SPEAKERS

Featured Speakers

Thea Agnew Bemben

Special Assistant to Mayor LaFrance, Homelessness, Health, and Community Safety
Municipality of Anchorage

Jess Adamson, BSN, RN

Public Health Nurse
Anchorage Health Department

Katie Baldwin-Johnson, M.S.

Chief Operating Officer
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority

Michelle Baker, MBA

Executive Vice President
Southcentral Foundation

Kristy Becker, PhD

Forensic Psychologist

APD

Leah Besh, PA-C

Director of HIV Clinical Services
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

Mavis Boone

Advisory Council Member
Alaska Community Health Worker Network

Jay Butler, MD

Dean

College of Health, UAA

Sean Case

Chief of Police
Anchorage Police Department

George Conway, MD, MPH, DABPM

Chief Medical Officer
Anchorage Health Department

Kena Desai, MD

Internal Medicine Physician

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

Katrina Domnick, MPH

Associate Research Coordinator

Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation

Rose Domnick, Calricaraq Trainer

Owner/Trainer

Nuyailnguq Training and Consulting

Kira England, PhD

Syndemics Lead
Alaska Department of Health

Brian Fuchs

Lieutenant
Anchorage Police

Jen Galvan, BA, PSPIII, CDCS

Executive Director
Alaska Peer, LLC

Nyabony Gat, CHES

Director of Community & Social Services
Alaska Literacy Program / AK CHW Network

Elana Habib, MPH

State Opioid Treatment Authority
State of Alaska DOH DBH

Tiffany Hall, MPA

CEO
Recover Alaska

Carlton Hall

President/CEO
Carlton Hall Consulting

Heidi Hedberg

Commissioner
Department of Health

Travis Hedwig, PhD

Assistant Dean
UAA

Drew Herby

Reentry Program Director
Ketchikan Wellness Collation

Josie Heyano, LCSW

CEO and Founder
Signify Mental Health and Community Care

Marcia Howell, JD

Executive Director
Alaska Injury Prevention Center (DBA Center for Safe Alaskans)

Annette Hubbard

PD/Case Manager/Peer Support
Ninilchik Traditional Council

Tami Truett Jerue, BA, 46 Years experience in the Field

Executive Director
Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center

Lindsey Kato, MPH

Director

Division of Public Health, Alaska Department of Health

Michelle Kavouras, CDCS, NCPRSS, CADC, RCPF

Co-Owner
SpheraNova

Robert Lawrence, MD

Chief Medical Officer
Alaska Department of Health

Benjamin Lewis

Assistant Chief
Anchorage Fire Department

Christina Love

Owner
Christina Love Consulting

Melanie Luna

Alaska Community Outreach Coordinator

Ideal Option

Carla MacGregor, LPC

Senior Director Behavioral Health

Providence Alaska Medical Center

Linda Mankoff, CHW

Patient Assistance Program Coordinator

Turnagain Community Health

Mike Marshall

C.E.O.
U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance

Cameron McCoy, LLMSW

Clinical Social Worker/Mental Health Educator

Real McCoy Counseling Services

Hope McGratty, PA-C, MPH, AAHIVS

Physician Assistant
ANTHC

Naomi Michalsen

Owner
Kaasei Training & Consulting

Suzette O'Donnell, LCSW

Senior Clinician/Cognitive Performance Specialist
AKBH & ANG

Jennifer Pierce, PhD, LPC-S

Program Manager
Anchorage Fire Department

Jonathan Pistotnik, MPH

Reentry Program Manager
Alaska Department of Corrections

Tara Schmidt, MPH

Research Associate Senior
University of Michigan Research to Practice (R2P) Lab

Bailey Singstad

Case Manager
Ketchikan Wellness Coalition

Jerry Short

Diversion Investigator
Drug Enforcement Administration

Alicia Sparks, PhD, MPH

Senior Principal
Synergy Enterprises, Inc

Sarah Spencer, DO, FASAM

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Ninilchik Traditional Council Community Clinic

Jennifer Stukey

Chief Operating Officer
Narcotic Drug Treatment Center Inc.

Fred Sweetski, LMSW, CDC-1

Behavioral Health Director
Mount Juneau Counseling & Recovery (Gastineau Human Services)

Lisa Townshend-Bulson, MSN, FNP-C

Liver Disease & Hepatitis Program Director

ANTHC

Monique Tula, MS

Principal and Founder

Cadence Coaching and Consulting

Ericka Weynand, MS, HS- BCP, CDCS

Outreach & Engagement Manager
Akeela

Christopher Wightman, LCSW, MSW

Clinical Director
Southcentral Foundation

Jackie Yates

Executive Director
Ketchikan Wellness Coalition

Thea Agnew Bemben

Special Assistant to Mayor LaFrance, Homelessness, Health, and Community Safety
Municipality of Anchorage
Thea Agnew Bemben is Special Assistant to Mayor Suzanne LaFrance, focused on Homelessness, Health, and Community Safety. From 2002 to 2024, Thea was a principal and co-founder of Agnew::Beck Consulting, a planning, policy, and community development firm. Thea has 30 years’ experience working with statewide and community organizations to bring about real improvements in the health and social conditions of the people they serve. Thea’s academic background focuses on decolonizing Alaska historical narratives to better understand current disparities in health outcomes and belonging. Thea is a lifelong Alaskan dedicated to growing healthy, safe communities where all of us can thrive.

Jess Adamson, BSN, RN

Public Health Nurse
Anchorage Health Department
Jess is a Public Health Nurse at the Anchorage Health Department. As a member of the Outreach Team, Jess' main focus is bringing preventative services and health screenings to underserved populations. Jess and her colleagues bring care into the community by facilitating regular pop-up clinics throughout Anchorage.

Katie Baldwin-Johnson, M.S.

Chief Operating Officer
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
Katie Baldwin‑Johnson is the Chief Operating Officer of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and brings more than a decade of experience in policy development grounded in a strong foundation of direct service, program administration, and beneficiary-focused advocacy in Alaska. A Licensed Professional Counselor, she is instrumental in advancing the Trust’s program, policy, planning, and grant administration work, helping to strengthen Alaska’s behavioral health system and improve outcomes for Trust beneficiaries.

