For 50 years, NECC has been home to remarkably dedicated staff. Many never leave — nearly 100 employees have remained for 20 or more years. Why do they stay? The people, the mission, and a culture that invests deeply in those who serve students and families. 

The Power of Professional Development 

At NECC, professional development is more than a benefit — it is a core pillar of the organization’s mission. From its earliest days, founder Vinnie Strully understood the importance of training and supporting new staff.  

What began as early, structured training has evolved into a sophisticated competency-based model that ensures learning translates directly into high-quality care rooted in research and best clinical practice. One standout example is the CALM system, developed at NECC as a safer, evidence-driven approach to de-escalating challenging behavior. Today it’s used not only on NECC’s campuses but also in school districts and partner organizations. 

Professional development doesn’t end after onboarding. Staff continue learning through in-house seminars, workshops, external speakers, and graduate programs — all carefully curated by NECC’s professional development team.  

“It’s this ongoing professional growth and development that NECC encourages from the time that you enter and throughout your career,” shared Tricia Callison-Keller, MSEd, BCBA, LABA, assistant director of consulting, who completed her master’s degree at Simmons and is now pursuing a doctorate with NECC’s support. “It’s a huge priority compared to other companies.” 

This investment doesn’t just strengthen NECC — it strengthens the field of applied behavior analysis globally. Heather Morrison, MS, BCBA, LABA, executive director of NECC Southborough, described the ripple effect: “When staff broaden their professional development through a graduate program or our training and supervision opportunities, they take that education with them. When they return to their home state or country, they share it with other students across the globe. That is something unique we have to offer.” 

For President and CEO Jessica Sassi, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, this is one of the most fulfilling parts of the work. “I find joy in watching early-career professionals grow into confident leaders, skilled educators and clinicians, thoughtful problem-solvers, and compassionate teammates,” she said. “To watch staff grow is incredibly powerful, and it is so rewarding to be partners in that journey.” 

Supporting Staff: The NECC Day Care Story 

Another major reason staff stay is NECC’s commitment to supporting employees and their families — a commitment embodied by the Michael F. Downey Center for Child Development. 

In the early 1990s, several staff members found themselves balancing the demands of young families and burgeoning careers. Judy Cunniff Serio, who joined ERI as a teacher in 1978, was one of them. “Starting the day care is probably my most favorite accomplishment,” she said. Along with colleagues Chris Evans and the late Renee Mansfield, she approached CEO Vinnie Strully with the idea of opening an on-site child care center. “We negotiated to have one room to start a day care center.” 

With Strully’s approval, the group secured permits, bought furniture, and hired staff. Modeled after successful corporate childcare programs — like those at Gillette — the center launched with just six children in a cooperative format where each parent contributed time. It immediately changed staff members’ lives. Parents could check on their children during the day, nurse babies, and take them to appointments more easily. 

“It was one of the best benefits NECC could offer a working parent,” said Tracey Toran, PhD, BCBA, LABA, director of special projects in Consulting & PSS. “It absolutely kept me here. I don’t think my family would have been able to make the same decisions without it.” 

As more employees relied on the center, the program expanded and moved to a fully staffed model. In 2012, NECC’s purpose-built childcare facility opened — fulfilling the vision of the late Michael F. Downey, the organization’s longtime financial architect. His son, Michael S. Downey, MBA, CPA, now NECC’s executive vice president and CFO, noted, “Instead of losing staff as they get older and more experienced, we get to keep them. And then their kids come to work here.” 

Indeed, many of those children have returned as interns, summer employees, and full-time staff. Director of IIP Kim Keogh, MSEd, BCBA, LABA, proudly shared that all three of her sons attended NECC’s day care and later worked at NECC. Bill Ahearn’s children also attended and went on to work here. His son Alex’s choice was inspired by a childhood memory: “Vinnie promised me a job,” he told his father — a promise made to the preschool class that Alex never forgot. 

For Dr. Sassi, the center represents more than convenience. “The day care was a gift,” she said. “As a new mom with no local family, it changed my life. It’s one of the many ways NECC shows we care about our staff by offering benefits tailored to what people need.” 

This article originally appeared in the 50th Anniversary edition of Insight.