Meet the Guiding Stars ABA Team
Clinical Leadership
Chris Thomas, MS, BCBA, LBA
Owner & CEO | Clinical Director
Chris Thomas is the Owner and CEO of Guiding Stars ABA and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with more than 20 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and adults with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). His experience spans early childhood through adulthood and includes clinical, educational, residential, and community-based settings.
Chris spent much of his professional career in Pennsylvania, where he gained extensive experience providing behavioral and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services. He is currently licensed in Pennsylvania as a Licensed Behavior Specialist (LBS) and continues to provide behavioral services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Reading area. In addition to his work as an LBS and ABA provider, Chris has held positions in school settings as a Life Skills Teacher and served as a Regional Clinical Director for a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program supporting individuals with mental health and substance use needs. Chris is also a Certified Investigator in Pennsylvania through the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), further contributing to his extensive background in behavioral health and developmental disability services.
Chris earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminology from Albright College, a Master’s degree in Human Services Administration from Kaplan University, and a postgraduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Capella University.
Although much of Chris’s professional career was spent in Pennsylvania, Hampton Roads has always been home. Having grown up in the Hampton Roads area, Chris returned to Virginia and is proud to bring more than two decades of clinical, behavioral health, educational, and leadership experience back to the community that helped shape him.
Chris believes that effective ABA services begin with truly getting to know the individual, not simply a diagnosis or treatment plan. His experience across ages and settings has reinforced his belief that services should be individualized, practical, and meaningful to everyday life. He values recognizing each person’s strengths, listening to families and caregivers, collaborating with other professionals, and developing goals that support meaningful growth, independence, and quality of life.
As the founder of Guiding Stars ABA, Chris is committed to building a practice where clinical quality, ethical care, family collaboration, and respect for each individual remain at the heart of every service provided. His goal is to create an environment where families feel welcomed and supported, staff feel valued and equipped to provide excellent care, and every individual has the opportunity to grow in ways that are meaningful to them.
Shavonne, MS, BCaBA
Shavonne is a Portsmouth, Virginia native and dedicated professional in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University, and she later obtained a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis with a concentration in Organizational Behavior Management from Capella University.
Shavonne began her journey in the ABA field working directly with clients for five years before advancing into the role of Behavior Analyst. Her passion for the field is deeply personal, as she is the proud mother of three boys, two of whom have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Their experiences inspired her commitment to supporting individuals with developmental differences and advocating for families navigating similar journeys. Shavonne is passionate about empowering others through education, mentorship, and meaningful collaboration within the ABA field.
Through her work, Shavonne continues to make a lasting impact by combining professional expertise with lived experience, creating a supportive and relatable approach to behavior analysis and family advocacy.
Administrative
Heather Thomas, CPCO, SMQT
Executive Director | Compliance Officer
Heather serves as the Executive Director and Compliance Officer of Guiding Stars ABA, bringing more than 20 years of experience across behavioral health and healthcare. Her professional background includes direct care, program operations, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, staff education, and organizational leadership.
Throughout her career, Heather has worked across residential care, juvenile justice, outpatient behavioral health, and geriatric healthcare settings. Her experience includes managing a psychiatric rehabilitation program before transitioning into quality and regulatory leadership, where she has developed and strengthened compliance, quality assurance, and staff education programs. Her leadership experience also includes serving as a Compliance Officer for a large outpatient behavioral health practice, overseeing quality and regulatory compliance for multiple PACE centers, and serving as a Medical Facility Inspector with the Virginia Department of Health. Heather also provides compliance and quality consulting to behavioral and mental health service organizations in both Virginia and Pennsylvania, supporting providers in strengthening their compliance, quality, and operational practices.
Heather brings extensive experience as a trainer and educator, developing and delivering staff education focused on compliance, quality, policies and procedures, regulatory requirements, and professional best practices. Earlier in her career, she earned credentials as a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) and Child & Family Resiliency Practitioner (CFRP). She currently holds the Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO) credential through AAPC and has also earned SMQT certification through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
At Guiding Stars ABA, Heather oversees operations and compliance with a strong focus on building effective quality, compliance, and staff education systems that support the organization as it grows. She believes these efforts should extend beyond meeting regulatory requirements—they should promote ethical practices, strengthen staff knowledge and confidence, and directly contribute to the quality and consistency of services provided to children and families.
Staff education, ongoing coaching, and continuous improvement are central to Heather’s leadership philosophy and the culture of Guiding Stars ABA. She is passionate about creating an organization where staff feel supported and prepared to succeed and where quality, accountability, and ethical care are reflected in everyday practice.
