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Our ABA Therapy & Autism Specialists in South Florida

Meet our dedicated team of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and experienced therapists committed to compassionate, evidence-based care.

MEET OUR FOUNDER

Karelix Alicea is the founder and president of Lotus Behavioral Interventions and co-founder of the Miami Association for Behavior Analysis (MiABA)

Most recently, Miss Alicea founded The Lotus Children (TLC), a non-profit dedicated to allocating ABA therapies and resources to underprivileged children with autism throughout the world. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist (ITDS) who has been working with children diagnosed with autism and other pervasive developmental delays since 2001.

Her mastery of the science combined with her love and compassion for children on the autism spectrum have allowed her to help countless children and families with the highest quality of care.

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Karelix Headshot

Karelix Alicea

M.S., BCBA, ITDS, Founder/President

MEET OUR

TEAM

All of our professionals are highly educated and experienced to meet strict national accreditation criteria as outlined by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). All of our ABA Therapists and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) are closely supervised by our board certified professionals to meet Lotus Behavioral Interventions’ high quality standards of both scientific rigor and therapeutic care, whether services are delivered face-to-face or via telehealth.

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Nina Stavrinos

M.S., BCBA, ITDS
About
Lotus Behavioral Interventions staff

Soo Ko

M.A., BCBA
About
Nicole Ronquillo headshot portrait

Nicole Ronquillo

M.S., BCBA
About
Shavanna Douglas headshot portrait

Shavanna Douglas

M.A., BCaBA
About
MARCUS HEADSHOT

Marcus Murray

B.A., BCaBA
About
Lotus Behavioral Interventions team member headshot

Dayanara Rivera

B.A., RBT
About
Lorena, Lotus Behavioral Interventions team member headshot

Lorena Prado

B.A., RBT
About
Michelle Cepin headshot portrait

Michelle Cepin

RBT
About
Lotus Behavioral Interventions team member or graphic

Grace Falzarano

B.A., RBT
About

Johana Valle

A.A.,RBT
About

Emma Rovics

M.Ed., RBT
About

Breanna Madeus

B.A., RBT
About

Hector Vega

B.A., RBT
About

Yasmine Finales

A.A., RBT
About

Winique Joseph

RBT
About

Elise Pino

A.A., ABA Therapist
About

Gianna Fontela

A.A., ABA Therapist
About

Valarie Quesada

ABA Therapist
About

Nora Gonzalez

B.A.,ABA Therapist
About

Chase Grosser

B.A.,ABA Therapist
About

Melissa Greiver

RBT
About

Ehimys Rodriguez

ABA Therapist
About
Lotus Behavioral Interventions branded graphic

Naylani Reyes

ABA Therapist
About

Camila Del Olmo

ABA Therapist
About

Dayanara Mendoza

RBT
About
MEET OUR

TELEHEALTH TEAM

The Lotus clinical team has experience rendering ABA therapy services via telehealth since we were established in 2009. We are thankful for the extended telehealth coverage that most private insurance carriers have temporarily extended to their beneficiaries in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The ability to continue servicing our Lotus children and families using telehealth in a manner that ensures optimal levels of health and safety for all involved is extremely important to us. Using a HIPAA-compliant web portal, our entire clinical team across Miami and Puerto Rico is proficient in delivering high-quality ABA therapy services via telehealth in a manner that is highly private, caring, individualized, professional and effective. With over a decade of experience, you can rest assured that every single member of our Lotus ABA therapy team knows how to rock telehealth!

Lotus Behavioral Interventions team member headshot

Mariam Nawabi

M.S., BCBA
About
Laurie Tarter headshot portrait

Laurie Tarter

Psy.D., BCBA, LBA
About
Karelix Headshot

Karelix Alicea

M.S., BCBA, ITDS

Founder / President of Lotus Behavioral Interventions

Miss Alicea received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology with a specialization in behavior analysis under the direction of the esteemed Dr. Jacob L. Gewirtz at Florida International University (FIU), and is currently in the process of completing an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership and Applied Behavior Analysis from Nova Southeastern University.

Following a period of almost 10 years of experience in the field, she founded Lotus Behavioral Interventions in 2009. Miss Alicea taught undergraduate-level behavior analysis coursework for several years at FIU and Carlos Albizu University, and is a graduate-level intensive practicum supervisor at Simmons College, Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and University of South Florida (USF), all of which are Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) accredited programs.

She has presented on the benefits of sign language and telehealth services for children with autism in addition to ethical service delivery, supervision and entrepreneurship at various professional conferences, including the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis (FABA) and ABAI.

Miss Alicea is an active member of the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA), and can render services in English, Spanish, American Sign Language (ASL) both face-to-face and via telehealth with the use of HIPAA-compliant technology.

