Jakie's Story: 0 to 10 Clients in 3 Months

Jakeline Canales is a bilingual Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the founder of Heart of the Village ABA in Fountain, Colorado. With extensive experience supporting clients aged 2 to 25, Jakeline specializes in trauma-informed care, assent-based teaching, and caregiver collaboration. Her clinical background spans a wide range of settings, and she is known for her passion for staff mentorship, parent training, and behavior reduction strategies rooted in compassion and evidence-based practices. Jakeline brings both expertise and heart to her mission of empowering exceptional kids and the families who support them.

Michael Gao is a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship and small business ownership. As the founder of multiple startups across healthcare and education, Michael is dedicated to helping professionals reclaim their autonomy, build sustainable businesses, and serve their communities with excellence. He believes the future belongs to local, mission-driven entrepreneurs—and his work focuses on removing the barriers that hold them back. Whether it’s simplifying the back office or sharing practical playbooks, Michael’s mission is to make starting and scaling a business feel less intimidating—and a whole lot more possible.