Dr. Hansel-Union, Ph.D., LPN, PBSF | CEO
Dr. Hansel-Union earned a Doctorates of Health Administration from Kennedy-Western University. She received her Masters of Public Administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and her Bachelors of Business Administration from Radford University. She also was admitted to Virginia State Board of Nursing in 1976. She has dedicated her life to helping children, elderly and individuals with disabilities. With years of experience in the health care industry, Dr. Hansel-Union has a long history of advocating to the VA General Assembly for increased health awareness and resources. Board involvement and Community volunteerism include:
- Board Member Portsmouth Partnership
- Member – Olde Towne Business Association
- Member – Virginia Network of Private Providers
Dr. Hansel-Union is the CEO of Hansel Union Consulting, PLLC and she currently works with individuals with disabilities in residential, day support and community programs in the Hampton Roads area. She lives in Portsmouth, VA, with her husband, Douglas B. Union. She also has three wonderful adult children and two grandsons. Dr. Hansel Union experience a neurological disorder at the age of 38 in which she experienced left sided weakness and aphasia. It was though rehabilitative therapy that Dr. Hansel-Union was able to have a complete recovery.
Charles Brogan, MBA | Director of Operations
Charles is a highly accomplished professional with a diverse background in geology, military service, leadership, and business management. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from Radford University, where he excelled in his studies. Before his academic pursuits, Charles served with distinction in the United States Army for ten years as a Military Police officer, earning recognition for his dedication and service.
Charles has been deeply committed to volunteerism throughout his life, receiving the prestigious Virginia Volunteerism Award for his exceptional contributions from childhood through adolescence. After his military service, Charles relocated to Colorado, where he honed his leadership skills in the civilian world as the manager of a scientific laboratory for five years. His ability to apply his military leadership experience to the business environment led to significant achievements and a reputation as a capable and strategic manager.
Charles’s passion for business and leadership led him to further his education by obtaining an MBA, enhancing his knowledge and skills in strategic planning, financial management, and organizational development. In addition to his academic pursuits, Charles also serves as the President of the Olde Towne Business Association, where he leverages his expertise to support and promote local businesses in the community.
Diane Gressett, MS, CTRS | Recreation Lead
Diane Gressett has a Master’s in Therapeutic Recreation from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has over 30-years-experience in the field working with both children and adults with physical and mental disabilities.
Samantha Keyes, CTRS,PBSF
Samantha is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, who graduated from Old Dominion University in 2015. She has 10 years of experience working with the elderly community and four years of experience working with children with behavioral and mental disabilities. She is excited to expand her experience and knowledge in the therapeutic recreation field. She enjoys outdoor activities, adventure, and spending time with family
Mel Barlow, CTRS, PBSF
Mel Barlow is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, who graduated from Old Dominion University in 2009. He worked in mental health for eight years, with patients of all ages and diagnoses. He has spent the last four years working with the geriatric population in assisted living and long term care. Throughout his career he has really enjoyed working in the field of recreation therapy, and learning as much as he can from each opportunity. In his spare time, Mel loves going to the beach, concerts, exercising, and spending time with family and friends.
Ciara Adams, CTRS
Ciara graduated from Old Dominion University in 2016 as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. She has six years of experience working with children in the behavioral and mental health field. She is passionate about Recreation Therapy and the importance of leisure activities in everyday life.
Cindy Halonski, CTRS
Cindy Halonski is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, who graduated from Longwood College in 1984. She worked with adolescents and adults in a psychiatric setting for 21 years. She then worked at a skilled nursing facility for 14 years with residents who had physical and mental disabilities to include Traumatic Brain Injury. She loves to see individuals with disabilities accomplish their goals and have fun! She has been married since 1986 and they have an amazing son who lives in Richmond, Virginia. She lives in Virginia Beach with her husband and four cats. She enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Jasmine Holloman, CTRS
Jasmine graduated from Winston-Salem State University in 2019 and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree at Arizona State University for Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis. When time permits, Jasmine also performs work as a Registered Behavior Technician in which she has had the opportunity to work one on one with a number of youth with challenging diagnosis. She has a true passion for working with individuals with special needs and thoroughly enjoys helping each of her client’s progress in all areas of development to reach their individual goals. In her spare time, Jasmine enjoys spending time with her family, engaging in sport activities, creating DIY projects and listening to music.
