Liberty Executive Team
Dr. Farrell Weiers, PhD, BCBA
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Dr. Weiers is a Child and Adolescent Psychologist, licensed in the state of Missouri, who has spent the last 25 years working with families and children. In her private practice, Behavioral Solutions, she specializes in psychological evaluations and therapy for children ages 2 – 19. She additionally runs a non-profit organization called Hand in Hand Foundation. In her free time, Dr. Weiers enjoys spending time with her husband, Marty, and five children. She loves to go camping with her family. Dr. Weiers aspires to be the best. Family First Center for Autism and Child Development is her brainchild and passion.
Chelsey Reel, BCBA
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Chelsey Reel is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) for the Liberty office. She has been with Family First since June 2016. Chelsey graduated with a Master of Arts in Behavioral Analysis Practice from Florida Institute of Technology. In her free time, Chelsey enjoys spending time with her pets, reading, and painting.
Lilian Andrade, BCBA
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Lily has been with Family First since December 2018. She is an alumni from Florida institution of technology, Concordia University Chicago, Missouri Valley College and East Los Angeles community college. Lily became a BCBA in June 2022. In her free time, she enjoys nature and disc golf.
Laken Reel, BCBA
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Laken has been with Family first since January 2017. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Behavior Analysis Practice from Florida Institute of Technology. Laken enjoys spending time with loved ones, reading books, trying new restaurants, and cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cindy Loelkes
Assistant Director
Cindy has been with Family First since July 2011. She is the Assistant Director for all four locations and is primarily based in the Kansas City office. Cindy has been working with individuals with autism since 1987. In her free time, Cindy enjoys spending time with her family, reading, camping, traveling, and watching the KC Chiefs. Cindy has a wonderful husband and three amazing children – two of whom are on the autism spectrum. Working at Family First is the perfect meld of her personal and professional experience, which makes her super motivated to make Family First be the very best in the region!
Liberty Leadership Team
Kayla Gallagher, RBT
Lead Registered Behavior Technician
Kayla has been with Family First since April 2021. She graduated from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and minor in Child Advocacy. She will also be working towards her PsyD in Clinical Psychology and expects to graduate in 2025. Kayla enjoys hanging out with her friends, playing with her dog, and exploring and finding new places to go.
Sydnie Whitaker, RBT
Lead Registered Behavior Technician
Sydnie has been with Family First since November 2019. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and a minor in Childhood Studies. She will graduate with a Master's Degree in School Counseling in October 2023. Sydnie enjoys spending time with her husband, seeing her nephew, and spending time with her dogs Nelly and Samson.
Kirsten Arno, RBT
Office Administrator & Lead Registered Behavior Technician
Kirsten has been with Family First Since May 2020. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work at Park University. Kirsten is always seen smiling at the front desk when you walk into the LB office! She loves to bake cakes and pastries. Kirsten also enjoys spending time at coffee shops and binge-watching Marvel movies.
Nicholas Sprague, RBT
Lead Registered Behavior Technician
Nick has been with Family First since February 2022. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing with his dogs, and watching movies.
Alex Stout, RBT
Lead Registered Behavior Technician
Alex has been with Family First since April 2022. She is currently working towards her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Business, at William Jewell College. She is expected to graduate in December 2023.
Liberty Registered Behavioral Specialists
Sydney Gardner, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Sydney has been with Family First since February 2022. She graduated from UMKC with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry & Psychology, Sydney is currently working towards her Master's degree in Psychology and is expected to graduate in May 2024. After that, she will pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.
Kaitlyn Minet, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Kaitlyn has been with Family First since March 2022. She graduated in 2021, from Northwest Missouri State, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Human Services. Kaitlyn enjoys reading, painting, and going out for coffee with friends.
Margaret Dice, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Margaret has been with Family First since May 2022. She is currently working towards a degree in Early Childhood Education at Missouri Western State University and is expected to graduate in Spring 2024. Margaret enjoys spending time with her friends and family.
Lexie Rowell, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Lexie has been with Family First since May 2022. She is currently working towards her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Missouri Western State University. Lexie enjoys walking her dog, hanging out with friends, and watching Netflix!
Baylie Edwards Van Pelt, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician & Social Media Manager
Baylie has been with Family First since August 2022. Baylie is currently working towards her Bachelor's in Psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Baylie enjoys playing with her dogs, painting, and playing piano. Baylie helps run all of our social media accounts and our website!
