Erin Aboud, from navigating the justice system between the ages of 12 to 25 through personal challenges of trauma, homelessness, and addiction, has embarked on a journey of remarkable transformation and resilience. She has partnered with Empire Recovery and Reentry Solutions to create a nationwide impact, helping those affected by the justice system and addiction. Embracing sobriety in 2011, Erin has become a beacon of hope, sharing her transformative journey at various events and influencing legislative changes such as Idaho's Clean Slate Bill. In 2024, Erin received a pardon for her past felonies, a testament to her resilience and redemption. She founded a virtual assistant business in 2017, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence. Today, Erin is not only a successful business owner but also a devoted wife and mother, continually inspired by her faith and the community's support. Additionally, she works with women in recovery and assists a local union in supporting members and their spouses coming out of rehabilitation.

Maggie Agerton is the Chief of Substance Use Treatment and Transition Services at the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC). She is responsible for the clinical, operational, and administrative functions for substance use treatment programs and other re-entry programming. Maggie began her career in corrections as a volunteer in 1999. During her career, Maggie worked in various positions with both the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the FDC including case management, religious services, substance use treatment, transition, and re-entry. Maggie earned her master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in criminology from Florida State University in 2001 and 1999. She is an ACA Certified Correctional Executive, a PMI Project Management Professional, a Florida Certified Addictions Professional, and a Florida Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional. Maggie currently serves as the Chair of the ACA Substance Use Disorders and is a current member of the ACA Behavioral Health committee.

Clay Anders is a formerly incarcerated individual that found the Lord and changed his life. Clay started trucking in 2020 and founded a non-profit for at risk youth and underprivileged individuals. He has been the former Director of the Honesty Project for the last 3 years. He works with reentry by helping currently incarcerated adults in NDCS obtain their CLP so they can test to get their CDL before release and have a foundation to build off. Clay is also a motivational speaker and a mental health and developmental disability advocate. 

Amy Arrell is the Service Director of Community Services at Open Sky Community Services in Worcester, MA.  In this role, she oversees 24 community-based programs assisting over 2,000 individuals and families experiencing justice involvement, homelessness, substance use and mental health disorders, and other social determinants of health needs.  Amy was a leader in the development of the Behavioral Health for Justice Involved pilot program with MassHealth and Trial Courts in 2019 which now has statewide contracts and Medicaid benefit coverage (CSP-JI).  During Spring 2020, she helped lead the "Outreach Connect Refer" model to support incarcerated individuals being released during the uptick of COVID-19.  Most recently, Amy has been a leader in the development and implementation of the state's first Department of Correction funded after incarceration support service, Community Compass at Open Sky. Amy started her career 27 years ago working with adolescents and young adults in group living environments and community outreach programs.  She developed and implemented the peer support program at The Bridge of Central MA.  Amy is a contributor to the Transition of Youth and Young Adults with Emotional or Behavioral Difficulties: An Evidence Supported Handbook. Amy was awarded the Marie Hobart Community First Award in 2018. 

Solomon Baymon is the Director for Roca Western Mass. As a native of Springfield, Massachusetts, he relates to the struggles that young adults face daily while growing up in urban areas. Before Roca, Solomon had over 15 years of extensive experience in the Criminal Justice System. Specifically in the Corrections field, working in multiple Juvenile and Adult State Correctional Institutions and starting as a Corrections Officer, climbing the ranks, and leaving as a Deputy Warden. As the Director of Western Mass, Solomon oversees the Springfield and Holyoke sites, including Transitional Employment and Workforce Development, Pre-Vocational and Education Programs, and the Emerging Adult Court of Hope (EACH) Program.

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Solomon works with Community, Criminal Justice, and Law Enforcement Partners, including the Springfield and Holyoke Police Departments, City Administrations, Courts, Probation Services, Hampden County DA’s Office, and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, to promote Roca and gain support for the mission. Solomon is a seasoned leader and award-winning Philanthropist. He is guided by his personal mission to educate, create and advocate for the sake of our Young People in attaining greater success and prosperity in life.

Dr. Kris Bertelsen is Vice President and Program Director of the Addiction Recovery Program, Prison Outreach Programming, and the Prison Education Program for Huntington Junior College. Kris has an extensive range of experience including his tenure with Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Previously, Kris taught high school social studies. He’s served on boards and committees including the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, as an author and reviewer for the Council for Economic Education, Advisory Board member for the Journal of Economics Teaching, and a standards committee member for Arkansas Department of Education.  Dr. Bertelsen is particularly interested in entrepreneurship, economics, and personal finance education for disadvantaged and marginalized communities. Kris earned a Ph.D. from the University of Central Arkansas, working with justice involved people, an M.S. Clinical and Mental Health Counseling from Southern Arkansas University, an M.A. in Economic Education and Entrepreneurship from the University of Delaware, and a B.S. Social Studies Education, from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.

Andre Bethea is a Senior Policy Advisor for Corrections and Reentry at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. Through the Second Chance Act funding, he manages the behavioral health, education, employment, housing, and transitional services portfolios as well as leads innovative projects across the criminal justice pipeline. Previously, Mr. Bethea served as the director for program operations and policy at the New York City Department of Correction (NYCDOC) where he managed external relationships with community-based organizations and research institutions, as well as developed policy/curriculum, identified best practices, and supervised programmatic initiatives for adolescents and young adults in custody. As a legal coordinator prior to this, he provided law library and research services for individuals in custody at NYCDOC. His career in criminal justice began as an analyst for the New York City Police Department.

As the Director of Social Enterprise at LEAP (Ladies Empowerment and Action Program), Christina Biandola is deeply committed to empowering women affected by the justice system. In her role, she leads the Entrepreneurship Academy, a transformative five-week course designed to equip women with the skills needed to initiate and manage their own businesses, thereby fostering economic independence.

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Christina excels in developing innovative social enterprise strategies and building strong community support networks. Trained in trauma-informed approaches to addiction and recovery, she brings compassion and understanding to her work. Her dedication to social justice and community empowerment drives her to continually enhance LEAP’s initiatives, helping women rebuild their lives and achieve lasting success.

Amber is the Peer Reentry Program Coordinator for The REACH Initiative, where she leverages her personal experience and passion to drive meaningful change in West Virginia's criminal justice landscape. Having overcome the challenges of addiction, poverty, and involvement with the criminal justice system, Amber is dedicated to advocating for reform, reentry support, and recovery services. Her work is fueled by the belief that everyone deserves a second chance and the opportunity to discover their purpose. Amber takes great joy in facilitating deep, transformative conversations and witnessing the growth of those she serves.

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​With her unique blend of lived experience and professional expertise, Amber is a powerful force for change. She embodies the principle that "iron sharpens iron," and her tireless advocacy work is making a tangible difference in her community and beyond.

Jonathan Bleiweiss is a formerly incarcerated scholar and one Florida’s leading experts on collateral consequences. He is the founder and former executive director of the Florida Justice Center, a nonprofit legal aid organization that has provided free lawyers to assist over 10,000 people overcome barriers caused by an arrest. Jonathan is a former police officer and detective who combines his extensive knowledge of the law with his lived experienced in the criminal legal system to help others. He holds Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Master of Business Administration degrees. Jonathan is a 2022 JustLeadershipUSA Leading with Conviction graduate.

Jonathan is currently a doctoral student in Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati and a Presidential Fellow.

Tish Boyd is the owner and principal of Beyond $avvy Consumers, a financial empowerment firm committed to closing the wealth divide by empowering underserved communities, particularly consumers affected by the criminal legal system. They accomplish this through trauma-informed financial empowerment and by offering technical assistant to stakeholders, enabling advocacy initiatives and programs that promote economic sustainability.

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For over a decade, Tish has worked at the intersection of organizational development, equity and inclusion, and economic empowerment for system-impacted people. She has supported various agencies and systems nationally in implementing specific evidence-based practices to enhance service delivery. These agencies and systems include colleges, unions, correctional departments, post-secondary education support programs, and community-based organizations. Tish has also trained human resource managers on the importance and added value of hiring qualified people with criminal histories to advance equity and inclusion.

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Tish is a financial health counselor certified by the National Association of Certified Credit Counselors, an evidence-based practitioner certified by the Joyfields Institute, and has extensive training in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Jennifer L. Brinkley, an Assistant Professor of Legal Studies, has a J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law, practiced law and taught at both the University of Colorado at Denver and at Western Kentucky University before joining UWF in 2019.  She teaches courses on women and the law, criminal procedure, evidence, legal research and writing, family law, law and society, among others. Brinkley’s research focuses on women and the law and criminal justice issues.

Benjamin Brouillette, Operations Director of The Community Compass at Open Sky Community Services in Worcester, MA. In this role, he oversees the daily operations of the state's first Department of Correction funded after incarceration support service. Benjamin has various lived experiences with incarceration and is active in recovery from substance use. With a passion for aiding individuals in finding and maintaining a new way of life he joined the Behavioral Health Justice Involved program at Open Sky in 2021. Benjamin was involved with the planning and implementation of the Community Compass Drop-in Center before being promoted to the position of Operations Director. This role allows Benjamin to use his living experience and passion to be an effective leader in providing services to individuals with a history of incarceration.

Michael Carrington currently serves as the PA Department of Corrections Statewide Veterans Coordinator. He was appointed to this position in December of 2020.  

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Michael began his employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a Corrections Officer in 2007, following an honorable discharge from the United States Marine Corps as a Sergeant in 2006. Also in 2006, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Park University with a B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice, minor in Management.

In September of 2008, he obtained a position with the PA Board of Probation and Parole as an Institutional Parole Agent. He was then promoted to Institutional Parole Supervisor in January of 2011, where he remained until his recent appointment.

