Fairbanks SYMPOSIUM on Opioids
Speakers & Panelist

Welcome, Land Acknowledgment, and Blessing

Marsha OSS

City of Fairbanks Reentry Coordinator

Biography

FAIRBANKS REENTRY COORDINATOR
OPENING BLESSING
Marsha Oss relocated to Alaska from Idaho in 1996 on a National Student Exchange from Boise State University. She spent a semester in Juneau then transferred to Fairbanks. Marsha went to work for Tanana Chiefs Conference for the Community Health Department and started traveling the Interior working with Prevention, chaperoning Elders & Youth for Denakkanagga, filling in at Old Minto Family Recovery Camp, and eventually was the Clinical Supervisor and Acting Director of Old Minto.
Marsha is a person with lived experience and started carrying 12-step meetings into Jails, Prisons, and Detention facilities after 1 year of sobriety. After doing service work in these facilities on a regular basis, she was offered entry-level positions starting in 1989. Employers recognized her commitment, timeliness, and ability to build rapport with folks incarcerated for alcohol/drug related crimes She worked inside and outside Correctional institutions, hospitals, and treatment agencies since that time.
Marsha spent the past 6½ years as the Fairbanks Reentry Coalition Case Manager through IAC-NVL, helping justice-involved folks returning to the community and connecting to resources and services. Marsha recently joined City of Fairbanks team as the Fairbanks Reentry Coalition Coordinator and looks forward to collaboration with agencies to identify more services for community members returning home from incarceration. Marsha completed her AA and BA in Interdisciplinary studies with Minors in Justice, Political Science, and History through UAF in August 2022. She currently holds an NCAC-I, is certified through Alaska as a CDC/BHC II, and PSS/TPSS. These certifications all allow her to work in nationally in the field of Substance Use Disorders, Behavioral Health, and Peer Support.

The Venerable Ann Frank

Biography

The Ven. Anna Frank, 80, was born in Old Minto in 1939 to Jonathan and Rosie David, one of 13 children. She was raised living a subsistence lifestyle. She is the Archdeacon of the Interior for the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska, was ordained to the deaconate in 1973, and to the priesthood in 1983. Anna was the first successfully ordained Indigenous woman in the world. She retired as Native Missioner from the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska December 2011, a position she held for over 15 years but served as a priest for the diocese for 39 years and still continues her priestly duties to this day.
In her role as Native Missioner and priest, she has traveled all over Alaska and the lower 48, and to many parts of the world, including New Zealand, Brazil, and Honduras. In the 70s and 80s, Anna played a dual role, working for the Tanana Chiefs Conference in a variety of positions including Health Aide and Counselor, as well as working as a deacon and then a priest.
Anna's work and reputation has spread nationally and internationally and she has been the recipient of many prestigious awards including the Alaska Federation of Natives President’s Award for Public Service for her years of service and prison ministry outreach.
Anna and the late Richard Frank were married for 57 years. They are parents of four children; Roxanne, Darrell, Parker and Robin, grandparents to eight and great-grandparents to one. In 2005, they were named Alaska Federation of Natives Elders of the Year.
Anna likes baseball, basketball, and played on the Doyon Women's Softball Team for 20 years. She also enjoys fishing, hunting, sewing, and spending time with hergrandchildren.
She currently serves as the Chief of the Denakkanaaga Board of Directors. Denakkanaaga is a non-profit regional organization that advocates on behalf of and for Native elders within Interior Alaska. And most recently elected to serve on the board as the Elder Advisor for Fairbanks Native Association. Anna was appointed to the Age and Commission for the State of Alaska by the Governor of Alaska. She serves on the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium board, and serves as the Arch Deacon for the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska for the Interior.

Mayor David Pruhs

Mayor of the City of Fairbanks

Biography

Mayor David Pruhs was born and raised here in Fairbanks; attending Denali Elementary, Main Jr. High, and Monroe Catholic High School before traveling out of state to earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California Polytechnic State University. 
Since then, Mayor Pruhs has engaged himself as a forward-thinking and impactful member of the Fairbanks community; serving 6 years on the Fairbanks City Council, 4 years on the Alaska Real Estate Commission and Clay Street Cemetery Commission, and 8 years on the FNSB Planning Commission and Board of Equalization.  He is recognized as a founder of the Polaris Working Group and Alaska BBQ Association, previous director of the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival and the Tanana Yukon Historical Society, and current board member for Fairbanks Neighborhood Housing.  
Along with being our current Mayor for the City of Fairbanks, he is the owner of Pruhs Real Estate Group and Board of Trade Real Estate School and hosts two radio programs on KFAR radio: Problem Corner and Fairbanks Foodies. 

