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Speakers
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 | SPEAKER
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Megan Hunter, MBA CEO, High Conflict Institute
Megan Hunter, MBA, is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of High Conflict Institute and a recognized expert in high-conflict behavior and conflict communication. Megan has trained professionals across government agencies, healthcare systems, law firms and courts, and educational institutions—helping organizations navigate complex interpersonal challenges with greater clarity and effectiveness. She is known for translating complex behavioral dynamics into practical, actionable strategies that professionals can apply immediately. Megan is co-author of BIFF at Work and co-host of the podcast It’s All Your Fault!, and has helped organizations worldwide strengthen their approach to managing high-conflict situations. |
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 | SPEAKER
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Dr. Heather Connors The Center for Guardianship Excellence
Dr. Heather Connors is a Gerontologist, National Certified Guardian, and advocate for ethical guardianship. During the last twenty years she has worked as a professional guardian, researcher, college professor and speaker. Her vision for educating and supporting professional and family guardians has come to life at The Center for Guardianship Excellence. As Executive Director, Heather leads research projects that help to reveal information about the needs of adults with temporary or long-term challenges that can be described as incapacity. This research is used to develop training programs and tools for guardians and families of adults in need of decisional support. She is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and educational summits on subjects related to providing logical, thorough, thoughtful and well-documented decisional support for adults. She earned her Doctorate of Philosophy in Gerontology Policy Studies from the University of Massachusetts Boston, a Master of Science in Gerontology from the University of Massachusetts, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the College of the Holy Cross. |
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 | SPEAKERS
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Melissa Wojewnik, CDE®, C.D.S., CPSL® Executive Director, Cypress Palms
Melissa Wojewnik (she/her), CDE®, C.D.S., CPSL® is the Executive Director of Cypress Palms, a senior living community in Largo, Florida under The Goodman Group. She has spent nearly 20 years in senior living, with a focus on memory care and active aging programming. She chairs the S.P.A.R.K. Initiative, a committee under Better Living for Seniors Pinellas through the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas. The committee partners with Pinellas County businesses and organizations on staff education, affirming practices, and designation pathways that help providers better serve older adults across all identities. Her expertise in LGBTQ+ older adult care has been cited by ABC Action News, WUSF, and the Tampa Bay Times. She holds credentials as a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE®), CARES Dementia Specialist (C.D.S.), and Certified Professional Sales Leader (CPSL®), and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences with concentrations in Communications and Sociology from the University of South Florida. |
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Irene Rausch Professional Guardian and Instructor
Irene Rausch has a distinguished career and served on the Board of Directors of the National Guardianship Association from 1988 to 1998. During this time, she served as Vice President, Conference Chairman, and as a member of the Certification Committee; she was a major contributor in the development of the NGA Registered Guardian Certification, 8 hour training course and training materials. She has also served as the President of the Guardian Association of Pinellas County (1987-88, 2012-13, 2020-21). Irene was appointed by Governor Robert Martinez in 1988 to serve on the Study Commission on Guardianship law. This group was responsible for proposing major reforms later adopted by the Florida Legislature in 1989. She was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to serve on the Guardianship Oversight Board in 1991, a group charged with investigating the application and implementation of the earlier reforms. Irene is the author of a handbook for guardians, "A Practical Guide to Guardianship," and has taught 140 forty-hour courses and numerous other training seminars throughout the country. She has served as a professional legal guardian since 1982. |
Magistrate Bama Tearney Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida Bama Tearney is a general magistrate for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in the probate, guardianship and mental health division. She began her career as an Assistant Public Guardian in Cook County, Illinois and then worked as a supervising attorney for Gulfcoast Legal Services. She joined the Sixth Circuit in 2006. Over the past 20 years with the circuit, Bama worked as a child support hearing officer, family court manager and general magistrate and handled matters involving family law, child support, domestic violence, guardianship, involuntary commitment for mental health and Marchman (substance abuse) cases. Bama grew up in St. Petersburg and graduated from the Stetson College of Law in 1996. |
Magistrate Arlene Stevens Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida
Arlene Stevens is a General Magistrate for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in the Probate, Guardianship and Mental Health division. She graduated from Benjamin Cardoza School of Law and was a civil litigator in NYC prior to relocating to Florida. Arlene has been with the Sixth Judicial Circuit since 2011. Prior to her current role, Arlene was a Family Division General Magistrate handling dissolution, paternity, equitable distribution, alimony, and child support. She also previously assisted the Judges in the Probate and Guardianship Division as a Staff Attorney. |
Nick Robinson Principal, Nicolas S. Robinson, P.A.
