Meet Our Experts
James Patrick, MS, BCBA
The FounderJames is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the founder of Cypress ABC, where he has spent over 17 years transforming care homes and day programs into environments that prioritize dignity, connection, and person-centered care.
With extensive experience conducting Functional Behavioral Assessments, developing individualized Behavior Support Plans, and training multidisciplinary teams, James has supported individuals with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injuries.
As a leader, James is passionate about mentoring others and building a team of like-minded professionals who share his vision for compassionate, innovative care. His work continues to set the standard for excellence in the field, inspiring meaningful change for individuals and care teams alike.
Criselle Peñamante, MD, MA, MMSc
The Global Care PioneerDr. Criselle brings a wealth of expertise in medicine, psychology, and global health delivery to Cypress ABC. With advanced training from Harvard Medical School and over a decade of experience in education, research, and clinical practice, she is passionate about improving care systems for vulnerable populations.
Criselle’s work focuses on delivering equitable, person-centered care, with a special interest in mental health, neurodevelopmental conditions, and quality improvement. Her approach combines system evaluation with compassionate, individualized support, ensuring that every participant receives the highest standard of care.
Criselle’s dedication to advancing care systems helps Cypress ABC lead the way in innovative, person-centered support.
Faisal Mohmand, MS, BCBA
The Behavior ArchitectFaisal is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over eight years of experience supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities. His expertise includes conducting assessments, developing individualized treatment plans, and training multidisciplinary teams to ensure high-quality, person-centered care.
Faisal is known for his ability to build strong connections with clients, families, and care teams, fostering collaboration and trust to achieve meaningful outcomes. His hands-on approach and dedication to empowering individuals reflect his commitment to creating positive, lasting change.
At Cypress ABC, Faisal’s leadership, compassion, and focus on practical solutions make him an invaluable part of the team, helping to ensure every individual receives the support they need to thrive.
Emily Cohen, RBT
The Behavior Trailblazer Emily brings a unique blend of academic excellence, hands-on experience, and boundless enthusiasm to her role at Cypress ABC. As a Registered Behavior Technician with years of experience in both one-on-one and group settings, Emily has worked with individuals across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities.
Currently pursuing her PhD in Clinical Psychology, Emily combines her academic training with a practical, person-centered approach. She excels at tailoring interventions to meet the unique needs of each individual, whether it’s creating engaging materials like customized Jeopardy boards to teach coping skills or collaborating with care teams to implement effective behavior strategies.
Emily’s creativity and dedication inspire growth and progress in every individual she supports.
Briana Fair, LCSW
The Crisis NavigatorBriana brings over a decade of experience in social services, crisis intervention, and behavioral support to Cypress ABC. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she has dedicated her career to empowering individuals with developmental disabilities and supporting the teams that care for them.
Briana’s ability to connect with people — whether residents, staff, or administrators — sets her apart. She excels at building trust, adapting training to meet diverse needs, and collaborating with care teams to ensure consistent, high-quality support. Her expertise includes working with individuals in crisis, conducting behavioral assessments, and developing actionable plans to prevent triggers and promote stability.
At Cypress ABC, Briana’s compassionate approach helps create environments where individuals and teams can thrive together.
Stacey Stinson, MA, MT-BC, HPMT
The Melody MakerStacey is a Board-Certified Music Therapist with over a decade of experience harnessing the power of music to bring comfort, connection, and meaning to people’s lives. Specializing in hospice care, dementia support, and working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Stacey’s person-centered approach enhances quality of life through personalized, music-based activities.
As the founder of Music Therapy with Stacey, she provides innovative music therapy services to care homes, day programs, and individuals across the Bay Area. Stacey’s expertise includes developing legacy project programs, incorporating creative arts and technology, and tailoring group sessions to meet the unique needs of each participant.
At Cypress ABC, Stacey brings creativity, compassion, and a deep commitment to using music as a tool for healing and growth.
Jenice de Quinto, DPT
The Independence BuilderDr. Jenice is a dedicated physical therapist and the owner of Labyrinth Physical Therapy. She specializes in orthopedic, neurologic, vestibular, developmental, and geriatric conditions, using evidence-based and patient-centered care to help individuals regain confidence in movement and improve their quality of life.
With a lifelong connection to the care home field and a passion for working with individuals with developmental delays, Jenice brings a unique ability to connect with her patients. Her expertise includes tailored exercise programs, wheelchair evaluations, and holistic approaches to fostering independence.
Jenice’s commitment to compassionate care and creative problem-solving ensures every patient feels supported and empowered on their journey to better health.
Josef Rapadas
The Care Home VirtuosoJosef brings a wealth of experience in managing adult residential facilities and supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. With a strong background in caregiving, behavioral intervention, and team leadership, Josef has dedicated his career to fostering autonomy, dignity, and positive outcomes for the individuals he serves.
As an administrator of licensed adult residential facilities, Josef has successfully led teams of direct support professionals, developed Individualized Service Plans, and ensured full compliance during licensing inspections. His hands-on experience in behavioral intervention and crisis management, combined with his collaborative approach to working with care teams, reflects his commitment to creating supportive and empowering environments.
