Meet Our Team

Maryam Abedi, Ph.D., LMFT, BCBA-D

Clinical Director/President

Dr. Maryam Abedi is the Founder and Clinical Director of ABEDI, Inc. She has over 35 years of experience in the management of services for people with complex behavior challenges as well as providing behavior consultation and training. She has spent much of her time consulting with families of individuals with developmental disabilities, schools, residential facilities, and adult foster family agencies. In addition, Dr. Abedi has conducted various seminars and workshops on the topics of non-aversive behavior management strategies and staff development, both locally and nationally.

Dr. Abedi is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is the co-author of The Periodic Service Review, a book on the total quality assurance system for human services and education.

Katie Bruellet, M.A., BCBA

Director of Behavior Services in Orange County

Katie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with a Masters Degree in Teaching with specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis. Katie has over 20 years of experience working with children and adults with developmental disabilities, having extensive experience with those with significant challenging and unsafe behaviors. With 13 years of dedicated service, Katie has been instrumental in overseeing the ABA, Adult Day Program and Behavior Respite Services at ABEDI . As Director of Behavior Services, she has played a major role in the development and expansion of ABEDI services, ensuring that  they align with the ABEDI mission and values. Katie is committed to leading and mentoring the employees of ABEDI, fostering an environment where each person is encouraged and empowered to achieve their goals and full potential. In her free time, Katie enjoys spending quality time with her two children and wife, coaching & serving on the Board of Directors for Ladera Ranch Little League Challenger baseball and reading.

Lizeth Corral, M.A., BCBA

Manager of ABA/AST Services in Los Angeles County

Lizeth is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She earned her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from California State University, Northridge. Lizeth has extensive experience teaching social skills to adolescents with Autism within clinic settings and has conducted parent education classes to help parents create social opportunities for their children while coaching them to be more social. Lizeth joined ABEDI in 2012 and has worked as Behavior Interventionist and later as Consulting Supervisor overseeing both AST and ABA services in the North Los Angeles area. In 2018  Lizeth became manager of ABA/AST services in the North Los Angeles area. Lizeth’s interest lies in research involving family dynamics/ecological factors and their impact on children’s development and growth.

Rebecca Woode, M.S., BCBA

Clinical Supervisor

Rebecca is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst with a deep-rooted commitment to supporting individuals with developmental Disabilities. Her journey in this field is deeply personal, as her passion is inspired by her own experiences as a neurodivergent individual. As a child, Rebecca received specialized instruction to assist with dyslexia and ADHD, which profoundly shaped her understanding and empathy toward the challenges faced by others.

Since earning her B.A. in psychology from Whittier College in 2010, Rebecca has gained experience working in diverse settings, including classrooms and specialized programs such as swim and surf camps for children and young adults on the spectrum. In 2014, she was introduced to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and has since mastered various teaching methodologies, including Discrete Trial Training (DTT), Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), and naturalistic teaching.

Rebecca pursued further education in 2017, earning her M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis to deepen her expertise. Her professional interest include teaching functional communication to early childhood learners and utilizing these skills to address severe challenging behaviors. She is also passionate about demonstrating how ABA principles extend beyond therapy to benefit everyday life and influence the practices of individuals across various settings.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Rebecca enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two daughters, making most of family moments.

Neomi Garzon, M.S., BCBA

Manager of PRIDE Adult Day Service and Behavior Respite in Los Angeles County

Neomi is a Board- Certified Behavior Analyst. She earned her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis from California State university- Northridge. She first started volunteering with individuals with disabilities while still working on earning her bachelor ‘s degree in 2012. Neomi joined ABEDI in 2014 where she has worked with both children and adults. She currently is managing ABEDI’s adult day program and behavior respite services in North Los Angeles area. Neomi also consults with families and specialized group homes that accommodate individuals with severe challenging behaviors in San Fernando area. She is passionate about what she does and is interested in both parent and staff training.

