Abbie Schroeder is Marathon County Sheriff's Office Deputy assigned to the Marathon County District Attorney's Office as a Special Investigator, who has 10 years of law enforcement experience. Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Law Enforcement and Sociology.

Alex Duros has been an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) – Eastern District of Wisconsin since 2020. His caseload primarily focuses on prosecuting complex drug conspiracies and internet crimes against children (ICAC). Prior to joining the USDOJ, AUSA Duros was an Assistant District Attorney for the Outagamie County District Attorney’s Office for 8 years. There, he prosecuted thousands of cases and was the lead prosecutor in over 60 jury trials related to human trafficking, sexual assaults, drug overdoses, drug distribution, ICAC, and homicides. During this timeframe, AUSA Duros was also a Criminal Justice Instructor at Fox Valley Technical College, where he taught law enforcement officers about electronic warrants and police academy students about constitutional law and testifying in court. AUSA Duros graduated with a B.A. from Ripon College in 2009 and a J.D., cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law in 2012. Over the course of his career, AUSA Duros has received several awards, including the following: Wisconsin Narcotics Officers Association (WNOA) Case of the Year (2020); Wisconsin Department of Justice ICAC Prosecutor of the Year (2018); Outagamie County Best Badge Award for Exceptional Work in the Investigation and Prosecution of ICAC Cases (2018); and Appleton Police Department Team Award for the Investigation and Prosecution of ICAC Cases (2018).

Alia’s journey began as a Law Enforcement Detective, where she specialized in crimes against children, child death investigations, crisis intervention, and professional police communication. She has been an Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate Coordinator, where she coordinated training efforts across 17 counties and 3 tribes. Alia has also been a Crisis Counselor and a Medicolegal Investigator. Today, Alia serves as the Manager of Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Support Services for a dual DV/SA agency, where she leads victim-centered strategies, coordinates community outreach, facilitates legal advocacy, and manages trauma-informed resources for survivors and underserved rural communities. Throughout her career she has consistently demonstrated unwavering commitment to those in need, advocating for justice and providing resources to those affected by trauma. Her work continues to make a significant impact, changing lives and creating a safer, more supportive world for all.

Ms. Didier has dedicated her career to serving children and families affected by abuse and neglect. Her roles in the past thirty years have included group home worker, juvenile probation officer, Child Protective Services Initial Assessment worker, sexually reactive youth group facilitator, therapist, crisis counselor, and forensic interviewer. In her time as a forensic interviewer serving multiple communities, she has completed interviews for local, state, and federal investigators; facilitated peer reviews; mentored new interviewers; provided both expert and fact testimony; offered guest lectures and trainings at universities and for professional groups and agencies; and provided advocacy to children and families. Ms. Didier has completed over 3000 interviews and continues her commitment to advocating for the disenfranchised, the marginalized, and the unheard. As a member of the founding team of the Lakeshore Regional Child Advocacy Center, Ms. Didier has taken on the role of executive director - chief executive and chief financial officer for the two newest child advocacy centers in WI. Ms. Didier has dedicated her career, her heart, and her life to promoting health and resilience for children throughout their lives.

Amiya Peterson is a Victim Witness Specialist at the Marathon County District Attorney's Office, where she has served since May 2022. Amiya is dedicated to ensuring that all victims feel heard, validated, and respected. A passionate advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, she actively educates her colleagues on inclusive support. Amiya holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Human Services and a Certificate in LGBTQ Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. In her free time, she enjoys golfing, traveling, and spending time with her cat.

Antonella Pallozzi provides comprehensive court-related services in Spanish or English to adult and child victims and witnesses in an effort to ensure victims' rights and maximize victim/witness cooperation to aid in the successful prosecution of criminal cases. Her caseload includes domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and homicide crimes. Antonella has developed trainings on victims’ rights laws for DA staff, Madison Police Department new recruits, and new advocates; topics include U-visa certification, working with Spanish-speaking victims, and a Case Manager’s role in trial. She created the Dane County Victim/Witness Unit Training Materials compendium, and the DA Protocol on U-visa certification she drafted has been adopted by local and state-wide agencies.

