The 2024 speaker lineup was carefully selected to give attendees access to information from a wide variety of professional and educational backgrounds.
Title of speech
MSW, LMSW
Minaa B. MSW, LMSW, is a licensed social worker, mental health educator, and author of "Owning Our Struggles." With a background in psychotherapy and early childhood mental health, she founded Minaa B. Consulting, focusing on psychological safety in organizations. Minaa's work integrates mental health with social justice, emphasizing community care and resilience. She hosts the Verywell Mind podcast, writes for Cosmopolitan's "Free Therapy" column, and advises Wondermind. Featured in Red Table Talk, Oprah Daily, and more, Minaa is a recognized expert in mental health. Residing in New York City, she continues to advocate for holistic well-being.
Title of speech
M.D.
Dr. Omar Manejwala, M.D., an addiction psychiatrist, and bestselling author of "Craving: Why We Can’t Seem to Get Enough," addresses the opioid crisis in the US, where overdoses kill nearly 80 people daily. With over 15 years of experience, he simplifies complex brain science and psychology, offering actionable steps to control cravings and recover. Dr. Omar's expertise, showcased in media outlets like 20/20 and the New York Times, stems from his Duke training and tenure as Hazelden Medical Director. He is currently the Chief Medical Officer of a national health services management company, renowned for his insights on addiction.
Aaron Hunt
MPH, PhD
Dr. Aaron Hunt, MPH, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Public Health Program at Utah State University and the Health & Wellness Specialist for Utah State University Extension. He earned his PhD in Public Health from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. With a background spanning maternal health, substance use, mental health, vaccine promotion, and infectious disease prevention, his current focus is on combating opioid use disorder in rural communities. Dr. Hunt advocates for reducing stigma around substance use and champions harm reduction strategies statewide to enhance access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services, aiming to save lives.
Amy Belnap
APRN, PMHNP-BC
With over 30 years of nursing experience, Amy Belnap, APRN, PMHNP-BC is deeply committed to patient care. A graduate of Idaho State University (BSN) and Eastern Kentucky University (MSN, PMHNP), Amy was one of the first nurse practitioners to become a CADDRA-certified provider in the state of Idaho. She is a passionate advocate for people with ADHD and a highly sought-after educator, participating in several speaker bureaus nationwide and precepting student clinicians throughout the year. As clinical director of Canvi Behavioral Health, Amy enjoys helping providers reach their fullest potential by teaching cutting-edge techniques and leveraging new technologies to improve patients' lives.
Ashley Yaugher
PhD
Dr. Ashley Yaugher is a Professional Practice Extension Associate Professor at Utah State University Extension, focusing on Health & Wellness. She leads the Health Extension: Advocacy, Research & Teaching (HEART) Initiative and addresses the opioid overdose epidemic in Carbon and Emery Counties. With an M.S. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Texas A&M University, Dr. Yaugher directs substance use prevention and stigma reduction grants. She chairs the Carbon & Emery Opioid & Substance Use Coalition, emphasizing rural mental health, community outreach, and Opioid Use Disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery through community-based programs and research.
Cheri DeMoss
LCPC, CAADC, NCADCII, MAC NCRS
Cheri DeMoss LCPC, CAADC, NCADCII, MAC NCRS is the founder & director of Empowering Options Counseling Innovations, specializing in educational therapy. Over the past 36 years, Cheri has designed & presented training seminars for national & statewide conferences and corporate & small businesses. Cheri has a unique ability to engage audiences with a style that enables them to think, feel, & experience the topic. Because of her ability to create a safe and fun atmosphere with audiences, conference organizers receive requests to have her back each year.
Coleen Peterson
PhD
Dr. Colleen Peterson holds the position of Director of Clinical Education and serves as an Assistant Professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Utah Valley University. With more than two decades of teaching experience, she specializes in graduate-level ethics courses. Dr. Peterson brings over 15 years of active participation on marriage and family therapy regulatory boards, including her recent role on Utah's DOPL Board. Dr. Peterson is a member of the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education and possesses considerable expertise in the training of marriage and family therapists.
Elizabeth Fawcett
PhD
Dr. Elizabeth Fawcett holds the position of Program Director and is an Associate Professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Utah Valley University. She has also contributed her expertise as a member of Utah's DOPL Board and served on the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. Dr. Fawcett brings extensive experience in training marriage and family therapists to her roles.
Gabriela Murza
BS, MS
Gabriela Murza holds a BS in Psychology and an MS in Health Education and Behavior from the University of Florida. With over 15 years in public health/health education, she currently serves as USU Extension Health and Wellness faculty in the HEART Initiative, which addresses the opioid overdose crisis and other public health issues. Her work focuses on the role healthy eating, physical activity, resiliency skills, and other healthy behaviors play in reducing injury and chronic pain. She advocates for these skills in substance use recovery.
Ginger Healy
MSW, LCSW
Ginger Healy, MSW, LCSW began her career as a child abuse investigator and hospital social worker before spending 15 years as a social service supervisor at an international adoption agency. Currently, she serves as a clinical social worker and director of programs at the Attachment & Trauma Network. Ginger co-hosts the podcast Regulated and Relational and is a national speaker on trauma-informed schools, therapeutic parenting, and community engagement. She authored "Regulation and Co-Regulation: Accessible Neuroscience that Brings Calm into the Classroom" and its workbook. Ginger's upcoming book focuses on small group curriculum for schools. Ginger is married with four children, her greatest teachers about developmental trauma and neurodivergence.
