Michael Duenas knows that being a good conversationalist doesn’t mean talking a lot, it’s having the ability to get others to talk to you. For Michael, who likes making things happen, the best part of his job is teaching often-isolated people how to develop close relationships with others – which helps them live much more fulfilling lives.

Michael earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and social behavior from the University of California. After graduation, he worked for a career-development agency for adults with developmental disabilities and was drawn to the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA). He enrolled in a graduate program and earned his Master of Psychology with an emphasis in ABA. Since then he’s earned his BCBA credential and continues to love all things ABA.

Michael grew up loving sports and sports continue to be a big part of his life. With two young children, one of his favorite things to do is sharing his love of sports with his kids. They spend a lot of time together playing any game that involves a ball.