Melissa Charlie

Deputy Director of Fairbanks Native Association

Amber Vaska

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENT AND CLIENT SERVICES
TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE

Biography

Amber Vaska is Yupik and an Aniak tribal member. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology, Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, and a Master of Business Administration in Health Care Management. Amber has worked for the Tanana Chiefs Conference since 2014 and grown within the organization into her current role as the Executive Director of Tribal Government and Client Services (TCS) since 2021. TCS aims to meet our Tribes and Tribal members where they are at, listen, and support building their capacity to reach their self-determination goals. The TCS divisions are Community Infrastructure, Tribal Government and Justice, Tribal Development, and Family Services and Support that has a wide range of programs to support developing Strong, Healthy, Unified Tribes.

Jim Matherly

Regional Director for Governor Mike Dunleavy

The Opioid Project

Dr. Annie Brestwer

Executive Director
HEALTH STORY COLLABORATIVE

Annie is an Assistant Professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, a practicing physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston, a writer and a storyteller. She is also a patient, diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2001. In response to the disconnection she experienced in healthcare, both as a patient and a provider, and motivated by her belief in the power of stories, she started recording patient narratives in 2010. Integrating her personal experiences with the research supporting the health benefits of narrative, she founded Health Story Collaborative (HSC) in 2013. HSC is dedicated to helping individuals navigating health challenges find meaning, and ultimately heal, through storytelling. She is excited by interdisciplinary, cross-institutional collaborations that break through resistance to change. She is widely published in the press and is author of The Healing Power of Storytelling: Using Personal Narrative to Navigate Illness, Trauma, and Loss (2022).

Nancy MArks

Artist
Health Story Collaborative

Nancy Marks is a public health advocate, community organizer, and visual artist with extensive experience using art to advance advocacy and educational objectives addressing an array of issues. In 2014, she launched The Intimacy of Memory, an initiative exploring grief and loss through art. In 2016, she co-founded The Opioid Project: Changing Perceptions through Art and Storytelling. Nancy also leads art-making sessions (Memory Cafes) for people living with dementia. As a painter/mixed-media artist, her current work falls under the moniker, “Urban Abstraction’. Her enduring interest in the power of place can be traced back to her childhood days roaming the streets of New York.  Nancy currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts.  nancymarksartist.com

Boots on the Ground Panel

Police Chief Ron Dupee

Fairbanks Chief of Police

Biography

My name is Ron Dupee I was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska.  I have been married for over 20 years to my supportive wife and together we have 3 boys. I have over 22 years experience in Law Enforcement in Alaska.  I have worked as a civilian with the Alaska State Troopers, a Correction Officer with the Unalaska Police Department, a Police Officer with Unalaska Police Department and then Officer, Sergeant and Lieutenant at the Fairbanks Police Department until I was hired as the Chief of Police in 2021.

Sarah Koogle, M.ed.

DIRECTOR OF ADULT SERVICES IN FAIRBANKS
ALASKA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Biography

Sarah Koogle, M. Ed., LPC-S,  has a master’s degree in clinical community counseling.  She has traveled and lived in many states and countries, but consider Fairbanks home. Sarah enjoys the Alaskan summer and all that comes with that: hiking and exploring lakes and rivers. She has worked with a wide range of mental health issues in both inpatient and outpatient care, with adults and children.  Her passion lies in the community counseling setting.

Dr. Mark Simon, M.D

GOLDEN HEART EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS

Biography

Dr. Mark Simon is a residency trained, board certified emergency physician. He is a member of Golden Heart Emergency Physicians practicing primarily at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department. Dr. Simon earned his Bachelor’s degree from Drake University, his medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and completed his emergency medicine residency at the University Health Center of Pittsburgh. In his free time Dr. Simon enjoys exploring the world with friends and family and everything the Interior provides - a strong community with endless trails and outdoor opportunities.  