He is currently active as the Operations Manager for the Middle Atlantic States Correctional Association (MASCA), Vice President for the Community Corrections Association of Pennsylvania (CCAPA), and Chair for the PA Governor’s Advisory Council for Veteran Services Judiciary Committee.

Jay Christensen has over 32 years of experience in corrections starting as a correctional officer in 1989 and working his way through various facilities and positions retiring as Warden at Idaho's largest correctional facility with an incarcerated population of 2500 and over 325 staff. Since Jay’s retirement he has been working with CEO Mary Hayes of Workbay to redesign their already successful workforce development platform used in multiple countries, communities,  and municipalities. During this time, along with Melissa Doramus (Workbay Education Officer) they conducted a year long pilot at South Idaho Correctional Institution to improve learning and user experience, tailor making it specifically for corrections, now being delivered on inmate tablets that they already possess.

Hope’s journey with the justice-impacted started BEYOND the barbed wire, when she was born to her biological mother who was incarcerated in Houston, Texas.

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She has a lifetime of personal experience and over 20 years of professional experience that has been cultivated to help her develop into a multi-dimensional leader who has served the most underserved populations throughout Florida and train organizations throughout the United States.

Hope helps organizations strengthen their client engagement, enhance client rapport, and magnify client and organizational success rates with a blend of Trauma-Informed Care practices, Resiliency elements, and out-of-the-box navigation.

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Hope is the founder of the Cultivating Hope Foundation, Inc., and author of Beyond the Barbed Wire.

She has supported the Florida Department of Corrections and the Missouri Department of Corrections by leading groups within prisons and training facilitators to support men and women BEYOND the BARBED WIRE.

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Her purpose-driven mission is to use her experience and skillset to snuff out radical darkness by cultivating radical hope.

Trudy Crowetz has been involved in nonprofit leadership for over 25 years. She is a Certified Public Accountant who has served as the Chief Financial Officer for several nonprofit organizations during her career. Trudy has been focused on achieving organizational excellence for these organizations, and she brings her vast expertise in this area to Nonprofits First, where she has also worked as a fiscal reviewer, as a member of the Standards Committee, and as a graduate of the 2014 Rising Leaders, and the 2023 Advancing Leaders program.

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Trudy strives to be a servant leader who puts the needs of others first. She served in the Emergency Operations Center during two hurricanes, and she was instrumental in assisting the county with securing volunteers and medical staff to serve in the shelters. She later received recognition from the county as being a “Hero of the Storm”.

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She is a lifelong learner who is passionate about leadership development, which is evidenced by the various leadership programs in which she has participated, including the Leadership Palm Beach County’s Engage Class of 2022 and Focus Class of 2019, as well as Leadership West Palm Beach’s Class of 2017. She was honored to be chosen to participate in United Way Worldwide’s Advanced Leadership Program Class of 2018, where she was one of 17 people chosen from over 1,500 affiliates. Trudy currently serves on the board of Leadership Palm Beach County.

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She is an active community volunteer advocates for women in leadership and has served as President, Secretary, and Treasurer for Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation. She recently served on the board of the Croquet Foundation of America as the Treasurer, and she enjoys playing croquet in her free time. She has two grown children: AJ Crowetz, who is a Senior Production and Capacity Planner for Resilience in Gainesville, Florida and Alicia Crowetz, who is a Firefighter/Paramedic for the Pembroke Pines Fire Department in Broward County, Florida.

Tiffany Csonka is a present and active parent in her four brilliant children’s lives. Additionally, Tiffany is a Parent Leader in Florida, where she resides. Tiffany began her career as a Parent Leader and consultant in 2019 when she became involved with the Community Participatory Action Research (CPAR) for the Children’s Services Council of Broward County; specifically with the research group, Very Important Parents (VIP). Tiffany is currently an active member of Parent Advocates for Transformation and Healing (PATH) and Thriving Families Safer Children in Florida. She is a founding member of the Family Engagement Advocacy Council (FEAC). The FEAC is an avenue for parents to have an active and equal voice in shaping programs, services, and practice. In 2022, Tiffany joined the Mining For Gold team as a Parent Knowledge Curator.

Kurt Danysh is the Founder and Executive Director of Tomorrow’s Neighbors, a nonprofit reentry organization in Central Pennsylvania.  Kurt founded Tomorrow’s Neighbors while serving a 24-year prison sentence.  He was released in 2020.  In 2022, Tomorrow’s Neighbors was named Nonprofit of the Year and awarded a $1 million grant from Cumberland County to open The Cumberland House; a 13-bed reentry housing solution.  Specializing in long term incarceration, the “Cumberland Model” provides peer-facilitated reentry support.

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The Cumberland House is presently being studied by Penn State University to determine precisely why/how its model has produced such positive outcomes.   Kurt sits on various Committees, Coalitions, and Boards, sharing his lived experience to improve our criminal justice system.  Kurt was recently named a “Catalyst for Change” by the Commonwealth Prevention Alliance.

Nancy DeNike's journey is a testament to the power of resilience and reinvention. A graduate of the Ladies Empowerment Action Program (LEAP), Nancy emerged from Homestead Correctional Institution in January 2020, after completing a five-year sentence. Armed with a master’s degree and trauma-informed training, Nancy proudly directs LEAP’s Reentry Hub, leveraging her expertise to guide others on the path to reintegration. In her entrepreneurial endeavors, she showcases her passion for her home state as the owner of The Gifted Floridian, a business highlighting locally produced products in unique gift baskets. Her story serves as an inspiration to all, a beacon of hope for those seeking redemption and a brighter future.

Megan Downing, M.S., is the Clinical Director of Community Compass at Open Sky Community Services in Worcester, MA. In this role, Megan is responsible for overseeing clinical operations and implementation of the state's first Department of Correction funded after incarceration support program. Megan has her Bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Worcester State University (2019) and her Master's degree in criminal justice and strategic management from Boston University (2023). Megan has experience working in various different subsectors of the Criminal Justice system, including 911 dispatching, working within the prison system, victim/survivor work and most recently working within the reentry system.  Megan's passion for helping others started when she was younger and was enhanced by being selected as an inaugural member to represent her town at Project 351, an independent nonprofit organization that fosters youth-led service by engaging a leader from each of Massachusetts' 351 cities and towns. Megan is passionate about helping others and prides herself in her trauma-informed, person-centered approach to reducing recidivism.

Wendy Dressler obtained her Ph.D. in International Crime and Justice from Florida International University in 2023. She currently works as a Research Manager for The GEO Group. Her primary expertise lies in corrections, reentry, correctional administration, mixed research methods, and spatial analysis. At present, she is responsible for overseeing the evaluation of post-release services for returning citizens, in-custody programming, and staff and leadership wellness in corrections. Dr. Dressler's skills and experience make her an invaluable asset to The GEO Group team, helping to further the organization's mission of rehabilitation.

Nicole Dyson has been doing prison ministry for just over a decade. She is a former inmate, she has been the Executive Director of a transition home, and she is the founder of a non-profit organization, The Jesus Infusion.

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Nicole meets women in prison by teaching and facilitating classes, she does personal one on one counseling, and she has walked hundreds of women out of prison into reentering society. After being incarcerated herself, running a transition home, assisting women in reentry and running her own business helping women in this capacity, Nicole has seen the fruit of her labor and still today shares her life with countless women she has invested in from prison to freedom.

Belen Enriquez, originally from Quito, Ecuador, has carved a niche as a formidable advocate and thought leader in the U.S. reentry sector. Following her incarceration, where she provided vital legal support to fellow incarcerated individuals, Belen has directed her efforts toward criminal justice reform and reentry initiatives. Now serving as the Office Director at the Law Offices of Paul Petruzzi in Miami, she handles complex cases while spearheading Reentry Innovations, a tech-focused initiative aimed at aiding formerly incarcerated individuals to reintegrate into society. Her role extends to active participation in justice reform organizations such as Dream.org, A New Way of Life Reentry Project, JustLeadershipUSA, and Ladies for Hope Ministries as a Fellow. Belen's commitment is further underscored by her contributions to key conferences on higher education and justice reform, embodying her dedication to facilitating effective reentry programs and supporting workforce reintegration for justice-impacted individuals.

Mitch Evans, PhD, leads the Marketing, Advertising, Safety, Compliance, Independent Contractors & Driver Development Teams for Hill Brothers Transportation and Hill Brothers Logistics, and has Executive oversight over Pro-Fleet CDL Driving Academy.  Mitch is a Veteran of the United States Air Force (Enlisted) and Army National Guard (Officer).  He has a Bachelors Degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and his Masters Degree and Ph.D. from Bellevue University.  Mitch specializes in business development, people training & development and leadership.  He is married with 5 children and currently lives in Lincoln Nebraska.

Jessie Fairbanks has served Palm Beach County over the past 20 years, as an experienced Peer Specialist and Case Manager. She studied human services at FAU after completing Certified Addiction courses at Palm Beach State. For the past ten years, Fairbanks has served as an advocate for formerly incarcerated individuals experiencing chronic homelessness by providing permanent supportive housing case management services, shelter services pre-release and post-release case management. She works hard to initiate change in direct services by building a unique and individual rapport with participants to provide a trauma informed, solution-based case management approach, by utilizing Motivational interviewing techniques and asking the right questions to identifying individualized motivation and values when creating service plans and selecting resources.

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Fairbanks goal is to be a catalyst for change in the method of providing quality and empathic services with positive outcomes of reduced recidivism rates. Fairbanks continues to provide support to returning citizens through the Lord’s Place to decrease barriers and increase family/community integration. Fairbanks work has a focus on linkage to the correct fit of community resources, motivational interviewing, and faith-based services to reduce harm and recidivism by implementing positive achievement, assets and building on client centered strengths.

