Susan Adair-Wolf

Susan is a Volunteer Victim Advocate with the Victim Services Unit of the Edmonton Police Service. She is completing her 28th year with the unit.

Susan is passionate in developing and providing increased support for co-victims of homicide, based on best practices. She participated in the program development model for the Major Intervention Response Team (MIRT) now used to provide support to Co-victims of Homicide.

She is an experienced crisis intervention responder and a former crisis intervention trainer and team lead. She has completed the Alberta Solicitor General & Public Safety Victim Advocate Core Training programs and received her certification. Susan has specialized training in Spiritual Care in Crisis Intervention (CISM). She designed and was an integral contributor to the Co-victims Family Resource binder now provided to co-victims.

In addition to crisis intervention and family support, Susan provides court support to families, witnesses etc. who have experienced homicide or been involved in other major crimes.

While Susan’s personal life has not been touched by homicide, her heart certainly has. She regularly attends the local Victims of Homicide Support Society meetings and is a member of their Board of Directors.

Susan is married, a mom to adult children and ‘Amma’ to 3 grandchildren. Living in Edmonton, Alberta she spends every spare moment in Canmore, Alberta enjoying the mountain life.

Susan Adair-Wolf
8722 75 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
T6C 0H2

Anita Ahuja

Anita Ahuja serves as Manager for Mass Violence Response and Ombudsperson for Crime Victims with the California Victim Compensation Board in Sacramento. She is currently focused on mass violence emergency response planning and assisting with meeting the short and long-term needs of victims of mass violence in California.

Her experience includes managing federal crisis response grants, support groups and victim services for September 11th victims in California. She worked extensively with the California September 11th victims for several years, facilitating support groups in Northern and Southern California and coordinating resources nationwide. She also manages federal grants from the Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program in the federal Office for Victims of Crime to assist the victims of the 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino and the victims of the 2017 shooting in Las Vegas. Anita is currently working with Ventura County to assist the victims of the Borderline Bar shooting in Thousand Oaks and Santa Clara County to assist with the response to the shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival.

Since 2015, Ms. Ahuja has partnered with law enforcement to present the Leave No Victim Behind conference series which provides training on best practices for responding to mass violence incidents and effective community partnerships for assisting underserved victims. Ms. Ahuja is certified in advanced crisis response, critical incident stress management and has served as a Community Chaplain.

Ms. Ahuja has served in management roles in Public Affairs and Policy and Training at the California Victim Compensation Board. Her background includes working for the United States Senate, the California State Senate and the California Governor’s Office.

She currently serves on the Board for the Winters Theatre Company, a non-profit organization in Winters, California, where she performs in and directs theatrical productions. Her production of SEVEN, which she directed, received three ELLY nominations and one award from the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance. SEVEN profiles the lives of seven real life female human rights activists around the world who have struggled with domestic violence, human trafficking, poverty, gang rape, gun violence, gender equity and refugee camps.

Ms. Ahuja’s credentials include an M.A. in Counseling Psychology and a B.A. in Political Science and Rhetoric.

Diane Alexander

Special Initiatives Manager, Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC)

Diane Alexander is the special initiatives manager for the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC). She currently oversees the mass violence and terrorism training and technical assistance program. She also manages the deployment of OVC Consultants to respond to incidents of mass violence and terrorism. She contributed to the development of OVC’s Helping Victims of Mass Violence and Terrorism: Planning, Response, Recovery and Resources Toolkit. Ms. Alexander has 39 years of experience in the criminal justice and crime victim assistance fields. She began her work in crisis response while on staff at the National Organization for Victim Assistance in the late 1980s. She participated in the pilot crisis response training and assisted with managing volunteer crisis teams deployed around the country. From 1993 to 2005, she was a founding member, governing board treasurer, president, and past president of the Capital Area Crisis Response Team, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization. Ms. Alexander assisted with outreach and team deployment in the Washington Metropolitan area and coordinated the local outreach and response effort to the September 11 attacks. She also assisted with NOVA’s response to Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Alexander served on NOVA’s War Trauma Team, responding to Tuzla, Bosnia, in February/March 1996.

Bill Ayub, Ventura County Sheriff

Sheriff William “Bill” Ayub is the 20th elected sheriff of Ventura County. Bill joined the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in April of 1996, after serving as a police officer for several years in the City of North Las Vegas, Nevada and the City of Port Hueneme. Bill completed his training at the Ventura County Criminal Justice Training Center in 1990, earning top honors in marksmanship, physical fitness, and personal traits.

Bill’s diverse and extensive law enforcement experience ranges from assignments in patrol, custody, SWAT, academy instructor, investigations, and administration. Prior to being elected sheriff, Bill served at every rank from deputy sheriff through assistant sheriff.

