About Us – Friends Grow Friends

Program Director and Founder

Nicole Monat

Nicole Monat, Founder, President and Trustee of Friends Grow Friends Foundation, Inc., is a stay-at-home mother of three young boys aged 15, 13 and 11. Her oldest son, Sam, carries diagnoses of High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. Sam’s treatment began from the age of 16 months, and, throughout this journey, Nicole has been heavily involved in every aspect of Sam’s development. Her carry-through of therapeutic interventions within the home has been critical to the astounding progress that Sam has made.

Her vision for Friends Grow Friends Foundation, Inc., comes from the social progress that Sam was able to attain during play dates, when she would have Sam’s behavioral therapist attend and help facilitate Sam’s play dates. Nicole would like to offer other children this kind of support where they often need it the most — interacting with their peers in scenarios that are typical for all children to experience. Friends Grow Friends Foundation, Inc. will utilize all that Nicole has learned over the past eleven years and give children, both typically and non-typically developing, the opportunity to build stronger social skills and capture the joy of being a child.

Additionally, Nicole has a unique range of skills given her varied work experience prior to becoming a mother. After receiving her Masters of Business Administration from Columbia Business School (with a concentration in Marketing and Management), Nicole was chosen to participate in Novartis Pharmaceuticals’ prestigious Management Leadership Development Program, and worked in the market research group supporting the Stavelo (Parkinson’s Disease) and Focalin XR (ADHD) brands, as well spending time on the company’s managed care team.

Nicole also was a Product Manager for the immunosuppressive drug Myfortic, which helps protect against organ rejection after transplant. Prior to business school, Nicole worked as a salestrader for two international banks, Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank and Fortis Bank, in their Syndicated Loan Sales and Trading groups.

Nicole’s strong business background, as well as her extensive and intensive involvement in Sam’s treatment, give her a unique skill set to oversee and run Friends Grow Friends Foundation, Inc.

Clinical Supervisor

Philip Strobel, M.Ed, BCBA

Philip Strobel is a graduate of Georgian Court University, with a B.A. in Psychology, as well as a graduate of Monmouth University, receiving his Masters of Education, with a focus on Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis. More recently, he received his licensure within the Behavior Analysis Certification Board and is a practicing Board Certified Behavior Analyst in home-based and clinic settings, in addition to his time spent at Friends Grow Friends. While at Monmouth University, Philip was the active student representative for his program on NJABA’s Student Committee. He is also a co-author of a social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum for Garden State Esports, focusing on building SEL skills specific to esports, as well as skills in the areas of self-management and mindfulness, and remains an active member of GSEsports today. Philip’s hobbies include disc golf, video games, being in his garden or anywhere outdoors, and spending time with his wife, dogs, and family. His favorite part of working with Friends Grow Friends is helping our clients form friendships all while simultaneously working on social skills that can be utilized throughout their lives through activities that they typically enjoy doing. You will find him at most sessions; however, he can always be reached by email at philip@friendsgrow.org.

Instructors

Alexandra Copman

Allie Copman graduated from Monmouth University with a Masters of Education in School Counseling. She completed her Bachelors Degree at the University of Delaware majoring in Human Services, with minors in Sociology and Disability Studies. Allie has worked at Forrestdale School in Rumson since 2018 as a School Counselor and Character Education teacher. In addition, she is the advisor for the Peer Leadership program. She has worked for nonprofit agencies as well as in public schools. Allie enjoys going to the beach, spending time with family and friends, and traveling. Her favorite part of being an educator is supporting children to be their best selves and biggest advocates.

Matthew Kowalski

Matt Kowalski is a graduate of Temple University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education/Social Studies in May 2018. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Special Education at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ.

In addition to being an instructor at Friends Grow Friends, Matt is a Job Coach at Red Bank Regional High School where he guides and supports students in the Work Based Learning Program, ensuring they gain valuable skills essential for success in the workplace. Prior to his role as a Job Coach, Matt served as an Instructional Aide at Knollwood School in Fair Haven, where he provided one-on-one instruction during a remote learning phase and designed and introduced a behavior chart to benefit 4th and 7th graders. Additionally, Matt extended his support beyond the classroom by volunteering for the Running Club, assisting ABA students who participated in the extracurricular activity. Matt was also a long-term substitute teacher in the Fair Haven District, providing instruction to children on the autism spectrum in an ABA classroom.

Matt enjoys going hiking and bowling. Additionally he enjoys watching baseball and football in his spare time where he roots for the NY Mets and NY Jets.

Nick Colantino

Nick Colantino currently serves as an instructor at Friends Grow Friends Foundation, where he nurtures a supportive and inclusive environment for all students. Nick also works as a behavior therapist at Graham Behavioral Services, where he applies his past experience to make a positive impact on the lives of those he works with. His patient and empathetic approach, combined with his deep understanding of behavioral dynamics, allows him to create effective strategies for personal growth and development.

