Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Official Website

Speaker Bios

MORNING PANEL

  • Kim Porter, CFRS, Moderator, is the Executive Director of Be a Part of the Conversation, a nonprofit organization in southeastern Pennsylvania which creates effective, culture-changing community programs that are designed to significantly increase awareness of the effects of alcohol and other drug use. Kim is a Certified Family Recovery Specialist (CFRS) and is trained to help families move into and through the recovery process. Kim is the parent of someone in long-term recovery, which led her to explore the impact of addiction on families and communities and create Be a Part of the Conversation in 2011.

  • Megan Stricker, Deputy District Attorney, joined the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office in May 2014. She is a graduate of the Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law and attended the University of Pennsylvania for her undergraduate degree in Urban Studies. She was previously assigned to the Special Victims unit, where she prosecuted child abuse and sexual assault cases. Ms. Stricker has been assigned to the Drugs & Firearms Crimes Unit since 2018 and assumed the role of Chief of Asset Forfeitures in late 2019. Prior to joining the office, she was a paralegal for an intellectual property firm in Center City and also enjoyed a fellowship with the Mazzoni Center’s Legal Services Department in Philadelphia.

  • Jeremiah Daley, Executive Director of Liberty Mid-Atlantic HIDTA, was appointed Executive Director of Liberty Mid-Atlantic (formerly Philadelphia/Camden) HIDTA in 2004. The Liberty Mid-Atlantic HIDTA is based in Philadelphia and encompasses an eleven-county region in the greater Delaware Valley region. Prior to his appointment to the HIDTA post, Director Daley served as an Inspector with the Philadelphia Police Department; during his 25 years with the department, he served in command positions in the Northeast Police Division, Narcotics Division and Training Bureau.  He holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Temple University and an M.B.A. with concentration in Public Administration from Holy Family University.  He is a graduate of the Northwestern University Traffic Institute (now Center for Public Safety) 66th Police Administration Training Program, the F.B.I. National Academy (191st Session), and the Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Fellows Program (Spring 2002).

  • Dr. Gerald Wydro, MD, is the chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Jefferson Health Northeast in Philadelphia. In this role he oversees a clinical enterprise of 3 emergency departments, staffed by over 50 emergency clinicians, treating in excess of 120,000 patients annually. Jefferson Northeast maintains a large residency training program in emergency medicine. After graduating from Holy Family College, Dr. Wydro attended Temple University School of Medicine and completed a residency in emergency medicine and an EMS Fellowship at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. He is board certified in both Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services. Gerald serves as the regional EMS medical director for Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and is the ALS service medical director for 9-1-1 and inter-facility ambulance services in the region. Dr. Wydro has been an active EMS provider for over 35 years and still actively rides the ambulance today. Gerald sits on multiple local and regional boards and committees including the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Medical Advisory Committee. He is actively involved in developing protocols for EMS and other first responder agencies with a special interest in the approach of first responders to the opioid epidemic and mental health emergencies. Dr. Wydro serves on the Board of Holy Family University and Jefferson Health Northeast. Gerald resides in Langhorne with his wife and three daughters.
MORNING WORKSHOPS

Societal Impacts of Stimulants: Then vs. Now - Steve Forzato

  • Steve Forzato: A graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and the Saint Joseph’s University, Forzato began his law enforcement career at the Montgomery County (PA) District Attorney’s Office in 1986 as a Criminal Investigator specializing in the processing of homicide crime scenes. Forzato transferred to the Narcotic Enforcement Team and for the next 27 years investigated drug traffickers. Forzato worked in numerous undercover roles and was eventually promoted from detective to lieutenant. As lieutenant he supervised undercover detectives and over 400 police officers in a drug task force. Forzato was sworn-in as a federal agent in the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. In 2017, Forzato was hired by the Pennsylvania’s Attorney General as Deputy Chief of Statewide Drug Initiative. Forzato was trained by state and federal agencies which qualified him to testify in local, state and federal courts on a regular basis as an expert in drug abuse, trafficking and wiretapping. After interviewing many drug dealers, suppliers and users, Forzato learned the drug trade. Forzato taught thousands of local, state and federal law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and public health officials in training conferences consisting of varying different topics. Forzato currently directs the Center for Addiction and Recovery Education at Saint Joseph’s University and leads “Phoenix Training” for first responders and related professionals.
Effects of Prescribed Stimulants in the Community (Adolescents, College Age and Mothers) –
Bob Lamb, MPH and Dr. Chris Squillaro

  • Bob Lamb, MPH, is the Director of Operations & Programs for Be a Part of the Conversation. Bob is also a person in long term recovery. Bob earned a bachelor’s in health sciences from the University of the Sciences and a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Temple University. Through the course of his recovery and education, he has worked to enhance recovery support services and harm reduction interventions for people in and seeking recovery across the greater Philadelphia area, both professionally and as a volunteer.

