Maryland Applied Behavior Analysis Therapist | Move Up ABA
Meet our team
The people behind it all
There’s a reason Move Up ABA is a cut above. The reason is our team. Meet a team with heart, passion and compassion who are focused on one thing: your child making strides.
Our clinical leadership
Tamar Varnai, MA, BCBA, LBA
Tamar Varnai is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Clinical Director at Move Up ABA, bringing over 20 years of experience in behavior analysis and special education. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University and a Master of Arts in Behavior Studies from Teachers College, Columbia University, and has been a licensed BCBA since 2006.
Tamar began her career working directly with children with special needs, including early intervention and school-based services, before advancing into clinical leadership roles. Her professional background includes experience as a teaching assistant, special education teacher, early intervention provider, BCBA, and Clinical Director. She has delivered services across home-based, clinic, public school, and private settings, supporting children and adolescents ages 2 to 18 with diverse learning and behavioral needs.
Throughout her career, Tamar has had the opportunity to practice in multiple states across the U.S. and in several European countries. These international and cross-cultural experiences have strengthened her ability to design individualized, evidence-based interventions that are responsive to families’ values, environments, and goals.
While Tamar values all areas of behavior analysis, her primary clinical passion is behavior reduction through teaching self-management and emotional regulation skills that promote long-term independence and quality of life. As Clinical Director, she is committed to mentoring clinicians, supporting collaborative care, and fostering a compassionate, ethical, and high-quality clinical culture.
Outside of work, Tamar enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and their ShiPoo, camping, reading, and creative crafting projects.
20 years of experience
Tamar holds a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Columbia University and an undergraduate degree from Indiana University. Before joining Move Up ABA, she held senior leadership positions at several nationally acclaimed ABA companies across Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia.
Beyond credentials
Her innovative treatment approaches have impacted hundreds of children and families, but Tamar’s real expertise comes from understanding both sides of the therapy relationship. She’s been the clinician developing treatment plans and the parent implementing them during real-world challenges.
Building something different
At Move Up ABA, Tamar has created a company culture that prioritizes both clinical rigor and authentic connection. Her team combines evidence-based practices with the understanding that every family’s situation is unique and deserves individualized attention.
Our BCBA’s
Nathan Barz Founder & CEO
As the CEO of Move Up ABA, Nathan leads with a steady, practical approach and takes his role seriously in making sure families and staff feel supported. He brings years of experience working with teams and improving daily operations, and he uses that background to help the organization run smoothly and reliably.
Nathan focuses on creating an environment built on respect, humility, and clear communication. He believes that when families are treated with dignity and staff work together with sincerity and care, children are better supported and the overall experience improves for everyone involved.
Outside of work, Nathan values quality time with family, staying connected to his community, and keeping strong, meaningful relationships. These priorities guide the grounded, dependable leadership he brings to Move Up ABA.
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Kelly McGuire Chief Operating Officer
Kelly McGuire brings over 25 years of experience in operations, sales, marketing, strategic partnerships, and organizational leadership to her role as Chief Operating Officer at Move Up ABA, LLC. She oversees
the systems and infrastructure that support ethical, high-quality ABA services across Maryland and
beyond, with a focus on clarity, accountability, and sustainable clinical practice.
Kelly’s leadership is deeply informed by her lived experience as a parent of children with special needs who received years of intensive, in-home and clinic-based ABA and related services. Having welcomed
clinicians into her home during vulnerable and formative periods, she holds deep respect for the
professionals who partner with families during complex and emotional journeys. This firsthand
understanding of the parent experience is central to her work and shapes how services, policies, and
communication are designed.
Kelly is guided by a simple principle: every family deserves the same standard of care she would want for her own children. She prioritizes transparency, realistic expectations, and collaboration, recognizing
that ethical care is built on trust, dignity, and informed decision-making. She is especially passionate
about coordination of care and ensuring families experience continuity, shared goals, and clear
communication across providers and systems.
Equally committed to supporting clinicians, Kelly focuses on building strong operational support that protects clinical integrity and reduces burnout, allowing teams to focus on meaningful outcomes. She
is passionate about family training, strengthening caregiver confidence, and expanding neurodiversity-
affirming, trauma-informed practices. Kelly views ABA as a partnership, one grounded in respect,
accountability, and genuine support for both families and clinicians throughout their journey.
