CHAR BARWIN, BA, Northeastern Wisconsin Area Health Education Center, Manitowoc, WI
Char Barwin is a relationship-centered leader with over 16 years of nonprofit experience who currently serves as the Interim Executive Director at Northeastern Wisconsin Area Health Education Center (NEWAHEC). As a Communication & Program Support Specialist, Char increased NEWAHEC's website utilization by 139% through user-focused redesign and grew social media following by 100% through authentic storytelling. A naturally curious lifelong learner, Char brings a communications perspective and a belief in the power of noticing to help nonprofit organizations enhance their visual communication strategies. Char holds a Bachelor of Arts & Sciences in Communications from Michigan State University and recently completed the Marketing Director Course through Next MBA.
BRITTNEY BROCK, RC, CPS, CPPS, Three Bridges Recovery Wisconsin
Brittney Brock is 33 years old and proudly approaching three years of sobriety this August. She has been with Three Bridges for the past two years, where she has grown both personally and professionally. In June 2024, she stepped into the role of Peer Worker Supervisor and Community Advocate—a position that allows her to support others on their recovery journeys while continuing to build stronger, more connected communities.
COLIN CASH, CPRS, Pathfinder Solutions, Minneapolis, MN
Colin Cash, an enrolled member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, is an advocate for recovery and community empowerment. He is best known as the founder of Sober Squad, a grassroots recovery movement that began in 2016 during his own early recovery journey. Motivated by the opioid crisis affecting Native communities, Colin initiated Sober Squad to support individuals in recovery and promote healthier communities. The movement has since expanded across Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, establishing multiple chapters and training peer recovery specialists. Beyond his work with Sober Squad, Colin serves as the Director of Tribal Development at Pathfinder Solutions and holds board positions with Governors Advisory Board on Substance Use Disorder and the Minnesota Recovery Policy Alliance . He is also a board member of Juel Fairbanks. His dedication to recovery advocacy has been recognized with awards, including the Peer Recovery Award from the Minnesota Association of Resources for Recovery and Chemical Health (MARRCH).
JASON CRAM, MPA, Deputy Director, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Bureau of Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery, Madison, WI
Jason Cram is the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery for the State of Wisconsin - Department of Health Services. He is responsible for overseeing the overall operations budget and strategic plan. In his role, he provides statewide leadership to Wisconsin’s community mental health and substance use delivery system. He is also providing supervision to the supervisors of the six sections in BPTR including Children, Youth, and Family; Integrated Services; Performance Management; Mental Health; Substance Use; and Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery. Jason’s passion is large-scale system evaluation, implementation, and development. Jason holds a master’s degree in Public Administration. He has been in the human services field for over 30 years and has been with the State of Wisconsin for over 20 years. In his free time, he enjoys spending it outside in nature, canoeing the lakes and rivers in Wisconsin with his dog his loyal companion.
STEPHEN CROWE, MSW, JBS International, Inc., North Bethesada, MD
Stephen Crowe, is a Technical Expert Lead and Data/Evaluation Liaison with JBS International, Inc., working with the RCORP-Technical Assistance team since September 2021. He has nearly 25 years of experience working in harm reduction, drug user health, HIV prevention and treatment, LGTBQIA+ services, quality improvement, technical assistance, and program development. He is a former Opioid Program Manager for the New York State Department of Health's Office of Drug User Health and as a Quality Program Coordinator for the NYSDOH's Office of the Medical Director, AIDS Institute. He previously worked for several non-profits in NYC and Boston, including Harlem United, National Harm Reduction Coalition, Housing Works, and Fenway Health.
LEILA DEERING, BA, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield, WI
Leila Deering is an Application Analyst Specialist at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, where she supports research teams by optimizing workflows and building tailored REDCap solutions. A 2020 REDCap Consortium MVP, Leila has been instrumental in expanding REDCap’s use at MCRI, from launching a support work group during the pandemic to founding the annual REDCap Day event. She has presented at REDCapCon annually since 2017, sharing innovative applications that push the platform’s boundaries. Her work blends communication, analysis, and creativity to drive research efficiency and collaboration.
