​MEET OUR TEAM

We are grateful for the investment of our supporters as we strive to provide a
more inclusive community for families who are impacted by autism. 

Paula George~ Executive Director
Paula relocated to Northwest Arkansas from Southern Alabama in 2005. She and her husband Joseph have 4 boys. After her son, Kaleb, was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 3, Paula sought support from fellow special needs parents, leading her to AIM. Initially joining AIM as a parent seeking guidance, Paula’s dedication to the organization grew quickly, leading her to volunteer and serve on the Board of Directors before accepting the position of Executive Director in 2017. As co-founder of the organizations annual AIM Walk, Paula is committed to raising awareness about autism, inclusion and acceptance. Her primary mission as an AIM Mom is to ensure that every mother knows they are not alone in their journey.

​In her personal time, Paula enjoys quality time with her family and friends, as well as watching football and doing woodworking with her husband.

​Vanessa Boomer~ Board President 
Vanessa is a native of Arkansas and graduated from the UofA with a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology, Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders as well as an endorsement for English as a Second Language. Vanessa is a clinical director at Kids Unlimited Learning Academy in Springdale. She and her husband, Barry, have three children, Miles and twins Warren and Grant. Vanessa started intensive therapy with her son, Warren, at the age of 18 months and he was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4.
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Vanessa has been a longtime volunteer at the annual AIM Walk and she joined the AIM Board of Directors in 2019. In her spare time, she loves to “Call The Hogs” and travel with her family.

Cassie Ross~ Board Vice President 
Cassie joined the Autism Involves Me Board of Directors in 2022. She is currently the Sr. Customer Marketing Manager for Henkel Consumer Brands, covering both Henkel's extensive laundry portfolio and beauty brands. Cassie has over 15 years experience in the CPG industry calling on Walmart and Sam's Club. Prior to Henkel, she worked for Kellogg's and Merck Consumer Care. Cassie earned her degree at the University of Arkansas and currently resides in Rogers, AR with her husband and their two sons Parker and Henry. She also loves to volunteer with a number of organizations in Northwest Arkansas as well as advocate for the Autism Community.

Cassie serves on both the Autism Involves Me board of directors as well as the Sunshine School and Developmental Center where her son Henry attended prior to starting kindergarten.

​Jon Craighead ~ Board Treasurer 
Jon moved from Michigan to Northwest Arkansas in 2008 to take a role with Walmart Headquarters. After 14 years with Walmart, Jon now works with Henkel Consumer Brands as the Sr. Category Advisor to Sam's Club. In this role, Jon is able to combine his education background in engineering with over a decade of retail experience to maximize effective solutions for the Laundry/Homecare members. Jon and his wife Sara currently live in Rogers, AR with their son Arlo. Arlo was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2, and is a current student at Sunshine school.
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Jon's desire to help families find connections, advice and a helping hand within the autism community led him to AIM. Jon and Sara met at the Arkansas Public Theatre, in Downtown Rogers. Over the years we have been able to help on-stage, behind the scenes and on the Board of Producers for the organization. Jon is an avid sports fan, rooting for his home statae Lions and Spartans all the way from Arkansas.

Melissa Stewart ~ Board Member 
Melissa joined the Autism Involves Me Board of Directors in 2022 and currently resides in Rogers, AR with her husband, Keith, and two sons, Mason and Van. Melissa has over 25 years experience in NWA in both the retail and CPG industry in a variety of leadership roles. She is currently the OMNIShopper Customer Marketing Lead for Reckitt where she creates promotional OMNI marketing programs for Reckitt health brands at five major retailers across the US. Melissa’s nephew benefits from the focus of AIM, and AIM is very close to her heart.

In her free time, she enjoys relaxing with family and friends, loving on her dogs and raising backyard chickens.

Shanise Weatherman ~ Board Member
​Shanise joined the Autism Involves Me Board of Directors in 2018. She has been married to her husband, Jeff, since 2000.
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Shanise and Jeff have 3 children, Jaxson, Sydnei, and Kristian. Shanise’s son, Jaxson, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4. She is passionate about autism awareness and serving others in her community. Shanise has worked for Tyson Foods since 2006 and is currently a Pricing Manager in the Foodservice division.

She loves to travel, spend time with her family, and watch her favorite team, the Pittsburg Steelers, play football.

Sheila Munn ~ Board Member
Sheila graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BS degree in Education. She has taught for 21 years in Special Education; 19 of those 21 years have been serving the children of Bentonville Schools. From teaching in the Autism Classroom to coordinating and providing instruction in Adaptive Physical Education, Sheila has given her heart to kids from all walks of life. She is currently a Special Education teacher at Clover Community School.

Sheila has a heart and passion for helping kids with different abilities reach their potential socially, emotionally, and academically. A huge advocate for creating a more inclusive community in Northwest Arkansas, She works tirelessly to bring inclusive events to our area.
​Sheila has a daughter, Sawyer, who is the light of her life and keeps her on her toes. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, camping, hiking, hanging out at the pool and going to the beach with her family.

