Meet the Team
The goal of Thrive Therapy is to give children the tools they need to succeed in all areas of their lives.
Meet the Thrive Therapy Team
Zippy Juni
Zippy Juni has been working with children with special needs and their families for over two decades. Her experience includes teaching an inclusion classroom, providing early intervention services, conducting educational assessments, and teaching graduate students. Zippy was drawn to ABA after witnessing its effectiveness in helping children make meaningful, real-life progress.
Zippy joined Thrive Therapy in 2018 as a BCBA and assumed the role of clinical director in 2020, where she currently serves. Zippy is a life-long learner and is passionate about using ABA to improve the lives of the children she serves.
Zippy holds a master’s degree in special education from Adelphi University and a post-master’s certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology.
Zippy lives in Cherry Hill, NJ with her family.
Wendy Lax
Wendy originally hails from the small town of Groton, CT and holds a Masters in Early Childhood Special Education from Hunter College in NYC. It was there that she was introduced to the fascinating science of Applied Behavioral Analysis, going on to obtain her BCBA certification while doing clinical fieldwork at a highly specialized 1:1 ABA program. Additionally Wendy worked as an ABA SEIT, private behavioral analyst, and ran a classroom for children with Autism at a sleepaway camp for children with Special Needs.
After her move to Philadelphia Wendy worked as a special instructor focusing on ABA cases before moving into the administrative sphere. Wendy holds Special Education teaching certification in both New York and Pennsylvania as well as a BCBA and LBS. Wendy lives in Bala Cynwyd with her husband and 3 sons.
Lenan Hawkins
Lenan Hawkins worked as a Thrive BHT providing ABA therapy services to clients for 7 years. Lenan joined our administrative team as a Staffing Coordinator in May 2023. Lenan enjoys her work on both ends of the scope. Whether in the field or behind a desk Lenan believes that we collectively have the same agenda which is to provide high quality services to our clients and their families. In her role as Staffing Coordinator Lenan connects staff to cases and supports both families and staff.
Jasmine Clark
Jasmine Clark worked as a BHT with Thrive Therapy before joining our administrative team as a Staffing Coordinator in September 2023. Jasmine graduated from Indiana University with a B.A, in psychology. Jasmine enjoys connecting staff to clients and supporting clients, their families, and staff in the field to bring about positive outcomes for all.
Rachel Marsden
Rachel Marsden graduated from Lock Haven University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Masters in Mental Health Counseling. After graduating she began working as a support staff for students with autism and eventually found her way into the field of ABA! She obtained her LBS and BCaBA and has enjoyed working in a variety of roles in special education, early intervention, and ABA therapy. Rachel works as Thrive’s Quality Assurance Supervisor and in that capacity she supports Thrive staff in all aspects of clinical excellence and compliance.
Kelly Sherman
Kelly Sherman joined Thrive in February 2022 and currently serves as Intake Coordinator. In that capacity Kelly helps families through the intake process. Kelly grew up around Buffalo, NY and moved to Philadelphia in 2018. She attended college at Niagara University where she obtained both her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and master’s degree in special education grades 1-6.Kelly is a certified teacher in both NY and PA and has worked various positions in early childhood settings.
Nechama Fishman
Nechama grew up in New York and currently lives in Lakewood, NJ with her husband and children. She holds a Masters Degree in Teaching Literacy from Mercy College and she completed her coursework for her BCBA at Florida Institute of Technology. Nechama had been working with children with special needs and their families for many years before becoming a BCBA. She worked as a preschool teacher in a Special Education classroom and also provided in-home Early Intervention for many years as a Special Educator/ABA Therapist. After becoming a BCBA, Nechama worked with learners of all levels as a BCBA in a variety of settings. More recently, she has been working as Quality Assurance Supervisor, supporting BCBA’s in designing and implementing individual treatment plans for each child to build skills and reduce challenging behaviors. Nechama currently works as Clinical Manager at Thrive and supports staff in all aspects of clinical excellence.