Adham Pirbazari

Coordinator of PRIDE Adult Day/Behavior Respite Services in Los Angeles County

Adham earned his B.A. in psychology from Loyola Marymount University. He joined ABEDI in 2018 as a Behavior Interventionist and in 2021 he became the service coordinator for ABEDI’s Adult Day Program/Behavior Respite Services in the Los Angeles Area. He acts as a liaison between ABEDI and Regional Center. To support those with special needs has always been at the forefront for Adham as he thrives on helping families and finding ways to make their experience with ABEDI a great one. He is very motivated and driven to expand these services to other areas in Los Angeles. Adham also handles other administrative tasks such as on-boarding staff, billing, and invoicing. He loves to travel, engage in outdoor activities, play tennis, going to the gym, listening to music and spending quality time with family and friends.

Rachel Kearsley, M.A., BCBA

Manager of Non-Regional Center Entities/Consulting Supervisor

Rachel is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. She earned her Master’s degree in Behavior Clinical Psychology from California State University- Northridge. Rachel joined ABEDI in 2009. She initially worked as a Behavior Interventionist and later as a Consulting Supervisor overseeing the implementation of ABA services in North Los Angeles area. In 2023, in addition to her responsibilities as a consulting supervisor, Rachel became the Manager of Non-Regional Center Entities where she oversees consultation services that are provided to a number of specialized group homes in Los Angeles area. Rachel has worked with toddlers, preschoolers, elementary school children, teenagers and adults with developmental disabilities, including those on the spectrum throughout her career.

Taryn Magdaleno, M.S., BCBA

Consulting Supervisor

Taryn is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. She earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from Cal State University Los Angeles. Taryn has extensive experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Her experience expands across 10 years and includes working in settings such as a clinic with pre-school age children, multiple ABA agencies as a Behavior Technician, a Paraprofessional and Behavior Intervention Assistant at a non-public school, and Lead Job Coach at a community-based day program. Taryn joined the ABEDI team in 2021 and works hard to ensure that all individuals, their families, and staff are well supported. In her free time, Taryn enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews and watching Netflix with her husband Kyle and their dog Kimba.

Judy Pawid, M.S., BCBA

Consulting Supervisor

Judy earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from Cal State Fullerton in 2015. In 2016, She was introduced to the field of ABA. She became a RBT and focused mainly on early intervention and working with neurodiverse individuals between the ages of 2 to 10 years old.

Judy decided to go back to school for her Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2018. She earned her BCBA certification in 2021 and since then, has been expanding her experience and collaborations with various populations and stakeholders at ABEDI. Outside of work, Judy enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dogs. She likes hiking and exploring new trails and going to the beach. Judy also enjoys making time to travel and explore new places.

Trace Goslin

Manager of Behavior Respite Services in Orange County

Trace joined ABEDI in 2017, initially serving in a dual role position before recently dedicating her full attention to managing the Behavior Respite Services. Born, raised, and educated in Wellington, New Zealand, Trace earned her bachelor’s degree in early education form Welling Teachers College. She moved to the United States in 1992, when her teaching career focused on individuals with special needs, primarily within the private sector. Over the course of her career, Trace has gained extensive experience working with individuals of all ages, from preschoolers to adults with developmental disabilities, particularly those with Autism and Down Syndrome. As the manager of Behavior Respite Services, she has developed significant expertise in managing relationships with families and clients. Her focus on behavior respite services at ABEDI has equipped her with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively support and manage many individuals and their families.  Trace remains deeply committed to providing the highest quality care and support to those in her charge.

Emma Furdui, M.A., BCBA

Consulting Supervisor

Emma is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. She earned her Master’s Degree from Chapman University in 2021 in special education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. Since 2018 she has been working with individuals with disabilities and unique needs leading her to volunteering at Leaps and Bounds Pediatric Therapy in Norco, CA. Since joining ABEDI in 2022, she has been expanding her knowledge and experience with various populations and settings. Primarily working with children and young adults, Emma sees potential and unique abilities of each individual. She is passionate about teaching life skills, and functional communication so that each individual can reach their potential. Outside of work, Emma loves to travel, hike/bike, and watch master chef/various Ramsey shows.