Bill has a Master of Science degree in Emergency Services Administration from California State University at Long Beach. Bill was born and raised in Ventura, and has been married to his wife, Stacey for 26 years. They have three adult children.

George H. Brauchler

District Attorney, 18^th Judicial District

George H. Brauchler was elected District Attorney in 2012 for the 18th Judicial District (JD), which includes Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties.

Each of Colorado’s 22 judicial districts elects a district attorney who serves as the chief law enforcement officer for that district. The 18th JD is the most populous in Colorado, with a population of over 1 million people.

George’s experience includes working as a Deputy District Attorney, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, military prosecutor, and just prior to his election, the Chief of Military Justice — the chief prosecutor for Fort Carson, the 4th Infantry Division, and the U.S. Division North in Iraq in Tikrit, Iraq.

George received an Army ROTC Scholarship to pay for college at the University of Colorado-Boulder, where he also earned his Juris Doctorate. He has been mobilized twice since 9/11. In 2015, George transferred from the U.S. Army Reserve to the Colorado Army National Guard, where he serves as a Colonel. He has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado, University of Denver, and the U.S. Army JAG School, and has trained state and military prosecutors across the United States and worldwide.

George is married with four children.

Barbara Buckley

Barbara Buckley has dedicated her entire career to public interest law and public service. Barbara serves as the executive director of Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, a nonprofit corporation, providing free legal advice, representation and advocacy for individuals who cannot afford a lawyer.  Barbara has spent her entire thirty year career with Legal Aid Center, creating programs to represent thousands of children in foster care, victims of domestic violence, and ordinary Nevadans facing legal adversity. Along the way, she assisted in the creation of Legal Aid Center’s Civil Law Self-Help Center and the Family Law Self-Help Center which serve as legal emergency rooms serving 100,000 people a year. Barbara spearheaded the creation of legal services to victims and survivors of the shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival and in Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada’s assuming operations of the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center, a place of healing and support dedicated to serving as a multi-agency resource and referral center for residents, visitors and responders affected by the shooting.

Barbara also served in the Nevada State Assembly from 1994 to 2010, serving as Speaker from 2007 through 2010, the first woman in the state’s history to hold this position. From 2001 to 2007, she served as Majority Leader of the Nevada State Assembly, also the first woman to hold this post. She has received many awards and honors, including the Most Effective Legislator in the Assembly for six consecutive sessions. Barbara received her J.D. degree summa cum laude from the University of Arizona School of Law and her B.A. with honors from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Wendy Buter

Wendy Buter has been in Victim Services for over 30 years. A Colorado native and the Director of the Crime Victim Compensation Program for the 18th Judicial District, which serves Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln Counties. Wendy assisted with the Columbine High School Shooting, the Aurora Theater Shooting, the Arapahoe High School Shooting and most recently the STEM School Highlands Ranch Shooting. Wendy also responded to assist victims following the Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest Festival Concert Shooting, and has provided Victim Compensation technical assistance to other states following the aftermath of a mass shooting.

Wendy is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, with a BS in Criminal Justice and an MA in Counseling.

Wendy is a proud mom of a teenage son.

Donna Cole

Donna was a registered nurse for 4 years prior to joining the Edmonton Police Service in 1995. She started her (almost) 25 year policing career as a general duty patrol officer where she worked for the first 5 years. She then spent the next 13 years working in the Drug and Gang Unit where she developed a passion for investigative work. For the past 6 ½ years she has worked as a Detective in the Homicide Unit where she has been involved in over 100 homicide and suspicious death investigations.

Donna has been married to her husband Rob for 27 years and they have 3 children together, now 20, 17 and 13 years old. As a former athlete, Donna has spent much of her spare time volunteering for the many sports her kids have been involved in and pretending she is still in good enough shape to compete against them.

Heather Dearman

Heather Dearman is a wife and mother of 5 children. She is the current chair of the 7/20 memorial foundation. Heather’s cousin Ashley was paralyzed in the July 20, 2012 Aurora Theater Shooting. Ashley’s unborn child and 6 year old daughter Veronica were also killed. Heather was inspired to join the foundation in 2015 after experiencing the love and compassion the community displayed at her youngest daughter’s lemonade stand fundraiser for the theater shooting memorial. For the following 3 years, she helped lead fundraising efforts for the permanent memorial, and in July of 2018, the permanent memorial "Ascentiate" was installed. Heather and her board are now focused on advocating for survivors of mass tragedy and their perpetual needs for resources that will support long-term resiliency. Heather also works closely with Aurora’s police officers and firefighters in her role with the city of Aurora’s civil service commission. Her connections with first responders, victims, survivors, and communities who have experienced tragedy propel her passion for proving that there is more love in the world than hate.

