THIS IS US

Rebecca Urbano Powell, M.A., BCBA

Executive Director

Rebecca has been working in our field of ABA since 2001 in clinic, community, home and school settings. From 2005-2014 she helped start and grow the ABA program at Tustin Unified School District in Orange County, CA to 80+ staff and 120+ students.

Rebecca is the President of COABA (Colorado Association for Behavior Analysis) after being elected Treasurer in 2022. She is co-chair of COABA's Public Policy Committee advocating for Medicaid provision enhancement and co-chair of the Professional Development Committee with the goal of providing educational webinars to Colorado clinicians for improving the quality of services in our great state.

Rebecca is a member of the team which helped draft the bill for Medically Necessary Treatment in Schools and successfully helped lobby for its passage. She is a Subject Matter Expert for APBA's Public Policy Committee (Association of Professional Behavior Analysts).

Rebecca is on the Advisory Board for Rethink and presents specific topics at CASP (Council of Autism Service Providers), The Autism Law Summit, WIBA (Women in Behavior Analysis), among others.

She has co-authored and led teacher/staff trainings in ABA, behavior management, and inclusive schooling for district employees and BCBA level clinicians. Rebecca brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her role and seeks out others who are eager to collaborate. In her free time she enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, and cooking.

Brad Powell, PMP

Chief Operating Officer

Brad has been working in Finance and IT for 20+ years. In 2007 he transitioned from delivering financial solutions for Merrill Lynch customers to delivering software solutions for Salesforce customers. At Salesforce, he was accountable for the success of a $30M+ professional services organization. He was responsible for guiding healthcare organizations through business domain assessments and prioritizing resources to implement high impact projects that would deliver increased value for health systems operating on Salesforce. Customers included United Healthcare, Johns Hopkins, Children's Hospitals, UCHealth, Centene, Magellan Health, UCLA Health, Piedmont, CommonSpirit Health (Dignity Health & Catholic Health Initiatives) & Intermountain Health (SCL Health).

In 2004, Brad obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems from the Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University. He earned his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2010. He is 3x Salesforce certified; Administrator, Sales Cloud Consultant, Service Cloud Consultant, and a recipient of the Salesforce West Super-Region Inukshuk Award (2012) and Salesforce Services Project Team of the Year Award (2014). Brad continues to advocate for organizations focused on building Enterprise Cloud Software around the People & Processes. When he is not focused on work, he enjoys hiking, traveling and woodworking.

David Hughes, M.S., BCBA

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

David has worked with children, adolescents, and adults with developmental, intellectual, and emotional disabilities for over a decade. He has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis since 2010 and earned a Master’s degree in ABA in 2016 from St. Cloud State University. David has a passion for blending the extensive science of human behavior with each individual’s unique profile to help bring the joys of growth and independence to all of his clients. In his free time David enjoys spending time outdoors with friends and family, traveling to new places, and reading.

Dr. Jeff Kupfer, Ph.D, BCBA-D

Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctorate

Jeff Kupfer received his doctoral degree in psychology from the University of Florida, specializing in the experimental analysis of behavior. He has conducted research in animal models of complex learning and psychopathology, as well as research examining environmental influences on bipedal travel in persons with visual loss. Jeff is a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts, Colorado, and Nebraska, a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and a lecturer at the University of Colorado-Denver. He was the first president of the Four Corners Association for Behavior Analysis and is a Founder and Trustee for the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. Jeff has been practicing behavior analysis since 1984 specializing in the treatment of severe behavioral disorders in persons with brain injury, developmental disabilities, mental illness, and other neurological disorders. He has published in the areas of behavior analysis, pharmacology, and visual impairments, and has served as a guest reviewer and guest editor for professional journals including The Behavior Analyst, Perspectives on Behavior Science and Brain Injury. His research interests include delay discounting and impulsivity in persons with brain injury. Jeff enjoys hiking, training for triathlons, and walking with his two dogs.

Guofeng Shen, M.A., BCBA

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Guofeng received her master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education in 2018 from University of Northern Colorado (UNC) and taught in the public school system in a variety of settings. While working as a special education teacher, it became apparent that challenging behavior is one of the biggest issues for students with and without disabilities. It was especially evident in students with autism. How to engage students in lessons and how to manage students' challenging behavior are keys for successful teaching and learning. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the science that provides the guidance for solving this issue. Thus, the next and present stage was to enter the special education Ph.D. program with an emphasis on ABA. Currently she is in the final stages of her Ph.D. program.

Guofeng’s working experiences with individuals of autism, other developmental disabilities, and families from diverse backgrounds spans more than 5 years. Her professional experience includes but not limited to the following: as an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher in the public school system. Worked as a behavior therapist and trainer in the clinic and home settings. Further, worked as instructor and co-instructor for multiple ABA undergraduate and graduate courses. She also has conducted research and has published peer reviewed journal articles in the area of behavior analysis and special education. In addition, Guofeng has presented at national and international conferences on topics associated with ABA, as well as ABA trainings for families and teachers. She is committed to working collaboratively with families, caregivers, and other professionals to ensure the best possible care to our clients.

