NAADAC 2022 Pre- and Post-Conference Speakers
Kathryn Benson, LADC, NCAC II, QSC
Clinical Consultant, Pleiades Clinical Consulting Services
Kathryn Benson, LADC, NCAC II, QSC, has worked in the counseling field since 1972 with an initial emphasis on domestic violence, intervention, and re-parenting of abusive parents. She has specialized in addiction issues since 1978. She maintains a clinical consulting practice in Nashville, TN, where she provides therapeutic services, clinical program development, professional education, clinical competency services, and clinical supervision services. She currently serves on the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP) Alumni Committee and has previously held the positions of Chair of NCC AP, NCC Ethics and Intervention Committees, and NAADAC Secretary. She serves as a consultant to the Tennessee Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor Licensure Board and oversees many special projects under the direction and authority of this board.
Kyle Brewer, BS, PRPS
Peer Specialist Program Manager, NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals.
Kyle Brewer, BS, PRPS, is the Peer Specialist Program Manager for NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. Brewer manages the Arkansas Peer Specialist Program Grant. He oversees the development and implementation of an innovative three-tier credentialing process (Core, Advanced, Supervision) for the Arkansas Peer Support Model. Brewer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Addiction Studies from the University of Central Arkansas in 2013. He went on to use his lived experience with drug and alcohol addiction to become a Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist, where he led the implementation of this position in an emergency department at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Most recently, he became one of the first ten Certified Peer Support Supervisors in Arkansas. He also serves on numerous committees and boards to develop and strengthen the Arkansas Model and improve peer support services across the United States.
Sarah Buino, LCSW, RDDP, CADC, CDWF
Founder and President, Head/Heart Therapy, Inc.
Sarah Buino, LCSW, RDDP, CADC, CDWF, is a Speaker, Teacher, Therapist, and the Founder of Head/Heart Therapy and Head/Heart Consulting. Buino is a member of the adjunct faculty at Loyola University Chicago and presents on topics such as shame, therapist wellness, antiracism, trauma, and addiction to organizations all over the country. She’s also the host of a podcast, Conversations With a Wounded Healer, which examines the role of one’s own healing while being a caregiving professional. In addition to clinical work with clients, Buino provides consultation services to therapists and therapeutic organizations who seek professional healing and transformation.
Fredrick Dombrowski, LMHC, LADC, MAC, BC-TMH
Department Chair, Assistant Professor, University of Bridgeport
Fredrick Dombrowski, PhD, LMHC, MAC, CASAC, has worked as a Clinician in the field of co-occurring disorders since 1998. Dombrowski has used evidence-based practices in varying forms of treatment (CBT for gender dysphoria and chronic pain, DBT for personality disorders, and MI for substance use treatment). He has experience as a Supervisor and Director for multiple programs including inpatient, outpatient, and forensic treatment. As an educator, Dombrowski is focused on experiential learning through a perspective of cultural humility and an equitable approach to clinical care. As a supervisor, Dombrowski remains focused on improvement of clinical care through supervision dedicated to evidence-based practices.
Malcolm Horn, PhD, LCSW, MAC, SAP
Director of Mental Health Services, Rimrock Foundation
Malcolm Horn, PhD, LCSW, MAC, SAP, received her Master’s degree in Social Work from Walla Walla College. She has served as the President of the Montana chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Montana state NAADAC affiliate. She was most recently the Regional Vice President of NAADAC for the Northwest Region. She is certified as a Master Addiction Counselor and Substance Abuse Professional. She currently works at Rimrock, a CARF-accredited treatment facility that treats the entire ASAM spectrum, as its Director of Mental Health Services. She coordinates the continuing education for licensed staff, supervises and coordinates the internship program, provides educational outreach to the region, and conducts adjunctive family and individual therapy. She also teaches two courses at Montana State University-Billings in their addiction-specific program. She recently attained her Doctorate degree in Psychology.