Police Chief Thomas Kearns

FORT WAINWRIGHT POLICE DEPARTMENT

Biography

Thomas Kearns is the current Chief of Police for Fort Wainwright, AK.
Chief Kearns began his law enforcement career as an MP and Accident Investigator in the United States Marine Corps and continued his career as a municipal police officer in the Chicago suburbs upon his discharge. As an officer, he served as a field training officer, firearms and tactic instructor, and traffic accident investigator.
 Chief Kearns was selected by his agency to serve with to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Task Force Officer working out of DEA’s Chicago Field Division, where he spent approximately 5 years working as a co-lead investigator on several long-term, large-scale, highly complex, international drug trafficking cases.
Chief Kearns subsequently became a municipal police chief in Illinois as well as leading the law enforcement/security departments at several institutions of higher education before re-joining the military in 2021, only this time as a civilian employee leading the Fort Wainwright Police Department.
Chief Kearns possesses over 35 years of law enforcement experience with approximately 20 years in a command position.

Assistant Fire Chief Andrew Coccaro

FAIRBANKS FIRE DEPARTMENT

Biographies

Andrew served in the U.S. Army for 6 years, and left the Army as a sergeant in 2005.  Andrew has a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science.  Andrew has twenty-four years of fire and EMS experience.  He is a Nationally Registered Paramedic and certified firefighter.  Andrew has been a successful EMS Director, administrator, and educator for the last 11 years.  Over the last twenty-four years of work Andrew has been involved in every level of fire and EMS departments.  Working the majority of his career on the East Coast Andrew worked in volunteer, career, and combination fire and EMS agencies.  Andrew’s first EMS director position was in 2012 when he managed the Edgecombe County Rescue Squad.  Andrew was known as an enthusiastic leader always trying to improve processes and patient outcomes.  From there Andrew went on to be a successful EMS director for two other County based systems one in Georgia and the other in Eastern North Carolina.  Andrew started his own non-emergency medical transport company and successfully grew that company from one ambulance to three full time paramedic level units, with over 25 employees.  After running his company for over four years Andrew wanted a chance to work inside of a city fire department that had an EMS component.  After a national search Andrew found the perfect fit with the Fairbanks Fire Department.  Andrew started in Fairbanks in August of 2022 and is beyond excited for the future possibilities that Fairbanks and the Fire department have to look forward to.       

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Funders panel

Daniel Delfino

DIRECTOR PLANNING & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

ALASKAN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION

Biography

Daniel Delfino is director of the planning and program development department that manages several statewide rental development, homeownership and supportive housing programs.  In addition to program management, the department performs research and analysis of housing market dynamics throughout the state.  Prior to joining AHFC in 2008, Daniel supervised a multi-site Money-Out team for Fidelity Investments in Salt Lake City.
Daniel received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Portland State University and holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of New Mexico.
Outside of work, Daniel spends time with his wife and two dogs or is out training for fringe endurance events where finishing is possible, but unlikely.

Bob Doehl

senior fellow

Rasmuson Foundation

BioGRAPHY

 Bob Doehl is a senior fellow focused on the Rasmuson Foundation’s Homelessness Initiative. His work supports the creation of additional affordable housing units and a coordinated service system to make homelessness brief, temporary and rare.
Bob has an extensive career in military and government service.  He most recently served as the building official and development services director for the Municipality of Anchorage, focusing on new strategies to increase safe, affordable housing, reduce permitting fees and modernize department business practices. He also played a critical role in developing and executing the Municipality’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  In this role, he developed a program that provided emergency shelter for those rendered homeless by the pandemic in Anchorage.
Before that, Bob served as deputy commissioner for the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.  As a special assistant to U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, Bob concentrated on veterans’ medical, behavioral health and housing needs. He also served as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice and the State of Alaska. In three decades of military service , Bob worked as a medic, military pilot, and commander of several diverse units. He retired in 2012 as a colonel.

