Nicole Armstrong has been part of the Trellis Services community since 2009. She first connected with Trellis after working at a summer camp, where she bonded with a preschooler who had autism. That relationship led her to learn more about the family’s experience and introduced her to the work Trellis Services was doing.

While earning a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology at Towson University in Maryland, Nicole continued gaining hands-on experience. Later, at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Inpatient Neurobehavioral Unit in Baltimore, she discovered her interest in applied behavior analysis (ABA).

In 2017, she completed a master’s degree in ABA from Ball State University in Indiana. She returned to Trellis Services soon after, taking on roles including clinical fellow, behavior analyst, and managing behavior analyst. Today, she serves as the center’s director at the Perry Hall Learning Center in Maryland, in a suburb northeast of Baltimore.

Nicole is passionate about helping children with autism build skills, form connections, and reach their goals. She says she values the relationships she has built with families and coworkers over the years.

“The best part of my day is seeing our clients arrive with big smiles. They’re having fun, making friends, and growing.”

Anne McHugh is a licensed behavior analyst in the state of Maryland who has worked with individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other special needs in school, clinic, and home settings since 1998. Prior to joining Trellis, she managed her own ABA-focused private practice in the Baltimore area for eight years, while providing consultation to families, other ABA companies, schools, and school systems. She also provided supervision to those pursuing BCBA certification. Anne earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Loyola University, a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Towson University, and a graduate certificate in applied behavior analysis from The University of North Texas. She serves as a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, and the Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis.

“Children bring joy to my life each day. This fuels my passion to apply the science of behavior analysis to improve a child’s life.”

Suzanne Heid leads educational and clinical programming at Trellis. She holds a master’s degree in school counseling psychology from Western Maryland College and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Suzanne began her career at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and has more than 15 years of professional experience designing and implementing highly successful treatment programs that meet the academic and behavioral needs of children with autism. Suzanne is a board certified behavior analyst and is trained in the implementation of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), an assessment used in diagnosing children with autism.

“As both a parent and a leader at Trellis, I’m proud of our team’s ability to tap into and cultivate what makes each child unique, as we work with families to make life more manageable and give their kids the best path forward. I’m passionate about our work here and humbled every day by the insight and success stories of the Trellis team.”