About Us

Courtney Schulze is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) with nine years of experience supporting children and families impacted by autism and other developmental disabilities. Courtney received her Master’s of Education in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Courtney has dedicated her time to multiple areas of clinical support for children with developmental disabilities including helping with the international implementation of digital ABA software to better track and support children’s outcomes with the Canadian government, assisting in the development of an employment program for adults on the autism spectrum, and working directly with children and families implementing behavioural intervention programs. She works on all areas of child development using a behaviour analytic approach, and specializes in verbal/non-verbal communication, behavioural sleep treatment, and sexualized behaviours/education.

Courtney founded Northern Star Behaviour Services in Edmonton, Alberta in April of 2021 determined to offer the highest quality of care families could receive in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) intervention. Her leadership and dedication to families and children is continuously exemplified in her work. Northern Star is proud to offer tele-health services in remote communities to families who could not otherwise access services based on their geography, as well as other minority culture groups including Indigenous populations.

Through the creation of Northern Star Behaviour Services, Courtney is excited to lead by example offering meaningful intervention, education for parents and families, and significant outcomes that parents feel leaves a lasting impression in their lives.

Mack Riesterer is the Co-owner and Director of Operations of Northern Star Behaviour Services. His background in Power Engineering equips him with skills in problem solving, team management, and system efficiencies. While our clients may never meet Mack, he is always working in the background, whether it is software related, or another variation of staff support.

Mack is the husband of Courtney, the Director, and enjoys supporting their family-owned operation. Mack is also contributing to Northern Star endeavours to support First Nation and Indigenous families, as he is proudly Metis and would like to see equitable care available for all cultural backgrounds.

Veena attained her Bachelor’s degree in Education at the University of Alberta in 2007 and worked with a wide range of special needs individuals in Edmonton, Alberta at various schools, homes and agencies. It was during this time she realized that she wanted to specialize in treating behavioral challenges and cognitive deficits and ventured from Canada to USA to pursue her Master’s degree. In 2012, she graduated from the University of Washington with a Master’s in Education specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis and was awarded the Golden Millennial scholarship for top honors of academic achievement. She received her BCBA certification in 2014 and moved to Los Angeles, California to work as a Clinical Supervisor (BCBA) in IEBI (2014 – 2016) and at Intercare Therapy (2016-2022) with her area of specialties being in Discrete Trial Training (DTT) , early childhood development and training parents to apply behavioral interventions to increase their child’s growth in various developmental domains. She has a strong passion for applied behavior analysis and has observed progress in over a hundred clients by applying the interventions and principles of ABA. In June 2022, she and her fiancé moved to her hometown of Edmonton, Alberta to be closer to family and is currently enjoying life back in Canada.

Connie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) from Mississauga, Ontario, and has been in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis for 7 years. She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Disabilities Studies from Brock University, specializing in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), post graduate certificate in Behavioural Science at Humber College, and a Hons B.A. in Psychology from York University.

Connie has been implementing treatment to individuals with Autism and other developmental disorders aged 2 to 23 years old, all with varying abilities. Some of her expertise include implementing programs and teaching in either a 1 to 1 or group format, behaviour management, staff training, and evaluating programs and behaviour support plans. She currently works to virtually support rural, Alberta based families through parent training and individualized intervention plans for behaviour with Northern Star. Connie also works in the Autism department at one of the children’s hospitals in Hamilton, Ontario, providing consultation services and parent coaching for teaching various skills and managing challenging behaviours.

Connie also has personal experience when it comes to Autism. She was inspired to get into the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis as her youngest brother is on the spectrum and growing up, she had classmates and family friends who were also on the spectrum. Connie hopes that with her experiences, she will be able to support and provide services that are catered to the client and that will make a meaningful impact and positive change in their lives, and of their families as well.

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Dr. Farzad Zare-Bawani is an Associate Professor of Psychology and a practicing Clinical Psychologist with Child and forensic specialties. Dr. Zare-Bawani works with a wide range of clients, including families, couples, children, and adults. He has extensive experience in therapy and assessment, in multicultural community environments, and with multi-lingual clients. His work and experience with children encompasses a variety of assessment techniques and focuses on the psycho-social needs of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.  Dr. Zare-Bawani often works with the families, schools, and communities of these children and uses a variety of methods to assist parents, teachers, medical staff, and caseworkers. 

Jenny Visconti is a registered Occupational Therapist (OT) in Edmonton, Alberta with six years of experience working in the field. Jenny completed her Master’s of Occupational Therapy at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine in 2017.

Jenny has diverse practice interests and works with both children and adults in the community, including pediatric early intervention, mental health, and physical rehabilitation involving a variety of health conditions/diagnoses. She also has experience working with individuals and families of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Jenny is an empathetic, collaborative, and strengths-based practitioner with a strong work ethic, who enjoys helping clients reach their goals. She is passionate about providing quality care and practices with a trauma-informed lens and culturally-sensitive approach. Her calm and compassionate demeanour has been acknowledged to help put clients with anxiety at ease and make people feel understood in their journey.

Alongside the team of Behaviour Consultants (BCBAs)/Interventionists, Jenny currently provides consultative OT support for children and their families with Northern Star Behaviour Services. She collaborates with families and the team to facilitate increased participation and independence with various self-help skills and adaptive functioning areas of need in a child’s development.

Outside of work, Jenny’s hobbies consist of traveling, dancing, listening to music, reading, watching international movies, learning languages, going on nature walks, spending time with family and friends, and much more.

