Acorn Health - About Us - ABA Therapy Services

New hope for this generation of children with autism

Acorn Health is a standard-setting family of ABA treatment providers

Our behavior analytic professionals develop, apply, and share the latest advances in the science of ABA, always focused on data and outcomes. Acorn Health providers combine proven best practices with pioneering, evidence-based next practices, engaging whole families.

The human brain has a remarkable ability to change and adapt. We work with children of all ages and as young as 18 months. The earlier we create new behaviors and skills, the stronger they are.

A growing Acorn Health Network



Acorn Health operates locations in Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia.

People seek out those that share their values, and here are ours

Values matter: they’re a constant in a world that’s always changes. The best employees want to work with companies who share their beliefs, and that is true for parents who entrust us with children they love.

We are authentic

Authenticity

We present our true, consistent selves. Everyone hungers for genuine connections.

We are accountable

Accountability

We keep our promises, and can be trusted with the life and future of a child.

We are a team

Teamwork

The best outcomes are produced by people who collaborate with enthusiasm.

We are always adapting

Growth

We know the needs of children and their families are unique and ever-changing.

We move quickly

Hustle

In autism care and treatment, time is always of the essence. We do things now.

Our Vision

Acorn Health is driving autism therapy forward with our careful combination of ABA best practices and our pioneering next practices

Acorn Leadership

A track record of health care transformation

Acorn Health was founded by a team with rich and varied experience navigating the health care landscape, and delivering excellent patient care and experiences. The company is backed by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), the administrator of Canada's largest single-profession pension plan.

  • Janet Widmann

    Interim Chief Executive Officer

    Janet Widmann

    Janet is a health care industry executive with experience leading multi-billion-dollar companies, including Blue Shield of California and Health Net. She served as the president and chief executive officer of Kids Care Dental and Orthodontics, the country’s largest private pay integrated dental health system exclusively for children, from 2015-2021. She’s been a board member of Acorn Health since 2022.

    Widmann currently serves on the board of directors for Avista Corporation, a utilities company serving the Pacific Northwest, and Cutera, a medical technology company based in San Francisco. Her previous board leadership positions include Versant Health, the second largest vision plan in the United States, Delta Dental of California, the largest dental insurer in the country, and the California Health Professional Education Foundation Board of Trustees, which strives to improve access to health care in underserved areas of California.

    Widmann earned her master’s in health administration at the University of Southern California following a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Northridge.

  • Krista Boe, M.A., BCBA

    Chief Clinical Officer

    Krista M. Boe

    Krista has been practicing as a BCBA since 2008, with a focus in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Disabilities, and Organizational Behavior Management.

    Before joining Acorn Health, Krista served dually diagnosed individuals at an Intermediate Care Facility, and as an independent consultant in a community waiver-based setting. Krista was a board member for the Heartland Association for Behavior Analysis, and the Nebraska Association for Behavior Analysis. She began her work with Autism Centers of Michigan (ACM), an Acorn Health Company, in 2015, as Clinical Director of Northern Michigan operations, and later served as Chief Clinical Officer. In 2018, Krista was appointed to the Michigan Autism Council, representing certified behavior analysts throughout the state.

    She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Biology from Central Michigan University, and a Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University.

  • Chris Arias

    VP of Finance

    Chris Arias

    Chris leads an accounting team passionate about providing best in class service to Acorn employees, providing timely and insightful data that allows Acorn to make sound decisions for its employees and clients. He operates as a servant leader, focused on partnering with executive leadership to provide exceptional care for our clients.

    Prior to joining Acorn Health, Chris served as Corporate Controller for a multi-location service organization, overseeing all aspects of the finance and accounting for the organization, including financial reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll. Additionally, he was the corporate accounting senior manager for a Fortune 500 company and an audit manager for Grant Thornton, working primarily with start-ups including those in the healthcare sector.

    Chris earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Miami and his master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Florida. He is a certified public accountant.