BRYAR DREXLER, BS, CHES, Portage County Health and Human Services - Division of Public Health, Stevens Point, WI
Bryar Drexler serves as the Community Health Educator at Portage County Health and Human Services – Division of Public Health, where she facilitates health education and advocates for mental health and risk reduction in underserved and rural communities. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health Community Health Education from UW–La Crosse and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Bryar is passionate about substance use prevention and public health equity.
SUSAN FLEURANT, JD, MPH, The Network for Public Health Law, Woodbury, MN
Susan Fleurant, JD, MPH, is a staff attorney with the Network for Public Health Law’s Mid-States Region Office. She assists public health attorneys, practitioners, and advocates to use law to protect the public’s health by providing legal technical assistance, training, and practical tools. Her work focuses primarily on public health authority and legal issues related to data sharing and privacy. Before joining the Network, Susan practiced disability rights law. She received her law degree and Master of Public Health in Health Management and Policy from the University of Michigan and her undergraduate degree from Colby College. Susan is licensed to practice law in Minnesota.
TIMOTHY GENSLER, Special Agent, Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, Wausau, WI
Tim Gensler is currently employed as a Special Agent for the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation (WI DOJ/DCI) and has been employed in law enforcement for more than 12 years. SA Gensler has spent more than half of his time in law enforcement in full-time investigations. Prior to being employed by the WI DOJ/DCI, SA Gensler supervised a narcotics task force in north central Wisconsin.
ELIZABETH GOETZ, MD, MPH, IBCLC, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
Elizabeth Goetz is a pediatrician at the university of WI Madison. She has cared for newborns in the first days of birth for her entire career and works to improve the health and well being of all new families in Wisconsin.
RENEE KEEN-NATZKE, BS, CW Solutions, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Renee is a dedicated human services professional with over ten years of experience working with teens and young adults. She currently serves as a Case Manager supporting youth who experienced sex trafficking prior to age 18. Her work is grounded in a trauma-informed approach, with a strong emphasis on building trust, resilience, and empowerment. Passionate about advocacy and systemic change, Renee is pursuing her Master of Social Work at the UW-Green Bay.
KATE KIPP, MSSW, APSW, UW-Stevens Point, Department of Sociology and Social Work, Stevens Point, WI
Kate Kipp joined UW-Stevens Point’s Department of Sociology and Social Work in 2015. Kipp has an advanced practice certification as a social worker and is trained in substance use disorders. Kipp continues to facilitate groups for children/youth receiving CCS services. Kipp spent nearly 15 years as a child welfare social worker in Dane and Marathon counties. She is involved on the board of Marathon County Head Start and volunteers for the Girl Scouts of the Northwest Lakes.
ALEKSANDR KLADNITSKY, BS, Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association, Madison, WI
Aleksandr Kladnitsky has served in his role as Director of Data, Analytics, and Security at Wisconsin Primary Health Care (WPHCA) since May of 2018 and has worked at WPHCA for over 16 years. In this role, Mr. Kladnitsky leads WPHCA's internal Azara Data Reporting and Visualization System (DRVS) team and manages all related contracts, oversees WPHCA's compliance with HIPAA, manages a contract with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to designate areas of Wisconsin as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), helps Health Centers gather community health needs data for grant applications, and provides clinical quality improvement technical assistance. Prior to this role, Mr. Kladnitsky served as WPHCA’s Data Analyst and Program Manager. Mr. Kladnitsky holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing and Supply Chain Management.
TANYA KRAEGE, LCSW, CSAC, WI CPS, Safe Communities MDC, Madison, WI
Tanya Kraege is the Director of Peer Services at Safe Communities MDC. With 16 years of experience in mental health and substance use, she supports people navigating trauma, incarceration, substance use during pregnancy, and recovery. She oversees multiple programs using Recovery Coaches and Certified Peer Specialists in Wisconsin and has launched impactful initiatives such as Preg2Recovery, Jail2Recovery, and Treatment Court2Recovery. Tanya also developed a Salesforce-based management system that enhanced productivity and community reach. A Clinical Social Worker, Certified Peer Specialist, and Recovery Coach, Tanya leverages her lived experience to advocate for stigma reduction and recovery support nationwide.