Shane Falwell is the House Manager at The Cumberland House where he plays an intricate role in its daily operations. Shane is a certified Life Coach, Certified Peer Support Specialist, Certified Forensic Support Specialist, and a Career Development Coach. Having served more than 22 years in state and federal prison, Reentry is a lifestyle to Shane. 

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Shane also founded the Marcus Self Help Discovery Group in memory of his son, who was murdered while Shane was incarcerated. Shane strives to prevent youth from entering our criminal justice system.

Jim Flanagan’s experience cuts across the for-profit and non-profit sectors.  A veteran of the United States Air Force, he currently serves as the Executive Director of the Civics Education Program (CEP) which he co-founded in 2015.  CEP’s four-course series in civics, ethics, literature, and economics was launched at South Bay Correctional Facility in Florida and in 2020 was credentialed by the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) as an official state program.  To date, nearly 600 incarcerated persons have participated in CEP which has been offered at five correctional facilities in Florida, Indiana, and Texas.  In 2022, through a partnership with Huntington Junior College (HJC) and The GEO Group, Inc., Jim began college coursework for 20 inmate students at South Bay.  He works as a Professor and Student Success Coach for HJC and advocates with regional organizations aiming to reduce recidivism.  He is most passionate about improving access to educational resources for inmate students whether they are on the path to reentry or have extended or life sentences.

Greg Franzese is a Correctional Program Administrator at the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC). He is responsible for clinical, operational, and administrative quality assurance for substance use treatment programs in central Florida.  Greg began his correctional career at the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas in 1998. In 2009, he started his career with the Florida Department of Corrections. Greg has held positions in institutional programs specializing in behavioral health. He received his master’s degree in social work with a clinical concentration in 2012. Greg is a Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Professional (CCJAP).

John Fraundorfer has worked for the City and County of Denver for over five years, previously as a Continuous Quality Assurance Analyst, Data & Quality Senior Analyst, and Contractor Liaison. Before working for the City, he has both worked and consulted in the private sector for over 35 years in various capacities including Marketing Management, Project Management, New Business Development, Market Research, New Product Development, Quality Systems Management and Data Management Systems.

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With the Denver Construction Careers Program, John has spearheaded the creation and development of data gathering, analysis and reporting systems for use by both internal agencies and prime contractors and subs on city-funded construction projects. He is also leading the charge in working with city partners in the bolstering of apprenticeship readiness programs for the construction industry.

Mr. William Freeman is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of People of Purpose (PoP). PoP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping returning citizens build self-sustaining, successful lives of purpose. As a certified Peer Specialist, Mr. Freeman uses his lived experiences to provide one-on-one support and guidance to individuals on how to reenter society after incarceration and he is determined to end intergenerational incarceration. He also works as a Program Director at Rebel Recovery, a nonprofit organization that provides recovery support services, education, and advocacy to people impacted by drug use and those living with or at risk of infectious diseases. He is affiliated with the Glades Leadership Initiative, Peer Support Coalition of Florida, Nonprofits First Leadership Academy, and PBC Reentry Task Force.

Dr. Ralph Fretz, PhD, is a licensed and board-certified psychologist (New Jersey and Florida) specializing in forensic and clinical psychology. He is currently employed as a forensic psychologist at the Treasure Coast Forensic Center. For the past 40 years, Dr. Fretz has worked with a variety of populations including children, justice-involved juveniles and adults, psychiatric inpatients, and sex offenders. Dr. Fretz’s work has been published in many journals, including Corrections Compendium, Criminal Justice and Behavior, Journal of Community Corrections, and Corrections Today. Dr. Fretz has presented at national and international conferences on a variety of topics, including Assessment Centers, Alternatives to Incarceration, and Risk-Need-Responsivity Principles.

David A. Gethers, is the Assistance Senior Deputy Chief of the C.I.T.Y program for CASA of Cook County. He has a phenomenal story of transition & transformation, lived experienced and educational background, that will help individuals, communities, and organizations execute the mission and vision of their lives and programs.

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Born on the south side of Chicago in the Englewood community, David dealt with his own share of family struggles, lack of resources and feelings of hopelessness. As a means to escape the poverty and struggles of the south side, David became a student-athlete. When college wasn’t an option, David joined the United States Marine Corp. He believed he would have a long successful career and change the trajectory of his life. Life and the Marine Corp threw David an unexpected curve ball. Due to a training accident, he had to have reconstructive ulnar, bone and nerve surgery on his right hand, wrist and forearm. As a result, he was no longer able to be a Marine. This was a devasting blow for David.

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Returning home to Chicago, disappointed, hurt, lost, and unprepared for transition, David would go on to make a series of bad decisions. One of which, led to a 15 year prison sentence. It was here, David began his transformation journey. Challenged by his mother and grandmother to make something better of his life, in spite of the disappointing setbacks he had experienced. January 01, 2000, David begun journaling and would do so for the next 13 years. He attributes God, his mother & grandmother, and prison as the catalyst for his change.

September 12, 2013, David was released from prison and would execute the plans he created while in prison. He enrolled in Governor’s State University, becoming vice-president of the Student Senate, and graduated Cum Laude in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication. He then went on to graduate in 2019, with his Master’s degree in Urban Ministry from Olivet Nazarene University.

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​David now uses his story of TRAGEDY, TRANSFORMATION, and TRIUMPHANT, to empower, encourage, and enrich the lives of transitioning veterans, under-served, under-resourced, and under-valued communities. He is the author of WeakDay Remedies: A Transformational Journal, the founder of DAG Speaks LLC, and the creator of Defy the Odds Mentoring Program and Winning the Transition Battle.

Richard Glau came to The GEO Group, Inc. in 2015 as “Manager, Faith Based Services”, after 11 years with the Florida Department of Corrections. He first served as an institutional staff Chaplain, then Senior Chaplain, and completed his ministry with the FDOC as a Regional Chaplain. Creating maximum synergy between the typical Chaplaincy job description and the current DOC emphasis on re-entry initiatives is the primary focus of his efforts. Contributing to the seamless integration of the incarcerated back to their neighborhoods is the goal.

Tim Goddard, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida International University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Doctorate in Criminology, Law and Society from the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Goddard co-authored the book Youth, Community and the Struggle for Social Justice (Routledge, 2018), and his work has appeared in several edited books and various academic journals, including the British Journal of Criminology, Punishment and Society, Theoretical Criminology, and Youth Justice. His research interests are in youth justice policy and practice, legal system-related programs operated by voluntary non-profit organizations, and risk assessment instruments used in predicting recidivism and noncompliance.

Elmo Golden served at the South Bay (Florida) Correctional Facility for 17 years. He wanted to make a change and participated in programs to achieve his goal. Elmo completed college courses and worked with case managers on his reentry. It helped. In Inside Sources, he wrote, “After 17 years in prison, I would not be where I am today without the help I got, both inside and outside, from the people at the facility. They had a culture of family that eventually helped me find a family of my own.”

That experience continues to influence Elmo. He is a living testimony and model for change. He continues to inspire others through sharing his experience and working with those incarcerated.  He is the founder of Dignity Speak, a practical faith and character based mentoring program that allows participants to understand the power of good communication and leadership skills. He currently serves as a Program Director with the Jack Brewer Foundation and works to implement the Hero’s Fatherhood Initiative inside facilities throughout the state. The goal: to help returning citizens.

Dr. Barry Gregory Ed.D., M.Ed., BA is a national trainer and consultant in the field of corrections and behavioral health with a strong focus on rehabilitation and reentry programs. As the CEO and Founder of Beacon Online Training and Coaching, Dr. Gregory provides evidence-based training, consulting, and coaching services tailored to the needs of correctional professionals and facilities. He is passionate about developing evidence-based reentry programs that support successful community reintegration for individuals post-incarceration. Dr. Gregory is committed to enhancing the knowledge, skills, and competencies of correctional professionals and improving outcomes for justice-impacted individuals through research-driven methodologies and best practices. As a formerly incarcerated professional, he is a strong advocate for justice- impacted individuals who need a second chance and the tools to become successful.

Heather Gregory is a dedicated REACHback Reentry Navigator, using her lived experience in recovery and reentry to empower others. A graduate of Glenville State College with a Bachelor's in Behavioral Sciences, Heather is currently pursuing her MSW at Walden University. She brings her personal insights and professional education to her role, serving as co-chair of her local reentry council and working diligently to break down barriers for those returning to the community. As a Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist, Heather understands the unique challenges of reentry and provides compassionate, practical guidance. She is an active member of her church community and feels deeply honored to be part of the WV Reentry Team. Through her work, Heather is committed to advocating for systemic change and helping individuals reclaim their lives.

Jessica M. Grosholz, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of South Florida. She received her B.A (2004) in Sociology from Bucknell University, her M.A. (2006) in Sociology from George Washington University, and her Ph.D. (2014) in Sociology from Emory University. Her research centers on carceral studies, particularly in the areas of prison and reentry programming, recidivism, and health. She is also a qualitative methodologist. Her work has been published in significant outlets such as Crime & Delinquency, Criminal Justice & Behavior, Feminist Criminology, Health & Justice, Journal of Criminal Justice, and Journal of Interpersonal Violence.