  • Whitney Jones

    SVP of Marketing

    Whitney Jones

    Whitney is passionate about connecting people with the care they need to improve and enrich their lives and the lives of their families. She has nearly twenty years of experience in marketing and leadership expertise across industries but would say that the last decade in the healthcare sector has been the most meaningful both personally and professionally.

    Prior to joining Acorn Health, she served as the Director of Enterprise Digital Marketing and E-Commerce at Cardinal Health where she designed and implemented digital marketing strategies, directed thought leadership programs and led a global email marketing team. Previously, she held a VP of Marketing role with Laser Spine Institute, where she helped drive expansion through national marketing campaigns and supporting the patient experience through digital programs.

    Whitney earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising from the University of Florida and has a master’s certificate in marketing strategy from Cornell University.

  • Sarah Vega

    SVP Operations and Payor Relations

    Sarah Vega

    Sarah is a highly accomplished healthcare leader with a strong clinical and administrative background, as well as a distinguished record of managing and mentoring teams that improve patient outcomes. She is a servant leader who is guided by her personal and professional motto of “teamwork makes the dream work.”

    She is a pediatric physical therapist with a wealth of progressive experience directing organizational growth, including having previously served as Senior Vice President of Operations for pediatric therapy businesses and as COO of an applied behavior analysis and speech therapy practice. Sarah is responsible for leading all aspects of Acorn Health’s payor relations, including contracting processes and contract negotiations and compliance. Her work also includes establishing, developing, and maintaining key relationships with payor stakeholders and establishing key performance indicators to create optimal payor reimbursement performance.

    Sarah holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Kentucky.

  • Leah Pitzenberger

    SVP of People and Culture

    Leah Pitzenberger

    Leah practices science-based leadership to create highly productive, meaningful, inclusive, and empowered work environments. She builds Acorn Health teams that love what they do and who are passionate about delivering the highest level of care to our clients their families.

    Prior to joining Acorn Health, Leah served as Vice President of People Strategy and Experience for the Minnesota Wild, as global Head of People Operations at Hudl, and in various HR leadership roles at Target Corporation. She is a psychologist by training, dedicated to making a difference and to guiding Acorn Health to new levels of service.

    Leah earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Gustavus Adolphus College and her master’s degree in psychology from the University of St. Thomas.

  • Vicki Kroviak

    Founder and Board Member

    Vicki Kroviak

    Vicki brings passion, personal history and a history of serving families in need to her mission: to establish Acorn Health as the leading provider of Applied Behavior Analysis treatment for children with autism and their families.

    She is a Brené Brown Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator and is applying those principles to building the company and team she’s always dreamed of: developing a team of daring leaders and fostering a courageous workplace culture within Acorn Health. As a mission-focused leader, ‘why you do it’ is just as important for Vicki as what you do.

    Vicki was previously the Chief Executive Officer of Monte Nido & Affiliates and co-founder of Oliver-Pyatt Centers, leading providers of residential eating disorder treatment. Vicki co-founded the Residential Eating Disorder Treatment Consortium, a national trade organization that brought together and inspired residential eating disorders treatment providers to collaborate and raise industry standards, and insure greater access to care for affected families.

    Vicki approaches behavioral health treatment as both a provider and a mother, delivering the standard of care she would want for her own children. The mother of three daughters, one of whom has special needs, Acorn’s mission strikes close to home.

Advisory Board

We’ve invited thought leadership, advice, and oversight

Acorn has assembled a Clinical Advisory Board, led by Gregory P. Hanley, Ph.D. Dr. Hanley has been applying the principles of learning to improve socially important behaviors of children and adults with and without disabilities for over 30 years. Aside from his role as CEO of FTF Behavioral Consulting, Dr. Hanley currently serves as a Research Professor at Western New England University (WNEU) and an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He's worked and trained others at the Spurwink School, the Groden Center, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, WNEU, and the University of Kansas.

Contact us Today

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