Ali Sharon, M.S., BCBA

Consulting Supervisor

Ali earned her Bachelor’s degree from Elon University in 2017. After graduation Ali began her work in the field as an assistant teacher and behavior interventionist in a non-public school. Outside of work, Ali has been an active participant in an ABA session for one of her family members. As a family member of someone on the spectrum, Ali understands the importance of ABA and it’s significant impact on the quality of life of those receiving ABA services. Ali began pursuing her career in ABA in 2020, when she obtained her RBT certification. At ABEDI, Ali developed clinical experience working with neurodiverse individuals ranging from 1-18 years old. Ali earned her Master’s Degree in ABA from National University and obtained her BCBA certification in 2023. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dogs, Titan and Athena, and exploring new place with her family.

Lizeth Guillen, M.S., BCBA

Consulting Supervisor/CPI Instructor

Lizeth is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst who is also the Crisis Prevention Instructor for ABEDI. Lizeth was introduced to the field of Applied Behavior Analysis when she was a behavior interventionist. She later on went on to work as a supervisor for an Adult Day Program. Lizeth earned her Master’s Degree in ABA in 2022 and has since continued to achieve a broad experience working with children and adults from different populations at different level of disabilities and challenging behaviors. Outside of work, Lizeth enjoys spending time with her wife and their pets. She also enjoys hiking, reading, and watching movies on her spare time.

Azita Saketkhou, M.S., BCBA

Consulting Supervisor

Azita is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. She holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Pepperdine University. Azita joined ABEDI in 2019, initially serving as a Behavior Interventionist and later as a Consulting Supervisor, overseeing the implementation of ABA services. Throughout her career, Azita has worked with children and adults with developmental disabilities, primarily those with Autism. Outside of work, Azita enjoys spending quality time with her family, friends, and her beloved dog. She finds pleasure in cooking, walking by the beach, and gardening.

Chelsea Barrera

Lead PRIDE Supervisor

Chelsea is a dedicated Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) who is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) while gaining supervised experience hours towards becoming a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). With a career in the field that began in 2013 as a job coach, Chelsea has steadily advanced her clinical skills and expertise. Joining ABEDI in 2015 as a Job Coach within the PRIDE department, Chelsea has demonstrated her commitment to growth and development by taking on various roles within multiple departments. Within the ABA sector, Chelsea excelled as the lead parent trainer and supervisor, showcasing her leadership abilities and clinical competence. Presently, Chelsea serves as the Lead PRIDE Supervisor, providing invaluable oversight to the day program and support staff. Always striving to enhance the experiences of those she works with, Chelsea’s dedication to her clients and colleagues is evident. Additionally, Chelsea holds ARCE certification adding to her diverse skill set and background. Her passion for the field and commitment to continuous improvement make her an invaluable asset to the ABEDI team.

Cathy Finneran

Manager of Administrative Services

Cathy joined ABEDI in 2023 with extensive experience as an Office and Human Resources Manager. She has built a diverse and impactful career through her dedication to both people and professional growth. During the time she served as a public-school Administrator, she supported Special Education, amongst the other departments, a role that deepened her love of individuals with varied learning needs and a strong desire to make a difference in the lives of their families. In her role as Manager of Administrative Services at ABEDI, Cathy oversees all Human Resources related matters, Insurance and Billing and any other office administrative needs. She holds the SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional) Certification, solidifying her knowledge in Human Resources Management. Additionally, she has earned a Paralegal Certification, which further highlights her multifaceted skill set and ability to navigate complex administrative matters. Raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she is fluent in both Spanish and English, a skill that has served her well throughout her professional journey. She has passion for leadership, fostering inclusive, supportive work environments and support of our families with excellence in customer service. Outside of work, Cathy enjoys the outdoors, traveling, dancing, reading nonfiction books and creating meaningful memories with friends and family.

Marjan Abedi

Business Administrator

Marjan has joined the ABEDI team in 2014 with 30 years of administrative and financial experience when she left her position at UCLA. She manages the day-to-day operations of ABEDI’s North Los Angeles office and oversees accounts payable and receivable as well as managing purchases and expenses. Marjan has been a strong advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities and her position at ABEDI present her with the opportunity to not only exercise her administrative skills but to work closely to those with developmental disabilities. She is always eager and ready to extend her helping hands to those in need. Outside of work, Marjan loves to cook for her family and friends and to travel.