  • Dr. Chris Squillaro: After graduating from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2004, Dr. Squillaro completed his residency in General Adult Psychiatry at University of Maryland/Shepperd Pratt Psychiatry Residency Program. In 2008, he moved back into the Philadelphia area and began working at Penn Foundation, Inc where he was hired to support multiple programs, but mostly work in outpatient care.  Over his 12+ year tenure he served as Medical Director of Penn Foundation and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry for Grandview Health for 11 years.  He also worked in the following clinical environments: Nursing Homes, Residential Drug and Alcohol, outpatient Drug and Alcohol, Consult Liaison Psychiatry, Crisis, ACT and Mental Health outpatient.

    In 2020 he left Penn Foundation to pursue 2 opportunities. The first was as a behavioral health consultant to a population health company supporting Primary Care Physicians called Tandigm, which he continues to do to this day.  The second was as Associate Medical Director of Horsham Clinic’s Assessment and Referral Center (ARC).  He left this position to join Magellan of Pennsylvania in October of 2021.
Stimulants and Veterans: The Impact - Matt Peifer
  • Matt Peifer has been employed at the Delaware County Courts Office of Adult Probation and Parole Services for over 13 years. He is currently a supervisor in charge of coordinating Trainings and continued education for our staff. He is licensed as a Trainer for Motivational Interviewing, Ohio Risk Assessment Tools, SAMHSA’s Trauma Training course for CJ Professionals, and Evidence Based Practices for Community Supervision. Matt works hand-in-hand with other community agencies in an effort to assist vulnerable Justice involved populations, such as those with SUD, Mental Health diagnosis, Housing assistance and other community needs. He is currently the coordinator for the Delaware County Veterans Treatment Court Program, which offers a therapeutic diversion for Justice involved Veterans that have treatment and other quality of life needs. Matt works diligently with the Office of Veterans Affairs and other community providers that help treat and resource Veterans.
Stimulants in the LGBTQ+ Community (Chem Sex) – Tom McDermitt, BA, AACII and Deborah Strouse

  • Tom McDermitt, BA, AACII, joined Caron Treatment Centers in 2004 and started as a Counselor Assistant in the Adolescent Extended Care Units. Today he is the Regional Resource Director for Pennsylvania, excluding the Greater Philadelphia region and Ohio. In this role he works to help families get loved ones into Caron for treatment. Tom offers his support and expertise for patients that are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Tom organizes and helps to facilitate Caron’s LGBTQ+ Retreats that are offered three times a year on main campus. Tom also speaks on behalf of Caron about addiction in the LGBTQ+ community. Tom is a sought-after speaker throughout the United States to share his story at conventions of Alcoholics Anonymous.

  • Deborah Strouse is a licensed clinical social worker in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She is also a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor through the Pennsylvania Certification Board. Throughout her career she has worked in a variety of settings and with a wide array of clientele. She believes that the most important tool that we have when working with any client are the relationships we develop. Deborah’s areas of expertise include gender and sexuality, co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, personality disorders, and end-of life care. She uses mindfulness-based strategies, dialectical behavior therapy, and other client-centered, trauma-informed modalities to help her clients to see their situations from various perspectives, so they can make the choices that work best for them. Deborah enjoys teaching others about LGBTQIA+ issues, in a non-judgmental and conversational manner. She has presented to a wide array of audiences--including police, corrections officers, religious groups, behavioral health professionals, and students.
AFTERNOON KEYNOTE

Xylazine and Other Current Drug Trends – Danielle Cole, LPC

  • Danielle Cole, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and certified grief informed professional with over ten years’ experience in mental health and substance use treatment. She has worked in both inpatient and outpatient environments with adults and adolescents. She is currently a clinical supervisor and tobacco recovery specialist in a medication-assisted treatment facility in Philadelphia. She is an avid supporter of harm reduction principles and is passionate about counselor education. 
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS

Supporting the Family – Kim Porter, CFRS and Brynn Cicippio, MA, LMFT, CAADC

  • Kim Porter, CFRS, is the Executive Director of Be a Part of the Conversation, a nonprofit organization in southeastern Pennsylvania which creates effective, culture-changing community programs that are designed to significantly increase awareness of the effects of alcohol and other drug use. Kim is a Certified Family Recovery Specialist (CFRS) and is trained to help families move into and through the recovery process. Kim is the parent of someone in long-term recovery, which led her to explore the impact of addiction on families and communities and create Be a Part of the Conversation in 2011.

