THE UMBRELLA CENTER

BY MARIA SMIETANA

who always has a spreadsheet handy, or dad-joke ready for any situation.”

Krissy earned her B.S. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University. When she graduated a semester early, “I was looking for a job to hold me over until my lease was up on my apartment,” she said. “I found a listing for an autism therapist on Craigslist and 10 years later, I’m still in the ABA field.”

For Krissy Wippermann and Jenny Tillotson, founders and owners of The Umbrella Center, having their family members as business partners is the most natural thing in the world. The Wippermanns grew up in Center Grove, just south of Indianapolis, and have always been there for each other.

“We were a big, eccentric family that prioritized fun and growth over what the neighbors thought,” they laughed. “Our mother, Holly, was an educator who was known for loving all her kids and for her over-the-top nature. She raised all four of us to laugh loudly, take care of ourselves, and take care of others. As an English teacher (at Greenwood High School) she valued education, but she also used her role to support her students in a non-academic sense.”

Their dad, David, was a general surgeon at Johnson Memorial hospital, but was never too busy for his family. As Krissy put it, “our father is a physician turned Dad-Of-The-Year

After Holly’s untimely death in 2019, Krissy decided it was time to move back to the Indianapolis area where Jenny and the most of the family reside. “My sisters and I have always been close, and losing our mom brought us even closer together,” she said. “Through the grieving process we all started to dream about our futures again and they helped me see that my next step was to open my own ABA center. Once I made the decision to take on this challenge, my family joining in was just natural, because that is what we do for each other. As we got more serious about making this happen, everyone started playing an active role and it very quickly turned into a Wippermann family business.”

As the ABA and autism expert, Krissy runs the clinical side of The Umbrella Center. Jenny manages the office and handles insurance billing. Katie, who became a physician like Dad, is the marketing, networking, and strategy advisor. Laurie, the sister who followed Mom into education, helps with relationships with the schools, assists with client’s IEP meetings, advises on transition plans, and ensures that the families are supported in their education journey as well as their ABA journey. Dave (Dad), who is now retired from medicine “helps us with all the business stuff,” Krissy said. “He checks every number and legal document and always reads the fine print!”

The Umbrella Center provides ABA services regardless of age, severity of problem behavior, or intensity of services required, which sets it apart from many other ABA centers. “We are finding that we get a lot of clients who have fallen through the cracks of other systems for whatever reason,” Krissy said. “We also have no intention of growing outside of the Garfield Park neighborhood. We chose this area due to the need here and because we wanted to be part of a community. We have a large building that we will grow into eventually but will never grow out of. We love that we are within walking distance of Garfield Park’s beautiful arts center and conservatory, as well as a public library and The Tube Factory,” Jenny added.

Frequently asked about where The Umbrella Center name came from, Krissy admits that she’s been obsessed with umbrellas forever. “I think it started with art [class],” she said. “They started popping up whenever I was doing art projects or even just doodling.” “When thinking about what our center would be called and our dreams of what it would be, we tried to think big picture. Yes, our main gig and top priority is ABA Therapy. But we want to expand services for our kiddos and for our community! It all fits under the umbrella,” Jenny said.

Krissy also has always associated umbrellas with her family. “In fact, I have a tattoo of an umbrella with the initials of my family members hidden within the design,” she said. “My family has been there when I need them, and I trust that they will always be there to protect me from any storms that come my way.”

As a business, The Umbrella Center tries to put on regular community events. “We do this to bring some family friendly fun to the Garfield Park neighborhood and also to provide our clients with social opportunities. We put on Trunk or Treat in October, we helped pass out Thanksgiving meals for over 150 families in need, and had a Parents Night Out in December. We also have a food pantry at our center that is open every other Thursday,” Jenny said.

Krissy and Jenny encourage families and individuals affected by autism to reach out and find their community: “Find the people who will help you, laugh with you, cry with you, and advocate for you.”

Business Contact Information

The Umbrella Center 1061 E. Southern Ave Indianapolis, IN 46203 463-701-0909 info@theumbrellacenter.com www.theumbrellacenter.com