Diana Levering, MA, PBSF | Behavior Lead
Diana graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology from St. Leo University, a Master’s in Human Services Counseling from Liberty University, and received her Positive Behavioral Support Facilitator endorsement from VCU. Diana has worked with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 10 years. She has a strong passion for ensuring that individuals with disabilities are treated with dignity and respect and have the supports they need to live the life they choose to have. In her downtime, Diana enjoys spending time with her family and friends, likes to travel, and finds peace in nature.
Jarrod Vaughan, MS, BCBA/LBA
Jarrod received a Bachelor’s in Psychology with an emphasis in behavior analysis from the University of Central Missouri in 2016 and a Master’s in Behavior Analysis and Therapy in 2018, also from the University of Central Missouri. He has worked with children, adolescents, and adults with a range of disabilities in several different settings. He especially enjoys behavioral medicine, behavioral neuroscience, and social skills training. In his downtime, he likes to play board and video games, read, and spend time with his wife and fur babies.
Julie Moss, MA, BCBA/LBA
Julie Moss is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and LBA living in a small rural Idaho town with her husband and three children. She began working with individuals with disabilities in 2000. Through her experiences, she developed a desire to help others increase their independence and create meaningful behavior change. Julie worked with young children and teens in various settings for many years before landing in consultation. Julie received a Master’s degree in Special Education and received certifications in Applied Behavioral Analysis and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has been a university professor since 2020, teaching Behavioral Intervention. She is passionate about teaching others how to create behavior changes within themselves and helping them achieve their goals. When she’s not working, she enjoys camping with her family, reading a good book, eating black licorice, or watching a fun comedy.
Melissa Union, M.Ed, BCBA/LBA
Melissa Union is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education in 2005. Melissa worked in Orlando, Florida as a Tittle One self-contained special education teacher for seven years before attending the Florida Institute of Technology to complete a Master’s add-on certificate in Behavior Analysis. Melissa has a wide range of experience from birth to adulthood with developmental disabilities, specific learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and related behavior disorders. Melissa worked as a direct ABA provider before joining the Hansel Union team as a behavior consultant. She enjoys working with all individuals and strives to help her clients achieve their goals. “It’s not the talking about the thing that matters. It’s the doing of the thing.” -Pat Friman BCBA-D.
Jen Hokaj, M.Ed, BCBA/LBA
Jen Hokaj has practiced as a licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2016 and has been working with individuals aged between 18 months and 20 years old with various disabilities since 2011. She attended James Madison University and George Mason University, earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Her passions in Applied Behavior Analysis include: reducing severe problem behaviors, teaching functional replacement behaviors, and teaching functional communication skills using speech and/or voice output communication devices. She has worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds providing and overseeing 1:1 intensive ABA therapy in-home and clinic settings. Jen also worked collaboratively with top professionals to design a model for delivering remote BACB supervision and mentorship services to providers seeking BCBA/BCaBA certification internationally and subsequently provided those services. Outside work, Jen enjoys spending time with her two daughters, husband, and dog (Walter). Jen and her husband Rafael also actively participate in the brewing community in Hampton Roads and own and run American Homebrew Supply in the JANAF shopping center in Norfolk, Virginia.
Samantha Dove, M.Ed, BCBA/LBA
Samantha Dove is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and LBA living in Mead, Co. She has over 15 years of experience working with children and adults in many settings. She has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for five years, but before that worked as a Special Education teacher in Virginia Beach Public Schools. She is passionate about advocating and helping individuals with disabilities accomplish their goals. She loves to go camping, paddleboarding, and spending time with her family.
