Florence C. Arking, President of AutismArtist.org

Florence C. Arking is the president of AutismArtist.org. Florence is a senior at Kean University, pursuing her Bachelors degree in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. Throughout her freshman year of college she volunteered at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey, a school for children on the autism spectrum. While working so closely and developing relationships with many children, Florence developed an enthusiastic interest in working and helping those on the spectrum. Florence aspires to attain a Masters Degree in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.

Cristine Amorello, Founder of AutismArtist.org

Ms. Amorello is currently employed at FTN Financial as Vice President, Institutional Fixed Income Sales. Cristine Holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a minor in Business from CUNY. After being introduced to Dr. McCarton several years ago and learning more about autism spectrum disorder Cristine decided to put her valiant efforts into autism related issues.

Lori Arking, Secretary of AutismArtist.org

Lori Arking has over 20 years of business experience in the retail sector. Having begun as a part time cashier and graduating to a buyer for a national arts and crafts chain, Lori is currently taking time off to raise two wonderful children ages four and three. Lori’s strong belief in the NYU Children’s Cancer Fund has led her to be a contributor for the past ten years. The satisfaction she derives from this experience has encouraged her to want to do more.

Cecelia McCarton, M.D., Board of Directors

Dr. Cecelia McCarton is the founder and Executive Director of The McCarton Center for Developmental Pediatrics (1998), The McCarton School (2002), and The McCarton Foundation for Developmental
Disabilities (2002). Prior to undertaking these projects, she served as clinical director of the Center for Communicative Disorders at the Rose F. Kennedy Center at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. McCarton received her M.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University (AECOM) and completed her residency in pediatrics at Bronx Municipal Hospital Center. Dr. McCarton also received two post-doctoral fellowships from the department of psychiatry at AECOM and the Rose F. Kennedy Center for Research in Mental Retardation and Human Development. Dr. McCarton has taught pediatrics for more than 30 years and is a clinical professor of pediatrics at AECOM.
 

Alison Tepper Singer, Board of Directors

Alison T. Singer is Founder and President of the Autism Science Foundation.  Singer was formerly Executive Vice President of Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism advocacy organization.  In 2007, she was appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to serve on the Federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) where she played a key role in developing the new federal strategic plan for autism research.  She has appeared on Oprah, The Apprentice, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, CBS Early Show and many other news programs discussing autism research and other autism-related issues.  Prior to joining Autism Speaks, Ms. Singer spent 14 years as a producer at NBC and CNBC.  She graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and has an MBA from Harvard Business School.  She has a daughter and an older brother with autism.  She serves on many boards of autism-related organizations.