Sergeant Courtney Morrison is a seasoned law enforcement professional with over a decade of experience, currently serving with the Southern Methodist University Police Department in Dallas, Texas. As the department’s Crime Victim Liaison, she provides trauma-informed support to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other sensitive crimes; guiding them through the justice system and connecting them with critical resources. Sgt. Morrison also leads SMU PD’s Community Engagement program and supervises patrol operations, playing a key role in building trust and safety on campus. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution, with certifications in Executive & Leadership Coaching and Mediation. Sgt. Morrison is deeply committed to fostering a campus environment rooted in safety, education, and compassion, and works closely with students, staff, and community partners to promote prevention, awareness, and survivor support.

David began his legal career as a public defender, where he handled a variety of cases, including over 50 trial cases. He then became the Winnebago County Court Commissioner, where he presided over family law cases, including domestic violence and harassment restraining orders, for nearly a decade. Dave helped found a volunteer attorney program in 2007 and launch a Free Legal Assistance Clinic in 2008- both projects of which are still in practice today. He’s worked with OVW and as Director of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms, through BWJP, where he advocated for legislative improvements in firearm surrender protocols and trained professionals nationwide on the intersection of firearms and domestic violence. Since 2022, Dave has been with Legal Action of Wisconsin, representing survivors of DV in family law cases across 15 counties. Throughout his career, Dave has been a passionate advocate for the safety and rights of DV survivors, in policy and beyond.

Ms. LaSpisa was appointed District Attorney in May, 2021. Prior to this appointment, Ms. LaSpisa was an Assistant District Attorney in Green Lake County since 2019 where she focused on crimes of interpersonal violence. Prior to joining the Green County District Attorney’s Office, Ms. LaSpisa was an Assistant District Attorney in Dane County where she focused on child sexual assault prosecutions. From 1999 – 2005, Ms. LaSpisa served as an Assistant District Attorney in Milwaukee County. From 1994 – 1999, Ms. LaSpisa served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County, Illinois. Over her career, Ms. LaSpisa has developed experience in a wide array of criminal matters. However, her focus and passion has been to provide compassionate service and support to crime victims and witnesses. In addition to her prosecutorial experience, she also served as the executive director of a children’s charity, working to enrich the lives of children with physical disabilities.

Hailey Everson is the Speak Up, Speak Out (SUSO) Resource Center Manager with the Office of School Safety (OSS). She has been with OSS since November of 2021. Hailey earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, double majoring in political science and legal studies with minors in criminal justice and education & educational services. Her professional background is rooted in early childhood education, policy development, crisis response, and juvenile justice. In her spare time, Hailey volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) supporting victims of child abuse and neglect in the state of Wisconsin.

John DeMay tragically lost his 17-year-old son, Jordan DeMay, to a sextortion scheme orchestrated by four men from Nigeria posing as a teen girl on Instagram using a hacked account in March 2022. They blackmailed Jordan into sending money and threatened him for more, ultimately leading to Jordan taking his own life. John has passionately dedicated his time to public awareness though speaking events for large media companies, podcasts, national conferences, law enforcement agencies, schools, non-profit events, and as a survivor consultant for the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). In the wake of this unimaginable loss, John a former police officer in Michigan, now a small business owner has emerged as a passionate advocate for accountability and justice. He is dedicated to holding international criminal conspirators responsible for their actions and challenging big tech companies to address their open disregard for the safety of young users and facilitating a protected place for these crimes to take place. John is working on legislation in his home state of Michigan called Jordan D’s law, aiming to outline specific criminal statutes for sextortion and implementing sextortion/cyber education into schools. On the federal level, John has been traveling to Washington DC to lobby for federal legislation to force change on social media companies with bills such as KOSA (Kids Online Safety Act), Earn It Act (Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act), Take It Down Act (Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites & Networks Act), Defiance Act (Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act), and the Shield Act (Stopping Harmful Image Exploitation and Limiting Distribution Act). John's advocacy focuses on creating safer online environments and ensuring that no family endures the pain his family has suffered.

Dr. Crouch has over twenty-five of experience in conducting research investigating various aspects of family violence, including intimate partner violence, child maltreatment, effects of trauma, and risk assessment. Dr Crouch’s research has been supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Office of Violence Against Women, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and various local/regional partners, including the Winnebago County Domestic Violence Coordinated Court.

Katherine Lewis is a member of the Gila River Indian Community and grew up in District 3, Sacaton. She attended Arizona State University and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in English Literature with a minor in American Indian Studies. She moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to attend the University of California, Berkeley and obtained her Master’s Degree in Social Work. She also attended Harvard Business School where she completed an Executive Leaderships Program. Katherine has almost 20 years of experience working in the Social work, Healthcare and Mental Health fields. Her work has focused on helping families and individuals in crisis specifically families in the child welfare system and victims of violent crimes. She has worked as an advocate, case manager, clinician, and has developed and managed programs created to address the many issues this population faces. She has extensive experience working within Native Communities and has a strong commitment to working within her own Community here at Gila River. Katherine is currently the Director of the Gila River Indian Community’s Victim Services Department which work with victims of violent crime and has been in this role for just over 2 years now.

