Our Team

P. Adam Potter, BCN, BCBA

Clinical Director, CEO, and Founder

Adam Potter’s career path began with the treatment of severe mental illness in acute outpatient settings. He was introduced to Behavior Analysis after being hired at a facility that supported adults with developmental disabilities and mental illness. The challenges and limits of behavior therapy in working with this dually diagnosed population motivated him to seek out more efficient ways of helping his clients cope with their mental health symptoms which led improved behavior and adaption to everyday life through behavior therapy. He began his biofeedback training in 2012, not long before taking a job as a behavior analyst working with young elementary school children in Maine. Having found that so many children made unexpected gains with the combined approach, he moved back to Colorado and started Lighthouse Neurofeedback and Behavior Analysis.

Adam has several interests that have served him in his ability to help his clients. One of the most important is mediation, which he was first taught when he was 14 years-old by his martial arts teacher. His martial arts training helped him to become comfortable and compassionate with children and adults who engaged in dangerous behaviors, allowing him to serve clients that many other therapists regarded as being too dangerous to work with. 

Adam’s work in the fields of psychology, mediation, martial arts, behaviorism, psychophysiology, and education gives him a more inclusive and holistic perspective on helping people. He believes that all perspectives on a problem are valid and can lead to solutions. He avoids perspectives on clients that attempt to see them from only one theory’s view. 

In creating Lighthouse, Adam wants to combine solutions for each client to achieve the outcomes that families want and that will lead to the greatest quality of life both now and in the future. 

Francesca Ortega

Practice Manager

Francesca brings a wealth of experience in neurodevelopmental therapy and operational management to Lighthouse Therapeutics. With a strong educational background, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder, Francesca combines scientific insight with a passion for helping individuals and families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Prior to joining Lighthouse, Francesca held a pivotal role as Regional Program Director at ACEing Autism in Los Angeles, where she led the expansion of tennis programs for children with ASD, overseeing a dedicated team and cultivating strong community partnerships. In addition, Francesca has worked in various therapeutic roles, including as a Therapeutic Care Specialist at Equinox Counseling and Wellness, providing tailored support for youth, teens, and young adults, and as a Behavioral Technician at Autism Behavioral and Educational Consulting. She have hands-on experience in applied behavior analysis, working closely with clients and families to create individualized interventions that promote positive outcomes.

As Practice Manager at Lighthouse, Francesca is excited to leverage their expertise in program development and team leadership to support the clinic’s mission of providing innovative and compassionate care. With a focus on operational efficiency, patient satisfaction, and maintaining the highest standards of clinical practice, she aims to foster a collaborative environment that enhances the lives of individuals and families served by Lighthouse.

Outside of work, Francessca is an avid skier and hiker, finding inspiration and balance in the beauty of Colorado’s mountains and nature.

Erin Lucey

Logistics Coordinator

Erin Lucey holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Emily Carr University in Vancouver, BC. During her time there, she was actively involved in the students' union, advocating for student needs and rights. This experience honed her collaborative spirit and dedication to equitable practices.

In previous roles, Erin served as a Practice Manager for private therapists and a Logistics Coordinator at an environmental education organization. In both these roles, she managed complex schedules, managed organizational logistics, and coordinated resource allocation, all while prioritizing client and staff care.

As Logistics Coordinator at Lighthouse, Erin applies her organizational expertise and collaborative methodologies to support the clinic's commitment to providing exceptional care. Her background in advocating for the needs of others, combined with her meticulous approach to logistics, contribute to the efficient operational environment for both our clients and therapeutic team.

Outside of her professional life, Erin enjoys spending time with her family, creating art in her studio, and cloud gazing.

Dani McKay, RBT

Utilization Specialist

Dani was born and raised in Nebraska and received her BA in Elementary Education K-5 from the University of Nebraska - Kearney. During her years at the university, she worked as a Program Manager for the ARC of Buffalo County, and Independent Service Provider for the NE DHHS. Through Dani’s time as Program Manager, she developed several programs for adults with disabilities in the community including fishing club, swim club, ARC at the Y, and bowling club. 

Since moving to Colorado, Dani has worked with both children and adults with disabilities through respite care, providing companionship and teaching coping skills to the individuals she works with. Dani is passionate about working with children and making a lasting impact on their lives.

When not at work, Dani enjoys reading and spending time in the mountains on trails with her dog, Dexter!

