Committed to assisting those on the autism spectrum
Board of Directors
Mary Bailey, President
Mary is the mother of Chase Bailey and the Co-Founder of Chase Yur Dreams Foundation. She is also the Co-Founder and Executive Producer at Chaser B Productions. Additionally, Mary is a keynote speaker and a writer who has contributed to HuffPost on the subjects of parenting, autism, and diversity & inclusion. Prior to these entrepreneurial and philanthropic ventures, she has 20 years of Customer Relations and Corporate Management experience. Mary also served as an Educational Court Appointed Advocate and CASA Court Appointed Special Advocate. In 2017, Mary received the Legacy Inspiration Award for her work within the autism community.
Schea Fissel-Brannick, PhD, CCC-SLP, Vice President
Schea is a certified, licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) who has been working clinically with persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), their families, and communities for the last 10 years. Her current areas of clinical expertise involve providing interdisciplinary diagnostics, and interactive, supported group intervention services for early school-aged children with ASD. Schea has served in clinical, educational, leadership and research coordination roles with multiple non-profit organizations including the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Kaiser Permanente for the last decade.
Schea earned her PhD from Kent State University with an expertise in ASD, literacy, and research methods; she is currently an Assistant Professor with Midwestern University (MWU). Her program of research at MWU explores interactions between persons with ASD and their environment, and the effects of such interactions on skill development over time. Schea is the MWU SLP Department Research Committee Chair and teaches graduate courses in evidence-based practice, autism spectrum disorders, applied research, and service-learning pedagogy. She also supervises graduate SLP students as they implement a transactional adapted group curriculum (TAG-C) developed to teach early school-aged skills (e.g., literacy, social-interaction) through naturalistic activities, to persons with ASD. Schea is married to a tall, handsome, funny teacher/volleyball player, and over-mothers two enormous dogs. She practices yoga and goes hiking with her husband and dogs in her spare time.
Samuel Bailey, Treasurer & Secretary
Samuel is a licensed CPA in California and Certified in Financial Forensics, who has served as Vice President, Controller, and Receiver for Paladin Asset Preservation & Management Inc.; the Controller for Sierra Scientific Instruments (a Given Imaging Ltd. Company); the Director of Finance for the Southern California Division of WL Homes (dba John Laing Homes) and U.S. subsidiary of EMAAR Properties and builder of the Burj Khalifa (world’s tallest building); as well as a senior auditor at Ernst & Young, LLP. A dedicated husband and father, he is also an honors graduate of California State University Fullerton and a former Sergeant with the California Army National Guard.
J. Chase Bailey, Board Member
J. Chase Bailey is the inspiration behind and the face and Co-Founder of Chase Yur Dreams Foundation; and Co-Founder of Chaser B Productions. Diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2, he began his career as a food enthusiast and host of his own YouTube cooking show, Chase ‘N Yur Face, (2014-2017). Chase is the author of the Official Chase ‘N Yur Face Cookbook: Tasty Recipes and Fun Facts to Start Your Food Adventure, winner of the 2016 Foreward Indies Gold award for Author of the Year and Honorable Mention for Book of the Year. He has been featured in GE’s “Our American Kitchen” series, TV shows, & radio interviews; & numerous magazines and newspapers worldwide. Currently, he is pursing his acting career, and has appeared in distinguished film and TV productions. J. Chase is a visionary, humanitarian, and philanthropist, J. Chase received the 2017 Legacy Champion Award for his ambassadorship on behalf of the autism community.
Kelsey Schulz, Board Member
Kelsey is a Juris Doctor with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and the Law from Pepperdine University School of Law. She has helped entrepreneurs grow micro-businesses and counseled clients to establish and operate thriving entertainment companies. Kelsey serves as Vice President of Business Affairs at a young and burgeoning Los Angeles entertainment company. She is a community volunteer for various causes, but especially enjoys helping differently abled children find healing through therapeutic horseback riding.
Lauren Swick Jordan, Board Member
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Lauren is prolific Freelance Writer, Blogger, and a regular Contributing Writer for The Washington Post, The Mighty, and The Organization for Autism Research. Additionally, Lauren is a mother of two sons, one of whom is diagnosed with autism.
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Carrie Brickley, Board Member
Carrie is a Level 3 Therapist at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders. She has worked with individuals diagnosed with ASD for 9 years. Carrie earned her BA from Concordia University and a BCAT (Board Certified Autism Technicians). She is a wife and mother to 2 boys. Fun fact: Carrie was the first therapist assigned to Chase Bailey’s case when he was diagnosed, and she remained his therapist for 7 years.