Travis Welch

PROGRAM OFFICER

Alaskan Mental Health Trust Authority

Brian Wilson

Executive Director

Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness

Amanda Woody

Program Grant Manager For Reducing Recidivism Grant

Department of Behavioral Health

ALASKA FENTANYL RESPONSE PRESENTATION AND NALAXONE KIT BUILDING ACTIVITY

Sandy Snodgrass

Victoria Craddick, RN, PHN

BRAIN INJURY AND OPIOID MISUSE: HOW PEER SUPPORT CAN PROVIDE SOLUTIONS

Dr. Adam Grove, ND, CBIS

Head to Toe Holistic Healthcare

 Dr. Adam Grove is a Naturopathic, family-practice doctor specializing in children and adults with neurological challenges. He emphasizes a whole-person focus with attention to accurate diagnosis and holistic treatment for brain-based issues.  He works with people of all ages experiencing symptoms of ADD/ADHD, Autism, Brain injury and the like. He approaches each patient individually using treatments which are the least invasive, have the lowest chance of adverse effects and are the
most effective.  These include nutrition, herbs, supplements, neuro-feedback, cognitive training, craniosacral and other physical therapies. Dr. Grove received his doctorate from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington in 2002.  He also holds a Masters of Arts degree in Soviet Area Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. He is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Member of the Alaska State Advisory Committee on Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury and is a member of the Advisory Board for the Center for Educational Improvement. He is a frequent presenter on a variety of topics related to his practice.

John Hall

Peer Support Specialist & Motivational Speaker

John Hall is a motivational speaker, certified peer support specialist, life coach, "Free to Succeed" prison mentor, and a NAMI-certified group facilitator. He is passionate about raising awareness in the areas of Mental Health, substance abuse/recovery, and recidivism. His journey through the system as and inmate peer support mentor has given him an inside look at what many experience as the justice-involved, working with many peers over the last four years has shown John that through peer support, one often makes greater strides in their own self-development while experiencing incarceration and after. Reliability and mutuality can more easily disarm the defense mechanisms used to protect oneself and allow for greater self-discovery. Inmate peer support has been highly successful not only with himself but the many he's worked with before and after re-entry in both Idaho and Montana.

Local mat/providers panel

DR. PAUL FINCH, PA-C, MPH

North Country Medical

Biography

Dr. Paul Finch was an Army medic, PA in Ft Yukon/Yukon Flats, worked in Family Practice at TVC, then served as a medical missionary in Mongolia. He has spent the last twelve years working in addiction medicine at Gateway Detox and Turning Point Counseling, then he has worked for North Country Medical for the past seven years. 

GUNNAR EBBESSON, CEO
LPCS, MAC, CDCS

Chief Executive Officer
Turning Point Counseling Services

Biography

Gunnar is co-founder and CEO of Turning Point Counseling Services. He has been a therapist and researcher in Fairbanks since 2002. Throughout Gunnar’s career, he has been an advocate for access to excellent services by people who experience Mental Health and Substance Use disorders. He graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a Masters Degree in Community Psychology with an indigenous focus. He has worked as a Child and Family Therapist at Community Mental Health, Program Director for a Suicide and Substance Abuse Prevention Project at the University called Qunaasvik and formed and developed Turning Point along side Joseph Nowell as a leading provider of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment in the state. Gunnar has served on on Governor’s Advisory Board for Alcohol and Drug Abuse (ABADA) for 8 years. He also co chaired the Alaska Opioid Policy Task Force which developed guidance for the Legislature, Governor and Public health to address the Opioid Epidemic. Gunnar was one of the founding members and instigator in developing the Fairbanks Opioid Work Group. He has trained and lectured around the state on issues surrounding the intersection of Trauma, SUD and Mental Health. Gunnar is a trainer and practitioner of Brainspotting, a powerful tool to bring about significant change in people’s response to trauma. His clinical passion is around the intersection of addiction and trauma and has extensive and broad experience working with this. 
His passions include being in the outdoors, his two children, and sailing. He also feels very privileged to work with an amazing staff of caring people who truly take their work to heart, are keen clinicians and  staff members who understand and are effective in helping people to move in the direction of healing. 

Brenda Henze-Nelson

Clinical Director
Interior Aids Association

Biography

Nadia is a License Masters Social Worker who is social justice and empowerment enthusiast. She uses her background in education and training in social work research, addiction and rehabilitation, domestic violence services, clinical therapy to champion the needs of individuals, families, and diverse communities.
 