Captain Raymond J. Dupuis

Bureau of Field Operations

552 Main Street Watertown MA 02472 · 617-552-6534

• Appointed to the Watertown Police Department in 1983.
• Assigned to the Night Shift Patrol.
• 1985 Assigned to the K-9 Unit.
• 1987 Promoted to Sergeant, assigned as Night Patrol Supervisor.
• 1993 Promoted to Lieutenant, assigned as Night Shift Officer in Charge.
• 2000-Present Promoted to Captain, assigned to the Bureau of Field Operations.
• July 2015-January 2016 Appointed Provisional Chief of Police Watertown Police Department
• January 2016 resumed duties as Captain of the Bureau of Field Operations.

As Captain of the Bureau of Field Operations, he is responsible for the daily operation of all uniformed officers in the Patrol Division, Traffic Division and K-9 Unit as well as the Public Safety Dispatchers and the Police Detail Office.

During the aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombing “shoot out” in Watertown on April 19, 2013, he managed the department, overseeing the communications section and assignment of all Watertown personnel during the manhunt for suspect #2. He was on scene when shots were fired at suspect #2 in the boat and when Suspect #2 was taken in to custody. He remained on scene setting up security perimeters for the F.B.I. who were in charge of and processed the crime scene.

EDUCATION:
1978 Graduate of Watertown High School
1982 B.A. Degree in Government - Western New England College; Springfield, MA
1989 M.S. Degree in Criminal Justice – Westfield State College; Westfield, MA

Mary Beth Fisk

Mary Beth Fisk has more than 30 years’ experience in the nonprofit sector as a visionary, executive, clinical research scientist, and community builder.

Mary Beth was one of the first on scene following the Sutherland Springs Mass Violence Tragedy. She has lead The Ecumenical Center for Counseling, Education and Health for the past 7 years. This Center has tripled its annual budget during her tenure as well as expanded from one office to twenty-four in the central and south Texas areas. The Center has provided hundreds of trauma related services in these areas as well as responding to the August 2019 shooting in El Paso, Texas. Three dedicated counseling offices have been established in the Sutherland Springs area and continue serving the families and community who were impacted by this tragic event.

An active volunteer, Mary Beth was elected to The Ecumenical Center’s Board of Directors and served as its treasurer, as well as serving on several influential local and national boards. In 2009, and again in 2012, she was named a Health Care Hero in the areas of innovation and administrative excellence, respectfully, by the San Antonio Business Journal. Most recently, she was recognized as one of outstanding women leaders in San Antonio.

As the former president and chief operating officer of South Texas’ largest blood, tissue, and cellular therapy center, Mary Beth initiated and implemented meaningful programs that still stand today, including Gencure (a cellular therapy & tissue engineering program involving umbilical-cord). Over the years, Mary Beth founded and directed a nonprofit foundation, developed an international tissue donor bank, and was an active instrument in shepherding new legislation for medical needs at both the state and national level, as well as authored numerous scientific and peer-reviewed journal articles.

Service to military personnel and veterans, as well as their families, is important to Mary Beth. She proudly serves the Military Veterans Community Council (MVCC) as both an inaugural Board Member and as Co-chair of the Health Solutions Team. She is also an active Member of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Council Legislation Committee and a Team Lead for the Texas Information Transition Program (TX TIP).

General Aaron Ford

Before being elected Nevada's Attorney General, Aaron Ford served as the Majority Leader of the Nevada State Senate. He has been the Minority Leader, Assistant Majority Whip, and previously held a leadership role on several legislative committees. He was recognized as best Senate Freshman by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Rookie of the Year by the Reno Gazette Journal, and Senator of the Year by both Help Animals Nevada and the Nevada Conservation League for his work during the 2013 Nevada Legislative session.

AG Ford earned his B.A. from Texas A&M University in Interdisciplinary Studies and his M.A. in International Education from George Washington University. He also earned an M.A. in Educational Administration, his law degree and Ph.D. in Educational Administration from The Ohio State University.

Before practicing law, AG Ford served as a public-school math teacher, shaping hundreds of lives. After teaching, he began his career in law. He clerked for the Honorable Denise Page Hood of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Honorable Johnnie B. Rawlinson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He spent many years in private practice as a Partner at Snell & Wilmer, LLP and later as Partner at Eglet Adams in Las Vegas.