Khalil A. Halim, a distinguished Army veteran and Summa Cum Laude graduate in Information Systems Management, embodies a profound dedication to service and community empowerment. With a remarkable 12-year tenure at It Takes a Village, Khalil's influence spanned civic engagement realms, including pivotal roles in Denver's Mayor’s Office of HIV Resources Planning Council and Aurora's Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Project. His leadership extends to public health initiatives, evidenced by his appointment to the Colorado HIV/AIDS Prevention Program Grant Review Committee. As a founding member of Second Chance Center's Board of Directors and now as its Executive Director, Khalil's commitment to rehabilitation and reintegration shines. Beyond professional accolades, Khalil's DJing prowess underscores his diverse talents, yet his greatest impact lies in mentorship, offering redemption and guidance to those in need, including SCC's Founder. Khalil A. Halim's life is a tapestry of service, leadership, and compassion, illuminating paths to second chances for all.

Bailey Hilliard, MSW is the Inmate Programs Manager at the Chesterfield County Jail (CCJ). She is from a law enforcement family in Columbus, Ohio. She has her master’s degree in Social Work from The Ohio State University. While in Columbus, she worked with a re-entry program for women with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

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In 2020 Bailey came on board with the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office where she now oversees operation of the Helping Addicts Recover Progressively (HARP) Program and all other rehabilitative programming within CCJ. Capitalizing on a professional background in substance use programming, mental health programming and re-entry services, Bailey is responsible for the monitoring, growth, and development of programming at CCJ.  In 2021 Bailey helped to start the SMART Program for individuals on Medications for Opioid Use Disorder. As well as the NACO and VACO award winning program development for the Rapid Engagement Community Outreach Navigators (RECON) Team.

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Bailey has also started a partnership with VCU’s medical school to educate medical students on human trafficking and substance use. She facilitates a yearly program where medical students and female HARP participants learn about general health and trauma informed care.

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All of the work Bailey does is to help return happy, healthy, and productive members of society back to their homes. In her free time Bailey volunteers with ImPact Virginia, a local non-profit geared towards fighting human trafficking. Additionally, she spends time with her husband and friends (usually traveling or cheering on the Buckeyes).

April Hutchison is a mother of two. She started with Chesterfield County Sheriff’s office in February of 2017 as the Reentry Coordinator for the jail. She serves on the board of VARR (Virginia Association of Recovery Residencies). She has been instrumental in starting a reentry council in Chesterfield County, as well as developing a clothing closet and creating working relationships with the local CSB’s, DSS, recovery community, and the Jails 2 Jobs program. Ms. Hutchison spends her time diligently working to help offenders pave the road to a successful recovery and to be productive members of society.

Chae M. Jaynes, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the University of South Florida’s Department of Criminology – Tampa. She received her B.A. in Economics (2011) and M.S. in Criminal Justice (2013) from Michigan State University, and her PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland (2018). She has published over 30 articles in some of the field’s top journals. She applies quantitative methods to advance the understanding of labor market decisions within criminal justice contexts and improving reentry outcomes. Through her research, Dr. Jaynes seeks to provide meaningful policy implications and practical solutions to key criminological problems. To this end, she works collaboratively with students, colleagues, and community partners to improve the well-being of those who come into contact with the criminal justice system and society at-large. She is Co-Director of the Crime Research Etiology and Treatment Evaluation (CREATE) Lab and a member of the Center for Justice Research & Policy’s (CJRP) Leadership Team.

After 20 years on Wall Street, Bryan switched direction and is pursuing his Master's in Social Work. Living in New York City, Rio de Janeiro, London, and Mexico City provided a global perspective on the pain of those not having a home. He has always paid close attention to the extensive and growing population of those incarcerated in the US and was moved by the daunting task of helping those returning to their communities. Many of those being released from jails and prisons face homelessness upon their release, and this intersection is where Bryan chose to focus.

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Currently, Bryan B. Joffe is a dedicated intern at The Lord's Place, where he works closely with case managers to address the complex issues faced by those seeking a second chance, including shelter and other challenges. In a joint initiative with his colleague and friend, Judson Pierre, Bryan has taken the lead in advocating for increased in-person support in jails, recognizing that successful reentry begins well before release. 

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He and his wife, Lyla, aspire to set examples of service to their two daughters. In his spare time, Bryan enjoys traveling to surf waves worldwide. 

Chief John W. Johnson, Ph.D., is an experienced 28-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department (MDCR). He began his career in September 1995 as a correctional officer after graduating from Correctional Officer training Class# 78 with the distinction of the highest academic

average.

In March 2010, John was appointed to his first command staff position, Correctional Captain. While serving this rank, he managed the Pre-trial Detention Center, a 1200-bed facility (2010-2012). John’s promotion to Corrections Division Chief occurred in March 2017. He was assigned to oversee the Program Services Division, encompassing the Reentry and Program Services Bureau, Boot Camp Program, Pre-trial Release Bureau, and Monitor Release Bureau. Each noted office has specific functions supporting the MDCR mission of preparing individuals for successful reintegration into the community. Besides Miami-Dade County’s efforts, Chief Johnson advocates for the detention of employees and inmates nationally. He has briefed congressional members on emerging jail issues such as Trauma-Informed Incarceration, Gender-Informed Inmate Management, the emergence of jails as mental health institutions, and eradicating sexual assault in correctional settings.

Chief Johnson has maintained professional certifications with the American Correctional Association (ACA), Auditor, Florida State University, Public Manager, and AJA, Jail Manager. John has served and currently serves in leadership roles in national organizations, including Delegate for the ACA (2016-

2017), the board of directors for JDI, and the board of directors and President of AJA (2009 – 2021). Chief Johnson’s educational achievements include a bachelor’s degree in public administration, a master’s degree in business administration, and a Ph.D. in Public Safety Leadership.

Vanessa Klein, LMHC, proudly holds a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She is licensed as a Mental Health Counselor in the State of Florida. Vanessa proudly serves as the Director of Re-entry Services at The Lord's Place in West Palm Beach, FL. where she oversees their esteemed reentry department managing teams and programs compliant with reentry focused grants from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FLDE), the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Justice Assistance Grants (JAG), and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO). Vanessa proudly serves on the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission, where she actively contributes to shaping policies and initiatives aimed at fostering fairness, equity, and rehabilitation within the justice system. Her unwavering commitment to empowering vulnerable individuals to overcome challenges and rebuild their lives serves as a beacon of hope for those navigating complex journeys of reintegration.

Timothy C. Kuhlman was born and raised in Arlington, Ohio.  He graduated from Hillsdale College in Michigan in 1988 and graduated from the University of Toledo Law School and joined the Ohio Bar in 1991. 

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During Law School he was a member of the Law Review and was a Prosecutor Intern in the Toledo Municipal Court.  After graduation he became an associate at Eastman & Smith, Ltd., where he practiced for 14 years, trying more than 20 jury trials and handling more than 20 appeals.

In February 2005 he joined the Toledo Municipal Court and served as Presiding and Administrative Judge from 2007 through 2010, and again starting in 2019-2020.   As Presiding Judge, he worked closely with the other Judges, the Toledo Bar Association, city and other government officials and interest advocacy groups to continue improvements in the Toledo Municipal Court to ensure efficiency of operations, budget saving measures, and justice for all people who are served by the Court.

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Judge Kuhlman serves on the Lucas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council as Vice Chair and Finance and Reentry Committee Chairs.  He works closely with the Domestic Violence Task Force and its Court’s Subcommittee to ensure safe and fair access to the Court for victims of domestic violence, and works with the YMCA Storer Camps on Camp Hope for children who witness violence.  He works with the Re-entry Coalition of Northwest Ohio to give incarcerated offenders an opportunity to be successful citizens upon release, and since October 2011 has run a monthly re-entry docket where recently released offenders have an opportunity to address outstanding Toledo Municipal Court issues.  Judge Kuhlman also serves on the Toledo Police Athletic League Board.

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Judge Kuhlman has focused recent efforts on working with leadership in Lucas County to reduce its overall jail population, with particular focus on defendants of color, defendants with mental health, drug and alcohol issues and poverty.  Judge Kuhlman serves on the Lucas County committee that successfully obtained a MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge grant to continue to focus on these issues, and has worked with others in Lucas County and the Arnold Foundation (Arnold Ventures) to implement the Public Safety Assessment risk assessment bond tool.  With others in that group, Judge Kuhlman presented at the University of Michigan Law School, Michigan Journal of Race and Law, at their seminar titled “Innocent Until Proven Poor, Fighting the Criminalization of Poverty” on February 20, 2016.  Judge Kuhlman is part of the Leadership Team that has provided procedural justice training to over 600 people in the Toledo Lucas County Criminal Justice System; he taught procedural justice to participants of the Bureau of Justice Assistance Smart Suite Fellows Academy through Michigan State University and has been an instructor for the Ohio Supreme Court and the Municipal Court Judges Association on topics ranging from procedural justice to alternative bail practices. In October 2019 he participated with the Center for Court Innovation, the Joyce Foundation and Latham and Watkins for Risk Assessment, Violent Crime and the Fight to End Mass Incarceration: A National Judicial Leadership Summit. 

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Judge Kuhlman is married to Kathy and has two sons, Benjamin 15 and Scott 10.

Taylor Lacroix, LCSW, LADC-I is the Clinical Service Director of Community Services at Open Sky Community Services in Worcester, MA.  In this role, she oversees 24 community-based programs assisting over 2,000 individuals and families experiencing justice involvement, homelessness, substance use and mental health disorders, and other social determinants of health needs.  Taylor was a leader in the development of the Behavioral Health for Justice Involved pilot program with MassHealth and Trial Courts in 2019 which now has statewide contracts and Medicaid benefit coverage (CSP-JI).  During Spring 2020, she helped lead the "Outreach Connect Refer" model to support incarcerated individuals being released during the uptick of COVID-19.  Most recently, Taylor has been a leader in the development and implementation of the state's first Department of Correction funded after incarceration support service, Community Compass at Open Sky. She has been working for non-profit human service agencies in the community, incarcerated settings, and residential settings since 2013.  In 2022, Taylor was recognized as 40 Under Forty by Worcester Business Journal.

