Deana Smith

Executive Director

Deana is on our Executive Management Team. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University in early childhood education. She oversees the two Atlanta locations and is the acting Center Director in the Roswell center. She has over 25 years of experience working with children specializing in neurobehavioral disorders. Deana was formally the Regional Director for 15 years with one of the largest child development non-profit corporations in South Florida. Her passion has always been child development. Deana was formally a Center Director and Marketing Executive for a Sylvan Learning Center. In 2013 she started working at Brain Balance of Roswell as a Cognitive Coach. Right away she was beyond impressed by the changes she saw in all the children in the program. Months later Deana emerged as the Assistant Director and became so inspired by the Brain Balance approach that she moved to Florida to help open a new center in Palm Beach, where she was the Program Director for several years… Next, Deana became the Center Director and helped start up Brain Balance of Coral Springs. Now she is back to where she started at the Brain Balance Atlanta locations. Between all of the centers and seeing thousands of incredible success stories Deana wholeheartedly believes in this process and has a deep passion working with our Brain Balance kids. Even her own child went through the program and it was the ONLY thing that gave her answers as to “WHY”. Deana is the proud mother of three children. In her spare time, she loves to draw, paint, and try DIY crafts with her daughter. You can find her hiking or spending time in nature on the weekends.

Paola Shenk

At Home Program Director

Paola Shenk is a dynamic native Ecuadorian. She is fully bilingual (Spanish and English) and holds two undergraduate degrees—one as an Architect and as a nearly childhood teacher. She decided to leave her 10 years of successful business management with A-1Party Artists inc in 2012 and trade it with being the Owner of a Brain Balance in Virginia Beach thanks to a first encounter with Dr Melillo and his presentation about the BB program in 2012. She left the presentation understanding for the first time that her cognitive, emotional, and personal struggles throughout her life had a coherent explanation and that there was hope. She not only did the Brain Balance Program for Adults but put her whole family (own children, niece and nephew)through the program and they are successful adults and children in the present moment because of this program. Paola has 8 years of experience as a previous Business Owner and Program Director for Brain Balance Centers in Virginia Beach. Since 2022 she has been working as the At Home Virtual Program Director and part of the Executive Team that help 10+ Brain Balance Centers. Her passion, business entrepreneur, teaching career, creativity, care for families, love for children and years experiencing the benefits of the Brain Balance program herself, makes her an asset for the At Home Virtual Program and the Brain Balance Centers in Florida, Georgia, NC and KY. Paola is Sammy’s and Thessa’s mom, loves spending time with her husband Tom, at the beach, painting, dancing, collecting Lego and more. But her favorite passion is to create a space where people can truly feel safe and loved as they are.

Cassidy Skinner

Program Director

Cassidy grew up in Honduras as a missionary kid, and then moved back to the states 11 years later to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree in Developmental Psychology at Liberty University. Since then she has worked with children with developmental delays and disorders for the past two years in various environments (clinics, centers and schools). She has a huge passion for working with children with various disabilities to reach their full potential, and the success of the hemispheric model used here at Brain Balance. She looks forward to continuing to help children with various disabilities reach their full potential here at Brain Balance. In her spare time, you can find Cassidy in the gym or doing anything active outdoors such as hiking, running, or playing sports, and spending time with her family.

Delaney Pallas

Center Director

Delaney embarked on her professional journey with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Her story at Brain Balance began in Illinois as a coach, because of her deep passion for the job she later earned the role of Program Director. Working with kids is not just a job for her; it's a heartfelt commitment to being part of their transformative journey. Now, as the Center Director at Brain Balance Suwanee, Delaney is extremely excited to continue to contribute to the growth and potential of each child she encounters.

In her free time Delaney finds joy in cooking and baking, exploring new places, and creating lasting memories with her friends and family. With a zest of life and a love for bringing people together, Delaney embraces every opportunity to savor life's simple pleasures!