Chelsea Sames is the Program Director of Behavioral Supports. She was born and raised in Wellston, Ohio. She attended Morehead State University and played softball for the Eagles. After graduating, she entered the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and received her master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati in education with a focus on behavior analysis. Chelsea has been in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for 7 years. She became a behavior support specialist and has been working primarily with the MPW and SCL waiver since. She has experience providing support to individuals of all ages in a variety of settings. Chelsea believes in providing quality care to all individuals. Chelsea currently resides in Lexington, KY with her husband and her two golden retrievers. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, camping/hiking, snorkeling, participating in a kickball league, and watching sports.

With over 16 years in the mental health field, I bring extensive experience and a deep commitment to my work. The past 6 years I’ve dedicated my focus to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). My journey began as an Intake Coordinator, where I honed my skills in the revenue cycle processes. Over the years, I advanced through roles such as Office Manager, Billing Manager, and Director of Revenue Cycle Management, each position deepening my expertise in managing billing operations and credentialing. My work includes overseeing the entire billing cycle, from processing claims to ensuring timely reimbursements. I’ve also been instrumental in credentialing, handling the management and maintenance of records for enrollment applications. Additionally, I collaborate closely with payer representatives to analyze and optimize contracts, negotiating rate changes that contribute to business growth. I believe in the power of relationship building and maintaining open, effective communication, ensuring that expectations are not just met but exceeded. Outside of work, I find balance through fishing, a hobby that allows me to reconnect with nature. On game days, I’m a dedicated New England Patriots fan, whether I’m watching from home or in the stands.

Nicole Deters is the Vice President of Business Development at Commonwealth ABA, where she leverages her extensive background in recruiting and marketing to drive growth and foster strategic partnerships. With an MBA from Thomas More University, Nicole combines her academic expertise with practical experience in the ABA industry to enhance service delivery and client engagement. What she values most in her role is the opportunity to collaborate with the Commonwealth team and connect families with valuable resources that can positively influence their lives. Outside of her professional life, Nicole enjoys farm life in Kentucky with her husband and their three children. As a dedicated sports mom, she loves cheering on her kids at their events. She is also passionate about outdoor activities, often spending time boating, golfing, and hiking with her family.

Katie was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, before moving to Dayton, Ohio, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Dayton. Go Flyers! After graduating, she moved back to Indianapolis where she attended graduate school and earned her Master’s in Social Work from Indiana University. Shortly after, Katie moved to Kentucky with her husband and has been in the Bluegrass State ever since. Katie has experience working with juvenile sex offenders, as well as youth in therapeutic foster care. In 2012, Katie became a Positive Behavior Support Specialist and has been working in MPW and SCL waiver programs since. Katie is passionate about the waivers and developing programs that allow individuals and families to access quality care and be empowered through the services they receive. Katie and her husband have 2 children – a son and a daughter. Outside of work, you can find her spending time with her family and attending various activities for their kids. Katie also enjoys hiking, traveling, sports, reading, Crossfit, and being outdoors!

Kim Jet is the HR/Operations Manager for Commonwealth Autism Care

Jade Lewis is the Vice President of Business Development. She is originally from Mississippi, but relocated to Georgia shortly after completing her bachelor’s in psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi and obtaining her BCBA. Since then, she has received a master’s degree in special education with an emphasis in severe behavior disorders from Georgia State University and earned her BCBA certification in 2009. Jade has worked with children and adults of all ages and across a variety of settings. During the pandemic, Jade transitioned to a role that allowed her to utilize her 20+ years of experience to educate and inform families, other providers, and the community on the value of applied behavior analytic services. Jade lives in the Savannah, GA area with her husband and two daughters. Her son lives nearby and works in the aerospace field. In her free time, she enjoys Crossfit, attending her kids’ sports and activities, and hanging out in downtown Savannah with her husband and friends.

Christine Otersen, M.Ed., BCBA, is the Regional Director of Georgia. She is originally from Ohio and graduated from Kent State University where she earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. She began her career in ABA in 2002 at The May Institute in Chatham, Massachusetts where she found her passion for working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She relocated to Georgia and attended Georgia State University where she earned a Masters Degree in Education with an emphasis in multiple and severe disabilities and Autism. She has a true passion for working with individuals with disabilities across their lifespan in their homes, schools, clinics and in the community. She enjoys all ages and likes to focus on functional living skills and communication. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, cooking, golfing, attending sporting events and just being outdoors with her husband and two sons.

Brett Blevins, CEO and Founder of Commonwealth Autism Care, earned a Masters of Education from Georgetown College after acquiring his Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Business and Business Administration at Northern Kentucky University. He is a registered Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) from the Florida Institute of Technology. Brett has focused his passions by working with at-risk youth and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 20-years. In an effort to transform the ABA industry, Brett founded Commonwealth ABA with the goal of breaking down the barriers caregivers often face when seeking access to Autism care for their loved ones. Brett further focuses his passions on building effective teams to meet the increased demand in the autism and youth mental health spaces. He believes in the “not how, but who” approach as he develops the Commonwealth ABA network of BCBAs, Psychologists, and Registered Behavior Therapists (RBTs). Brett met his wife in 2013, who also works in youth behavioral health care as an LPCC. They have twin girls that love story time and arts and crafts. Brett played basketball growing up and coached youth sports. He enjoys watching his two nephews play basketball and baseball on their high school teams and hanging out with his nieces for family get-togethers.

Sydnee Decker, Intake Manager, started in the ABA field in 2015 as an RBT and continued that until she started her family in 2022. Sydnee joined Commonwealth in March of 2023 as our Credentialing, Authorization, and Insurance guru. Sydnee is a certified ABA Biller and Coder with extensive knowledge on Contracting and Credentialing with insurances for ABA services. Sydnee was born in Utah and grew up in Idaho. She lived out west until she met her husband in 2018 where they moved from Utah to California and then to Florida where they have been since 2019. Sydnee had her first child this year, a little boy, and she loves every moment of being a mom. Sydnee loves spending time at the beach with her family.

Kelli Bruington was born and raised in Bardstown, Ky. where she now lives with her two sons, husband, and dog. She attended Western Kentucky University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Child Studies with a minor in Family Studies and Home Visiting. After graduating from WKU, Kelli attended the University of Cincinnati and received my Masters in Education with a Focus on Behavior Analysis. Kelli has been in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for about 7 years. She started her journey providing community living support. Once she graduated college, she became a Registered Behavior Technician and, after passing her board exams, began her time as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Most of her career has focused on the pediatric population; however, Kelli has recently branched out to provide support to all ages. If Kelli is not at work, you can find her hanging out with her boys. They are a baseball family and spend most of their spring and summer days at the ball field, whether it be for their local high school team or cheering on the Cincinnati Reds. Some of Kelli’s favorite activities include watching Kentucky Football, being at the beach or spending time with her family.