Nichole began her career with the Florida Department of Corrections in 1995. Throughout the  past 28 years she has held positions of increasing responsibility and authority. She has more than  11 years of experience working with reentry initiatives, to include serving as the Classification  Supervisor during the opening of Gadsden Re-Entry Center and Assistant Bureau Chief for the  Bureau of Re-Entry and Education, and most recently serving as the Assistant Bureau Chief of the  Transition Services unit where she oversees the Short Sentence Correctional Institution/Unit  initiative and the Mentor Academy, Re-Entry Centers and Re-Entry dorms, Veteran dorm program,  Roadmap to Restoration efforts throughout the state, the oversight, and operations of the  statewide Volunteer Services program, monitoring of the reentry seminars statewide, and  providing training to staff, volunteers, and stakeholders on agency initiatives.

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Nichole is currently enrolled at Florida State College at Jacksonville where she is pursuing her  bachelor’s degree in Human Services.

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Nichole is a member of the American Correctional Association, the Corrections Foundation, the  Correctional Peace Officer’s Foundation, the Association of Women Executives in Corrections, and  the National Association of Re-Entry Professionals.

Kristy Laschober is the author of the best-selling book, Perfectly Flawed - Uncovering Your Greatest Purpose - a raw, interactive, reflective reading experience, that reveals the complexity of the human spirit in all of its glory, pain, and compassion.

Kristy has been a fierce advocate for re-entry and prison reform since her release from a five-year prison sentence in 2017, advocating for new opportunities and access. Kristy earned her Bachelor of Science in Innovation and Leadership at Southern Oregon University and has dedicated her life to freeing other women from the physical and invisible chains that bind them. Kristy led a successful fight to remove the criminal history box on all college applications in Oregon in 2021.

Madeline Lewis is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology at the University of North Dakota. Before starting her academic career, Madeline served in the United States Air Force. Madeline started her criminal justice interest as a Security Forces Member which led her to the University of North Dakota.

Mahlia Lindquist is Executive Director of Ladies Empowerment and Action Program (LEAP), a reentry program dedicated to transforming the lives of women who have experienced incarceration. She brings her advocacy skills from years of practicing law to fight on behalf of the marginalized women she serves through LEAP. Under Ms. Lindquist’s leadership, LEAP has evolved from a small non-profit providing services to women in prison, to being recognized as a leader in the women’s re-entry space.  Since taking the helm at LEAP 8 years ago, her vision of providing housing, wraparound services, trauma-informed therapy, even a retail business to provide jobs and job training have all been realized.  Ms. Lindquist has a law degree from Georgetown University and a BA in economics from Emory University.

Raul M. Lopez is a dedicated Post-Release Case Manager for the GEO Continuum of Care Program. He is an ordained pastor whose passion for helping people extends beyond the spiritual realm. He is also an interventionist for drug-related cases, a motivational speaker at high schools and local universities, and a panel member on the podcast "Death or Prison." Raul's expertise and diverse background make him an excellent resource for those seeking guidance after incarceration.

Cristina Lucier, Ph.D. is the Vice President of Community Programs at The Lord’s Place, a leading homeless and reentry services agency in Palm Beach County, FL.  She has nearly a decade of experience in social service program management and program evaluation, and over ten years of experience in social science research. Her areas of expertise include program development, contract administration, data management, quality assurance, and program budget oversight. She earned her doctorate in Sociology from Boston College in 2014. Cristina has published extensively in peer-reviewed social science journals, touching on topics such as social inequality, environmental pollution and its effects on economically disenfranchised communities, and the impact of regulations on the health status of marginalized populations.  Cristina also serves on the governance board for Palm Beach County’s Homeless and Housing Alliance, and previously served as a subcommittee co-chair for the Palm Beach County Reentry Taskforce.

Tom Luettke has been a practicing attorney in Lucas County since 2003, working as a solo practitioner in the area of criminal defense and bankruptcy.  Tom is an active member of the Reentry Coalition of Northwest Ohio helping to eliminate barriers for citizens returning from incarceration, and in 2015 Tom was hired as the Reentry Coordinator at the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.  In this position Tom oversees the applications for federal reentry grants and then manages the grants that are awarded.  Lucas County has been awarded six Second Chance Act reentry grants.  Tom is actively involved at the state level advocating for reentry programs and is the president of the Ohio Association of Local Reentry Coalitions.  Tom serves on a number of boards in our community as well.  He is a past-president of the Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board as well as the Lucas County Bar Association. He is the current board chair of the Toledo Fair Housing Board and continues to serve on the Executive Committee of the Lucas County Bar Association.  Tom is a graduate of Adrian College and the University of Toledo, College of Law.

Holly Matthews is the Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC).  The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) is a unit of local government that provides an integrated criminal justice information system, criminal history record checks, and management of federal grant dollars to Lucas County and Northwest Ohio.  Ms. Matthews has worked for the CJCC since 2001. In her current role, she oversees a staff of 45 and a budget of $4.1 million.  Under her leadership, CJCC has adopted a focus on reentry and the intersection of behavioral health and criminal justice.  Through her leadership, CJCC has received more than $4 million in federal funding to enhance Lucas County criminal justice reform initiatives.  Ms. Matthews has collaborated on numerous reports and serves on Toledo/Lucas County criminal justice related committees.

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Ms. Matthews earned her J.D. from the University of Toledo, and her B.A. from The College of Wooster.  She is admitted to the Ohio Bar.  Ms. Matthews received the Toledo 20 under 40 Leadership Award in 2016.

Anthony McDuffie, Jr. an Author, Motivational Speaker, Spoken Word Artist and Certified Mental Health First Aider, known for his memoir GRIT GRIND AND GLORY which can be found throughout the world in countries such as the UK, Canada, and Kuwait. Emerging from 15 years in prison, Anthony now shares his story globally, inspiring audiences with his message of resilience and empowerment. Through mentorship, interactive workshops, and motivational speeches, Anthony’s mission is to empower individuals of all ages to pursue their dreams with focus and a healthy mindset.

Anthony recently released his second book, MY LIFE IN POETRY, verses that he penned during his time behind bars. He has been featured on NPR's StoryCorps, iHeartRadio, Shout Out LA, Canvas Rebel magazine and various podcasts worldwide, further amplifying his message of resilience, empowerment, and personal growth. Anthony also serves as editor forTHE FEELINGS WITHIN, a poetry collection by Robert Grigsby, who has been incarcerated for 50 years for a crime he did not commit.
 

Anthony has also immersed himself in the world of TV and film, where he is developing various projects with award-winning actors and producers whose work has been seen on HBO, NBC and Apple TV.

Robert S. Melgaard is a proactive professional in Career and Technical Education (CTE), adept in instructional delivery, stakeholder engagement, professional development, project oversight, and cultivating robust networks to advance student success and workforce readiness.

Currently, Mr. Melgaard holds the position of Career & Technical Education Programs Administrator at the Florida Department of Corrections, overseeing a diverse array of more than 120 CTE initiatives. His responsibilities encompass program management and strategic planning to optimize educational opportunities within the department.

Mr. Melgaard's journey within the Florida Department of Corrections began as a CTE Masonry Instructor and progressed to the role of Regional CTE Coordinator, where he honed his expertise in instructional leadership and program coordination. Moreover, he holds significant leadership roles outside of his primary duties, serving as the President of the Correctional Education Association Florida Chapter and as a member of the Executive Board of Directors of the Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council.

Doris Mendez-DeMaio is the Palm Beach County Library System’s Acreage Branch Manager. After an 18-year stint in various roles at the South Florida Water Management District, she began her library career as a Children’s Librarian at PBCLS’s Hagen Ranch Branch in 2012. In 2015, she became the Head of Children and Teen Services at the Main Library and was promoted to her current position in 2018. Ms. Mendez-DeMaio holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University and a Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of South Florida. In 2022, she combined her love of literacy with her commitment to social justice and started a book club for Juvenile clients at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters.

Ann Mintun attended the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor where she doubled-majored in Political Science and History through the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA).  Ann began working at the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) in 2023 as the Office Manager, where she gained familiarity with the criminal legal landscape in Toledo/Lucas County, OH.  Towards the end of 2023, Ann was promoted as the Behavioral Health/Criminal Justice Coordinator at the CJCC.  In this position, Ann is responsible for analysis, research, development, planning, and evaluation activities that support system improvements at the intersection of the Lucas County behavioral health and criminal legal systems.  Her main focus is reducing the penetration of persons with behavioral health issues into the criminal legal system.  Ann is the primary contact for the Lucas County Stepping Up Initiative, which is recognized nationally as an Innovator County in the Stepping Up Initiative.  She serves on Lucas County’s Jail Population Review Team, Hospital Utilization Meeting, and Opiate Coalition.

Meghan Mitchell, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of North Dakota. She received her BS and MS from North Dakota State University and her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University. Her current work examines the areas of corrections, subcultures, and research methodologies. She has published in the British Journal of Criminology, Justice Quarterly, Journal of Experimental Criminology, Journal of Quantitative Criminology, Criminal Justice & Behavior, Sociological Methods & Research, Journal of Criminal Justice, British Medical Journal Open, and the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health among other places. She has extensive knowledge and expertise in data collection within correctional settings involving both incarcerated people and correctional staff, and she is a trained facilitator for the Inside-Out Prison Educational Exchange Program.

