Meet Our Staff

Meet the Founders of Applied Learning Institute

Casey Falen, M.A., BCBA, COBA


Chief Executive Officer

Casey Falen is a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities. She holds a Master of Arts in Psychology/Applied Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University, with a dual emphasis in Organizational Behavior Management and Professional Psychology (Autism).

After graduate school, Casey was recruited to a private agency in Ontario, Canada, where she provided intensive autism services across clinical, home, and community settings. Following three years abroad, she returned to the U.S., serving clients in California, New York, and Ohio through behavioral consultation, in-home therapy, school-based services, and parent and staff training in both agency and private settings.

A passionate advocate for accessible, high-quality ABA services, Casey co-founded Autism Behavior Consulting, a New York-based agency, and most recently, Applied Learning Institute in Ohio. At Applied Learning Institute, she continues to advance her mission by cultivating and supporting a team of skilled behavior analysts focused on delivering individualized, evidence- based interventions that promote meaningful outcomes.

Holly Rittenhouse-Cea, Ph.D. BCBA, COBA


Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Holly Rittenhouse-Cea is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities across clinical, school, and home settings. She earned her PhD in Language Development, Literacy, and Learning—focused on students with disabilities—from Fordham University. Dr. Rittenhouse-Cea has practiced in Ohio, Chicago, NYC, and the Greater New York area, bringing a deep commitment to evidence-based behavioral practices.

She taught for eight years at Fordham University in the Division of Curriculum and Teaching and for three years in the Department of Special Education at Hunter College, preparing future special education professionals in behavioral methodologies. Most recently, she served as Director of the Master of Applied Behavior Analysis program at the University of Dayton, where she trained aspiring behavior analysts and conducted research in applied behavior analysis.

Dr. Rittenhouse-Cea is the Co-Founder of the Applied Learning Institute, where she now focuses her efforts on expanding high-quality, individualized treatment options for individuals with ASD across Ohio. Her work continues to be driven by a strong dedication to improving access to effective behavioral services in her home community of Dayton and beyond.

Holly Rittenhouse-Cea, Ph.D. BCBA, COBA


Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Holly Rittenhouse-Cea is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities across clinical, school, and home settings. She earned her PhD in Language Development, Literacy, and Learning—focused on students with disabilities—from Fordham University. Dr. Rittenhouse-Cea has practiced in Ohio, Chicago, NYC, and the Greater New York area, bringing a deep commitment to evidence-based behavioral practices.

She taught for eight years at Fordham University in the Division of Curriculum and Teaching and for three years in the Department of Special Education at Hunter College, preparing future special education professionals in behavioral methodologies. Most recently, she served as Director of the Master of Applied Behavior Analysis program at the University of Dayton, where she trained aspiring behavior analysts and conducted research in applied behavior analysis.

Dr. Rittenhouse-Cea is the Co-Founder of the Applied Learning Institute, where she now focuses her efforts on expanding high-quality, individualized treatment options for individuals with ASD across Ohio. Her work continues to be driven by a strong dedication to improving access to effective behavioral services in her home community of Dayton and beyond.

Qualified Professionals Who Care

At ALI, we employ only the most qualified behavior technicians with extensive knowledge and experience in treating a wide range of issues. Each ALI behavior technician has undergone extensive training in ABA and autism spectrum disorder. All ALI staff receive ongoing training to ensure that ALI services reflect best practices.

Our staff exemplify a passion for implementing high quality, evidence-based ABA services. We work diligently to support our clients at every stage of development and are dedicated to ensuring our clients and their families can learn, grow, and thrive with the therapeutic care we provide. 

Each ALI family comes to us with a unique set of needs. Our board certified behavior analysts will conduct skill based and functional assessments to identify the specific needs of each client to develop an individualized curriculum. Our data-based approach ensures that clients are making advances toward the best possible outcomes.

Carly Luken

Position: Registered Behavior Technician
Categories: Registered Behavior Technician
  • Favorite Aspects of the Field: Feeling like I’m making an impact in the lives of the kids I work with.
  • Hobbies: Reading

Carly Luken

Registered Behavior Technician

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Jen Al Abdulhai

Position: Registered Behavior Technician
Categories: Registered Behavior Technician
  • Favorite Aspects of the Field: Watching clients grow and seeing them make progress
  • Hobbies: Diamond painting, mosaics, and hiking

Jen Al Abdulhai

Registered Behavior Technician

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Savannah Hughbanks

Position: Registered Behavior Technician
Categories: Registered Behavior Technician
  • Favorite Aspects of the Field: Working with all the kids and seeing their transformations throughout their journey
  • Hobbies: Exploring all the local hiking trails with her puppy

Savannah Hughbanks

Registered Behavior Technician

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Taylor Trent

Position: Behavior Technician
Categories: Registered Behavior Technician
  • Favorite Aspects of the Field: I love how everyday is a new adventure & a new learning experience. I enjoy helping kids grow and thrive in a supportive and engaging environment.
  • Hobbies: Spending time with my cats & reading

Taylor Trent

Behavior Technician

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We employ therapists that are energetic and passionate about working with individuals with ASD. Visit our Careers page to learn more about the positions available on our team.
Join the ALI Team >
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