Nina Stavrinos

M.S., BCBA, ITDS

Nina has been a valued member of the Lotus clinical team since July of 2015. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in sociology from Florida International University (FIU) and later completed a master's degree in counseling with a concentration in applied behavior analysis (ABA) at Nova Southeastern University.  Nina is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and an Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist (ITDS) with Early Steps.

Nina is a caring, compassionate and dedicated clinician committed to achieving the ultimate goal of enhancing the quality of life of every child and family she works with. Nina can render services in English, Spanish, French, American Sign Language (ASL) both face-to-face and via telehealth with the use of HIPAA-compliant technology.

Nina approaches her work with care, patience, and an emphasis on building trusting, collaborative relationships with children and families. She has a deep passion for mental health and believes in supporting emotional well-being alongside skill development, helping children and families feel understood, supported, and empowered. Outside of work, Nina enjoys spending time with her family, including her two children (a son and a daughter), her husband, and their dog, Rex. She values quiet moments and simple routines, and enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, reading, and anything to do with animals and/or the environment. Nina also appreciates unique items with history and likes to seek out vintage and antique shops when given the opportunity.

Lotus Behavioral Interventions staff

Soo Ko

M.A., BCBA

Soo Ko has been a dedicated member of the Lotus clinical team since 2025. She has been working in the field since 2020 and has gained experience in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2016. Soo is a Licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who is deeply committed to supporting children and families in developing meaningful, functional skills that promote independence and enhance overall quality of life. She is fluent in both English and Korean, allowing her to effectively connect with and support a diverse range of families within the community.

Soo approaches her work with compassion, patience, and a strong belief in individualized care. She recognizes that every child is unique and tailors her interventions to meet each learner’s specific strengths and needs. Soo values collaboration with parents, caregivers, and other professionals, and strives to build trusting relationships that foster growth, consistency, and long-term success across environments. She is passionate about empowering families with the tools and confidence needed to support their child’s progress beyond therapy sessions. With a focus not only on skill acquisition but also on emotional well-being, Soo works to create supportive and engaging learning experiences that help children feel successful and understood. Her clinical approach emphasizes positive reinforcement, functional communication, and the development of skills that are meaningful and applicable to everyday life.

Outside of her professional role, Soo enjoys spending quality time with her large family and creating lasting memories together. She loves exploring family-friendly destinations around Miami.

Nicole Ronquillo headshot portrait

Nicole Ronquillo

M.S., BCBA

Nicole has been a valued member of our clinical team since October 2022. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a master’s degree in Behavior Analysis from Florida International University in December 2025. Nicole is bright, energetic, and creative, with a fun-loving personality that our kids absolutely love. She can provide face-to-face services in both English and Spanish.

In her spare time, Nicole enjoys dancing and has been a member of the Showstoppers Company Cast since September 2025. She loves all things art and creativity and recently purchased a Cricut, which she uses to design and create her own custom shirts. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys exploring new creative projects and spending time with her dog, Fiorela, a beautiful 2-year-old Jack Russell Terrier whom she loves to train and play with. She is also a big Disney fan and enjoys everything from movies to sing-alongs.

Shavanna Douglas headshot portrait

Shavanna Douglas

M.A., BCaBA

Shavanna has been a valued member of the Lotus clinical team since July of 2023. She is a Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) with a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of West Florida (UWF). She is working toward sitting for the exam to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in the near future.

Shavanna joined our team with previous experience working with special needs children in a summer camp setting. She is passionate about working with kids and having a lasting impact on their lives. Shavanna can render ABA services in English both face-to-face and via telehealth using HIPAA-compliant technology.

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Marcus

B.A., BCaBA

Marcus has been a valued member of the Lotus clinical team since December 2023. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Florida International University (FIU), with a concentration in behavior analysis, and is currently pursuing his master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). Marcus is a Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst as of May of 2025.

A passionate and self-motivated clinician, Marcus finds deep fulfillment in helping others. Known for his kindness, attentiveness, and thorough approach, he prioritizes clear communication with parents and ensures his work maintains strong social validity. Fluent in English, Marcus is dedicated to delivering meaningful, client-centered care.

Lotus Behavioral Interventions team member headshot

Dayanara Rivera

B.A., RBT

Dayanara has been a valued member of the Lotus clinical team since January of 2017. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology with a specialization in behavior analysis from Florida International University (FIU) and is a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). Dayanara is currently working on her master's degree in behavior analysis at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) in the hopes of becoming a BCBA in the near future.

Her professional goal is to help children in any way necessary for them to lead happy and successful lives. She is a bright, responsible and mature therapist who displays a wonderful sense of creativity when working with children on the spectrum. Dayanara can render services in English, Spanish, American Sign Language (ASL) both face-to-face and via telehealth with the use of HIPAA-compliant technology.

Lorena, Lotus Behavioral Interventions team member headshot

Lorena Prado

B.A., RBT

Lorena is a dedicated Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) who has been providing behavior analytic services since 2024. She brings a warm, patient, and supportive approach to her work, focusing on building meaningful connections with clients while helping them develop essential skills.