Throughout AG Ford's career, he has always made time to give back to his community. Among his many community accolades, he has served on the Clark County Justice of the Peace Selection Committee and recognized as a Mountain States' "Super Lawyer" and "Rising Star in Law". AG Ford is a former Board Member of the I Have a Dream Foundation, Olive Crest of Nevada, and Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada. In addition, he coached soccer, basketball, and t-ball.

AG Ford married his college sweetheart, Berna Rhodes-Ford, who is also an attorney. Together, they raised four children, Avery, Devin, Aaron II, and Alexander.

Kriste Gibson

Kriste Gibson began her career at State Fund in 2003. Her experience within the organization includes claims adjusting, training, development, project management and she currently holds the position of a Major Claims Manager. Kriste and her team work hard to achieve superior outcomes for the most catastrophically injured employees and has experience in responding to mass violence in the workplace. Kriste is committed to continuous professional and personal growth and makes every effort to be an example to her team. She feels strongly that every situations should be approached with a desire to learn, passion to help and a commitment to doing the right thing. Kriste takes pride in exploring new hobbies and has most recently taken on the piano. She also enjoys upcycling furniture, traveling and being with her family.

Richard Golgart

Richard Golgart recently retired from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with 25 years of dedicated service to the community. He currently is working as the Associate Director of Security for The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, located in downtown Las Vegas.

Richard was born and raised in Indiana and is the youngest of seven children. After graduating high school, he joined the United States Army to pursue a law enforcement career. He served as a military police officer and investigator for seven years.

In 1992 Richard relocated to Las Vegas to further his law enforcement career. He worked at the Forum Shops at Caesars before being hired as a police officer in 1994.

During Richard’s law enforcement career, he worked as an officer in Patrol, Bike Patrol, Field Training and the Police Academy. As a detective he held assignments in the Property Crimes Section, Internal Affairs, Employment Diversity Section and the Critical Incident Review Team. During his last assignment, he conducted over 65 reviews on categorical uses of force to include officer-involved shootings and other high risk/low frequency events within the department.

Richard was awarded the Medal of Honor by Sheriff Lombardo for his actions during the Route 91 Harvest Festival tragedy in 2017. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial recognized Richard as their Officer of the Month for February 2018.

Richard is married to his wife, Kendra; they have four beautiful children and two grand-children. He loves spending time with his family and friends. Riding his bicycle on the amazing trails of the Las Vegas valley is a favorite pastime.

Elynne Greene

Ms. Greene has been working in the field of victim services since 1974, beginning as a volunteer in a Rape Crisis Center. She is currently Manager of Victim Services and Human Trafficking at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. She has been in victim services at the police department for 25 years. She also heads the Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Task Force. Ms. Greene is a credentialed advocate though the National Organization for Victim Assistance and was a graduate of the first National Victim Assistance Academy in 1995. Elynne Greene is also a member of the Responders Support Team in Clark County and serves on the Survivors & Providers Stakeholders' Forum of the National Mass Violence and Victimization Resource Center. Elynne Greene also serves on the Governor’s CSEC Council and is co-chair of the Care Coordination Sub-Committee.

Elynne Greene holds a BA in psychology and an MA. in Creative Arts and Expressive Therapies and an M.Ed. in special education. She was a therapist for over 16 years. She currently serves on the Nevada Attorney General’s Committee on Domestic Violence and she is recognized as an expert in domestic violence and victimology in both state and federal courts in Nevada. Ms. Greene is a founding member of the Victim Assistance Academy of Nevada currently chairs the Curriculum Committee. She has been a Las Vegas resident for just over 26 years.

Michael R. Jump

Chief Deputy District Attorney, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office

Mr. Jump earned a bachelor's in biology from Calvin College in 1993. He earned a master's in environmental science and a law degree from Indiana University in 1998. In 2000, Mr. Jump joined the Ventura County District Attorney's Office where he helped to establish Ventura County’s first Child Advocacy Center. He later served as a trial prosecutor conducting numerous misdemeanor, felony, and serious and violent felony trials. In 2006, Mr. Jump was promoted to director of Fiscal, Administrative and Legislative Services. In 2015, he was appointed chief deputy of Victim and Community Services, where he manages Crime Victims’ Assistance, Safe Harbor, Family Justice Center and Camp HOPE programs. He and his staff of advocates established other innovative service programs that directly assisted victims of the Route 91 and Borderline mass casualty incidents.

Mr. Jump currently serves as a board member of the California Crime Victims Assistance Association. He chairs numerous local committees, and he is a member of the Community Corrections Partnership–Ventura County, representing victims' rights and interests.

Dana Kirby

Dana started her workers compensation claims professional career at California’s State Fund October 2001. Dana was promoted to Senior Adjuster, Assistant Claims Manager and then to her current position as a Major Claims Manager for State Fund’s newly established Major Claims Operation.

