Presenter Biographies

Judge Carla Baldwin
Youngstown Municipal Court, All Rise Faculty

Hon. Carla J. Baldwin was elected as a judge in Youngstown Municipal Court in 2017. She has served as Administrative and Presiding Judge of Youngstown Municipal Court since the fall of 2018. She presides over misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic cases as well as two specialized dockets, Substance Use and Veterans Dockets.

The Judge received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Capital University (Columbus, OH). She obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Lansing, MI) with a concentration in Litigation. She has been a member of the Ohio Bar since 2008.

She most recently worked as a full-time magistrate in Mahoning County Juvenile Court where she presided over Mental Health Court. Prior to this appointment, she worked for the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office for eight years serving as an Assistant County Prosecutor in both the Criminal and Juvenile Divisions. She presently serves as an Adjunct Instructor in Criminal Justice Studies at Eastern Gateway Community College.

Judge Baldwin made history on Nov. 7, 2017, when she became the first African-American female elected as judge in Mahoning County.

Dr. Amy Belcastro-Andrews
Owner/CEO, Belcastro Mental Health Services, LLC

Dr. Amy Belcastro-Andrews is Owner/CEO of Belcastro Mental Health Services, LLC in Columbus, Ohio, where she provides trauma-informed mental health care to diverse populations including youth and homeless individuals through mobile team approaches. She previously worked as a clinical provider with corporate consulting experience, served as an adjunct professor in psychology and counseling programs, and has experience in treatment foster care and legal system work. Dr. Belcastro-Andrews earned her Ph.D from Ohio University and holds credentials as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor-Supervisor (LPCC-S).

James Boleyn
Specialized Dockets Director, Marion Municipal Court

James Boleyn is the specialized dockets director for the Marion Municipal Court in Marion, Ohio where he is proud to have overseen the operations of an adult substance use docket, a mental health treatment docket, and a veterans treatment docket for the past 12 years.

Boleyn works closely with the various agencies and stakeholders in Marion County and the State of Ohio to ensure the operations of the dockets are in line with best practice standards and meet the needs of the community. In addition to his work with the court, Boleyn has served on multiple committees and participates in policy level discussions regarding the provision of substance use disorder and mental health treatment in Marion County and the State of Ohio.

Through his work with the Stepping Up Ohio Initiative in Marion County, Boleyn is currently assisting in the development of a comprehensive continuum of crisis services for Marion County.

Originally from Chicago, IL, Boleyn began working in mental health following his graduation from Shimer College in 1998.

Erica Burkholder
Fulton County Drug Court Coordinator, Fulton County Court of Common Pleas

Erica Burkholder serves as the Drug Court Coordinator for the Fulton County Common Pleas Court in Ohio, where she oversees the county’s specialized docket under Judge Scott Haselman. With a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Psychology from Bowling Green State University, Erica has built a career at the intersection of mental health, criminal justice, and behavioral intervention.

She began her professional journey supporting individuals with disabilities, later transitioning to correctional mental health care. Burkholder provided direct services in the Wood County Jail before advancing to supervise mental health programs in 21 facilities across nine states. She has delivered training to correctional staff on topics such as Excited Delirium and Suicide Prevention.

Since 2015, Burkholder has worked within the Fulton County court system, first facilitating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Theft Intervention courses, and since 2017, leading one of Ohio’s specialized substance use dockets. She describes her current role as the most meaningful of her career, combining her passion for rehabilitation with her deep knowledge of behavioral health and justice-involved populations.

Lisa Colbert
Public Information Manager, Office of Public Information, Supreme Court of Ohio

Lisa Colbert is Public Information Manager for the Supreme Court of Ohio. She works to build relationships both internal and external, sharing the important work of the judiciary and courts across Ohio, and the impact on people and communities. She previously served as Public Information Officer for Technology Investments and Ohio Third Frontier within the Ohio Department of Development. In that role, Lisa worked to tell the stories of technologies, entrepreneurs, industries, and companies that are transforming our communities, bringing business and jobs to Ohio.

After 15 years as a meteorologist, reporter and host for NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX affiliated television stations, Lisa finds great joy in translating complex ideas to a broad range of audiences. She is a leader in content and graphic development, strategic branding, and effectively communicating across multiple platforms. Lisa is excited to increase the visibility and reputation of the Supreme Court of Ohio and what it means to the people living and working in this great state of innovation and growth.