Currently, she is the Clinical Director of Refine Stabilization Center and a Crisis Prevention Institute Certified Instructor at Restore Incorporated. She specializes in conducting integrated assessments, treatment plan development, psychotherapy, and referrals for individuals who need treatment for substance abuse and mental health disorders. Also, she provides psychoeducation to family members and the community about addiction or behavior disorders and help them develop strategies to support clients in recovery.

Lucas Ritter

Counseling Specialist
Tanana Chiefs Conference

DR. PETER DILLON, MD, FAAFP

Foundation Health Partners

Biography

Peter Dillon, MD, FAAFP joined our 1st Care team of providers in October 2013. Dr. Dillon came to TVC from the United States Army, serving at Ft. Wainwright for the preceding three years. Dr. Dillon continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves and has deployed multiple times supporting special operations and conventional combat and contingency missions around the world.

Dr. Dillon began his education at The Ohio State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, with Honors, Summa Cum Laude. From there, he furthered his studies at the Georgetown University School of Medicine where he completed a Doctorate of Medicine in 2007. After concluding his doctorate studies, he went on to complete his residency in Family Medicine at DeWitt Army Community Hospital at Ft. Belvoir, VA. His residency education was through the National Capital Consortium, Walter Reed Army Medical Center & the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Dr. Dillon is board certified in Family Medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Family Medicine, Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians, American Society of Addiction Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, and the Wilderness Medical Society.

He specializes in Family Medicine but also has interest in Addiction Medicine, Wilderness Medicine, Pre-Hospital Medicine, and Combat & Tactical Medicine.

Nadia Davis, CDC I, DipEd, LMSW

Clinical Director
Restore INC.

Biography

Nadia is a License Masters Social Worker who is social justice and empowerment enthusiast. She uses her background in education and training in social work research, addiction and rehabilitation, domestic violence services, clinical therapy to champion the needs of individuals, families, and diverse communities.
 
Currently, she is the Clinical Director of Refine Stabilization Center and a Crisis Prevention Institute Certified Instructor at Restore Incorporated. She specializes in conducting integrated assessments, treatment plan development, psychotherapy, and referrals for individuals who need treatment for substance abuse and mental health disorders. Also, she provides psychoeducation to family members and the community about addiction or behavior disorders and help them develop strategies to support clients in recovery.

Dr. Gail Norton, MD

Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center

Biography

Dr. Gail Norton grew up in Fairbanks and Barrow/Utiqiagvik, then graduated from medical school at University of Washington.  She completed her family and community medicine residency at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Norton worked in various clinics in New Mexico where she was involved in care for patients requiring medications for opioid use disorder, and now has been a primary care provider in the community for 6 years with particular interest in increasing the number of providers treating patients suffering from opioid addiction.

Molly Cenker

Director of Operations
True North Recovery

Biography

Molly Cenker is an experienced professional who has dedicated her career to behavioral health services for the past 17 years. Throughout her years of service, she has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of individuals and families in need.
Molly's passion for social services began early in her life, as she recognized the importance of helping others and making a positive impact in her community. She began her career working with at risk youth in residential group homes for a local non-profit organization. From there, she quickly advanced to higher positions, demonstrating her commitment and expertise in the field.
Over the years, Molly has worked in a variety of adult and youth behavioral health roles, including director of operations, program director, counselor, case manager, and foster parent. Her experience has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of the challenges and needs facing the communities she serves.

Breaking the stigma

Brynn Butler

Fairbanks Housing Coordinator

Biography

Brynn Butler is a lifelong Alaskan. Brynn has overcome her own struggles with addiction and has been in recovery for over 5 years. She is a survivor of domestic violence and has turned her story of trauma into Hope for those who are still struggling.
Brynn served a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Fairbanks Reentry Coalition, where she went through Forensic Peer Support Training with The Bridge. After her term she was hired as The Bridge’s Encampment Case Manager where she stood up a very robust and effective encampment outreach program. During that time, she also worked with the Batterers Intervention Program, obtained her Behavioral Health Occupational Endorsement through UAS, and became an MRT facilitator. She then moved on to be a Transitional Housing Case Manager, interning with Fresh Start in the evenings to obtain her CDC1. Brynn worked as a Substance Use Counselor for a short time before being hired as the Housing Coordinator for The City of Fairbanks.
She has over four years of experience working in various support service capacities, working to meet the needs of our community members. In her career, she has supported many individuals in addressing challenges like justice system involvement, substance use, mental health, domestic violence, trafficking, and homelessness. Brynn spends her free time with her wonderful husband, Tundra, her 3 teenagers, 2 dogs, and 4 cats. Service to others and her community is a core guiding principle for Brynn, because for her, it's personal - she knows first-hand the struggle to overcome these same challenges, and what it takes to achieve recovery and stability.