Dana graduated from California State University San Bernardino with a degree in Sociology under the Social Work track with a minor in Gerontology.

Sallie Lynch

Sallie Lynch, MA, Senior Program and Development Consultant at Tuesday's Children, has 18 years of experience serving families of September 11th victims, responders and survivors, post-9/11 Gold Star military families, and global victims of terrorism. She is the principal researcher and author of Tuesday’s Children’s evidence-based Long-Term Healing Model, a five-module training curriculum, toolkit and compilation of lessons learned on community healing and resilience. Sallie has worked through Tuesday’s Children with U.S. and international communities impacted by mass tragedies, including Newtown, CT, Orlando, FL, Las Vegas, NV, Parkland, FL and Pittsburgh, PA. She has facilitated cross-cultural resource and idea sharing sessions and trainings with victim service providers through Tuesday’s Children’s international peacebuilding initiative Project COMMON BOND, which since 2008 has engaged over 800 youth impacted by terrorism and violent extremism from over 30 countries.

Sallie previously coordinated a collaborative research and intervention program with Columbia University School of Social Work and the FDNY Counseling Service Unit working with 9/11 widows and children who lost a firefighter parent. She is a co-author of the book FDNY Crisis Counseling: Innovative Responses to 9/11 Firefighters, Families and Communities (Wiley, 2006), and is a member of the Advisory Board for Peace of Mind Afghanistan (PoMA), a national campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues in Afghanistan. She holds an MA in Anthropology from Columbia University and a BA in Cultural Studies from Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.

Heather Martin

Heather Martin was two days away from her 18th birthday when the shooting occurred during her senior year at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. After barricading in a small office for three hours, a SWAT group rescued her and the other students. Heather returned home physically uninjured, but the effects of the trauma she experienced that day continued to impact her in the following years. She is a co-founder of The Rebels Project, named after the Columbine mascot, that seeks to support survivors of trauma resulting from school shootings and other traumatic incidents. Heather advocates for informed responses to traumatic events from the perspective of a survivor. She currently resides in Colorado and teaches English in Aurora, CO.

Michael Morisette

He is the Father of Kristina Kaylee Morisette, who is one of the 12 lost in the Borderline Bar and Grill shooting at Thousand Oaks California, on November 7th, 2018.

Not having known any of Kristina's friends and coworkers from Borderline where she worked as hostess, after the tragedy,  Michael and his family were transplanted into this new group of families, and survivors, and the greater community now known as Borderline Strong.

Michael realized very soon, that had Kristina somehow survived the shooting, not only would she be permanently impacted, but she would be doing everything possible to tend to, care for, and support this traumatized and grieving community of friends.

Knowing instinctively that Kristina was as much a part of him, as he was a part of her, Michael proceeded to attempt to care for those she would have cared for.

Michael also understood that the eyes of the community were on them as victim family members, gauging them to see how they were responding to the tragedy.

He understood that not because of who he was, but because of what had happened to his daughter, and to him, that he had the opportunity to help point people towards whatever hope and healing he could possibly display to them in his own journey through this life changing event.

Through the care, support, and counseling provided by one of the many amazing organizations the Community encountered, specifically, GiveAnHour.org, Michael was introduced to their Campaign to Change Direction. He realized then, that the tools, systems, and guidance which were needed, were already in place in their network and in ChangeDirection.org, and he took comfort and drew strength knowing that they had been doing this for years.

Michael knew that he had a voice, and he knew that even that one voice, when partnered with a powerful organization could somehow make a difference.

Michael is currently still employed in the retail industry, but his calling now is in partnering with and advocating for entities which reflect the heart to care, which he learned from his daughter.

Kimberly Mull

The victim of domestic child sex trafficking between the ages of 11 and 13, as well as domestic violence and multiple sexual assaults, Kimberly is a survivor turned advocate. She holds her Bachelors Degree in Public Policy and Masters in Victim Services Management.

As the founder of Kimberly Mull Advocacy & Consulting, she utilizes her decade of experience working with victims of violence, including over 400 sex trafficking victims, to influence policymakers and legislators in creating trauma-informed victim-focused policy.

Through her work on victims' rights in Nevada, Mull was contracted to serve as the AEAP Program Manager by Nevada's Division of Child and Family Services and manage Nevada's Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program's response efforts of the largest mass shooting in U.S. history, the Route 91 Music Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 1, 2017.

