our team

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Kevin Hinely is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and founder of Pivotal Learning. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from CSU Sacramento and a Master's in Teaching from National University. His professional mission is to craft engaging ABA programs that optimize communication opportunities, emphasizing activity-based instruction to create enduring positive impacts on clients' lives.

Central to Kevin's ethos are values of enjoyment, activity-based learning, and the teaching of socially significant skills. With natural environment teaching, and AAC, Kevin customizes interventions to meet individual needs while prioritizing family involvement and community engagement.

Beyond work, Kevin cherishes family time and actively participates in the Sacramento MSBL baseball league.  showcasing his commitment to both sports and community involvement. 

 Christina Hinely is the co-founder and administrator of Pivotal Learning, where she brings years of experience and a BA in Psychology from CSU Chico to her role. Her journey in supporting individuals with autism began as an in-home behavior technician, later transitioning into a job coach role working with adults at Opportunity Acres. Known for her dedication and commitment, Christina's work as a clinician left a lasting impact on the clients and families she served.

As the primary administrator for Pivotal Learning, Christina manages client schedules, medical claims, and payroll. Her role ensures that administrative aspects run seamlessly, allowing  the team to focus on delivering high-quality services to their clients. Beyond work, Christina is a devoted wife and mother of two, finding joy in family time, travel, soccer, and cheering on her favorite teams, the San Franciso 49ers and Sacramento Kings.

Driven by a profound desire to make a difference in the lives of individuals with autism, Christina Hinely continues to be a driving force behind Pivotal Learning's mission of empowerment,  inclusion, and support for those in need.

Tuti Rahm, originally from Cartagena, Colombia, took a detour into computer programming despite her passion for human behavior. Driven by a family connection to developmental disabilities, she moved to San Francisco in 2006, and since 2011 dedicating her full commitment to behavior analysis.
Tuti's goals extend beyond her career; she aspires to establish a foundation providing education and awareness for families with developmental disabilities. Her mission is clear: create awareness, teach functional communication skills to prevent aggression, and foster thriving environments for families and clients.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, Tuti's skills include sign language, an energetic and courteous demeanor, exceptional communication skills, and expertise in various ABA techniques, like PECS, DTT, Naturalistic Teaching, Shaping, Natural Environment training, Verbal Behavior, Social skills, Self-Help, Desensitization programs, Behavioral Skill Training. Outside work, she enjoys her fitness routines, working out, walking and playing with her dog, pickle ball, traveling and engaging in charity work, teaching ABA skills to underserved communities in South America. 

Monica Rivas, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), is dedicated to empowering children through naturalistic teaching. Her passion lies in supporting them with socially significant goals, fostering meaningful change for both the children and their families. Monica's mission revolves around creating impactful change, reflected in her commitment to goals and values centered on empowerment and self-advocacy.

Monica is driven by a mission to create inclusive environments, fostering growth within the community. Her values center on empowering individuals through their interests, skills, and expertise. From feeding, parenting training, and toileting, Monica's expertise spans various areas, including NET, DTT, and behavior analysis. Outside of her professional pursuits, she finds joy in rollerblading and traveling.

 Alyse Metoyer is a dedicated Registered Behavioral Technician with over five years of experience in the field of applied behavioral analysis. She holds a BA degree in applied behavioral science from Ashford University. With a passion for supporting individuals with developmental, emotional, and intellectual disabilities, Alyse excels in implementing specialized programs tailored to meet the unique needs of children and individuals under her care.

Known for her caring demeanor, Alyse brings a compassionate approach to her work, coupled with patience and exceptional organizational skills. Her strong communication, interpersonal, and social skills enable her to build rapport with clients and their families, fostering a supportive environment for growth and development.

Alyse's commitment to providing the highest quality of services is evident in her dedication to working with children on the autism spectrum. She believes in utilizing recreational activities and individualized goals to enhance social and mental capacities, ensuring each client receives personalized care.

Specializing in natural environment teaching, discrete trial training, PECS, and AAC, Alyse brings a wealth of expertise to her role. She is driven by a genuine desire to make a positive impact in the lives of those with special needs, striving to create meaningful and enriching experiences for her clients.

Jazilyn Richardson is a compassionate RBT with a heart for empowering kids and a talent for creating art. After graduating from Marian University in December 2021, she entered the field of marketing and quickly realized that she was unfulfilled. At the advice of her sister, Jazilyn accepted her first job in the field of ABA as an RBT and never looked back.
Jazilyn values communication and believes in ensuring that each child feels understood and heard, whether verbal or not. Her skills include patience, a calming presence, and a proactive approach.
Beyond her career, Jazilyn finds solace in art. With a minor in studio art during college, she expresses her creativity through painting and drawing in her downtime. 

Sharde “Shay” Surrell has a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and is currently preparing for the BCBA examination. She has experience providing ABA services, parent training, behavior reduction programming, skill acquisition programs, and supervision support for children with autism and developmental disabilities.

Originally from Northern California, Shay is passionate about helping families feel supported, understood, and empowered throughout their child’s therapy journey. Her goal is to continue growing as a clinician, become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), and make a lasting positive impact through compassionate and individualized care.

Shay believes every child deserves patience, dignity, compassion, and the opportunity to succeed. She is committed to providing meaningful, ethical, and family-centered ABA services while building trust and encouraging growth in both clients and caregivers. She values kindness, consistency, professionalism, and creating a safe and supportive environment for learning.

Her professional strengths include ABA therapy implementation, behavior reduction strategies, skill acquisition programming, natural environment teaching (NET), parent collaboration and training, data collection and analysis, communication development, social skills training, and individualized treatment support. She also brings strong interpersonal communication, teamwork, leadership, and organizational skills to her role.

