Ben Bartholomew Expertise: System Analysis & Development, Graphic Design, Photography, and Technology Brief Biography: Ben Bartholomew has provided freelance photography and design services as early as 2001 while attending high school, where he was Salutatorian of his graduating class. Recently, Ben has left his Account Manager position at a Utah escrow auditing firm in order to pursue his consulting career full-time. Read the Full Biography . . .

Fae Brooks Expertise: Training, Expert Witness Evaluations, Motivational Speeches Brief Biography: Chief Fabienne Brooks retired in August 2004 as Chief of the Criminal Investigations Division with the King County Sheriff's Office after over 26 years of service. She has formed her own company, Brooks S-A-C, Inc., a consulting practice specializing in training, expert witness evaluations and motivational speeches. Read the Full Biography . . .

David L. Cole, M.A., C.A.D.C. Expertise: Collaboration, Planning, and Implementation of state systems, Legislative initiatives Brief Biography: David L. Cole is a Senior Management Consultant with Cole & Associates in Lexington, Kentucky. Cole & Associates specializes in the collaboration, planning, and implementation of state systems and legislative initiatives dealing with the prevention and treatment of crime, violence, and substance abuse. Mr. Cole has been involved in the development and operations of local, regional, state, and national programs since 1969. Read the Full Biography . . .

Kristin Crawford Expertise: Drafting legislation, Legal research and Preparing legal memoranda Brief Biography: Kristin Crawford served as a policy advisor to Nebraska’s 38th Governor, Mike Johanns, monitoring and recommending action to the Governor on legislation in the Nebraska Unicameral and in the U.S. Congress. Ms Crawford drafted legislation, conducted legal research, and prepared legal memoranda on policy related issues. Ms. Crawford acted as a liaison between state agencies and the Governor, managed projects, reviewed rules and regulations and correspondence for approval and assisted with policy related constituent mail. Read the Full Biography . . .

Robert Dey Expertise: Drug and Crime Prevention Brief Biography: Robert Dey retired from federal law enforcement following a 32 year career with the Drug Enforcement Administration. During his career he served in several locations including an assignment at DEA headquarters where he directed DEA's Demand Reduction Program. In that assignment, he initiated drug and crime prevention programs for community and governmental leaders, organized training for educators and administrators in drug prevention and represented DEA on Capitol Hill as a member of the Office of Congressional Affairs. Read the Full Biography . . .

Mrs. Jessica Drake Expertise: Fundraising, Research, and Development Brief Biography: Mrs. Drake has worked in the non-profit sector for the last 6 years. She has experience in crisis counseling and helping patients with Alzheimer's, mental illness and substance abuse problems. She also retains skills in healthcare, billing and research. Over the last several years she has worked in early childhood education helping young children grow and providing them with a healthy stable environment. Read the Full Biography . . .

Mindy N. Hargis Expertise: Strategic fund development, Prospect research & assessment, and Board strategy & recruitment Brief Biography: Ms. Hargis provides clients with strategic fund development counsel, prospect research and assessments, fund development strategic planning, and board strategy and recruitment. She works collaboratively with client staff and board members to implement the fund development strategy including writing letters of inquiry, drafting proposals, and attending meetings with prospective donors/partners. Ms. Hargis also works with clients on peripheral fundraising activities including securing celebrity spokespeople, recruiting for advisory boards, event planning, and media relations. Read the Full Biography . . .

Ralph B. Ibarra Expertise: Business Development, International Trade & Commerce, Minority and Women Business Enterprises, Process Improvement and Performance Excellence Disciplines, Bilingual and Bicultural Brief Biography: As president of Marketeer Unlimited, Ralph B. Ibarra applies his marketing and business skills that have come from 36 years of personal experience and practical application. Principal industries served include aerospace, health care, law enforcement and security, information technologies, and consumer products, in addition to local, state and national government public sector entities. Ralph B. Ibarra is also successfully engaged in providing service to clients active in international trade and commerce, with a focus on the NAFTA countries. Marketeer Unlimited is certified as a Minority Business Enterprise by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and Ralph is an expert in the crafting and employing of strategies and tactics for advancing the contracting opportunities for small, minority- and women-owned business enterprises (SMWBEs). Read the Full Biography . . .

Darryl A. Jones, Sr. Expertise: Crime Prevention Brief Biography: Prior to coming to Communities In Schools, Mr. Jones served for five years as the Vice President of the National Crime Prevention Council. In that capacity, he oversaw the 4500-member Crime Prevention Coalition of America, the Training and Technical Assistance department, Children and Youth programs, Community Outreach, and all Law Enforcement programs. He managed a staff of 30 and an annual budget of nearly $10 million. A retired police officer, Mr. Jones has been a keynote speaker and lead facilitator for regional and national law enforcement organizations, including the U.S. Department of Justice. Read the Full Biography . . .

Elizabeth Mattfeld, M.S. Expertise: Public health, prevention, statistics, research methodology, psychological theory, program evaluation and systems coordination Brief Biography: Elizabeth Mattfeld, M.S., in Community Psychology, has nearly twenty years of experience in the public health and prevention fields. She has coursework, training, and experience in statistics, research methodology, and psychological theory. Ms. Mattfeld's strength lies in program evaluation and systems coordination. Her experience includes the tracking and analysis of school-based alcohol and substance abuse programs implemented using safe and drug free schools funding in the state of New York. Read the Full Biography . . .

Amy E. Prenda Expertise: Legal Research Brief Biography: Amy Prenda, J.D., is a Research Manager with the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center for the Judicial Structure and Administration Task Force. Prior to joining the PPC in April of 2007, Amy served as Director of Legal Research and Analysis for Kissel/E&S Associates, Legal Counsel of the Nebraska Legislature's Appropriations and Judiciary Committees, and Executive Director of Lancaster County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Program. Read the Full Biography . . .

Judy Yu Expertise: Marketing, Public Relations, Communications Brief Biography: Ms. Yu has a multi-faceted background in business and education having worked for Eli Lilly and Schering-Plough in research, finance, and sales. She lived and worked in Asia for several years as a marketing consultant for Investec Taiwan Ltd. (now Coopers & Lybrand) in Taipei, started a graphics design firm, and represented San Francisco-based design company Landor Associates. Most recently she has worked in marketing and communications in the higher education system of Washington State and with her PR firm AsiaNet Marketing. Read the Full Biography . . .