Born and raised in Cleveland, she’s proud to be an Ohioan. Lisa graduated from Ohio University and lives with her husband and three children in suburban Columbus.

Nick Emmons
Parole Program Specialist/Reentry Coordinator, Office of Reentry, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections

Nicholas Emmons currently serves with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Office of Reentry. Previously a unit manager at Madison Correctional Institution (MaCI), Emmons is dedicated to innovative approaches to rehabilitation. For instance, at MaCI, Emmons facilitated the successful foster-cat program—a unique partnership with the Humane Society that allows carefully screened inmates to care for kittens and cats. In his current role, he coordinates essential reentry services and works with community partners to help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully transition back into their communities.

Kevin Everhart
Operations Manager, American Court & Drug Testing Services

Kevin Everhart joined American Court & Drug Testing Services in September 2008. In August 2009, Everhart assisted in the opening of the Columbus, Ohio office where he currently is the Operations Manager. He is a Certified Breath Alcohol Instrument Instructor and a Certified Instructor for Federal DOT Urine Collections.

Everhart has testified in numerous child protective services, probation, and specialized docket cases along with domestic relation cases on the interpretation of drug test results. Everhart has over 25 years in law enforcement with 22 years in narcotics/vice investigations with his last 10 years as the Assistant Task Force Commander for the Major Crimes Unit.

As a Narcotics Detective, Everhart spent years working undercover with three years working deep cover infiltrating an Outlaw Motorcycle organization. He has served on the DEA and Homeland Security Task Forces, investigating both federal narcotic crimes and organized crime. Everhart supervised the Clandestine Meth Amphetamine Laboratory Site Safety Unit for the Southern District of Ohio. He also served numerous years as a Special Response Team (S.R.T.) officer.

Everhart carries a vast knowledge in the field of narcotics, drug testing and laboratory results interpretation.

Judge Robert S. Fischer
Warren County Court

Judge Robert S. Fischer was admitted to practice law in Georgia (1996) and Ohio (1999) and was a general practice litigator with a focus on criminal defense, domestic relations, and child custody. He has been a judge since 2014, with a specialized docket (Mental Health: SUCCESS DOCKET) since 2015. Judge Fischer was a NAMI SW Ohio Board member and has hosted community mental health sessions at the courthouse.

Jose Flores, OCPS ICPS CDCA TTS CPRS-S
Mental Health Administrator, Office of Community Services, Bureau of Recovery Support, Ohio Department of Behavioral Health

Jose Flores currently serves as the Peer Lead on the Peer Services Team which oversees community relations and funding for peer service organizations, as well as certification and training for the peer recovery support field. He previously provided peer recovery support services with the agency in Lorain County on their Warm Handoff Team and later transitioned to their Board of Directors.

Flores also served as a member of the Ohio Planning Council, serving as a peer with lived experience with a SUD and MH disorder. He previously served as the Director of Community Education and Prevention Services for a nonprofit BH organization in Lorain County.

Flores has a background in Nursing from ‘Academy of Health Sciences’ while serving in the U.S. Army. He is a Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant, and Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist, an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist and a Certified Peer Recovery Supporter – Trainer – Supervisor.

Flores has been working in the behavioral health field for over 15 years.

Judge Kate Huffman
Second District Court of Appeals, formerly Montgomery County Common Pleas General Division

Judge Kate Huffman served for 21 years as a Montgomery County Common Pleas Court General Division judge and was elected to the Second District Court of Appeals in 2022. She received a B.A. in political science from Wright State University, an M.A. in judicial studies from the University of Nevada, and a J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law and earned Certificates of Judicial Development General Jurisdiction Trial Skills and Judicial Development Dispute Resolution Skills from the National Judicial College.

She completed two terms on the Commission for the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Ohio Supreme Court and served as Chair of the Commission from 2021-2022. She is currently the Vice-Chair of the Ohio Judicial College.

Judge Huffman teaches as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Dayton School of Law and serves on the faculty of the National Judicial College. Currently, Judge Huffman also works as the American Bar Association National Judicial Fellow, providing peer-to-peer education and training on impaired driving issues and frequently teaches continuing education programs around the country.

Franklin Hurt, Ph.D
Chief Clinical Officer, CompDrug

Franklin Hurt has been a licensed psychologist in Ohio since 1989. He is currently Chief Clinical Officer at CompDrug in Columbus, Ohio, a position he has held since 1993.

