Meet our Leadership Team
Meet the compassionate leadership team at Lighthouse Autism Center
Barbara Gromacki
Barbara Gromacki serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Lighthouse Autism Center, leading the organization in its mission to provide compassionate, evidence‑based autism therapy to children and families. As CEO, Barbara oversees all aspects of organizational strategy, operations, culture, and growth. She is committed to ensuring that every Lighthouse team member feels supported, valued, and empowered to deliver exceptional care across the communities we serve.
Barbara brings extensive leadership experience across multiple industries—including healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, and industrial technologies—in both public and private sectors. Her background in organizational leadership and people strategy continues to guide Lighthouse in building strong teams and delivering high‑quality services grounded in clinical excellence.
Deeply committed to community service, Barbara has an extensive history of nonprofit board leadership. She was elected Chairwoman of the Rogers Behavioral Health (RBH) Board of Directors in 2022, becoming the first female Chair in the organization’s history. She also chairs the RBH Executive Compensation Committee and has previously served as Secretary, Vice Chair, and Governance Committee member. Her additional board service includes roles with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin, the American Society of Training and Development—NE WI (Board President), and Friends of the Arts at Catholic Memorial High School (Board President), among others.
Barbara earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Resources from St. Norbert College and her Master of Science degree in Leadership and Organizational Behavior from Silver Lake College.
“An organization’s greatest asset is its people. That is no exception at Lighthouse. From our therapists and BCBAs to our Learner Support Team, you can see and feel that you are part of something bigger with Lighthouse.”
Jeff Hulburt
As CFO, Jeff leads the Finance, Accounting and Insurance Teams. Jeff has deep experience in the healthcare industry serving as CFO, CEO and other leadership roles for other ABA therapy organizations and in the acute care provider space. Jeff served as a board member and board chair for Riverside Community Care, a behavioral health and human services organization in Massachusetts. Jeff earned his bachelor’s degree in Cardiopulmonary Science from Boston University and his MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Finance from the University of Massachusetts.
“While I have worked in healthcare for many years, working in ABA, and specifically with Lighthouse, is quite meaningful. it is clear the services we provide are life changing for the learners and families we serve. It’s a privilege to be a part of that and I look forward to continuing to be a part of the good work that is being done here.”
Leila Allen
Leila Allen is responsible for increasing our in-house knowledge of the rules and regulations impacting quality ABA services and sound business operations within the states we operate, and influencing change where needed to help us fulfill our mission. Leila will also focus on communicating the value of our reputation in ABA excellence through strategic relationships with payors, advocacy groups, trade associations, professional associations, businesses, government organizations, university/college campuses and other enterprises.
Leila joined Lighthouse in 2012 and has held various leadership positions during her time with the organization. Leila also serves on the Standards Committee for the Autism Commission on Quality. Leila earned her MA from Ball State University and MBA from Strayer University.
“Having been at Lighthouse for so long has given me the opportunity to see so much growth, not only in the company, and our learners, but in our team, and the industry. Watching our learners and team evolve, grow, and adapt has truly been so much fun and makes working at LAC incredibly rewarding. I’ve always believed that our learners are the absolute best thing about this job, and they are, but our team is a close second.”
Katie Meyer
Katie oversees the clinical operations of all centers across all states, including ABA services, diagnostic services, speech therapy services and clinical training.
A BCBA since 2014, Katie began as a behavioral therapist at our first center in Mishawaka, IN. Over the years, she worked in various clinical positions, gaining a comprehensive understanding of our services and the needs of our learners and their families.
Katie graduated with a BA in Psychology from Indiana University and a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University.
“Lighthouse has always fostered this profound sense of community, even as we have grown to serve new states. Many of our team members have been with us since our small beginnings, and their dedication in leading our next generation of Lighthouse Legends is something I really enjoy being a part of.”
Maggie Gendel
Maggie leads the New Center opening team. Maggie previously worked in fundraising and business development at the University of Notre Dame. She first developed her passion for families with special healthcare needs after beginning her early career as a direct support associate working with adults with autism.
Maggie graduated with a BS in Diplomacy from Seton Hall University and an MBA from Western Governor’s University.
“Working at an organization with such an impactful mission attracts not only highly talented individuals, but also just really, really good people. To work with such a highly talented and compassionate team that are so deeply committed to our learners and families is something thing that brings so much joy and fulfillment.”
Natalie Lovejoy
Natalie establishes Lighthouse Autism Center’s clinical standards and leads the development of clinical policies, driving the organization’s commitment to excellence in clinical training, quality assurance, and outcomes measurement. Her work focuses on setting and upholding high standards for clinical excellence, creating best-practice policies, and aligning clinical initiatives with strategic goals to foster a high-performance culture focused on continuous improvement and exceptional learner outcomes.
Joining Lighthouse in 2015, Natalie has held various leadership roles, contributing to the organization’s growth and clinical success. She earned both her BA and MA in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University.
“At Lighthouse Autism Center, our mission is to uphold the highest standard of clinical excellence as we expand our reach. With growth comes both opportunity and responsibility, and we are committed to ensuring every learner receives the quality care they deserve. This commitment means establishing systems that empower our clinical teams to provide exceptional care, fostering an environment of continuous improvement and accountability. By staying true to these principles, we strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the learners and families we serve.”
