Meet the Team
Sara Lamont is our Clinical Director. With years of experience working as a BCBA, a teacher, a youth activities director, and as a mother, she has the philosophy of wanting to treat her staff and clients as part of her family. She is dedicated in promoting the success of not only the client, but the client family and the Ascend staff.
Villey is our Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Villey graduated Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Villey started his ABA journey in 2016, and first started working as an RBT for Sara Lamont! For nearly seven years, Villey has worked with clients with ages ranging from 2-20. Villey graduated Florida Institute of Technology with a Master of Arts in Professional Behavior Analysis in 2020, and worked up in becoming a BCBA. Villey is dedicated to helping children and families ASCEND to their fullest potential by achieving their goals with best research based ABA practice!
Heather Smith is a BCBA with over 20 years of experience working with children and families living with Autism. Heather began her career as a school psychologist and earned her BCBA in 2011. She has worked in a variety of settings, including schools, homes and clinics. Heather has a passion for working on engagement skills so that her clients are better able to learn from the people and world around them. Outside of work, Heather enjoys exercising, cooking and spending time with her husband and their two children.
Tan is our Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Tan graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College in 2005 with a Bachelor in Psychology and Old Dominion University in 2011 with a Masters in Education. Tan completed his Applied Behavior Analysis coursework from Florida Institute of Technology and was certified as a BCBA in 2019. Tan has over 7 years of experience providing both in-home services and school-based services with clients with ages ranging from 2-22. In his free time, Tan enjoys working out, playing chess, and spending time with family and friends.
Bekah has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis since 2009, and was certified as a BCBA in 2015. She has worked in clinics, home, and school settings. Bekah has worked with learners from 18 months to 12 years old, including some with intensive challenging behaviors. Bekah has her undergraduate degree in psychology, and her masters in counseling. In her free time, Bekah enjoys spending time with her husband, kids and golden retriever.
As a Navy veteran and a dedicated Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), I bring a unique blend of discipline, commitment, and empathy to my clients and their families. My journey as a parent of a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has deeply influenced my professional path and fostered a deep drive for knowledge regarding applied behavior analysis (ABA). I have a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from the University of La Verne, where I graduated cum laude. I am pursuing a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Purdue Global University to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a second master’s degree in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne.
I specialize in implementing behavior intervention plans tailored to each individual’s needs, focusing on current evidence-based ABA practices. My experience spans various settings, including home-based, daycare, and clinic settings. My mission is to enable positive and appropriate behaviors that promote long-term skills to ensure quality of life for my clients.
Yardan Shabazz is one of our Registered Behavior Technicians who graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. He has enjoyed working with kids for years now and sought a new way to create a positive impact in his community. In Yardan’s free time he chooses to play basketball/online games with friends and spend time with family.
Steven is the Hiring Manager and Office Manager. He is a University of Virginia, summa cum laude, graduate with a degree in Sociology and Environmental Science. In his free time, he loves to surf, run, hike, and spend time with family and friends. Steven is driven by helping clients find compassionate and well established care.