Michelle Baker, MBA

Executive Vice President
Southcentral Foundation
Michelle Baker joined SCF in 2000 and now serves as Executive Vice President of SCF’s Behavioral Services division, which provides behavioral care to SCF’s customer-owners through many different programs such as SCF’s Outpatient Community Behavioral Health programs, Residential and Outpatient Substance Use Programs, Behavioral Urgent Response Team, Medication Assisted Treatment, Co-located Psychiatry and the Quyana Clubhouse, among others. Of Yup’ik and Caucasian descent and a Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC) shareholder, Michelle was born and raised in Koliganek, Alaska. A University of Alaska Fairbanks graduate with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration, Michelle is married with two children. She has worked in behavioral services since 2000.

Kristy Becker, PhD

Forensic Psychologist
APD
Dr. Kristy Becker is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist with extensive experience in behavioral health crisis response, forensic psychology, psychiatric hospital leadership, and cross-system collaboration in Alaska. She currently serves as Chief Clinical Officer of the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, where she is part of the core administrative leadership team for Alaska’s only state psychiatric hospital. In that role, she oversees clinical programming and services for adult, adolescent, and forensic patients and provides leadership for psychology, social work, and rehabilitation services. Dr. Becker also operates a small private practice, where she conducts forensic and clinical psychological evaluations, provides psycho-legal consultation, and offers expert testimony. Her work has included diagnostic clarification, mitigation evaluations, sex offender risk assessment, competency-related matters, program evaluation, and consultation regarding mental health service delivery in a variety of settings. Dr. Becker has formerly served as Chief Forensic Psychologist at API, where she led forensic psychology services, managed the competency restoration unit, supervised psychologists and trainees, and helped develop programs and processes related to forensic treatment and evaluation. Earlier in her career, she worked directly in court-ordered forensic evaluation, mobile crisis outreach, homeless outreach, community corrections, supportive housing, and direct psychiatric care in inpatient and correctional settings. This breadth of experience gives her a practical understanding of how behavioral health, public safety, emergency response, and community systems intersect. Dr. Becker has also provided training and supervision to psychologists, interns, attorneys, judges, and other stakeholders across Alaska on forensic and behavioral health topics. Her professional focus includes improving crisis response systems, strengthening interdisciplinary partnerships, and developing effective, trauma-informed approaches for individuals with serious behavioral health needs, including people experiencing homelessness, justice involvement, and repeated crisis system contact. She brings to this panel a clinical, operational, and systems-level perspective on co-response, care coordination, and the value of strong community partnerships in promoting safety, recovery, and better outcomes for underserved populations in Alaska.

Leah Besh, PA-C

Director of HIV Clinical Services
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Leah Besh PA-C has been the Medical Director for the ANTHC Early Intervention Services/HIV Program since 2022 and has been providing clinical care at ANTHC since 2019, specializing in HIV/STI management and prevention and hepatitis care. She graduated from the University of Utah Physician Assistant Program in 2015. Prior to joining ANTHC, she worked at a Federally Qualified Community Health Center in Anchorage, Alaska where she managed diseases across the life spectrum with a focus on HCV and HIV care. She holds privileges at multiple regional tribal healthcare facilities and has been recognized as an HIV Specialist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine. She is the Alaska AETC Director, a part of Mountain West AETC, and is the lead provider for our Alaska Infectious Disease ECHO program. Leah actively collaborates with regional Tribal Health Organizations to improve service delivery and referrals for persons at risk or living with HIV/HCV/STIs through direct patient care and clinical care team education and mentorship. She is a member of multiple committees including the State of Alaska HIV and HCV elimination groups.

Mavis Boone

Advisory Council Member
Alaska Community Health Worker Network
Mavis Boone is a proud Pacific Islander, born in American Samoa and raised in the Independent State of Samoa. She brings a deep well of cultural insight and community-focused leadership to her role on the Alaska Community Health Worker Advisory Council. Since moving to Alaska in 2015, Mavis has worked across multiple areas of the health field and now serves as Director of Programs at the Pacific Community of Alaska, advocating for health equity and outreach initiatives for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities.

With over a decade of legal experience in litigation, advocacy, and public service in the Pacific Islands, and another decade dedicated to health work in Alaska, Mavis is committed to equity, inclusion, justice, and cultural preservation. Her leadership on the Council helps ensure minority voices are represented and contributes to building a more inclusive and responsive CHW workforce across Alaska.

Jay Butler, MD

Dean

College of Health, UAA

Jay C. Butler, MD is Dean of the College of Health at the University of Alaska Anchorage. From January 2023 to May 2025, his work focused on global health security as the Associate Director for Infectious Diseases in the CDC’s Office of Readiness and Response. From April 2019 to January 2023, he served as Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases at CDC. Dr. Butler has held multiple leadership roles in Alaska, including Commissioner for Health and Social Services in 2018, Chief Medical Officer (2014-2019 and 2007-2009), State Epidemiologist (2005-2007), and Senior Director of the Division of Community Health Services for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (2010-2014).

From 1998-2005, Dr. Butler was Director of CDC’s Arctic Investigations in Anchorage. He held leadership roles in multiple emergency responses, including CDC’s response to bioterrorist anthrax in 2001 and the SARS outbreak in 2003, and he was Incident Manager for the CDC COVID-19 response in May and June of 2020 and Deputy Response Official of the Federal Unified Coordination Group for H5N1 avian influenza from September 2024 to May 2025. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a BS in zoology, received his MD at the University of North Carolina, and did internship and residency training in medicine and pediatrics at Vanderbilt.

After completing CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service in the Wisconsin Division of Public Health, Dr. Butler completed a preventive medicine residency with the Respiratory Diseases Branch in CDC’s National Center for Infectious Diseases, and an infectious disease fellowship at Emory University. He is board certified in medicine, pediatrics and infectious diseases. He has authored or co-authored over 150 scientific papers, reviews, and book chapters. He was Governor of the Alaska Chapter of the American College of Physicians, 2005-2009, and President of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials in 2016-2017. In addition to his focus on infectious diseases, he has made important contributions to public health approaches to reducing harms associated with addiction and to addressing the health needs of those experiencing homelessness or incarceration.

Sean Case

Chief of Police
Anchorage Police Department
Chief Case has been in law enforcement for over 27 years and is the current chief of the Anchorage Police Department. Chief Case holds a master’s degree in criminology from Indiana State University and a master’s degree in the Psychology of Leadership from Pennsylvania State University. As a national trainer and speaker, Chief Case addresses critical issues such as use of force, internal affairs operations, training evaluation, crisis communication, and co-response to behavioral health crises.