Kelcie earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Dalhousie University in 2014. After graduation, she moved to Grande Prairie, Alberta to begin her career in private practice working with neurodiverse children of all ages. Kelcie has experience working with children who have complex communication needs and has worked with many children who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ACC). Kelcie prioritizes family and child centred care for her clients, taking a strength-based approach to help families learn to support communication during motivating activities and routines. In 2019, Kelcie returned to Nova Scotia where she now lives with her husband and daughter. She continues to provide virtual SLP assessment, therapy, and consultation to families across Alberta.

Christie Fernando is an Occupational Therapist (OT) living in Edmonton, Alberta with 4 years of experience supporting Autistic children and their families. She completed her Master's of Occupational Therapy at the University of Alberta in 2015. When she learned about applied behaviour analysis (ABA), she quickly recognized the value it could add to her OT practice. She completed a Graduate Certificate in Behavior Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2022. 

Christie uses the best of OT and ABA to support children and families in achieving meaningful goals. She practices using a neurodiverse-affirming lens, and focuses on increasing clients' autonomy and joy. Christie is dedicated to continual learning and self-improvement in order to provide the highest quality of service.

Outside of work you can find Christie going for walks with her family and energetic dog, or working in her garden.

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Coming soon!

Jennifer is Northern Star’s Administrative Coordinator and handles the day-to-day duties behind the scenes. She provides support to the families we serve as well as the clinical team.

She is devoted to helping parents navigate through the complex process of attaining FSCD funding, which can often be an overwhelming experience for families.

Jennifer is the connection between families and Northern Star team members and every family can be assured they are in the best of hands from the very first phone call they make regarding Autism services.

She has all the essential tools to provide families with everything they need while working alongside a brilliant and committed team! She looks forward to answering any query you may have about services, staff, the FSCD process, or to discuss anything you or your child may need!

Isaiah Lauder is the Lead Interventionist with Northern Star and is currently a university student finishing his psychology degree with a particular interest in behaviour analysis. Since discovering behaviour analysis, Isaiah is looking forward to furthering his education and becoming a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) so he can continue helping children and families.

Away from work you will find Isaiah playing basketball, listening to music, and enjoying the outdoors while biking, hiking, or walking his dogs. He loves supporting and developing the skillset of the Interventionist team. Isaiah can’t wait to assist your child and family in meeting your goals!

Dayanara Fruhbrodt has joined the team at Northern Star as a Behaviour Interventionist, and is soon to earn her Registered Behaviour Technician Diploma. Daya loves spending time with the kiddos and has a deep sense of empathy that helps her establish and maintain strong connections with the families she works with. Having experience working in multiple environments, Daya is ready to work with you on the goals that you and your family want to achieve the most —whether that’s at home, in the community or at school.

Having recently moved to Edmonton, Daya has brought a fresh perspective and energy with her. She has received one on one training with experts in the field and loves expanding her knowledge of ABA. She is currently pursuing her studies in Behavioural Psychology and hopes to become a BCBA in the future. She is an advocate for progressive ABA to gain more momentum in Alberta so that more families can get access to these services.

When she is not working, Daya loves spending time reading books, dancing or learning something new! She is fluent in Spanish and is working to become fluent in American Sign Language.

Daya’s passion is helping families and their children to reach their goals and full potential. She can’t wait to meet you!

Amy Ellis is a Behavioural Interventionist and is currently working on her Early Childhood Ed and Development Diploma. Amy has a passion for supporting kids and through her patience and kindness can reach them at a different level. She is thrilled to collaborate with families and to connect on a more personable level to support them with the tools they need to succeed. Throughout Amy’s wide variety of experience she is excited to share her knowledge with the team as well as learn and grow from their support as well.

You can find Amy spending time with friends, enjoying the outdoors, listening to good music, and most importantly spending time with her family. She has 4 nieces from the ages 6 months – 3 years old and loves every minute spent with them.

She is excited for this step in her career and to meet amazing people and support families along the way!

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Daniela is currently a university student finishing her psychology degree at the University of Alberta. She is from South America, and is fluent in Spanish! Daniela has worked in multiple environments that have given her the experience to work with families and accomplish the goals they set forth. She loves spending time with kids and helping them learn and acquire new skills. Her care and passion for her clients helps her build strong connections with not only the kids but their families as well for a well-rounded, family centric approach!

Away from work she likes to go to the gym, dance, listen to music, and hang out with her friends! She cannot wait to work with your family and widen her scope of practice!

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Coming soon!

Ashu Kito is Behaviour Interventionist with Northern Star and is currently a university student finishing her psychology and sociology degree. She has particular interest in Applied behaviour analysis and is planning to pursue further education and becoming Board Certified Assistant Behaviour Analyst ( BCaBA). Actually, she will soon earn her Behavioural Interventions Certificate of Achievement!

Her compassion and kindness are central characteristic of Ashu’s personality that helps her navigate new situation with excellence. Her main goal is to provide support and encouragement so that kids in her care can reach their goals and flourish in their environment.

Outside of work, she loves going to the gym, listening to music, being outdoors and volunteering. She is passionate about she does and is excited to build strong connections with your families while she expands her knowledge in the field.

Marianne is in her final year of her Psychology degree at MacEwan University, with a particular interest in Child Development and Behaviour Analysis. She has worked for many years supporting children with individual needs in Early Education and elementary school, and has a passion for helping children to reach their potential and enjoy learning. Marianne loves to build collaborative relationships with families so that they can work together to achieve meaningful and important goals for their family.

Outside of work and studying, Marianne spends her time with her  husband and children, watching soccer games and doing lots of arts and crafts, paddleboarding, camping, and reading. Marianne cannot wait to work with you!