Megan Lauro, CADC IIWeekend Warriors: Enhancing Residential Treatment with Therapist, Counselors & Nurse Support to Prevent AMA DischargesMegan is a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor II. She received her education from the Los Angeles Training Institute for...

Jeffrey Robinson, BS, CATC IIWeekend Warriors: Enhancing Residential Treatment with Therapist, Counselors & Nurse Support to Prevent AMA DischargesJeffrey has worked very hard to get where he is at today and knows how hard it can be when it comes to helping those...

Richard Barna, LAADCCriminal Justice Treatment InterventionPresently in private practice working as a drug and alcohol counselor in the community of South Lake Tahoe, Richard Barna has been in the field of recovery since 1989. He earned his certification in 1994 and...

Dr. Gregory WilliamsThe Impact of Secondary (Vicarious) TraumaDr. Gregory Williams is on the senior leadership team at Baylor College of Medicine’s OB/GYN Department located in Texas Children’s Hospital in the heart of the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. He...

Derek WilksenDecoding Dependency: The Rose of AI in Today's Ever-Evolving Treatment ParadigmIn a dynamic and seasoned career, Derek Wilksen has demonstrated exceptional acumen in developing and evolving the organizational and operational processes within rapidly...

Alan Johnson, LMFT, LAADCJustice Involved Returning CitizensAlan Johnson earned his graduate degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He has received...

Paulo Anthony Grayson LGBTQ+ Affirming Care v. LGBTQ+ FriendlyPaulo Anthony Grayson is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, and now calls Los Angeles his home. In addition to being the Chief Executive Officer of No Matter What Recovery, Paulo works as a sober...

Julie Brand-Lockshin, CADC-II, ICADC ACE's….Whats the Score?Julie Brand, CADC-II and ICADC is an internationally certified addiction specialist and recovery expert, with an extensive background in behavioral health. With over 20 years of experience, she has treated,...

Brent Honnerlaw, E-RYT 500 & RADTYoga & Mindfulness fo Recovery: Working with Minority and Underprivileged GroupsBrent Honnerlaw is an E-RYT 500 and RADT, holding teaching certificates in both Hatha and Kundalini yoga. He truly enjoys teaching and practicing a...

Lamar Joseph OdomA Life of Triumph and ResistanceLamar Joseph Odom, born on November 6, 1979, in Queens, New York, is a former professional basketball player whose life story is marked by remarkable highs and daunting lows. Standing at 6'10" with a versatile skill...

Erica Spiegelman-ApostolTeaching Incarcerated Learners & BeyondErica Spiegelman is a wellness specialist, recovery counselor, podcast host, wellness media contributor, and motivational speaker who works with individuals, couples, and families on personal growth...

Mell McCracken, CADC-IISexualized Drug Abuse in the LBGTQ+ CommunityMell McCracken is a trauma-informed substance abuse counselor and Associate Sex Addiction therapist currently working at Breathe Life Healing Center as a Chemsex Program Manager. They are a seasoned...

Louise Nieto, M.A, LMFT Best Practices and Principles in Youth ServicesLouise Nieto, M.A, LMFT has more than 20 years of clinical leadership experience within behavioral health, health care, and government organizations. Her work spans three states (Washington,...

Candice RussellBest Practices and Principles in Youth ServicesCandice Russell is a senior program associate at Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP). Her areas of subject matter expertise include coordinating treatment, prevention, and recovery supports for...

Dr. Keith MarshallCultural Compentence Dr. Keith Marshall holds a Doctor of Clinical Psychology Degree from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena CA, and a Drug and...

Mark Attanasi, MSThere's No Place Like HomeMark Attanasi has over 23 years of experience in the non-profit field and holds a Master’s in Business Administration, with an emphasis on general management. After completing a 12-month addiction treatment program he decided...

Kimberly LindbergRecovery Residence Training Kimberly Lindberg entered the substance use disorder industry in 2002.  Her career spans over 20 years as an administrator, fund-raiser and development supervisor; human resources manager; and most recently, a recovery...

Sherry DaleyRecovery Residence Training Sherry Daley is a leading addiction treatment advocate in California where she has been instrumental in policy development for the alcohol/drug profession and industry for more than 30 years. Her experience in law and regulation...

Jia ChenRecovery Residence Training Jia Chen is a Governmental Affairs Associate with the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP). She joined CCAPP in 2021 shortly after graduating from UC Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in Legal...

Ahad BandealyLeading the Industry in the Delivery of Measurement-Based Supervision & CareDuring his time training as a practitioner and navigating the mental healthcare industry as a sufferer of depression, Get A-Head’s founder, Ahad Bandealy, recognized some...

Bryan JonesCreating a Drug Treatment Private PractBryan Jonesice: Specific Steps and TechniquesBryan Jones is an experienced alcohol and drug counselor with seven years of experience working with clients who have struggled with drugs and alcohol, anger management,...

Debbie Harkness, BA, LAADC, CATCCreating a Drug Treatment Private Practice: Specific Steps and Techniques Counselor Roles Assisting Patients Involved in Military, Diversion, Criminal, Family, Professional Licensing, & Immigration CasesDebbie Harkness, BA, LAADC,...

Sharon Volner, LMFTWhen Healers Get WoundedSharon brings a broad range of experience to her role as a Licensed Marriage and Family and Chief Clinical Officer of La Ventana Treatment Programs. She has over 25 years of experience working with at-risk youth, couples,...