George Conway, MD, MPH, DABPM

Chief Medical Officer
Anchorage Health Department

George A. Conway is a physician and epidemiologist known for his work in epidemic response, environmental health, and human performance in extreme environments.

Dr. Conway served in various senior level positions with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 1988 to 2016, and has extensive international experience responding to public health threats and emergencies.

From 2012 through 2015, Dr. Conway served as Senior Advisor to the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and as Public Health Attaché for the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

From November 2014 through June 2015, he served as Senior Medical Officer and Epidemiologist, United Nations Mission for the Ebola Emergency Response, Monrovia, Liberia.

Nov, 2015 – Oct, 2016, in his last assignment with CDC, he provided technical assistance and advice to ministries of health and CDC-assigned resident advisors for epidemiology programs in Iraq, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, and Liberia.

As Health Services Director for Deschutes County, Oregon, late 2016-2021, he led over 400 behavioral and public health professionals; advised the populace, state, and local governments during the COVID19 pandemic and episodes of heavy wildfire smoke, providing guidance to elected officials, and the public; and co-developed the first Crisis Stabilization Center in Central Oregon. During 2022, he was Deschutes County Health Officer.

He provided technical assistance to US Embassies and the governments of Vietnam and Mongolia (2018), and for Jorlon.org and other NGOs in Mongolia (2022 & 2023). He is a founding board member of Central Oregon FUSE, which provides housing and services, and an Affiliate Professor, Oregon State University School of Public Health & Human Sciences.

Dr. Conway worked in Alaska and other Arctic locales for many years, and was President of the International Union for Circumpolar Health (1996-2000). His wide-ranging work on public health issues including disease outbreaks, HIV/AIDS, STDs, health, safety, and environment in the fishing, agriculture, aviation, and oil and gas industries; and internationally on many infectious and environmental hazards, includes over 100 scientific articles, monographs, and book chapters and is often cited. He has been a keynote speaker at many national and international conferences.

Dr. Conway holds an M.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, and a Masters of Public Health from the University of South Carolina. He served 1988-1990 as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, and collaterally as a Federal Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), 1999-2014. He is board-certified in General Preventive Medicine and Public Health.

Kena Desai, MD

Internal Medicine Physician
Kena has worked with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium for 14 years.

Throughout her career she has worked in the fields of Diabetes, endocrinology and cardiovascular diseases.

Most recently she has specialized in Hepatology, with a focus on alcohol-associated liver diseases and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease with moderate alcohol consumption (Met-ALD).

Katrina Domnick, MPH

Associate Research Coordinator

Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation

Katrina Domnick is a Yup’ik public health professional, researcher, and advocate dedicated to advancing Indigenous-led approaches to health and wellness in rural Alaska. Named Quqiiq after her maternal great-grandmother, Katrina was raised in Bethel, Alaska, by her mother, Rose Domnick of St. Mary’s, and her father from Pennsylvania.

Katrina earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with a minor in Psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage, followed by a Master of Public Health with a specialization in Indigenous Health from the University of North Dakota. She currently lives in Bethel with her husband and daughter and works in health research at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC).

Grounded in Yup’ik values and teachings, including those reflected in the Calricaraq program, Katrina’s work centers on the belief that sustainable health outcomes must be rooted in culture. She is deeply committed to Indigenous-led research and to Indigenizing research methodologies so they align with Yup’ik ways of knowing and being. Drawing from both her cultural upbringing and Western academic training, Katrina advocates for a blended approach—one that honors tradition while engaging modern public health practices—as the pathway to achieving true health equity and long-term wellness for her community.

Rose Domnick, Calricaraq Trainer

Owner/Trainer
Nuyailnguq Training and Consulting

Rose Domnick is a private Calricaraq trainer/consultant. She is committed to promoting the health and wellbeing of Yup’ik people through the revitalization of cultural activities and the strengthening of traditional living skills, while also addressing root causes of social issues and healing impacts of colonization.

Rose has worked extensively establishing indigenous healing, health promotion and integrating cultural approaches into the mainstream services. As the Director of Preventative Services, Behavioral Health, at the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation in Bethel, Alaska, she worked closely with the elders of the region over ten years learning ancestral wisdom and knowledge focused on indigenous healing and healthy living practices. This work led to the establishment of the award winning Calricaraq, a traditional Indigenous Yup’ik healing and promotion of healthy living model.

After retiring a second time, she continues work with Calricaraq as a private trainer/consultant. This has allowed her to provide Calricaraq training for organizations and Tribes across the state as well as locations across the country. Additionally, she works with health care providers, researchers and educators in both integration and indigenizing programs and processes in services for the Yup’ik population.

Rose holds a double bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Yup’ik Eskimo. She lives in Bethel with her husband, two daughters and 2 grandchildren.

Kira England, PhD

Syndemics Lead
Alaska Department of Health
Kira England is the Syndemics Lead in the Alaska Department of Health, Section of Epidemiology. In this role, she works across programs and with partners to reduce the burden of infectious diseases associated with high-risk substance use in Alaska, including hepatitis C, HIV, and syphilis. Her work focuses on strengthening linkages between prevention, treatment, and recovery systems, such as by building partnerships to connect individuals living with hepatitis C to timely, accessible care and recovery resources.

Kira applies a syndemics framework to this work, emphasizing how interacting conditions such as opioid use disorder, infectious disease, mental health, and social and structural factors shape health outcomes. She collaborates with clinical providers, behavioral health programs, corrections, and community-based organizations to identify opportunities for coordinated, upstream, and person-centered approaches to care. This work includes supporting statewide initiatives to expand access to low-barrier testing and treatment, improve continuity of care, and integrate risk reduction and public health strategies.

Kira holds a PhD in Sociology and Demography from The Pennsylvania State University, where her research focused on substance use and population health. She also holds an MS Ed in Education Policy from the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Biology from Bloomsburg University.

Brian Fuchs

Lieutenant
Anchorage Police
Lieutenant Brian Fuchs began his career with the Anchorage Police Department in 2007 as a patrol officer. During his time on patrol, he worked all shifts while taking on additional duties as a Field Training Officer (FTO), Defensive Tactics Instructor, and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) member. He was subsequently promoted to patrol supervisor, where he served on both day and swing shifts. After three years as a sergeant, he promoted to Lieutenant and currently oversees three specialized units: the Mobile Intervention Team (MIT), which pairs a master's-level clinician with a CIT-trained police officer; the Homeless Outreach Prevention and Engagement (HOPE) Team, which pairs a social worker with a CIT-trained officer; and the Improvised Methods of Policing and Community Togetherness (IMPACT) Team, a community policing-oriented unit focused on building relationships and trust between APD and the communities it serves.