Jerry A. Jenkins, MEd, LADAC, MAC
Principal and Owner, Innovative Services of Alaska
Jerry A. Jenkins, MEd, LADAC, MAC, has 40 years of experience in treating substance use disorders and mental illness, or leading organizations that do. He has worked in and managed community-based, outpatient, halfway house, and residential treatment services. He is an advocate for recovery with an emphasis on being trauma-informed. He has been a member of NAADAC since 1986. He has been involved in executive-level leadership since 1994, with 15 years as CEO of Anchorage Community Mental Health Services (2003-2018) and holds the current title of COO for the Alaska Behavioral Health Association. He is Immediate Past Chair of the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP) and currently serves as the NAADAC Treasurer.
Mita M. Johnson, EdD, LAC, MAC, SAP
President, NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals
Mita M. Johnson, EdD, LAC, MAC, SAP, has been practicing in the world of mental health, marriage and family, and addictions counseling for the past 30 years. She earned her Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision and is a core faculty member in the School of Counseling program at Walden University. In addition, she has a thriving private practice where she provides clinical supervision, counseling services to our military, and addiction-specific training and education. She has been providing telebehavioral health services to individuals and groups for several years and is a board certified telehealth practitioner. She is involved in regulatory and credentialing activities in Colorado and regional workforce recruitment and retention initiatives. Her areas of specialization include pharmacology, co-occurring disorders, ethics, culturally-responsive care, and clinical supervision. She has been an active member of NAADAC for over 15 years, has served as the Ethics Chair, and began her term as NAADAC’s President in October 2020.
Ehab El Kharrat, PhD
Founder and Executive Director, Freedom Drugs and HIV Programme, Egypt
Ehab El Kharrat, PhD, has a 38 years’ experience with substance use disorders as a prescribing doctor. He holds a Doctorate in Psychiatry of Substance Misuse from the University of Kent, UK, a Master of Science in Psychiatry and Neurology from Cairo University, and a Bachelor's degree in Medicine and Surgery. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Freedom Drugs and HIV Programme in Egypt (1989 to present), overseeing a team of 15 psychiatrists and doctors who serve 950 residents in five detoxification and 28 drug rehabilitation centers at any point in time. He is also the Executive Director of International Substance Abuse and Addiction Center of Studies (ISAACS) (2000 to present). ISAACS offers training courses recognized by the World Federation of Therapeutic Communities, NET Institute, and NAADAC for more than 10,000 students from 42 different countries.
Pierluigi Mancini, PhD
President, Multicultural Development Institute, Inc.
Pierluigi Mancini, PhD, is the President of the Multicultural Development Institute, Inc. He is one of the most sought after national and international consultants and speakers about mental health and substance use disorder. His areas of expertise are cultural and linguistic responsiveness, immigrant behavioral health, social and racial justice, health equity, and health disparities. Mancini founded Georgia’s only Latino behavioral health program in 1999 to serve the immigrant population by providing appropriate mental health and addiction treatment and prevention services in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Nationally, he has provided expert content to clients at the local, state, and federal level. Internationally, he has provided consulting in Mexico, Italy, Colombia, Cuba, and Kosovo. He recently led a project to train clinicians in Latin America who are taking care of over 4 million displaced Venezuelans in the region. Mancini’s work addressing Latino underage drinking, suicide, and prescription drugs have won a combined six (6) EMMY ® awards. Dr. Mancini has been named one of the 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia; honored with the NLPA Star Vega Distinguished Service Award; the UnidosUS (NCLR) - Helen Rodríguez - Trías Award for Health; and the Mental Health America “Heroes in the Fight” Award among others. He serves as the Secretary and Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Mental Health America National, Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center, the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, and R.I. International.
Don P. Osborn, PhD, LCAC, MAC
Director and Professor of Clinical Addictions Counseling, Indiana Wesleyan University
Don P. Osborn, PhD, LCAC, MAC, is a Past President of NAADAC (2010–2012) and is a Founding Member and Past Chair of The National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission. He is the Director and a professor of the graduate Addiction Counseling program at Indiana Wesleyan University. Osborn is Past Chair and President of the Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board.