April Naturale, PhD

ICF Traumatic Stress Specialist

April Naturale, PhD, is a traumatic stress specialist with 30 years of experience as a health/mental health care administrator, and a clinician specializing in response to traumatic events. After 9/11, Dr. Naturale directed the New York State response to the World Trade Center disaster, served as project director for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Technical Assistance Center (SAMHSA DTAC), helped launch the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the BP Oil Spill Distress Helpline and the National Disaster Distress Helpline. She was the architect of the Boston Marathon Bombing Behavioral Health response and has been assisting in program development efforts as well as victim, family and provider forums for the Las Vegas Harvest Festival, Pulse Nightclub, Parkland, Thousand Oaks, Pittsburgh Tree of Life, Virginia Beach and El Paso shooting incidents. She is also currently training Psychologists in the Ukraine Military Service and Humanitarian Aid workers for the European Union.

Julie Nauman

Ms. Nauman has served as the Executive Officer of the California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) since 2008. Prior to joining CalVCB, Ms. Nauman served as Chief Deputy Director of the Integrated Waste Management Board and Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development, as well as Chief Consultant to the Assembly Local Government Committee. Known for her expertise in public policy and land use planning, she held the position of principal-in-charge of a multi-state private consulting firm. In 2016, Nauman was elected the second vice president of the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards (NACVCB).

Ms. Nauman received both a Bachelor of Arts in government and a Master of Arts in public administration from California State University, Sacramento.

Kelley Neal

Kelley led the implementation of a specialized catastrophic, large loss and death claims team at California’s State Fund. Kelley’s team responded to two mass violence workplace catastrophes and learned valuable lessons. Kelley is a 30 year workers compensation professional, with experience as a claims adjuster, claims training developer, and senior leader. She is a University of California, San Diego alumni and earned an MBA from California State University Sacramento. She is an active member of Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma. In her spare time, she enjoys fishing, running and swimming.

Hemant Oberoi

Executive Chef, Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai

Born in a small town in Punjab and wanting to be a doctor, he landed up in hotel management school and following graduation moved to Mumbai to join the Taj group of hotels in 1974. In three years, he became Executive Chef of the Taj unit in Oman. In 1985, he took over the flag ship of the Taj group as Executive Chef.

With over four decades of experience, Chef Hemant Oberoi’s passion to continuously explore his craft has resulted in an impressive career with previous work experiences that include working for the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai as the former Executive Chef and the Taj Group Luxury Hotels as the former Corporate Chef. He brought many concepts to the Taj group of hotels such as the Zodiac Grill, Wasabi, Masala brand of restaurants, and Varq (fine dining Indian restaurant) amongst others.

Today the Celebrity Master Chef has finally launched his much-awaited flagship outpost in Mumbai. Named after the maestro himself, HEMANT OBEROI is the latest gastronomic addition to the city’s culinary scene where one will be dished out some impactful innovation. Chef Oberoi brings a dynamic and innovative energy to Mumbai’s diverse culinary scene and elevates it on the gastronomical map. His wide-ranging experience, creative flair to tap into Indian culture and ardent passion for the culinary arts will all play a key role in creating the legacy of this restaurant. He also has restaurants In San Diego by the name of Masala Street and Martabaan by Hemant Oberoi at the famous Emeritus Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Having served many famous personalities from across the globe from Presidents to Prime Ministers, including former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George Bush, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former French President Francois Mitterrand, as well as Hollywood stars Tom Cruise, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Bollywood stars including the Bachchan family, Salman Khan and more, Chef Oberoi has cooked for quite an eclectic and diverse group of food connoisseurs.

Chef Oberoi is a survivor of the 26-11-08 terrorist attacks at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai. His story is documented in the recently released movie Hotel Mumbai which premiered in India on October 11th.

Alyssa Rheingold, Ph.D.

Dr. Rheingold is a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor at the National Crime Victim's Research and Treatment Center (NCVC) within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is the Associate Director of Administration and Director of Clinical Operations at the NCVC. In addition, Dr. Rheingold is the Co-Director of the Preparedness, Response & Recovery Division of the National Mass Violence Resource Center. Her expertise includes evidence-based treatment of trauma related mental health issues, grief and loss, and traumatic loss by homicide. Dr. Rheingold is the PI of several federally funded service grants to improve resources for survivors of homicide, domestic violence victims, and underserved victims of crime She was the Co-PI on an OVC AEAP grant to provide ongoing resiliency and recovery services for those impacted by the Charleston Emanuel AME Church shooting and is the PI on an OVC funded grant to develop community response to intra-familial homicide. Dr. Rheingold has published over 60 peer reviewed articles and book chapters in the area of trauma, bereavement, and victimization. She has provided a number of trainings including Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Loss by Homicide, GRIEF Approach, Traumatic Grief, Impact of Witnessing Domestic Violence, Stress Management, and Prolonged Exposure for PTSD.

