Our Staff

Leadership

ABA therapy session with a therapist guiding a child through playful learning activities

Darrin Miller

CEO

Darrin has dedicated his education and career to the field of behavioral health. As a licensed therapist and master’s in clinical counseling he works to create solutions that improve the lives of those impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder at a local, state, and national level. He strives to create a culture of caring and empathy while innovating solutions for improving families’ access to quality care as quickly as possible.
ABA therapy session with a therapist guiding a child through playful learning activities

Alice Okamoto, MA, BCBA, LBA

Chief of Staff 

Alice has been with The Cardinal Center for over 4 years and has worn many hats along the way!  Alice has a passion for working with clients and families as a unit, supervising behavior analyst trainees, and collaborating on strategic initiatives to ensure clinical efficiencies.  Alice‘s professional experience began with ABA in a school setting, and has worked in schools, homes, and clinics throughout the years while enjoying collaboration with related providers.  In her free time, Alice enjoys traveling, exploring parks with her dog, Oliver, and trying new restaurants. 
ABA therapy session with a therapist guiding a child through playful learning activities

Derrick Dix

Admissions Director

Derrick has been working in the ABA field for almost 10 years.  He graduated from the University of Arkansas and began his career in ABA in Arkansas.  Derrick has recently moved to North Carolina to continue working in ABA and joined the Cardinal team in the beginning of 2024.  Derrick has experience working in all kinds of operational roles within the industry and has enjoyed his professional development along the way!  In his free time, Derrick has spent many seasons as a Pop Warner U12 football coach and years as a “Big Brother,” and enjoys working with children in many different capacities.  In his free time, Derrick enjoys hiking in the sun and watching Animal Planet in the rain with his dog.  
ABA therapy session with a therapist guiding a child through playful learning activities

William Evans

Director of Outreach and Recruitment

William is a UNCW Graduate who started his professional career working in Marketing and Recruiting for a local technology company before looking for an opportunity to take those skills and help others. In his spare time he plays hockey, including annually for the North Carolina Autism Hockey Tournament, which is dedicated to the raising money and awareness for organizations helping local families with children diagnosed with autism.
ABA therapy session with a therapist guiding a child through playful learning activities

Tina Lee

Director of Finance

Tina Lee is the Finance Director for The Cardinal Center for Behavior Analysis with a variety of experience in the Healthcare Industry for over 13 years. She is compassionate and always eager to assist where she can. In the ever-changing Healthcare environment, Tina has played a vital role in putting processes in place to obtain high efficiency outcomes to help our clients get the care they need. Tina enjoys the outdoors and loves spending time with her family.

Division Leads

Triad, NC

ABA therapy session with a therapist guiding a child through playful learning activities

Trisha Iannotta Bieszczad, PsyD., BCBA

Trisha is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with extensive expertise since 2016 in applying behavior analytic principles to improve the lives of children and adolescents. Her professional journey began with a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, emphasizing child and adolescent development. This foundation has equipped her with a deep understanding of psychological theories and practices, which she seamlessly integrates into her work as a BCBA. Outside of her professional endeavors, Trisha enjoys reading, spending time outdoors with her family & trying out new restaurants. Trisha’s dedication to both her career and personal interests reflects her commitment to continual growth and enrichment, both professionally and personally. Her multifaceted background allows her to approach each aspect of her life with a blend of expertise, enthusiasm, and a genuine appreciation for learning and exploration.

Cary, NC

ABA therapy session with a therapist guiding a child through playful learning activities

Matthew Wilkinson

Operations Director 

Matthew holds a bachelors degree from the University of Utah, Medical Degree from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara and an MBA from Western Governors University. He has worked in the pediatric field for the majority of his professional life and has a passion for helping bring the best care to children in need. He enjoys spending time with his wife and three children and day trips to the coast.

Arizona

ABA therapy session with a therapist guiding a child through playful learning activities

Becky Fronheiser

Operations Director

Becky has worked in behavioral health for 7 years. She joined Cardinal in the spring of 2024.  Becky is grateful for the opportunity to work with such a passionate group of people and looks forward to supporting families with their specific ABA needs.  In her personal time, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, 6 kids and 4 grandkids and loves to travel and relax on the beach.  

Johnston County, NC

ABA therapy session with a therapist guiding a child through playful learning activities

Amanda Dean, MA, BCBA, LBA

Amanda graduated from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2018 with her Masters in Psychology. She proceeded to complete her graduate certificate in ABA and became a BCBA in November 2020. Amanda has a passion for behavior reduction, tolerance training and functional communication training. She enjoys spending as much time as she can with her 3 children and husband. When she’s not working, Amanda is very involved in her local Pop Warner Cheerleading program where she is the Assistant Cheer Director and a head coach.