Mariana is a dedicated educator and leader with a passion for empowering individuals to thrive amidst challenges. With a background in pedagogy and education from Catholic University, São Paulo, she specializes in Paulo Freire's critical thinking education and adaptive leadership. Mariana has over 15 years of diverse professional experience, including serving as a Principal in São Paulo, a teacher trainer in Mozambique, and a director for community development in Tel Aviv. In the United States, she has worked as a trainer, consultant, and faculty member, and currently serves as a leadership educator and adaptive learning facilitator at the Kagen Leadership Group, empowering leaders across the country.

Doris holds a Master’s of Public Administration Degree  as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Behavioral Science from Penn State University.  Doris has over 20 years of professional experience in Pennsylvania’s children’s public mental health system working at both the state and county levels. Currently, Ms. Arena is employed through the DHS Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as the Transition Specialist focusing on issues related to youth and young adults transitioning to adulthood.  Coaching and leadership development is area of passion for Ms. Arena.  Her desire is to assist individuals and organizations in achieving transformation and system change through coaching and leadership development.

Mark B. Durgin holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from York College of Pennsylvania, focusing on Parole and Probation.  Mark has over 20 years of professional experience in Pennsylvania’s child-serving systems, working with youth and families at a county level.  Coaching and leadership development has been a focal point for Mark. This has resulted in a collaborative effort of system partners and family members trained in delivering the Coach Approach to Adaptive Leadership around the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

Julie East, SHRM-CSP, ACC, is a seasoned HR professional and executive coach dedicated to guiding leaders to their fullest potential. With expertise in HR consulting and team coaching, she specializes in strategic leadership development. Julie holds certifications from CoachDiversity Institute and The International Coaching Federation. With experience spanning Fortune 500 companies like Gap Inc. and Amazon, as well as family-owned businesses, Julie brings diverse perspectives to her work. She holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Oklahoma State University and certifications from the University of California and Johns Hopkins University. Active in her community, Julie serves on the board of Baltimore non-profit Paul’s Place and volunteers with SHRM National.

Shannon has worked in both the public and private sectors to support children and families as they navigate confusing and at times difficult systems.  Shannon was the first director of The Youth and Family Training Institute in Pennsylvania. After eight years of working for the Institute, Shannon was recruited to the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services where she served as the director of the Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health Services. Shannon used her time in state government to develop systemic, transformative changes designed to disrupt archaic mental health systems.

In addition, to her work with Early Intervention and Technical Assistance (EITA) Shannon provides support to PA HEAL-a trauma project, The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Task Force, and the PA Partnership’s State Leadership and Management Team. 

Jeanne Frantz has over 20 years of experience in human services and infant/early childhood mental health consultation. She has worked with children and families in clinical research and parenting programs at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and Pennsylvania Hospital, where she led the revitalization of a community-based parenting support center and built a sustainable, locally recognized program. Jeanne holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a master’s degree in Clinical Developmental Psychology from Bryn Mawr College. As a Coach Approach Associate, Jeanne has seen firsthand how capacity building and organizational change can start with a single coaching conversation. She is also the mother of two children, including a son with learning disabilities.

Mary Garrett is a Certified Presence-Based Coach and Licensed Social Worker with 25-years-experience working in non-profits, education, and government.  She is also an experienced facilitator and trainer. Most of her career has been focused on impacting how individuals and  systems support the well-being of children, families, and communities.  She has coached recognized leaders in non-profits, government,  faith-based organizations, youth and young adults, and parents to focus their intentions and realize their goals.  Mary Garrett Itin holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and a Master in Social Work with a concentration in Administration and Leadership from the University of Washington.  Being outdoors and maintaining a regular meditation, yoga, and pilates practice are central to her ability to remain present, centered, and joyful. Her true loves are her husband, son, dog, and her treasured extended family and friends who live throughout the United States.

Dwaneen holds a B.A. in Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University. Dwaneen is trained as a professional coach who works with individuals to help them gain self-awareness, clarify goals and achieve development objectives. Dwaneen has served in many roles in the human services field over the last decade and has a special interest in organizational and leadership development. Dwaneen will complete her master’s degree in organizational leadership in the fall of 2021.

