Tim Talks: Behavioral Health
Tim Talks: Behavioral Health is a fast-paced podcast featuring candid, 10-minute conversations with leaders across the behavioral health field.
Hosted by Timothy Zercher, CEO of A-Train Marketing, each episode dives into what’s actually working in marketing, practice growth, and leadership — with a sharp focus on ethics, sustainability, and smart strategy.
Designed for behavioral health providers, practice owners, and executive leaders, Tim Talks delivers real insight from real operators shaping the future of care.
Short talks. Big insights. Smarter growth.
New episodes weekly.
Tim Talks: Behavioral Health
Scaling ABA with Heart: Operational Lessons from Mordy Friedberg (Best Buds ABA)
In this episode of Tim Talks: ABA Therapy, host Timothy Zercher sits down with Mordy Friedberg, Director of Operations at Best Buds ABA, to unpack the reality of building and scaling an ABA practice in today’s climate.
Mordy shares how he transitioned from long-term care into ABA, why workforce shortages are slowing down care, and how to grow without losing the personal touch that teams - and clients - deserve. From staffing challenges to the systems you should implement before you need them, this conversation is packed with practical insight for ABA leaders.
If you care about sustainable growth, culture, and keeping your people engaged, tune in.
(00:00)
Timothy Zercher: Thanks so much, Mordy, for jumping on and sharing your experience. We appreciate it.
First question: What drew you to the ABA space from broader healthcare operations?
(00:16)
Mordy Friedberg: I actually started in long-term care, nursing home industry. I was an AIT—Administrator in Training—getting my license. Over time, I moved into operations. My wife’s been a BCBA for 10 years, back when ABA was more mom-and-pop. Hearing her stories, seeing real progress with kids—it pulled me in. It’s more hopeful than the end-of-life care I came from.
(01:23)
Timothy Zercher: Makes complete sense. There’s more hope and excitement in ABA.
What have you learned about the unique operational challenges of running an ABA practice?
(01:40)
Mordy Friedberg: Cancellations—on the RBT or parent side—always impact the kid stuck in the middle. You can’t always swap someone in quickly. And then, staffing—it’s a massive challenge in ABA. In Nevada alone, 10,000 kids under 21 diagnosed with ASD, but only around 579 BCBAs. There’s a real gap, and it's even worse for RBTs.
(03:57)
Timothy Zercher: Yeah, I hear that across the country.
You’ve worked on both startup and established sides—how do you balance growth with keeping it personal, especially with hiring and management?
(04:25)
Mordy Friedberg: I call it corporate vs. mom-and-pop. Growth means structure, but keep personalization alive through your people. Let managers carry that culture. Celebrate milestones, send birthday cards—show them they’re not just numbers.
On operations—plan ahead. If you know you’ll need a system, implement it early. I picked enterprise software off the bat to avoid costly transitions later.
(05:51)
Timothy Zercher: That avoids retraining and saves time. There’s even a book on that called Built to Grow. Makes total sense.
(06:25)
How fast are you growing these days?
(06:34)
Mordy Friedberg: I’m new to ABA, but growth is happening. The real limitation is staffing. Everyone’s competing for the same BCBAs, and many already run their own agencies.
(07:03)
Timothy Zercher: With that demand, how do you ensure new hires are the right cultural and quality fit?
(07:28)
Mordy Friedberg: I look for a team mindset and positive attitude. They need to collaborate—with parents, directors, teammates. Personality fit is key. Most people in ABA are here because they care. It’s not a job you fall into casually.
(08:51)
Timothy Zercher: Makes sense. Last question—what’s one operational tip or lesson you think ABA providers should hear?
(09:03)
Mordy Friedberg: Your staff are the company. Especially in ABA—they’re on the front lines with kiddos, making change happen. Appreciate them, support them—they’re the rockstars shaping the next generation. Burnout is real, especially with in-home services being isolating. But feeling appreciated makes a huge difference.
(10:55)
Timothy Zercher: Absolutely. If it were easy, there’d be more BCBAs and RBTs. Thank you so much, Mordy—great conversation.
(11:01)
Mordy Friedberg: Thanks so much, appreciate the opportunity.
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