Jen Galvan, BA, PSPIII, CDCS

Executive Director
Alaska Peer, LLC
Jen Galvan is the owner and facilitator of Alaska Peer LWC, LLC, and a dedicated advocate for empowering individuals and communities through peer support. With a robust background in curriculum development, she has created over 100 hours of training programs focused on essential skills, including motivational interviewing and crisis intervention. As an appointed member of the Alaska Commission for Behavioral Health Certification, Jenifer promotes best practices and advocates for the inclusion of mental health perspectives in policy discussions. Her commitment to fostering growth and collaboration within communities is reflected in her extensive training of over 1,500 Peer Support Professionals across Alaska.

Nyabony Gat, CHES

Director of Community & Social Services
Alaska Literacy Program / AK CHW Network
Nyabony Gat is a Community Health Worker (CHW) leader, community health activist, and health literacy champion advancing CHW workforce development in Alaska. She serves on the Alaska Community Health Worker Network Advisory Council, supporting CHW‑led planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advocacy for integrating CHWs as trusted, generalist team members across health and community systems. Through her work with the Alaska Literacy Program’s Peer Leader Navigator initiative, Nyabony supports multilingual communities in navigating complex health and social care systems. Drawing from lived experience with inequities in access to care, she is deeply committed to co‑design, empowerment, and systems change grounded in the realities of the people served.

Elana Habib, MPH

State Opioid Treatment Authority
State of Alaska DOH DBH
Ms. Habib is Alaska’s State Opioid Treatment Authority and serves as SAMHSA’s State Opioid Response Co-Project Director and Treatment Coordinator. She leads statewide efforts to develop, implement, and evaluate substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs, building partnerships across health and community sectors. Formerly the Opioid Misuse and Addiction Prevention Specialist, she brings 18+ years in public health, including 13 years focused on SUD. Her experience spans HIV testing in corrections, syringe service programs, and behavioral health initiatives. She holds a Masters of Public Health in Health Behavior and Education, with expertise in project management, federal grants, and program evaluation.

Tiffany Hall, MPA

CEO
Recover Alaska
Tiffany Hall is the President/CEO of Recover Alaska, an organization working to reduce the harms of alcohol across the state. She is Board Chair for the U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance and serves on the National Steering Committee of the Center for Addiction Recovery Services. She’s passionate about policy change to create safer and healthier places and shifting social norms to reduce stigma and honor sobriety. Tiffany is a solo mom to two young children who keep her running! Tiffany has been in recovery from co-occurring alcohol use and anxiety disorders since 2009, and her personal story can be seen in Recover Alaska’s Day 001 series.

Carlton Hall

President/CEO
Carlton Hall Consulting
Carlton Hall is the President and CEO of Carlton Hall Consulting LLC (CHC), a full-service consulting firm providing customized solutions for communities and organizations. With over 25 years of experience in substance abuse prevention and community problem-solving, he is a sought-after trainer both nationally and internationally, including work in South Africa, India, Sweden, Turkey, Bermuda, Kenya and Ghana. Formerly a senior leader at CADCA, Carlton now leads CHC’s support for the Southeast PTTC (Region 4). He regularly contributes to United Nations events on drug policy and serves on the boards of the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children and Movendi International.

Heidi Hedberg

Commissioner
Department of Health
Commissioner Heidi Hedberg is a steadfast champion for healthy Alaskans. Since 1995, when she enrolled at Alaska Pacific University, she's been deeply engaged in the state's health landscape. Leveraging her expertise, she's led initiatives breaking through silos, improving access to healthcare, and shaping policy. From her early days collaborating with non-profits to her current role as Commissioner, Heidi's journey underscores her unwavering commitment. Her focus on prevention measures, transparent communication, and leading by example continues to shape Alaska's health infrastructure, ensuring a healthier future for all Alaskans.

Travis Hedwig, PhD

Assistant Dean
UAA
Travis H. Hedwig, PhD, is an Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of Health Sciences at the University of Alaska Anchorage. His work centers on applied research and public health practice related to the social determinants of health in Alaska, with a specific focus on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), housing and homelessness, and the community inclusion of vulnerable populations. Through community-based partnerships, he translates research into public health action to improve health equity, policy outcomes, and community engagement across the circumpolar North.

Drew Herby

Reentry Program Director
Ketchikan Wellness Collation
Drew Herby, is the Program Coordinator for Ketchikan Reentry under the Ketchikan Wellness Coalition. She leads a nine-month transitional housing program supporting justice-involved individuals in building stability through housing, employment, and treatment.

Her approach is hands-on and heart-led, meeting people where they are, while still holding them accountable to grow. Drew works closely with the Department of Corrections and community partners to create real opportunities for change, but what matters most to her are the relationships built along the way.

Drew believes that with the right support, structure, and trust, people can change their lives, and she takes pride in supporting that process every day.

Josie Heyano, LCSW

CEO and Founder
Signify Mental Health and Community Care
Josie Heyano is a Deg Xit'an (Dene) woman, a Tanana tribal member, and a nationally recognized leader in anti-trafficking advocacy, clinical social work, and the movement to address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives. She brings over a decade of nonprofit leadership, clinical expertise, and deeply personal commitment to the work of healing and justice for Indigenous communities — work she has pursued not from a distance, but from within the communities most affected.

Josie is the founder of Signify Consulting, an Indigenous- and survivor-led organization providing holistic therapy, training, and consulting focused on anti-trafficking and MMIR prevention and response. Through Signify, she has built a model of care that centers decolonized, culturally grounded approaches to supporting survivors of exploitation, systemic violence, and intergenerational trauma — refusing to separate clinical healing from community accountability or cultural identity.

As a licensed clinical social worker, Josie brings both the rigor of her professional training and the depth of her cultural grounding to every engagement. A writer, potter, poet, and artist, she understands that healing is not only clinical — it is creative, relational, and rooted in the fullness of who we are. She served on the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, and her work spans direct clinical service, policy advocacy, training and technical assistance, and the cultivation of the next generation of Indigenous leaders in this field.

