Catherine Adams
Catherine Adams is currently the Business Development Manager at Youth Villages. Catherine started at Youth Villages seven years ago as an intensive in-home counselor in the Intercept Program. In Catherine’s current role, she works with states to improve clinical outcomes for children and families while increasing the return on investment for services. Like Bret, Catherine works closely with states to implement programs that meet their specific needs. Before coming to Youth Villages, Catherine interned for two years in the Behavioral Medicine Department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
Juli Alvarado, MA, LPC, NCC
Juli Alvarado is an internationally recognized consultant, motivational speaker and expert in the area of relationship, attachment, trauma, and treatment of high risk, behaviorally disordered children and families. She has spent the past 20 years working with organizations and family clients in foster care and adoption. She is the president and owner of coaching for LIFE!, a personal and professional development firm with an emphasis in maximizing human potential through relationship, at home and in the office. Currently Ms. Alvarado provides expert consultation for state departments, judicial branches, agencies, corporations and families internationally. Her Keynote offerings are known to move the audience to tears and laughter time after time. Her use of real – life examples as a treatment foster parent, mother of five, and owner and president of a successful consulting and therapy practice has proved empowering to audiences and families as they gain specific strategies for bringing increased peace into their work settings homes, and lives.
Lucas Boyce
Lucas Boyce is the Director of Community Relations, Multicultural Insights, Cause Marketing and Government Affairs for the Orlando Magic, joining the organization in July 2008. His responsibilities include strategic business planning and directing the organization’s multicultural and community initiatives and diverse outreach. He also oversees the company's efforts in corporate citizenship, supplier diversity and government affairs.
Prior to joining the Magic, Boyce served at the White House in the Office of Political Affairs where he monitored political activity and tracked key races across the Plains-Southwest region of the United States. Boyce also coordinated pro-active communication, public relations and education outreach across diverse communities, constituencies and issues on behalf of the President.
Lucas is the author of Living Proof: From Foster Care to the White House and the NBA, published in January 2011. Learn more by visiting www.lucasdanielboyce.com. He travels throughout Central Florida and across the country giving speeches designed to motivate young adults to make an impact in their generation.
Boyce received his bachelor's degree in political science and speech communication from the University of Central Missouri. He is currently pursuing his MBA at Rollins College in Orlando Florida.
Karla Hartley
Karla Hartley received a BFA in Theater Studies from Boston University in 1992. She is the Associate Artistic Director of Stageworks Theatre, Production Coordinator for American Stage, was named Best Director 2009 by Creative Loafing and has received two Jeff Norton Awards. Directing credits include: Greetings, Ladies at the Alamo (Boston) , The Seahorse, Christmas With Elvis, Girl Detective, Cut the Ribbons (Florida tour), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Always, Patsy Cline, The Goat or Who is Sylvia?, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Jewtopia, Hats! The Musical (Florida tour), Boston Marriage, The Rocky Horror Show, Waistwatchers, the world premiere of Party Animals by Kathie Lee Gifford and David Friedman, Respect, Little Dog Laughed, And Baby Makes Seven, The Drunken City and Agnes of God, Eurydice, Tick, Tick, BOOM, The Vagina Monologues, As Bees in Honey Drown, War of the Worlds, Momologues, Falsettos at the University of Tampa, Yellowman, American Duet, Listen To My Heart, The Blue Room and A Grand Night for Singing. Upcoming projects include The Rocky Horror Show at American Stage and Biloxi Blues at Stageworks. Much love to her daughter Sydney.
Hillsborough Kids Family Connections Team
The Hillsborough Kids Family Connections Team has over 45 collective years of experience in Child Welfare including: Case Management, Training, Child Protection Services, Licensing, Operations, Adoptions, Mental Health Services, Independent Living Services, Placement Services, Children’s First Response, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, and Juvenile Justice.
Megan Kennedy, M.A.
Megan Kennedy is a consultant and trainer on youth gender and sexuality issues. Kennedy is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Sexual Minority Mental Health Specialist (SMMHS). As the Outreach Director at a youth and family mental health agency (2004-2010), Kennedy led innovate strategies in community-based counseling and violence prevention. In 2008, she began to experiment with creative media as a tool for social change and co-produced/directed PUT THIS ON THE {MAP}, a documentary video featuring 26 youth reteaching gender and sexuality.
Frank Kros, MSW, JD
Frank Kros is a career child advocate, who has served as a childcare worker, child abuse investigator, children’s home administrator, consultant, college professor, attorney, writer and speaker. Certified in applied educational neuroscience, Frank currently serves as president of The Upside Down Organization and executive vice president of The Children's Guild.
Frank presents training workshops worldwide to parents, educators, child-serving professionals and their leaders on various topics including brain-based learning, aggressive and violent behaviors, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), neuroscience of the teenage brain and leadership and the brain. Frank has presented his workshops at national education, social work and human services conferences, and Frank was awarded a Maryland Governor’s Citation for his speaking efforts. In addition to lecturing, he co-authored two books: Creating the Upside Down Organization: Transforming Staff to Save Troubled Children and The Upside Down Organization: Reinventing Group Care. Frank earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Creighton University, a master’s degree in social work from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a law degree from Notre Dame Law School.
Keith E. McHenry
Keith McHenry is the Executive Director of Plays for Living, Inc., an award-winning nonprofit organization that uses the technique of live theater as a tool to produce youth, employee and executive training programs on issues including diversity, harassment, leadership, ethics and managing change. Mr. McHenry oversees all programs, services and activities. As chief executive officer, his responsibilities cover fiscal and personnel management, operations, developing and implementing corporate, foundation and individual contribution strategies and client development. He manages marketing and program 
development to meet the specific requirements of corporations, nonprofits, schools, hospitals, and government entities.
