Child

Are you looking for applied behavior analysis and other autism services for your child in Florida? Immediate scheduling for autism therapy is now available for Aetna, Evernorth Behavioral, Florida Blue and United Healthcare patients. To get the best in care for your kids, check out the locations for a Florida autism therapy center near you.

Continue a Meaningful Career with Advancement Opportunities at Hopebridge in Sunny Florida

The Florida team has access to all Hopebridge’s unrivaled professional development initiatives. For instance, The Bridge Program guides and mentors newly credentialed BCBAs through their first year as a BCBA, while Hopebridge’s BCBA Career Pathway provides clear opportunities for advancement and education at all experience levels. Registered Behavior Technicians and aspiring BCBAs can advance their own skills and titles through the RBT leveling program or by applying for the industry-leading Fellowship Program. Other programs, like LEAD and the Next Step Academy, are available to nurture team members’ leadership skills and provide operational opportunities, no matter which discipline they work in at Hopebridge. On top of these growth opportunities, Hopebridge also offers a range of valuable – yet free – CEU and training events hosted by in-house thought leaders. Interested in growing your career while making a difference in the lives of children and families? Take a look at the open positions for BCBAs, RBTs and more across the country.

*Informed consent was obtained from the participants in this article. This information should not be captured and reused without express permission from Hopebridge, LLC.