Maria began her career in healthcare in 2018 as a nursing assistant where she worked for three years with the elderly in an assisted living facility and home care. She put healthcare at a pause to serve her country in the United States Army. She served as an active duty member for three and a half years being stationed in Georgia. During her time in service she got to spend a few months in Germany and California. Maria has recently finished her contract as an active duty member and has now transitioned to the Army Reserves for the next three years where she’ll be serving in her home state Illinois. Being in the military has taught Maria the seven values: Loyalty, Duty, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. She plans to use these values to serve the people at Autism Planet by fulfilling her obligation, staying loyal and respectful to her coworkers and families. She will put the welfare of the children before her own and will aim to always do what’s morally right. 

Maria will be facing a new challenge in healthcare as she transitions from working with seniors to working with children. She will begin her new journey training to obtain her RBT credentials and she couldn’t be more happy and nervous for the new experiences that lie ahead of her. 

In Maria’s free time, she enjoys hanging out with her five nieces and one nephew. They’re all Disney fans so you will most likely catch her playing Disney music and singing Disney songs to your children’! She also enjoys going on walks and playing with her Siberian Husky, Kenai, as well as watching her ten betta fish and two goldfish swim. Maria loves all colors and is very much looking forward to applying them in making arts and crafts with the kids.