His diverse management experience is applicable to broad range of opportunities, markets and industries. His wide-ranging background as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Controller with experience as company spokesman has contributed to his successes at Manufacturers Hanover Trust, the Department of Culture & Communication at New York University, The Benta Group of Companies, AlyXsys, Inc. and The Harlem Business Alliance. His excellent interpersonal and communications skills complement his proven creative problem solving capabilities making him an extremely effective negotiator able to motivate and persuade.
He has delivered workshops and presentations to small and large groups. In his presentations, he combines the passion of commitment to achievement with the success of accomplishment with and through others. From fundraising and workshops, to motivational speaking, Keith leads by example, and leverages his background to build programs that improve individuals, communities, and organizations. Keith speaks from his heart on topics with which he has personal experience.
Deena McMahon
Deena McMahon is a family and attachment therapist in private practice. After working as the clinical supervisor and director of in-home services at Therapeutic Services Agency for 20 years, she has launched her own business. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. She does forensic parenting assessments, attachment and sibling assessments, and attachment therapy. She serves as consultant to numerous state and county child protection agencies, adoption agencies, and parent support groups. She provides expert
testimony, national and regional trainings and serves as a faculty consultant to the Minnesota State Guardian Ad Litem Program. She has been working with families and children for over 25 years and has developed expertise in the areas of childhood trauma, childhood sexual abuse, grief and loss, family violence, adoption and attachment.
Deena has presented trainings for the Children’s Justice Initiative, sponsored by the MN Supreme Court, has been hired by the Department of Human Services to do state wide trainings, and has her own client caseload. She has provided training for state judges, public defenders, social service supervisors, parents, guardians ad litem, early child hood and special education teachers, foster care providers, day care providers, personal care attendants and mental health professionals. She is known for her passion in working with children and her strong advocacy skills in supporting families.
Sid Jordan Peterson, J.D.
Sid Jordan Peterson is a human services professional with over a decade of experience working specifically in youth-serving agencies. As a trainer, Sid uses arts and technology to create participatory learning environments for professionals to share knowledge. He has worked with hundreds of government agencies, human service organizations, schools, and centers of faith on issues of policy and practice related to gender and sexual diversity. Sid is an award-winning filmmaker, the co-Director/Producer of PUT THIS ON THE MAP, and has presented internationally as part of the Reteaching Gender & Sexuality campaign.
Giselle Rodriguez
Giselle Rodriguez is the State Outreach Coordinator for the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking. As the State Outreach Coordinator, she has trained staff members in numerous faith based organizations, health providers, code enforcement and law enforcement. Giselle has also spoken at local high schools and colleges
regarding human trafficking issues in the state of Florida. She is one of the Co Founder’s of the Orlando and Tampa Rescue and Restore Coalition. Before working with the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking, Giselle worked with the Department of Children and Families as a child Protective Investigator for 5 years. Through the work performed at DCF, she has been able to work with victims of human trafficking that have been rescued throughout the state of Florida.
Giselle has also coordinated several outreaches throughout the Tampa Bay area. During one of the outreach events in Wimuama, she and her volunteers were able to identify 3 potential labor trafficking victims. These 3 men in turn lead Giselle and The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office to an additional 4 male victims. She was also the event coordinator for the outreach event that took place during Superbowl 43 in Tampa. During this particular outreach event, over 40 volunteers participated and numerous leads on potential cases were provided to local law enforcement. The Superbowl outreach was such a success that is was conducted during Superbowl 44 in Miami and during the Florida Classic 2010.
Kevin D. Slack, M.A.
Kevin Slack is the Lead Trainer with the Sylvia Thomas Center. He is certified by NACAC as an Adoption Competent Trainer and has provided training for Adoption Competency since October of 2008.
Mr. Slack is Director of the Sylvia Thomas Center Training Institute and has over 23 years experience working in the field of child welfare and adoptions.
Bret Stockton
Since 2005, Bret Stockton has served in the role of director of business development for Youth Villages. In this role, he introduces states to the treatment programs Youth Villages provides and assists states in establishing these services. Under Stockton’s leadership, Youth Villages has expanded services into five states and 23 new locations.
Stockton is also responsible for overseeing federal and state government relations at Youth Villages. He began his career with Youth Villages in 1995 as a direct care worker in the residential program.
Jordan Thierry
Director, The Black Fatherhood Project
Jordan Thierry is a Portland, Oregon native and a graduate of the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication. While at the University of Oregon, he co-directed the Student Multicultural Center, served
as President of the National Association of Black Journalists Chapter, and co-founded BRIDGES to Higher Education, a high school-to-college tracking program for high school students of color in Oregon. He also directed and produced the short documentary Footprints in the Struggle: The Beatrice Cannady Story, as his senior project. Jordan went on to pursue a Master’s degree in the Mass Communications and Media Studies program at Howard University, where he finished in 2009. During graduate school, Jordan worked as a Program Coordinator at the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, specifically coordinating the Black Youth Vote! program. Jordan moved on to become a Program Associate at the Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation based in Portland, Oregon, where he currently resides. He is committed to seeking social change through rich dialogue and spirited action.
LaVar Young
Director, Newark Now
LaVar Young is the former director of Fathers Now, an initiative of Newark Now. He was recently promoted to Director of its parent organization Newark Now, an outreach organization founded by current Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker. He has previously worked with the Freedom Foundation and Big Brothers and Big Sisters before joining the staff of Newark Now. He has a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania.