Manhattan Executive Team

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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.

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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.

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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!

 

Manhattan Leadership Team

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Meredith Weiers, RBT

Office Administrator and Lead Registered Behavior Technician

Meredith started with Family First in May 2019. She is currently enrolled in college at Kansas State University and is working on a Bachelor's in Elementry Education and a Minor in Special Education. SHe enjoys hiking, camping, and hanging out with friends and family. 

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Lily Tatro, RBT

Lead Registered Behavior Technician

Lily started with Family First in May 2022. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Speech-Language Pathology (Communication Sciences and Disorders) at Kansas State University and is expected to graduate in December of 2023. She enjoys reading, sewing, hunting, fishing, and hanging out with friends.

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Abby Nichols, RBT

Lead Registered Behavior Technician

Abby started with Family First in May 2022. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a Minor in Human Development and Family Science at Kansas State University and is expected to graduate in May 2024. She enjoys spending time with friends and going to K-State sporting events.

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Shabeba McDonald, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician & New Employee Liasion and Employee Engagement Coordinator

Shabeba started with Family First in 2023. She enjoys spending time with her children and mother, reading, and sewing.

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Brookelyn Schettler, RBT

Lead Registered Behavior Technician

Brookelyn started with Family First in 2023. She is currently working on her Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a Minor in Human Development and Family Studies and Geography from Kansas State University. She enjoys hanging out with friends, being active, and spending time outside.

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Emma VerEllen, RBT

Lead Registered Behavior Technician

Emma started with Family First in February 2023. She completed an Assoicates degree from Indian Hills Community College and is currently working on her Bachelor's in Psychology at William Penn University. She enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with family. 

Manhattan Registered Behavioral Specialists

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Adora Lewis, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Adora started with Family First in January 2023. She is currently working on getting her Bachelor's in Kinesiology at Kansas State University. She enjoys going to the gym and sports events, hanging out with friends, kickboxing, and spending time with her dog. 

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Andrea Sweat, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Andrea started with Family First in 2023. She is currently working on her Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and a Minor in Human Development and Family Science at Kansas State University. She enjoys spending time with friends and family as well as attending sporting events. 

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Anna Achille, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Anna started with Family First in 2023. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a Minor in Interdisciplinary Conflict Resolution at Kansas State University. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, listening to music, and going to sporting events.

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Annie Hennen, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Annie started with Family First in 2023. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Communication Science and Disorders and is expected to graduate in December 2025. She enjoys reading, CrossFit, watching tv, crocheting, and hanging out with friends. 

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Rachel Pratt, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Katy started with Family First in 2023. She is currently working on her Psychology degree from Kansas State University with a minor in Spanish. She enjoys swing dance, exploring historical sites, and playing music with friends! 

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Caitlyn Rexroat, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Caitlyn started with Family First in January 2023. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Speech Therapy from Kansas State University. She enjoys playing sports, and hanging out with her roomates. 

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Cambri Dallmann, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Cambri started with Family First in 2023. She is currently working on her Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Kansas State University. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, water coloring, swimming, and traveling. 

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Catherine Eyler, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Catherine started with Family First in 2023. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders/ Gerontology with a Minor in Human Development and Family Sciences from Kansas State University. She enjoys working out, running, and listening to music.

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Jenna Melton, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Jenna started with Family First in January 2023. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a Minor in Human Development and Family Sciences from Kansas State University. She enjoys the outdoors, spending time with friends, finding new places to eat, and playing games with her family.

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Koby Nickel, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Koby started with Family First in 2023. He is currently working on his Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a Minor in Human Development and Family Sciences at Kansas State University. He enjoys playing tennis and volleyball and watching movies.

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Megan Keeten, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Megan started with Family First in January 2023. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a Minor in Human Development and Family Sciences at Kansas State University. She enjoys attending KSU sporting events, spending time with friends and family, traveling, and watching movies. 

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Mallory Pokorny, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Mallory started with Family First in 2023. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Marketing and a Minor in Sports and Entertainment Marketing from Kansas State University. In her free time, she enjoys staying active, running, working out, going on hikes, and swimming. She also enjoys baking and traveling. 

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Sydney Rosenow, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Sydney started with Family First in October of 2023. She enjoys spending time with her friends, and family. They like to spend time outside playing games or going fishing. They are also big K-State fans. Go Cats!

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Reagan Eilert, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Reagan started with Family First in January 2023. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a Minor in Human Development and Family Sciences from Kansas State University. She enjoys reading, coffee, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family.

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Maggie Epp, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Maggie started with Family First in May of 2023. She is currently working on her Communication Sciences and Disorders major with a minor in Well-Being at Kansas State University. She enjoys exercising, spending time with her friends, and reading.

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Avery Howard, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Avery started with Family First in October of 2023. She is currently working on her Communication Sciences and Disorders/ Human Development and Family Sciences major with a minor in Well-Being at Kansas State University. She enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, shopping, and cooking.

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Tamara Lopez Monroy, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Tamara started with Family First in October 2023. She is currently working on her Communication Sciences & Disorders degree from Kansas State University with a minor in Human Development and Family Science. She enjoys spending time with friends, family, her boyfriend, and going on walks! She also likes reading, hammoking, drawing, and working out! 

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Lauren Cox, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Lauren started with Family First in December 2023. She is currently working on her Communication Sciences & Disorders Masters degree from Kansas State University. She enjoys spending time with friends, and family, reading, and going outside!  

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Grace Davis, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Grace started with Family First in October 2023. She currently is working on her Bachelor of Science Business Administration from Kansas State University. She enjoys hanging out with friends and family, going shopping, going out to eat, and going outside.

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Erin Kelly, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Erin started with Family First in May 2023. She is currently working on her Kinesiology and Human Development & Family Science degree from Benedictine College/ Kansas State University. She enjoys traveling, hiking and playing games.

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Katy Terry, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Katy started with Family First in December 2023. She is currently working on her Communication Sciences & Disorders degree from Kansas State University with a minor in Human Development and Family Science. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, going outdoors, working out, and pickleball! 

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Molly Irvin, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Molly started with Family First in January 2024. She enjoys reading, sewing, crafting, and working out!

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Ella Deiter, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Ella started with Family First in December 2023. She is currently working on her Advertising and Public Relations degree from Kansas State University with a minor in Digital Design. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, shopping, and creative activities!

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Rylee Fouts, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Rylee started with Family First in December 2023. She is currently working on her Human Development and Family Science degree from Kansas State University with a minor in Well-Being. She enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her dog Luna! 

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Rylee Best, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Rylee started with Family First in 2024. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Kinesiology-Preoccupational Therapy with a minor in Psychology. She enjoys spending time with friends, reading, watching tv, and going to the lake with her family.

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Wesley Waters, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Wesley started with Family First in March 2024. He enjoys spending time with family, watching TV, listening to music, and traveling.

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Gwenyth Fry, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Gwenyth started with Family First in 2024. She is currently working on her bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Human Development and Family Science. She enjoys staying active, playing basketball, crocheting, and spending time with friends.

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Danielle Estrada, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Danielle started with Family First in 2024. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Psychology with a minor in Pre-couples and Family Therapy, Management. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, going to the gym, and shopping.

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Mallory Farrar, RBT

Registered Behavior Technician

Mallory started with Family First in February 2024. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Human Development and Family Science. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, working out, traveling and shopping.

Billing Specialist

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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