With over three decades of experience in mental health and community services, Judith Negron has become a pivotal figure in the reentry and workforce development sectors. As the Managing Partner at Reentry Innovations, she focuses on empowering justice-impacted individuals through education, mentorship, and support, notably assisting over 3,000 system-impacted women. Her strategic leadership extends to key initiatives with Unlock Higher Education and The Ladies of Hope Ministries, where she works to provide access to higher education and equitable employment opportunities post-incarceration. A seasoned advocate for justice reform, Negron holds a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Her commitment to reentry support is demonstrated through her active involvement in several organizations and leadership programs dedicated to justice reform and community service. She is a respected voice pushing for systemic change in the reentry landscape.

Sarah Neidlinger is the Health Care for Re-entry Veteran’s (HCRV) Specialist with the VA for the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 10, Southernwestern tier, which covers much of Indiana. She has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from IU School of Social Work (2006) and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with the State of Indiana. In her role as HCRV Specialist, Sarah provides Outreach to Veterans at over 15 correctional facilities in Indiana who are within six to twelve months of releasing from incarceration. Sarah has been with the VA for over 17 years working in the justice programs, homelessness programs, VA mental health and primary care. Sarah has worked on a number of innovative/emerging projects within the HCRV program at the VA, including an Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) Veteran’s unit, Veteran’s re-entry fairs, collaborating with Veterans Justice Outreach Coordinators for re-entry tracts for Veteran’s treatment courts, and a collaboration with IDOC to utilize the Learning Management System/GTL to upload Veteran information. For the past two years, Sarah has led a national workgroup and then completed a detail with the VA National Homeless Program Office addressing barriers to re-entry for Veterans who release from incarceration who have to register as a sex offender.

Oswald Newbold serves as President on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Reentry Professionals Inc. He also works as the Reentry Coordinator at The Reentry Center of Riviera Beach and is involved with the Palm Beach County Reentry Task Force and the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission. In the past year, he participated in initiatives and workshops to identify service gaps, improve services for individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders in the criminal justice system, and optimize local resources.

Oswald's personal experiences fuel his dedication to reentry, policy advocacy, criminal justice reform, and conflict resolution, focusing on issues like racial biases, sentencing disparities, and post-incarceration reintegration. He actively engages policymakers and is currently in training with JustLeadership USA (JLUSA) to further his impact. Oswald also graduated from the Prison-to-Profession (P2P) Scholar Program in 2023, which focuses on advocacy and mentoring. Globally, he advocates for criminal justice reform aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.

In conflict resolution, Oswald began as a mediator resolving prisoner disputes and now mediates landlord-tenant conflicts in a program designed to prevent homelessness. He is preparing to launch a youth conflict resolution program, empowering them to address bullying, harassment, and gang activity as certified mediators.

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Oswald emphasizes collaboration over competition in reentry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and is pursuing certifications in Project Management and Data Analysis to use in the reentry field.

Nicole Niebuhr, PhD, joined the UWF faculty as an assistant professor in the Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice in 2019 after earning her doctoral degree from Sam Houston State University. Her research interests include criminal careers, corrections, criminological theory and program evaluation.

Megan Nyce is a Justice Research Analyst in the Corrections and Reentry Research program at RTI International. She is an advocate for individuals who are currently and formerly incarcerated and a research professional with over four years of experience in applied social research. Her research has focused on a variety of criminal legal system projects with intersections in prison and jail reentry, education, mental and behavioral health, technology, and equitable community partnership and sustainability in research. Some of her relevant research roles include: a project manager on an evaluation of a web-based reentry planning tool called Pokket and serves as a research analyst for a project on Bureau of Prisons (BOP) reentry programs and outreach support for people with lived experience as formerly employed or formerly incarcerated. Megan currently resides in the Bay Area of California and has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and English from the University of New Mexico and is working towards a master’s in public policy at the University of the Pacific. 

With a distinguished career spanning over 30 years in the field of justice ecosystems, Dr. Janee M. Pannkuk, PhD, stands out as a dedicated and innovative leader in criminal justice and reform. Her extensive experience and unwavering commitment to improving reentry processes have made significant impacts across various sectors of the justice system.

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Dr. Pannkuk's career is notably marked by over two decades of service with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS), where her roles have ranged from frontline positions to key leadership roles. Her deep understanding of the corrections landscape and her strategic vision have been instrumental in advancing numerous initiatives within the department.

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Throughout her career, Dr. Pannkuk has remained deeply passionate about reentry, consistently focusing on initiatives that support individuals transitioning from incarceration back into society.  Her work emphasizes the importance of providing comprehensive support systems to reduce recidivism and promote long-term success for reentrants.

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Her career is a testament to her dedication to creating safer communities and supporting the successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals. Dr. Pannkuk's leadership, vision, and passion for justice reform make her a respected and influential figure in the field.

Dr. Pannkuk holds advanced degrees in human capital management (Ph.D.) and public administration (MPA). Her expertise and advocacy continue to inspire and drive meaningful change in the justice ecosystem.

asey Parker was the second employee hired in 2006 as the Associate Director of the Mental Health Association of Nebraska (MHA). In July of 2016, she was promoted to Executive Director. Kasey has assisted in the development and implementation of Nebraska’s first peer-directed and nationally accredited (CARF) programs and is currently the largest peer-run organization in the Midwest, employing approximately sixty-three peer specialists. These programs include: The H.O.P.E. Supported Employment Program, the peer respite Keya House, and the law enforcement referral program. Most recently Kasey has worked with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, Nebraska Parole Administration, and Nebraska State Probation to develop and implement peer operated re-entry services. In 2018 the peer-run transitional home for people reentering the community expanded from a five-bedroom home to a 20-bedroom home under the direction of Kasey. Kasey also identifies as a person with lived experience, experiencing both mental health and substance use challenges.

Andre Peart is the founder of Untapped Solutions (formerly ConConnect), a platform dedicated to bridging the gap between justice-involved individuals and fair-chance employers throughout the United States. With a personal commitment to reentry services, Andre has:

• Successfully graduated from the Robin Hood Blue Ridge Labs, receiving guidance and capital to further his mission.

• Led Untapped Solutions to secure a $1.6 million pre-seed round, with notable investors including Google, Robin Hood, Van Jones, Dream.org, and the Decarceration Fund.

• Deployed technology to over 2,000 NGOs.

• Facilitated 20,000+ referrals to support service agencies.

• Reduced client-related task hours by over 50,000.

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Andre's innovative approach and dedication have made a substantial impact in supporting the reentry and integration of justice-involved individuals across the nation.

Meredith Powers-Lupo is a passionate reentry advocate and engaging presenter. Meredith has been with the United States Department of Veteran Affairs for 24 years. She earned her BSW from Elms College and her MSW from Boston College.

Jessica Rich is the Senior Research Analyst at the GEO Group, pursuing a Ph.D. at Florida International University. She earned her M.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Florida State University. Her areas of interest include the aging prison population, programming and rehabilitation, and community reintegration. Her current research focuses on the role of prison visitation for older individuals who are incarcerated.

Vanessa Rojas is an agent of change, a community organizer, and committed to abolishing systems of oppression. Having served four years in federal prison, she is pursuing a degree in Law, Public Policy, and Society while managing special projects at Palomar Community College in the office of the President. Vanessa is a motivational public speaker and advocate for criminal justice reform, working with grassroots organizations like FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums) and Initiate Justice Action. In addition to her advocacy work, Vanessa is part of a national community of reentry experts. She is also a published author. She facilitates workshops and mentors women and men. Vanessa's journey as a survivor of childhood trauma, domestic abuse, addiction, and incarceration drives her passion for promoting successful reintegration for individuals reentering society. As a mother and grandmother, Vanessa is dedicated to creating a more just and equitable world for future generations.

Dr. Maribel Roman is a development consultant with over thirty years of experience in operational excellence, program development, and higher education. She holds a Master of Diplomacy and a Ph.D. in Education Leadership & Policy from Seton Hall University.

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Dr. Roman's career began with a unique combination of law enforcement and education. While pursuing her Criminal Justice degree, she worked as a Correction Officer in a New Jersey prison. This experience ignited her passion for proactive youth intervention, prompting her to transition from the legal field to education leadership.

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In higher education, Dr. Roman has made significant contributions. She co-founded and co-directs the Center for Global Education at Seton Hall University. At Teachers College, Columbia University, she directed the Office of International Affairs and taught graduate courses in Conflict Resolution and Diplomacy.

Since retiring from full-time academia in 2016, Dr. Roman has dedicated herself to consulting. She specializes in designing, organizing, and managing programs that provide educational opportunities and foster personal growth. Her consultancy work reflects her commitment to empowering individuals.

David Rook, with over a decade in recovery, has significantly impacted the mental health and recovery sector. Since 2016, he’s been a trainer for DBHDS Peer Recovery Support Specialist Training and previously held a similar role at the McShin Foundation until 2016. He founded True Recovery RVA, Virginia’s largest recovery residence provider, and led it until 2023. As President of the Virginia Association of Recovery Residents (2014-2023), he was instrumental in securing $17 million in state funds over five years, underscoring his dedication and influence in the field of recovery and mental health.

Daniel Saull, a lifelong Florida resident, is a proponent for prison education programs, mental health awareness, group therapy, and positive reformation. In 2016, Daniel received a four year prison sentence with 10 years of probation to follow. While incarcerated he enrolled in the Adams State University distance correspondence learning program, earning a Master of Business degree. Furthermore, Daniel was also a positive influence upon his fellow inmates teaching GED classes along with one on one tutoring. He assisted over 50 of his peers with earning their high school equivalent diploma. Since his release he has hopes to continue his learning prowess by advancing his personal degrees and educational goals, applying to several accredited universities in pursuit of a Ph.D. Living out his passion for prison education reform, and mental health awareness, Daniel will also continue to teach and peer facilitate within the group learning models. Finally, he is happily married, lives in the south Florida area with his wife, 2 amazing dogs, and is an avid hockey fan.