Britney Cook ~ Board Member 
Britney and her son, Law, have called Bentonville home since 2021. She began her college journey at the University of Arkansas, where she developed a deep appreciation for the region. After spending a decade away, Britney always envisioned returning to Northwest Arkansas to raise her son. Law, the light of Britney's life, was diagnosed with autism and ADHD at the age of three. This experience ignited her passion for working in the autism field. Holding a bachelor’s degree, Britney is committed to continuing her education to broaden her capabilities in helping others. She is particularly passionate about mental health, nutrition, and advocating for those who may not have a voice. Britney focuses on cultivating community, creating inclusive spaces, and empowering families to live their best lives.

In her free time, Britney enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, exploring music and food, and cherishing moments with her loved ones. Since 2021, she has partnered with Autism Involves Me (AIM) to host engaging community events and is excited to contribute to an organization that profoundly impacts the lives of others.

Jenni Burford ~ Board Member 
Jenni is originally from Cape Girardeau, MO. She attended Southeast Missouri State where she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and met her husband, Scott. She and Scott have 3 boys- Benjamin, Jacob, and Matthew. Matthew was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder and Autism at the age of 3. Jenni started her teaching career in MO where she taught for 3 years before moving to San Antonio, TX to teach for a year. She and Scott relocated to NWA and Jenni began teaching in the Bentonville School District in 1992, she retired from Mary Mae Jones Elementary in 2020. Jenni knew once she retired, she wanted to put her time to use helping other parents navigate their way through their own autism journey.

​Her passion for helping others and serving her community lead her to AIM where she joined the Board of Directors in July of 2022. In her free time Jenni enjoys crafting, cheering for the St. Louis Cardinals, and calling the Hogs.

Andrew DiBenedetto~Board Member
Andrew serves as the Business Development and Community Outreach Liaison for the Inner Circle Autism Network. Originally hailing from the sunny state of Florida, he relocated to the picturesque landscapes of Northwest Arkansas in 2022.

​With a deep-rooted passion for supporting autistic individuals, Andrew has dedicated many years to helping them grow and succeed.

Outside of his professional endeavors, he cherishes quality time with his family, enjoying outdoor adventures and often hitting the trails for some mountain biking.

Tabitha Mayberry ~ Board Member 
Tabitha Mayberry, MCD, CCC-SLP has been a practicing speech language pathologist in Northwest Arkansas since the beginning of her career 12 years ago. Tabitha was introduced to the health care field after a car accident in 2005 left her in need of direct care services. Her experiences as a patient inspired her to become a speech therapist so that she could ensure that all of her patients were provided with client driven, functional treatments that directly related to their needs. Tabitha describes herself as a “natural communicator” and loves the opportunities she has been given in her career to watch little kids grow and develop the skills they need to express themselves. Tabitha lives in Rogers with her beloved pup Lobo. She enjoys advocating for people with disabilities, trying new things, cooking, traveling, CrossFit and coloring in her favorite coloring books. Tabitha has spent the majority of her career working in an outpatient setting. In 2016, Tabitha was honored with the title of Miss Wheelchair Arkansas. She has specialty training in the SOS feeding approach, is a certified Beckman Oral Motor provider, and is a certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist.

Riana Thomas ~ Event Coordinator
Riana grew up in Carroll County, AR. After moving to Chicago and starting a family, she, along with her husband, Matthew, and their 2 daughters returned to NWA in 2012. Their youngest daughter, Sarah, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3. In searching for information and local resources Riana found Autism Involves Me and attended her first AIM Walk in 2016.

When asked why she is involved with AIM she replied with, "Once I attended the first AIM Walk, I was hooked. There was a sense of community and there were people I could connect with on a whole new level. They got it, they understood the struggles, and need to find resources and help families like mine. I teamed up with AIM as a Parent Volunteer and threw myself into helping in any way I could. I wanted to help families and let them know they are not alone! I volunteer all my time as this is a cause that is near and dear to mine and my families hearts."  Riana is also the founder or our beloved Puzzle Pig.

​Sherrin Tucker ~ Donations Coordinator
Sherrin is a special education teacher at Bentonville West High School.

​She has been teaching for 20 years, with the 2022-2023 school year being her 10th year with Bentonville Public Schools. Sherrin's son, Hunter, is on the autism spectrum and attended BWHS.

"I started participating in the AIM Walk in 2017 when BWHS first opened, and we created our first AIM Walk as a school. I continue to rally the troops here at BWHS each year to support this phenomenal organization."

Cassidy Clayton ~ Volunteer Coordinator
Cassidy is an Arkansas native, graduating from the University of Central Arkansas and the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville with her Bachelors and Masters, respectively. She is currently working as a Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellow (CF-SLP) at Kids Unlimited Learning Academy. Cassidy’s Mother taught Special Education in her hometown, which lead to volunteering with the Special Olympics for several years. During her college career, Cassidy took a special interest in the study of Autism, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and mental health. Cassidy worked as a preschool teacher for 2 years at Pediatrics Plus, which fueled her passion for working with children who have developmental differences.

In her free time, Cassidy can be found playing rugby on the Fayetteville Women’s Rugby Team, The Phoenix. She also enjoys camping, traveling, hiking, and visiting family and friends. Cassidy lives in Springdale with her partner, Cadi, and their 2 pets.