RUTH ANDERSON, M.A.Ed., L.C.A.S, C.C.S., has worked in the substance abuse profession since 1984 in all levels of treatment, with several different populations, and in varied treatment settings. Ruth was Coordinator of CenterPoint’s perinatal substance abuse program, Women and Infant’s Services for Health (WISH) for nine years. She has a special interest in creative arts in therapy, family counseling and clinical supervision.  She is a 2004 graduate of the North Carolina Addiction Fellows Program. Currently, Ruth is in private practice, providing clinical supervision from her home office in Clemmons, group therapy at Forsyth Behavioral Health and Addiction Recovery Care Association (ARCA) in Winston-Salem, and professional training on topics related to her areas of expertise.

MINA J. COOK, CSAPC, has been with Unlimited Success, the Prevention division of Partnership for a Drug Free NC for 12 years. In that time, she has planned, implemented and updated a variety of programs, serving both youth and adults. Most recently, her focus has been on data collection – learning how to ask the “right questions” and using the results to create systems level change. 

GAIL CORMIER is the Director of North Carolina Families United, the statewide advocacy and support organization for families of children with mental health challenges.  Prior to coming to NC, she was Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Alliance for Community Supports, a statewide organization in NH and has over 10 years experience in supporting youth at risk because of mental health or substance abuse challenges in their career and education goals.

ANGELA BRYANT-COVINGTON, MA, CSAC, CCJP, Board Eligible NCC (Cumberland County TASC Supervisor); BS, Psychology/ SWRK: Fayetteville State University; MA, Webster University MH Counseling; 2003 North Carolina Addiction Fellow; 2 Terms on Governors Substance Abuse Advisory Council (2002-2008) ; Founder / Director of New Directions Transitional Homes for Women

SANDRA PUERINI DEL SESTO, M. Ed, CPSS, is director of the Institute for Addiction Recovery at Rhode Island College. She is also the founder and past executive director of Initiatives for Human Development, the only statewide prevention agency in Rhode Island and of CODAC, a statewide treatment program. For over thirty years, Ms. Del Sesto has provided, community and strategic planning, program development, and capacity building in all areas of prevention practice. She has also developed curriculum and programs for high-risk youth and families as well as instructional guidelines for substance abuse and mental health education. Ms. Del Sesto is also the founder and administrator of the Rhode Island Teen Institute and a co-developer of a CSAP Exemplary Program targeting low-literacy immigrant parents. She is a trainer for the Center for the Application of Prevention Technology and a member of the faculty and board of directors of the New England School of Addiction Studies. She is also the Secretary of the Board of Directors of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). She is a co-author of the Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training (SAPST). Ms. Del Sesto received her B.A. in psychology from Boston College (Newton), and her M.Ed. in counselor education. She also completed a certificate program in non-profit management through Brown University in Providence.

LAUREN E. DURANT, Ph.D., has her Masters and doctorate in Clinical Psychology and postdoctoral training in Addiction Medicine from Duke University Medical Center (DUMC). She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at DUMC and has been funded by NIDA as a Principal Investigator since 2003 evaluating the applicability of the Community Reinforcement Approach with cocaine addicted women. Dr. Durant is a licensed psychologist and a visiting scholar at USCF for research with communities of color.  She has been a trainer for Duke Addictions Consultation Team in the CRA approach for adolescents, families and maternal populations for the past 5 years and a former academic lead for NC Node of the Clinical Trials Network. Finally, Dr. Durant is the owner of her own Mental Health Agency -  B and D Behavioral Health Services where she provides clinical oversight of the implementation of evidence-based protocols such as ACRA.

JOHN FEMINO, MD, FASAM, graduated from Brown University School of Medicine and completed residency in internal medicine and post-doctoral fellowships in clinical psychopharmacology and drug and alcohol abuse.  He was the recipient of the Career Teacher in Alcohol and Drug Abuse grant at Brown University and was one of the first faculty members at the Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, teaching in clinical faculty positions for the last 20 years.   Dr. Femino has been on the board of directors of the Rhode Island Council on Alcoholism and has been the substance abuse consultant to major insurance companies in RI.  In 1996, he founded Meadows Edge Recovery Center, a state licensed substance abuse treatment program and multidisciplinary medical and mental health group practice in North Kingstown, RI.  Dr. Femino is board certified in internal medicine, received ASAM certification in 1986, was recertified in 2000 as an MRO and obtained fellowship status. He has been involved in ASAM related administrative activity for many years, and is currently a member of the SMSS program.  This effort has resulted in the formation of a new state chapter, RISAM, for which he serves as president.  The chapter is in the process of obtaining recognition as a state medical specialty society and setting up a centralized office.  Dr. Femino also has started within RISAM a cooperative project with the state community prevention task forces, entitled the “Rhode Island Physician Initiative”.   