Kasey Hester, MOT, OTR/L
Kasey is a licensed and board-certified occupational therapist. She earned her bBachelor’sdegree in psychology from the University of Tennessee in 2000 and her Master’s of Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in 2002. Kasey has worked in various settings, including school-based (brick-and-mortar and virtual), early intervention, and outpatient clinics. She has extensive experience in parent coaching, sensory integration disorders, and visual deficits. Kasey loves helping people of all ages and backgrounds utilize strategies and tools to live as independently as possible. Outside of work, Kasey enjoys seeing live music, going to the beach, cooking vegetarian meals, and relaxing with her family.
Dr. Karen Van Daniker PT, DPT
Karen graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. Karen moved back up north and graduated from Sacred Heart University in Connecticut with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Karen always knew she wanted to do something hands-on to help people. Karen has worked mainly with the older adult population and is passionate about making what once seemed impossible possible. In my spare time, she likes to play tennis and spend time with my family and two golden retrievers.
Susan Shepherd, MS, CCC-SLP
Susan is a certified speech-language pathologist with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from James Madison University. She is passionate about equipping parents, caregivers, and other support staff to improve their communication skills in her clients’ lives. Susan has worked with individuals of all ages, most recently with adolescents and young adults in the public school setting. She is a Virginia Beach native and enjoys reading, kayaking, and being with her husband and two boys.
Kristi Johnson, MS, CCC-SLP
Kristi is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist who completed her undergraduate and graduate work at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology with a minor in Special Education in 2007 and a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2009. Kristi has 14 years of experience providing services to pediatric clients with various communication disorders in the outpatient clinical setting. Kristi loves the field of speech-language pathology and has a passion for helping clients maximize their communicative effectiveness through different communication methods, including augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). She values partnering with client families and caregivers to optimize client success. In her spare time, Kristi enjoys relaxing at the beach, reading, spoiling her miniature goldendoodle, and spending time with family and friends.
Hannah Hayden, MSW, LCSW, CCTP
Hannah graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology and Communication Studies from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She continued on and graduated with a Master’s of Social Work (clinical focus) from Virginia Commonwealth University. Hannah became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in 2019 and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) in 2021. She has a breadth of experience working with adolescents and adults in individual and group settings. Hannah has worked in a variety of clinical environments including intensive in-home, medication assisted treatment, case management, partial hospitalization, detention/corrections, and outpatient. She is excited to use her clinical experience and expertise to teach providers how to support their clients to achieve their most optimal well-being. In her downtime, Hannah enjoys spending time with her family, being active, reading, and watching Netflix or Hulu.
Kendra Dixson, BCBA/LBA
Kendra Dixson is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and LBA living in Shelley, Idaho, with her husband and two children. She has been interested in helping people from a young age. She would volunteer at the nursing home near her elementary school. Later experiences with her younger brother being diagnosed with autism and observing the treatment he was receiving inspired her to pursue a career path for behavior change. Before pursuing her master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, she worked with children and young adults in various settings for more than six years. Kendra has experience writing implementation plans, completing and interpreting assessments, and overseeing the progress of the plans in place. Helping people achieve meaningful change has been her lifelong goal.
Nick Koehler, MS, OTR/L
Nick is a licensed and board-certified occupational therapist. He earned his Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy from Utica College in Utica, New York, in 2017, and his Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and History from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York, in 2007. As an OT, Nick has worked in various settings, including early intervention, school-based, skilled nursing facilities, private practice, and providing virtual services. Before becoming an OT, Nick worked for over 10 years in settings with adults and children with various developmental disabilities and mental health concerns. Nick strives to help clients reach their full potential by emphasizing a client-centered approach and focusing on skills that are important and meaningful to the client. Nick recently relocated to Virginia Beach from Ithaca, NY, where he lives with his wife and four wonderful children.
Aura Clarke-Walker, MS, OTR/L
Aura is a nationally certified occupational therapist who earned her undergraduate degree from George Mason University and her Master of Occupational Therapy from Radford University. Aura comes to Hansel-Union with experience assessing and treating various neurological and orthopedic injuries and conditions in the outpatient and skilled nursing settings. Prior to becoming an OT, Aura honed her interpersonal and leadership skills working in higher education. Aura has a passion for helping people across the life span access the tools they need to live as independently as possible. Aura lives in Hampton with her husband and three rabbits.