Patricia Kostoff, MA, BCBA

Director of Behavior Services

Patricia has always been highly reinforced by helping those around her. During her undergrad, she interned at the Center for People with Disabilities, facilitating groups for the blind and visually impaired. She earned her BA in Human Services from MSU Denver in 2014 and continued to volunteer at CPWD while working for a local Biofeedback clinic.

In 2018, Patricia encountered the wonderful world of ABA at Lighthouse Behavior Services. After working as a Registered Behavior Technician for 2 years, she earned her MA from Ball State University in 2019. She has experience working with a variety of special needs including ASD, Down syndrome, Global Developmental Delay, blind/visual impairments and more. She is passionate about involving families and other caregivers throughout the therapeutic process so the child and family can achieve optimal success via ABA. She enjoys working directly with children and loves watching her clients play, grow, learn new things, tolerate new or difficult tasks, and achieve their full potential.

Patricia spends her free time hanging out with her pet birds and her partner.

Heather Huber, MEd, BCBA

Associate Director of Early Intervention

Heather Huber is a dedicated Board Certified Behavior Analyst and early intervention specialist with 20 years of teaching experience across public and private schools, as well as home and community settings. Her passion lies in empowering individuals to navigate their environments confidently through skill-building in a fun and meaningful manner. Heather's commitment extends to supporting families of individuals with disabilities by modeling effective behavior management strategies and imparting essential skills that serve as stepping stones for more complex tasks. Renowned for her expertise in expanding integral play skills in child development, Heather emphasizes communication, social-emotional development, and developmentally appropriate learning in her approach. 

Heather Huber, is not only dedicated to her professional endeavors but also finds immense joy in her personal life. Married for 22 years to Chris and blessed with five children, Heather cherishes every moment with her family, especially during their travels. Outside of work and family time, Heather indulges in her passions for reading, gardening, and basking in the sunshine while relaxing in her hammock. When not in her beloved Colorado, she can often be found poolside in Arizona, embracing the warmth and serenity of the desert landscape.

Emily Pearson

Lead Clinician

Emily, originally from Michigan, is a dedicated behavior analyst with a passion for helping individuals reach their full potential. She began her career at just 19 years old as a behavioral therapist in a home ABA program, quickly falling in love with the field. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina before moving to New York to work at the Carbone Clinic. There, she advanced from a therapist to an evaluator and consultant, deepening her expertise in behavior analysis.

Driven by her desire to expand her knowledge, Emily pursued a master's degree in psychology at Florida State University. After completing her studies, she relocated to Washington, DC, where she served as one of DC Public Schools' Autism Coordinators. In this role, she supported self-contained autism classrooms and trained teachers and staff in ABA methodologies.

Ten years ago, Emily made the move to Colorado, where she has balanced her work in behavior analysis with teaching yoga, combining science and mindfulness in her approach to learning and development. She is currently furthering her education in performance neuroscience, exploring how the brain influences peak performance. Emily finds the greatest joy in witnessing her clients’ growth and the transformative power of learning.

Outside of work, Emily enjoys hiking in the Colorado mountains, cooking new recipes, diving into a good book, practicing yoga, and spending quality time with friends. She also has a deep love for music and appreciates the way it connects people and emotions.

Kat Chisum, RBT

Associate Clinic Coordinator

Kat Chisum is a former camp counselor, and childcare professional transitioned into the field of ABA. Passionate about the arts and making friends, Kat takes a warm and personal approach to each client, and encourages them to engage in creatively enriching activities during their time in services. Kat is pursuing an RBT career through online education and supervised client sessions.

Kara Minear, RBT

Kara has spent the last 10 years volunteering and working closely with children as well as adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In middle school, she volunteered for Miracle League, a program that provides opportunities for children with disabilities to play baseball.  In high school, she taught adult special education programs at the University of Texas.

She is currently attending the University of Colorado Boulder and is majoring in psychology with a minor in education. Most recently, she has found her passion for working with children diagnosed with ASD, obtaining her RBT certificate in the summer of 2023. 

Kara was born and raised in San Diego, California, and has lived in Boulder since fall of 2021. She spends her free time enjoying the outdoors, playing video games, and being with friends, her partner, and her two Persian cats.