Gabrielle Loomis-Annett, LPCC, LAADCGabrielle Loomis-Annett, LPCC, LAADCGabrielle Loomis-Annett is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor. She is also a Certified EMDR therapist and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional....

Dr. Nola VeazieUsing Motivational Interviewing Clinical SupervisionDr. Nola Veazie holds doctorate degrees in Psychology and Leadership and Organizational Management. She is the Chief Operating Officer of V-Solutions Consulting, LLC a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned...

Dr. John HerdmanStudents Day/12 Core Functions (Students Only) CBT: Foundational Skills in CBT John Herdman, Ph. D. is an author and retired psychologist. He has over 49 years of school, military, counseling, and consulting experience. Dr. Herdman has conducted...

Paula WilhelmDepartment of Health Care Services UpdatePaula Wilhelm is an Assistant Deputy Director for Behavioral Health with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). On behalf of DHCS, she supports policy development and implementation for an array...

Eric NeuhauserDepartment of Health Care Access & Information Update Meet Eric Neuhauser, a dedicated professional and collaborative leader in the field of public health and public service. As the Research and Evaluation Section Chief at HCAI: Healthcare Access and...

Andrew Kessler, JDFederal Policy UpdateAndrew D. Kessler, JD, is founder and principal of Slingshot Solutions LLC, a consulting firm that specializes in behavioral health policy.  With 25 years of policy experience- and over 15 of those in behavioral health- Kessler...

Assemblymember Reggie Jones-SawyerTurning Back the New War on DrugsServing as the voice of the people of California's 59th District in the State Assembly, Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr. was elected to the State Legislature in November 2012 and re-elected in 2014 and...

Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson, DSW, MSWAssemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson, DSW, MSWAssemblymember Corey A. Jackson, DSW, MSW, was elected to the California State Assembly in November of 2022 to represent the 60th Assembly District. He is Chair of the Assembly Human...

Tom Buckley, CADC III CAStudents Day - IC&RC Test Prep (Students Only)Tom Buckley is the Executive Director for Aspire Counseling Services, San Luis Obispo. Tom has spent 20 years living in Southern California, where he graduated from Cal State University, Los...

Dr. Elizabeth CawleyExploring Addictions, Technology, and Hope Dr. Elizabeth Cawley is one of Canada’s leading experts in student mental health. She has a PhD from McGill University, specializing in post-secondary student mental health. Dr. Cawley is currently the...

Roland Williams, LAADCCulturally Specific Adaptations of the Gorski-CENAPS Model of Relapse PreventionOpioid Epidemic, Cultural Considerations, and Changes in SUD TreatmentRoland is an interventionist, author, trainer, counselor and consultant specializing in the...

Carolyn Hardin, MPADare Them to Dream: Building Recovery Capital Step by StepCarolyn Hardin is the Chief of Training and research for All Rise, a nongovernmental organization based in Washington, D.C. She oversees the development and implementation of training for All...

Sherry Bradshaw, CADC IICreating Community and Building Self Worth through Shared AccomplishmentSherry Bradshaw, CADC II is a Case Manager Supervisor with Fred Brown Recovery Services in San Pedro, California. Additionally, she is employed as a counselor with American...

Leslie Gold, MBACreating Community and Building Self Worth through Shared AccomplishmentLeslie is an RRCA-certified running coach who specializes in training the newly sober. She began this second career in 2013 as the volunteer coach of a Los Angeles marathon team...

Dr. Tony Greco, PsyD, LCPRecovery Capital and Recovery ResidencesDr. Tony Greco is a licensed clinical psychologist, and author, with over 20 years of experience working with addiction and severe mental illness. Growing up in poverty, Dr. Greco’s lifelong pursuit has...

Joseph Hogan-SanchezUnveiling the Tapestry of Recovery: Voices, Faces, and ResilienceJoseph Hogan-Sanchez is the Director of Programs, with Faces & Voices of Recovery. In his eighteen years working with recovery-related agencies, Mr. Sanchez has coordinated and...

Tom KarlRecovery Capital Research to ApplicationTom Karl is the founder and CEO of R1 Learning. He founded R1 Learning as the result of his own experiences in addiction and recovery. The idea for the R1 Learning System and the Discovery Cards came to Tom following a...

David Sheridan, MBA Recovery Capital and Recovery Residences David Sheridan is the Executive Director of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR). He is a national speaker and writer with a primary focus on the development and operation of statewide...

Kristina Padilla, MA, LAADCA Rainbow Person’s Journey From Addiction to RecoveryKristina Padilla is a nationally acclaimed motivational speaker and author of Kristina with a K: A Rainbow Person’s Journey from Addiction to Recovery, an explosive expose into the lives...

Celestino "Tino" Rayos, CADC-CASNative American Trauma & Cultural HealingTino Rayos was born in Texas and raised in Central California. His mother’s parents are Apache and Cherokee. His father’s parents are Yaqui and Irish. He’s on the journey reconnecting with...

Maher Sonbol, LMFTThe Cultural & Diversity Issues During SUD Treatment: The D's and Don't'sMaher Sonbol, founder and CEO of Uplifting Rays Counseling, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and certified life coach who is dedicated and passionate about...

John Sovec, MA, LMFT Trauma Based Challenges in LGBTQIA+ SUD Treatment John Sovec, MA, LMFT is a nationally recognized expert on creating affirmative support for the LGBTQIA+ community. He is the clinical consultant for The Life Group LA, adjunct faculty at Phillips...