Joy Davis, MS, CCC-SLP
Joy Davis is a certified speech-language pathologist who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cedarville University and a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Old Dominion University. Joy comes to Hansel Union with experience assessing and treating various communication disorders in the outpatient pediatric setting and public school setting. Joy’s passion is to provide individuals with communication disorders with interventions that are established in evidence-based practice. She especially enjoys working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder, stuttering disorders, and reading disorders. She finds joy in partnering with individuals and families to discover the means of intervention that will best meet the needs of individuals with disabilities so that they can reach their full potential and be as successful as possible in achieving their goals. In her downtime, Joy enjoys spending time with her family, relaxing at the beach, and hunting for treasures at second-hand stores.
Rachel Ash, M.S., CCC-SLP
Rachel is a certified speech-language pathologist with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Old Dominion University. She has over 17 years of experience providing services to clients in various settings, including the public school setting, early intervention, and outpatient pediatric setting. She has a passion for helping individuals gain confidence and independence. Rachel especially enjoys working with individuals who are neurodiverse and individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication. She utilizes a strengths-based approach in her therapy practice. She feels that collaborating with caregivers is key to success. Rachel resides in Virginia Beach with her husband and three sons. She enjoys documentaries, podcasts, and spoiling her dog, Cody.
Joyce Downs, MS. CCC-SLP
Joyce is a nationally certified and state-licensed Speech Language Pathologist who has been in the field for over 20 years. Joyce’s experience includes working with all ages in public schools, private practice, and rehabilitation hospitals. The heart of her motivation as an SLP is putting her clients and families first, working hard to decrease frustration and increase communication. She has a special interest in Augmentative and Alternative Communication as she believes everyone has a fundamental right to communicate and to connect with others. Outside of work, she enjoys relaxing with family and friends, reading books, trying new art and craft activities, and spoiling her 2 cats and 2 dogs.
Paige Shabro RN, BSN, MSN
Paige Shabro is a Registered Nurse and has been in the nursing field since 2009. She completed her Bachelors in the Science of Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University, and she received her Masters in the Science of Nursing from Frontier Nursing University. She has a passion for mental health and women’s health. She provides nursing consults to the clients of Hansel Union Consulting. These consults provide information for various medical conditions and medication therapy reviews. Paige lives in Chesapeake with her husband and two sons, Gabe and Declan. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling.
Douglas Union, Facilities Manager
Douglas is retired from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. His hobbies include sailing, woodworking, fishing and playing golf.
Connor Levering, Facilities Manager Assistant
Connor is a 14-year-old young man who is currently finishing up his first year of high school at Summit Christian Academy. He has been on his high school tennis team for two seasons so far. He obtained his black belt in Taekwondo in 2019. When not in school, Connor enjoys playing games on the computer and socializing with his friends online.
Sandy McClellan, Accounts Receivable Clerk
Sandy is a seasoned accounts payable & receivable specialist with 35 years experience in bookkeeping and accounting with large and small businesses. A great portion of her employment has involved medical accounts associated with the Medicare and Medicaid systems. Sandy is professional, thorough and precise in her work. Sandy’s husband is a retired U.S. Navy aviator. Together they have traveled worldwide while in the service and raising a family of three children and now many grandchildren. Now semi-retired, they reside on a beautiful lake in nearby North Carolina. Both enjoy travel, gardening, boating and community involvement.
Teresa Haner, Administrative Assistant
Teresa has more than 15 years’ experience as an admin assistant. She is a Minnesota native but has called Virginia home for over 20 years now. When not working, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Susan Wilton, Administrative Assistant
Susan is a Virginia native that grew up in Norfolk, Virginia. She and her husband have one child (he will soon be 20). Susan loves all animals and especially dogs! Her family has four dogs that they love dearly (2 golden retrievers, one spaniel, and one dachshund). Susan loves spending time with her family and traveling…especially during the fall, her favorite time of year. Susan spent most of her younger years being a nanny and then a preschool teacher, but has been in the administrative field for the last 7 or 8 years.
Accepted Insurance
(In addition to Private Pay)
Our Open House & Ribbon Cutting
September 18, 2017
