Anthony Bronaugh

Mr. Bronaugh was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, and a proud graduate of the former John H. Patterson Co-Op High School. After graduating in 1992, Anthony attended the University of Toledo where he was part of many student organizations. Anthony began his journey in leadership at the University of Toledo as a university tour guide, office of admissions student representative, Student Orientation Advising & Registration summer student advisor, university ambassador, resident advisor, and member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Anthony graduated from the University of Toledo holding degrees in English Education, a thesis short of obtaining a degree in Special Education, and a Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision.

After graduation from the University of Toledo, Anthony worked for Toledo Public Schools for over 15 years in the capacities as a special education teacher, dean of students, assistant principal (elementary and high school), and principal at the elementary & middle school level.

Anthony Bronaugh has served on the board of trustees for Toledo Excel, Frederick Douglas Community Center, WGTE Broadcasting, Toledo Association of Administrative Personnel, and the Urban Leadership Development Program with the University of Toledo and Toledo Public Schools. He has previously been a speaker at Bowling Green State University Capstone Commencement, Batelle for Kids, Responsive Classroom National Conference, Toledo EPIC, Leadership Toledo, Boys and Girls Club of America Regional Conference, various schools across Ohio, and the Toledo Public Schools State of Schools Address.

Anthony also co-taught a graduate-level course, Instructional Leadership, to the Urban Leadership Development Program (Fall 2014).
Anthony has had the fortunate opportunities to coach children and young adults in the following capacities: YMCA youth flag football, basketball, & T-ball coach, Maumee Country Day School JV Boys Basketball Head Coach, Trinity Lutheran 6th & 7th grade Boys Coach, Sylvania Rec Center youth Basketball Coach, St. John’s Jesuit 7th grade Head Football Coach, Sylvania Timberstone Football Public Announcer, Sylvania Southview High School Assistant Freshman Football Coach & Sylvania High School Football Assistant Public Announcer.

After a career change in public education, Anthony began working with children and adults identified with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Anthony completed his BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) certification course work from the University of North Texas in 2019. Anthony worked as a BCBA in southern Michigan for Centria Healthcare, where he started working in 2017 until September 2021. Anthony started his consulting LLC in March 2021 with the ultimate goal of helping others and companies to achieve their highest potential. Anthony currently works as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at Hopebridge Autism Center in Maumee, Ohio while also consulting with area charter schools and childcare centers. Anthony has also been a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Toledo Alumni Chapter since 1997 while currently holding the position of Vice Polemarch.

Where did the idea for your career come from?

The name AB Education & Behavior Consulting LLC is simply derived from my initials, Anthony Bronaugh. However, I chose education first because I was first an educator before becoming a behavior analyst.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

A typical day for me now consists of waking up around 7 am to prepare for one of the two schools I consult with during the day. Each school has a different start time which is a difference of about 30 minutes. At both schools, I arrive during breakfast and assist with getting students to the right places and observing if there are any students that may appear to be having a rough day. After breakfast, I will conduct walk-throughs of all 7 classrooms checking in with the teachers and asking if there are any students that may need to reset or address any concerns that they may not have time to address. In addition, I will observe the instruction taking place and provide feedback to teachers in a timely manner. If time is permitted, I will meet with the principal for updates regarding the previous day or any concerns that need to be addressed such as helping new teachers with lesson planning, classroom management, or students exhibiting maladaptive behaviors.
After leaving the school, I transition to Hopebridge Autism Center where I provide supervision to RBTs (Registered Behavior Technicians) providing applied behavior analysis strategies to children under the age of 7 diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). I typically have 10-12 clients and technicians that I am responsible for overseeing on a weekly basis including creating and updating assessment plans, providing parent training, and ensuring programs are being implemented as written.
I typically try to end mine with either picking up my youngest daughter from a school activity and/or working out at Planet Fitness.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I bring ideas to life by assessing how realistic it is. After consulting with myself, I then consulted with my better half-my wife. After this process is complete, I then apply the BE-DO-HAVE concept to assist with making the idea a reality. For example, my idea to create AB Education & Behavior Consulting LLC began from the desire to BE AB Education & Behavior Consulting, and to BE that I needed to DO things that would allow me to experience BE’ing AB Education & Behavior Consulting. Once I was able to BE and DO these things, I then know that I HAVE AB Education & Behavior Consulting LLC.
In addition to this process, I also look for gaps and needs within different areas all the time that I may have experience and expertise. For example, just recently I realized that at my current employer we serve children one on one in a semi-school setting using applied behavior analysis principles with registered behavior technicians anywhere from 1-4 years. Once the child graduates from the program and is ready to transition to kindergarten, the child is discharged and no longer receives our services. During this transition, parents are anxious, children are left to adjust from one on one services to attending school all day with anywhere from 10-25 students in a classroom. My idea was to create a School Transition Liaison position for the center to provide ongoing services to parents to assist with navigating IEP (individualized education plan) meetings, finding the right school, addressing behavioral concerns in the home and at school, and providing parent support group meetings with other parents from the center.

