Team

All in this together.

We are a group of individuals deeply connected to a community of rare and inspiring people—committed to offering the time, expertise, and support needed to help them thrive.

Board of Directors

Gilda Evans

President

Gilda is the founder of the Autism Resource Project (ARP) and host of the Autism Resource Podcast. With a background in media and entertainment, decades of lived experience advocating for those in our communities, and as a single mother to three children, she created ARP to connect neurodivergent and disabled individuals and their families with trusted resources, answers, and support worldwide.

Christopher Cope

Vice President

Cope’s early years as the child of a career government employee shaped a nomadic lifestyle spanning five decades. With a British mother, he lived in Hawaii, Alaska, Washington DC, Boston, Monrovia, Liberia and Niamey, Niger (Africa), and Jakarta, Indonesia, where he finished high school. It was natural his career moved into travel. After 30+ years in hotels, he founded a film and TV studio using LED virtual backdrops. Now in Los Angeles, Chris is married 34 years with three children.

Chris Monaco

Secretary

Chris brings a lifelong commitment to service, collaboration, and compassionate leadership. With decades of experience supporting global teams in clinical research and data‑driven healthcare, she has learned the value of listening deeply, building trust, and meeting people where they are. She believes in creating supportive, inclusive communities where every family feels seen and valued, and she approaches her board work with humility, kindness, and a genuine desire to help others thrive.

Amy Bergrud

Treasurer

Amy earned her Accounting degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from UCLA. With more than 25 years of experience in operations, management, and financial analysis, she serves as General Manager of Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate Vineyard, leading both operations and winemaking.

Jack Darakjian

Board Member

Jack Darakjian, appointed in 2018 to the Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities, is a longtime advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities. As CEO of Modern Support Services in Glendale, he helps provide community-based support that enhances health, independence, and quality of life.

Patrick Rood

Board Member

Patrick Rood is Tax Strategist and Fractional CFO of Rood Financial Services, a 10X Coach and speaker, two-time international bestselling author, and Guinness World Record holder. He helps entrepreneurs—from startups to multimillion-dollar companies—structure businesses, stay compliant, and retain profits while minimizing tax liability.

Advisory Board

Daniel Franklin

Daniel Franklin, PhD, BCET, is author of Helping Your Child with Language-Based Learning Disabilities. He holds a master’s from Harvard and a PhD from UCLA. With 30+ years in education, he is founder, president, and clinical director of Franklin Educational Services.

Nancy Irwin

Dr. Irwin is an addiction and trauma specialist in private practice in West Los Angeles and a primary therapist at Seasons Recovery Center in Malibu. She is the author of YOU-TURN: Changing Direction in Midlife and co-author of Breaking Through! Stories of Hope and Recovery.

Nora Baladarian

Dr. Baladerian is a licensed psychologist, marriage & family therapist, author, and Certified Sex Educator in Los Angeles. Fluent in Spanish, she specializes in trauma, anxiety, and depression, with a longstanding focus on supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

Scott Frank

Scott is President of AT&T Intellectual Property, overseeing the development, protection, and licensing of the company’s global IP portfolio. He chairs the Global Intellectual Property Alliance and has served as a White House advisor on international trade related to intellectual property.

KD Harris

KD Harris (she/her) is a scholar-practitioner-activist dedicated to advancing social and educational justice for marginalized learners. She is co-founder and Executive Director of Let’s Talk LD, a nonprofit that provides advocacy, education, and training to support neurodivergent students and their families.

John Mews

John Mews, LMFT, NMT, is CEO and Founder of Mewsic Moves LLC, a practice supporting neurodiverse individuals and families. With 20+ years of experience, he is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Neurologic Music Therapist specializing in counseling and music-based therapeutic support.

Rian Denich

Rian is a financial planner specializing in comprehensive financial strategies tailored to each client’s goals. A graduate of Cal State Northridge with honors in Business Administration and Finance, he helps clients plan across investments, retirement, insurance, tax, and estate planning.

Chris Latham

Chris Latham, CFP®, has worked with clients for 27 years to build wealth, protect assets, and plan for the future. As the owner of his own practice, he focuses on smart financial decisions, tax strategies, and helping families create lasting financial confidence.

Richard Schreiber

Richard Schreiber is an IT and AI expert with 25+ years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and major law firms. A father of an autistic daughter, he is also an autism advocate, founder of NYC Autism Community Group, and author of the bestselling book Autism Care Revolution.

Derek Crager

Derek Crager is a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD technologist and founder of Practical AI and AIforAutistics.com. With a background in industrial reliability, he helps neurodivergent individuals use AI to create, earn, and thrive, including through his voice-powered industrial guidance tool, Pocket Mentor.

Kristen Closson

Kristen Closson is a three-time founder and entrepreneur. She is CEO and Cofounder of Vlush, Cofounder of MonArk ABA, and previously served as COO and Cofounder of Viewgol before its acquisition. Based in Ohio, she is a mom, AI enthusiast, and avid podcast listener.

Kellie Ongie

With 25+ years in special education, she supports children and adults with diverse needs through individualized tutoring, behavior guidance, and life-skills training. Holding an M.S. in Early Childhood Special Education, she is currently pursuing her Ed.D.

Chris Carazas

Chris Carazas is a social impact measurement analyst and writer based in Plymouth, Massachusetts. As Social Impact Lead at ImpactPulse, he develops AI-enabled SROI and impact measurement tools that help organizations evaluate programs, demonstrate outcomes, and scale initiatives with credibility.

Kat Harrison

Kat Harrison, MPA, MBA, works at the nexus of social impact and private enterprise. With experience across NGOs, investors, and startups, she has led international projects and secured over $1M in funding while mentoring entrepreneurs seeking to build and scale mission-driven ventures.

Rebecca LaBoriel

Rebecca Laboriel is the founder of New Abilities, an organization dedicated to empowering individuals with developmental disabilities through person-centered support, advocacy, and community integration. With over 32 years of experience, she brings deep expertise and a strong commitment to inclusive outcomes. She holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership and advocates for equitable opportunities, helping individuals build independence, connection, and meaningful lives.

Josh Rosenfeld

Josh Rosenfeld is a lifelong builder who has created digital products used by millions since the early internet era. After roles at Apple, Humana, Walgreens, and as Creative Director at Zillow, he shifted to AI. He founded AlwaysHere, an AI voice companion supporting families, and created The Chatbot Challenge, teaching 1,500+ students to build AI solutions. As a neurodivergent entrepreneur, he blends empathy and technology to solve real problems.