Kayla Brooks is honored to present on behalf of the Fox Cities Victim Crisis Response Team. With eight years of volunteer experience, she has responded to hundreds of crisis calls, working closely with law enforcement agencies in Outagamie and Winnebago Counties. In addition to her volunteer work, Kayla has dedicated the past decade to the field of education, serving as a Youth Advocate at an elementary school for the last five years. Drawing from her extensive experience and deep understanding of law enforcement, both personally and professionally, Kayla is passionate about providing trauma-informed care to children. She firmly believes that early intervention plays a crucial role in mitigating the long-term effects of trauma. As a mother, police wife, crisis responder, and youth advocate, she is committed to equipping participants with practical strategies to support adolescents in the immediate aftermath of trauma. Additionally, she aims to raise awareness about the mission and work of the Fox Cities Victim Crisis Response Team.

Keeley Crowley is the Director of Victim Service Programs in the Office of Crime Victim Services with the Wisconsin Department of Justice. She has over 25 years of experience working in the anti-sexual and domestic violence movement, including providing direct services to survivors. She is the Site Coordinator for the Wisconsin Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, coordinates the state’s Sexual Assault Response Team Strengthening and Enhancement Project, and the Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Response Team. She is also proud to support and supervise the work of the Victim Resource Center and the Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program. Ms. Crowley previously served as the director of a community-based sexual assault program and as a Program and Policy Analyst - Advanced with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Prison Rape Elimination Act Unit.

Laura Clary is a Registered Nurse, Forensic Nurse Examiner and Director of the GBMC SAFE, Domestic Violence & Child Protection Program. She has been a nurse for 17 years and holds a Master’s Degree in Nursing Management & Organizational Leadership. She is Nationally certified as a SANE-A & SANE-P to provide medical-forensic care to patients across the lifespan that have been victims of sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence and human trafficking. Mrs. Clary travels across the United States and teaches other professionals about Neurobiology of Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care. She is a Board of Nursing approved Forensic Nurse Examiner Instructor in the State of Maryland and has taught and precepted registered nurses and physicians from all over the country. She is an active member of the International Association of Forensic Nurses, as well as the Maryland Child Abuse Medical Providers (CHAMP), and is Chair of the Baltimore County Sexual Assault Response Team.

Lynette has been a nurse for over 20 years with experience in Long Term Care, Emergency Nursing, Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, Clinical Education and Risk Management. She received a bachelor’s in nursing degree from UW-Oshkosh and in 2012 completed her master’s in nursing from Saint Xavier University in Illinois. She is an active Forensic Nurse / SANE in the Wausau area, where she resides with her husband Mike. She is a proud mom of Courtney (19) & Ryan (18), a beloved dog and cat. Lynette is passionate about seeing justice prevail and advocate for those who need help finding their voice and has been a forensic nurse since 2019. Lynette has served on the IAFN board of directors for the last 4 years and is excited to partner with Wisconsin Serving Victims of Crime to promote awareness and educate on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Drug Endangered Children, Human Trafficking and Strangulation.

Lynn Cook, MSW, CAPSW received her MSW and Certificate in Trauma Counseling at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 2008. Lynn is responsible for implementing statewide initiatives that improve the investigation, prosecution, and judicial handling of child abuse. Prior to this position, Lynn worked as a Forensic Interviewer at the Milwaukee Child Advocacy Center of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. She began her work in that capacity in July of 2015 and has conducted well over 2,300 forensic interviews of children and teens who have experienced or witnessed violence and child maltreatment. She continues to conduct forensic interviews at Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center in Madison. Lynn conducts many other statewide and national trainings in areas specific to child abuse dynamics. She is often called to testify as an expert witness in criminal trials in Milwaukee County and across the state.

Marisa Cervantes is a Lead Victim Specialist/MMIP Specialist in the Gila River Indian Community. She has worked in victim services for over 6 years, providing support and advocacy services for victims of violent crime. She coordinates and collaborates with various departments regarding missing adults and children. Marisa also leads the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Response Team meetings in the Community. She has attended the Child Abduction Response Team (CART) training and is a member of the CART team. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Arizona State University.

