Canopy Autism Solutions Staff
Canopy Children’s Solutions is the single largest employer of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) in the state of Mississippi who are trained and certified to provide Applied Behavior Analysis therapy. Our staff includes two Ph.D.-level Johns Hopkins-trained clinicians. Canopy’s autism team also includes more than 20 BCBAs and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) who work with children on the autism spectrum teaching skills such as verbal communication, emotional regulation, fine and gross motor skills, social skills and more.
Meet our Professionals
JAMES (JIM) MOORE, BCBA-D, PH.D., LBA, DIRECTOR OF AUTISM SOLUTIONS
Dr. Jim Moore serves as the Director of Autism Solutions for Canopy Children’s Solutions. In this capacity, he oversees clinical programming and supervision in the Early Intervention Autism Clinic at the Center of Excellence in Jackson and in Hattiesburg. He also serves a critical role in developing initiatives as Canopy seeks to expand its autism solutions offerings across the state.
Prior to joining Canopy, Dr. Moore was the Director of Training for the Master’s Training Program in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Moore holds a Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi. He completed a pre-doctoral internship in Pediatric Psychology from the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center and the Marcus Behavior Center through Emory University. He was the Director of School Consultation and Applied Research at the May Institute in Atlanta, GA, before returning home to work as both an academic counselor and Assistant Dean of Students at Pearl River College. He has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2002 and became Mississippi’s first Licensed Behavior Analyst in 2015.
Jim’s research has been published in such professional journals including the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis in Practice, Behavior Modification, Child and Family Behavior Therapy, Journal of Behavioral Education, Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, Proven Practice, School Psychology Review, and School Psychology Quarterly. His research interests include teaching matching and discrimination skills to children with autism, integrating Relational Frame Theory into Autism services, Behavioral Economics, Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention, Functional Analysis Methodology, Behaviors Maintained by Negative Reinforcement, Teacher/Staff, integration of service delivery across home and school settings, the PEAK Relational Training System for children with autism, and Parent Training in Behavior Analysis.
In 2015, he was appointed by Governor Phil Bryant as the first Chairman of the Mississippi Autism Board—the licensure and regulatory board for behavior analysis in the state of Mississippi. In 2019, Moore was elected to the Board of Directors for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, which oversees credentialing for behavior analysts around the globe.
Moore is a resident of the greater Hattiesburg area. He and his wife, Laura, have three children.
CHRISTOPHER (CHRIS) FURLOW, BCBA-D, PH.D., LBA, CLINIC MANAGER
Dr. Chris Furlow is the newest addition to the Canopy Autism Solutions team, joining as the manager of the Canopy Children’s Solutions’ Early Intervention Autism Clinic in September 2018. As Clinic Manager, Chris is responsible for client assessments and periodic reassessments used to document client progress and developmental barriers to learning. Chris is also involved with supervision of clinical staff, strategizing appropriate interventions with other Board Certified behavior Analysts (BCBAs), and guiding therapeutic innovation and research initiatives for the Autism Solutions team.
Chris has spent the better part of the last decade amassing training from many of the leading experts in autism research and treatment delivery. As a biology undergrad at Louisiana State University, Chris’ career goals of becoming a pediatrician changed to focus on a need for autism therapy in the Deep South.
After graduating from LSU in 2008, Furlow was recruited to attend the Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles to study ABA therapy. He spent two and a half years at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders in Los Angeles working as an in-home therapist. Furlow then returned east, landing at the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University in Atlanta. Shortly thereafter, he attained his national accreditation as a BCBA.
He spent three years at Marcus before entering the School of Psychology doctoral program at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), where he met Dr. Jim Moore who now serves as Canopy’s Director of Autism Solutions.
As part of the program at USM, Furlow spent one year as an intern at the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. There he worked at the Inpatient Neurobehavioral Unit and in the Pediatric Developmental Disabilities Clinic working with both parents and children with autism. Furlow remained at Johns Hopkins for an additional one-year post-doctoral fellowship with the Neurobehavioral Unit-Outpatient program, bringing his experience with all ranges of the autism spectrum full circle.
Chris’ research in ABA and autism-related studies is well-documented throughout professional journals with papers published in The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, Behavior Analysis in Practice, Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, Behavioral Disorders, Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, and School Psychology Quarterly.
Chris is a native of Slidell, LA, but currently resides in Madison, MS. He and his wife, Lauren, have two children and enjoy spending time as a family exploring new milestones of young parenthood.
Get to know Chris:
LAURA KATHERINE BARKER, MS BCBA, LBA
Laura Katherine Barker serves as a Behavior Technician II for Canopy Children’s Solutions working in the Early Intervention Autism Clinic, part of the Center of Excellence, in Jackson. She leads individual ABA therapy working with preschool and young elementary children with autism on various communication, motor and developmental tasks. She also leads an adolescent boys therapy group which includes boys ages 7-9 years old working on social skills, situational awareness and transitional skills as they progress out of individual therapy.
