Meet Our Team

Casey master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Casey Lynn Hayden. MA, BCBA, LBA

Casey earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). As a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst , her work has touched the lives of numerous families impacted by autism spectrum disorder. Since entering the field in 1998, Casey has provided direct behavioral therapy services, supervised workshops, and trained parents, teachers, consultants, and behavior interventionists. She has specific expertise in parent consultation, intensive behavior intervention, and behavior management programs. Boasting two decades of education, practice, commitment, and passion working with children and their families, Casey stands out in the field.

Autism is personal for Casey; she has a sister and a nephew on the spectrum. She understands the perspective of families and taps into that empathy throughout her workdays.

Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (ABA)
Desirae Wingerter MA, BCBA, LBA

Desirae Wingerter is a Las Vegas native and UNLV graduate. As an undergrad, she studied Psychology and worked as a research assistant studying Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in children and youth impacted by the foster care system. Desirae entered the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in 2007, where she worked both with clients directly and in administrative roles supporting families through navigating funding, intake processes, and successfully starting their ABA journey. Desirae has worked in the field ever since, spanning both the non-profit and private sectors. Desirae became a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst in 2016, wherein she played a critical role developing programs for the largest multidisciplinary clinic in the state of Nevada. In 2021 Desirae completed her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and became a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst. During this time, she stepped back into the research field, and has been participating in the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Functional Analysis ever since. Desirae is passionate about program development and supporting Las Vegas’ differently-abled communities.

Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (ABA)
Renee Knipper Intake Specialist

Renée serves as the Intake Specialist for the Behavior Essentials Team. In that capacity, she is typically the first person from Behavior Essentials that a new family comes into contact with when searching for services for their loved one. When not working with families to find innovative solutions for their needs, the rest of her time is dedicated to her own family. Renée is a proud, caring mother of four amazing children, and supported by her loving husband. Originally from sunny Southern California, Renée and her husband settled in Southern Nevada in 2006 when starting to grow their family. Renée is an avid fan of women’s soccer and whatever her children happen to be into in the moment, as well as a dedicated volunteer over the years for her children’s schools and various youth organizations.Assisting families in the pursuit of services for their loved ones is a deeply rooted passion for Renée. She has three children who were diagnosed early on the Autism spectrum, who have blossomed into three amazing success stories after years of tireless ABA intervention led by Behavior Essential’s own Casey Hayden in partnership with Renée and an awesome team of behavior technicians. Renée is a stalwart advocate for full family involvement in this journey and does not rest until she helps any family in need.


Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (ABA)
Chris Curler, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA

Chris has more than 20 years of dedicated experience working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). He has had the privilege of working with individuals across a broad range of age groups and skill sets. Chris is well-versed in comprehensive programming and teaching across all domains, including communication, language, independent daily living, academics, social skills, and play skills. He prides himself on providing highly effective treatment using ABA. He understands the special needs of children diagnosed with Autism as well as their family members. His other strengths include parent education, supporting clients in the school setting, and collaborating with related service providers. He is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in Nevada. Chris holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He lives in Sparks, Nevada, with his wife Brittany, who is also a talented and respected BCBA. He practices ABA in the Reno area and supports families using ABA in rural Nevada. When not working with families, Chris enjoys cooking, traveling to interesting places, exploring the Reno, NV area, and listening to as well as playing music.

Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (ABA)
Tiffany Hamilton, M.S.

Tiffany Hamilton got her start in ABA as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) in 2019 where she provided 1:1 support in-homes for young children on the spectrum, teaching skills such as independent daily living, communication, and play skills. She received her Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Southern California (USC) where she conducted research using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in group behaviors. While receiving her Master’s Degree, Tiffany had the incredible opportunity to expand her skills by continuing to provide ABA therapy to children and adults in a wide range of settings such as school, community, and clinic settings. Tiffany is currently collecting her clinical hours as a candidate for board certification to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and she plans on testing this year. In her free time, she loves creating art projects such as painting, clay sculpting, and woodburning.