Trainer Bios

Kellie Abele - M.Ed. CRC. Ms. Abele is Director of Counseling and Assessment Services, Hocking College . Ms. Abele has over thirteen years of experience in the field of mental health, counseling and assessment.

Kristy Blazer, MSW, LISW – Director of Outpatient Services at Rosemont Center . Ms. Blazer specializes in treating children and families experiencing difficulties. She has a special focus on families affected by sexual abuse, both victimization and children with sexual behavior problems. Kristy has experience in the child welfare field having worked at Franklin County Children Services.

Richard L. Bennett, MPA Mr. Bennett is an Assistant Professor at the University of Akron. He is certified in Zenger Miller as well as with the Institute of Human Services.

Dawn Bowers, M.A. Dawn Bowers has worked in the position of coordinator at the Southwest Ohio Regional Training Center. Prior to that she worked as a caseworker and family preservation worker for Hamilton County JFS. She also directed a welfare-to-work program, worked with homeless youth in New York City, and taught adult basic education.

Zoe Breen Wood, MSW. Independent Trainer and Consultant. Ms. Breen Wood is currently on the faculty of Case Western Reserve University , the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, where she teaches graduate courses and co-directs the Center for Public Sector Leadership and Service.

Nancy Burley, MSW, LISW - Executive Director of Adoption Circle . Ms. Burley is also an Independent Trainer and Consultant. She has extensive experience in the field of adoptions and has participated in the development of adoption-specific curricula.

Marlin Cheyney, MSW, LSW - Independent Trainer. Ms. Cheyney has 10 years previous experience at Franklin County Children Services working with the unwed parent unit, crisis intake unit, and in foster care education.

Sharon Chun-Wetterau, L.I.S.W.,L.C.S.W. Sharon Chun Wetterau, a lecturer and the Title IV-E coordinator at The OH State University College of Social Work, is passionate about providing child welfare training and consultation both in OH and in her native home of Los Angeles. Her training and clinical supervision areas include cultural competency, mental health issues with diverse populations, Asian Pacific American issues, and collaborative social work with at-risk families within their communities.

Rick Cugini, III, M.S. Rick Cugini is the former Executive Director of the YMCA Phoenix School in Akron, OH, an alternative education program. He has worked in the field of criminal justice for over 18 years. He was instrumental in the design of several programs that specifically focus on the habilitation of juvenile offenders.

Gary Dick, M.S.W., L.I.S.W., Ph.D. Gary Dick is an independent trainer and a clinical social worker. He is also a Professor for The School of Social Work at the University of Cincinnati. Previously he was a Clinical Group Supervisor for AMEND, a domestic violence program for male batterers.

Carol A. Fisher. Education Outreach Coordinator, Central Ohio Poison Center , Children’s Hospital. She is the Project Coordinator for the Ohio Poison Control Collaborative Be Poison Smart!â, an approach to poison prevention education, and is working to establish this program throughout Ohio .

Sally Dine Fitch, MSW - Coordinator at the Institute for Human Services. She is a sexual abuse specialist, providing national training and consultation concerning IHS'S Sexual Abuse Intervention Series. She also coordinates the Skill-Building Certificate Training Program for caseworkers and supervisors. Sally has over twenty years of diverse experience providing direct services to children, women and their families, as well as providing training and consultation to programs and organizations on related topics.

Mark Garrett, MSW, LISW. Independent Trainer and Consultant. His areas of expertise include cultural diversity, leadership and change.. Mr. Garrett speaks to foster parents and staff from his experience as a former foster child and as an adult adoptee.

Norma M. Ginther, MSW, LISW Training Consultant and Coordinator for the Center for Culture and Diversity, a division of the Institute for Human Services. She has trained internationally and co-authored several modules of Core Curriculum for Child Welfare Caseworkers. She has had direct child welfare experience as a caseworker and treatment foster parent for 17 years.

Denise Goodman, Ph.D., ACSW, LISW - Independent Trainer and Consultant. Dr. Goodman has many years of experience in social work as a consultant to numerous public and private agencies in the areas of separation, attachment, adoption and foster care. She has worked in child welfare as a foster parent, childcare worker, ongoing protective worker and coordinator of residential treatment.

Patricia Harrelson, LSW, MSSA - Independent trainer and consultant residing in Cleveland, Ohio. She has served as a Certified Ohio Peace Officer since 1988, and has worked in law enforcement, child welfare, chemical dependency and juvenile justice welfare since 1991. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Bowling Green State University and a Masters of Science of Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University. She currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Social Work Master's Program at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences/Case Western Reserve University.

