Our Team
Founder & CEO
Dr. Ben Seifert PhD, BCBA-D, LBA
Ben is a doctoral-level board certified behavior analyst who completed his PhD in Special Education from Ball State University, earned his M.A.’s in ABA and Educational Psychology from Ball State University, and his B.A. in Psychology from Purdue University. He is an instructor for the ABA program at Ball State University and is the Principal and Founder of Collaborate ABA.
Ben has been working in the field of ABA since 2003 and has been fortunate to work under the guidance of Dr. Susan Wilczynski, Dr. Carl Sundberg, Dr. Patrick McGreevy, Dr. Mark Sundberg, Dr. John Esch, Dr. Barbera Esch, and Dr. Peter Gerhardt. He has experience working with all ages in home programs, schools, and center-based therapy. Ben works with individuals of all ages; however, he specializes in working with adolescents and adults.
Ben met his wife Karie (also a BCBA!) while working at the Behavior Analysis Center for Autism in Indiana. Ben and Karie moved to Austin, Texas in 2014 and have been thankful for the warmer Texas winters! Ben and Karie have a son named Jordan and they enjoy spending a lot of time together as a family. They love college football, going to movies, and spending time with family.
Chief Programing Officer (CPO)
Crystal Crockett M.Ed., B.S.Ed., BCBA, LBA|Certified Teacher: EC–6, All-Level SPED, ESL
Crystal is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and certified Texas teacher (EC–6, All-Level SPED, ESL). She earned her B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Tarleton State University and her M.Ed. in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Texas A&M University.
With more than ten years of experience in ABA and special education, Crystal has supported individuals of all ages with varying diagnoses across school, clinic, home, and community settings. Her professional background includes serving as a special education teacher, clinical behavior technician, district behavior specialist, and BCBA consultant.
Crystal is recognized for her structured and organized approach to program development and classroom optimization. She develops clear, sustainable systems that reduce barriers for teachers, streamline daily routines, strengthen data collection, and establish consistent expectations. Her approach helps classrooms run seamlessly, ensuring instruction remains purposeful, efficient, and effective.
Crystal is known for her ability to combine the science of ABA with the practical needs of classrooms and schools, creating environments where teachers feel supported and students thrive. Her leadership continues to shape programs that set a high standard for excellence in special education and applied behavior analysis.
Chief Clinical Officer (CCO)
Josh Liemer M.S., M.Ed., BCBA, LBA
Josh is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. He graduated from Ithaca College with a B.S. in Psychology, where he was a 4-year letter winner on the intercollegiate football team. While in his undergraduate studies, Josh worked as a 1:1 ABA teaching assistant, receiving consultation from the Carbone clinic in Valley Forge, NY. Upon leaving Ithaca, Josh worked at a school for children with special needs in Syracuse, NY, while earning an M.Ed. In Teaching and Curriculum with a concentration in Special Education at Syracuse University.
Josh left New York to move to Tiburon, California to serve as a full-time live-in 1:1 ABA therapist and personal assistant to a 21-year old man with autism, working on social skills, recreational activities, and activities of daily living.
Since 2017, Josh has been living in Austin, Texas. He learned the Verbal Behavior Approach to ABA as a center-based Behavior Technician, while earning his master’s degree in Autism and Developmental Disabilities at the University of Texas at Austin.
Once a BCBA, Josh co-owned, supervised, and directed a verbal behavior clinic in South Austin from 2019-2022, before leaving to work as a behavior specialist in a public school district
Behavior Specialist
Josh Mercado, B.S. Psychology
Josh was born and raised in Chicago IL. He graduated from Western Illinois University with a B.S. in Psychology. After serving on the executive committee for students for disability awareness, he began his career working with students. Josh began helping college-aged young adults with life, job, social, and academic skills professionally. After working in the field of Cognitive Behavior Therapy, he transitioned to Applied Behavior Analysis to further his skill set and continue serving the field of behavior science.
Josh then spent time working as a behavior technician at a well-known and respected clinic in the greater Austin area. There he worked with children of all ages, and varying diagnoses. He spent a large amount of his time in the clinic working with teens.
Josh continued to develop his well-rounded skill set by taking a job in transcranial magnetic stimulation as a patient consultant. Later Josh took on case management for Child and Family Services with Travis County, learning more about comorbidities between diagnoses.
Josh brings a wide variety of experiences, a warm outlook, and an energetic approach to his work and the teams he collaborates with.
Behavior Specialist
Ironia Ellison