Mark Yarbrough was elected to five terms as the Lamb County & District Attorney and served for 20 years, prosecuting everything from death penalty cases to DWIs. During his tenure, in 2002, he was awarded the M.A.D.D. regional prosecutor of the year. He served on the board of directors for the Texas District & County Attorney’s Association, and is a member of the National District Attorney’s Association. He also is one of the founding fellows of the Texas Prosecutor’s Society. Mark is listed by the Lawyers of Distinction as one of the top 10% of lawyers in the United States, and by the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys as one of the “10 Best Attorneys” for Texas. At the end of 2012, Mark retired as District Attorney and travels the country giving motivational speeches regarding Burnout. He has also written and been published on the subject of Burnout.

Natalie began her career in victim advocacy as a victim/witness specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Office of Crime Victim Services in 2013, where she specialized in statutory victim rights compliance. In 2018 she became an Assistant District Attorney in Marathon County, Wisconsin, where she specializes in sensitive crime prosecutions. Her caseload includes sexual assaults, crimes against children, and domestic violence. Natalie is a sitting member of the Marathon County Sexual Assault Intervention Team (SART) and Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), and routinely trains law enforcement, SANES, and advocates on child sexual assault investigations and testimony. Although a lawyer now, in her heart Natalie remains passionate about her victim/witness “roots” and the fair, empathetic treatment of crime victims in the criminal justice system.

Nicole Ticknor has a background in victim advocacy, offender supervision and behavioral health. Nikki has been responsible for the creation of several collaborative community projects focused on preventing and responding to gender-based violence. Nikki has served as faculty for various local and national trainings focused on court collaboration, engaging court stakeholders, and effective court response to survivors of domestic violence. Nikki received the Illinois Supreme Court's Jeffery D. Colman Access to Justice Award for outstanding contributions made to increasing access to the court system for victims of domestic violence and those with disabilities. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University with B.S. in Sociology and M.S. Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Domestic Violence Professional, and Certified Court Manager.

Olivia’s entire professional career has been dedicated to providing direct-client services for domestic abuse survivors. She has risen to the role of Senior Legal Advocate where she leads with passion, offering essential support, guidance, and empowerment to individuals, primarily those navigating the complexities of the legal system. Olivia’s work goes beyond just advocacy—she is deeply committed to preventing domestic violence-related homicides and improving responses to strangulation cases. She passionately trains law enforcement officers, GALs, and other advocates. Olivia’s career is driven by compassion, advocacy, and education. She is relentless in her mission to make a lasting, transformative impact on both the individuals she serves and within the broader community and movement of advocacy. Olivia believes survivors are the greatest teachers; looking always to them, she continually draws from their experiences to deepen her own understanding and passes on this knowledge to all!

Peter joined the Safe at Home program in March 2021. Prior to this he worked as a Dispatcher & Call-Taker at the Dane County Public Safety Communications Center (911) for five years, spent time as a City of Madison Police Officer, primarily working on the city's north side, and provided advocacy services to victims of domestic violence first as an advocate, and then as a program coordinator for the Legal Advocacy Program at DAIS.

Rachel Sines endured a harrowing ordeal 17 years ago when she became a survivor of sexual assault and kidnapping during an armed burglary at her home. Despite the trauma she faced, justice prevailed as her assailant was apprehended, tried, and convicted on 10 felony counts. Resulting in four life sentences and 62 consecutive years in prison due to the severity of the crime. Empowered by her journey, Rachel firmly believes in reclaiming power from the offender and the traumatic event by speaking out. She considers it an honor to share her story, recognizing the transformative impact it can have on others. Currently residing in Central Florida with her daughter, Rachel serves as a dedicated Project Manager. In both her personal and professional life, she actively advocates for victims and individuals seeking healing, aiming to turn the darkness of her past experience into a beacon of hope and positivity.

Erin and Rick Rachwal are the founders of the Love, Logan Foundation, a non-profit organization established in response to the tragic loss of their 19-year-old son, Logan, to fentanyl poisoning on Valentine’s Day, 2021. Logan took what he believed was a prescription pain pill—unaware that it was a counterfeit laced with fentanyl. He died alone in his college dorm room, another victim of the escalating crisis of illicit synthetic drugs. Since that devastating day, Erin and Rick have transformed their grief into advocacy—creating the Love, Logan Foundation to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and fake pills, reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use, and build stronger community education and support systems. Their mission aligns deeply with the front-line work of healthcare providers and law enforcement professionals—those who see the effects of this epidemic every day. Their presentations are not only deeply personal but also informative and action-oriented—providing a real-world lens into the human cost of the opioid crisis. They speak with the hope of fostering stronger partnerships between families, health systems, schools, and law enforcement—because reversing this epidemic requires all of us working together.

