Board of Directors
Ben Seifert, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA
President
Ben is a doctoral-level board certified behavior analyst who completed his PhD in Special Education from Ball State University, earned his M.A.’s in ABA and Educational Psychology from Ball State University, and his B.A. in Psychology from Purdue University. He is an instructor for the ABA program at Ball State University and is the Principal and Founder of Collaborate ABA.
Ben has been working in the field of ABA since 2003 and has been fortunate to work under the guidance of Dr. Susan Wilczynski, Dr. Carl Sundberg, Dr. Patrick McGreevy, Dr. Mark Sundberg, Dr. John Esch, Dr. Barbera Esch, and Dr. Peter Gerhardt. He has experience working with all ages in home programs, schools, and center-based therapy. Ben works with individuals of all ages; however, he specializes in working with adolescents and adults.
Ben met his wife Karie (also a BCBA!) while working at the Behavior Analysis Center for Autism in Indiana. Ben and Karie moved to Austin, Texas in 2014 and have been thankful for the warmer Texas winters! Ben and Karie have a son named Jordan and they enjoy spending a lot of time together as a family. They love college football, going to movies, and spending time with family.
Caroline Nelson, J.D.
Secretary
Caroline Nelson's 29-year career as an attorney and educator developed in tandem with personal experience raising a son with a disability and his sisters. She began as a high school teacher, found her way from the classroom to law practice, learned special education as a mom, and
circled back to public school as a special education Family Liaison and Transition Specialist. There, she focused on neutral dispute resolution, post-secondary planning and community outreach.
She is the founder of MiddleWayLaw, a private law and mediation practice designed to help parents of kids with special needs and their school teams engage in collaborative dispute resolution and person-centered strategic futures planning.
Billie Jo King
Billie Jo King currently serves as the IDD Program Coordinator for Caldwell and Guadalupe Counties, connecting families of adults who experience Intellectual Developmental Disabilities, Autism or Down syndrome with services and programs in their community at Bluebonnet Trails Community Services. Billie Jo has more than 14 years of experience working within this population of all ages. Billie Jo served as Jill's House Camp Texas Supervisor for 4 years, an Austin-area yearlong respite camp for children 6-17. She was an Intense Skills Trainer for one the first IDD Crisis Teams to serve families and caregivers in home with intense behavior training programs and ABA therapies. She has served as Alaska's Special Olympics Volunteer Coordinator and Arc of Anchorage's Rec Center's Team Leader.
Billie Jo has extensive of experience and shows an amazing amount of compassion and joy working with individuals who experience unique abilities. She is dedicated to educating and integrating our individuals within the community.
Lori Presti
Nicole Cagle
Nicole Cagle is the mom of a teenage daughter with autism. She brings experience from a parent's perspective. Nicole has expertise navigating a variety of therapies, including several years of ABA. She brings first hand knowledge of raising a child with autism and the joys and challenges of every day life advocating for a child who cannot express herself or communicate her needs adequately. Nicole also brings experience guiding her daughter through special education in the public school system and knowledge of the ARD process.
Caleb Alford
Caleb was born and raised in the Houston area and moved to Austin in 2012 to purse higher education at The University of Texas. He earned his bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Sciences and had the opportunity to intern at The Arc of the Capital Area while completing his studies. Following his internship, Caleb continued to serve clients at The Arc in various roles and is now the Director of Community Services. Caleb oversees staff members in the Adult Case Management, Juvenile Justice Services, and Guardianship Programs as well as our Outreach services. Caleb has over 10 years of experience working in the I/DD community in both the US and Canada. Caleb worked at Easter Seals Camps in Alberta and British Columbia, where he developed a passion for helping the I/DD community. He strives every day to ensure people with disabilities are living a life full of dignity and fulfillment.
Erika Musick Griffin
Erika is the Transition Specialist for Lake Travis ISD, having worked for the district for nearly two decades. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University, as well as participated in graduate studies in Educational Psychology - Low Incidence Disabilities at Texas A&M. Erika has a passion for educating and supporting students with disabilities of all ages, specifically promoting and supporting adult services in our community. Prior to assuming her current role in July 2020, Erika taught high school life skills special education for five years, and previously spent eleven years teaching elementary life skills special education, resource and inclusion.
Erika holds Texas Teacher Certifications in Special Education, Secondary English Language Arts & Reading, Elementary Education Generalist, and English as a Second Language. Erika currently serves on the planning committee for the Destination Life Transition Fair and Conference, and previously sat on the board for the Capital City A&M Club serving in several capacities related to fundraising and fellowship. Erika and her husband of two years, David, live in the Lake Travis area and enjoy watching football games, attending concerts, and traveling. An Austinite by birth and Lake Travis resident since childhood, Erika is devoted to the success of Independent Identity and other local programs supporting adults with disabilities in our community.
Bodie Nash
Bodie Nash is a retired Human Resources professional with 28 years of experience in serving employers and employees in the technology industry. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration (Finance) from Southwest Texas State University (Texas State). Having previously served on boards of directors for two educational non-profits, he enjoys learning and giving energy to the education community. Although originally from Houston, he has lived in the Austin area for over 30 years. Bodie greatest joy is his wife, son and daughter and he relishes time in the outdoors.