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Operational Leadership
Nathan Barz Founder & CEO
As the CEO of Move Up ABA, Nathan leads with a steady, practical approach and takes his role seriously in making sure families and staff feel supported. He brings years of experience working with teams and improving daily operations, and he uses that background to help the organization run smoothly and reliably.
Nathan focuses on creating an environment built on respect, humility, and clear communication. He believes that when families are treated with dignity and staff work together with sincerity and care, children are better supported and the overall experience improves for everyone involved.
Outside of work, Nathan values quality time with family, staying connected to his community, and keeping strong, meaningful relationships. These priorities guide the grounded, dependable leadership he brings to Move Up ABA.
Read more
Kelly McGuire Chief Operating Officer
Kelly McGuire brings over 25 years of experience in operations, sales, marketing, strategic partnerships, and organizational leadership to her role as Chief Operating Officer at Move Up ABA, LLC. She oversees the systems and infrastructure that support ethical, high-quality ABA services across Maryland and beyond, with a focus on clarity, accountability, and sustainable clinical practice.
Kelly's leadership is deeply informed by her lived experience as a parent of children with special needs who received years of intensive, in-home and clinic-based ABA and related services. Having welcomed clinicians into her home during vulnerable and formative periods, she holds deep respect for the professionals who partner with families during complex and emotional journeys. This firsthand understanding of the parent experience is central to her work and shapes how services, policies, and communication are designed.
Kelly is guided by a simple principle: every family deserves the same standard of care she would want for her own children. She prioritizes transparency, realistic expectations, and collaboration, recognizing that ethical care is built on trust, dignity, and informed decision-making. She is especially passionate about coordination of care and ensuring families experience continuity, shared goals, and clear communication across providers and systems.
Equally committed to supporting clinicians, Kelly focuses on building strong operational support that protects clinical integrity and reduces burnout, allowing teams to focus on meaningful outcomes. She is passionate about family training, strengthening caregiver confidence, and expanding neurodiversity- affirming, trauma-informed practices. Kelly views ABA as a partnership, one grounded in respect, accountability, and genuine support for both families and clinicians throughout their journey.
Read more
Move Up ABA leadership
Nathan Barz Founder & CEO
As the CEO of Move Up ABA, Nathan leads with a steady, practical approach and takes his role seriously in making sure families and staff feel supported. He brings years of experience working with teams and improving daily operations, and he uses that background to help the organization run smoothly and reliably.
Nathan focuses on creating an environment built on respect, humility, and clear communication. He believes that when families are treated with dignity and staff work together with sincerity and care, children are better supported and the overall experience improves for everyone involved.
Outside of work, Nathan values quality time with family, staying connected to his community, and keeping strong, meaningful relationships. These priorities guide the grounded, dependable leadership he brings to Move Up ABA.
Read more
Kelly McGuire Chief Operating Officer
Kelly McGuire brings over 25 years of experience in operations, sales, marketing, strategic partnerships, and organizational leadership to her role as Chief Operating Officer at Move Up ABA, LLC. She oversees the systems and infrastructure that support ethical, high-quality ABA services across Maryland and beyond, with a focus on clarity, accountability, and sustainable clinical practice.
Kelly's leadership is deeply informed by her lived experience as a parent of children with special needs who received years of intensive, in-home and clinic-based ABA and related services. Having welcomed clinicians into her home during vulnerable and formative periods, she holds deep respect for the professionals who partner with families during complex and emotional journeys. This firsthand understanding of the parent experience is central to her work and shapes how services, policies, and communication are designed.
Kelly is guided by a simple principle: every family deserves the same standard of care she would want for her own children. She prioritizes transparency, realistic expectations, and collaboration, recognizing that ethical care is built on trust, dignity, and informed decision-making. She is especially passionate about coordination of care and ensuring families experience continuity, shared goals, and clear communication across providers and systems.