Before his current roles, Nick served as an instructional aide in the Fair Haven School District. This experience provided him with valuable insights into classroom dynamics and the diverse needs of students, shaping his approach to education and therapy.

Nick holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kean University. He is currently in the process of becoming a Registered Behavior Technician, and will begin a graduate program in Applied Behavior Analysis in Spring 2026. In his free time, Nick enjoys watching movies, listening to music, playing video games, watching baseball, and writing screenplays and poetry.

Jennifer Wittenberg

Jennifer Wittenberg attended Siena College and graduated with a bachelors degree in English. She is currently working towards her Registered Behavioral Technician certification. After leaving the corporate world, Jen began working with students as young as three years old at Tower Hill School. She is currently a paraprofessional working in the special education department at Middletown High School South. She works with both autism and MD students as well as the Young Adult/Transition students.

Jen and her husband and 2 children can most often be found at the beach. She considers her dog, Jessie, to be her third child. Jen’s biggest pleasure in life is watching her students take strides and excel. There is nothing more rewarding to her.

Terryann Cantalupo

Terryann graduated from Rider University in 2012 with her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. From there she went to work for a psychiatric hospital before landing as a staff for the Division of Developmental Disabilities. Terryann returned to school in 2021, where she will graduate with her Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Rider University in 2025. Terryann is a Licensed Associate Counseling working for a nonprofit substance use treatment agency in Monmouth County. When not at work or with Friends Grow Friends, Terryann spends time with her 2 cats and her friends as well as visiting the great parks around Monmouth.

Parent Talk

Maggie LaBarbera, LAC

Maggie LaBarbera is a licensed associate counselor that specializes in mental health treatment. Maggie runs Parent Talk in the hopes to support families and parents in navigating the unique challenges that come with neurodiversity. Maggie is passionate about advocating for neurodiverse children and adolescents and bringing other professionals into the group to share their knowledge and help us learn.

Trustees

Matthew G. Strobel, Psy.D.

Dr. Strobel is a certified school psychologist and licensed psychologist. He is the founder and director of Navesink Psychological Services.

Dr. Strobel received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Stockton University, and his master’s and doctoral degrees in school psychology from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers University. While at GSAPP, Dr. Strobel earned a concentration in Psychological and Systems Support for Learning and received the Virginia Bennett Award for exemplary work supporting minority youth. In addition, he studied sport psychology. Dr. Strobel has over 10 years experience working in the public school setting as a school psychologist. He has worked at all levels (preschool through high school) in the school setting and with the entire age range in his private practice.

Dr. Strobel specializes in working with children who exhibit externalizing and internalizing behaviors in a variety of settings. He has worked with children having diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, Asperger’s syndrome, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), conduct disorder, depression, explosive behavior disorder, and intellectual disabilities. He also has experience working with clients who exhibit obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), school refusal, specific learning disorders, Tourette syndrome, and other related disorders.

Dr. Strobel has created highly successful programs that have allowed children with mental health and other needs to remain in their schools, participate with peers in sports and camps, and be successful members of their communities. Dr. Strobel is certified to provide the Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics from the Tourette Syndrome Behavior Therapy Institute (TS-BTI). He is a Lifelines Trainer for the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County which provides training to schools on suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.

Dr. Strobel is also a supervisor for doctoral candidates from Rutgers and often guest lectures on a variety of topics including supporting acting out students in the classroom, youth suicide, and school avoidance.

Jeffrey Monat

Jeffrey Monat, Treasurer and Trustee of Friends Grow Friends Foundation, Inc., received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He has worked at a number of financial institutions throughout his career. In 2001, he began his career in the Mergers and Acquisitions department of Goldman Sachs. At Goldman, Jeff helped advise clients on M&A transactions, financial valuation and corporate governance issues. He then worked in the GS Principal Strategies Group, analyzing public-market opportunities for the firm’s proprietary investment fund.

Since his tenure at Goldman Sachs, Jeff has served in an analyst role at Rockbay Capital, where he was also a partner, and FrontPoint Rockbay, an event-driven hedge fund based in New York City. At Rockbay, he evaluated prospective investments and helped build the firm’s investment analysis infrastructure. Jeff has also served as a Senior Analyst at Seven Locks Capital, a long/short equity hedge fund as well as Sage Rock Capital, an event-driven hedge fund based in New York City. Most recently, Jeff joined Merida Capital, a private equity firm, as a partner where he analyzes and commits the firm’s capital to investments.

Jeff is a Trustee and volunteer for the Brad J Pinkowitz Foundation, which was formed to assist under privileged pre-school and elementary school children with educational toys and school supplies. Additionally, Jeff has first-hand experience with helping to develop the social skills of his son, Sam, who is on the autism spectrum. When he isn’t working, he is an integral part of Sam’s treatment plan and has dedicated his free time to gaining a thorough understanding of how kids like Sam grow and develop.