Tim Talks: Logan Pratt, CEO of Bloomwell Autism Therapy

In this episode of Tim Talks: ABA Therapy, host Timothy Zercher sits down with Logan Pratt, CEO of Bloomwell Autism Therapy, to explore how Bloomwell is reshaping autism services in underserved communities. Logan shares his journey from public policy to ABA leadership, why Bloomwell focuses on areas like Minnesota and Nebraska, and how decentralizing management has fueled sustainable growth.

They dive into the value of retaining quality staff, the hidden challenges of ABA regulations, and why leadership development is essential for new BCBAs. If you're passionate about ethical, scalable, and community-focused ABA care, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Transcript

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[00:00] Timothy Zercher: What inspired your shift from being COO at AIM to founding Bloomwell?

[00:04] Logan Pratt:
In the ABA world, there’s need everywhere, but some states have weird regulations suppressing ABA supply - like Minnesota and Nebraska. We wanted to fix that. We founded Bloomwell to tackle those barriers and bring ABA to families there.

[01:12] Timothy Zercher:
That’s really smart - differentiating upfront. How do you approach building sustainable programs in these new communities repeatedly as you grow?

[01:18] Logan Pratt:
It starts with retaining great people. Our behavior techs are full-time with benefits and strong proprietary training. When people feel prepared, they stay. That reduces turnover and helps us scale by focusing on new growth, not backfilling roles.

[02:43] Timothy Zercher:
More organizations should value retention - the hidden costs of turnover are huge. What operational efficiencies have you learned growing Bloomwell that other ABA leaders should know?

[03:10] Logan Pratt:
We’ve moved to a decentralized model. Clinics have goals but handle execution their way - they know their people and community best. It gives ownership, builds culture, and surprisingly, it's more efficient than central micromanagement.

[04:44] Timothy Zercher:
Absolutely - you gain efficiency through effectiveness. How does your background in public policy shape your leadership at Bloomwell?

[04:48] Logan Pratt:
It’s invaluable for advocacy - whether with insurers, state lawmakers, or regulators. Understanding those systems helps us fight for better access and quality for our families.

[06:09] Timothy Zercher:
Makes sense - advocacy from the provider side is so important. If you could wave a magic wand and fix one thing in the ABA system today, what would it be?

[06:15] Logan Pratt:
I wish the average age and experience level of BCBAs was higher. It’s not just clinical skills - managing teams, parents, real-world leadership - those come with experience. More mature BCBAs would mean better care and more efficient systems.

[07:45] Timothy Zercher:
That’s especially meaningful coming from a younger professional yourself. How do you support that at Bloomwell?

[07:51] Logan Pratt:
We heavily invest in leadership and professional development for BCBAs. It’s not just clinical training; it's building real leadership skills early, especially since many are straight out of school.

[08:39] Timothy Zercher:
That’s huge. Leadership can’t be learned without doing. Well, that wraps up our burning questions - Logan, thanks for hopping on!

[08:43] Logan Pratt:
Thank you! Really appreciate it.