Equally committed to supporting clinicians, Kelly focuses on building strong operational support that protects clinical integrity and reduces burnout, allowing teams to focus on meaningful outcomes. She is passionate about family training, strengthening caregiver confidence, and expanding neurodiversity- affirming, trauma-informed practices. Kelly views ABA as a partnership, one grounded in respect, accountability, and genuine support for both families and clinicians throughout their journey.
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Our Support & Operations Team
You won’t talk to most of these people regularly. But they’re the reason your therapist shows up on time, your schedule actually works, and nothing falls through the cracks.
Melissa Alvarez Human Resources Generalist
Melissa Alvarez is the Human Resources Generalist for Move Up ABA, bringing over 11 years of experience in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) field. She offers a supportive, people-centered approach to employee relations, onboarding, policy development, and conflict resolution across multi-state teams. Melissa began her career providing direct ABA therapy before advancing into administrative, supervisory, and human resources operations roles, giving her a well-rounded understanding of both clinical and organizational needs.
Her background allows her to effectively support clinicians while maintaining a strong focus on compliance, ethical practices, and employee well-being. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Psychology and has completed professional development in HR law, FMLA compliance, and core human resources competencies.
She is passionate about fostering a positive, compassionate, and compliant workplace where employees feel valued and supported. Melissa is committed to strengthening organizational culture and supporting Move Up ABA's mission to deliver ethical, high-quality care through engaged and supported staff.
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Karina Cohill Talent Aquisitions Specialist
Karina Cohill serves as a highly specialized ABA Recruiter at Move Up ABA, bringing four years of dedicated experience connecting exceptional talent with mission-critical roles in Applied Behavior Analysis. Karina's approach is defined by her profound commitment to the personal connection and candidate advocacy. She believes that moving beyond traditional metrics to truly understand the aspirations, values, and unique career goals of Behavior Analysts, BCBAs, and RBTS is the foundation of successful hiring. At Move Up ABA, Karina leverages her deep industry knowledge to strategically identify and engage candidates, ensuring every placement is not just a match, but a genuine, values-driven partnership designed for long-term growth and organizational success. Her dedication to fostering these relationships drives high retention rates and builds trust within the specialized ABA community.
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Irene Urroz Scheduling Admin
Irene brings over three years of experience in the ABA field, having worked in a variety of capacities that have strengthened her understanding of both client and staff needs. Her background includes hands-on clinical support, administrative coordination, and cross-team communication, giving her a well-rounded perspective that she now applies to her role within our Scheduling Department.
At Move Up ABA, Irene plays a key role in ensuring schedule accuracy, supporting efficient case coordination, and assisting with day-to-day workflow needs. She is detail-oriented, reliable, and committed to helping our teams operate smoothly so that clients and families receive consistent, high-quality care.
Irene’s dedication, strong work ethic, and collaborative spirit make her an invaluable part of our operations team.
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Lynnette Henderson Scheduling Coordinator
My name is Lynnette. I've been working in ABA scheduling for approximately five years. I initially fell into scheduling while working for a property management company and quickly discovered a passion for it. I enjoy fitting all the puzzle pieces together to accommodate everyone’s busy lives and take pride in creating schedules that support both families and clinical teams.
Having seen firsthand the positive impact ABA can have on the entire family, I truly value being part of each family’s journey.
Born and raised in Southern California, I recently moved back home after being away for nearly 30 years. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from San Francisco State University in 2003.
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Mandalyn Ashley Intake and Care Specialist
Mandalyn Ashley is the Intake and Care Specialist at Move Up ABA, bringing over five years of experience in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) field supporting families as they begin and navigate their care journey. She is committed to creating a welcoming, compassionate, and seamless experience from the very first point of contact.
Mandalyn's role centers on understanding each family's unique needs, providing clear and accurate information, and ensuring families feel heard, respected, and supported throughout the intake process. She believes that ethical, high-quality care begins with trust, transparency, and thoughtful guidance-especially during what can often be an overwhelming and emotional time.
She takes pride in being a reliable and knowledgeable point of contact for families, offering consistent communication and support as they explore services and next steps. Helping families feel confident, informed, and supported is at the core of Mandalyn's work and professional values.
