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. 

Gaby is one of our Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT). She is a recent Virginia Tech alumna, having graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Clinical Neuroscience.
Having a background in childcare led her to become a Medicaid Attendant during the summers between college semesters. Upon graduating, realizing her love for working with children and for neuroscience, she found an interest in becoming a Behavior Technician.
In her free time, Gaby enjoys going to the gym, reading, spending time with friends, and cooking! She even goes as far as practicing ABA with the families that she babysits for.
Mary is one of our Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT). She has been an RBT since March 2018. She loves spending times with her five nephews and one niece. They help her test sensory tables and games she likes to bring to sessions. She likes to have client’s that are high energy and keep her on her toes. In her free time, Mary stays active by competing in football, kickball, dodgeball, volleyball, and softball leagues.

She plans to become a BCBA in the near future, but loves the interaction she gets to experience as an RBT providing direct instruction.
 

Kailey is a seasoned RBT with over 4.5 years of experience providing both in home services and clinic ABA services. She has a track record of achieving exceptional results in promoting positive behavior change while maintaining a cheerful and pleasant disposition. In her spare time, she likes hanging out with her dog, Sakka. She enjoys cooking, home remodeling and going to the

lake house.

 

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.