Meet Our Team!

Clinical Director and Ethics Compliance Officer

Melissa Utz, MS, BCBA™, LBA, brings more than a decade of experience in child development, applied behavior analysis, and ethical clinical practice to her role as Clinical Director and Ethics Compliance Officer. Melissa oversees treatment quality, clinical training, and ethical decision-making across all ABA services provided by Innovation Behavior Services.

She is known for her compassionate leadership style, strong commitment to data driven practice, and dedication to supporting individuals with Autism, Down Syndrome, and other developmental disabilities. Melissa ensures that every treatment plan reflects best practices, regulatory standards, and respect for the dignity and individuality of each client.

Her guidance empowers clinicians and technicians to deliver effective, ethical, and person centered ABA therapy. Families and team members trust Melissa for her integrity, clarity, and unwavering commitment to high quality behavioral healthcare.

Dr. Christine Barthold, BCBA-D™, has dedicated nearly 30 years to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities through evidence-based applied behavior analysis. She earned her BCBA in 2001 and is uniquely credentialed as both a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral and a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC).

Dr. Barthold brings a rare interdisciplinary skill set, holding additional certifications as a fitness trainer, Compassion Fatigue Professional, and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She is also trained in Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACTr), a behavioral approach that helps individuals identify and overcome barriers to value-based living.

Chris has worked with individuals across the lifespan in home-based services, public and private schools, hospitals, workplaces, and faith-based settings. Her extensive experience allows her to integrate behavioral science, wellness coaching, trauma-informed practices, and compassionate clinical care.

At Innovation Behavior Services, Dr. Barthold provides high-level clinical guidance, professional development, and mentorship, ensuring that ABA therapy and behavior consultation services reflect the best available evidence and support meaningful progress.

John Foss serves as the Insurance Liaison and Office Manager at Innovation Behavior Services. As a decorated United States Air Force retiree, John brings reliability, organization, and a strong service ethic to his role. He guides families through insurance verification, authorizations, and coverage questions for ABA therapy, Autism services, and Behavior Consultation across Delaware, Massachusetts, and Virginia.

John manages scheduling, supports daily operations, and ensures smooth communication between clients, clinicians, and administrative systems. His attention to detail and commitment to efficiency help families access services with confidence, making him an essential part of the Innovation Behavior Services team.

Maureen Foss, MS, BCBA, LBA, LABA, brings more than 40 years of experience supporting human behavior across the lifespan in homes, group homes, schools, nursing facilities, and institutional settings. Early in her career, Maureen contributed to deinstitutionalization efforts in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Delaware, and Georgia by helping individuals build the skills they needed to move from long-term institutional care into more inclusive community environments. Her work made a meaningful difference in the lives of the individuals she supported.

Maureen has provided behavioral support to children, teens, and adults with Autism, Down Syndrome, other intellectual disabilities, mental health diagnoses, and complex behavioral challenges. During her time with Delaware Prevention and Behavioral Health Services, she helped shape pathways for teachers, school personnel, and families to access mental health services more easily. She also assisted in statewide efforts to support victims of child exploitation by identifying counseling resources and coordinating training to educators and caregivers on recognizing signs of exploitation.

Maureen earned her BASW from the University of Pittsburgh and her MS in Criminal Justice from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. After becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, she returned to Delaware. She founded Innovation Behavior Services in 2015 to expand access to ethical, evidence-based, and person-centered ABA services across Delaware, Massachusetts, and Virginia, and holds licensure in Virginia, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.  

In her personal life, Maureen enjoys quiet time with her spouse and their animals. She is an active member of her local AKC chapter and Beekeepers association and previously served on the board of the Association for Maine Behavior Analysis (AMeBA).