Josie moves through this work as a community wellness advocate and helper — with clarity, courage, and an unshakeable belief that Indigenous communities already hold what is needed to heal.

Marcia Howell, JD

Executive Director
Alaska Injury Prevention Center (DBA Center for Safe Alaskans)
Marcia has dedicated 25 years to helping Alaskans live safer healthier lives. She believes that by promoting protective factors and resilience that we can prevent unhealthy outcomes.

Annette Hubbard

PD/Case Manager/Peer Support
Ninilchik Traditional Council
Annette is an Alaska Native woman in long-term recovery who accessed her own path to healing through the tribal health system, an experience that continues to shape her work and leadership. She now serves as the Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) Project Director for the Ninilchik Traditional Council, leading innovative, low-threshold substance use treatment and harm reduction services across the Kenai Peninsula to expand access for underserved communities.

Tami Truett Jerue, BA, 46 Years experience in the Field

Executive Director
Alaska Native Women's Resource Center
Tamra (Tami) Truett Jerue is an Anvik tribal member, currently residing in Fairbanks, Alaska, after living and working in Anvik for the past 28 years. Although she is the mother of four children and the grandmother of six grandchildren. She has worked in the field of domestic violence, sexual assault, and intersecting issues for the last 40-plus years in various capacities. Ms. Jerue's education includes a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Community Psychology, and Secondary Education. She has been involved with many non-profit Boards over the years and has worked most of her professional life in rural Tribal Alaska providing direct services in many fields such as Therapist, Sexual Assault Counselor, Teacher, Tribal Administrator, ICWA Social Worker, Trainer for the State and tribes; and Tribal Director of Social Services. As an ICWA Social Worker and Director of Social Services, she managed both a child protection team; developed and implemented a Youth Mentor Program focused on prevention of violence and substance abuse. She currently works as the Executive Director of the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center. Her many experiences, and that of her family and friends, with Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault have kept Ms. Jerue passionate in helping facilitate change at a community level, within systems, and families to help survivors live violence free lives.

Lindsay Kato, MPH

Director
Division of Public Health, Alaska Department of Health
Lindsey Kato, MPH, is a nationally recognized champion for public health who specializes in multidisciplinary work to strategically address complex issues related to public health, including healthcare, behavioral health, and public safety. Lindsey’s career has been focused on intentional and unintentional injuries, in both suicide and overdose prevention. She came to the Division of Public Health in 2023 from the private sector working as a Senior Consultant for Health Management Associates, Inc., a national research, and consulting firm, where she brings experience working with Medicaid and other payers supporting efforts at the intersection of healthcare and public health, as well as supporting overdose prevention strategies within correctional settings.

From 2019-2022, she was embedded within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Overdose Prevention, where she co-led the National Overdose Response Strategy (ORS), a program recognized by the White House National Drug Control Strategy in 2022. In that role, she led the building and onboarding of overdose response teams, in all states and territories, focused on data driven responses based on partnerships between public health and law enforcement.

Lindsey has worked with partners across the country to implement sustainable solutions related to a multitude of complex health issues. She has experience strategically building multidisciplinary coalitions and task forces around shared visions and goals. She is fundamentally grounded in an understanding of various determinants of health and shared risk and protective factors as they relate to health and safety.

She currently serves as the Director of Public Health for the Alaska Department of Health as well as the State Opioid Settlement Administrator.

Michelle Kavouras, CDCS, NCPRSS, CADC, RCPF

Co-Owner
SpheraNova
Michelle Kavouras brings over a decade of experience supporting pregnant and parenting individuals impacted by substance use and mental health challenges. Drawing on both professional and lived experience, she began her work as a Peer Doula in Chicago, supporting families through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and child welfare involvement.

She is the co-founder of SpheraNova, a training and consulting organization that partners across systems to strengthen engagement, care coordination, and outcomes for families. Michelle’s work focuses on practical, relationship-centered approaches that reduce barriers to care, address co-occurring mental health needs, and support long-term healing and wellness and stability for both parent and child.

Robert Lawrence, MD

Chief Medical Officer
Alaska Department of Health
Robert Lawrence, MD is the Chief Medical Officer for the State of Alaska Department of Health. He is a Family Practice physician, trained as an Alaska WWAMI student, who began his work as a community physician in Nome, Alaska in 2006. From 2013-2024, he served as the Chief Medical Officer for the Department of Corrections and has served in the Department of Health since April of 2024. Dr. Lawrence is board certified in Family Medicine and has advanced degrees in Education and Medical Ethics. His major contributions have been in supporting health care professionals and organizations who address the health needs of vulnerable populations.

Benjamin Lewis

Assistant Chief
Anchorage Fire Department
Benjamin Lewis is an Assistant Chief with the Anchorage Fire Department, where he has served for 18 years, including experience as a paramedic. In his current role, he oversees EMS operations, the dispatch and communications center, the IT/Data Systems division, and the Mobile Integrated Health program. He has worked to meet the changing needs of the community through the development of innovative programs, including outreach and substance use response initiatives. In his leadership role, he focuses on system improvement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advancing the fire department’s ability to serve the community before, during, and after an emergency.

Christina Love

Owner
Christina Love Consulting
Christina Love is a proud Alaska Native (Alutiiq/Sugpiaq) mother of two who brings her authentic voice and transformative spirit to everyone and to everything she does. She finds joy in gardening with her children, watching them fall in love with the earth, and in using her own story to remind others that healing is possible, hope is revolutionary, and love—above all—is the legacy worth leaving.

Melanie Luna

Alaska Community Outreach Coordinator
Ideal Option
Melanie Luna is an Alaska-based behavioral health leader focused on expanding access to recovery services statewide. As Alaska Outreach Coordinator for Ideal Option, she leads strategic outreach initiatives, builds cross-sector partnerships, and advances access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) across both urban and rural communities. Her work brings together healthcare providers, treatment organizations, and policymakers to address systemic barriers and strengthen Alaska’s continuum of care.

With over a decade of experience, Melanie has supported individuals impacted by substance use, homelessness, and complex life challenges. She previously served as Program Director for the Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Program at Denali Family Services, where she led multidisciplinary teams, managed grant-funded initiatives, and developed programming to support transitional-aged youth.

Melanie has supervised peer support services, provided direct care, and delivered statewide training, equipping professionals with practical tools to better serve vulnerable populations. A skilled presenter and collaborator, she has spoken on reentry, youth engagement, and recovery-oriented systems of care, and is known for connecting systems, elevating community voices, and translating frontline experience into actionable solutions.