Frances Patterson, PhD, LADAC II, MAC, SAP
Owner, Footprints Consulting Services, LLC
Frances Patterson, PhD, LADAC II, MAC, SAP, has worked as a counselor and program administrator in treatment programs for more than 30 years. She is owner of Footprints Consulting Services, LLC in Nashville, TN, where she provides client education and evaluations, program consultation, professional training, and clinical supervision. Additionally, she works part-time for Davidson County Sheriff’s Office where she supervises counselors toward licensure, provides staff training, and assists with program development. She has extensive experience as a trainer and is skilled in training development. In 2006, she received the Mel Schulstad award, NAADAC’s National Professional of the Year Award. She is a Past NAADAC SE Regional Vice President, Past Chair of the Clinical Issues Committee, and Past Member of the Ethics Committee. She has published articles in professional magazines and authored The Addiction Supervisor’s Toolbox book.
Gerry Schmidt, MA, LPC, MAC
Chief Operations Officer, Valley HealthCare System
Gerry Schmidt, MA, LPC, MAC, has been at Valley HealthCare System since September 1980. Schmidt has been in the mental health and addictions treatment field for the past 50 years. In May, 2005, he published an article in The Addiction Professional on his work and findings with the CSAT-sponsored Practitioner’s Services Network (PSN) project. Schmidt is the Past President of the West Virginia Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors. He currently serves as the Treasurer on the Board of the Marion Regional Development Corporation, as well as on the Board of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors for the Fairmont Renaissance Corporation, Board of Directors of Your Community Foundation (YCF), and the Fairmont General Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. Schmidt is the Past President of NAADAC and has been active in the coordination and delivery of the series of Practitioners Services Network (PSN) projects for NAADAC and CSAT. He is an active advocate for SUD both in the state and nationally and is the past recipient of The National Senator Harold Hughes Advocate of the Year Award. He has been recognized for his work in the state and received the Distinguished Service Award by the WV Association of Addictions Counselors. Schmidt is a lifetime resident of Fairmont and graduated from Fairmont State College with a BA in Psychology in 1971 and received a Masters in Counseling Psychology from West Virginia University in 1976. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and certified as a Master Addiction Counselor (MAC).
Bonnie Stribling, PRPS
Peer Recovery Peer Supervisor, Division of Youth Services at the Department of Health for the state of Arkansas
Bonnie Stribling, PRPS, currently works at Division of Youth Services at the Department of Health for the state of Arkansas as a Peer Recovery Peer Supervisor. Stribling became a trainer of trainers of the Arkansas Model of Peer Recovery Support and the first Certified Peer Recovery Peer Supervisor. She assisted in writing the Supervisor Training Model and has also been involved in the Arkansas Peer Advisory Committee (APAC). She became the first Peer Specialist for the Department of Youth Services at the Department of Human Services. Stribling is currently enrolled in a concurrent program with the Master of Public Service program at the University of Arkansas Clinton School and the Masters of Social Work program at the University of Arkansas - Little Rock.
Sarah Suzuki, LCSW, CADC
Owner and Founder, Chicago Compass Counseling, LLC
Sarah Suzuki, LCSW, CADC, is the Founder and Owner of Chicago Compass Counseling, a group practice dedicated to inclusive behavior change counseling for individuals and organizations. Suzuki’s interactive style has made her a highly-sought national speaker, trainer, and consultant. After completing graduate studies at the University of Chicago in 2009, she began providing training and consultation to program administrators, executives, and direct-level staff. In 2017, Suzuki became one of the first members of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers to achieve certification – an international distinction. As a speaker, she enjoys presenting ideas that ignite and inspire. In 2018, Suzuki's talk on facing fear went viral with over two million views and counting. To date, she has worked with more than 50 organizations across the country as a trainer and consultant.