Ericka Lensegrav

Administrative Assistant
Careline Crisis

Biography

Ericka Lensegrav has lived in the Fairbanks area for over 14 years. Ericka has overcome her own struggles with addiction and has been in recovery for over 4 and half years. She is a survivor of domestic violence and has turned her struggles into fuel to assist others who are still struggling.
Ericka was the Encampment Case Manager at The Bridge, where she was also certified as a Peer Support. Ericka did phenomenal work with the encampment community, building rapport, doing outreach, and assisting people with getting the services they needed to be successful. Ericka is also trained as a Mobile Crisis Team Peer. Ericka then took a job with a suicide prevention hotline for the State of Alaska and is a trained Crisis Intervention Specialist where she was able to offer support to people who were experiencing a crisis. Ericka now works behind the scenes at Careline Crisis Services Inc. offering administrative support to the program.
She has over 3 years of experience working in various support services capacities, working to meet the needs of our community members. She has supported many individuals with challenges such as justice involvement, substance use, mental health, domestic violence, and homelessness. Ericka is a happily married mother of 2. She wakes up each morning grateful that she is working in a job that she loves and strives to give others the sense of hope that she was never given.

NAMI PANEL: PERSPECTIVES IN ACCESSING MENTAL HEALTH CARE

ALASKA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION

Shakira Quintana

FAMILY INVESTMENT CENTER HOUSING PROGRAM SUPERVISOR
ALASKA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION

Biography

Shakira knows what it is like to move and reestablish yourself in a community as she was born in South Dakota, but has lived in California, Colorado, Kansas, New York, and for the last 9 years in Alaska. Helping people is her goal via volunteering or through work. She started as a Property Manager in 2020 for AHFC and became the Supervisor for the Fairbanks Voucher Programs since 2022. She is also a Realtor with Real Broker, LLC and has 20 years experience in real estate from entry level to Property Management to Commercial to Residential to REO. She loves the outdoors and camping with her husband while admiring God’s creation.

ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AUTHORITY: VISION FOR CRISIS SYSTEM

RHONDA BOYLES

VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AUTHORITY

A longtime resident of Fairbanks, Rhonda is a retired restaurant owner who has held many leadership positions in the Fairbanks business community, and who served as the Mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough from 2000-2003. Once honored as Fairbanks Business Person of the Year, Rhonda has served on many boards and commissions, including as Chair of the University’s Statewide Vocational Education Advisory Board and Board Chair for the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce. Later in her life, she worked for the Alaska Pioneer Homes and most recently as a caregiver for her late husband, Vern, who suffered from Diffuse Lewis Body Disease and its associated dementia.  Rhonda currently resides in Anchorage.

STEVE WILLIAMS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AUTHORITY

Steve was named CEO of the Trust in January 2022. As CEO, Steve oversees the Trust’s finances and programmatic and policy functions, as well as the Trust Land Office which manages and develops the organization’s one million acres of land assets for revenue generation. Prior to leading the organization, Steve worked at the Trust for 16 years, eight of which he served as the Chief Operating Officer.
 
The Trust is focused on improving Alaska’s system of care for individuals experiencing mental illness, substance use disorders, developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (Trust beneficiaries). This work involves convening and partnering with federal, state, local and tribal governments as well as Alaska’s philanthropic community. Steve is experienced in convening diverse voices and stakeholder groups to develop and implement solutions to address difficult social issues, such as chronic homelessness, and mental health crisis response. Steve also leads efforts to apply Trust resources to system level initiatives designed to improve the lives and circumstances of Trust beneficiaries.

