Behavior Analysts ~ our Professional Team of Experts

Neal Fleisig, Executive Director

Neal Fleisig, M.S., BCBA, has over 28 years of experience in treating children and adults who exhibit severely aggressive and self-injurious behavior. He is the Executive Director of the Professional Crisis Management Association, and author of Professional Crisis Management. Mr. Fleisig received his B.A. in psychology at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., and his Master's Degree in clinical psychology from Nova University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Mr. Fleisig is a

Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Crisis Management Instructor Trainer & Consultant


Furthermore, he has specialized expertise with individual, group, class room and school-wide classroom management and behavior management procedures. He is also trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy and biofeedback techniques and has worked as a clinical therapist for a number of years. Mr. Fleisig serves as a behavior consultant to hospitals, schools, and community based facilities that work with individuals who exhibit severe aggressive and self-injurious behavior. Neal Fleisig has served numerous times as an expert witness and legal consultant relating to crisis management and behavior analysis, including work for the Legal Aid Corporation of America.

 


Merrill Winston, Director of Program Development

Merrill Winston Ph.D., BCBA is a Behavior Analyst who has worked in the field of Developmental Disabilities for over 20 years.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and majored in Psychology. It was at the University of Florida as an undergraduate that he first began his work with persons with developmental disabilities. He earned his Ph.D., in 1992 after which he moved back to Florida and worked for 9 years as the Senior Behavior Analyst at a large state-run residential facility for adults with developmental disabilities. He has been with the PCMA since 2002

Dr. Winston is a

Board Certified Behavior Analyst with specialties in Developmental Disabilities & Behavior Disorders, Crisis Management Instructor Trainer & Consultant


who specializes in the analysis and treatment of severe behavior disorders with special populations. His range of treatment experience includes feeding disorders, self-injury, severe aggression, language acquisition, and skill acquisition problems. Dr. Winston is a popular speaker at conferences and conducts presentations on a wide variety of topics in behavior analysis including psychotropic medication usage, mental illness, autism, exceptional student education, assessment and treatment of behavior problems, IEP goal selection and measurement, and a variety of conceptual issues as they relate to conducting behavior

Dr. Winston has worked in a variety of settings including private homes, group homes, large institutions, secured facilities, schools and day-treatment programs. He is an experienced expert witness and frequently consults with attorneys, parents and advocates of persons with disabilities. He currently spends at least one day a week as the Behavior Analysis Consultant for Palm Beach County Schools, which is the 11th largest school district in the nation. He sees children in special education classrooms throughout Palm Beach County’s 184 Schools. Like other PCMA professional staff Dr. Winston is an accomplished Martial Artist, giving him a thorough understanding of body mechanics and movement. He has worked “hands on” with a variety of individuals with severe aggression and self-injury and has worked side by side with direct care staff in a variety of settings.


Laraine Winston, Director of Marketing and Special Projects

Laraine Winston, M.S., L.M.H.C., B.C.B.A., has over twenty four years of experience in treating children and adults with behavioral challenges and special needs. She has worked in a wide variety of residential and day treatment facilities and has worked extensively in the community as both a direct provider of behavior analysis services and in private practice.

Laraine Winston is a

Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Instructor Trainer


who has been a Certified PCM Instructor since 1996. Most recently, Ms. Winston served as the Senior Behavior Analyst of Ft. Lauderdale area (District 10) of Florida for the Behavior Analysis Services Program affiliated with the University of South Florida. In this capacity, she oversaw behavior analysis services for the Child Welfare System in a large and populous area and was responsible for implementing evidence based programs that met the standards of best-practice.

Ms. Winston is a researcher and frequent presenter at professional conferences and other speaking engagements. Ms. Winston holds a Black Belt in Karate and has a thorough knowledge of body mechanics and movement which stems from extensive training in fitness and martial arts.

 

 


James Gansert, Marketing and Special Projects Associate

James Gansert, BCaBA, has been a certified PCM instructor for 12 years. Mr. Gansert graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology. He has over 15 years experience working with children and adults with behavioral challenges and special needs. He began his career working with adults and children with autism in Indiana.

James Gansert is a

Behavior Analysis Practitioner and Crisis Management Instructor Trainer


who after a move to Florida, became a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) and continued his work in the field. Mr. Gansert has extensive experience providing behavior analysis services including conducting functional assessments, developing and implementing behavior plans, and treating aggressive and self-injurious behavior.

He has provided direct services and behavior training and crisis management training to staff and caregivers in a variety of settings including: intermediate care facilities, behavior focus group homes, day treatment facilities, foster care and private family homes.

 

 


Lisa Schmidt, Marketing and Special Projects Associate

Lisa Schmidt, BCaBA has worked with adults and children who exhibit challenging behaviors for over 15 years. Ms. Schmidt is one of the founding partners of Nexxus Gate software, which was acquired by PCMA in 2010 and became PCMA software solutions. Ms. Schmidt designed the software, in conjunction with Fred Schmidt and other professionals, around her knowledge as a human service professional as well as her experiences as a direct care professional. As a direct care professional, QMRP, special education teacher, and behavior specialist, Lisa has worked for community based service providers, intermediate care facilities, long-term care facilities, intensive behavioral residential habilitation providers, and schools.

Lisa Schmidt is a

Behavior Analysis Practitioner, Software Specialist, Trainer & Teacher


who graduated summa cum laude from Black Hills State University and holds a bachelor of science degree in special education. Ms. Schmidt is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) and additionally is a certified teacher in the states of Minnesota and South Dakota for special education, high school social science, and middle school social science. 

Ms. Schmidt serves her community as a member of her local school board and previously served as a part of her community’s ambulance crew as a nationally certified EMT.

 


Fred Schmidt, Director of Software Development and Technology

Fred Schmidt, Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) ; Certified Lotus Notes Professional (CLP) and Certified Lotus Notes Specialist (CLS) in Domino R5. Mr. Schmidt attended North Dakota State University from 1992 to1996 for computer science with a specialty in database applications. He has been developing software for the last fifteen years and primarily for the field of human services for the last eight years.

Fred Schmidt is a

Director of Software Development


who started his career after college in Sioux Falls South Dakota working for Gateway Computers. After several years he started developing software applications for the Human Service Agency in Watertown SD. These applications tracked goals, behaviors, assessments, and other important data using the Lotus Notes Domino R5 database technology. In 2003, Mr. Schmidt moved to Kentucky and worked as a private consultant while developing new software applications. In the process of developing an application called Nexxus Gate Crossroads, Mr. Schmidt began collaborating with Mr. Neal Fleisig, PCMA Executive Director and providing consulting services to PCMA. This included designing and implementing a state of the art on-line certification management and customer service system for PCMA.

Mr. Schmidt subsequently created a software company with his wife, Lisa Schmidt, called Nexxus Gate and continued to develop new and improved applications to track behavior, incidents, restraints, goals, and other valuable data for human services agencies. In early 2010, Nexxus Gate was acquired by Professional Crisis Management.

The latest applications developed by Mr. Schmidt are:

CARES 5.0,

Scan Graphix, and the

PCMA Program Designer (formerly known as Behavior Tools Online).

Software developed by Mr. Schmidt through Nexxus Gate is used in more than twenty states in the United States, as well as internationally. Mr. Schmidt is the Director of Software Development and Technology for the Professional Crisis Management Association and heads operations at the PCMA office and training facility in Hendricks, Minnesota.