Mark Welling
Jeffrey Quamme
Jeffrey Quamme is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Certification Board, a workforce development organization that serves the substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery industry with competency-based credentialing. He is a sought-after trainer on a national level, author, and podcaster who is not afraid to point out the industry's credibility issues with a focus on improving practice and outcomes. He received his undergraduate education in psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University, with graduate education in social work at the University of Connecticut. Additionally, Jeffrey participated in Nonprofit Effectiveness and Leadership at Charter Oak State College.
Jeremy Cottle
PhD, CEO
Dr. Jeremy Cottle is the CEO/Managing Director of Provo Canyon Behavioral Hospital in Orem, Utah. He holds a Doctorate in Counseling, Education, and Supervision from St. Mary’s University, a Master’s in Social Work from Our Lady of The Lake University, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Weber State University. With extensive psychiatric experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings, he specializes in treating adolescents, and adults of all ages. Dr. Cottle is dedicated to "Breaking the Silence" surrounding mental illness and enhancing community mental health services. He plays key roles in advisory boards and legislative initiatives across Utah.
Kate Plato
CEO
Kate Plato has spent 25 years in marketing, guiding Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies to increase market share through effective strategy and content. As a respected consultant, she has supported clients such as Wal-Mart, JCPenney, Matrix, Fantastic Sams, Wells Fargo, McDonalds, FranklinCovey, Pizza Hut, and Lifetouch in product launches, campaign development, and fostering repeat business. Transitioning into behavioral health, Kate has spent a decade helping local organizations develop strategies that raise awareness and education for mental health products and services. Leading Summit Counseling Solutions, Kate and her team focus on evidence-based practices to overcome industry challenges, delivering top-tier resources and support.
Kimberly Applewhite
PsyD
Kimberly Applewhite, PsyD., is a licensed psychologist and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program director at UCEBT, specializing in DBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI) for health-related stressors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from New York University and a Master of Science and Doctorate of Psychology in School-Clinical Child Psychology from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University (APA Accredited). Kimberly's clinical focus includes the assessment and treatment of children and families in bio-psycho-social-spiritual contexts, as well as ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ populations. She has diverse experience in trauma-informed care, child advocacy, and LGBTQ+ and racial stress research.
Kristal James
LCMHC, PhD
Dr. Kristal James has extensive experience in higher education, is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Utah, a Nationally Certified Counselor, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. She specializes in lifespan development, assessment, and fieldwork courses, reflecting her adherence to developmental theories. Currently teaching full-time at Walden University, she enjoys shaping future clinicians. Her research interests include mentorship, burnout, and retention. Dr. James is actively involved with the Utah Mental Health Counselors Association, previously serving as President. Operating a private practice, she offers telemental health counseling to K-12 students with Individual Education Programs, specializing in autism, anxiety, and depression.
Marc Gardner
Marc Gardner, originally from Australia, earned his undergraduate social work degree from BYU, Hawaii. His career began in Australia as an insurance case manager for individuals with motor vehicle accident-related injuries, sparking his passion for social work. Pursuing a Master of Social Work at the University of Utah, Marc focused on behavioral health. Now, as Clinical Director at Summit Counseling Solutions, he navigates health insurance challenges to improve access to behavioral health services. Marc thrives on collaboration, advocating for robust systems in behavioral health. Outside work, he enjoys skiing, photography, and integrating his passions into innovative social work initiatives.
Michael Negrette
PhD
Dr. Negrette works in private practice and teaches at Rocky Mountain University and Capella University. Dr. Negrette has published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at dozens of national conferences on topics of group therapy process, play therapy, multiculturalism/diversity, postmodernism, sex therapy, and the use of communication technology in private practice.
Paige Lowe
PhD
Dr. Paige Lowe, Ph.D., is a clinical mental health counselor with a degree in counseling from the University of North Texas. Her profound expertise is in supporting children and families as they navigate the complexities of cancer and chronic illness. Dr. Lowe's approach is not just about counseling, it's about empowering families through parenting interventions. She collaborates closely with caregivers, enhancing their parenting skills and making a significant difference in their lives. Dr. Lowe also serves as an assistant professor at Utah Valley University, where she teaches in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master's program.
Pamela Fuller
PhD
Dr. Fuller is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice with High Desert Psychology and Wellness and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah School of Medicine. She received her doctoral degree from the University of Florida in 1994 and has over thirty years of clinical experience with adults and children in inpatient and outpatient settings. Dr. Fuller specializes in trauma treatment, dissociation, PTSD, depression, phase-specific therapy for psychosis, and crisis intervention services, and she has provided training nationally and internationally on these topics. Her latest book is entitled Disconnecting to Survive: Understanding and Recovering from Trauma-based Dissociation.
Patricia Henrie-Barrus
PhD
Dr. Trish Henrie-Barrus is the owner of Riverwoods Behavioral Health and an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah, where she also received her PhD. She has extensive experience in assessment administration and development, especially in opioid and chemical addiction, pain management, depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. As an Assistant Professor, she helped create the nationally acclaimed Positive Psychology undergraduate Certificate program. Dr. Barrus is the governor-appointed State Commissioner on Mental Health for the Utah Digital Health Services Commission. She has also been recognized as the chair of the Provider Training and Patient Education committee under the Coalition for Opioid Abuse Prevention for the State of Utah.
Todd Spencer
PhD, LMFT
Todd Spencer has a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and a PhD in Human Development from Oklahoma State University. He is an LMFT, Certified Family Life Educator, and AAMFT-approved supervisor. Todd actively publishes research on relationship dynamics. His clinical populations include couples on the brink of divorce, as well as individuals experiencing trauma and grief.
