Shawn Bradford, founder of Breathe and Work, empowers individuals and businesses by providing them with tools and strategies to effectively manage their stress.

Through customized workshops, dynamic speaking engagements and inspiring keynotes Shawn teaches how the scientifically backed strategy of breath awareness, mindful movement and clarity tools promote well being and positively impacts our lives.  Shawn demonstrates how these tools can successfully be implemented and weaved into our everyday lives to increase our wellness and decrease stress.

Dr. Dan Davidson is the Director of Program Training for Intermountain Centers for Human Development in Arizona. Prior to that he was the Positive Behavior Support program director at the Institute for Human Development at Northern Arizona University. There he created the state’s first BACB®-approved Graduate Certificate program for behavior analysts. He also directed PBISAz, which is focused on building the state’s capacity to support Head Starts, preschools, schools and districts in their efforts to implement effective and alternative discipline practices.

Dan has worked in K-12 education, residential services, universities, and in private consulting. He has served the field for close to 38 years as direct support provider, school principal, residential services administrator, consultant, university instructor, advocate, and policy shaper. Throughout his career, he has been a tireless advocate for people who behave in challenging ways and are often misunderstood. Many of these individuals are on the autism spectrum, have intellectual or developmental disabilities, and/or behavioral health challenges.

Through his students, his advocacy, his consultation and his example, Dan has translated research to practice for many parents, teachers and other caregivers, helping them reduce challenging behavior, improve relationships, and live up to their own highest expectations.

Dr. Tom Pomeranz is a nationally recognized authority, trainer, clinician and consultant in the field of services for people with disabilities, and is the President and CEO of Universal LifeStiles with offices located in Indianapolis, IN.

Over the last fifty years, Tom has conducted thousands of seminars and programs throughout the United States and Canada.  His audiences praise his ability to combine information, humor, passion and storytelling into an informative whole that does not just present the information, but really communicates it in a memorable fashion.

Chris’ career in the disability community began 19 years ago. He started out providing Direct Support, working in an After School Program in Southern Calif. Chris worked in various settings ranging from Vocational, Group homes and Day programs. As a DSP the majority of his work was a 1:1 with individuals who had high behavioral challenges. Eventually, he supervised one the largest After School Programs for children with disabilities in Southern Calif. In 2003 he moved to Arizona to supervise an After School Program. Chris was soon promoted into an administrative role, where he supervised the enhanced ratio services. During that time he also became their primary staff trainer. Finally in 2008 he moved to Practical Training Solutions to become an Article 9 Master trainer and a Lead Prevention and support instructor.

Deborah Lamoree founded Disability Development Resources in 2004.  She is the mother of an adult daughter with a moderate intellectual disability, who receives services from DDD.  Her passion for this field stems from 34 years of personal experience with her daughter’s disability and services.  Deborah is a proud graduate of Partners in Policymaking and served on the board of The Arc of Tempe for 7 years, with 3 of those being board President.  Deborah created and published workshop materials on Relationship Awareness for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities.  A portion of the materials can be found in the Full Life Ahead transition workbook.  She has served on numerous DDD and special needs committees, and presented her copyrighted materials to audiences across the state such as Raising Special Kids, Arizona Dept. of Education, many parent and special needs planning & advocacy groups, as well as facilitated many Person Centered Plans.  Deborah also founded Celebrate! Special Needs Planning to assist families with guardianship, transition, IEP advocacy and SSI issues.  One of her greatest joys was putting together a Circle of Friends team that met for over a year to discuss and prepare her daughter for self-sufficiency, disability awareness and independent living.  Her daughter has been thriving in her own home for 11 years now.  Deborah’s company has been a member of AAPPD for 13 years and she is honored to be part of the leadership team.

Janna Murrell became a volunteer with Raising Special Kids in 1998, after experiencing firsthand the value of Parent to Parent support when her son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. After working with families in the nonprofit arena for 12 years, Janna joined the staff at Raising Special Kids in 2008 as a Family Support Specialist facilitating Parent to Parent Connections. In 2011 Janna became Director of Family Support and Education. Janna and her family fondly refer to her son Tucker as the “rock star” at their home.

Tyler began his career in human services as a Direct Support Professional in early months 2000. After 5 years of providing direct support, Tyler and his two clients left to begin a provider agency contracted of the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD.) Over the next 7 years that agency grew into 3-day habilitation (day program) locations and provided in-home services across all of Maricopa and Pinal counties. In early 2013 Tyler shifted his career away from “being” a Provider to now supporting those Providers through various avenues, most recently as the President/CEO of Practical Training Solutions.

Susan Marks is the managing attorney for Susan Marks & Advocates.  Dr. Marks is a professor of Special Education at Northern Arizona University where she teaches in the Special Education teacher preparation program and coordinates the graduate certificate in Autism. She teaches courses on positive behavioral supports and inclusive education. She is an Autism Specialist and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D). Dr. Marks received her Ph.D. from the University of Oregon in 1995 and has worked in the field of special education and developmental disabilities for more than 35 years.  During those years, she worked in residential programs, rehabilitation programs, and school programs, with a specific focus on autism and individuals with complex needs. Her advocacy interests led her to pursue a law degree, which she completed in December 2014. She was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona in May 2015.