Anne holds a Masters in Special Education from Lehigh University and an Ed.D. in Educational Psychology from West Virginia University focusing on School Mental Health, and Whole Child Instruction. She is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.  Anne has over 26 years of professional experience in Pennsylvania’s and Florida’s Education and Human Service Systems. She has worked with school districts, community partners, youth and families at a local and state level.  Coaching, School Mental Health, and systems change in schools/communities has been a focal point for Anne. This has resulted in several initiatives to support the creation of healing-centered, positive climates in school districts/communities across Pennsylvania.

Diane Michel has over 30 years of experience serving children, families, individuals and vulnerable populations through various roles with government and private non-profit agencies in addition to the CEO of several of her own business’.  She began her career for the public as an owner-operator of a family child care home in 1988.  As a case manager, trainer, and resource and referral specialist, she served many local families and homeless individuals in need of food, shelter, transportation and medical services.  She later worked as a Regional Manger, recruiting and mentoring child care providers in the Keystone STARS Quality Initiative.  Diane joined the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2003 as a case worker and provided direct benefits to eligible and needy individuals and families in need of food and medical benefits.  In 2012 she rejoined the child care field, coupling her skills, expertise and passion to support safe and healthy environments for children in child care facilities through out Pennsylvania, working in the Division of Regulatory Administration with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning.  

Diane, who is a “guardian grandma” to her oldest grandson Davyn and his German Shepherd Max,  recently entered the arena of the deep and valuable work of the Child Welfare System in Pennsylvania, joining the team at the Office of Children, Youth and Families.  She sees this as a way to combine her professional skills and abilities with heart from personal experiences to serve children and families in need of support to have or provide loving, nurturing, safe and Since 2014, in addition to her professional career,  Diane has been working with women of all ages to build strength and wellness and personal growth, body-mind-spirit, as a lifestyle coach, public speaker, and fitness enthusiast.

Valarie has 20 plus years of experience in children’s behavioral health policy, program development and implementation of innovative best practices. Valarie is also a parent with lived experience in raising her neuro-diverse son. She is a leader in Pennsylvania’s System of Care at the state and local levels which reflects her commitment to improving child-serving systems, with a strong focus on expanding family member and youth leadership and peer workforce opportunities. 

Prior to her career in children’s behavioral health, Valarie was a practicing attorney specializing in commercial real estate and low- income housing development. Valarie is also a trained professional coach and is passionate about supporting individuals in their personal and professional growth. Ms. Oulds holds a B.S.W. in Social Work and a Juris Doctorate from Temple University.

With over 44 years as a social worker in the behavioral health field in national, state, and local settings, Sherry Peters is currently adjunct faculty at Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development and an independent consultant certified as an Instructor in both Youth Mental Health First Aid and the Coach Approach to Adaptive Leadership.  Sherry is a senior consultant with the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and continues to have a leadership role with the Pennsylvania Community of Practice on Trauma including leading an effort to adapt a national trauma curriculum for use with Peer Specialists and other providers.  Sherry also serves as a subject matter expert on Pennsylvania’s K-12 Threat Assessment Technical Assistance and Training Network project.

Jim holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a focus on Accounting from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. Jim has spent most of his career working as a Business Manager for Health & Human Service organizations, both for-profit and not-for-profit. Jim enjoys working from the inside-out and assisting organizations to be thoughtful, efficient, as well as, effective in their business practices. Jim has a strong focus on organizational behavior as well as a love and dedication to the use and education of technological resources. As a Coach Approach associate Jim is able to draw upon his experiences in Business Management to navigate the world of inquiry, support and listening to understand.

Lisa has over 25 years’ experience working in a variety of leadership positions in the nonprofit, human service field. She has provided leadership and direct operations management in a variety of programs, services, and settings in Southeastern Pa, including clinical programs, Juvenile Justice residential settings, and family peer support focused programs. Lisa provides consultant leadership support to Family Run Organizations in Pennsylvania and in Maryland.

Lisa has used her energy, passion and skills to help support programs and systems move towards trauma awareness, as well as becoming family and peer focused and driven. Workforce development and leadership coaching and training has been woven into her work throughout her career. 

Lisa is a PA Licensed Social Worker. She received her Bachelors from Temple University and Masters in Social Work from Bryn Mawr College. Lisa is a psychotherapist, leadership consultant and personal coach as well as a certified instructor for the Coach Approach for Adaptive Leadership and  a Coach Approach Associate.