Dr. Tara Chalakani – CEO, Preferred Behavioral Health Group

Dr. Tara Chalakani – CEO, Preferred Behavioral Health Group

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Tim Zercher sits down with Dr. Tara Chalakani, CEO of Preferred Behavioral Health Group, to discuss what it takes to lead and grow a mission-driven behavioral health organization. Drawing on more than three decades of healthcare leadership experience, Dr. Chalakani shares lessons on building a strong organizational culture, staying anchored to your mission during periods of growth, and leading with both compassion and accountability. She also discusses the challenges nonprofit organizations face when scaling services, retaining top talent, and securing the resources needed to support their communities. The conversation also explores practical marketing strategies for behavioral health providers, including the importance of brand consistency, employee advocacy, social media visibility, and creating meaningful engagement through newsletters and events. Whether you're leading an ABA organization, behavioral health practice, or nonprofit healthcare organization, this episode offers valuable insights on leadership, culture, growth, and sustainable impact.

Armon Aghaie - Chief Executive Officer, Unity Behavioral Services

What does it take to build an ABA organization where people actually stay? In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy Zercher sits down with Armon Aghaie, CEO of Unity Behavioral Services, to discuss leadership, culture, retention, and the future of ABA. After spending a decade scaling technology companies, Armon made the decision to leave the tech world and pursue a mission centered on helping children discover their purpose and potential. That journey ultimately led to the creation of Unity Behavioral Services. Armon shares why he believes most organizations overcomplicate leadership, how a human-first approach has helped Unity achieve virtually unheard-of retention rates, and why being selective about hiring may be the key to building exceptional teams. He also discusses the challenges of scaling an ABA provider, lessons learned from rapid growth, and the marketing strategies helping Unity expand its impact. If you're an ABA leader looking to strengthen your culture, improve retention, and build a mission-driven organization, this conversation is packed with practical insights. Learn more about Unity Behavioral Services: https://unitybehavioralservices.unityco.co [https://unitybehavioralservices.unityco.co/]

Rachelle Wisotsky & Avi Wisotsky - Founder and Clinical Director & CEO, RightWay ABA

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Tim Zercher sits down with Rachelle and Avi Wisotsky of RightWay ABA to discuss what it takes to build an ABA organization the right way. Rachelle brings the clinical heart as a BCBA, while Avi brings the operational and business strategy needed to scale. Together, they share how personal connection, caregiver involvement, clinical excellence, and community relationships shape the way they serve families. They also discuss the challenges of rapid growth, maintaining quality care, supporting staff, and why real value in ABA comes from doing the work before asking for anything in return.

Steven Schiff - Chairman of the Board, East Texas Community Clinic

What does it take to grow a healthcare organization while staying focused on the people it serves? In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy Zercher sits down with Steven Schiff, Chairman of the Board at East Texas Community Clinic, to discuss leadership, growth, and the power of relationships in healthcare. Steven shares how his background in global sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship helped guide the expansion of East Texas Community Clinic from a single-site operation into a growing healthcare organization serving thousands of patients across multiple communities. He explains why building trust with patients, providers, and community partners has been the foundation of the clinic's success. The conversation also explores the challenges of scaling healthcare services, recruiting top clinical talent in rural communities, creating sustainable funding models, and developing innovative partnerships that improve access to care. Steven offers valuable insights for healthcare leaders looking to balance mission, growth, and long-term impact. Whether you're leading a behavioral health organization, healthcare practice, or nonprofit, this episode is packed with practical lessons on leadership, community engagement, and sustainable growth.

Ericka Braggs – Founder, Shape Our Village

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy Zercher sits down with Ericka Braggs, Founder of Shape Our Village and co-author of the A Million Possibilities caregiver training curriculum. Drawing from her background as a school counselor and BCBA, Ericka shares why some of the most effective ABA interventions begin by listening before teaching. She discusses the importance of cultural humility, building genuine partnerships with families, and creating programs that work in the realities of everyday life—not just on paper. Ericka also shares the challenges of growing a mission-driven organization, why caregiver training deserves more attention in ABA, and how providers can bridge the gap between clinical expertise and family expertise to create lasting outcomes. Whether you're a BCBA, clinical leader, or behavioral health entrepreneur, this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on what it means to deliver care that is both evidence-based and deeply human. What You'll Learn: *  How Ericka's journey from school counseling led her into ABA  *  Why caregiver training is critical for long-term success  *  The role of cultural humility in effective treatment  *  How to build stronger partnerships with families  *  Challenges of scaling a relationship-driven organization  *  Marketing lessons for behavioral health innovators  *  Why human connection may be the missing ingredient in many ABA programs