Leadership Staff

Lisa Lane, MA, JD

Co-Chief Executive Officer

After graduating as valedictorian and class president from Dillon High School, Lisa attended the University of South Carolina, receiving her B.A. in Philosophy, summa cum laude, her M.A. in English, with honors, and her J.D. from the School of Law, with honors. She joined the law firm of Kennedy Covington Lobdell and Hickman, becoming a partner in 1992.

When her younger son was diagnosed with autism in 1996, she helped establish Project Hope Foundation as a nonprofit to serve those struggling with autism. She has gained expertise in the field of autism, participating in thousands of hours of Applied Behavior Analysis sessions, and becoming a Board Certified Associate Behavior Analyst. She has met with hundreds of families of children with autism. Along with her co-director, Susan Sachs, Lisa has been instrumental in developing each of Project Hope’s programs. Lisa is a frequent speaker to civic clubs, educational groups, and community organizations.

Susan Sachs, MSW

Co-Chief Executive Officer

After graduating from Aiken High School, Susan graduated summa cum laude from Clemson with a B.A., majoring in Secondary Education and minoring in Psychology. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She received her Master of Social Work degree from University of South Carolina, graduating with honors. Susan gained a broad base of work experience in the fields of social work and business. She directed a 44-bed residential unit for adults with severe challenges, worked in the communications industry specializing in the education sector, and was Vice President of Marketing for a consulting company.

Upon learning that her son had autism in 1996, Susan has gained expertise in the field of autism, participating in thousands of hours of Applied Behavior Analysis sessions and meeting with hundreds of families of children with autism. Along with her co-director, Lisa Lane, Susan has been instrumental in developing each of Project Hope’s programs. She is a frequent speaker to civic clubs, educational groups, and community organizations.

Mark Knight, BCBA

Chief Operating Officer

Mark graduated with honors from Woodruff High School in 1994. He graduated from Wofford College in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and received his Master’s in Counselor Education in 2002 from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Mark became a National Certified Counselor in 2003 and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2006.

Mark started working with children with autism in 1996 as a line therapist. When Project Hope Foundation opened Hope Academy in 1997, Mark served as a preschool shadow aid. From 1998-2007, Mark worked with the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (“C.A.R.D.”) across many states and in England and Canada, eventually becoming a Senior Clinical Supervisor. In June of 2007, Mark joined Project Hope Foundation as the first Program Director/Clinical Supervisor of Hope Reach, now serving as Director of Services. He feels called into this line of work and believes that treating a child with autism includes ministering to the entire family.

Mark is an active member in his church, First Baptist of Spartanburg. He loves to play golf (however infrequently that actually happens) and spends most of his free time with his wife and three children.

Scott Braud, BCBA

Chief Clinical Officer

Scott Braud joined Project Hope Foundation in May 2008. He has worked with children with autism since 1999. His first experience occurred in college as a volunteer ABA therapist for a 2-year-old with autism. Previously, he has worked at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, at the Human Development Center at LSU Health Sciences Center, and at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders.

Scott enjoys working with children and parents on goals that will produce meaningful change in the life of their family. He also enjoys seeing the satisfaction and joy of parents when they realize what their child is capable of accomplishing.

A native of south Louisiana, Scott graduated from Louisiana State University in 2000 with a B.S. in Psychology. In 2003 he received his Masters degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and his Board Certification in Behavior Analysis. In addition to his clinical work, Scott has assisted with several research projects and has presented at local and national conferences.

Outside of work, Scott spends his time with his wife and five children.

Meghan Helman, BCBA

Vice President of Therapy & Finance

Meghan Helman started working with Project Hope Foundation in August 2010. She was first exposed to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) during her senior year of college and has continued working in the field since. She first worked with two children with autism in 2006, at Center for Autism and Related Disorders (C.A.R.D.), under the supervision of Mark Knight. She went on to work at Kennedy Krieger Institute focusing on children with feeding difficulties, as well as effective parent training methods. She looks forward to applying those principles here at Project Hope Foundation. Meghan enjoys being able to make a difference in each child and their family.

A native of south Florida, Meghan graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida in 2005 with a B.A. in Psychology. In 2007 she received her Associate Board Certification in Behavior Analysis. She completed coursework for her Masters degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and will be defending her research to complete the degree shortly.

Meghan spends her free time cooking, reading, and enjoying her family and friends. She recently adopted a puppy and is spending a lot of time training him.

Bethany Welborn-Ruhl, BCBA

Vice President of Therapy & Education

Bethany Welborn-Ruhl is originally from Western North Carolina and earned her bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University and her Master of Education from Georgia State University. She began working with autistic individuals while in college and has remained committed to the field ever since. Bethany earned her Board Certification in Behavior Analysis in 2013, the same year she returned to Project Hope Foundation as a Case Supervisor.

Since joining PHF, Bethany has served in a variety of clinical leadership roles, contributing to the growth and development of services across the organization. She now serves as the Vice President of Therapy and Education, where she oversees core therapy and education programs, as well as RBT training and professional development initiatives. Bethany is deeply committed to clinical excellence, leadership development, and advancing PHF’s mission.

Board of Directors