She is committed to building more responsive, coordinated systems of care and expanding recovery pathways for all Alaskans.

Carla MacGregor, LPC

Senior Director Behavioral Health
Providence Alaska Medical Center

Carla MacGregor is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 30 years of progressive experience in behavioral health, including clinical care and program leadership.

She currently serves as Senior Director of Behavioral Health at Providence Alaska Medical Group, supporting integrated behavioral health services across hospital and community-based settings in Anchorage, Kodiak, and Valdez.

Linda Mankoff, CHW

Patient Assistance Program Coordinator
Turnagain Community Health
Linda Mankoff is currently the Coordinator for Patient Assistance/Outreach for Community Turnagain Community Health with a service area that includes Hope, Whittier, Bird, Indian and Girdwood.

She has been with Turnagain Community Health for nearly 11 years helping patients address the social drivers of health.

Mike Marshall

C.E.O.
U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance
Mike Marshall is the Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.) of the U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance (USAPA). He brings more than 30 years of change making, policy advocacy and civic organizing experience to this role.
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A graduate of the University of California, San Diego, Mike spent the early years of his career learning grassroots organizing within the ranks of the Democratic Party. When the Berlin Wall came down, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) recruited Mike to travel to Romania to build a national civic participation organization called Pro-Democracy Association which helped insure that country’s first free and fair election. He has since traveled to more than 20 countries, to assist in the creation of election monitoring, voter education and civic engagement organizations as well as advise political parties on winning campaign strategies. In 1999, Mike played a leading role in the creation of the marriage equality movement, culminating in a national victory 15 years later. In subsequent years he led critical campaigns for change that fought to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, promote urban greening and demand environmental restoration.

In 2017 Mike co-founded Oregon Recovers, a statewide movement of people in recovery committed to ending Oregon's addiction crisis. As executive Director of Oregon Recovers, he played an instrumental role in the creation of the Oregon Alcohol Policy Alliance (OAPA), the Recovery Network of Oregon and the Recovery Community Summit. Mike lives in Portland, Oregon with his husband Rob and is a Senior Fellow with the American Leadership Forum of Oregon. He recently celebrated 18 years of continuous recovery from drugs and alcohol.

Cameron McCoy, LLMSW

Clinical Social Worker/Mental Health Educator
Real McCoy Counseling Services
Cameron McCoy, MSW, LLMSW, is a clinical social worker and mental health educator whose work focuses on emotional wellness, client readiness, and practical behavioral health interventions. He is passionate about helping clinicians better match their approach to client capacity in order to improve engagement, reduce perceived resistance, and support sustainable change.

Hope McGratty, PA-C, MPH, AAHIVS

Physician Assistant
ANTHC
Hope McGratty (PA-C, MPH) specializes in HIV/STI management and prevention services, as well as viral hepatitis management with ANTHC’s Early Intervention Services/HIV Program and Liver Disease and Hepatitis Program. Hope has been providing clinical care in an Infectious Disease practice to those living with HIV and viral hepatitis since 2014. Prior to this, she worked at a Federally Qualified Community Health Center in Anchorage, Alaska managing diseases across the life spectrum with a focus on HCV and HIV care. She attended the University of Washington MEDEX PA Program and graduated in 2008. She attended the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine and received her MPH in 2010. She has also been a member of multiple committees including the State of Alaska HIV and HCV elimination groups and served on the Board of Directors for an AIDS Service Organization from 2016 - 2025.

Naomi Michalsen

Owner
Kaasei Training & Consulting
Naomi Michalsen, Kaasei (Tlingit), is Wooshkeetaan, Eagle/Wolf of the Shark House of Berners Bay, Alaska. Her work focuses on wellness and violence prevention through connecting people to native plants and foods, cultural traditions, and community. In 2017, Naomi founded Kaasei Training & Consulting, dba Kaasei Indigenous Foodways, offering workshops, wellness retreats, teacher trainings, presentations and food and plant medicine symposiums.

Naomi founded the Kayaaní Sisters Council, a group of Alaska Native women committed to increasing wellness and tribal food sovereignty throughout the State. They created the “Respectful Harvesting Guidelines,” which is now being used throughout Alaska. Naomi also led the development of the Alaska edition of the Plant Teachings for Growing Social-Emotional Skills Toolkit, including a book, plant cards, posters, movement videos, activities, and coloring pages. In addition, she has created resources currently being utilized in the state such as the Tlʼátk Káa Yoo Xʼatángi: Lingit Kayaaní Tlingit Plant Cards and Traditional Protective Factors worksheet.

Naomi has over thirty years of practical experience as a professional in the fields of domestic violence and substance abuse prevention, education and tribal economic development work. She formerly served as Executive Director at Women In Safe Homes, a shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, as Marketing and Economic Development director for the Ketchikan Indian Community, and as an Adjunct Professor and Cultural Specialist at University of Alaska, Southeast Ketchikan. She is certified in Ethnobotany from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and is an Indigenous foods chef. Naomi and her husband live in Ketchikan and have five adult children and nine grandchildren. For more information about her work, visit her website at kaasei.com

Suzette O'Donnell, LCSW

Senior Clinician/Cognitive Performance Specialist
AKBH & ANG
Suzette O’Donnell, LCSW, is a trauma therapist, clinical educator, and cognitive performance specialist based in Alaska. With academic foundations in Anthropology and Clinical Social Work, her work bridges cultural insight, evidence-based practice, and real-world application. She specializes in trauma-informed care and empirically supported treatments, including CBT, CPT, EMDR, and CBT-I, with a focus on translating complex science into meaningful, actionable change.

Drawing on extensive experience serving military and civilian populations, Suzette is known for her innovative approach to resilience and recovery. Her work explores the intersection of humor and trauma, examining how the intentional use of humor can support cognitive flexibility, emotional processing, and human connection in the healing process.

As a speaker and trainer, she is passionate about creating engaging learning environments that challenge, inspire, and equip professionals to think differently about both care and performance.

Jennifer Pierce, PhD, LPC-S

Program Manager
Anchorage Fire Department
Dr. Jennifer Pierce, PhD, LPC-S, is a psychologist and the Program Manager and Clinical Supervisor for the Anchorage Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Health Program, which includes the Mobile Crisis Team and the Community Outreach, Education, and Referral (CORE) team. She brings a multidisciplinary background spanning law enforcement, clinical behavioral health, and emergency response systems.

