Christopher Barnett

When Christopher Barnett realized that his autistic daughter had been misdiagnosed as a young child, he set out to prevent others from having to endure a similar long wait for a proper diagnosis. A serial entrepreneur in the healthcare space, Barnett opened ABA Centers’ first autism care center in 2020, determined to rewrite the accepted standards for autism care. But he didn’t just rewrite them — he turned them upside down, building an innovative, disruptive business that has set new standards for autism health care.

Guided by his vision and energy, ABA Centers has established itself as one of the fastest-growing, premier solutions for autism-related care in the United States. This year, ABA Centers strengthened its footprint along the East Coast and expanded westward, now providing evidence-backed autism care in 31 service markets throughout 10 states. Within these markets, ABA Centers currently operates 22 physical autism care centers, with plans to open nearly 40 new locations throughout 2025. He also anticipates the company moving beyond its footprint on the East Coast to become a national brand within a few years.