Brad Hedges, Ph.D., L. P. C. C. – Executive Director of Mid-Ohio Psychological Services Inc., a community mental health agency that specializes in treating the forensic population. He specializes in treating and evaluating sexual offenders and adolescents with behavior problems, as well as consulting with agencies in developing community based programming.

Julie Kenniston, L.S.W. Julie Kenniston is the trainer and coordinator for the Childhood Trust’s Forensic Training Institute. As well as training child welfare staff, she also trains for the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy. Previously, she was employed at Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services on the Sex Abuse Intervention Team.

Cindy Killen - Cindi Killen has trained foster, adoptive, kinship care parents and social service staff for more than 10 years. She speaks with frankness from her life experiences as foster and adoptive parent. Cindi has also taught for Columbus State College of Business and Industry and is currently an approved American Red Cross Instructor.

William Kirby, J.D. - Referee, Franklin County Juvenile Court . Formerly, Mr. Kirby served as a Franklin County Prosecutor and Chief Counsel for the Juvenile Division.

Laura Kuehnert-Gaines - MSW, LISW - Child and Family Therapist at Northwest Counseling Services in Columbus , Ohio , specializing in serving children with special needs due to developmental or mental health disorders. Over 15 years experience working with children and adults with special needs. Mother of two, one by birth, and one by adoption.

Rhonda Lilley, Ph.D. - Child Development Psychologist. Dr. Lilley specializes in developmental disabilities. She has a private clinical practice with children and families, and conducts psychological evaluations of abused and neglected children for child protection agencies and courts.

Renee Linscott, MA. LSW - Trainer and Consultant. Ms. Linscott has over twelve years of experience in all phases of child welfare as both as caseworker and supervisor at Muskingum County Children Services. Currently, she is a member of the adjunct faculty at Muskingum Area Technical College and coordinates the Post Adoptive Services Program for Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio. She also contracts with various agencies to facilitate special needs adoptions.

Raymond Lloyd, Jr., BA, LSW - Independent Trainer and Consultant. Mr. Lloyd has experience in the investigation of sexual abuse. He was formerly the Director of Placement Services at Clark County DHS.

Brian D. Lowery, MPA, LSW, is the Educational Coordinator of Lowery Training Group. He has been an instructor in the human service field for the past 25 years. Brian is a therapist in private practice and a sought after consultant and trainer with child welfare organizations throughout the Great Lakes Region.

Kathleen M. Lowery is the Program Coordinator of Lowery Training Group. She has served as a child welfare professional for over 22 years. Kathy specializes in program development, supervision and administration of foster care and adoptive programs

Paul Martin, M.D. Dr. Martin is a medical school graduate. He has worked as a psychiatrist in charge of an emergency mental health center, as a staff psychiatrist in charge of a locked, secure unit at a state psychiatric hospital and has been a mental health consultant to a state public defenders office on issues of competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility.

Gloria Milord, B.S.W., M.S.W. Gloria Rodriguez-Milord has worked with children and families for over 20 years. She is a native of Panama and is currently the Coordinator of Therapeutic Foster Care at Beech Acres in Cincinnati. She is also a founding member and the President of the Board of Directors of Su Casa Hispanic Ministry Center, the past President of the Adoption Awareness Alliance, and an advisory board member of the Council of Latino Executives of the Child Welfare League of America and Gloria serves on several other boards and committees.

Ruth McMonagle Ruth McMonagle has been an independent trainer and consultant for many years, specializing in management/supervisory training and increasing personal effectiveness. Prior to that, she worked for 13 years in child welfare in many capacities, from caseworker to executive director.

Debra McMullen- is an Independent Child Welfare Trainer from Cincinnati who has trained foster, adoptive and kinship caregivers for more than 10 years. Her training sessions are mixed with real life experiences as a birth, foster and adoptive parent.

Rosilyn Meisel, MSW, LISW - Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University College of Social Work. Ms. Meisel has years of experience in the areas of child welfare casework and supervision.

Kathryn L. Mercer, Ph.D., J.D.,M.S.S.A. Dr. Mercer is a Professor of Lawyering Skills at Case Western Reserve University School of Law since 1984. She teaches Alternative Dispute Resolution to law and business students. Ms. Mercer is also a trainer for the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program.

Loretta Murphy, MS, LPCC – Director, Loretta Murphy Counseling and Consulting Services. Ms. Murphy has done extensive work in the area of the child sexual abuse, including clinical work with victims and offenders. She formerly served as a member of the Governor’s Council on Juvenile Justice.

