Our Team | Discover Hope Behavioral Solutions

Meet the Discover Hope Team!

Nice to meet you!

Introducing the Discover Hope Team

We come from a variety of backgrounds and experience but we all share a passion for helping kids and their families thrive!

Our award winning team of therapists will help you navigate the complexitities that come with an autism diagnosis. While our therapist work directly with your child, our program supervisor and clinical directors will provide support to all members of the family from assessment through graduation. We’re here for you!

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Executive Team

Melissa Schulz, MS, BCBA

Executive Director/Owner/Interim Director of Clinical Services

Learn More About Melissa

Melissa has worked with children with special needs for the past 16 years. She received her Master’s Degree in Counseling with a credential in School Psychology and with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis in Educational Settings in 2009. Melissa has worked with children with behavior disorders, including Autism, Emotional Disturbances, and developmental disabilities, ages 2-22, in both school and home settings, and has worked with adults with Autism in group home settings.

Melissa has also provided supervision to students pursuing their BCBA certification internationally, and has conducted private Functional Analysis Assessments (FAAs) for school districts across California. Melissa has advanced PECS training and Level 1 Certification in Pivotal Response Training. She has also been a guest lecturer at Azusa Pacific University.

Melissa is a self-improvement junkie and learning and teaching about leadership and personal development. She has two adorable, wonderful, exhausting young children that keep her very busy. She loves reading, crocheting, running, and completing obstacle course races.

Rachel Long

Director of Operations & Business Strategy

Learn More About Rachel

Rachel Long is our newest member of the leadership team. She comes to Discover Hope with 20+ years helping small and large organizations become more efficient and effective. After a career in banking, Rachel worked at the East Bay SPCA and Guide Dogs for the Blind in Operational leadership roles. Rachel has undergrad degrees in Mathematics and Economics and an MBA from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business.

Rachel lives in the East Bay with her husband, teenage son, teenage twin daughters and two old cats. In her spare time she volunteers and works with local musical theater companies, watches musical theater productions, takes walks around Lake Merritt and eats tacos.

Geneva Kearns, MA, BCBA

Chief Clinical Advisor

Learn More About Geneva

Geneva began her career in Applied Behavior Analysis over 18 years ago, working with young children with Autism while attending UC Davis. She went on to earn a special education teaching credential and a master’s degree in Behavioral Sciences from Teachers College at Columbia University in New York. There, she gained more experience working with young children on the Autism spectrum, in both school and home settings, as well as experience working with older children with emotional and mental health disorders. A few years later, her passion for helping children with special needs took her overseas, where she worked in an international school in Hong Kong for children with special needs, which was attended by students with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and other global developmental delays.

Geneva has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2007 and has experience with children ages 1-22, using a wide variety of teaching techniques and strategies for addressing challenging behavior and teaching communication and social skills. Geneva is thrilled to be a part of the Discover Hope team!

Geneva’s interests outside of work include spending time with her family, being outdoors, and traveling.

Caitlin Kilgore, MSW, BCBA

Director of People & Client Relations

Learn More About Caitlin

Caitlin has been working in the field of ABA for 10 years, and has worked with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down’s Syndrome, ADHD, ODD, and Tourette’s Syndrome. She has extensive experience using DTT, PRT, Verbal Behavior, PECs, Social Thinking, and doing toilet training. She received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Denver in 2011, and went on to attend Florida Institute of Technology for her BCBA coursework. She became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2013.