Rebecca Salazar

Rebecca Salazar has worked in various capacities for the State of Nevada for the past 19 years. She’s spent the last nine years managing the state’s Victims of Crime Program. She has served as Vice President and Secretary for the Community Coalition for Victim’s Rights and was appointed by Governor Sandoval to the Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision in 2012. She has served on the steering committees for the Victim Assistance Academy of Nevada and Vegas Strong Resiliency Center since their inception.

Joe Samaha

President
VTV Family Outreach Foundation — VTV CARE

A life-long resident of Northern Virginia, Joe graduated from Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School in 1973 and from American University in 1977. Married to his wife, Mona, in 1982, the couple had three children: Omar, Randa, and Reema. The Samaha’s have resided in Centreville, VA since 1987.

Since the Virginia Tech tragedy, Joe and Mona have established scholarships and funds, including the Angel Fund, in memory of their daughter Reema, who was killed at the Virginia Tech shooting on April 16, 2007. Joe has been a tireless advocate on behalf of the Virginia Tech families and mass shooting survivors. He serves as the first president of VTV Family Outreach Foundation, a 501c3.

With several legislative and programmatic accomplishments related to school and higher education safety and response to victim needs, VTV CARE is VTV’s unique mission to create a $1 million endowment fund that will assist identified victims of mass shootings with their financial needs for continued long-term physical and trauma-related therapy, in perpetuity. The endowment, based on a long-term ‘care’ model that VT families and survivors have been implementing for 12 years, VTV CARE, or similar models, will ensure that not even one survivor has to be left behind.

Joe is currently a consultant/speaker with OVCTTAC (Office for Victims of Crime -Training and Technical Assistance Training), has received training in crisis response, and serves as a consultant to the Medical University of South Carolina – National Mass Violence and Victim Resource Center.

Honored with the "Angel Award' given by Fight Crime Invest in Kids, the award was given "For his extraordinary resilience, passion, and determination to raise awareness and prevent future tragedies by bringing hope, common sense, and practical solutions to create a brighter future to our nation."

Allison Turkel

Allison Turkel is the Deputy Director for the Federal, International, and Tribal Division at the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) within the U.S Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP). In this capacity she has supervisory oversight of the Anti-Terrorism Emergency Assistance Program including the International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program (ITVERP), National Mass Violence Victimization Center and OVC’s Mass Violence victim support program. She oversees OVC’s coordination and funding of Federal partners on the provision of victim services. She also runs the Tribal victims’ services program including the provision of victim services to American Indian/Alaska Native communities and victims including the Tribal Victim Services Set Aside Program, Children Justice Act (CJA) projects and OVC’s Tribal Financial Management Center.

Prior to coming to OVC, Ms. Turkel served as a Senior Policy Advisor in OJP’s SMART (Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking) Office, where she worked with American Indian tribes to implement the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) and with the military on sex offender issues. Prior to that, she was the Director of the National District Attorneys Association’s (NDAA) National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse (NCPCA), where she managed and supervised program activities and staff. She trained and provided technical assistance nationwide and in the territories to prosecutors, law enforcement, child protection workers, social workers, medical personnel, forensic interviewers, and other multidisciplinary team members on child abuse, maltreatment, sexual exploitation, computer facilitated crimes against children, and domestic violence. She authored numerous articles including the article “And Then He Choked Me” Investigating and Prosecuting Strangulation Cases and the sexual abuse section of the “Preparing a Case for Court” chapter in the two volume set, Child Maltreatment, A Clinical Guide and Photographic Reference, 3rd Edition (2005).

Prior to her appointment as the Director of NCPCA, Ms. Turkel served as a senior attorney and as the Chief of Training for NDAA’s child abuse programs, which included NCPCA and the National Child Protection Training Center (NCPTC). Ms. Turkel was responsible for oversight of the national, regional, and local training conferences and programs, as well as supervision of all staff training.

Prior to joining NDAA, Ms. Turkel was a prosecutor for over 11 years. She served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in McLean County, Illinois for 18 months where she prosecuted felony domestic violence cases, including severe physical abuse cases of children. Before that, she was an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office for 9 ½ years. She tried a wide variety of felony cases, including narcotics, child physical and sexual abuse, and homicides.

Prior to becoming a prosecutor, Ms. Turkel was a police officer for eight years. She served in patrol and as a plainclothes undercover officer investigating high crime areas and rose to the level of Lieutenant. She also served as the Training Lieutenant in charge of in-house training and fire arms instruction.

Ms. Turkel received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Temple University. Ms. Turkel also is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute: Leadership for a Democratic Society Program.

