Learn more about our behavioral professionals.
Our team
FOUNDER
Justin Creech, BCBA, LBA
Justin Creech earned his certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Medicine in 2018. He became endorsed as a Positive Behavior Support Facilitator in 2006. He has a Master's degree in Professional Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology. In 2007, he started Positive Behavior Consulting, LLC. In 2010, he received the “Linking people, changing lives” award for making a significant difference on behalf of self-advocates and families presented at the 25th anniversary of VCU’s Partnership for People with Disabilities.
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR
Darcy Creech, PBSF
Darcy Creech became an endorsed Positive Behavior Support Facilitator in 2006. She worked as an Intellectual Disability Service Coordinator for 13 years before becoming the Administrative Director at Positive Behavior Consulting, LLC. She coordinates all referral and intake services for BCBA's, Positive Behavior Supports, and Mentoring. Darcy provides professional business training and consultation to individuals and companies interested in providing DD waiver services. She provides DD waiver billing services for our company and others.
BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT
Jamie Bass, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA
Jamie Bass is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who received her B.S. and M. Ed. from Virginia Commonwealth University. Jamie has been certified since 2010 and has worked with individuals in school, home, clinic, and residential settings. Jamie especially enjoys working with teens and adults where she gets the opportunity to help them identify their values and passions in life. She then works with the individual, and anyone they would like to include on the journey, to learn skills and set goals to move them closer to a life that brings them joy. Jamie uses Acceptance and Commitment Training in her own life, as well as professionally for individuals, their families, and caregivers. Jamie enjoys collaborating with everyone on the individual's team and finds that working together as a team leads to the most successful services.
Outside of her behavior analytic work, Jamie enjoys spending time with her two fun-loving kids and wonderful husband. She and her husband provide Supported Living residential services through the Faison Center's Family Partner Program and for the past 10 years have supported a funny and beautiful woman with ASD on her daily journey through life. Jamie is an avid animal lover and lives with two adopted dogs and a cat. She loves bird watching, puzzling, and playing card/board games in her spare time.
BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT
Lisa M. Ellinger, MSW, PBSF
Lisa became an endorsed Positive Behavior Support Facilitator in 2017. She earned an undergraduate degree in clinical and developmental psychology from Hollins University and a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Lisa is also a Virginia-LEND graduate from VCU's Partnership for People with Disabilities. Lisa began supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in 1993, and has experience working with children and adults in residential and day support settings. She currently works as a DD support coordination supervisor at Hanover Community Services Board and provides behavior consultation for individuals in Chesterfield, Henrico, and Richmond areas.
BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT
Arkemia “Kim” Evans-Cobbs, PBSF
Arkemia “Kim” Evans-Cobbs is a Positive Behavior Support Facilitator who serves as an advocate and provides therapeutic behavior consultation to individuals with developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health diagnosis. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Consumer Behavior from Colorado Technical University in November 2016.
Mrs. Cobbs has a drive, commitment and passion to help others. She has over 20 years of experience working with people with developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, mental health counseling, intensive in-home counseling, and behavior support. Kim has also served as a volunteer coach for the Special Olympics of VA.
Kim is known for her charismatic personality, humor and compassion for others. She enjoys spending time with her family and her two Chihuahua’s, listening to music, karaoke and playing the guitar. She is located in Henrico County and serves individuals in Richmond, Va and surrounding counties.
BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT
Michelle Gestwick (and Luna), PBSF
Michelle has been a Positive Behavior Support Facilitator since 2006, endorsed in June 2020. She has over thirty years of experience working with individuals with Intellectual Disorders and Autism, along with behavioral difficulties.
She has worked, in multiple day and residential settings, with both adults and children, verbal and non-verbal. While owning It’s A New Day, LLC, Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Professional and Liberal Studies with a concentration in Autism (Spring 2018). She then achieved Board endorsement in June 2020 and began being a Behavior Consultant through Positive Behavior Consulting, LLC, where she now focuses on Positive Behavior Support, within the Powhatan, Goochland, Henrico, Richmond, Chesterfield, and Petersburg areas.
She and her service dog, Luna, have served many, in their private homes, group homes, day support, and community settings, as their Positive Behavior Support Facilitator. For Michelle, this is not a job, it is a career, well, a lifestyle as she has been inspired and supported by her family, church community, professional colleagues, and spiritual life. It’s A New Day means we start again each day, forgive the past, and move forward as a team to assist these individuals to have a life like ours.
Michelle enjoys studying theology, being with her family (husband Paul, daughter Anna, and son William), drawing/creating, being with and training dogs, working with and educating others about her service dog (Luna), being challenged to learn/develop skills to change behavior, and figuring out what is needed to be communicated and how to be positive in making change in communication for people to get their wants, needs, and desires met.
BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT
Ashlea Krouse, BCBA
Ashlea has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2014 and is licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine. She has her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Master of Science in Special Education from VCU. Ashlea has 15+ years of experience working in the field of Behavior Analysis in a variety of settings and most recently worked as the Director of Student Services for a private day school overseeing their transition and employment training programs. She has experience providing consultation services for group homes and school settings. Ashlea is passionate about working with caregivers to ensure behavior supports are effective for the individual and help support their independence and quality of life. Outside of work, Ashlea has two children, loves to travel, and enjoys being out in nature.
BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT
V.J. Petillo, MS, PBSF
V. J. was endorsed as a Positive Behavior Support Facilitator in Virginia in 2006. He has a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. A significant part of V. J.’s work throughout his career has involved directly providing and/or developing behavioral supports.
V. J.’s experiences in the field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities dates back to 1991, when he started working in a group home in Ohio. Since that time, he’s worked in a wide-variety of service settings, including: residential services, supported employment, exceptional education, case management, private practice as a behavioral consultant, and crisis prevention and intervention. Most recently, V. J. has worked for REACH Region 4 in the capacity of Behavior Consultant and is now in a part-time role as the REACH Region 4 System Trainer. V. J. is also a member of the Virginia PBS Board and the PBS Endorsement Board.
V. J. loves spending time with his wife of over 30 years, Ronda, and his two daughters, Maddalena and Gianna.V. J. has an additional Master’s Degree in Theology and is a Deacon in the Catholic Church, in which he also takes an active part.
Mentor
Crystal D. Stokes
Crystal completed her Bachelor's in Theatre and Business at Averett University in 2005. She spent two years performing in musical theatre, and then five year’s house managing at two large non-profit theatres in Washington DC. She later moved to Richmond Virginia and started working as a TA at a local school for Autism, from there she worked with autistic individuals in several capacities. She has case managed, managed day supports and group homes. She has also mentored young adults for several years. Her core job duties include serving as a positive role model, providing support and assistance, and engaging individuals in enriching community-based experiences tailored to their interests and needs. Crystal strives to assist children and adolescents to develop coping skills to navigate some of the most challenging life circumstances and has played a huge rule in many success stories. Crystal is exceptionally skilled in facilitating team meetings and incorporating education and learning into fun and engaging activities. Crystal has several community connections that really make her mentoring style unique.
BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT
MikeThornton, PBSF
Mike became endorsed as a positive behavior support facilitator in 2020 and has had extensive education and experience in the human services industry. Mike attended Mary Washington College (now University) and received undergraduate degrees in both Psychology and Business. Mike then went on to graduate school at George Mason University studying Special Education. Mike’s work experience in related fields is vast including teaching, counseling for adolescents, employment support and most recently providing positive behavior supports. Mike also serves in other business-related roles and does strategic business development and root cause analysis for large projects. Outside of work, Mike spends most of his free time with his wife and small (chipmunk size) dogs and enjoys riding motorcycles, snowboarding and otherwise being outside.
BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT
Connie Vaughn, BS, QMHP-A, PBSF
Connie became a Positive Behavior Support Facilitator in March 2020. She is a graduate of Liberty University in Psychology/ Counseling. In 2000, she also earned an Associate Degree in Sign Language Interpretation and enjoys working with the deaf. Connie is an ASL interpreter at her church and in her community. For over 15 years, she was teacher in private and public schools, including special education. She believes in individualized person-centered education to meet the needs of each student. For almost five years, Connie has been a Program Manager for Wall Residences Inc and supported people with the DD/ID Waiver. In addition, Connie is a Sponsored Residential Provider for her sister, who has a diagnosis of Intellectual Disability. She has the insights and experience from the perspective as a caretaker for a family member and supporter of the lovely folks with the DD/ID waiver. Connie is passionate about her work with providing behavioral supports. Communication is one of the keys to success to building independence, self-advocacy, and improving the quality of life! On a personal note, Connie has three grown children, three grandchildren, loves animals, and enjoys nature.
BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT
Willona Walker, PBSF
Willona Walker became an endorsed Positive Behavior Support Facilitator in 2011. She has worked with at risk youth, children, and adults with special needs for nearly 20 years. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science and Associates in Business Management. Willona is certified in CPR, First Aid, TOVA, and Medication Administration. She currently works as a training specialist at Henrico County Day Support and provides behavior consultation for individuals in the Richmond area.
BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT
Daphne Weaver, PBSF
is an Endorsed Positive Behavior Support Facilitator and is currently a Behavioral Consultant with Central Region REACH. Daphne received her Master’s Degree in Counseling from Longwood University and has been a Positive Behavior Support Facilitator for over 10 years. Since 2000, Daphne has worked in a variety of settings directly providing behavioral support to adults with ID/DD and mental health diagnoses. She worked with and then supervised the Behavior Team at CSH from 2000-2010, was the Assistant Director of Psychology at SVTC from 2011 until its’ closure, then served for over 5 years as the Developmental Services Director for Crossroads Community Services Board prior to joining REACH. Daphne has also provided part-time consultation over the years for Good Neighbor Community Group Homes.
BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT
Tina Yacovone, BCBA, LBA
Tina earned certification as a Board Certified Analyst in 2016 and is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Medicine. She has her Masters of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from Capella University. Tina spent 25 years as a military spouse before their family chose Richmond as their forever home in 2012. It is then that she continued her education and certification in behavior analysis. She has been a Senior Clinical Supervisor. Tina has recently switched her focus to behavior consultation and supporting adults as she herself is supporting an adult and a teenage son who are both diagnosed with moderate to severe developmental and intellectual disabilities.