What’s one trend that excites you?

There is not one trend that excites me. I love that trends exist because its a sign of change. When accepting and acknowledging a trend, I believe that you are accepting change. Adapting, accepting, and embracing change is a sign of wisdom. Wisdom is knowledge expressed and when that happens, trends are inevitable. Therefore, I am excited when a trend has a positive impact on the lives of others.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I thank God and the energy of those that were close to me that have passed on Thank You continuously throughout the day. I give thanks for the things that I have in the moment and in the future without asking for things that I want or need. I feel that the experience of wanting a thing only gives me the experience of wanting. Therefore, I want to BE-DO-HAVE and I thank God and the energy around me for this clarity.

What advice would you give your younger self?

The advice that I would give my younger self while in K-12 would be not to be scared and to believe in yourself regardless of your circumstances. I would tell my 20-30-year-old self to not rush the process of being you and trust the process.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Love at first sight. The majority of my friends don’t necessarily agree with me on this one. But when I met my wife, I told her I would be with her one day…I didn’t know how or when it would happen, but I knew it would. Why? Because it was love at first sight. About 4 years later, we were married and have been happily married ever since!

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I thank everyone. I thank everyone that has declined my services. I thank everyone that has accepted my services. I thank everyone that says they will think about accepting my services. Small businesses are not built overnight, therefore it is important to trust the process and be thankful there is a process to go through.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

I provide a sample of my services. It may be a brief professional development/training or a brief motivational speech to school staff. If the opportunity presents itself to make a pitch to an individual or group, I will create a presentation that includes humor and realistic outcomes.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Marketing! In the beginning, I procrastinated in regard to purchasing business cards and creating a website. After participating in networking events and speaking at conferences, I was approached repeatedly to provide additional information. Writing my number and personal email address on any piece of paper did not give the impression to potential clients that I was professional. I made the commitment to put the same effort I put in my presentations into my marketing campaign.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

An Applied Behavior Analysis School K-12/Vocational School. The school would be year-round with 9 weeks on and 3 weeks off the entire school year. The school would be equipped with regular and special education teachers, registered behavior technicians in every classroom along with vocational education teachers. My vision for the vocational school would allow for students in grades 11 & 12 to work for two weeks in their selected vocation and attend school for 2 weeks. The school would have a strong emphasis on “Fundamentals”, “Active Participation” and “Sports”.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I recently gave my daughter roughly $100 in spending money for her spring break trip to Houston, Texas. Although she didn’t ask for the money, I remember being in college and going on local trips and not feeling like I could really have fun because I didn’t feel like I could spend the way I wanted to. My daughter was appreciative of the gesture and said she would spend it wisely.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Excel. I use excel to track interactions with my clients, dates, times, and locations. I also use it to create forms and worksheets for teachers.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Conversations with God, Books 1-3 by Donald Neale Walsh. This book has had a profound impact on my life ever since I read it back in 1998. If you are religious or spiritual, this book will make you think, cry, laugh and cause you to question your current belief systems.

What is your favorite quote?

I have several: What you resist will persist; If you’re not embracing data, then you’re probably embracing failure; If you don’t address it, you accept it.

Key Learnings:

• Be thankful for what you have and don’t have. Creating and maintaining a business is a process that requires one has determination, dedication, and discipline.
• Believe in yourself and commit to what you want to BE-DO-HAVE and put that into action!
• If you’re not embracing data, then you’re probably embracing failure. There must be checks and balances with your company. Creating a product with no means to measure its effectiveness will cause your company to encounter unnecessary roadblocks.