Hurt was an independent practitioner from 1989 to 1998. He has directed six Therapeutic Community Substance Abuse Treatment Programs throughout Ohio.

Hurt is qualified as an expert witness in Federal, Common Pleas, Municipal and Domestic Relations Courts in multiple counties in Ohio. He was a presenter at the Supreme Court of Ohio Specialized Docket Fall Education Webinar Series, Nov. 16, 2022.

Monica Kagey
Director of Outreach and Engagement, Aetna OhioRISE

Monica Kagey is an accomplished and compassionate leader in the behavioral health field. Her passion for serving the state’s most vulnerable populations comes from her direct micro and macro experience working with individuals, families, and systems, aiming to improve access and care.

Kagey currently serves as the Director of Outreach and Engagement for Aetna OhioRISE. In this role, she is responsible for the oversight and implementation of the OhioRISE strategic growth and communications plan to expand community awareness and enrollment in OhioRISE.

Prior to joining Aetna, Kagey held various leadership and public service roles throughout the state within both the governmental and behavioral health sectors. Her roles have included Indivior Account Director in the Overdose Reversal Sciences Division; Senior Vice President of Operations at Lighthouse Behavioral Heath Solutions; Specialized Dockets Manager at the Supreme Court of Ohio; and Program Director of the Franklin County Family Specialized Docket.

Kagey began her career with Franklin County Children Services where she served in many capacities, including positions within the Legal, Recruitment, and Direct Service Departments. She graduated summa cum laude from Ohio Dominican University, where she majored in Social Work. She is a Licensed Social Worker with the State of Ohio and a Certified Court Manager. She also earned an MBA with a focus in non-profit and government agencies at Franklin University.

Julie A. Kalina-Hammond, MSSA, LISW-S
Consultant and Trainer, Center for Evidence-Based Practices (CEBP), Case Western Reserve University

Julie A. Kalina-Hammond, LISW- S is a licensed independent social worker serving as a Research Associate at the Begun Center's Center for Evidence-Based Practices in the role of Clinical Trainer and Fidelity Specialist.

Kalina-Hammond served as the Director of Forensic Services at an Integrated Health Center and has been in her field of practice for 24 years. This position included serving as the Treatment Manager for Mental Health Docket, which included oversight of an interdisciplinary team. In addition, she developed and provided oversight to mental health services and drug and alcohol services within a county adult detention facility, including implementing services for inmates experiencing withdrawal. She was also a CIT Coordinator and manager of a First Responder Wellness Program.

She is one of the founders of Community Alliance of Law Enforcement and Mental Health Systems (CALMHS) Committee. She is a Certified Forensic Social Worker and Certified First Responder Counselor. Prior to her work in social work, Kalina-Hammond was a probation officer. She has also taught undergraduate and graduate level social work classes. 

Kalina-Hammond received the 2014 Woman of Achievement award from Lakeland Community College’s Women’s Center. In 2007 she received the Ohio Forensic Leadership Award. In 2003 she received the NAMI Lake County Coordinator’s Leadership Award.

Kalina-Hammond has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from The Ohio State University and a Master of Social Science Administration from Case Western Reserve University. Her interests are working with persons with mental illness involved in the criminal justice system, working with first responders and general social work practice.

Ashley Kerr, MSW, LSW
Policy Analyst, Office of Court Services, Specialized Dockets Section, Supreme Court of Ohio

Ashley Kerr currently serves as a Policy Analyst in the Specialized Docket Section at the Supreme Court of Ohio. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, Kerr served as a federal grant Project Director at the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH). She is a licensed, masters-level social worker with experience in grant writing and program implementation at the state and local level. She has direct clinical experience in justice- and post-release settings working with individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. Kerr graduated from Ohio University with a Masters in Social Work (MSW) and Xavier University with a Bachelors in Social Work (BSW) and minor study in criminal justice.

Beth Knack
Peer and Employment Services Manager, Ohio Department of Behavioral Health

Beth Knack serves as the Peer Services and Employment Manager for the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health in the Bureau of Recovery Supports. In this role, she oversees a team that is responsible for program development, coordination of training, and certification processes for Peer Recovery Supporters. She also manages a team of consultants and trainers that are responsible for providing support to employment programs and fidelity reviews for IPS supported employment programs in Ohio.

