Hawai'i Association for Behavior Analysis

President

Kathleen Penland, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA 

president@hawaiiaba.org

Kathleen is the Clinical Educator for BAYADA’s Behavioral Health Division in Hawai’i. She holds a Master’s in Special Education and completed post-graduate education in applied behavior analysis (ABA) at Penn State. Kathleen is a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) specializing in treatment of autism and developmental disabilities. She has a passion for parent and community training in ABA as well as supervision of trainees pursuing Certification. 

Kathleen has served on the board and committees of the Hawai’i Association for Behavior Analysis (HABA) since 2015.

Vice President

Angela Broff, MSCP, BCBA, LBA

vicepresident@hawaiiaba.org

Angela Broff first moved from Minnesota to Hawaii in August of 2001, with some time spent in Massachusetts from 2010-2013. Ms. Broff received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has a BA in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Minnesota, with a minor in Child Psychology. She is a Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA). Angela has worked with children, adolescents, families and adults with autism, developmental disabilities, and various mental health diagnoses for over 18 years.  Her experience has been across various settings including private homes, group homes, hospitals, schools and various community settings. She has worked extensively in conducting functional behavioral assessments and creating effective behavior support plans. She believes in plans that are tailored to individual needs and strives to work collaboratively with all members of the treatment team to bring positive and meaningful changes to behavior. Angela is also an Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) practitioner and eager to find more ways to help systems make changes in their routines or procedures. Some of her additional areas of interest include; making healthy choices, sustainability projects, social skills development and parent training. Ms. Broff strives to assist treatment teams and organizations to make gains in identified goal areas by focusing on reinforcing leadership behavior and identifying and reducing any potential barriers to success and growth. Ms. Broff is currently applying these principles to support and mentor colleagues both in her daily workplace as well as her local community. She hopes to draw more amazing people to this exciting science and continue to find ways to motivate others in this field to network, share stories and support one another.

Treasurer

Shanda Strickland MS, BCBA, LBA

treasurer@hawaiiaba.org

Shanda is the Clinical Director at Hawai'i Behavioral Health and has been part of the Hawai'i ABA field for 10 years.  Shanda has a passion for youth and their families as well as organization behavior management.  She participates in therapeutic foster care placement and enjoys exploring Oahu.

Secretary 

Jennifer Ninci, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA

secretary@hawaiiaba.org

Dr. Jennifer Ninci is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and she teaches courses in the applied behavior analysis programs and severe disabilities/autism teacher preparation program. She is a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D). Dr. Ninci has provided services for individuals with disabilities or behavioral problems in various settings including schools, Head Start centers, clinics, homes, and residential facilities. She has extensive experience in developing, implementing, and teaching stakeholders (e.g., teachers, caregivers) to implement educational programs and behavior intervention plans for children with developmental disabilities. Her research pertains to the education and treatment of children with developmental disabilities, including children with autism spectrum disorder and severe communication delays or intellectual disability. 

Student Representative

Noe Kamalani, B.A., RBT

info@hawaiiaba.org

Noe Kamalani is a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) who has worked with individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) for over 4 years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Chaminade University in 2012 and will be completing a Master’s in Education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa this spring with the intent to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Noe has spent the last 2 years working in an intensive ABA clinic, but prior to that she has provided ABA services in the home, community, and public school settings. She has spent her career working with children and families in various capacities throughout Hawaii- including as a licensed early childhood educator and parent educator in private, public, and non-profit sectors.  Noe’s professional interests include: early intensive intervention, Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior, and parent training.

Carla Gross, M.S.

Carla is married and has been living in Hawai'i for the last 25 years. She has over 20 years of experience working with children with autism and other developmental disabilities. With the grit and determination that won her All American honors as a swimmer and water polo player, Carla combines her education, hands on parenting, and competitive spirit as she seeks to ensure people with disabilities are treated as people, just like us, with weaknesses but also strengths, destined for their own greatness in the way they see fit. Carla describes her children, "We are blessed with 21-year-old twins that keep has quite busy. Our daughter is an athlete currently in her senior year of college. It will be strange never seeing her swim again.  Best sister ever!! Our son is the most amazing person you will ever meet. He’s been known since he was born as “ handsome devil“. It was a simple nickname that has stuck through the years. Despite his uniqueness, he is one of the happiest people around and we couldn’t be prouder of him."

Naomi Ka'ae Tachera, B.A., RBT

Deborah Ho’ohuli-Rosa, RBT (Maui)

Deborah is a graduate student at the University of West Florida, where she is enrolled in the Masters in Exceptional Student Education/Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Specialization program and intends to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) exam upon completion. Originally from West Oahu, Debi has a little over 13 years of experience working in different capacities with children, adolescents and adults with special needs and their families in the State of Hawaii. She has served clients in therapeutic living programs, forensic housing programs, group homes, alternative learning centers, military facilities, preschools, public schools, private schools, community settings and home settings. A Registered Behavior Technician(RBT) and Clinical Supervisor at a small private school in Maui, Debi’s recent professional endeavors include Parent Training/Consultation and Direct Care Staff Training.  She is committed to the dissemination and ethical implementation of behavior analysis throughout Hawai’i nei.

Joy Oliveira (Hawaiʻi Island) 

Joy is a graduate student at the University of West Florida, where she is completing coursework towards certification as a behavior analyst. Joy is a teacher who resides on the island of Hawaiʻi.