Desirae Wingerter is a Las Vegas native and UNLV graduate. As an undergrad, she studied Psychology and worked as a research assistant studying Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in children and youth impacted by the foster care system. Desirae entered the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in 2007, where she worked both with clients directly and in administrative roles supporting families through navigating funding, intake processes, and successfully starting their ABA journey. Desirae has worked in the field ever since, spanning both the non-profit and private sectors.

Desirae became a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst in 2016, wherein she played a critical role developing programs for the largest multidisciplinary clinic in the state of Nevada. In 2021 Desirae completed her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and became a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst. During this time, she stepped back into the research field, and has been participating in the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Functional Analysis ever since. Desirae is passionate about program development and supporting Las Vegas’ differently-abled communities.

LinkedIn

Renée serves as the Intake Specialist for the Behavior Essentials Team. In that capacity, she is typically the first person from Behavior Essentials that a new family comes into contact with when searching for services for their loved one. When not working with families to find innovative solutions for their needs, the rest of her time is dedicated to her own family. Renée is a proud, caring mother of four amazing children, and supported by her loving husband. Originally from sunny Southern California, Renée and her husband settled in Southern Nevada in 2006 when starting to grow their family.

Renée is an avid fan of women’s soccer and whatever her children happen to be into in the moment, as well as a dedicated volunteer over the years for her children’s schools and various youth organizations.Assisting families in the pursuit of services for their loved ones is a deeply rooted passion for Renée. She has three children who were diagnosed early on the Autism spectrum, who have blossomed into three amazing success stories after years of tireless ABA intervention led by Behavior Essential’s own Casey Hayden in partnership with Renée and an awesome team of behavior technicians. Renée is a stalwart advocate for full family involvement in this journey and does not rest until she helps any family in need.

Chris has more than 20 years of dedicated experience working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). He has had the privilege of working with individuals across a broad range of age groups and skill sets. Chris is well-versed in comprehensive programming and teaching across all domains, including communication, language, independent daily living, academics, social skills, and play skills. He prides himself on providing highly effective treatment using ABA. He understands the special needs of children diagnosed with Autism as well as their family members. His other strengths include parent education, supporting clients in the school setting, and collaborating with related service providers.

He is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in Nevada. Chris holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He lives in Sparks, Nevada, with his wife Brittany, who is also a talented and respected BCBA. He practices ABA in the Reno area and supports families using ABA in rural Nevada. When not working with families, Chris enjoys cooking, traveling to interesting places, exploring the Reno, NV area, and listening to as well as playing music.

Taylor Ireland, a native of Las Vegas, is passionate about enhancing the lives of individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities through specialized education and intervention. Her first introduction to working with families and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) was with Casey Hayden in 2004. Taylor holds a Master's Degree in Special Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and brings extensive experience from a decade of service within the Clark County School District (CCSD).

In 2024, she became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in Nevada. Throughout her career, she has worked across diverse settings, including homes, clinics, and schools. She has provided compassionate care and impactful interventions that foster growth and independence in communication, academics, daily living, vocational, social, and play skills. Her strengths encompass parent education, Individualized Education Program (IEP) advocacy, and supporting clients within educational environments. Outside of her professional endeavors, Taylor enjoys reading, embroidery, and exploring the great outdoors with her husband.

LinkedIn