Meet the RHS BCBA Team
RHS Board-Certified Behavior Analysts
The Round Hill Services team of Board-Certified Behavior Analysts have a track record of success. In guiding progress toward independent adult life for a young client with Autism/ID, this group of Board-Certified Behavior Analysts developed effective methods to foster growth for others. Clients gain the benefit of highly tailored individualized care plans based on the best behavioral research – and over 30 years combined clinical experience.
Melinda Garito
“I am passionate about using the science of behavior to impact positive change with an approach that is evidence-based, systematic, and comprehensive.”
Melinda Garito, M.A., BCBA
Melinda earned her credentials as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst in 2012. She has worked with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental health diagnoses since 2007. After earning her M.A. in Clinical Counseling from Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, she completed post-Masters coursework in Applied Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology. Ms. Desmarais has implemented Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with children, adolescents, and adults across a variety of settings. She has provided consultation and treatment for individuals with high-risk behaviors alongside Dr. Richard Foxx, BCBA-D. Melinda has been on the Round Hill Services team since its inception, and continues to provide specialized behavioral support services for adult individuals with complex needs. She makes it her mission to expand opportunities for skill development, independence, and community inclusion. Contributing to the professional advancement of ABA, she serves as Secretary for the Pennsylvania Association for Behavior Analysis.
Melinda has a special interest in how the science of behavior can be applied to a wide array of socially significant human problems at both individual and systems-wide levels. Melinda has presented professionally on the topic of sexual harassment and ABA and is currently conducting research on this issue.
Heather Richards
“I am excited to be part of a talented team of professionals dedicated to offering ABA strategies to adults and their supporters. In teaching functional communication skills, this opens the door of opportunities for continuous social and personal growth.”
Heather Richards, M.A., BCBA
Heather earned her credentials as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst in 2022. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University . She earned her Bachelor’s in Science from Drexel University and has over 12 years of experience working with adults diagnosed with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism. Heather has worked in residential homes in various roles assisting adults of all ages with expanding social and functional skills to provide the opportunity for their utmost independence. More recently, Heather was the Director of multiple Adult Day Programs, including facility and community-based, in-home, and older adult services. Heather has been involved in the implementation of restrictive procedures and served as a trainer teaching safe interventions when working with challenging behaviors.
Throughout her experiences across various settings, she recognized the gap between children and adult services and the limited therapeutic support available, causing the regression of skills following graduation. In her previous position she collaborated with a Speech Language Pathologist in the development of an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) team which continues to provide adults access to individualized communication methods in Lancaster and surrounding counties.
Jeffrey Garito
“We have yet to truly tap the potential of the science of learning to help society.”
Jeffrey Garito, M.A., BCBA
Jeff Garito has been a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2003. Mr. Garito earned both his Bachelor of Science in Psychology and his Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis at Pennsylvania State University. While attending Penn State, Jeff conducted research regarding replacing echolalia with more functional language. He also completed internships designing and implementing a home-based ABA program for a young child with autism and assisting in the Outpatient Clinic at the Hershey Feeding Program.
Jeff worked for the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 helping to establish ABA-based services. This work entailed supervising an Intensive Behavior Support Classroom, consulting across 22 school districts, and providing training to IU staff. Jeff worked closely with Dr. Richard M. Foxx, BCBA-D starting at Penn State and continuing for another 16 years providing ABA services to children, adolescents, and young adults with severe problem behavior and who were at risk or currently hospitalized across Pennsylvania. Maintaining Safe Crisis Management certification since 2007, Mr. Garito also teaches psychology at Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg. Jeff believes Applied Behavior Analysis has yet to be fully understood by the general public. “Just as physics revealed the laws of gravity, the science of behavior has revealed that behavior is lawful. Being lawful, we have learned how to change the environment and thereby, change behavior in measurable and more importantly, socially significant ways. We have yet to truly tap the potential of the science of learning to help society.”
Nicole Mastromatto
“Giving my best to the students with the hardest challenges has always been rewarding for me. Working with Round Hill Services offers me the chance to model excellence in applied behavior analysis.”
Nicole Mastromatto, M.A., BCBA
Nicole obtained her BCBA certification in March of 2021. She earned her Master's Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Pennsylvania State University in Harrisburg and completed her internship with us at Round Hill Services. Nicole has over 9 years of experience beginning her career in public schools teaching general and special education students where she developed an interest in behavior analysis. Currently, she is continuing her work at Round Hill as a BCBA providing behavior support services across home, community, and job site settings with our adult clients.