BTs & RBTs
Traci, RBT
Traci is a Registered Behavioral Technician who brings more than 20 years of experience supporting individuals with autism across hospital, school, clinic, home, and community settings. Her extensive professional experience has shaped her commitment to individualized, practical supports that promote meaningful skills and greater independence.
Her connection to autism is also deeply personal. Traci is the proud mother of a young man with moderate to severe autism who has benefited from ABA throughout his life. Today, he enjoys meaningful work, friendships, community involvement, and competing as a Special Olympics basketball athlete.
As both a professional and a parent, Traci brings a unique combination of experience, compassion, and firsthand understanding to the children and families she supports.
Abigail, RBT | Analyst Student
Abigail joined Guiding Stars ABA as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) while continuing to advance her education and clinical experience in Applied Behavior Analysis. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Slippery Rock University in 2025 and is currently completing her final year of a Master of Education in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis.
Abigail brings enthusiasm, compassion, and a strong desire to learn to her work with children and families. She is passionate about creating positive learning experiences, building meaningful relationships with clients, and helping each child develop skills that support greater independence and success in everyday life.
She looks forward to continuing to grow as an ABA professional while helping the children and families of Guiding Stars ABA learn, grow, and reach meaningful goals together
Caira, BT
Caira is a dedicated Behavior Technician (BT) who brings compassion, patience, and enthusiasm to her work with children and families. She is passionate about supporting children with autism as they develop meaningful skills, build confidence, and work toward greater independence in their everyday lives.
Caira believes that every child has unique strengths and potential. She strives to create a positive, encouraging, and supportive environment where children feel comfortable learning, exploring new skills, and celebrating their progress along the way.
Currently, Caira is working toward her Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification while continuing to expand her knowledge and hands-on experience in Applied Behavior Analysis. She continues to pursue a career in social work, reflecting her broader passion for supporting individuals, families, and communities.
Outside of work, Caira enjoys reading, learning new things, and continuing to expand her knowledge. Her genuine desire to help others continues to guide both her personal growth and her developing career in human services.
Kaliyah, RBT
Kaliyah is a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) who enjoys building meaningful connections with the children she supports. She especially enjoys discovering each child’s interests, preferred activities, and motivators and using them to make learning engaging, positive, and rewarding.
Kaliyah is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Social Work at Norfolk State University. Following graduation, she plans to earn her Master of Social Work and ultimately become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
With a passion for working with children and a commitment to continued professional growth, Kaliyah is excited to continue expanding her knowledge and experience while making a positive difference in the lives of the children and families she serves.
Troy, RBT
Troy is a dedicated Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) with a background in behavioral health and experience supporting individuals with developmental and behavioral needs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Passionate about making a positive difference, Troy enjoys building meaningful relationships with her clients and helping them strengthen communication, independence, and confidence. She takes a person-centered approach to care and strives to create a supportive, encouraging environment where each client feels valued, understood, and motivated to grow.
Gabby, RBT
Gabby is a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) who truly enjoys being part of the everyday moments that help children grow. For her, one of the best parts of being an RBT is getting to know each child, discovering what makes them smile, and having the opportunity to watch their hard work turn into progress. She considers it a blessing to be able to do work that allows her to connect with children while cheering them on as they reach their goals.
Gabby is also a student at Old Dominion University (ODU), where she is studying Psychology and continuing to build her knowledge. When she’s not working or studying, you can usually find Gabby baking a cake, doing a little shopping, or spending time with friends and family laughing until her stomach hurts. Her fun-loving personality and genuine enjoyment of working with children make her a wonderful addition to the Guiding Stars ABA team.
Alexandria, BT
Alexandria is a dedicated Behavior Technician (BT) who brings compassion, patience, and more than seven years of experience working with children and families. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development and a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction, giving her a strong foundation in child development, learning, and creating supportive environments where children can grow and thrive.
Alexandria has always had a passion for working with children and supporting their development and growth. She enjoys getting to know each child as an individual, recognizing their unique strengths, interests, and needs, and helping them build skills and confidence along the way. She believes that meaningful progress begins with building a trusting and positive relationship with each child.
She also values building open and supportive relationships with families. By listening to families and learning about each child’s experiences, strengths, and needs, Alexandria strives to provide individualized support that feels meaningful both to the child and their family. She believes that strong communication and collaboration are an important part of helping children succeed.
Currently, Alexandria is expanding her knowledge and hands-on experience in Applied Behavior Analysis while working toward her Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification. She is excited to continue learning and growing professionally while using her background in child development and education to support children in reaching their goals and becoming more independent.