Outside of work, Shay enjoys spending time with family, fitness and wellness, music, personal growth, helping others, community support, and continuing to grow within the field of ABA.

Dominique Angel Olivares recently graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and has continued pursuing a passion for Applied Behavior Analysis through hands-on clinical experience in the field. Dominique currently supports clients, families, and staff through individualized, compassionate, and play-based learning experiences while continuing to work toward becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Based in Sacramento, Dominique is passionate about creating an environment where clients feel understood, empowered, and celebrated for who they are. With experience supporting both clients and team members, Dominique values building meaningful therapeutic relationships and helping newer staff grow in confidence and clinical skill. Dominique is especially passionate about family collaboration, education, advocacy, and promoting ethical and compassionate ABA services that prioritize connection, communication, and individuality.

Dominique’s clinical experience includes Natural Environment Teaching (NET), behavior reduction strategies, skill acquisition programming, parent collaboration, communication goals, social skills support, data collection, play-based learning, trauma-informed care, and staff mentorship. Dominique enjoys creating engaging and motivating sessions tailored to each client’s unique strengths, interests, and learning style while helping families feel supported throughout the therapy process.

Dominique believes that some of the most meaningful progress happens when learning is paired with trust, patience, creativity, and genuine connection. Therapy should feel supportive, encouraging, and fun, allowing clients to build confidence and meaningful life skills through play, laughter, and everyday experiences.

Outside of work, Dominique enjoys spending time with family and friends, Aztec dancing, music, plants, creative projects, and exploring new boba and food spots around Sacramento. Dominique also enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures through respectful cultural experiences, traditions, food, and community connection. Past travels include China, Mongolia, Mexico, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Singapore, with hopes of continuing to explore and learn from communities around the world.

Angela Gipson was born and raised in Woodland, California, and currently resides in Antelope, California. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from California State University, Chico, and her Master of Arts in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University. Angela is also a Certified Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and is actively working toward becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

With more than 10 years of experience supporting individuals with special needs, Angela has dedicated her career to improving the lives of children and families through compassionate, individualized care. After spending five years working with adults, she discovered a passion for working with children and utilizing evidence-based ABA interventions to support growth, communication, and independence.

Angela has experience implementing Applied Behavior Analysis techniques including Natural Environment Teaching (NET) and Functional Communication Training (FCT) to help children develop meaningful skills that enhance their quality of life across home, school, and community settings. She values creating supportive and individualized learning experiences that encourage long-term progress and confidence.

Angela strongly believes that parent collaboration and training are essential components of successful intervention. She is passionate about partnering closely with families to provide practical strategies, strengthen consistency across environments, and create positive and lasting outcomes for each child’s development.

Her professional goal is to continue gaining experience and supervised hours toward sitting for the BCBA exam while advocating for the expansion of ABA services into schools, hospitals, and community-based settings so more individuals can benefit from increased support and improved quality of life.

Outside of work, Angela enjoys spending time with family, traveling, completing puzzles, reading, and relaxing with her dogs.

Aaron Neubauer is originally from Seattle, Washington, and currently resides in Sacramento, California. With more than a decade of experience in the field, Aaron has been supporting neurodivergent children, youth, adults, and their families since becoming a Registered Behavior Technician in 2014.

Throughout his career, Aaron has provided services across a variety of settings, including homes, schools, and social skills groups. He is passionate about helping individuals build meaningful skills, increase independence, and achieve their personal goals through compassionate, individualized support.

Aaron believes in creating a fun, inclusive, and socially just learning environment where all children and families feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to thrive. He is dedicated to fostering positive relationships, promoting growth, and supporting each individual’s unique strengths and abilities.

His professional goal is to continue helping neurodivergent children, youth, and their families reach their goals while making a positive and lasting impact within the communities he serves.

Outside of work, Aaron enjoys spending quality time with his family and creating meaningful memories with the people he loves most.

Olivia D’Albert is based in Carmichael, California, and is passionate about supporting children and families through compassionate and individualized care. She strives to create a safe, supportive, and encouraging environment where every individual feels understood, valued, and capable of growth.

Olivia values patience, compassion, consistency, and empowering others to build confidence and independence in their daily lives. Her experience includes behavior support, reinforcement strategies, behavior tracking, data collection, emotional regulation support, social skills development, and building positive and meaningful relationships with clients and families. She is also recognized for her strong communication skills, adaptability, teamwork, and calm, supportive approach.

Outside of work, Olivia enjoys reading, fitness, language learning, swimming, music, cooking, spending time with animals, and being in nature. One of her personal goals is to become fluent in three languages, reflecting her love for learning and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds.

Raven Intal is based in Sacramento, California, and is passionate about helping individuals develop the skills and confidence needed to live meaningful and independent lives. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from California State University, Sacramento, and will begin pursuing her Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Kansas. Raven is committed to continuing her professional growth while working toward becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Raven’s experience includes working in both Applied Behavior Analysis and special education settings, where she has supported individuals of all ages and diverse learning needs. Her background as a paraeducator provided valuable experience in working with a wide range of behaviors, communication styles, and educational environments, helping her develop a compassionate and adaptable approach to supporting clients and families.

Raven is dedicated to promoting independence, communication, and self-confidence while creating a welcoming and supportive environment for every client and family she serves. She believes in teaching meaningful life skills that empower individuals to pursue their interests, achieve their goals, and thrive in their communities. She is also passionate about reducing the stigma surrounding autism through education, advocacy, and positive community engagement.

With a strong commitment to individualized and client-centered care, Raven strives to make learning both effective and enjoyable. She believes that meaningful progress is built through trust, encouragement, and genuine connection, and she values creating therapy experiences that are engaging, motivating, and fun.

Outside of work, Raven enjoys baking, attending concerts and festivals, exploring new restaurants and cafés, and spending quality time with family and friends.