Knack's experience prior to joining the department includes working as a senior vocational counselor with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). In this role, she assisted individuals with mental health and substance use disorders obtain competitive integrated community employment. Knack also has experience as a leader at a northwest Ohio local mental health center, where she held several roles including Clinical Coordinator, Case Manager and Vocational Recovery Specialist.

Knack has a B.A. in Psychology from Bowling Green State University and a M.A. in Counseling from University of Toledo. She is nationally certified for Work Incentives and Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling.

Ashley Koontz
Justice Administrator, Aetna OhioRISE

Ashley Koontz is an accomplished professional with a robust background in behavioral health, social work, and the justice system. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in social work and psychology and is currently completing her Master of Business Administration with distinction, expected July 2025.

With over 10 years of experience in the behavioral health and justice fields, Koontz has developed a specialized focus on addiction treatment, reducing recidivism, and improving access to behavioral health services.

She spent seven years working in the behavioral health field with specialized court dockets, where she gained extensive experience in supporting justice-involved individuals. For the past three years, Koontz has served as the Justice Administrator with Aetna OhioRISE, where she leads efforts to reduce recidivism through targeted interventions and strategic linkages to care. Her work centers on breaking the cycles of incarceration by enhancing access to behavioral health treatment and supporting systemic change in the justice system.

Koontz is passionate about bridging gaps between health care and the justice system and is committed to creating equitable, person-centered solutions that foster long-term recovery and reintegration.

Catherine Kurila, Esq.
Unit Chief of the Common Pleas Division, Franklin County Public Defender

Catherine Kurila has been an attorney with the Franklin County Public Defender Office for over 30 years. After graduating from Capital Law School, Kurila began her career with the public defender as a member of the municipal court unit. She served in that capacity for five years and then began her service in the common pleas division. She has practiced in common pleas court for over 25 years and in 2014 became the Unit Chief of the Common Pleas Division of the Franklin County Public Defender.

Currently she is a member of the RISE Court Treatment Team, the TIES Court Treatment Team and a member of Judge Sheryl Munson’s Judicial Release Treatment Team Pilot Program. Additionally, she serves on numerous boards including the Facility Governing Board of the Franklin County Community Based Correctional Facility, the Franklin County Reentry Advisory Board, and the Franklin County-Columbus Opiate Task Force.

Nicole Labor, M.D.
Medical Director, OneEighty, Interval Brotherhood Home, Esper Treatment Center

Dr. Nicole Labor graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in BioBehavioral Health. She attended and graduated medical school in Erie Pennsylvania at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed a residency in Family Practice at the State University of New York in Buffalo, New York followed by a fellowship in addiction medicine through Geisinger in northeastern Pennsylvania.

She is currently the medical director at OneEighty, a treatment center that offers inpatient and outpatient chemical dependency and behavioral health services in Wooster, Ohio. She is also the director of the addiction medicine Fellowship for Summa.

Dr. Labor is also medical director for Interval Brotherhood Home, a residential treatment facility in Akron, Ohio as well as the Esper Treatment Center in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Labor spends time educating healthcare professionals, churches, schools, and community members on the disease of addiction and works to remove the stigma surrounding addiction. Many of her lectures have been unofficially recorded and are available on social media. She lives with her husband and daughter on a small hobby farm in northeast Ohio.

Judge Deborah Lang
Licking County Juvenile-Probate Court

Judge Deborah Lang presides in the Licking County Juvenile-Probate Court. A native of Newark with deep roots in the community, her family has lived in Licking County since the 1800’s and her father owned a small business on the square in downtown Newark for more than 30 years.

A graduate of Newark High School, Judge Lang received her B.A. from The Ohio State University and law degree from Case Western Reserve School of Law, where she served on the Law Review and was Co-Captain of the Moot Court team. After graduating law school, she was an associate attorney in a boutique family law practice in Cleveland for five years. During her time in private practice, she was also an adjunct professor of law at Case Western Reserve, teaching family law. From 2011 through 2020, Judge Lang served as a magistrate of the Licking County Domestic Relations Court.

Judge Lang is a member of the Ohio State and Licking County Bar Associations. She is also a graduate of the Ohio Bar Association’s Leadership Academy and the Licking County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Academy. She is a faculty member of the Judicial College for the Supreme Court of Ohio, and a graduate of the Jo Ann Davidson Institute.

