Veronica Napier, the 35-year-old founder of Stepping Stones Behavioral Solutions, followed an unconventional path to entrepreneurship, starting out as a hair salon owner in Muncie, Indiana.
What began as casual counseling sessions with her clients evolved into a mission to provide critical services for children with autism.
Today, Napier’s company operates 10 facilities across Indiana and Mississippi, serving approximately 230 clients and generating millions in revenue, while making a meaningful impact on families’ lives.
From Salon Owner to Autism Advocate
Napier’s journey began in the unlikeliest of places: her own hair salon.
“A lot of my clients were coming in just to talk to me,” she recalls in an interview with Inc. “They knew I would give them my full attention.”
Recognizing her natural counseling abilities, she decided to pursue a master’s degree in psychology, specializing in applied behavior analysis (ABA), which focuses on helping individuals with autism.
In 2016, Napier launched Stepping Stones Behavioral Solutions in a small, single-room space in Indianapolis.
Her focus on Medicaid recipients, particularly Black and Brown children, allowed her to serve an underserved community, and demand for her services grew quickly.
Within six months, she had expanded her client base, hired additional therapists, and soon outgrew her initial office.
Overcoming Challenges as an Entrepreneur
Building Stepping Stones required Napier to wear many hats. She became an expert not just in therapy, but also in real estate, insurance, and business management.
“I got my real estate license so I could keep the commission and apply it to the rehab projects for our buildings,” she says.
By the end of 2022, Napier had purchased several properties and expanded her facilities to eight locations.
The business now operates 10 centers, including one in McComb, Mississippi, where families drive long distances for therapy due to the lack of local services.
Napier recently introduced home-based therapy to ease the burden on families and plans to expand these services further.
Changing Lives Through ABA Therapy
Over the years, Napier’s centers have provided life-changing therapy to children with autism. One of her standout success stories involves twin brothers who exhibited explosive behaviors when they first came to Stepping Stones.
“One of them squatted down in my office and peed on the floor,” Napier recalls.
After years of therapy, both twins are now thriving in general education classrooms, with enhanced communication skills and emotional regulation.
Despite the challenges of running a business, Napier is driven by the impact she has on families.
“On rough days, I remind myself why I’m doing this,” she says. “When you see people’s quality of life improve, it’s an unexplainable feeling.”
Expanding to Meet Demand
As the demand for autism services continues to grow, Napier is planning to open three more facilities this year.
In 2023, Stepping Stones Behavioral Solutions brought in $47 million in revenue, a testament to the effectiveness of Napier’s hands-on approach and commitment to providing high-quality care to children and families in need.