Rick Salcedo, a seasoned detective, currently serves with the University of Central Florida Police Department. With 26 years of dedicated service, he retired from the Orlando Police Department in November 2016. Notably, he spent over 17 years as a detective specializing in sex crimes investigations and was assigned to the Special Victims Unit. Salcedo holds the lead instructor position for the Advance Adult and Child Sex Crimes Investigations and Hostage/Crisis Negotiations Courses at three Law Enforcement Academies in Central Florida. Additionally, Detective Salcedo’s served as an on-call negotiator with the Orlando Police Department Crisis Negotiations Team for over 18 years, Notably, he was among the negotiators who responded to the tragic 2016 Pulse Massacre. Detective Salcedo has presented at several conferences across the United States and Canada. Before his career in law enforcement, Detective Salcedo proudly served as an 11-year veteran of the United State Air Force.

Detective Kilpatrick, with over 19 years of dedicated service at the Baltimore County Police Department, has a commendable 16-year tenure as a detective, showcasing his unwavering commitment to upholding the law and pursuing justice. Early in his career, he played a pivotal role in dismantling drug trafficking organizations as a member of the Vice Narcotics Unit. He innovatively used social media to unravel the intricate structures of these illicit networks, even exposing a rogue unit within the Baltimore Police Department, which was documented in the book and TV series "We Own This City." Later, Detective Kilpatrick joined the Special Victims Unit, where his dedication to justice continued to shine. Currently assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit, he skillfully employs digital data to locate suspects involved in heinous crimes like sexual assault and rape, showcasing his proficiency in solving crimes utilizing digital data.

Sheryl is a dedicated Volunteer Coordinator with the Fox Cities Victim Crisis Response Team, driven by a deep passion for service and a commitment to making a meaningful impact in the lives of others. With a heart devoted to supporting those in crisis, she considers it a true privilege to serve her community. Originally from the sun-soaked landscapes of Arizona, Sheryl has found her home in Wisconsin, where her leadership has significantly strengthened the VCR team. When she first joined, the team consisted of just 28 dedicated volunteers. Through her perseverance, outreach, and unwavering commitment to the mission, that number of volunteers has more than doubled to 60 passionate individuals, each bringing unique strengths to the cause. Sheryl is honored to lead this vital work and is excited to share the mission of the Fox Cities Victim Crisis Response Team.

Sophia A. Strother Lewis is a dynamic entrepreneur, advocate, and survivor who boldly claims her past by authoring her future. As the founder of L2E Industries, LLC, she built a multi-million-dollar courier service and became one of Amazon’s top contracted partners. Her work has been featured in *Business Insider*, *Black Enterprise*, and *Cosmopolitan*. Holding an MBA in Marketing and a BSBA in Business Management from American International College, Sophia also founded Learning 2 Exhale Restoration Strategies and Trustworthy Consulting. Overcoming child sexual abuse, human trafficking, and sexual assault, Sophia draws on her experiences to shed light on resilience and the seven systems survivors navigate to seek justice. Her sexual assault case concluded with a guilty verdict, but justice remains incomplete as her perpetrator is still on the run. Despite this, Sophia is fiercely committed to raising awareness and improving systemic support for survivors of abuse and exploitation.

Tehassi Hill is serving his third term as Chairman for Oneida Nation. Prior to being elected Chairman, he served two terms as a Councilmember for the Oneida Business Committee – the nine member elected government officials for the Oneida Nation. Through his service as an elected leader, Chairman Hill continues to demonstrate a commitment to the preservation of the environment and the Oneida language, as well as the culture and traditions of Oneida Nation. He actively works to support the vision of sustainability and to exercise and protect the Nation’s sovereignty. These guiding principles continue to map out his daily work for the nation, extending beyond the Oneida reservation. Chairman Hill over his tenure has embraced a transformational leadership style, which has earned him seats on different boards on both the State and Federal Level. Chairman Hill and his wife, Kanatihal, have nine children, 21 grandchildren, and reside in Oneida, Wisconsin. In his leisure time, you can find him either hunting or fishing and being actively engaged with his family and the greater community.