Gretchen Clark Hammond, PhD, MSW, LSW, LCDCIII, TTS is the CEO of Mighty Crow, a professional services and evaluation firm in Columbus, OH. Prior to launching Mighty Crow in 2012, she was the Director of Research and Grants Administration at a long-term treatment center for women and their dependent children. She was recognized as a Lifetime Achievement winner in 2024 by the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. She was inducted into the College of Social Work’s Hall of Fame in 2020 with a Distinguished Career Award. She received the Outstanding Community Lecturer Award from Ohio State’s College of Social Work in 2012, the Randall M. Dana Award of Excellence from the Franklin County ADAMH Board in 2011, the Ernest E. Hayden Award from the Ohio Association of Residential Recovery in 2008, Outstanding Doctoral Student Teacher in 2008, the Edward H. Schmidt Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the University of Toledo in 2007, the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Associate Award in 2006 and 2007 and was the MSW Graduate of the Year in 2000. Dr. Hammond received her PhD and MSW from The Ohio State University and her BA from The University of Toledo. She is a licensed social worker, licensed chemical dependency counselor, and a certified tobacco treatment specialist.
Dr. Lori Desautels began teaching undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Education at Butler University in 2016. She was previously an Assistant Professor at Marian University in Indianapolis for eight years, where she started the Educational Neuroscience Symposium, which is now in its 15th year and has reached thousands of educators. Dr. Desautels focuses on teaching her students how to apply social and relational neurosciences to education. She does this by incorporating the tier one trauma accommodating Applied Educational Neuroscience framework, along with its learning principles and practices, into her Butler coursework. The Applied Educational Neuroscience Certification, developed by Lori in 2016, serves educators, counselors, clinicians, and administrators working with children and adolescents who have experienced adversity and trauma. This certification has reached thousands of educators globally. As a course partner at the Polyvagal Institute, Lori collaborates with Dr. Stephen Porges to teach courses integrating polyvagal theory into schools, organizations, and communities for educators and mental health professionals. Lori’s articles are published in Edutopia, Brain Bulletin, and Mind Body Spirit international magazine. She was also published in the Brain Research Journal for her work in the fifth-grade classrooms during a course release position with Washington Township Schools. Lori continues her work co-teaching in the K-12 schools integrating her applied research into classroom procedures and transition, preparing the nervous system for learning and felt safety. Her third book, Connections over Compliance: Rewiring our Perceptions of Discipline, was released in late 2020, and Intentional Neuroplasticity: Moving Our Nervous Systems and Educational System Toward Post-Traumatic Growth, her fourth book, was released in January 2023. Her new book/manual titled Body and Brain Brilliance: A Manual to cultivate awareness and Practices for our Nervous System was published in 2024. Lori’s work, presentation videos and latest research can also be found on her website www.revelationsineducation.com. Lori lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her husband, Michael, and two rescue pets. They have three adult children, Andrew, Sarah, and Regan, and a new grandchild, Miles Desautels Dorsey. Lori has met with well over 200 school districts across the country, in Canada, Costa Rica, Australia, Scotland, England and Dubai equating to more than 150,000 educators with much more work to be done!
Amanda Essinger, IMFT-S, LPCC, RPT is the co-owner of Connecting Roots, LLC. She enjoys practicing therapy and supervision that encourages authenticity, identifies personal strengths, enhances interoception, and strengthens connections within supportive systems. The bulk of her professional experience pertains to working with couples and families, neurodiversity-informed care, depression, trauma, and anxiety. Her specialty areas include animal-assisted psychotherapy and ecotherapy.
Julia Handelman is the Executive Director of Wellity Education, where she works to empower educators across the country with strategies to teach movement, mindset, and mindfulness. As a former elementary school teacher, and curriculum writer, she understands the unique stressors schools face. As a Fund for Teachers Fellow, Julia studied at the Atma Darshan Yogashrarm in Bangalore India, where she learned strategies for well-being, such as gratitude, rhythmic movement, and emotional regulation. She works to teach students how to maximize their potential and prioritize their well-being by integrating wellness instruction into their school day. Julia received a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College at Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College. She is a highly regarded speaker on this topic and has presented locally and nationally.
Nathan Minns is a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and conference emcee who helps individuals become confident communicators—using the playful spirit of improv comedy. He’s led sessions in 8+ countries for governments, Fortune 500 companies, and universities, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Cardinal Health, and The Ohio State University, and in 2025 alone, he’s set to deliver 150+ talks. Nathan’s high-energy, interactive style helps professionals develop the skills to thrive when they’re put on the spot and communicate confidently in any situation. He’s also the creator of Pivot Pitch, a quick-thinking game that creates confident communicators. When organizations need to raise their communication game, they call Nathan.
Recognized as an individual who cares deeply for the wellbeing of youth, Ty is known for his charisma and leadership. Not just a speaker, Ty brings over 30 years of experience in drug prevention, community service, and youth development. Ty is an Ohio Certified Prevention Consultant, has a BA in Communication from The Ohio State University and is currently the Director of Speaker Services for Youth to Youth International in Columbus, Ohio. In 2012, Ty was awarded the “Prevention Innovator of the Year” Award by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for his development of creative prevention trainings and consultation with schools and organizations across the state. He has developed a number of trainings, workshops, and presentations for both youth and adults to address the many complex issues that confront today’s young people.
Amelia Galier Slama, LPCC is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor specializing in teletherapy services for neurodivergent clients. Her therapeutic approach is collaborative, client-centered, and empowering. She incorporates neurodiversity-affirming practices, trauma-informed care, and other modalities such as inference-based CBT, somatic therapy, and nature-informed therapy. Amelia has lived experience with autism, ADHD, OCD, trauma, and chronic health issues. She uses her lived experience to create affirming spaces for clients navigating similar challenges. She graduated from Kent State University with a master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2016 and has been practicing for nine years. Amelia holds licensure in Ohio and Kentucky. In November 2020, she founded her own practice to offer accessible services tailored to neurodivergent individuals and families. Through her lived experience, she realized the importance of helping neurodivergent clients find neurodivergent providers. In 2021 she, along with her mother Charisse Galier Louis, created the Neurodivergent Therapists Directory to help clients find neurodivergent providers globally. Amelia has experience working in community mental health, education, and research settings across Northeast Ohio.