Edward A. Omabegho, ACSW, LISW, OCWTP Certified – Former Administrator with the Center for Human Services, currently an independent consultant, trainer and evaluator. Professional experience includes Public Administration, Social Work, Nursing and Mental Health. Former Casework Supervisor, Protective Services for Children, has extensive experience working with children, youths, adults and the elderly. Has designed and implemented several programs, including HIV/AIDS, Homemaker/Home Health Aide, Community Block Grants for Seniors, Passport Services, the Parent Aide Program for Abused/Neglected Children, and the Family Preservation Program.

J. Edward Petrish, Certified Hypnotist and Coach, Independent Trainer – Mr. Petrish’s specialty areas include stress management, sports and academic achievement. He is also proficient in NLP, a technology for managing emotions and changing behavior.

Sandra Priestino, Ph.D. Sandy Priestino is an independent child welfare trainer. She has worked for Delaware County Children Services and the Ohio Department of Youth Services.

Mary Roach - Staff Development Coordinator, Buckeye Ranch. Ms. Roach has long-term experience in the care of children placed out of the home. Ms. Roach has worked as a direct care worker and supervisor in residential and foster care setting.

Janice Rodier, M.Ed., L.S.W. Janice Rodier has over 15 years of clinical experience. She is certified in both Rational Emotive and Cognitive Therapy. She has worked as Clinical Director for Comprehensive Care Corporation and as Assistant Treatment Manager for Franklin County CSB.

Sister Madeline Rybicki, M.S.,C.S.F.N. Sister Madeine is a trainer for the OCWTP, and coordinator of education and training for the Holy Family Institute. She participates on the Education and Training Committee of the National Organization of Child Care Workers Association. She is the president of the Academy of Child and Youth Care Professionals.

Michael Sanders, BS, LSW - Independent Trainer and Consultant. Mr. Sanders has experience as an adolescent therapist and as a caseworker for Franklin County Children Services.

Stacey Saunders, MA – Independent Trainer and Consultant. Ms. Saunders’ experiences include child welfare and involvement with the Peace Corps in West Africa and throughout Central and South America . She has extensive experience in caseworker, supervisory, and management training.

Jayne Schooler - Independent Trainer and Consultant. Ms. Schooler is the author of The Whole Life Adoption Book: Realistic Advice for Raising a Healthy Adoptive Family and Searching For A Past

Jordana Y. Shakoor - Ms. Shakoor is the Founder and Director of JYS Consultants. As a free-lance writer she has published articles on self -esteem, cultural diversity issues, and entrepreneurship in the Columbus Dispatch, The Suburban News, The Call and Post Newspaper, The Communicator News, and The Personal Business Monitor. She has also published five PosiPower Booklets that are used in training workshops.

Joseph Shannon, Ph.D. Therapist and Consultant. Dr. Shannon’s experience includes clinical counseling, consultative and educational training. He also has administrative and supervisory experience. He specializes in treating depression and anxiety disorders, chemical dependency, character pathology and relationship problems.

Beverly Spivek Morris, L.I.S.W. Bev Spivek Morris is an independent trainer from Cincinnati. She has 10 years of experience in child welfare at Hamilton County JFS, including seven years in adoptions.

Jim Still-Pepper, MA - Therapist and Consultant. Mr. Still-Pepper works exclusively with children, teenagers and their families. He is a consultant for several school districts and for a group home for teenagers. He is a motivational speaker and Independent Training in the field of Child Welfare. He is a freelance writer and has co-authored six books. He is the creator of the Abstinence Education Game which is powerful tool teaching kids the importance of abstinence.

Victoria Solomon, J.D., LSW – Professional Mediator, Trainer, and Conflict Management Consultant. Ms. Solomon brings more than twenty years of practical experience as a social worker and attorney to her present work. An adoptive parent, her child welfare experience includes casework (intake, protective, foster care), supervision, child advocacy (guardian ad litem), and adoption assessment.

Rusty Teague Detective Teague has over 20 years experience with the Springdale Police Department in Greater Cincinnati. He retired from the Department in 1998, where he served as lieutenant. Detective Teague is now a consultant and trainer for law enforcement and children services.

Joan Tucker, MSW, LISW - Independent Trainer and Consultant. Ms. Tucker was formerly employed at Franklin County Children Services in protective services and staff development. She has also worked in the mental health field in both institutional and community based settings.