Hailey Tretter, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Hailey has been with Family First since November 2022. In her free time, Hailey enjoys touring and swimming at the lake. She also loves hanging out with friends in the park!
Sky Pearson, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Sky started with Family First in November 2022. Sky enjoys spending time with her family and pet dog, Arog. Sky also enjoys reading and singing!
Emily Johnson, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician & BLS Instructor
Emily has been with Family First since January 2023. She is graduating in May of 2023 with a Master of Child Life from Texas Woman's University. Emily enjoys reading and has a big green thumb. Emily is our BLS instructor!
Anahi Ocon, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Anahi has been working with Family First since March 2023. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and doing arts and crafts.
Kayla Briar, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Kayla has been with Family First since March 2023. Kayla enjoys the outdoors, going to art museums, and hanging out with friends!
Kuri Soto, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Kuri has been working with Family First since April 2023. Kuri enjoys watching sports and spending time with family.
Emily Pope, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Emily has been working with Family First since June 2023. She graduated with an Associate of Arts in May of 2023. She enjoys crafting, going to the gym, painting, and going outside.
Madison Maucelli, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Madison started with Family First in July 2023. She enjoys driving around with friends, listening to music, and being outside.
Makyla Curtin, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Makyla started with Family First in August 2023. Makyla is in the works of earning her Bachelors at Arizona State University, majoring in Clinical Psychology. Makyla enjoys playing with her cats and going out for coffee and thrift shopping
Summer Moon, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Summer started with Family First in August 2023. She enjoys spending time with family and aerial yoga.
Ally Cadue, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Ally started with Family First in September 2023. She is currently working on her Associate from Metropolitan Community College with a major in Criminal justice. She enjoys promoting SkillsUSA to provide a pathway for students in career and technical education to be world-class workers by the time they graduate.
Kaylynn Perks, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Kaylynn started with Family First in October 2023. She enjoys hanging out with family and friends. She also loves being outside, enjoying warm weather!
Brittany Watkins, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Brittany started with Family First in December 2023. Along with a Registered Behavior Technician certification, she also has a certification in Nursing Assistance.
Alyssa Meredith, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Alyssa started with Family First in December 2023.
Hali Shields, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Hali started with Family First in December 2023. Hali enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, being outdoors, spending time with her family and friends, and being a mom is her favorite thing in the world!
Daisy Ancha, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Daisy started with Family First in January 2024. Daisy has a Bachelor of Health Science from Auckland University of Technology. Daisy enjoys reading, poetry and photography. In New Zealand, she did a lot of hiking and fishing. She also likes learning different languages!
Samuel Hatzfeld, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Samuel started with Family First in January 2024. Samuel has been an MMA fighter for 14 years and he loves to play disc golf. He is very passionate about helping people reach their full potential and he is going to school to do research in mental health treatments! He also enjoys reading textbooks and is always onto the next project or subject to study!
Mallory Trager, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Mallory started with Family First in January 2024. In her free time, Mallory can be found playing with her dog, Deuce, working on crafts, or binging tv shows. She also enjoys fishing and hanging out with friends and family.
Gabriel Leonardo, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Gabe started with Family First in February 2024. Gabe is currently working towards his Bachelor's in Psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He enjoys serving as an officer for student organizations such as, Asian students in America and Kappa Sigma Fraternity- Upsilon- Psi Chapter.
Austen Hoss, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Austen started with Family First in February 2024.
Farah Burgess, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Farah started with Family First in February 2024. Farah has a Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a minor in Family & Child Development. She enjoys doing anything outdoors with her family and friends, and participating in water sports.
Jahlah Baum, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Jahlah started with Family First in March 2024.
Becky Hartman, RBT
Registered Behavior Technician
Becky started with Family First in February 2024.
Speech Therapist
Julie Wallis, SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Julie has been with Family First since summer 2018. She is the Speech Language Pathologist for the Kansas City and Liberty locations. Julie has a Master of Science in Speech Pathology from the University of Central Missouri (formerly Central Missouri State University) in 1983. She has been working with individuals with autism since 1984. Julie is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and Missouri Speech-Language-Hearing Association. In her free time, Julie enjoys working with the Platte County Historical Society.
Billing Specialist
Rachel Papera
Billing Specialist
Rachel has been with Family First since May 2017. She is the billing specialist for all three locations and is based out of Omaha, Nebraska. In her free time, Rachel enjoys working in her yard.If you have any questions regarding exact payment costs for ABA therapy, speech, or billing, please contact her via email: rpapera@familyfirstkc.com