Dr. Pierce began her career as a patrol officer with the Anchorage Police Department, serving for over eight years. She holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice with a focus on police effectiveness and a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She later completed her PhD in Clinical-Community Psychology at UAA and her predoctoral internship with the Department of Veterans Affairs, further strengthening her expertise in trauma-informed care and behavioral health integration.

Prior to her current role, Dr. Pierce worked at Providence Hospital, providing mental health services in inpatient settings and the emergency department. She joined the Anchorage Fire Department in 2020 as a doctoral practicum student and played a key role in the development and launch of the Mobile Crisis Team in 2021.

Her work focuses on improving crisis response systems and increasing access to community-based behavioral health care. Dr. Pierce also provides training to first responders and community members in trauma-informed care, verbal de-escalation, and Mental Health First Aid. Her research and publications center on first responder wellness and resilience, reflecting her ongoing commitment to strengthening both workforce well-being and pathways to recovery.

Jonathan Pistotnik, MPH

Reentry Program Manager
Alaska Department of Corrections
Jonathan Pistotnik is the Reentry Program Manager with the Alaska Department of Corrections. In his role he oversees a team of staff engaged in supporting correctional education programming, vocational training, and reentry support across the state. He holds a master's degree in public health from UCLA, and lives in Anchorage with his family.

Tara Schmidt, MPH

Research Associate Senior
University of Michigan Research to Practice (R2P) Lab
Tara is an Alaska-based Research Associate for University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research Research 2 Practice (R2P) Lab, where she supports the implementation and growth of PC CARES, a community-driven approach to youth suicide and at-risk substance use prevention. Tara has been involved in community-based research since 2018, and her work focuses on translating research into practical, locally relevant tools through reciprocal knowledge exchange with communities. Tara's role includes collaborating with project partners and community leaders to support local facilitators of the program, organizing data collection and training activities, public relations, communication, and product development. With a background in communication and public health, Tara is interested in how research-informed solutions are put into practice in peoples’ real lives.

Bailey Singstad

Case Manager
Ketchikan Wellness Coalition
Bailey Singstad is a Reentry Case Manager with the Ketchikan Wellness Coalition’s Reentry Program, dedicated to helping individuals rebuild their lives and find stability after incarceration or treatment. She leads the Community Transitions Class, creating a supportive space to learn practical life skills and build confidence. Bailey is deeply committed to empowering others and strengthening her community.

Jerry Short

Diversion Investigator
Drug Enforcement Administration
Diversion Investigator Short has been an Investigator with various federal agencies and law enforcement departments for over 27 years. DI Short is a graduate of the Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health with an emphasis on health care management and finance. DI Short enjoys country living and the smell of fresh cut hay.

Alicia Sparks, PhD, MPH

Senior Principal
Synergy Enterprises, Inc
Dr. Alicia Sparks is a specialist in prevention science with over 15 years of experience designing and implementing systems-level changes to reduce substance misuse. As a Senior Associate at Synergy Enterprises, Inc., she serves as the Project Director for the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) contract and the Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS). In these roles, she provides high-level training and technical assistance (TTA) to federal and state partners, overseeing the production of the annual Report to Congress and the State Performance & Best Practices Reports.

A recognized leader in translating research into community action, Dr. Sparks served as the Project Director for the ICCPUD Alcohol Policy Academy, where she led initiatives to help state and community leaders implement evidence-based alcohol policies. Her career-long commitment to supporting community coalitions is further evidenced by her work on the Study to Prevent Alcohol Related Consequences (SPARC), a large-scale intervention focused on preventing excessive alcohol use and related harms across college campuses, as well as working with and evaluating dozens of coalitions across the country.

Dr. Sparks is the author of several high-profile evidence-based resource guides, including Implementing Community-Level Policies to Prevent Alcohol Misuse, designed specifically to empower coalitions with actionable prevention strategies. Her expertise spans rigorous literature reviews, focus group facilitation, and mixed-methods data analysis. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an M.P.H. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Sarah Spencer, DO, FASAM

Addiction Medicine Specialist
Ninilchik Traditional Council Community Clinic
Dr. Sarah Spencer is board certified in family and addiction medicine and has been providing treatment for addiction in rural Alaska for 15 years. She is currently an employee of the Ninilchik Traditional Council and provides family medicine and addiction treatment services at their tribal clinic, including telemedicine to remote native villages. She is the volunteer medical director of Alaska’s first rural syringe access program in Homer, is a co-author of the state’s medications for addiction treatment guide, and provides addiction medicine consultation for non-profits including the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and the Opioid Response Network.

Jennifer Stukey

Chief Operating Officer
Narcotic Drug Treatment Center Inc.

Jennifer Stukey is the Chief Operating Officer of NDTC Inc., where she oversees multi-site operations for a leading opioid treatment program serving communities across Alaska. With more than two decades of experience in behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment, she brings deep expertise in regulatory compliance, accreditation, and patient-centered care delivery.

Jennifer has played a key role in expanding access to evidence-based treatment, supporting patients across multiple clinic locations. She is known for her leadership in navigating complex federal and state regulations, implementing efficient clinical and administrative systems, and fostering strong partnerships with community stakeholders.

She is a recipient of the Nyswander-Dole award from the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, recognizing her contributions to advancing opioid treatment services. In addition to her executive leadership, Jennifer serves on the boards of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, the Alaska Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence and the Alaska Society of Addiction Medicine, where she contributes to statewide efforts to improve access, policy, and standards of care in substance use disorder treatment.
Her work emphasizes compassionate, stigma-free care while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality. Jennifer is committed to advancing innovative approaches in opioid treatment, strengthening organizational resilience, and ensuring sustainable growth that meets the evolving needs of the communities NDTC serves.

Fred Sweetski, LMSW, CDC-1

Behavioral Health Director
Mount Juneau Counseling & Recovery (Gastineau Human Services)
Fred Sweetski is the Behavioral Health Director at Mount Juneau Counseling & Recovery in Juneau, Alaska, where he oversees residential and outpatient substance use and behavioral health programs. He brings a systems-focused leadership approach grounded in clinical practice, with an emphasis on improving treatment quality, staff development, and organizational accountability. Fred has extensive experience working with justice-involved populations and individuals with complex substance use and behavioral health needs. In addition to his leadership role, he serves as an adjunct faculty member with the University of Alaska Anchorage, teaching graduate-level courses in social work. His work focuses on bridging clinical theory and real-world practice, with particular interest in countertransference, staff development, and effective behavioral health interventions.