Outside of work, Guofeng enjoys reading, watching movies, making arts and crafts, and traveling.

Christine Benson, M.A., BCBA

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Christine grew up in Evergreen, Colorado in a bilingual household with two parents that were teachers in the community. This cultivated a passion for working with kids and finding new ways to approach learning.

Christine graduated from the University of San Diego in 2019 with a degree in behavioral neuroscience. Immediately after graduating, Christine took a job with 7 Dimensions Behavioral Health, which would soon set her path and ignite her passion for ABA. Christine then took her acquired skills from her time at 7DBH and moved to Kona, Hawai’i. In Kona, Christine worked as the only RBT on the west side of the island serving families from Captain Cook to Waikoloa. She also worked with Spanish speaking families, conducting sessions in Spanish to better serve the family. In Kona, Christine spent her time surfing, hiking and backpacking throughout the big island. All while in Hawai’i Christine continued her connection with 7DBH by translating for the company.

In 2021 Christine moved back to Colorado, reprising her role as RBT at 7DBH. Finishing her Master’s in ABA through Ball State University, Christine became a BCaBA consulting on cases and then a BCBA in January of 2023. Christine has experience with ABA in school, center, community and home settings and with a variety of diagnoses. Christine enjoys working with kids to foster independence and encouraging advocacy, believing in the community she grew up in. In her free time, Christine enjoys hiking, skiing and playing soccer in the park.

Victoria Sigurthorsson, M.Ed, BCBA

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Victoria has been working in the field of ABA as a therapist, RBT and then BCBA for over 10 years. Victoria’s interest in ABA started when hired as a therapist during her undergraduate program. Getting to teach through play, focusing on the learners interests while teaching communication, it was more fun than a job.

Victoria then pursued her Masters degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas in 2016, and got her BCBA shortly thereafter. During her time in ABA, Victoria has worked in home, community and centers with children ages 2-16.

Victoria has an international background, originally Norwegian, grew up in the Netherlands, and has a passion for building awareness of ABA around the world. This led to volunteering with the Global Autism Project in 2019, and the opportunity to go to Indonesia to train and work with staff at an ABA center there.

In her free time, Victoria enjoys traveling, doing yoga, and binge watching reality tv.

Natalie Baker, M.Ed, BCBA

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Natalie began her career in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in 2014, working at The Kinney Center for Autism Research and Support at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA. After earning a Bachelor's degree in Special and General Education in 2018, she joined the Melmark School. There, she taught high school students aged 18-21 while pursuing her Master's Degree in Special Education with an Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement, which she completed in 2019.

In 2021, Natalie became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and began her career as a BCBA at a small company in New Jersey. There, she worked with clients aged 2-21 in various settings, including homes, schools, and clinics. After 10 years in Philadelphia, Natalie relocated to Colorado for her next adventure and is continuing her career at 7D, where she is passionate about using ABA to make a meaningful impact.

Outside of her professional work, Natalie enjoys running, going to concerts, tending to her plants, spending time outdoors, and cooking.

May Dang, M.S., BCBA

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

May entered the field of ABA in 2017 while living in South Dakota, starting as a behavior technician. From 2018 to 2022, she worked as an RBT with children ages 2 to 18, and relocated to Colorado in 2022 where she joined the team at Seven Dimensions.

During her time as an RBT, May began her ABA coursework at St. Cloud State University and earned her BCaBA certification in 2023. During her coursework, May led several projects using single-case design to evaluate the effectiveness of prompt delays and prompt fading on manding, impacts of medication on profound self-injurious behaviors, and establishing client-individualized assent topographies. Through her studies and the guidance of talented professionals at 7D, May is dedicated to providing assent-based services to maximize client autonomy and dignity during treatment. May obtained her BCBA credentials in 2024.

Outside of her professional work, May enjoys reading, writing, playing cribbage, hiking, and paddle boarding.

Lizzy Ruminski, M.A., BCBA

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Lizzy grew up with a sibling diagnosed with autism, which helped foster a passion for human behavior and psychology. She has a strong understanding of the family dynamics that come with living with a member on the spectrum, and the compassion and empathy they need.

After joining the field in 2020 and working as an RBT, Lizzy earned her master's of arts in special education with a concentration in applied behavior analysis from Arizona State University in 2024. She received her BCBA certification later that year.

When she isn't at 7D, Lizzy can be found hiking, at the gym, or crocheting on the couch with her two black cats.

Emily Nelson

Ops Specialist

Emily has been active in the field of Education since 2008 in a wide range of roles including private tutoring, classroom teaching, administrative leadership, and curricular development. These experiences have shaped her professional mission to ensure that the needs of children and their caregivers are consistently met, empowering them to achieve their highest potential. Emily is dedicated to building processes that support both clinicians and clients, so they can focus on therapeutic goals. Outside of work, Emily enjoys hosting Trivia nights, singing, hiking, reading, learning languages, cooking, and baking.