ACES Expands Arizona Footprint With Acquisition of Ally Pediatric Therapy, Strengthening Access to High-Quality ABA Services Across Greater Phoenix
ACES, a leading clinically driven provider of autism therapy services in the United States, today announced the acquisition of Ally Pediatric Therapy, a Phoenix-based provider of applied behavior analysis (ABA), speech-language, and occupational therapy services, from private equity firm SBJ Capital. The acquisition represents a significant step forward in ACES’s strategic growth in Arizona and reinforces its mission to expand access to high-quality, evidence-based autism services in communities with growing need, particularly across the Greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
The addition of Ally Pediatric Therapy deepens ACES’s presence in one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions, enabling the organization to better serve autistic children and their families with comprehensive, individualized care. Through this partnership, ACES aims to enhance clinical capacity, improve service accessibility, and deliver consistent, outcomes-driven ABA therapy while maintaining strong local relationships and continuity of care for families already receiving services in Phoenix.
Strengthening Access to Evidence-Based Autism Care
Founded more than 30 years ago, ACES has built a national reputation as a trusted provider of individualized, evidence-based ABA therapy for autistic children and adolescents. The organization is recognized for its comprehensive care model, rigorous clinical standards, and strong emphasis on caregiver collaboration. ACES delivers services across the full developmental spectrum, supporting clients from early childhood through adolescence and beyond, depending on individual needs.
Today, ACES operates in more than 80 markets across eight states, providing services through a flexible care delivery model that includes in-center, in-home, and community-based therapy options. This multi-setting approach allows clinicians to tailor treatment plans to each child’s unique strengths, challenges, and family circumstances, while ensuring that therapy goals align with meaningful, real-world outcomes.
By acquiring Ally Pediatric Therapy, ACES builds on this foundation and expands its ability to meet rising demand for autism services in Arizona, a state that has experienced significant population growth and increased need for specialized pediatric care.
Ally Pediatric Therapy A Trusted Phoenix Provider
Ally Pediatric Therapy has served families in the Phoenix area since 2017 and has earned a strong reputation as a partner of choice for Arizona payors and referring providers. Known for its compassionate, family-centered approach, Ally delivers multidisciplinary pediatric services designed to support children’s development and functional progress.
Ally’s teams are recognized for their commitment to individualized therapy plans, measurable clinical outcomes, and close collaboration with families. The organization’s integrated approach has enabled children to make meaningful gains in communication, behavior, and daily living skills, helping families navigate complex developmental challenges with confidence and support.
Through the acquisition, ACES gains a well-established local platform, an experienced clinical workforce, and deep community relationships that will support long-term growth and service expansion across the Greater Phoenix area.
Shared Commitment to Clinical Excellence
According to ACES leadership, the alignment between the two organizations’ missions, clinical philosophies, and values was a key driver of the transaction.
ACES is proud of our longstanding commitment to delivering the highest quality ABA services as the trusted provider, employer, and partner of choice for families, teams, and payors,” said Lisa Dawe, Chief Executive Officer of ACES. “Ally shares our deep commitment to industry-leading clinical outcomes and individualized care. With Ally now a part of ACES, we will expand access to services while preserving the local relationships and high quality of care that Phoenix families rely on.”
Dawe emphasized that the integration will be guided by ACES’s clinically driven operating model, which prioritizes evidence-based practices, ongoing clinician training, and robust quality assurance processes. By combining ACES’s national scale with Ally’s local expertise, the organization aims to deliver consistent, high-quality care while remaining responsive to the unique needs of the Phoenix community.
Continuity of Care for Families and Teams
Ensuring continuity of care for existing families is a central focus of the integration plan. ACES intends to fully integrate Ally Pediatric Therapy into its existing Arizona center network under the ACES brand, while retaining Ally’s clinical and operational leadership teams. This approach is designed to maintain established relationships with families, payors, and referral partners, while providing additional resources and support to clinicians.
We’re excited to join ACES and to continue expanding access to the best ABA services in Phoenix,” said Jamie Catlett, Chief Executive Officer of Ally Pediatric Therapy. “We are confident that ACES is the right partner for Ally given our shared purpose, aligned clinical model, and collaborative cultures. We look forward to staying true to our founding principles as we serve more people together with the additional resources, enhanced clinical tools, and support for teams and families that this partnership represents.”
ACES leadership noted that Ally’s clinicians and staff will benefit from expanded training programs, clinical tools, and professional development opportunities as part of the broader ACES platform. These investments are intended to support clinician engagement, career growth, and long-term retention, which are critical factors in delivering consistent, high-quality autism care.
Focused Investment in ABA Excellence
As part of the integration, ACES plans to continue expanding its physical presence in the Phoenix area by opening additional centers and increasing service capacity. The organization will also invest in enhanced training, data-driven clinical tools, and operational infrastructure to support improved care experiences and outcomes for families.
Over the coming months, Ally’s physical health services, including speech-language and occupational therapy, will transition to external care coordination across specialty providers, consistent with ACES’s established operating model across all existing markets. This strategic shift allows the combined organization to focus exclusively on being a best-in-class provider of ABA therapy, while ensuring families continue to have access to coordinated, high-quality care through trusted external partners.
ACES believes this focused approach strengthens clinical outcomes by enabling teams to dedicate resources, expertise, and innovation specifically to ABA services, which remain the cornerstone of its care model.
Strategic Growth in a High-Need Market
The Greater Phoenix area represents a key growth market for ACES, driven by population expansion, increased autism diagnoses, and growing awareness of the benefits of early, evidence-based intervention. By expanding its footprint in Arizona, ACES aims to reduce barriers to care, shorten wait times, and improve access for families seeking timely, high-quality autism services.
The acquisition of Ally Pediatric Therapy supports ACES’s broader strategy of partnering with organizations that share its clinical values and commitment to measurable outcomes. Rather than pursuing rapid expansion for its own sake, ACES emphasizes thoughtful growth that preserves care quality, supports clinicians, and strengthens community trust.
Transaction Advisors
Berkery Noyes served as financial advisor to Ally Pediatric Therapy, and O’Melveny & Myers acted as legal counsel to Ally. Bass, Berry & Sims served as legal counsel to ACES.
About ACES
ACES enhances lives and helps more people reach their potential through an innovative, client-centered clinical approach and evidence-based therapeutic methodologies. Founded in 1996 in California by Kristin Farmer – now ACES’ Chairwoman – ACES is one of the most tenured providers of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy in the U.S. Nationally recognized for its comprehensive autism care model, clinical rigor, and strong caregiver involvement, ACES is the only provider in Aetna’s national Autism Institute of Quality and the only provider with three national payor Value Based Care agreements. ACES serves thousands of clients in more than 80 markets across eight states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Hawaii, Washington and North Carolina
About Ally Pediatric Therapy
Ally Pediatric Therapy is a Phoenix-based provider of ABA and speech-language services focused on helping children with autism and related needs reach their full potential. Founded in 2017 with the goal to provide the best therapy to children and their families and become the clinic-based provider of choice, Ally operates ABA centers across Phoenix with a commitment to clinical excellence, collaboration, and care that is tailored to each child.
About SBJ Capital
SBJ Capital is a private investment firm with more than $700 million of capital under management, focused on investing in founder and family-owned consumer and services companies. SBJ provides thoughtful strategic advice, domain expertise and a partnership-oriented approach to support the goals of entrepreneurs, owners and management teams. SBJ was founded by an experienced team of professionals with a track record of growing companies both as principal investors and as operating executives
