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Female Presenter

SPEAKERS AND AGENDA

Keynote Speakers

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The Josh Vadell Foundation

Josh Vadell

Josh is a devoted husband, father of three, and retired Atlantic City police officer, survived a life-threatening gunshot to the head while stopping an armed robbery in 2016, and now inspires others through his remarkable journey of recovery, resilience, and advocacy as co-founder of The Josh Vadell Foundation, supporting critically injured officers and their families.

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32nd Under Secretary of the Army and Chief Management Officer (CMO)

Patrick Murphy

Patrick has served our nation in one role after another—as a soldier, as America’s first Iraq War veteran elected to the U.S. Congress, and as the 32nd Under Secretary of the Army. Today, as an entrepreneur and advocate, Patrick harnesses the power of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to help veterans find jobs, start businesses, and secure quality health care and mental health services.

All Speakers

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Barbara Lettiere

Barbara assumed the office as the tenth president of Immaculata University on July 1, 2017, bringing with her a wealth of experience as a former vice president for finance at a liberal arts college and a nearly 30-year career in corporate America.

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Dr. George Schwartz

Dr. George Schwartz is an Associate Professor and Director of the Bachelor’s Degree program in Emergency Management & Planning. He has a broad professional background that includes active and reserve service in the US Army, human resource management with Fortune 500 companies, and higher education. He has developed and instructed courses in emergency management and leadership studies, and has written and presented on such subjects as crisis leadership, cybersecurity, and training management.

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Jennifer Boileau

Advocates for resilience in first responder, veteran, and military communities. As an educator and law enforcement spouse of 24 years, she understands the stress and impact of a service career on families.

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Emily Evans

Emily Evans is a therapist, community educator, and mental health advocate. She has spent her career helping adults, adolescents, children and families heal from the effects of developmental, systemic, and institutional trauma. She has over 10 years of experience working in community mental health, child welfare, and the correctional system. She operates a private practice in Middletown, DE where she specializes in the treatment of PTSD, addiction, and attachment disorders. She utilizes evidence-based practices in her work which focus on healing the mind-body connection through the practical application of neuroscience and counseling strategies. Emily is passionate about educating people regarding trauma and mental health to end stigma, increase access to resources, and restore hope.

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Katherine Boyle

Katherine Boyle is an advocate and speaker for law enforcement kids and families. The daughter of a retired Philadelphia Police SVU lieutenant, she brings a personal lens to the often-overlooked experiences of law enforcement children. Also known as The LT’s Daughter, she helps families build connection, create lasting memories, and carry forward a legacy that honors both the impact made on the job and the family raised at home. Through her platform Beyond the Uniform, Katherine offers trainings, keynotes, workshops, and resources that support officers, spouses, and kids. She is the host of the podcast Beyond the Uniform with The LT’s Daughter and you can find her on Instagram @theltsdaughter or at beyondtheuniform.co

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Bill Mazur

Bill Mazur is a 25-year law enforcement veteran who retired in 2017 at the rank of Deputy Chief of Police. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Stockton University and a Master's Degree in Police Graduate Studies from Seton Hall University. A graduate of the FBI National Academy (Session #256), Bill also served as a Master Instructor with the FBI National Academy Associates, contributing to their Comprehensive Officer Resiliency Training Program. Additionally, he serves as a Liaison for the New Jersey State Resilience Program for Law Enforcement. In 2017, Bill co-founded a nationally recognized first responder outreach team, where he spent nearly a decade supporting the behavioral health needs of first responders by connecting them to vetted, culturally competent treatment resources. In 2025, he launched a new venture to expand this mission—supporting not only first responders but their families as well. Through his consulting firm, Sentinel Resilience Solutions, where he serves as Co-Founder and Chief Resiliency Officer, Bill is working to develop a gold-standard treatment protocol blueprint aimed at improving both the quality of care and access to clinically appropriate resources for the first responder community.

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Capt. Nicholas Polk

Capt Nicholas Polk is the Alternate Director of Psychological Health and now Mental Health Element Officer In Charge. Capt. Polk is responsible for overseeing the mental health within the installation, providing leadership in the development and implementation of mental health programs. Capt. Polk entered the Air Force August 2018 through being selected as a resident for the Air Force Social Work Residency Program. Prior to his commission Capt. Polk served 10 years in the United States Army where be proudly served as a Noncommissioned Officer 8 of those 10 years.

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Regan Falk

The wife of fallen Philadelphia police officer Kevin Regan, a devoted husband and father who was passionate about serving his community. While we cannot undo this tragedy, we can still offer support and resources to those who serve.