During her master’s program, Laura Katherine’s experience began at the CARES School in Hattiesburg helping students in the autism classrooms progress on their Individualized Education Plans (IEP). She began a full internship with Canopy at the Jackson clinic in August 2017 where she gained hands-on experience in applied practice, parent assessments, and supervision. Following graduation, she gained full-time employment at the clinic in June 2018. During her graduate studies, she was also heavily involved independently and collaboratively in the creation of numerous professional papers published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Journal of Organizational Management, and Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice.
Laura Katherine is a graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi master’s program in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. She perused a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in communication from Mississippi College prior to attending USM. Laura Katherine attained her national accreditation as a BCBA in August 2018 and will sit for her state license in November of this year.
Laura Katherine was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but called many places home before taking root in Mississippi. She currently resides in Jackson, where she spends free time making pottery, seeing movies and enjoying the Jackson art district.
Get to know Laura Katherine and Nicole:
ROBYN BREWER, MS, BCBA, LBA
Robyn Brewer serves as a Behavior Analyst II within Canopy Children’s Solutions’ Center of Excellence in Jackson. As part of the Autism Solutions team, Robyn conducts assessments and develops treatment plans for children with autism. More specifically, she works extensively with meeting children’s goals with language acquisition and communication skills, increasing food acceptance, and decreasing repetitive motor function (stereotypy) and sensory aversions. She leads a school readiness therapy group for children ages 5-7 to help prepare them to enter general education classrooms. Robyn also provides clinical supervision for six behavior technicians with in Canopy’s Early Intervention Autism Clinic as well as master’s candidates who are working toward certification as Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs).
Robyn knew early on that she wanted to work with children. Drawing from her personal experience working with a special needs dancer, it motivated her to find a career path that would allow her to work with children of different abilities. As a psychology undergraduate at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), she worked in the school psychology lab with a number of children on the autism spectrum. That exposure focused Robyn’s attention to working with children and families affected by autism.
In 2017, Robyn joined Canopy Autism Solutions as an intern and part-time employee working in the Early Intervention Autism Clinic. After graduating with a master’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from USM, she came to work for Canopy full-time as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) while continuing to prepare for her certification as a BCBA. After successfully attaining her board certification as well as her state licensure in 2018, Robyn was promoted to a Behavior Analyst I.
Loving the science behind human behavior, Robyn has shared her research with the professional community. Some of her work has appeared in Behavior Analysis in Practice as well as the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
Robyn is a native of Covington, Louisiana. She and her husband Benjamin now reside in Madison with their young daughter. Together, they enjoy creating laughter in their home, spending time with family and venturing out for an evening stroll.
Get to know Robyn:
BRE’ANNA NEWBORNE, MS, BCBA, LBA
Bre’Anna Newborne is currently a licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst II with Canopy Children Solution’s Early Intervention Autism Clinic. She joined Canopy May 2017. Some of her responsibilities include implementing evidenced-based practices using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), daily supervision of behavior technicians, conducting language and functional behavioral assessments, family and support team planning.
Bre’Anna earned her bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi where she studied psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis.
During her graduate studies, Bre’Anna served two years as a behavior analyst-in-training working in schools with kids with autism and emotional behavior disorders. In addition, she spent five years as a lead behavior therapist working in clinics and homes implementing applied behavior analytic procedures with kids and adolescents with autism, serve brain injury, down syndrome, tourette syndrome and ADHD.
BreAnna’s efforts in disseminating the science has been documented in professional journals and magazines including Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and Parents & Kids Magazine. She also serves as the 2019 President of the Behavior Analysis Association of Mississippi (BAAMS), which is a non-profit organization that promotes the science of behavior analysis and its associated technologies within the state of Mississippi.
Bre’Anna is a native of Natchez, and currently resides in Ridgeland. In her free time, she loves to weight train, spend time with family and friends, travel and recreate food dishes from Tasty.
MADELINE POTTER, MS, BCBA, LBA
Madeline Potter is a Behavior Analyst I for Canopy Children’s Solutions’ Early Intervention Autism Clinic within the Center of Excellence in Jackson. As a behavior analyst, she leads individual ABA therapy sessions working with young elementary-aged children with autism on various communication, motor, and developmental tasks. She also leads parent training sessions for the clients that allows parents to reinforce what children learn during therapy. Madeline focuses on basic parenting strategies in the context of basic behavior principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and works with parents to identify obstacles and set therapeutic goals for their children, such as better communication, expanded play interests, and self-help skills.
Madeline joined the Autism Solutions team at Canopy in August 2017. She was part of an intern cohort through the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) that partnered with Canopy’s CARES School and early intervention clinic to gain hands-on experience with child and parent assessments, therapy modules, best practices, and supervision. She became full-time with Canopy Autism Solutions in August 2018.