Josef’s leadership and expertise ensure that every care home he supports operates at its best.
Mark Climaco
The Empowerment MentorCoach Mark brings over 15 years of teaching experience and a professional fighting career to Cypress ABC. As the leader of the Martial Arts Social Skills Group, he combines physical fitness with social awareness, helping participants build self-confidence, develop spatial awareness, and practice respect for themselves and others — all while having fun.
Mark’s martial arts journey began as a way to learn self-defense and gain self-confidence, eventually leading him to compete professionally at the highest levels, including a UFC platform tournament. Now, as the founder of Element MMA, he’s dedicated to sharing the transformative power of martial arts with his community.
Mark’s passion for teaching and his ability to inspire confidence leave a lasting impact on everyone he works with.
Silvia Ramirez
The Design StrategistSilvia brings over a decade of experience across healthcare, operations, executive support, and UX design. With a background in veterinary medicine and user experience research, she approaches design with empathy and a strong understanding of the people she’s designing for. Her work focuses on accessibility and inclusive design, creating digital experiences that feel intuitive, thoughtful, and easy to use.
Working in fast-paced healthcare environments taught Silvia how to navigate complex challenges with adaptability, clear communication, and care. Whether improving workflows, shaping brand experiences, or simplifying technology, she enjoys creating practical, people-centered solutions that make everyday experiences better.
Silvia is passionate about collaborative problem-solving and believes great design starts with listening. At Cypress ABC, she brings a thoughtful, human-centered approach to every project she takes on.
Emily Swope, MS, BCBA
The Change Catalyst Emily is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with a passion for sparking meaningful, person-centered change in care homes, day programs, and educational settings. With a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and Organizational Behavior Management from Florida Institute of Technology, Emily blends her expertise in behavior science with a creative, solutions-driven approach.
Emily’s career spans a variety of environments, including clinical, in-home, and school-based settings, where she has developed individualized Behavior Support Plans and empowered multidisciplinary teams through training and mentorship. Known for her ability to connect with people and inspire collaboration, Emily excels at turning challenges into opportunities for growth.
Driven by the belief that every individual deserves a supportive and empowering environment, Emily brings energy, creativity, and strategic thinking to help create care settings centered on dignity, respect, and progress.
Shomonique Johnson, MS, BCBA, PsyD Candidate
The Progress ChampionShomonique is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Registered Psychological Associate with over a decade of experience in behavior analysis, psychological assessment, and educational leadership. Currently completing her PsyD in Clinical Psychology, she brings a unique blend of expertise in functional behavior assessments, individualized behavior plans, and systems-level change.
Her career spans schools, day programs, and care homes, where she has supported individuals with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, and mental health challenges. Shomonique is celebrated for her ability to build trust and foster collaboration with clients, families, and multidisciplinary teams, ensuring meaningful and lasting outcomes.
Passionate about prevention-focused care, Shomonique empowers individuals and teams to create environments grounded in dignity, respect, and progress. Her strategic approach and deep understanding of behavior drive positive, lasting change.
Colleen Quisumbing, MS, LMFT
The Champion of CompassionColleen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 15 years of experience supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and their care teams. Licensed in both California and Hawaii, Colleen blends her expertise in counseling, behavior analysis, and person-centered planning to create meaningful, individualized support strategies.
Her career spans roles as a clinical director, private practice therapist, and counselor, where she has overseen treatment teams, conducted assessments, and developed personalized plans to ensure dignity and progress. Colleen’s strength-based, humanistic approach focuses on building abilities while maintaining a deep commitment to ethical care.
At Cypress ABC, Colleen’s dedication to fostering independence and her ability to see the bigger picture make her an invaluable part of the team.
Xochi Tobiko
The Joyful ConnectorPronounced SOH-chee, this miniature Australian Labradoodle is already on her way to becoming a certified Therapy Dog! Bred by the Loving Labradoodles program, Xochi is a bundle of sweetness and curiosity, bringing joy to everyone she meets.
Right now, her days are filled with the important work of being a puppy: napping like a pro, enjoying endless tummy rubs, soothing her teething with her favorite dental chews, and listening intently as her older sister reads to her. These moments are helping Xochi develop the calm, loving demeanor that will make her an exceptional therapy dog in the future.
With her gentle nature and growing confidence, Xochi is destined to bring comfort, connection, and a wagging tail to those who need it most. For now, she’s soaking up all the love and learning she can — one belly rub at a time!
Lisa Keslin, MS, BCBA
The Ethical InnovatorWith over 20 years of experience as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Lisa is a leader in ethical, person-centered care. She has supported individuals across the lifespan, from toddlers to adults, in diverse settings, specializing in advanced language programming and positive behavioral approaches.
Lisa’s passion for ethical practice drives her work mentoring and training multidisciplinary teams. She fosters professional growth through role-playing ethical decision-making scenarios and creating supportive cohorts for those pursuing advanced education. Her leadership ensures that every team member is equipped to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care.
At Cypress ABC, Lisa’s creativity, compassion, and dedication to ethical innovation empower individuals and teams to thrive, making her an invaluable part of the organization.