LEADERSHIP

President and CEO

Jessica Sassi, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Michael S. Downey, MBA, CPA
Chief Human Resource Officer

Joe Garbiel
Chief Development Officer

Jared Bouzan, MEd
Chief Technology Officer

Darryl Agostinelli
President and CEO

Jessica Sassi, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA

Jessica Sassi, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, has more than 20 years of autism education and applied behavior analysis experience. She was named executive advisor in 2020 and executive director of NECC’s Southborough campus in 2021. Prior to that, she served as clinical director and as a residential program director. Dr. Sassi is clinical adjunct faculty in behavior analysis at Western New England University. She is widely published in academic journals, and is a BS, MS, and PhD graduate of the University of Florida.

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Michael S. Downey, MBA, CPA

Michael Downey is responsible for financial administration and strategic planning at NECC. He oversees the Business Office, as well as Facilities and IT. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA from Babson College. He later completed a master’s in taxation from Suffolk University. Prior to joining NECC in 2013, Mr. Downey was a director at Feeley & Driscoll, P.C. for nearly 14 years.

Chief Human Resource Officer

Joe Garbiel

Joe Garbiel joined the NECC in December of 2022 as the director of talent acquisition before being named chief human resource officer in June 2023. Prior to joining NECC, Mr. Garbiel was the Tufts Medicine director of talent acquisition and integration. At Tufts, his role included leading their talent acquisition efforts, HR analytics, strategy, and management, diversity and inclusion, HR technology and integrations, and more. He has more than 20 years of experience in HR as well as talent acquisition and management. His diverse HR experience will allow him to employ a strategic vision to NECC’s hiring process.

Chief Development Officer

Jared Bouzan, MEd

CDO Jared Bouzan joined NECC in 2016 as the chief development officer. He leads the advancement office in developing strategies to grow the donor base and increase financial support of the Center from individuals, corporations, and foundations. His fundraising background includes Massachusetts College of Health Sciences, Cooley Dickson Hospital, Kingswood-Oxford School, and Wilbraham & Monson Academy. He spent four years as director of development at Boston University.  As a Southborough resident and the parent of a child on the autism spectrum, Mr. Bouzan brings a unique perspective to NECC’s senior executive team.

Chief Technology Officer

Darryl Agostinelli

Darryl Agostinelli spearheads technology initiatives in IT infrastructure, automation, and cybersecurity, with a particular focus on the ACE® (Autism Curriculum Encyclopedia®) ABA Software System. He was previously founder and principal of Saggio Technologies, a technical consultancy helping clients implement technology solutions for their business problems. Over his two decades of software engineering, Mr. Agostinelli has worked for Microsoft, Razorfish, Dell and Charles Schwab. He is a computer science graduate of Case Western Reserve University.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

Heather Morrison
Executive Director - Southborough

Heather Morrison, MS, BCBA, LABA
Executive Director of Global Consulting

Amy Geckeler, MS, BCBA
Executive Director, MRC-NECC (Abu Dhabi)

Pamela Olsen, PhD, BCBA
Executive Director of Gulf Consulting

Kristin Buchanan, MSEd, BCBA
Executive Director, ACE ABA Software System

Nicole Ciotti, MS, BCBA
Executive Director - Southborough

Heather Morrison, MS, BCBA, LABA

As director of administration, Heather Morrison, MS, BCBA, LABA, supervises the direction of Food Services, Residential Services, Day Care, and administrative policies. She leads NECC’s Emergency Management Team and oversees all licensing, executive communication, and policies and procedures. Ms. Morrison joined NECC as a teacher/case manager in 1999 and has since served in several capacities before her appointment as director of administration in 2016, including residential coordinator, day coordinator, program specialist, assistant program director, program director of the Staff Intensive Unit. Ms. Morrison’s work has been published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and she has presented at regional and national conferences for behavior analysts. She earned an MS in applied behavior analysis from Northeastern University.

Executive Director of Global Consulting

Amy Geckeler, MS, BCBA

Amy Geckeler joined The New England Center for Children in August 1990, and has worked in the Residential Program, the Staff Intensive Unit, and in the Early Intensive Instructional Program. Ms. Geckeler currently serves as the executive director of Global Consulting. This department houses Public School Services – including Partner Program Classrooms, Consultation Services and Training. She has taught in Northeastern University’s graduate program in applied behavior analysis. Amy’s research interests include early intensive intervention, social skills, stereotypic behavior, reinforcement, and choice. Her work has been published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. She has presented at regional and international conferences for behavior analysts, parents, educators, and administrators.

Executive Director, MRC-NECC (Abu Dhabi)

Pamela Olsen, PhD, BCBA

Dr. Pamela Olsen, is a Licensed Special Education Teacher, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and an International Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working with individuals with autism and their families. Dr. Olsen has been a member of the New England Center for Children staff since October 2000, and since that time has held a variety of roles working with young children with autism in school, center, and residential-based settings.  Dr. Olsen relocated to the United Arab Emirates to establish the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Special Education Operated by NECC (MRC-NECC) in 2007. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the MRC-NECC program.  Dr. Olsen’s research interests include cross-cultural applications of behavior analysis practice and culturally responsive teaching practices.

Executive Director of Gulf Consulting

Kristin Buchanan, MSEd, BCBA

Kristin Buchanan holds a master’s in special education and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has worked with the New England Center for Children for over 10 years in a variety of positions including residential, private, and international programs. She currently lives in the United Arab Emirates and serves as the executive director of Gulf Consulting. The consulting division operates Clinics in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and provides consultative services in Qatar and other countries around the Gulf.

Executive Director, ACE ABA Software System

Nicole Ciotti, MS, BCBA

Nicole Ciotti began her career at NECC in 1997 after graduating from Smith College with a degree in psychology. Her clinical and educational experience at NECC has included working with preschool and elementary-age students and providing consultation and evaluation services to public schools as part of NECC’s Public School Services department. Ms. Ciotti joined the ACE® (Autism Curriculum Encyclopedia®) department in 2018 and now serves as its executive director. She earned her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis from Northeastern University and is currently pursuing her doctoral work through Northeastern’s Organizational Leadership program.