Allison Schild is a parent leader in Miami, Florida. As a parent leader, Allison advocates for institutions to develop justice-centered, and anti-racist practices. In addition to advocacy, Allison supports parents, families, and communities in building collective power through community organizing in knowing that they have rights when CPS knocks. Allison co-designed a birth parent engagement department at the lead child welfare agency, Citrus Family Care Network, in Dade and Monroe County. Allison is a founding member and board chair for a statewide group of parent leaders, Parent Advocates for Transformation and Healing (PATH), and is a Parent Knowledge Partner training consultant with Mining for Gold.

Dr. Derrick D. Schofield, Ph.D., has a distinguished career working in correctional systems in Tennessee, Georgia, and the private sector for 34 years. He served as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Correction, Assistant Commissioner and Chief of Staff for the Georgia Department of Corrections, and Warden at five facilities over 13 years. He is an Army Veteran where he obtained the rank of Captain.

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After earning his bachelor’s in political science, Dr. Schofield’s commitment to public service took him to the United States Army, where he rose to the rank of Captain. He earned a Master of Public Administration from Columbus State University and graduated from Georgia’s Law Enforcement Command College. He earned his doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership from Piedmont International University. He is a 2023 recipient of the American Correctional Associations E.R. Cass Award.

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Dr. Schofield embodies the core foundation of servant leadership. He gives back to the community at every level and continues to look for innovative solutions to enhance the lives of others. He believes that leadership matters and can significantly influence positive outcomes. One of Dr. Schofield’s favorite quotes, which he embodies daily, is by Theodore Roosevelt, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena."

Beverly Sharp is the Director of Reentry Initiatives for the West Virginia Council of Churches and the Founder and Executive Director of The REACH Initiative, developing programs, initiatives, and training to improve the opportunities for formerly incarcerated people to successfully return to the community as productive citizens, as well as to educate communities on the barriers faced by former incarcerated people, to reduce recidivism and to Build Bridges to a Better Community.  Additionally, she was instrumental in the formation of Reentry Councils across the state of West Virginia.

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She has worked in the field of Law Enforcement and Corrections for over 35 years.  Most of her professional career was spent with the United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons.  She held several positions of increasing responsibility including Correctional Officer, Correctional Treatment Specialist, Correctional Program Manager, Employment Development Manager and Director of Human Resources and Training. Beverly has been certified by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) in the following areas:  Offender Employment Specialist, Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS) Training and OWDS Certified Instructor. 

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Beverly currently serves on the Board of Directors for the West Virginia Association of Addiction and Prevention Professionals; former Co-Chair of Housing, Transportation and Employment on the WV Governor’s Council for Substance Use Disorder; and member of the Reentry Subcommittee on the Access to Justice Commission, WVU Law School.

Dr. Matthew Shepherd is the owner and CEO of Midwest Evaluation and Research (MER), based in Emporia, Kansas. MER provides capacity building and program evaluation and consulting exclusively to not-for-profit organizations (NGO’s, foundations, schools and government entities) in the arenas of healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood programming, reentry programming, workforce development, and organizational effectiveness. Dr. Shepherd has more than 25 years of experience in program design and implementation, applied research, program evaluation, policy analysis, and the provision of evaluation-based technical assistance. His “real world” evaluation and programmatic work has helped funders, decision makers, program staff, and stakeholders understand how complex systems work and how they can be improved. With regard to the present Reentry Summit, Dr. Shepherd is the principal investigator on multiple evaluation studies in partnership with The RIDGE Project.

Crystal Speer has worked in the field of corrections for almost 20 years. During that time, she has gained a broad range of experience, including behavioral health case management, juvenile intake and assessment, intensive supervision probation, and correctional facility programming. Crystal enjoys helping facilitate staff development trainings and was also previously a member of the Crisis Resolution (Hostage Negotiation) Team for the El Dorado Correctional Facility. In her current position as Programs Director for the Kansas Department of Corrections, Crystal provides oversight of cognitive-based programming for all KDOC facilities across the state. This includes monitoring contracts, administering grant projects, serving as a liaison between KDOC and providers, and coordinating quality and ongoing training/support for providers. She is also responsible for staying up-to-date on the most current research to ensure programming remains effective and evidence-based. Her focus is to ensure all correctional facility residents in Kansas have the opportunity to participate in impactful, risk/needs driven programming, regardless of length of sentence or housing assignment (restrictive housing, general population, clinic, etc.). Crystal continuously works to find new programming options, increase access to programs, and to expand the peer mentor training program in Kansas facilities.

Ryan Spohn, PhD, is the Director of the Nebraska Center of Justice Research (NCJR) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where he performs research and evaluation activities targeted at improving the performance of juvenile justice, criminal justice, and corrections activities. For ten years,  he has served as principal investigator on the evaluation of Nebraska's statewide, multisite Vocational & Life Skills reentry initiative. He has also served on research partner on three reentry grant projects funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.  Dr. Spohn has published in numerous sociology and criminal justice journals, including Criminal Justice and Behavior, Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, and Crime & Delinquency. Dr. Spohn has served as both a research partner and a consultant for the BJA. He has a Ph.D. in Sociology/Criminology from the University of Iowa, an MS in Sociology/Criminology from Texas A&M University, and a BS in Sociology/Criminology from Kansas State University. Dr. Spohn is a Fellow of the BJA Innovations Suite Research-Practitioner Academy and a Fellow of Georgetown University’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform.

Candice Sporhase-White, a visionary leader with over two decades of senior leadership experience, is dedicated to revolutionizing re-entry services. Through her unwavering commitment to justice and opportunity, Candice pioneers fair chance hiring and housing initiatives, dismantling barriers for justice-involved individuals. Believing fervently in economic empowerment, she champions pathways to mortgage-paying careers to combat recidivism and break cycles of incarceration. Her advocacy and innovative approaches catalyze systemic change, offering hope to those seeking a fresh start. Beyond her leadership in re-entry services, Candice's philanthropy extends to her service on multiple non-profit boards and her mentorship of youth. As a Colorado native, she brings a unique perspective shaped by her diverse professional background. Candice stands as a beacon of hope and resilience, inspiring positive change and shaping a future where second chances are embraced with dignity and opportunity.

Laura Stanley celebrates her journey of long-term recovery since November 28, 2016, drawing strength from her personal battles with domestic violence, childhood trauma, the intricacies of the criminal justice system, and the challenges associated with mental health and substance use. Laura's dedication to her growth and helping others is reflected in her attainment of several prestigious certifications: the Recognized Peer Support Specialist Certification through the Louisiana Office of Behavioral Health, the IC/RC Peer Recovery Support Specialist Certification through Louisiana Substance Abuse Counselors and Trainers, the National Certified Peer Specialist Credential through The National Certification Board for Behavioral Health Professionals and most recently the Integrated Forensic Peer Recovery Specialist certification with the SAFE Project and Hand2Heart collaborative.

Over the past five years, Laura has devoted herself to the role of Peer Support Specialist, offering unwavering support to individuals grappling with mental health and substance use challenges. Her commitment extends to various fronts, including working with a mobile outreach crisis team for the Louisiana State Opioid Response, manning a crisis call line, and providing personalized support to clients and groups within a clinical setting. Laura is a member of the Special Therapies Addiction Treatment Team at Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Louisiana, where she continues her passionate work, now focusing on individuals within the correctional system, employing her vast experience and deep empathy to support their journey toward recovery.

In her role at Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex, Laura:

• Ensures that the people she serves have the community resources and social support to re-enter society successfully

• Serves as a role model, advocate, and motivator to prevent return to use and promotes lifelong recovery from mental health and substance use challenges

• Facilitates recovery planning, life skills, coping skills, parenting, and substance abuse education classes

• Provides one-on-one and group peer support sessions to help people identify their goals post-release and assists with treatment planning

Laura's academic journey has recently culminated in her graduation Cum Laude from Northwestern State University of Louisiana on December 13, 2023, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a major concentration in substance abuse and a minor in addiction studies, underscoring her passion for dismantling the stigma surrounding substance use and mental health. She is currently pursuing her master’s at Louisiana State University, focusing on Social Work.

A highlight of Laura's advocacy work occurred in 2019 when she was honored with a medallion from the Office of National Drug Control Policy by James Carroll in recognition of her courage in sharing her recovery story. Laura lives by the mantra, “Recovery is no longer the exception. It is the expectation!” and actively encourages those facing difficulties to seek the support needed to navigate their challenges. As a proud mother to three beautiful daughters, Laura makes her home in Houma, LA, where she continues to inspire and advocate for change, demonstrating through her life and work that recovery and resilience can flourish even in the most challenging circumstances.

Ella Taylor is a graduate student at Pennsylvania State University working toward her M.A. in Criminology. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in Criminology and a minor in Economics. During her undergraduate studies, she conducted research through USF’s CREATE Lab, an advanced undergraduate/graduate research lab focusing on employment and reentry. Throughout her experience in the CREATE Lab, Ella gained valuable experience in data collection, survey design, statistical analysis, and literature reviews. She has been closely collaborating with Dr. Chae Jaynes, the Co-Director of CREATE Lab, since January 2023. Her primary research interests include employment, reentry, behavioral economics related to theories of crime, economically compulsive crimes, decision-making and rational choice, drug trafficking, and quantitative methodologies.