Lorena is bilingual and able to provide services in both English and Portuguese, allowing her to effectively support a diverse range of families. She is passionate about collaborating with caregivers and clinical teams to create positive, lasting outcomes for the children she serves.

Michelle Cepin headshot portrait

Michelle Cepin

B.A., RBT

Michelle is a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) who brings creativity, positivity, and energy into every session. She has a love for art and enjoys incorporating fun, engaging activities into her work to make learning both meaningful and enjoyable. Known for her warm smile and joyful attitude, Michelle creates an inviting and supportive environment where clients feel comfortable and motivated.

She is bilingual and provides services in both English and Spanish, and she is passionate about helping others while building strong, positive connections with the children and families she serves.

In her spare time, she enjoys giving back to her community in any way she can, exploring new adventures around the city, and discovering creative forms of art. She also loves dancing, music, and attending culture-based events that reflect her Caribbean roots. Additionally, she is passionate about learning more about faith and science.

Lotus Behavioral Interventions team member or graphic

Grace Falzarano

B.A., RBT

Grace has been a dedicated member of our clinical team as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). She brings a thoughtful, compassionate approach to her work and is passionate about supporting young learners and their families. In addition to her clinical role, Grace volunteers her time with the Early Childhood Behavior Lab at Florida International University, where she serves as a research assistant transcribing videos and contributing to ongoing research efforts in the field of behavior analysis.

Outside of work, Grace enjoys dancing salsa and bachata and spending time playing board games with her friends. She is also a proud cat mom to her 5-year-old cat, Ella, whom she absolutely adores.

Breanna Madeus

M.A., RBT

I'm Bre, a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) with over six years of experience. I hold a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis. Working across diverse populations, I am passionate about creating meaningful outcomes for my clients—whether that means celebrating small victories, fostering independence, or simply showing up consistently. I believe true progress happens when therapists, families, and clinical teams work in close alignment. Looking ahead, I am dedicated to expanding ABA resources, awareness, and representation in historically underserved communities. Outside of work, you can find me exploring new places, creating memories, and spending quality time with my dog, Alonzo.

Hector Vega

B.A., RBT

Hector has been a valued member of the Lotus clinical team since May 2026. He graduated from Florida International University’s Honors College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (Behavior Analysis Track). He is currently pursuing his Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis at Florida Institute of Technology. Hector is a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) as of April 2025, and aspires to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Outside of ABA, Hector enjoys playing sports recreationally with friends, reading, and spending quality time with family. He is bilingual and can render services in both English and Spanish. He is passionate about helping others however he can.

Winique Joseph

RBT

I have been working with Lotus and in the field of ABA for a few months now and hope to continue for four more years. I studied at Florida International University and earned a bachelor of arts in psychology with a focus in ABA and education. I am continuing my education at FIU to earn an education specialist degree in school psychology. My current goals are to improve and learn as much as I can as an RBT so that I can give my clients the best service possible. I hope to use what I learn in this field in my future career as a school psychologist. 
 
Outside of work I like to hang out with friends and family. I like to listen to all kinds of music, like pop, rap, and K-, those being my favorite genres. I also like to travel with family and friends any chance I get. So far I’ve been to some countries in the Caribbean and Mexico
Mariam Nawabi, headshot portrait.

Mariam Nawabi

M.A., BCBA

Mariam has been a valued member of the Lotus clinical team since June of 2015. She originally began her professional career as a pre-school teacher and very quickly became intrigued with the benefits of using applied behavior analysis (ABA) within a classroom setting for children with special needs. This prompted her to go back to school and earn her master's degree in ABA from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

She is a BCBA with a well-rounded background in assessments, interventions and parent / staff training. Mariam is a highly motivated and passionate professional who has presented her research on preference assessments at the California Association for Behavior Analysis (CalABA). She feels that helping children with special needs allows her to fulfill her passion of giving back to the community and society at large. Mariam can render services in English, Farsi and American Sign Language (ASL) both face-to-face and via telehealth with the use of HIPAA-compliant technology.

Laurie Tarter headshot portrait

Laurie Tarter

PSYD, BCBA, LBA

Dr. Laurie Tarter has been a valued member of the Lotus clinical team since June of 2020. She earned her doctorate degree from Alliant International University and her master's degree from Pepperdine University. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who has been working with special needs children, adolescents and adults for over 20 years.

Dr. Tarter specializes in conducting autism specific diagnostic and cognitive assessments. Her experience also includes being the Executive Director of EnCompass Behavioral Health, founder of the San Diego chapter of Global Autism Project, and forming a team for Developmental Disabilities Crisis House. Dr. Tarter is a Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) certified group provider for adolescents and young adults. She can render services in English both face-to-face and via telehealth with the use of HIPAA-compliant technology.