Crisis Stabilization Center Presentation by RI International

STACEY CAMERON

Senior Principal Consultant

Georgea Madeira, MBA, MA, LMFT, serves RI as a Senior Principal Consultant. She is currently working on her PhD in Business Psychology.  She also has an MBA and is a graduate of the Executive Director-Leadership Program at the Center for Nonprofit Management in Los Angeles.  Georgea has extensive experience in the behavioral health industry leading national and international consulting projects. Her consulting experience covers the range of planning, designing, implementation and evaluation of behavioral health programs and crisis response system. Georgea is the lead consultant in the California multi-county Crisis Now collaboration project to develop a more robust crisis system of care utilizing Innovation funds. Most recently, she has been the California State Director for RI overseeing operations in Riverside, Contra Costa, and San Diego Counties, as well as operations in the State of Ohio. She came to RI from Shields for Families, Inc. in Los Angeles County, where she has held progressive management roles.  Georgea brings a wealth of experience in operations and consulting and lends her Latina cultural perspective in doing this critical work

Jamie Sellar

Chief Strategy Officer

Jamie Sellar MA, LPC is a behavioral health executive with 25 years of successful experience in running crisis programs in multiple states.  These programs have included both inpatient, sub-acute, residential, mobile crisis outreach teams, hospital rapid response, and mental health urgent care centers.  Currently, Jamie specializes in crisis system development and operational management.  In his current role as Chief Strategy Officer at RI International, he consults both nationally and internationally on topics such as crisis system optimization, peer use in the workforce and program design. Jamie has a long history of training professionals and paraprofessionals on practical client engagement strategies. A licensed clinician, Jamie strongly believes that the rapport between caregivers and those in need is a primary driver of success in crisis work.     

Tracey McDowell

Certified Peer Support Specialist

In 2009 I moved from UK to USA, this exacerbated the depression and anxiety I was already feeling, resulting in needing to go inpatient at the Peoria RRC in 2012 two separate 5 days stays. While at the RRC, I met a Peer Support Specialist who shared a similar experience of struggling with mental health challenges.  That was a light bulb moment for me! I realized I could not only survive, but thrive and trained in early 2013 to become a Certified Peer Support Specialist.

Facets of Peer Support Panel

Tundra Greenstreet

John Hall

Peer Support Supervisor
True North Recovery Fairbanks

Tundra Greenstreet is a lifelong Alaskan with over 8 years of combined experience in the areas of behavioral health, reentry services, mobile crisis, and peer support. He holds a Master's degree in Professional Communication from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Tier III certification as a Peer Support Professional. He has previously worked as the coordinator for the Ketchikan Reentry Coalition, played a key leadership role at The Bridge, helping to establish and promote peer support services in Fairbanks, aided in the development and launch of the Fairbanks Mobile Crisis Team, and currently leads peer support services for the Fairbanks branch of True North Recovery, Inc. Like many Alaskans, Tundra has been personally impacted by the effects of substance use and identifies as a person in recovery from mental health conditions.

Tracey McDowell

Certified Peer Support Specialist

In 2009 I moved from UK to USA, this exacerbated the depression and anxiety I was already feeling, resulting in needing to go inpatient at the Peoria RRC in 2012 two separate 5 days stays. While at the RRC, I met a Peer Support Specialist who shared a similar experience of struggling with mental health challenges.  That was a light bulb moment for me! I realized I could not only survive, but thrive and trained in early 2013 to become a Certified Peer Support Specialist.

Certified Peer Support Specialist & Motivational Speaker

John Hall is a motivational speaker, certified peer support specialist, life coach, "Free to Succeed" prison mentor, and a NAMI-certified group facilitator. He is passionate about raising awareness in the areas of Mental Health, substance abuse/recovery, and recidivism. His journey through the system as an inmate peer support mentor has given him an inside look at what many experiences as the justice-involved, working with many peers over the last four years has shown John that through peer support, one often makes greater strides in their own self-development while experiencing incarceration and after. Reliability and mutuality can more easily disarm the defense mechanisms used to protect oneself and allow for greater self-discovery. Inmate peer support has been highly successful not only with himself but the many he's worked with before and after re-entry in both Idaho and Montana.​

Call to Action

Mike Sanders

City of Fairbanks Chief of Staff