MELISSA LABECKI, RC, CPS, Three Bridges Recovery Wisconsin, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Melissa Labecki is a Certified Peer Specialist with six years of continuous sobriety. Since July 2024, she has been proud to
work for Three Bridges Recovery, where she offers peer support and facilitates SMART Recovery meetings. Melissa draws
on both her lived experience and professional training to help create a supportive, empowering environment for
individuals navigating their own recovery journeys.
PAMELA LEE, RC, CPS, Wood County Health Department, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Pamela Lee is a Community Health Worker and Certified Peer Specialist with the Wood County Health Department. As someone with lived experience in mental health and substance use disorder, Pamela brings a powerful perspective to her work. She oversees six public health vending machines in the county and supports other risk reduction and recovery resources in the community.
MEGHAN MEAD, MA, JD, The Network for Public Health Law - Mid-States Region, Santa Fe, NM
Meghan Mead is the Deputy Director in the Mid-States region at the Network. She has expertise in data sharing and privacy laws, including extensive experience with HIPAA. Her other interests and areas of expertise include social determinants of health such as housing and food security; public benefits; guaranteed income; and housing instability and evictions. Prior to her work at the Network, Meghan served as the Director of Law and Policy at New Mexico Appleseed, where she identified and successfully advocated for effective solutions to child and family poverty at the local, state, and federal level. She also spent almost a decade in private law practice providing regulatory and transactional legal advice to health care providers, including hospitals and medical groups. She is a graduate of Stanford Law School and received her undergraduate degree magna cum laude in history and economics from Mount Holyoke College. She is licensed to practice law in New Mexico and California.
KYLE MOUNTS, MD, MPH, Wisconsin Association of Perinatal Care, Madison, WI
Kyle Mounts has over 30 years' experience in perinatal care. He has specific professional interest in the impact of mental health and substance use on fetal and infant development within the social-ecological context. Previously, he had the opportunity to participate actively in Wisconsin CONNECT's substance use educational programming and contributed to the American Public Health Association's policy statement, "An Equitable Response to the Ongoing Opioid Crisis." Currently, he is an Associate Director with the Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care.
MOLLIE OLSON, MPH, Jackson County Public Health, Black River Falls, WI
Mollie Olson is a Public Health Strategist at Jackson County Public Health. She earned her bachelor’s degree and Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Since joining the department in March 2024, she has supported efforts to increase naloxone saturation and led implementation of a public health vending machine. Her work focuses on community-centered approaches to risk reduction and youth substance use prevention.
STEPHANIE PEDERSON, BA, CW Solutions, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Stephanie Pederson is a Case Manager with CW Solutions, a private human services agency. Stephanie pursues authentic connection with each youth she works alongside to intentionally meet them where they are at. She also provides community mental health services to individuals of all ages with a variety of mental health diagnoses. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UW-La Crosse and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work from UW-Green Bay.
ELIZABETH POWER, MEd, EPower & Associates, Inc., Nashville, TN
Nashville-based Elizabeth Power, M.Ed. (Vanderbilt, ’97) is a subject matter expert on trauma-informed change, resilience, and alignment work with individuals and organizations. Power helps people master applied emotional intelligence (EQ) through a trauma-informed lens. The same skills that increase EQ help people master overwhelming, traumatic experiences. They also help insulate against the impact of chronic stress. Her work is used on every continent except Antarctica, and she is a Fulbright Specialist in Trauma Informed Care. In addition, she is an adjunct instructor at Georgetown University Medical Center where the teaches TI-Med, GUMC’s evidence-based program she helped create.
JOHN PULS, LCSW, MCAP, Full Life Comprehensive Care, Boco Raton, FL
John Puls began working with individuals living with substance use disorder and acute mental illness in 2013 in a support staff role. During this time, he completed his bachelor’s degree in social work from Florida Atlantic University while working as a case manager. He later earned his MSW through their advanced standing program and is now a licensed clinical social worker and master’s level certified addiction professional (MCAP). John owns a private psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and case management practice in Boca Raton, FL, and also teaches as an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University.