During her time as an undergraduate in Psychology at USM, Madeline was first introduced to the experience of working with kids on the autism spectrum. She had the opportunity to work in the university clinic and visit area schools working with children on the spectrum. This led her to pursue a master’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. Madeline obtained her credentials as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in February of 2018 and her Mississippi state licensure in November that same year.
Madeline has served as a contributing author for several presentations for industry training conferences such as the Applied Behavior Analysts International (ABAI) conference. In May 2019, she was a co-presenter at ABAI in Chicago regarding the Promoting the Emergence of Advanced Knowledge (PEAK) curricula and assessment models.
Madeline is a native and current resident of Flora. In her spare time she enjoys reading, kayaking, and watching Netflix as well as making time to visit and enjoy the company of her family.
Get to know Madeline:
MARY (NICOLE) THOMASON, M. ED, BCBA, LBA
Nicole Thomason serves as a Behavior Analyst I for Canopy Children’s Solutions working in the Early Intervention Autism Clinic in Jackson. She leads individual ABA therapy working with preschool and young elementary children with autism, exploring evidence-based behavior interventions to practice and gain new social, motor and developmental skills.
Nicole joined Canopy in August 2018 bringing with her more than a decade of experience working with children and youth with autism. Her experience began as a high school senior working as a trained volunteer at an autism day school program in Springfield, Missouri, where she spent five years before entering the undergraduate program at the University of Missouri. While in Columbia, she worked as an in-home therapist with the Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders. She moved to Indiana and worked as a behavior technician at the Harsha Autism Center for her clinical supervision.
In addition to her undergraduate degree in early childhood development from the University of Missouri, Nicole has a master’s degree in Foundations in Behavior Analysis from the University of Cincinnati. Nicole attained her national accreditation as a BCBA in August 2017 and has worked as a BCBA for more than a year in both a school and outpatient clinical setting.
Nicole is a native of Springfield, Mo. She and her husband, Jacob, are current residents of Madison, MS. Nicole enjoys outdoor recreational activities and creating memorable family time with her husband and young daughter.
Get to know Nicole and Laura Katherine:
LANA WARREN, MS, BCBA, LBA
Lana Warren serves as a Behavior Analyst I at Canopy Children’s Solutions’ Early Intervention Autism Clinic in Hattiesburg. As a behavior analyst, she works with preschool-aged children to assess proficiencies and challenges to best design and implement treatment plans in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to help families achieve their therapeutic goals.
Lana joined the Canopy Autism Solutions team as an intern for the Early Intervention Autism Clinic in Madison in August 2017. Through her internship with Canopy, she gained hands-on clinical experience in understanding clinic operate, performing assessments, parent training, writing treatment plans and troubleshooting how treatment obstacles with toddlers, preschools and young school-aged children. She became a full-time employee in June 2018, and shortly thereafter returned to Hattiesburg to help Canopy open a second early intervention clinic to serve the Pine Belt region.
She currently has a number of professional papers under review for publication including one on the Promoting the Emergence of Advanced Knowledge (PEAK) language development curricula and another evaluating the training methods on the treatment integrity of day treatment staff.
Lana has a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and a master’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis both from the University of Southern Mississippi. I am a licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and has her state licensure through the state of Mississippi.
Born and raised in Jackson, Lana now lives in Hattiesburg with her husband Matthew and their son. Away from the clinic, she likes to spend time with family and read.
MARK (GARRETT) YEAGER, MS, BCBA, LBA
Garrett Yeager serves as a Behavior Analyst I at Canopy Children’s Solutions’ Early Intervention Autism Clinic in Hattiesburg. He assesses, designs and writes treatment plans and goals for preschool-aged children with autism based on scientifically-proven therapy modules from the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
Garrett joined the Canopy team as an intern in August of 2017 where he worked in Canopy’s Early Intervention Clinic in Madison. During his nearly year-long internship, he gained hands-on experience in applied practice, parent assessments, and supervision to prepare him for board certification. Garrett became full-time with Canopy in August 2018 committing much of his time to helping lay the groundwork to open Canopy’s second early intervention clinic.
Before working with Canopy, Garrett worked for TEAAM Autism, another non-profit organization in Mississippi that focuses on children and families with autism. In total, he has amassed more than a decade of experience serving the autism community.
Garrett’s expertise has also led to the creation of professional papers published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA) and has a publication currently under review involving the Promoting the Emergence of Advanced Knowledge (PEAK) language development curricula in ABA.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science as well as a master’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis both from the University of Southern Mississippi. Garrett attained his accreditation as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in 2018.
Garrett claims roots from his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi, but now resides in the quiet town of Laurel with his wife Anna and their young daughter. Outside of work, he enjoys reading and writing short stories just for fun.