Lisa Townshend-Bulson, MSN, FNP-C

Liver Disease & Hepatitis Program Director
ANTHC

Lisa Townshend-Bulson, MSN, FNP-C, is the Director of the Liver Disease & Hepatitis Program at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) in Anchorage, Alaska. In this role, she leads a statewide Tribal health initiative focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of liver disease among Alaska Native and American Indian people. Lisa also practices as a nurse practitioner, providing specialty care for patients with a variety of liver diseases including viral hepatitis, autoimmune, metabolic and alcohol-associated liver disease.

In addition to her clinical work, Lisa is actively involved in liver disease research, program development, and public health initiatives aimed at improving access to care and reducing health disparities across Alaska’s rural and Tribal communities. She has served as a clinical investigator and consultant on numerous research and public health projects and has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on viral hepatitis. Her work contributes to advancing evidence-based care and strengthening systems of liver disease prevention and treatment within the Tribal health system.
Lisa has been engaged in national leadership efforts in hepatology and viral hepatitis policy. She has served on several committees for the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), including the Public Policy Committee, Hepatitis B Special Interest Group, and Hepatology Associates Committee, contributing to national discussions on liver disease policy, clinical practice, and workforce development. She also participated in the Hepatitis C Virus Birth Cohort Testing Work Group, which contributed to the development of the 2012 CDC guidelines recommending hepatitis C screening for the baby boomer population.

A strong advocate for provider education and knowledge sharing, Lisa played a key role in developing and expanding ANTHC’s LiverConnect program, an innovative tele-education and consultation network that connects liver disease specialists with healthcare providers across Alaska and throughout the Indian Health Service system. Through LiverConnect ECHO and the Alaska ECHO continuing education programs, she helps deliver distance-based training, case consultation, and specialist support to improve liver disease care in remote and underserved communities. Lisa is a champion of provider education and a believer that specialist knowledge should be shared not siloed. She helped develop and maintains provider education on the ANTHC liver disease website (www.anthc.org/hep), which provides up-to-date clinical guidance and patient resources.

Lisa holds a Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner and is certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). She is a member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Through her clinical practice, leadership, and commitment to education, Lisa continues to advance innovative approaches to liver disease care, expand access to specialty expertise, and strengthen health outcomes for Alaska Native and American Indian communities.

Monique Tula, MS

Principal and Founder
Cadence Coaching and Consulting
Monique Tula is an internationally recognized public health leader, organizational strategist, and executive coach with over 30 years of experience advancing health equity and social justice.

As former Executive Director of the National Harm Reduction Coalition, she led efforts to strengthen community-based health programs by redirecting millions of dollars to grassroots organizations serving people most impacted by drug use, and advancing racial and gender justice in public health. Prior to that, she served as Vice President of Programs at AIDS United, overseeing grantmaking and capacity-building portfolios focused on HIV prevention, care, and community health infrastructure.

Monique's leadership development work spans training, facilitation, and strategic advising for organizations including BEAM, Medicine Sans Frontiers Canada, the National Black Harm Reduction Network, Women Help Women, and Transforming Re-Entry Services. She has taught program evaluation at the University of Massachusetts Boston, conflict resolution for the National Conflict Resolution Center, and brings more than 100 speaking engagements to her practice. She is an alumna of the CDC's Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership and holds a degree in Community Planning from UMass and a Master's Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the Institute of Nonprofit Leadership at Boston University.

Through Cadence Coaching & Consulting, Monique works at the intersection of structural analysis and somatic practice, helping leaders and organizations build the internal capacity required for sustained external impact. She believes regulation is not a wellness add-on. It is infrastructure for the long work.

Ericka Weynand, MS, HS- BCP, CDCS

Outreach & Engagement Manager
Akeela
Ericka lives in Anchorage and currently works for Akeela as their Outreach & Engagement Manager. She is also a member of NAADAC (The National Association for Addiction Professionals) and volunteers her time as a board member of AAPA. (The Alaska Addiction Professionals Association.)
Ericka enjoys assisting others to achieve health, satisfaction, and a belief in their ability to flourish in life. She completed her undergraduate degree in Human Services with a minor in Psychology at UAA, and went on to receive her Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership from Northeastern University. Her approach is holistic, solution focused and individualized, and she enjoys helping people in the exploration of individual strengths and building of healthy coping skills and healthy self-esteem. Her integrative approach to therapy includes intentional use of Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Therapy (RET), Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), Motivational Interviewing, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), and Core Transformation.

Ericka has over 15 years of experience working and volunteering in the behavioral health and addictions treatment fields throughout the state. She is an active member of the local recovery community and has spent many years as an advocate for treatment and recovery services in Alaska.
Ericka identifies as a lifelong learner whose core values include kindness, empathy and keeping an open mind. When not working, Ericka can most likely be found in the great outdoors; hiking, kayaking, fishing or camping with her family and dogs.

Christopher Wightman, LCSW, MSW

Clinical Director
Southcentral Foundation
Christopher Wightman is a licensed clinical social worker and clinical director for Southcentral Foundation. Christopher joined SCF in 2011 and is currently responsible for providing clinical direction and oversight to outpatient programs in the Behavioral Services Division. In this role, he mentors clinical leadership and clinical teams on approaches, techniques, and strategies to optimize customer relationships. He ensures effective training and communication of policies, procedures, and expectations to maximize program outcomes and ensure compliance with licensure, accreditation, and other requirements.

Jackie Yates

Executive Director
Ketchikan Wellness Coalition
Jackie Yates brings a wealth of experience from across the spectrum of public safety and community wellness. For four years, she served as an emergency dispatcher for the Ketchikan Police Department, the first point of contact in critical situations. Following that, Jackie spent five years with the Alaska Trial Court as a court clerk, gaining invaluable insight into the judicial process. Transitioning to the Adult Probation Office, Jackie dedicated eight years as an adult probation officer supporting successful reentry for individuals, before moving into the non-profit sector. As an executive, Jackie now oversees both a reentry program and a Crisis Now program, demonstrating her commitment to comprehensive support and intervention strategies. Jackie's diverse background provides a unique perspective on the importance of the System Intercept Model, and how it can effectively support individuals within our communities.