She was elected to serve as the judge of the Licking County Probate-Juvenile Court in November of 2020, and began her six-year term in February of 2021. Judge Lang is the first woman to ever win a contested judicial election in Licking County.

When not presiding over the court, Judge Lang enjoys spending time with her family; trying out new recipes; playing games of strategy; and spoiling her golden retriever George, who has been known to visit the court wearing a tie and shirt collar, happy to do so because he has learned dressing up as a professional gets him more treats and attention from the court staff.

Samantha Lisy, Esq.
Specialty Dockets Prosecutor, Summit County Prosecutor's Office

Samantha Lisy is the Summit County Prosector’s Office Specialty Dockets Prosecutor. She is assigned to the Summit County Court of Common Pleas substance use and mental health treatment dockets including Turning Point, HOPE court, ReEntry Court and Valor Court programs. Lisy is a graduate of Ashland University and the University of Akron School of Law. Admitted into practice in 2010, she has worked in various divisions within the prosecutor’s office and has previously served as a public defender in Stark County.

Dr. Kara Marciani, Psy.D, ABPP
Director of Forensic Services, Forensic Psychiatry Center for Western Ohio

Dr. Kara Marciani, Psy. D., ABPP, obtained a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2001, and was licensed as a psychologist in the State of Ohio in 2003. In 2009, Dr. Marciani was certified as a Diplomate (specialist in Forensic Psychology) by the American Board of Professional Psychology/American Board of Forensic Psychology.

Dr. Marciani presently serves as the Director of Forensic Services at the Forensic Psychiatry Center for Western Ohio, a division of Eastway Behavioral Healthcare (Eastway), located in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Marciani also serves as the Forensic Monitor for 14 counties in the greater Miami Valley.

In addition to her employment at Eastway, Dr. Marciani acts as the President and Chief Psychologist for Marciani Psychological Services, Inc. (MPS, Inc.). She has presented at treatment court conferences around the country, primarily on issues related to gender-specific specialized dockets and trauma.

Judge Joy Malek Oldfield
Summit County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Judge Joy Malek Oldfield graduated from the University of Akron School of Law after obtaining a bachelors degree in sociology from John Carroll University. Before entering public service, she was recognized throughout the State of Ohio as a plaintiff’s trial attorney.

Judge Oldfield started her legal career with Scanlon & Gearinger Co., LPA, and then as a partner at Hill Hardman Oldfield, LLC, where she practiced in the area of complex civil litigation and appeals. A persuasive and effective trial lawyer, she represented clients in state and federal courts throughout Ohio, as well as before the Supreme Court of Ohio and the Supreme Court of the United States.

The individuals whose causes she undertook suffered age, gender and race discrimination, sustained serious personal injury, and/or unfortunately lost loved ones due to professional or other negligence. The hallmark of Judge Oldfield’s practice as a lawyer was her work ethic, sharp courtroom skills and compassion for humanity. Drawn to helping people in a larger way, she left a successful career as a private attorney to serve as a magistrate for Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer in the Summit County Common Pleas Court. As a magistrate, Oldfield presided over bench and jury trials for civil cases.

In 2011, Judge Oldfield was elected to the Akron Municipal Court, serving until 2016. There, in addition to her duties as a trial court judge, the other judges elected her as the administrative/presiding judge from 2014-2016. And, in keeping with the philosophy of treatment in lieu of incarceration, she revamped and presided over the Akron Municipal Substance Use Docket from 2013-2016. Judge Oldfield joined the General Division of the Summit County Common Pleas Court in November 2016, and her colleagues immediately selected her as presiding judge of the Turning Point Program (the felony substance use docket).

The hallmark of Judge Oldfield’s judicial service has been her tireless work to impact and educate individuals on the disease of addiction and the beauty of recovery. Through her years on the bench, Judge Oldfield spearheaded various initiatives to try and meet all needs – physical, mental, social, emotional, spiritual – for those suffering from the disease of addiction. Her innovations in this field have been widely recognized. Judge Oldfield founded Faith in Recovery – designed to provide interested participants a spiritual connection along their recovery journey; and, Y-STRONG, designed to provide participants with access to area YMCA facilities for physical wellness. Also under her leadership, the Turning Point Program obtained Summit County’s first specialized docket therapy dog, “Tank.” With Tank’s help, participants can relax, reduce their level of stress and feel more comfortable in the court setting.