  • Brynn Cicippio, MA, LMFT, CAADC, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with an advanced certification as an alcohol and drug counselor. She has over ten years of clinical experience working with individuals and families impacted by addiction. When working with clients, Brynn places high value on the relationships that impact a person’s life. She understands the unfortunate long-term consequences of unhealthy and addicted relationships… and she has witnessed healing time and time again. Brynn has a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology from LaSalle University. She is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor for other therapists seeking licensure status. In addition to private practice, Brynn was an adjunct professor in LaSalle University’s Counseling and Family Therapy program from 2013 to 2019.
Harm Reduction for Stimulant Use Disorder – Elizabeth Morrison and Shaun Carbone

  • Elizabeth Morrison, AAC, CRS, an associate addictions counselor and certified recovery specialist, is currently the assistant supervisor for the Center of Excellence at Family Service. Liz is originally from Reading, Pennsylvania but has been serving individuals with substance use disorder in Bucks County since 2018. As a person in long-term recovery herself, she looks to prioritize the needs of others, advocate for all pathways to recovery and educate others on harm reduction. Liz has assisted her supervisor with implementing support groups at Family Service. While consistently volunteering to smash the stigma associated with substance use disorder Liz has made connections with community members and colleagues in the field. She looks forward to continuing her education in the field.

  • Shaun Carbone, a Certified Family Recovery Specialist, is currently a Case manager for the Center of Excellence at Family Service. Shaun is originally from Philadelphia, PA. He has been serving individuals with substance use disorder in Bucks County and Philadelphia since 2011.  As a person in long-term recovery himself, Shaun is passionate about helping others in his community, raising awareness that recovery is possible, and ending the stigma around mental health and substance-use disorders.

Calming Strategies and Techniques for the Stimulant User – Michael Pallidini

  • Michael Pallidini, author of Spellbound and Sensationless and Drugs of Abuse: From Doctors to Dealers, Users and Healers, received his BA in Psychology from the Penn State University, BS in Pharmacy from Virginia Commonwealth University, and MBA from Robert Morris University. He has been dedicated to exploring drug trends of psychoactive medications and presenting that information in the form of live presentations, discussions, and training, as well as the written word. His career has allowed him to work with fascinating people that share his enthusiasm for bringing a greater understanding of drug use to the forefront. Through both scientific and objective data, to imaginative storytelling, Michael attempts to share this information with compassion, care, and understanding.

Bucks County Providers: A Collaborative Approach - Walter Bynum, Sharon Preston, Jason Homlish, Lea Harvey and Gordon Hornig

  • Walter Bynum has his Bachelors degree in Science of Criminal Justice and his Masters degree in the Science of Psychology. He currently works as a co-responder for the Bensalem Police Department in Bucks County. Walter works alongside law enforcement officers to assist with social service and mental health calls. Walter has previous experience as a behavior specialist and program director for a dual diagnosis program

  • Sharon Preston began her career interning at the American Red Cross and then at Bucks County Juvenile Probation. She then worked as a Youth Counselor for adolescent adjudicated females within a locked group home at Today Inc. She eventually worked as a supervisor within Life Path while at the same time working as a social worker for an ICF/MR. Her experience during the early years of her career encompassed working with those with Severe Intellectual Disabilities. Leaving the provider world, she worked for the county as an ID Support Coordinator where she carried a caseload for those that were discharge from Pennhurst State School and Hospital. The bulk of her career however, was overseeing crisis services for Bucks County Behavioral Health. Currently the Director of Emergency & Court, she supervises all six Mental Health Delegates, crisis services which include three centers located within local ERs, Assistant Out Patient Treatment (AOT) orders, participates in a Human Trafficking work group, is the Code Blue Liaison, and works with the prison, DA’s office, Hospitals, Area on Aging, and the State Police for the coordination of court cases, training, and planning. Another passion of hers is being the Director of Disaster Planning for the region and county during the last 14 years; of which she has been the Co-chair for the Mental Health Subcommittee for ten of those years. Sharon holds a masters in Social Work.

