Hey, I’m Marissa Ayala, M.Ed.,BCBA, IBA!

CEO + FOUNDER OF LOCAL ABA, LLC

Hi, I’m Marissa! I am a proud Latina and business owner. My mission here at Local ABA is to create a judgement free zone and safe space where supervisees are able to ask ANY questions without hesitation and creating a positive culture! Trust me, I wish I would have asked more Qs when I was obtaining my hours! We are all here to learn!

Fav pastime: Hulu + go on walks with my pup, Martini.

Fav part of ABA: creating compassionate care for the next generation of certificants

Fav cuisine: Mexican, always Mexican

Hey, I’m Margaret “Peggy” Karwiel, MS.Ed., BCBA, LBA!

SUPERVISOR at Local ABA

My mission is to provide quality supervision and to create a meaningful experience for the supervisee. While maintaining an uplifting & creative environment. I want to propel supervisees to their fullest potential!

Fav pastime: surfing and going to the beach with the fam
Fav part of ABA: observing progress in my trainees, clients, and families
Fav cuisine: Italian and Thai

Hey, I’m Julia Perry, M.A.,BCBA!

Test Strategy Teacher

My mission as a past retest taker is to normalize not being a “one and done” test taker! Who cares how many times you take it?! Everyone’s journey is different and we’re all working toward the same end result…those 4 letters!
It’s so important to me to work with future retest takers, because I can offer a different perspective to the exam. I’m very open about my journey and if we have a session together, let’s talk! My hope is that others can relate to my story and it motivates them to keep pushing forward!

Fav pastime: crafting, reading, and true crime podcasts

Fav part of ABA: I love watching a client grow and generalize their goals outside of sessions. I’ve seen this a lot when working in social skills groups and it was just an amazing feeling

Fav cuisine: chicken taco pizza my fiancé and I make this together!

Hey, I’m Rachel Alston, M.Ed., BCBA!

Test Strategy Teacher at Local ABA

As a 5 time retest taker and now BCBA, I am passionate about helping others conquer this exam. From personal experience, I know how HARD this retest taking can be! However, test strategy is effective! Once I found Marissa + Local ABA, together we created a workshopping process that was essential to my success!

My mission is to create a safe, judgement free zone! Whether you’re testing for the 1st time or the 5th. Let’s create a workshopping process specifically geared towards what works for you, the test taker, + crush this exam once and for all!!

Fav pastime: Netflix, going to see live music, + listening to podcasts with my boyfriend

Fav part of ABA: observing any + all progress my clients make! Shows me just how rewarding our field is!

Fav cuisine: Mexican