Other major efforts have been in the areas of videotaping production and development of educational materials.  He was co-director of a non-profit children’s television production company and produced 7 substance abuse related videotapes and 2 prime time television specials.  One of the productions won a cable ACE award and 3 of the videotapes have been sold through secondary school educational distributors.  He am a frequent lecturer and educational consultant on the neurobiology of addiction and received a grant from the NE-ATTC and CSAT to produce an educational curriculum for high school students, entitled “The Academy Curriculum: The Biology of Addiction”.  

FRANK FORNARI, Ph.D., is president and CEO of Dominion Diagnostics.  Dr. Fornari holds a Ph.D. in molecular pharmacology and toxicology with postdoctoral training in medicinal chemistry, drug design and analytical organic chemistry.  He has attributed numerous scientific publications, has presented at more than 20 national meetings and holds several patents.

CHRIS HELMSTETTER, Lac, is co-owner of Triangle Acupuncture Clinic, LLC with two locations in Chapel Hill and Cary NC, and is nationally licensed and board certified in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. He maintains state licenses in both North Carolina and California and specializes in the treatment of pain.Chris earned his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology at St. Lawrence University and began work as a substance abuse counselor in New York State. He encountered acupuncture for the first time as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of addiction. He trained at Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx and was certified as an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist (ADS). After running an auricular acupuncture detoxification program in a substance abuse facility in New York, Chris moved to California to study acupuncture in depth at an accredited acupuncture college. He earned his masters degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) at Five Branches Institute.  He continued post-graduate training in the treatment of chronic pain under Dr. Richard Tan in the use of The Balance Method. The various styles and acupuncture techniques Chris is trained in allow him to successfully treat a wide array of pain conditions, whether a person has an acute injury, sports injury, industrial injury or chronic pain. With each case, Chris uses the form of acupuncture that best fits an individual’s unique circumstance, pain levels and goals for recovery.

STEVE HORNBERGER, MSW, has over 25 years experience in human services and community building as a social worker, grassroots activist, educator, consultant and administrator. Currently, he is responsible for the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) Clergy Education and Training Project (CETP) and Program Director of Celebrating Families! CETP offers cross denominational faith leaders the latest information, resources and strategies to involve, educate and provide hope to families and children suffering from the impact of addiction to alcohol and substance abuse. Celebrating Families! is an evidence-based, family skill building curriculum that involves the whole family to break the cycle of addiction, promote recovery and healthy living. He is also senior consultant at Georgetown’s Health Policy Institute for CSAT’s Statewide Adolescent Coordination grants. Mr. Hornberger provides technical assistance to state and local officials on system reform, collaborative leadership and how to create family organizations.

SUSAN JOHNSON, MPH, is a Prevention Supervisor at the Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center (formerly the Chemical Dependency Center) in Charlotte, NC, where she has been involved in prevention planning, implementation and evaluation. Previously, she earned her Master of Public Health Degree from UNC Chapel Hill. Susan is interested in the range of ways data can be used to guide the work of prevention, as well as communicate to others the impact that prevention has on the community.

LYNN B. JONES, LPC, LCAS, is the Program Manager for Services for People with DWI Offenses, within the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services.  She has been with the Division since 2005.  She has a graduate degree in Substance Abuse Counseling and Rehabilitation Counseling from ECU.  She represents the Division on the NC Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board.   

JOSEPH JORDAN, PhD, LPC, LCAS, MAC, CCS, NCC is currently the Clinical Director for the North Carolina Physician’s Health Program. Prior to his current position, Dr. Jordan was the National Ethics Officer and Director of Special Projects for the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC®). Having worked in Long-Term Residential Programs and coordinated Adolescent Inpatient Dual Diagnosis and Adult and Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Treatment Programs, Dr. Jordan approaches substance abuse issues from a variety of clinical standpoints.  Additionally, Dr. Jordan has worked in private practice treating chemical dependency and associated disorders, taught at nearby Universities at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and has served on state and national committees and boards devoted to the study, development, and refinement of substance abuse counseling practice.

JIM MALLINSON, MA, LCAS, CCS, has contributed to the field for more than 30 years as a clinician and administrator in substance abuse treatment both in the community and on the college campus. Jim has taught courses on addictive disease, certification preparation, ethics (including 42-CFR and HIPAA), and healthcare management at various institutes throughout the region including the North Carolina Foundation for Alcohol and Drug Studies and the Duke Addictions Program.  He provides counseling services, clinical supervision, and consultation services through his practice Carolina Counseling Services in Salisbury, NC.  He is a NCSAPPB Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist and Certified Clinical Supervisor, and a NAADAC certified Master Addiction Counselor.  He also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Catawba College in Salisbury.