  • Jason Homlish is the lead Certified Recovery Specialist for the Bensalem Community Response Unit - a collaboration between Bensalem EMS and Family Services Association of Bucks County. The responsibility of the lead CRS with the BCRU program is to work closely with EMS First Responders to follow up with all overdoses and suspected drug and alcohol 911 calls in Bensalem and the surrounding townships. Additionally, the lead CRS works closely with both the patients and their families to provide support, resources, treatment options and leave behind Narcan. The BCRU program has also installed Overdose Emergency Kits at high volume overdose businesses in the township including local hotels and malls. In his previous role with Family Services Association of Bucks County, Jason worked as a CRS and Care Coordinator in the Centers of Excellence. At this position, his job responsibility was to provide support as clients transition from one treatment provider or level of care to another. Providing resources, support and access to treatment was a primary responsibility in this position. Additionally, help with Medically Assisted Treatment and Life Skills was also provided. Jason also works part-time as an Admissions Coordinator at Avenues Recovery, providing guidance and treatment options to those seeking help with Substance Use Disorder. Prior to these job roles, Jason worked as the Housing Manager Supervisor at Avenues Recovery overseeing the daily operations of two Men’s PHP houses and two Women’s PHP houses.

  • Lea Harvey is the Program Director for Gaudenzia Inc., Lower Bucks campus located in Bristol, PA. Lea oversees all the services located on site to include a twenty-four-hour assessment program, a thirty-four-bed inpatient unit which includes detox and rehabilitation treatment needs, BCARES services deployed on site at Lower Bucks hospital, BPAIR, and soon an intensive outpatient program expected to open in Oct 2022. During Lea’s leadership, the programs within Gaudenzia Lower Bucks have been revitalized and rejuvenated to improve relationships within Bucks County. Gaudenzia Lower Bucks continues to see an immense amount of growth and inclusion, as Lea remains steadfast in her vision of providing quality services to the community. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience by working in the criminal justice field for over twenty-four years. Lea has established programs within several detention centers and developed services for the incarcerated which include mental health services, substance abuse treatment, care coordination, and housing stabilization. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Justice from Rowan University and achieved her Master of Science degree in Human Behavior from Capella University. Lea and leadership team will work tirelessly to find solutions to any situation and feels that if “we can give back what was so freely given to us” the world would be a much better place.

  • Gordon Hornig, MSW, LSW has been working at the Penn Foundation for over 20 years helping those seeking recovery from addiction. From his first role as a case manager in 1994 to his current position as Director of Mobile Engagement Services, a program that he co-developed 19 years ago, Gordon’s compassionate approach to treatment coupled with his clinical expertise have never been more evident than in the current wake of the heroin health crisis. Gordon has played an active role in reaching beyond traditional treatment to help those battling addiction. Gordon has appeared on several radio programs, presented on panels, facilitated trainings, was a guest instructor for the Bucks County Crisis Intervention Team and conducts town hall meetings throughout the tri-county area in response to the ongoing heroin epidemic. Additionally, Gordon has been working closely with the Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission and Bucks County Children & Youth Services to implement an innovative program that embeds a Mobile Engagement Specialist on the Children & Youth team, resulting in immediate access to treatment to keep families intact.
RECOVERY STORIES

  • Dan Bartol was born and raised in Bucks County, PA.  He is a valued friend and resource in the recovery community with 10+ years in the Behavioral Health Field. Outside of work, Dan is a loving husband, father and proud man in recovery who can often be found dedicating himself to helping others.

  • Megan Cohen is the Founder of The Grace Project. Megan struggled with addiction and homelessness for many years. When she was finally able to find her way into sobriety and a better way of life, she wanted to be able to help others do the same. Acts of kindness from strangers ended up being the turning point in her life and she wanted to recreate this for others. She realized the biggest factor in keeping her on the streets for so long was a feeling of hopelessness. Although addiction is what led her to feel this way, she was aware many other factors could lead to similar feelings in other people. This is where the vision for The Grace Project came from. Today, Megan runs The Grace Project, works full-time in drug and alcohol addiction treatment, and is in school for business at Purdue University Global. She finds her happiness in the work she does for others along with the life she has built for herself through sobriety. She lives right outside of Philadelphia and is a proud dog mom of two Philly rescues, Kenzo and Mya!