Dr. Ronit M. Molko is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of children with autism. She has a Master’s degree in Applied Developmental Psychology and a Doctorate degree in Human Development and Family Life. Dr. Molko completed a post-Doctoral fellowship at UCLA, focusing on behavioral assessment and intervention, treatment planning, and individual and group therapy for children and adults with autism and genetic disorders. She has taught graduate-level courses on classroom-based positive behavioral support and comprehensive programming, and has presented papers at workshops and local and national professional conferences. She co-founded AST with Dr. William Frea, BCBA-D, in 2000. Dr. Molko was the co-chair of the Insurance Workgroup of the North Los Angeles County Regional Task Force (NLAART) of the California Senate Select Committee on Autism & Related Disorders. The Insurance Workgroup focused on expanding private insurance coverage for evidence-based autism therapies. Dr. Molko is a recipient of a 2012 Enterprising Women of the Year award, an annual tribute to top women entrepreneurs from North America and around the globe. She also received a 2011 Smart Leader award, which recognizes her innovative contributions to the business community and autism services. Her current work within AST focuses on the development of innovative programs and new service offerings for infants and children with autism and other developmental needs as well as infants at risk for developmental delays.

Dr. William Frea is an autism expert with a background in clinical psychology, speech pathology, special education, family therapy and social development. He earned a Master’s degree in Speech Pathology and a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology. His clinical training was at the University of California, Santa Barbara. There he worked in what is now the Koegel Autism Center. He also completed a clinical internship at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a research fellowship at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Frea created the autism program at California State University, Los Angeles, and secured federal funding to grow it into one of the largest university-based training programs for autism professionals in the United States. He has written and presented extensively over the course of his career.

Dr. Frea has served on numerous editorial boards, and is an associate editor for the Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions. Dr. Frea has served on many advisory boards including Autism Speaks, Los Angeles, the California State Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism, and the Autism Spectrum Disorders Guidelines for Effective Interventions Committee, which is a project of the California Department of Developmental Services. He participated in the National Standards Project, which evaluates the evidence base for autism treatments, and was the Moderator and Co-Chair of the Insurance Workgroup of the North Los Angeles County Regional Task Force (NLAART) of the California Senate Select Committee on Autism & Related Disorders—a Workgroup focused on expanding private insurance coverage for evidence-based autism therapies in California. Dr. Frea’s current work within AST focuses on the development of innovative programs and outcomes.

Gary D. Weinhouse, Esq. is a strategic, results-oriented and hands-on President with domestic and international experience building value in high-growth, privately held companies. Gary’s background includes more than a decade of experience with healthcare organizations and a deep understanding of the healthcare and medical field. Gary served as CEO of Liens, LLC, a private equity-backed, prominent healthcare services firm. Prior to that, Gary served as CEO of California Cryobank, Inc., one of the largest and most prominent reproductive tissue banks in the world, and Family Cord, an umbilical cord blood processing and storage company. He has also served as interim COO/CFO/EVP Legal Affairs for Al & Ed’s Autosound, as COO/CFO and Secretary of eteamz.com, and as Director of Operations and In House Counsel for Myo Diagnostics, Inc. (MPR Health Systems). Gary graduated with High Honors, Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude from the University of California, Los Angeles (College Honors Graduate) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from UCLA Anderson School of Management, a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from Loyola Law School, and a Financial Consulting (PFP) professional designation from UCLA. Gary is a member of the California State Bar (1993), is licensed to practice in federal and California state courts, and was elected to Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), Malibu Chapter.

Robert S. Chilton has been Chief Financial Officer for AST since September 2010, but also served as Interim Chief Financial Officer for five months prior to accepting his current role. From 2003 to 2010, Mr. Chilton was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for HemaCare Corporation, a publicly traded blood products and therapeutic services company. In addition, from 2008 to 2010 he served as General Manager of HemaCare’s Blood Services Division and served on the board of directors. From 1999 to 2003, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Preferred Health Management, Inc, a workers’ compensation specialty health care services company. Mr. Chilton also served on the board of directors of Preferred Health Management from 2001 to 2003. From 1997 through 1999, he was Chief Financial Officer for OrthAlliance, Inc., a management services organization for orthodontic and pediatric dental practices. Mr. Chilton served as OrthAlliance’s CFO during their successful Initial Public Offering in 1997. He previously was Vice President – Controller for E & S Ring Management Company and Controller for Karl Storz Endoscopy-America, Inc. In addition, Mr. Chilton previously was with KPMG Peat Marwick. He received his Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles and is a Certified Public Accountant (Inactive). In October 2007, Mr. Chilton successfully completed the UCLA Directorship Training and Certification program.

Dr. Andrea Ridgway received her Ph.D. in school psychology from Louisiana State University. She completed a pre-doctoral internship at the Marcus Institute and Emory University with an emphasis in applied behavior analysis, developmental disabilities and behavioral pediatrics. Dr. Ridgway is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral and a licensed psychologist in both California and Louisiana. Her professional experience includes the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with a variety of developmental disabilities and behavior disorders in school, home, community and clinic settings. She has presented at numerous national and international conferences and authored several articles for peer-reviewed journals such as School Psychology Quarterly and the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. In addition, Dr. Ridgway has served as a guest reviewer for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. She was a member of the Early Identification and Treatment Workgroup of the North Los Angeles County Regional Task Force (NLAART) of the California Senate Select Committee on Autism & Related Disorders. Dr. Ridgway has also taught a graduate level ABA course at California State University, Los Angeles. Her current research interests include the differential and combined effects of behavioral interventions and pharmacotherapy and the assessment and treatment of challenging behavior.

Rob Haupt has spent the last nine years working with children and adolescents with autism and other developmental disabilities. He specializes in training parents and school staff to support children with autism using positive behavioral support strategies. Mr. Haupt has also received extensive training in ABA methodologies, including Discrete Trial Training, Picture Exchange Communication System, social skills curriculum, functional communication training and self-management. He has presented his research and workshops at state and national ABA conferences. Prior to AST, Mr. Haupt spent five years working with individuals with disabilities. While at the New England Center for Children, he specialized in treating children with severe behavioral disorders using ABA techniques. He attended California State University, Los Angeles where he completed his Master’s degree in Counseling with a focus on ABA, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Presently, Mr. Haupt teaches an ABA fieldwork course at California State University, Los Angeles.

Lindi Funston is a seasoned healthcare human resource expert with more than 30 years’ experience in settings ranging from community-based and non-profit healthcare to faith-based healthcare. Ms. Funston began her career as a Director of Human Resources in a non-profit setting. She re-created the human resource department in a small, community-based hospital in Northern California, and later moved to Southern California where she worked in the for-profit sector with American Medical International (AMI). She was Vice President for two of AMI’s hospitals in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley.

Ms. Funston was also Vice President of Human Resources for a Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Kansas hospital in Montana, and later in Santa Monica, California, where she served for 12 years as Vice President of Human Resources at Saint John’s Hospital and Health Center. Providing a broad scope of knowledge into hospital operations, a variety of other departments reported to her during that time. These included foodservice, environmental service, volunteer staffing, security, office building management and the chemical dependency program.