Our story.
Ashley Long, Founder of Criterion Consulting, brings over 12 years of experience as a clinician in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Throughout her career, she has gained a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals receiving ABA services, as well as the clinicians and families supporting them. Her work across a range of settings—including homes, clinics, and schools nationwide—has provided her with valuable insights into the complexities of service delivery. The challenges faced by families are remarkably consistent, regardless of the funding source or service setting.
While leading an insurance-funded ABA therapy organization in New York City, Ashley pioneered strategies that not only streamlined operations but also fostered an environment of exceptional care and staff satisfaction. Under her leadership, the organization achieved a remarkable 96% staff retention rate—far exceeding the industry average of 25-55%. Within just 24 months, her team scaled the client base by 1,043% and billable services by 1,429%. This growth was driven by systems designed to improve service delivery and elevate client satisfaction, with 55% of new families referred by current or former clients.
These achievements sparked Ashley's desire to share her innovative approaches on a broader scale, empowering other organizations to enhance care and staff engagement while addressing the needs of neurodiverse individuals. Her mission is simple: to help families and organizations provide the advocacy, respect, and high-quality care that every individual deserves.
From our Founder.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our company’s origins! I’m Ashley Long, a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a passion for ABA that dates back to 2012. Originally from Northeast Ohio - the great Midwest! - I began my career as a behavior therapist in Columbus, where I worked in a center-based ABA program with clients ranging from 2 to 20 years old, addressing a wide variety of skills. During this time, I gained extensive training in communication systems, behavior interventions, functional analyses, and life skills programs—and quickly fell in love with the real, measurable progress ABA can bring. Recognizing this as my true calling, I pursued a Master of Education in ABA from the University of Cincinnati, which I completed in 2016.
After earning my degree, I moved to Seattle, where I worked as a BCBA Supervisor, overseeing ABA therapy across home, community, and clinic settings. Alas, the East Coast called me back, so I made the move to New York City. There, I continued my work as an ABA Clinic Supervisor before transitioning to in-home and community-based services, further expanding my expertise and passion for supporting individuals in diverse settings.
In 2021, I stepped into the role of Director of ABA Services for an insurance-funded organization, where I had the opportunity to tackle the many challenges currently plaguing families, clinicians, and business owners in our field. With strong collaboration, courage, and a bold vision—we built an exceptional team and achieved outstanding results—ethically scaling services while maintaining record-breaking retention rates and high client satisfaction.
These results are possible - and they are within reach. The services we provide can—and must—be improved. I’m passionate about sharing the strategies and insights I’ve developed with families, educators, clinicians, and business owners worldwide.
It’s time to raise the bar. I’m eager to connect and collaborate with you on this journey!
