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
Building Communities That Matter with Kelly Baird, COO of the Behavior Technician Association
What if success in ABA wasn't about competition—but about collaboration?
In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy A. Zercher sits down with Kelly Baird - COO of the Behavior Technician Association, Co-Founder of The ABA Collab, and Founder of BWIBAAD - to talk about how she’s building some of the most mission-driven, community-focused spaces in the ABA field.
From launching ABA holidays to creating platforms that spotlight underrepresented voices, Kelly unpacks how structure, celebration, and intentionality fuel sustainable growth.
We also dive into:
- The challenge of driving innovation in a traditional field
- How leaders can open more doors for others
- What it really means to collaborate with purpose
- Her vision for ABA’s role in society beyond clinical settings
Whether you're a seasoned executive or just getting started in the field, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about community, leadership, and impact.
00:00
Timothy Zercher: All right, well, good morning. Thank you so much for joining us, Kelly.
00:08
Kelly Baird: Thank you for having me on, Timothy.
00:11
Q: You’re in a pretty competitive landscape. How do you go about growing the platforms or communities you're involved in?
Kelly Baird: It’s all about staying mission-driven and community-focused. We host big, fun events, created holidays in ABA like Black Male BCBA Day, and create leadership opportunities. Structure and connection are key—and we collect real impact data to measure success.
02:07
Q: Sounds like staying connected and organized is a big part of this work, right?
Kelly Baird: Yes, planning ahead is essential. We create spaces people want to return to.
03:13
Q: What do you find most challenging about growing these programs and platforms?
Kelly Baird: Pushing innovation in a historically rigid field. We aim to expand ABA into schools, workplaces—even politics. ABA has the potential to create impact far beyond therapy.
04:42
Q: You’ve built a career in leadership and helping others lead. What’s one leadership lesson you wish more execs in ABA understood?
Kelly Baird: Don’t block opportunities—create them. Use your influence to help others. Leadership is about holding doors open and letting people in. And if you're the smartest in the room, it's time to expand your circle.
06:34
Q: You’ve created a powerful community. What’s been the most unexpected impact of launching it?
Kelly Baird: The reach. BWIBAAD was built for Black women in ABA—but we’ve seen support from across disciplines and backgrounds. People feel seen. That’s the true impact.
08:14
Q: You’ve worn many hats—founder, COO, speaker, etc. Which role has pushed you to grow the most and why?
Kelly Baird: Collaborator. It requires the most patience and care. You’re constantly aligning different visions and showing up not just as a leader, but as a partner.
09:04
Q: If you could spark one big change in the ABA industry overnight, what would it be?
Kelly Baird: That ABA be recognized as essential across all systems—not just in autism care. Behavior analysts should be influencing tech, climate, public health, and government. We're the experts in behavior—let’s be in the rooms where change happens.
11:26
Closing Remarks
Timothy A. Zercher: Thank you so much for your time, Kelly. You’re doing amazing work for this field.
Kelly Baird: Thank you so much, Timothy. I appreciate you.
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