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Rianne Lumabas Human Resources Onboarding Specialist
Rianne Lumabas is the Onboarding Specialist at Move Up ABA, bringing a strong background in healthcare operations, credentialing, administration, and HR management. With experience in roles such as Operations Supervisor, Credentialing Specialist, and HR Officer, he has developed expertise in onboarding, compliance, workflow optimization, and administrative support. His background includes healthcare management, project oversight, credentialing processes, client relations, and the effective use of Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
At Move Up ABA, Rianne focuses on ensuring a smooth and efficient onboarding experience for new hires by overseeing documentation, requirements, and compliance steps with accuracy and attention to detail. He is committed to helping new team members feel supported, prepared, and welcomed as they transition into their roles.
Driven and detail-oriented, Rianne is dedicated to continuous improvement and expanding his knowledge in healthcare operations and onboarding best practices. Outside of work, he enjoys personal development, exploring productivity tools, discovering new food spots, and spending quality time with his family.
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Sarmaine Leonardo Social Media Coordinator
Sarmaine is a creative and detail-driven Social Media Manager and Graphic Designer with 10+ years of hands-on experience in digital marketing, multimedia production, and brand support across multiple industries. She began her professional journey in 2012 and has since worked with real estate, legal, vacation rental, recruitment, coaching, and tech-driven businesses, helping brands build a consistent and professional online presence.
Her expertise includes social media strategy, content creation, graphic design, video editing, email marketing, and website administration. She enjoys turning ideas into engaging visuals and clear messaging, whether she’s designing scroll-stopping graphics, managing content calendars, publishing podcast episodes, or creating branded assets for campaigns and launches.
With a strong foundation in Information Technology, Sarmaine blends creativity with structure. She is known for being organized, proactive, adaptable, able to work independently, collaborate effectively, and keep projects moving forward with clarity and consistency.
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Our RBTs
Meet the exceptional people working directly with your child every session
Angela Dickerson Registered Behavior Technician
My name is Angela Dickerson, and I have been an RBT for almost a year. I have also seen firsthand, through my son’s primary and secondary school years, how ABA services can change the trajectory of a child’s life. From building essential life skills such as language, communication, and daily living tasks, to supporting behavioral growth, increased focus, memory, and academic achievement, the impact of ABA is both meaningful and lasting.
I truly enjoy giving back by working with children and supporting their progress as they learn, grow, and thrive through therapeutic interventions. As a newer clinician, working with my first client, alongside my BCBA and the Move Up ABA team, has been a positive and rewarding experience.
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Kayla Ward Registered Behavior Technician
My name is Kayla Ward, and I am a Registered Behavior Technician at Move Up ABA and a third-year Psychology major at Towson University. I truly enjoy working with children and am dedicated to helping both clients and their families feel supported, confident, and successful throughout their journey.
I value building meaningful relationships and creating a positive, encouraging environment where children can grow, learn, and thrive.
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Marigoula Kalliki Registered Behavior Technician
Mary Kalliki is a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) with over two years of experience supporting children with diverse developmental and emotional needs. With a background in psychology and current graduate training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), she provides supportive, evidencebased services focused on skill acquisition and functional independence.
Mary is dedicated to working collaboratively with families to promote meaningful, lasting progress across home and community settings.
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Shardretta Gutrick Registered Behavior Technician
Hi, I’m Shardretta Gutrick, known to many as Mrs. Shar! I’m an energetic, creative, and
compassionate Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) with a deep passion for helping children grow, learn, and feel genuinely supported every day.
I am certified by the State of Maryland and have provided ABA services for over four years, along with more than 30 years of experience working with children in both home and educational settings. My background includes supporting children in Early Childhood Development programs, Kindergarten, Charter Schools, Montessori Schools, Academy Schools, and Homeschool environments.
I’ve always lived by the motto “Leave no child behind,” and I bring that commitment into every session by meeting each child where they are and celebrating their progress—big and small. I am proud to be part of the team at Move Up ABA Therapy, where we partner closely with families to ensure strategies are practical, consistent, and meaningful across home and community settings. Outside of work, I enjoy writing poetry, listening to music, and spending quality time with my family.
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Want to join this team?
We’re hiring BCBAs and RBTs in Maryland and Virginia who want to do meaningful work with real support. Competitive pay, manageable caseloads, and a team that has your back.
