The ABA workforce is undergoing a generational and demographic shift that most leadership structures in the field were not designed to accommodate. Millennials now constitute the largest share of the workforce; Gen Z is projected to double within five years.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via Council of Autism Service Providers
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Join Free →In the dynamic field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), service providers often employ a workforce of young professionals, many of whom begin their careers as behavior technicians. Each generation brings increased diversity, with employees representing a range of gender identities, racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and abilities. Millennials now constitute the largest portion of the workforce, while Gen Z is projected to double within the next five years (Wilson & Meyer, 2021; Noor, 2024). As these generational shifts occur, traditional leadership models—often reflective of older supervisors—may not resonate with or meet the needs of this younger, more diverse workforce. This presentation explores the evolving leadership landscape in ABA services, emphasizing the necessity of adopting inclusive and responsive leadership styles. Attendees will gain insights into how reflective, values-orientated leadership practices foster a culture of equity and belonging, enhance employee satisfaction, and drive superior business outcomes. Through evidence-based strategies, actionable steps, and real-world examples, participants will learn to create systems prioritizing equity and inclusivity. Leaders can cultivate happier teams and achieve sustained organizational success by aligning leadership practices with the values and expectations of a changing workforce.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | Supervision |
| APA | 0 | — |
| COA | 1 | — |
Dr. Kerri Milyko came upon behavior analysis as a student of Dr. Henry Pennypacker at the University of Florida. Upon his encouragement, she forged a path that led to the University of Nevada-Reno studying under Dr. Patrick Ghezzi and then, as an entrepreneur opening precision teaching clinics in Tampa and Reno. Professionally, Dr. Kerri has started various ABA practices (Precision Teaching Learning Center; Agile Learning Solutions; The Learning Consultants), and has applied her behavior-analytic instructional design skills to a software company (CentralReach) where she worked with product managers in designing digital solutions for ABA providers. She now unites these skills as Vice President of Clinical Development at Centria Autism and Life Skills Autism Academy - not only creating products and systems to improve the service delivery of ABA, but working with clinicians to ensure the implementation and support of these products and services are sustainable in a large organization. Her primary behavior analytic foci are instructional and systems design, performance thinking, measurement and data analysis, and compassionate-focused applied behavior analysis. Finally, Dr. Kerri volunteers on various boards. In 2019, she was elected to serve 3 years on the Board of Directors for the Standard Celeration Society where she served 2 years as the Chairperson. In the same year, she was appointed by the governor of Nevada to serve on the first-ever Board of Applied Behavior Analysts to create ABA practice regulations for the state for licensure where she served as President in 2019. In August of 2021, she was elected as a Trustee of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. She actively serves on the Professional Standards Committee for CalABA and is the Teaching Behavior Area Coordinator for ABAI. Personally, Kerri values quality time with her three children, her husband, and dear friends. She loves wine and butter, true crime podcasts, and a good sci-fi novel while tinkering in her backyard.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
239 research articles with practitioner takeaways
200 research articles with practitioner takeaways
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.