As we begin the new year, we thought it would be the perfect time to spotlight the leadership and heart behind Autism Education & Therapy Center by featuring our Executive Director, Rhonda Manous.
Rhonda’s journey with Autism ETC began in July 2011, when she first met founder Karen Blake. At the time, Karen was looking for part-time accounting help. What started as a practical solution quickly turned into a powerful partnership. The two hit it off immediately, and as the demand for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services grew, so did Rhonda’s responsibilities. Before long, her dedication, vision, and leadership naturally led her into the role of Executive Director.
Reflecting on those early days, Rhonda recalls, “When I started, Autism ETC had a few clients at the Holt Road location and several kids at the Clarksville location. Medicaid and Tricare were the only two insurance companies that covered our services, so it was a struggle to survive.”
A major turning point came in August 2019, when Tennessee became the last state in the nation to mandate health insurance coverage for ABA services. With this long-awaited change, growth accelerated rapidly. Drawing on the expertise of her husband, architect Mike Manous, Rhonda helped lead the development of two new, state-of-the-art ABA centers—one opening in 2019 on Professional Park Drive in Clarksville, followed by another in 2020 on Music Valley Drive in Nashville.
Expansion continued beyond Tennessee. In 2021, when one of Autism ETC’s star employees relocated to Glendale, the organization proudly opened its first Arizona location. Continued high demand led to the opening of a second Clarksville center on Harnett Court in 2023, followed by expansion into Murfreesboro in 2024. Most recently, in January 2025, the Glendale, Arizona location moved into a brand-new, state-of-the-art building on North 43rd Avenue.
Looking back, Rhonda shares, “When I look over the past 15 years, I’m just amazed at how far we’ve come. We found the best employees: people with a strong commitment to providing excellent ABA services to families. Our executive staff team is unequaled in their level of expertise, compassion, and love for the kids.”
As Autism ETC prepares to move into 2026, Rhonda and Karen recognized that continued growth would require additional financial backing. With careful consideration, they chose to partner with Behavioral Framework, a large, family-owned ABA company based in Rockville, Maryland. “We chose Behavioral Framework because they share our vision to provide exceptional ABA services to families,” Rhonda explains.
She adds, “There are simply no words to convey how proud I am of the growth of Autism ETC. We have numerous employees who have been with us for many years, something almost unheard of in this industry. It just goes to show that when you find good people and give them the support and resources they need, success naturally follows.”
As we begin this new year, we celebrate not only how far Autism ETC has come, but the leadership, partnerships, and people who made it possible, starting with Rhonda Manous.