ANGIE SANCHEZ, MBA, ILC, IFSD, Sacred Waters Collective, Lansing, MI
Angie Sanchez, Crane Clan, is Grand Traverse Band Ojibwe and Odawa from Michigan. She is a PhD candidate in the
Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences at Michigan State University (MSU) and holds both a BA in
Communications and an MBA from MSU. Angie’s research focuses on increasing access to breastfeeding support in
Indigenous communities. She received a $338,000 MHEF grant to bring Indigenous Breastfeeding Counselor Training to six
communities and co-authored a $100,000 grant to support the Sacred Bundle Birth Worker Collective. In her free time, she
enjoys attending ceremonies, camping, and traveling with her husband and son.
RHIANNA SCHMIDT, MPH, CHES, Taylor County Health Department, Medford, WI
Rhianna Schmidt is a Public Health Strategist at the Taylor County Health Department in Medford, WI. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and her Master of Public Health in Health Promotion from Northern Illinois University. Her day-to-day includes work on risk reduction and suicide prevention initiatives, community outreach on various public health topics, and managing the department’s social media. While not working, she enjoys staying active with her family, reading, and perfecting her sourdough bread loaves.
LORI SCHMITZ, BA, BS, Iowa State University, Partnership in Prevention Science Institute, Ames, IA
Lori Schmitz is a dedicated data analyst with a strong commitment to supporting education and community-based initiatives through data-driven insights. With experience across higher education and the energy sector, Lori blends technical proficiency in tools like Excel and Power BI with a collaborative, service-oriented mindset. Lori is passionate about her role serving local and regional communities, particularly in the fields of education, prevention and public health. She enjoys preparing data for reporting and presentation, and helping others hone their data analysis and evaluation skills.
LAURA SKINNER, MSW, LPC, Navigate Wellness, Mequon, WI
Laura Skinner is a licensed professional counselor, educator, and founder of Navigate Wellness—a practice redefining mental health care through a mind-body-spirit lens. With expertise in EMDR, DBT, hypnotherapy, and ketamine-assisted therapy, she specializes in trauma and substance use. Laura also designs mental health curriculum, supervises emerging clinicians, and speaks on trauma-informed care, psychedelic integration, and building values-driven private practices.
THOMAS VONCK-BAUDRAZ, MS, Wisconsin Association of Sober Housing, Waukesha, WI
Tom Vonck-Baudraz is a person in long term recovery from substance use disorder and other process addictions. Since 2021 project director with the Wisconsin Association of Sober Housing (WASH). Prior to this he found meaning in providing work for organizations and partnerships with strong missions, such as Meals on Wheels, where he continues to volunteer time. He is a strong believer and advocate for all pathways to recovery and believes that every individual has the potential to awaken to a fulfilled life. Tom earned his B.A. from Michigan State University and an M.S. in Community and Organizational Leadership from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point.
TEKIA WELLS, MS, LPC, ICS, CSAC, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
Tekia Wells is the program coordinator for the Substance Use Disorder Counseling program at Nicolet College and an active clinician. She holds licensure as a professional counselor (LPC), is an independent clinical supervisor (ICS), and is a certified substance abuse counselor (CSAC). Tekia has worked in the helping professions for over 15 years.
KATHLEEN WESOLOWSKI, MSEd, CW Solutions, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Kathleen Wesolowski, LEO Program Team Lead with CW Solutions, brings a wealth of experience and passion for empowering young people to enhance their lives through personal reflection, community engagement and leadership development. Kathleen holds a master's in Higher Education Leadership and Administration from Canisius College (Buffalo, NY) and a bachelor’s in Communication and Media Studies from St. Norbert College (De Pere, WI). She has developed and implemented several successful programs, in both higher education and human services, aimed at fostering positive relationships and supporting youth as they navigate adolescence. Kathleen’s professional experience extends to campus residence hall operation, facilitation of training and workshops, intentional youth programming initiatives, student organization advisement, event planning, and conduct adjudication. With over 10 years of serving young people, Kathleen has had the privilege of making a positive impact on middle schoolers, high schoolers, college students, parents, schools, and professionals through her highly engaging and dynamic work. She is committed to empowering the next generation of youth with a focus on bringing them hope and resilience-building skills to face the ever-changing world that lies ahead.
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