In addition, Judge Oldfield works to educate others – locally, state-wide and on the national level. Two national entities, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) invited Judge Oldfield to present in a national expert panel to develop guidance for providers. She also presented “Trauma in Specialty Court Settings” for SAMHSA’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care and Alternatives to Restraint and Seclusion and GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation. The session was part of a five-part series and provided information on how treatment courts can provide a trauma-informed approach to support recovery. Since then, SAMHSA’s GAINS Center continues to partner with Judge Oldfield as a leader and expert in the field of recovery.

In 2019, Judge Oldfield taught Pretrial Advocacy to second and third year law students at the University of Akron School of Law. Judge Oldfield continues to teach that course today, designed to instruct students on the skills, standards and ethics required for civil litigation. A Summit County resident, Judge Oldfield has three daughters.

Nichole L. Michaels, Ph.D
Principal Investigator, Center for Injury Research and Policy, Nationwide Children's Hospital

Nichole L. Michaels, PhD, is a Principal Investigator in the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Connie M. Payne, J.D.
Project Director, National Drug Court Institute (NDCI)

Connie M. Payne, J.D. is a project director for the National Drug Court Institute (NDCI), a division of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP). She has served as a NADCP board member and NDCI consultant.

In 2017 she retired from her position as statewide coordinator for Kentucky specialty courts. During her time there, the specialty courts program grew from 9 drug courts with 30 employees to 54 drug courts, 5 veterans treatment courts, a mental health court, and a DUI court with 180 employees.

Payne has served on various governors’ and legislative task forces and work groups and has presented at numerous state conferences, as well as nationally. From 2009 to 2014, she served on the executive committee and as secretary to NADCP. She was also secretary and later president of the National State Drug Court Association. From 2003 to 2011, she was a member of the Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy, and she chaired the board from 2007 to 2011.

For 10 years she served as a felony prosecutor in Fayette County, Kentucky. During that time, she specialized in drug, domestic violence, and sexual assault issues. She also served as the drug court representative and co-chair of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner’s Response Team and on the Domestic Violence Prevention Board. In 2017, Payne was inducted into the NADCP Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions to the drug court field.

Stacy Potts, MSW, LISW-S
Clinical Social Worker, VA Central Ohio Healthcare System

Stacy Potts, MSW, LISW-S, is a clinical social worker at the Veterans Administration Central Ohio Healthcare System in Columbus, Ohio. She obtained her Master of Social Work (MSW) at The Ohio State University in 2008.

Potts has 15 years of specialized training and experience working directly with homeless and justice-involved veterans. Currently, Potts serves as a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Coordinator and provides a range of social work services to veterans involved in the criminal justice system that may be homeless, incarcerated, or under court supervision. She has a special interest in deflection and problem-solving gaps in service. As a result, she has created two innovative programs recognized as a best practice by the Veterans Health Administration Homeless Program Operations: ISSIV and Coordinated Exit.

Toni D. Ramirez, MSW
Director, Care Management Entity - OhioRISE, I Am Boundless

Toni D. Ramirez is the CME Director for OhioRISE at I Am Boundless, bringing over 30 years of experience in behavioral health, care coordination, and public service.

She leads strategic efforts to deliver integrated care for youth with complex behavioral health needs and has pioneered pilot programs in court and Job and Family Services (JFS) systems across Delaware, Licking, and Knox counties to strengthen cross-system collaboration.

Ramirez's career spans leadership roles at Ohioguidestone and early work as a Parent Mentor in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, supporting family reunification efforts.

She also held key roles at The Ohio State University, where she managed the $17 million Morrill Scholars Program.

Ramirez holds both a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Social Work from The Ohio State and is a passionate advocate for equity, culturally responsive care, and family-centered service delivery.

Erin Reed, Esq.
Director, RecoveryOhio

Erin Reed serves as the Director of RecoveryOhio, leading the state’s efforts to improve mental health and substance use treatment, expand access to recovery services, and promote cross-agency collaboration. Prior to this role, Reed was the Assistant Policy Director for Criminal Justice and Public Safety in the Office of Governor Mike DeWine, where she advocated on behalf of state government, guided policy implementation, and assessed the impact of policy decisions.