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Jason Snyder

Jason Snyder is policy director of SUD Treatment Services for the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA.) RCPA is a statewide association representing more than 300 human services provider organizations, including substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health treatment providers. Jason is also a Certified Recovery Specialist, a credential for individuals with personal, lived experience with SUD recovery. In his role with RCPA, he is responsible for leading the association’s SUD treatment provider members in developing and executing effective strategies to influence policy, regulations, and legislation in ways that enhance the environment in which they operate. Prior to joining RCPA, Jason was director of strategic partnerships and regional director of operations for Pinnacle Treatment Centers, a large addiction treatment provider working in Pennsylvania and nationally. Jason has significant experience working in state government as well. He served as special assistant to the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), where he oversaw implementation and operations of the Opioid Use Disorder Centers of Excellence. He also was communications director for the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP). A lifelong Pennsylvanian, Jason lost both of his siblings to drug overdose deaths and is in long-term recovery from the disease of addiction.

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Kenyatta Johnson

Council President Kenyatta Johnson represents Philadelphia’s 2nd Council District, where he has dedicated his career to community advocacy and policymaking. He began his public service in 1998 with the Peace Not Guns initiative and was later elected to the Pennsylvania House in 2008 and Philadelphia City Council in 2011. In 2024, he became Philadelphia City Council President. His leadership continues to prioritize addressing poverty, food insecurity, mental health issues, homelessness, and education disparities across the city.

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Battalion Chief Thomas Kane

Battalion Chief at Philadelphia Fire Department. Currently assigned to the Employee Relations office. Duties include development and supervision of the Employees Assistance Program (EAP), Event coordinator for several PFD events. Liaison to other organizations and provide PR for events and PFD. Thomas also serves as the Peer Support Team Coordinator for the Philadelphia Firefighters Union Local 22 IAFF.

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Jo Sue Kaufman

She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers University and an M.A. in Criminal Justice from John Jay College. She volunteered as an EMT for eight years in North Jersey before becoming one of the first women hired as an ATF Special Agent in 1977.

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Blair Saba

Plans and executes virtual trade shows, events, and webinars. She also volunteers with the Kevin Regan Family Foundation, connecting the community with first responders and raising awareness of mental health issues.

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Jonathan Bittner

Jonathan earned his Master’s in Clinical and Counseling Psychology with a Trauma Certification from Chestnut Hill College and He is a Certified Trauma Professional and a licensed Associate Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania. Jonathan has extensive experience working in a Trauma Center in West Philadelphia, providing support to gunshot victims in the trauma bay and also in the hospitals’ trauma inpatient floor. Jonathan also is a founder and director of a large group practice in the Philadelphia region which provides support for hundreds of clients. In this practice Jonathan specializes in the treatment of veterans and first responders. Jonathan is currently pursuing his Doctor of Psychology at Immaculata University, and he is trained in evidence-based trauma treatments, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Prolonged Exposure (PE), with training from the University of Pennsylvania. Beyond his clinical roles, Jonathan is actively involved in shaping mental health initiatives. He serves on an advisory board at the University of Pennsylvania that oversees programs focused on PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and suicidality. Additionally, he is part of a collaborative advisory board with the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, and the Connecticut Army National Guard, working to actively combat military suicide. Jonathan is dedicated to helping individuals heal and thrive, using a research-driven and person-centered approach to therapy.

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Dr. Gia Chawala

Gia is a licensed clinical psychologist with a PhD from Hofstra University, specializing in evidence-based treatments like DBT, CBT, ACT, and trauma-focused care. She is the ADAPT Program Manager for the military and previously served in Qatar as Disaster Mental Health Team Chief, providing critical support to service members.

Agenda

9:00 AM — Doors Open & Arrival

  • Music by Bo Rains, Soundmind Network Artist

  • Guests check-in, visit resource tables

9:30 AM — Opening

  • Moment of Silence 

  • National Anthem- Battalion Chief Thomas Kane, Philadelphia Fire Department

  • A Message from Regan Falk, widow of fallen Philadelphia Police Officer Kevin Regan

9:40AM — Welcome & Opening Remarks

  • Dr. Melissa Rice, FRSP Co-Founder and Immaculata University Assistant Professor 

  • Barbara Lettiere, Immaculata University President 

  • Dr. George Schwartz, Immaculata University Associate Professor

  • Kenyatta Johnson, Philadelphia City Councilman

10:10 AM — Keynote Address #1

  • Patrick Murphy, First Iraq War Veteran elected as a US Congressman 

10:35 AM — Personal Testimonial Panel

  • Katherine Boyle, Beyond the Uniform 

  • Blair Saba, Wife of Philadelphia SWAT Officer

  • Jo Sue Kaufman, Retired ATF Agent 

  • Jonathan Bittner, MS, LAPC, CTP, Chestnut Hill Therapy

11:15 AM — iRest Mindfulness Session

  • Jennifer Boileau, iRest Meditation Teacher

11:30 AM — Expert Panel Discussion

  • Emily Evans, LPCMH

  • Captain Nicholas Polk, US Air Force 

  • Jason Snyder, CRS, RCPA

  • Dr. Gia Chawala, US Air Force

12 PM— Keynote Address #2

  • Josh Vadell, Nine-year veteran, Atlantic City Police Department

12:45 PM — Closing Remarks

  • Dr. Melissa Rice 

  • Stephen A. Cohen, FRSP President and Event Sponsor 

1:00 PM — Boxed Lunches & Resource Tables

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