Kathryn M. Turman

As Assistant Director over the FBI's Victim Services Division, Kathryn Turman oversees assistance to victims of federal crimes across the FBI, including services to child victims, Native American victims, victims of domestic and international terrorism, and U.S. citizens who are taken hostage in foreign countries. The VSD is staffed by victim specialists in field divisions and offices across the country, forensic child interview specialists, operational psychologists, clinical and medical social workers, and crisis response canines. The VSD’s national response team has deployed to assist victims of more than 30 mass casualty crimes and disasters from the shooting at Virginia Tech through the recent shootings in Gilroy, El Paso, and Dayton. Ms. Turman served in the Department of Justice from 1991 until 2002, first as Director of the Missing and Exploited Children’s Program, as Chief of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and as Director of the Office for Victims of Crime. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, she was special assistant to the late Senator John Heinz. She has served on national task forces and advisory boards focused on forensic science, crime victims, and abused children, including the National Commission on Child Abuse and Neglect, National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence, White House Hostage Policy Review, and National Forensic Science Commission. For her innovation and leadership on behalf of victims she received the Edmund J. Randolph Award, the highest honor provided by the Department of Justice. She also received the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service and two National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citations from for her work on the Pan Am 103/Lockerbie prosecution and the White House Hostage Policy Review. Ms. Turman was twice a recipient of the National Crime Victims' Service Award and is one of the few individuals to receive Presidential Rank Awards for both Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service to the United States.

Laura Valdes

Born and raise in northern California, Laura Valdes was the first born to a migrant field working family of five children. She grew up in field worker camps and government housing until the age of 15 when her family permanently settled in Yuba City, CA.

In high school, Laura discovered her passion for helping the marginalized and less fortunate. Some of her early discoveries include organizing health fairs for migrant workers, volunteering as a Candy Striper at the local hospital, joining the ambassador program at her school to assist new students and obtaining ASB office to represent the unrepresented students. She was the first in her family to graduate from high school and seek a university education.

After high school, Laura enrolled at Sacramento State University. During the next four years, she worked hard to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and was successful in graduating with the fore mentioned degree. While at CSU Sacramento, Laura was an active member of the pre-law student association, achieving office of vice chair. She managed to hold employment and intern at the Sutter County Probation Department. Not only was she the first in her family to graduate from a university, but managed to do this while establishing her role as a wife and mother to a brand new baby.

Probation Officer was the first title Laura had. Her case load consisted of Spanish Speaking Adults convicted of Misdemeanors and Felonies. Although she enjoyed this line of work, she didn’t feel fulfilled with this assignment and felt there was more she might accomplish.

In 2000, Laura joined the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office as a Victim Services Program Assistant. She found this career assisting victims of violent crime, much more fulfilling and after five years, yearned for more of a challenge. In 2005, Laura was reassigned to the Domestic Violence Social Worker. In this new position, her main focus was the Spanish Speaking Yolo County citizens who had fallen victims of Domestic Violence. In 2008, Laura volunteered to step in as interim Program Manager and in 2010 was appointed, by the Elected DA, as the Victim Services Program Manager. The fulfillment, creativity, satisfaction and gratification she receives in giving to Yolo County community members who’ve found themselves Victims of crime, is exactly where she has found her passion. The people she has had the honor to assist have taught her more and formed her into who she is today, a voice for victims.

In her career, Laura has also been a crisis responder for victims of sexual assault, Certified as an expert witness for Yolo County Superior Court on issues of Victims and Domestic Violence, Recipient of the Mexican-American Concilio Yolo County Community Award, Handler or the Courthouse Comfort Dog – Aloha, Recipient of the Yolo County District Attorney Advocate of the year, two years in a row, Board Member of the California Crime Victims Assistance Association, Multi Cultural Council Committee co-chair, Presenter for the California District Attorney Association/ California Crime Victim Assistance Association, Presenter in numerous university classrooms and other activities.

Rachael Watkins

Victim Services Manager

Ms. Watkins has worked in the field of victim advocacy for over 15 years. Her experience began in 2003 as a volunteer victim advocate in the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Crime Victim’s Assistance Program. Ms. Watkins was soon hired on as a full-time victim advocate, managing a caseload with a variety of crime types. She has since been promoted to a Senior Victim Advocate, Supervising Victim Advocate, Crime Victims’ Assistance Unit Program Supervisor, and is currently the Victim Services Manager. She oversees a staff of 21 victim advocates, a volunteer program, domestic violence restraining order clinics, the programmatic duties of seven grants and client services within the Crime Victim Assistance Program, Safe Harbor Centers, and the Ventura County Family Justice Center. She graduated with an associate degree from Ventura Community College in 2002.