With more than 20 years of state service, Reed has held key leadership positions in public safety and criminal justice. As the Law Enforcement Initiative Project Coordinator for the Ohio Department of Public Safety, she managed the development and execution of data-driven programs. She also led the state Board of Pharmacy’s efforts related to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program.

Reed spent 12 years at the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, beginning her career as a forensic scientist with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) while attending law school. After earning her law degree, she defended state criminal convictions in federal court, served as legal counsel to Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and later became BCI’s Director of Administration.

Reed’s diverse experience in law enforcement, policy, and public health informs her leadership at RecoveryOhio as she works to strengthen Ohio’s response to addiction and mental health challenges.

Ashley Short Mejia, MSW
Clinical Research Coordinator, Center for Injury Research and Policy, Nationwide Children's Hospital

Ashley Short Mejia, MSW is a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She works with the Michaels Lab studying fentanyl overdose harm reduction in Ohio, bringing experience as a clinical trial research coordinator for an addiction recovery study, as a program manager for a community-based participatory action research study, and locally in Columbus from work at a drop-in center for youth experiencing homelessness.

Teressa M. Stafford-Wright
CEO, Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center

Teresa M. Stafford-Wright is a nationally recognized leader, author, and advocate with over 25 years of experience in gender-based violence, trauma-informed care, and systems change. As a survivor of incest, rape, and teen dating violence, Stafford-Wright uses her lived experience to transform systems and empower other survivors. She is the founder of Inspiring Change, LLC, a consulting firm focused on system building, leadership, and trauma-informed practices, and currently serves as CEO of Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center. Stafford-Wright is also the author of Beyond Surviving: The Courage to Heal and Lead, where she shares her powerful journey from trauma to transformation.

Ryan Stickel, Esq.
Policy Counsel, Office of Court Services, Specialized Dockets Section, Supreme Court of Ohio

Ryan Stickel is Policy Counsel for the Supreme Court of Ohio's Specialized Docket Section. Stickel is a self-described "recovering prosecutor" and prior to joining the Court he started his career in private practice in criminal and juvenile defense and then he served for over 15 years as an assistant prosecutor in Summit, Morrow, and Hocking counties.

Stickel has worked extensively with specialized dockets across multiple jurisdictions, including substance use, mental health, and veterans' treatment dockets. Additionally, he has been involved in the creation of bench cards and guides for dockets in regard to specialized dockets as well as substance use and mental health issues affecting Ohio's courts. His experience on both sides of the courtroom and across a variety of problem-solving courts informs a practical and balanced perspective on the role of counsel in collaborative justice models.

Dan Trevas, Esq.
Judicial System Writer, Office of Public Information, Supreme Court of Ohio

Dan Trevas is a former journalist turned lawyer with extensive public relations experience in the public and private sector. Presently a Judicial Systems Writer at the Ohio Supreme Court, he is also the past chair of the Ohio State Bar Association’s Media Law Committee, a contributor to the bar association’s “Law You Can Use” series, and has presented continuing legal education webcasts on the Ohio Public Records Act, and Best Practices in Mediation. He has been teaching Communications Law online for Ohio University and Business Law for Franklin University. Trevas’s legal interest stems from his dozen-plus years as an Ohio Statehouse reporter, which he left for positions in public relations and public policy as he pursued his law degree. While serving in Corporate Communications at Nationwide Insurance, he joined Nationwide’s pro bono mediation program and conducted mediations for the Franklin County Municipal Court and the Columbus City Prosecutor’s Office. A native of Athens, Ohio, he has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Journalism from Ohio University. He graduated from Capital University Law School in 2006.

Natalie Vargas
Research Associate, Center for Injury Research and Policy, Nationwide Children's Hospital

Natalie Vargas is a Research Associate at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She received her B.S. in Public Health from The Ohio State University.

Anthony Wedemeyer
Licking County Probate-Juvenile Court

Anthony Wedemeyer is a 2001 Graduate of Newark High School in Newark, Ohio. He graduated with a BA in History from Ohio University in 2005, and eventually earned a Masters Degree in Education from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. He began working in in the juvenile justice system in 2007 with the Licking County Probate-Juvenile Court. In 2013 after moving to Georgia, Wedemeyer worked with the Department of Juvenile Justice, and upon returning to Ohio in 2015 went to work with the Franklin County Juvenile Court. After teaching one year at Licking Valley High School, he returned to the Licking County Probate-Juvenile Court in 2017 and has been in his current position since 2021.