Stephanie Taylor-Thompson is a lifelong resident of Idaho Falls, Idaho. She is in long term recovery and a formerly incarcerated person. Stephanie earned full pardons from both Idaho and Montana in 2017. She graduated from Idaho State University with degrees in Sociology and Criminology and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work. Stephanie is a former Reentry Specialist for the Idaho Department of Correction and a former AmeriCorps VISTA. She currently serves as Director of Reentry Transformation for Workbay, and a Prison Ministry Manager for the nation’s largest prison ministry. She is also a Certified Peer Support Specialist, Certified Family Support Partner and Recovery Coach. She is a graduate of the Idaho Citizens Law Academy. Stephanie is an elected board member for numerous organizations dedicated to reentry, recovery, and mental health, as well as a council member for the Idaho State Rehabilitation Council. Most recently, she was appointed as a commissioner for the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism for the state of Idaho. Stephanie has received both state and national awards for her dedication to reentry and criminal justice reform. She is dedicated to criminal justice reform, reentry, addiction recovery and anti-human trafficking efforts.

Danielle Thomas is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the Department of Criminology at the University of South Florida (USF). She holds a bachelor's degree in criminology and psychology, as well as a master's degree in criminology, both from the University of South Florida. Her research interests encompass several areas within the field, including corrections, reentry, recidivism, program evaluation, and the relationship between employment and crime. Danielle is also a research assistant at USF, a member of the Crime Etiology and Treatment Evaluation (CREATE) Lab, and a member of the Alpha Phi Sigma Criminology Honor Society. In addition to her academic pursuits, she dedicates her time as a volunteer for the Florida Department of Corrections, playing an integral role in various prison reentry programs. Her primary focus is on equipping incarcerated individuals with the necessary skills and resources for a successful reentry into society, with a particular emphasis on employment readiness. Ms. Thomas is well-connected with criminal justice stakeholders to facilitate these reentry efforts for returning citizens.

Ms. Truman is a successful reintegrating citizen, an advocate of system-impacted people, and the president of TruAlchemy Productions Inc. in Orlando, FL. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 2009 from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies in 2016 from Asbury Theological Seminary. As a former sign language interpreter, her academic interests are focused on spirituality and intersectionality in the deaf community. She is passionate about supporting justice-involved populations and shares her lived experience to advocate for reducing barriers to successful reintegration. Additionally, her love of Semiotics and spiritual art led her to pursue stained glass construction as a hobby, and she continues to do commissioned-based work. 

Derrick K. Watson currently serves as Director for the City & County of Denver: Denver Construction Career Program (DCCP). Prior to him accepting this position, he served as a Program Manager for Denver Workforce Services as Contractor Liaison for DCCP. Before his career in DCCP, he spent over 35 years working as an administrator at CU Boulder.

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Derrick has made numerous State and national presentations on Workforce Development, most recently on improving the pipeline line for diverse workers in the construction industry at LCPtracker’s National Conference in San Diego, California.

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One capstone of Derrick’s career was the development and execution of one the nation’s first Higher Education Public/Private Partnership. The execution of a $70million dollar housing development was one of the first of its kind and has now become a national model for new student housing development. His construction portfolio includes well over $600million in vertical and horizontal construction projects.

Christopher Waugh, born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1982, has a profound personal and professional journey. Spending two decades in active addiction, Christopher found his turning point on August 11, 2018, through the Chesterfield County Jail HARP Program. This transformative experience led him to bond with True Recovery RVA in November 2018. Demonstrating commitment and growth, he served as Resident Advisor from February 2019 until February 2020. Recognized for his dedication, he advanced to Director of Men's Programs and further ascended to Director of Operations in May 2022. A certified CPRS, Christopher is a devoted father of three and a loving husband, exemplifying resilience and leadership in recovery and support.

Rashod Wiggins is an experienced case manager at The GEO Group with three years of dedicated service. Holding certifications in Business, Logistics and Transportation, he brings a blend of expertise to his role. With a track record of leadership and supervision, coupled with excellent interpersonal skills, Rashod is adept at navigating complex situations and fostering positive relationships.

Daniel H. Williams is a devoted Christian leader and Master Facilitator deeply committed to guiding individuals towards personal growth and transformation through the lens of faith. As a Certified John Maxwell speaker, trainer, and coach, he empowers others with impactful insights and practical wisdom. His role as a Project Director for the RIDGE Project reflects his dedication to fostering positive change within communities.

Furthermore, Daniel serves as the Chairperson of the Early Head Start Governance Committee, advocating tirelessly for the educational welfare of children. Beyond his professional endeavors, he treasures his role as a devoted husband and loving father of four, recognizing the immense value of family.

Daniel’s journey includes overcoming challenges, including a period of formal incarceration This experience has become a catalyst for his passionate commitment to help others navigate similar struggles, inspiring hope, resilience, and a deeper spiritual connection. Through his faith-driven leadership and personal story of redemption, he continues to empower individuals to discover their potential and purpose in life.

G. Alan Williams, M.Ed. is a dedicated Program Planner for the School District of Palm Beach County's Department of Support Services, where he leads the Supplemental and Intensive Intervention Team. With over 20 years of experience in education and 12 years of expertise in Restorative Practices, Alan is committed to creating supportive, inclusive environments for students. A former collegiate and high school football coach and a passionate youth mentor, Alan is also active in several community organizations. He is the proud owner of Big Al's Gourmet BBQ Sauce, combining his love for food and community. A devout Christian, Alan is guided by his faith in God. Above all, he is a dedicated father to three wonderful children: Anyla Danielle, Avery Simone, and Gerald Alexander.

Lieutenant Latifa Williams began her career with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office in Thibodaux, Louisiana 9 years ago. In late 2015, she began working at the Lafourche Parish Detention Center as a Corrections Officer. She has since worked in many capacities within the Corrections Department, including serving on the Correctional Complex's transition team assisting with building new policies and procedures. Her primary focus on the team was corrections training. This led to her role as the Corrections Training Manager beginning in 2018, responsible for the building, tracking and reporting of all correctional training. In 2019, she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and served as a shift supervisor directly responsible for booking and intake procedures. In 2020, she transitioned to a program facilitator on the Correctional Complex’s Reentry Team where she taught rehabilitation courses and reentry methods to the facility’s offender population. Additionally, Lt. Williams aids in maintaining the Correctional Complex’s ACA accreditation through her work with the accreditation team.

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Most recently, she was promoted to serve as the Assistant Director of Programming, where she co-heads the Southeast Central Louisiana Regional Reentry Team and the Lafourche Parish Day Reporting Center that covers rehabilitation and reentry from initial incarceration to community supervision reaching 7 parishes in the southern-most part of Louisiana. In her free time, Lt. Williams enjoys building and presenting workshops sharing about reentry; she has presented at the American Correctional Association Conferences in 2021 and 2024, the Louisiana Correctional Association Conference in 2023, as well as, the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association Conference in 2024. Lt. Williams holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Degree earned from Nicholls State University in 2021 and is set to begin her Clinical Mental Health and Addiction Counseling Master’s Program in August of 2024.

Jimmie Wilson is a dedicated professional with a wealth of experience in education, community engagement, reentry/recovery, and workforce development. She has extensive knowledge and is currently employed as the Director of Recovery/Reentry Services for the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP).  Her previous positions have spanned the Justice System Coordinator for Recovery/Reentry Programs and Project Director over the CSCR Grant’s Harding County Project, and she has been instrumental in driving positive change and social impact throughout her career.

With a strong background as a former schoolteacher, student personnel manager, business community liaison, and job entry and entry support specialist, Jimmie deeply understands individuals' challenges and opportunities in their career journeys. Over 29 years, Jimmie has significantly contributed to various esteemed programs, including the Head Start program, Floyd County Schools educational system, and the Job Corps program.

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In 2019, Jimmie joined the EKCEP team as a Job Developer/Retention & Reentry Specialist for the innovative statewide program eKART (Eastern Kentucky Addiction & Recovery Training), then doing the same work with the Strategic Initiative for Transformational Employment (SITE) Program.  In this role, Jimmie has played a pivotal role in assisting people in the region to find gainful employment while linking them to other essential services they may require. Her dedication to fostering strong connections with businesses has resulted in successful transitional employment opportunities for numerous program participants while working with drug courts and reentry across Kentucky. Jimmie also manages the Crisis Stabilization Community Reentry Grant (CSCR) for the Substance Abuse Program (SAP) in the Hardin Co. Detention Center.

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Jimmie's passion for promoting justice, recovery, and reentry extends beyond their professional duties. They hold key leadership positions, including serving as the Eastern KY Reentry Council Chair, a Southeast Chamber Board Member, and a Turning Point Domestic Violence Board Member. Additionally, Jimmie contributes their expertise as a KSAP Council Member and holds a significant role on the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health: Court Responses Workgroup.

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Jimmie is a proud graduate of Morehead State University, having earned a B.A. degree in Early Childhood Education. Jimmie resides in Lexington, KY, with her husband, Carl, and their beloved three dogs. Jimmie's dedication to family is evident, with a son, twin grandsons, and a granddaughter who bring joy to their lives.

Captain Mike Woolman has been a member of the Lincoln Police Department since September of 1987, and is currently assigned as the commanding officer of the Southeast Team. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University in Organizational Management and graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2012. During his career at LPD, he has worked as a Field Training Officer Coordinator, Internal Resource Officer, Planning and Research Sergeant, Southwest Team Captain, and Duty Commander. Captain Woolman is also a former commander of the Canine Unit and Field Force.