ANGELA THIGPEN MAXWELL, MS, CSAPC,  is currently the Director of Prevention Services for Alcohol and Drug Services.  She has served in this role for 7 years.  Angela began her work in the field of substance prevention over 14 years ago as a program facilitator for youth deemed “at-risk” for substance abuse. Mrs. Maxwell received a B.A. Degree in English from UNC-Chapel Hill and a M.S. Degree in Agency Counseling from NC A&T State University.  After completing her MS, she worked with the local mental center serving youth with severe emotional and behavioral disorders. Mrs. Maxwell has served as an adjunct professor for Guilford Technical Community College, a Certified Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Instructor and is a Certified Substance Abuse Prevention Consultant.  She currently serves on several boards/committees across the state of North Carolina to include: North Carolina Expert Panel on Substance Abuse Prevention, Addiction Professionals of NC (APNC, Board), NC Substance Abuse Prevention Providers’ Association (Steering Committee), Guilford County Substance Abuse Coalition (Board) and many others.

GERI MILLER, Ph.D., Diplomate in Counseling Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology, is a professor in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling(Community Counseling, Addictions Track) at Appalachian State University (ASU) in Boone, North Carolina. She has taught at ASU since 1992. In North Carolina, Dr. Miller is a licensed psychologist, a licensed professional counselor , a licensed clinical addictions specialist, a substance abuse professional practice board presentation evaluator, and a substance abuse professional practice board certified clinical supervisor. She has also received a certificate of proficiency in the treatment of alcohol and other psychoactive substance use disorders from the American Psychological Association College of Professional Psychology.  She is a member of the motivational interviewing network of trainers. Dr Miller has worked in the counseling profession since 1976 and in the addictions field since 1979. She is a volunteer with the American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Services and works as a volunteer psychologist at the Watauga County Health Department. Dr. Miller has published and presented research on counseling. In 2005, she published a second edition of her book on addiction counseling, Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling, with Wiley Press. In 2003, she also published a book with Wiley Press, Incorporating Spirituality in Counseling and Psychotherapy. She is currently a member of the American Psychological Association’s Psychology of Religion (Division 36) and Addictions (Division 50) and the American Counseling Association’s divisions of the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC) and the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors (IAAOC). She currently serves as a board member for the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board and the Watauga County Chapter of the American Red Cross, as president of the North Carolina Counselor Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC) and as treasurer for the North Carolina Counselor Association Addiction & Offender Counseling Division.

KEITH MOBLEY, PhD, LPC, ACS, is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the Department of Counseling and Educational Development. He has taught coursework in ethical and legal issues, crisis counseling, measurement and appraisal, and human development for graduate students and has served as clinical supervisor for practicum and internship students and licensure applicants. He has many years of experience working in residential, hospital, college and private practice settings.

RICHARD OGLE, Ph.D., LCAS, is an Associate Professor and the Clinical Training Coordinator for the Substance Abuse Treatment Psychology Program in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.  He earned his Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico in 2001.  Dr. Ogle is a member of the International Association of Motivational Interviewing Trainers and has conducted trainings in motivational interviewing and dual diagnosis across the country. 

JANICE W. PETERSEN, Ph.D., currently serves as the Director for the Office of Prevention and Team Leader of the Prevention and early Intervention Team in the Division of MH/DD/SAS. She manages a team of professionals who provides guidance and leadership in the prevention arena for mental health promotion, developmental disability supports and substance abuse prevention. She also serves as the Project administrator for the SPF-SIG and the Safe and Drug-Free School federal awards. In her role as Project administrator for the SPF-SIG, she orchestrates resources/personnel to address the goals of the NC-SPF-SIG and serves as the liaison between the Governor’s Office, Secretary of DHHS, Director of the Division of MH/DD/SAS and the local communities to which the services and outcomes of the project are directed. She is the National Prevention Network (NPN) representative for North Carolina and coordinates state prevention activities with the federal offices of DHHS (SAMHSA), OJJDP, ONDCP, DOE and CDC. She has served in national training roles with SAMHSA, Centers for Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT), CADCA and DOE.  She serves on numerous advisory boards across the state and nationally, and was recently appointed to the SAMHSA Behavioral Health Workforce Expert Panel.  Dr. Petersen received her Ph.D. degree in Clinical/Community Psychology from Penn Stae University; a Masters degree in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and her B.S. degree from Dillard University in New Orleans, LA.

ARTHUR J. RODRIGUES, R.PH. graduated from the University of Rhode Island’s College of Pharmacy in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science.  He was a practicing pharmacist for 20 years in before becoming the current Director of Technological Services at Dominion Diagnostics, a national medical laboratory based in Rhode Island.

CLARETTA WITHERSPOON, MS is Family Centered Care Coordinator of UNCG’s Center for Youth, Family and Community Partnerships.  She received her MS in Adult Education from NC A&T State University and an undergraduate degree in Child Development.  She has 15 years of working with at-risk children and families advocating for their needs within all public systems.  Her work includes 5 years of training in Systems of Care locally, regionally and nationally and serves a liaison between the Center, UNCG, a private for-profit agency and State government officials to develop a college experience for developmentally delayed students.    Additionally, she is a therapeutic foster parent for teen girls.