Elly Gross, RBT

Social Skills Coordinator

Elly has always had a passion for working with youth, having a wide scope of experience. After earning her BS in Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University in 2022, Elly moved abroad to teach English alongside of working in childcare.

When not working, Elly’s days are spent with friends, trying new things, and being outside.

Sofia Giannone, RBT

Sofia was born and raised in Colorado. She just received her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Sofia has been working with children for about 8 years now, from working as a camp counselor to working as a student teacher at an afterschool program. Sofia absolutely loves teaching and helping children in any way that she can and seeing their progress over time. 

A few things Sofia loves to do in her free time are go paddle boarding, spend time with her friends, and painting. 

Nahid “Nadi” Rabbaniparsa, LPCC, RBT

Child Psychotherapist

Nadi has recently relocated to the United States after completing her master's degree in educational psychology. Her passion for working with children and helping them reach their full potential is truly inspiring. Nadi firmly believes that patience, empathy, and a positive outlook are invaluable tools for fostering growth and development in young minds.

Nadi is fluent in both Persian (Farsi) and English.

Alex Wegman, RBT

Alex is originally from St. Louis MO and moved to Colorado back in 2023. Since moving to Colorado, Alex has worked as a Direct Support Professional (DSP), supporting individuals with developmental disabilities in day programs as well as working with individuals out in the community. Alex is passionate about helping individuals learn skills that lead to more independence in the future. 

In his free time Alex enjoys playing board games, going on hikes, skiing, whitewater rafting, and playing ultimate frisbee. 

Cheyanne Folk, Behavior Technician

Cheyanne is originally from New Mexico. She received her Bachelors in Psychology at West Texas A&M University. She is exploring ABA Therapy. She love’s to work with children and help them to explore themselves.

Outside of academics, she like to go on trips. Cheyanne loves to read, explore photography, and listen to music.

Courtney Pierce, Behavior Technician

Originally from Austin, Texas, Courtney is brand new to Colorado.  She earned her degree in Photography with a minor in Psychology from St. Edward's University. In addition to photography, Courtney has a background in caregiving, having worked as a nanny for special needs children and participated in Best Buddies during her university years. 

When she's not behind the lens, Courtney enjoys hiking with her dogs, exploring the outdoors, and discovering new restaurants.

Akelah Jara, Registered Behavior Technician

Akelah Graduated with a bachelor's degree in counseling with an emphasis in addiction, chemical dependency, and substance abuse from Grand Canyon University in 2023. During her undergrad program, she became an RBT providing in-home and center-based sessions for three years. She fell in love with ABA and decided to go to grad school to become a BCBA. She believes that working in ABA is the most rewarding job anyone can get. Her clients become like family and she will do everything she can to advocate for them.

She is passionate about having a gentle approach when working with clients and strongly believes that without trust, there will be no progress made. She takes the time to build rapport with all of her clients, ensuring they can feel safe and comfortable when working with her.

Akelah is also a mom of two kids and engaged to be married summer of 2025. When she has free time, she enjoys going on adventures with her family. Even though she was born and raised in Colorado, she can always find new and exciting things to do. If it involves being outdoors, she is all for it!

Jerry Lee, RBT

Jerry had no prior experience with behavioral health or working with those who have learning challenges but after working many unfulfilling jobs, he decided to find a path more align with his passion of supporting and empowering others and that's how he arrived in the world of aba therapy and has been feeling more motivated since becoming a RBT. 

On his free time, Jerry enjoys relaxing and creative hobbies like walking a trail or driving with no destination in mind, sketching or brainstorming stories, and playing games and watching movies and shows, mostly animated.

Jerry plans to further his knowledge in the future by pursuing a degree in psychology and sociology. 

Ebru Haritaoglu, BT

Ebru is going into her senior year at CU Boulder completing a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and has a passion for child development and mental health. She is excited to get more involved in the world of ABA therapy and help kids achieve everyday milestones. She thinks it is incredibly important to instill kids with the skills to be independent and confident in themselves for future success.

In her free time, you can find Ebru reading a book, going to the gym, going to concerts, or spending time outdoors with her friends.

Jordyn Hollinger, BT

Jordyn earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and has experience supporting students in elementary school classrooms through practicum work, and student teaching. She is passionate about helping children learn and grow by creating positive, supportive environments.

In her free time, Jordyn enjoys playing guitar, crafting, reading, and spending time with friends and family.