Executive Leadership Team


Stacey Hotter-Knight, MS, BCBA, LBA
Executive Director
Special Education Teaching Credential
Agency Affiliated Counselor
Ethics & Safety Committee Member


Stacey Hotter-Knight is the founder and executive director L.E.A.P.S. and Beyond, Inc. (LEAPS) is a behavioral health agency providing applied behavior analysis services (ABA) services to individuals with autism spectrum disorder. She founded leaps in in 2013 with a dedication, passion, and belief that children with autism can reach their fullest potential if treated early and comprehensively. Ms. Hotter-Knight holds a dual Master’s in Psychology and Special Education and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.  In addition, Stacey has a Mild to Moderate Teaching Credential and is an Agency Affiliated Counselor. She is presently completing her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She has been providing ABA services to children, adolescents and adults for over nineteen years  She is at the forefront in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and she has trained and supervised multiple treatment teams in various settings for individuals of all ages. Ms. Hotter-Knight has extensive training in the principles of behavior, discrete trial training (DTT), Verbal Behavior (VB), Safety Care, Picture Exchange Communication Training (PECS),  Natural Environment Training (NET), Pivotal Response Training (PRT), Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT), and the Early Start Denver Model. She has been trained in conducting a variety of assessments, designing and implementing curriculum and reducing severe maladaptive and self-injurious behaviors. At LEAPS, Ms. Hotter-Knight is dedicated to providing the highest quality of ABA services, using research-based strategies supported by empirically proven methods ensuring client’s reach their maximum potential.


Kassie Posey
Operations Manager
Privacy Officer
Ethics & Safety Committee Member


Kassie Posey, received her Certified Professional Biller certification from AAPC. She has over ten years of experience working in the medical industry. Mrs. Posey joined LEAPS in 2019 as an Intakes Coordinator. Given Kassie’s experience, leadership abilities and tenacity, she quickly became the Operations Manager. She directly supervises several departments on the administration team. Kassie has received specialized training as an authorization specialist, billing specialist and payroll specialist. Mrs. Posey is a Certified Practice Management Administrator through Central Reach. Kassie possesses certifications as a HIPAA Compliance Officer and Security Officer. She offers a variety of superior experience and skills ranging from billing, intakes, staff development and medical records privacy. Kassie’s passion is to ensure families are given support accessing records, navigating insurance billing, and connecting to the client portal accounts.


Melissa Anderson, MA, BCBA, LBA
Assistant Clinical Director of Mentorship
Ethics & Safety Committee Member


Melissa began her career in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis 10 years ago as a behavior technician, during this time she fell in love with the ABA field. Melissa holds a Bachelors in Elementary Education and a Masters in Education with emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. Melissa is now a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, her expertise includes early intervention, functional communication interventions, severe problem behavior, staff training and development, and clinical management.  Melissa currently provides clinical oversight to all L.E.A.P.S Intensive Day Treatment Centers, working in collaboration with each center supervisor to ensure quality of care and best practice.  Melissa’s background in education combined with her years of experience in clinical treatment and executive leadership in ABA have led to her passion for working with individuals with developmental delays / disorders and behavioral challenges. Melissa received training and certification from the University of Washington in the administration of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule ADOS-2 and participates in diagnostic assessments in conjunction with local medical and behavioral health care teams. Melissa strives to ensure ethical and meaningful change for clients, increase collaboration among treatment teams, and to increase access to services for our most at risk children and families in need.   


Dana Norling, MA, BCBA, LBA
Assistant Clinical Director of Training 
Ethics & Safety Committee Member


Dana Norling is the Assistant Director of Training; she also serves on the Ethics and Safety Committee. She has her Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from Purdue University. She is a licensed and Board Certified Behavior analyst with 8 years’ experience in the field of ABA. Dana Norling grew up in Helena Montana and moved to Washington State in 2012. She has 3 children and resides in Puyallup. Dana believes that learning should be child directed and works closely with families to create meaningful programs and behavior change that benefit the learner and the family. Dana has a wide range of experience and expertise in behavior analysis including: Verbal Behavior, Pivotal Response Training, Play Therapy, PECS, Discrete Trial, Feeding, Behavior Reduction along Parent Training and Support. She has experience in a variety of assessments such as: The VB-MAPP, Vineleand3, ABLLS-R, PDDBI, AFFL-S and the Early Start Denver Model. She believes in the value of teamwork and consults with Speech, OT, Schools, and other professionals that are responsible for supporting our learners. The science of behavior is her passion, and she shows it with every family she works with.   


Court Wilson, MA, BCBA, LBA
Assistant Clinical Director of Ethics
Ethics & Safety Committee Chair


Court Wilson is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in Kitsap County.  Court joined LEAPS and Beyond, Inc. in October 2013 as a behavior technician and now operates as Assistant Clinical Director and Ethics Officer.  She holds a BS in Psychology from Washington State University, an MA in Counseling from Norfolk State University, and a graduate certificate in ABA from the University of Washington.  She became a BCBA in November 2015.  Prior to working in ABA, Court was a counselor in both Virginia and Washington working with at risk youth and families.  She chose to focus on ABA because of the positive impact that she saw while working with her first client.  Court believes in providing individualized and compassionate services for Autistic individuals and their families using a variety of interventions and methodologies.