Kristine Quinby poses with her adorable dog in the Oxidized Sterling Silver Wave Necklace

For the 2nd consecutive year, Bucks Happening has named the Top 10 Movers & Shakers of Bucks County.  Our accomplished judges had their work cut out for them with dozens of inspirational stories submitted by readers.

Now, with the official results in and this year’s Movers & Shakers assembling recently to celebrate, we’re taking a closer look at each winner and sharing their incredible stories.

Next up, meet New Hope's Kristine Quinby, a Rider University & Penn State Alumnus who created Potential, Inc. in 2006 and more recently The Springtime School in order to provide the highest quality interventions for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

With autism affecting one in 68 now, the need is greater than ever.

BH: What motivates you every morning?

KQ: Our clients, from the youngest to the oldest. They bring joy to my day no matter what obstacles I face.

BH: What would you say is your idea of a perfect day?

KQ: Any day that includes my clients making progress. Whether it is a newly toilet trained child or adult who orders their dinner over the phone for the first time, any success makes my day!

BH: Who inspires you?

KQ: The families that I work for always inspire me. They love their kids and work tirelessly to get them the services they need. They are troopers on the front line for the families that will come after them in addition to helping their own kids.

BH: What inspired you to start Potential, Inc.? And now a new school?

KQ: There is research that proves that individuals with autism can overcome their symptoms and become indistinguishable from their peers with intensive early intervention. No one was providing that intervention and the families dealing with the disability deserved better. The individuals themselves deserved better. Both Potential Inc. and the Springtime School use research based best practices to insure that our clients and students make the progress they are capable of making and not just what is “adequate”. In our mind, only reaching your potential is adequate progress.

BH: Which of your achievements are you most proud of?

KQ: I am proud to have a staff of 36 caring individuals who have the best interest of our clients and students at heart and who sacrifice their personal lives to improve the lives of others. They are frequently asked to work into the evening hours to accommodate our after school kids and to volunteer on weekends to help promote our organization. In addition, they volunteer for our fundraisers and personally contribute to our cause.

BH: What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?

KQ: The hardest part for me has been switching from a clinical role to a business role. It has required me to learn new skills including accounting, marketing, and HR just as any small business owner would. But it has also been very rewarding and I have enjoyed the challenge.

BH: What is the biggest accomplishment that you’d like to achieve over the next 5 years?

KQ: I would like to expand our school to include high school and preschool as well as add additional services that would help our families.

BH: How do you think your friends & coworkers would describe you?

KQ: I think probably dedicated and committed to the cause of providing support to families dealing with autism.

BH: Where’s your favorite place to go in Bucks County?

KQ: Home! I love my home and having people over. I am looking forward to doing some home improvement projects soon and getting a few chickens as pets.

BH: If you could go back in time and talk to yourself ten years ago, what advice would you give?

KQ: Collaborate more with others in the field early on to establish a presence in the educational and mental health community. Our name recognition is still spotty and we would have had an easier time if more school districts and mental health providers knew who we are and what we do.

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