Nicolas "Nick" S. Robinson is the founding attorney and principal of Nicolas S. Robinson, P.A., a boutique law firm located in West Central St. Petersburg, FL. Nick serves clients throughout Florida in addressing the long term healthcare and financial needs of the elderly and those with special needs. His practice focuses on guardianship, estate planning, probate, asset protection, elder law, and long term care planning. Nick also serves as a court appointed attorney for alleged incapacitated persons, developmentally disabled persons, and minors in guardianship, guardian advocacy, and other similar proceedings. Nick has previously been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star, and is Lead Counsel Verified. Nick earned his undergraduate degree from Wofford College, where he was the four-year starting place-kicker for the Division I FCS Football Team, before attending Stetson University College of Law. Immediately following law school, Nick played professional football in the German Football League for the Schwaebisch Hall Unicorns, before serving as an Assistant Public Defender for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County. After gaining years of valuable trial experience Nick entered private practice, transitioning his focus to guardianship and Elder Law. Nick lives in St. Petersburg with his wife Michelle, their sons, Lucas and Austin, and their dog, Emma. |
Alecia Lyons Bio coming soon! |
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Master Detective Phillip Klimpel Economic Crimes Section, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Master Detective Phil Klimpel has been with HCSO for approximately 16 years and has been assigned to the Economic Crimes Section for the last 8 years. Det. Klimpel is also a sworn Task Force Officer with the United States Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force. Detective Klimpel has investigated cases at the local, state, and federal level, and has participated in guest lectures at USF, University of Tampa, and fraud conferences across the country. |
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Paul Coley CEO, Scent Evidence K9
Paul is a former FBI Forensic Canine Operations Specialist and has dedicated his entire career to public service in the fields of education, law enforcement, criminal justice, investigations, forensics, and emergency management. Paul founded Scent Evidence K9 in 2012 to help communities and law enforcement agencies improve their methods of locating missing persons. He developed the life-saving Scent Preservation Kit® and “The SEKR” Scent Evidence Collection Vacuum to provide K9 responders with uncontaminated scent articles that increase target location success. Paul and Scent Evidence K9 provide award-winning scent discriminate K9s, handler training, and response protocols for law enforcement agencies, Military Working Dog detachments, and professional SAR Teams across the U.S. and internationally. Scent Evidence K9 has partnered with agencies across the country to implement advanced scent discriminate K9 training and scent collection techniques and technology via the Bringing the Lost Home Program to increase at-risk wandering population awareness, enhance agency scent discriminate K9 trailing performance, and improve missing person search response. Scent Evidence K9 trained Bloodhounds have won 2 AKC ACE awards in the Uniformed Services K9 Division and 2 Jimmy Ryce K9 Trailing Team of the Year Awards since 2020 for their missing person and criminal K9 search deployments. |
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Darby Jones, J.D. Professional Fiduciary Darby Jones, a Florida native, is an attorney and member of the Florida Bar and Maryland Bar. Darby served as a trust officer for financial institutions in Maryland for over 15 years before establishing Professional Fiduciary Services, LLC in her home state, Florida, in 2011 to serve in a variety of fiduciary capacities including Trustee, Agent under Power of Attorney, Health Care Surrogate, Personal Representative, and Professional Guardian.
After over 15 years, Darby now focuses on providing consulting support for other Professional Fiduciaries, individuals, family members, or advisors needing guidance or practical solutions for the care of a loved one or a client. https://www.professionalfiduciaryconsulting.com/ Facing the responsibility of another person’s life can often be an urgent situation and most people are left not knowing what the safest next steps should be. Darby can share her years of experience to help face the challenges, decisions, and problem solving that we may face including preparation for medical events, caregiving challenges, family dynamics, financial/legal challenges, and life’s aging concerns. On YouTube, Darby has provided a series of informative and helpful episodes covering important and common topics. Please visit www.agingacademy.com or visit YouTube! Darby is a Founding Member and President of the Professional Fiduciary Council of Florida. https://professionalfiduciarycouncil.org/. The goal of this council is to identify qualified and trustworthy individuals to serve in fiduciary roles and to provide important and specific education for the delivery of this unique and challenging work. Recently the council, in collaboration with Stetson College of Law Elder Justice Center offers a virtual certification course for the public on “How to Serve as an Agent Under a Power of Attorney in Florida”. To register visit: https://www.stetson.edu/law/professional-education/fiduciary-education.php Darby is a member of the Executive Council of the Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar serving as Liaison for the Professional Fiduciary Council of Florida and Liaison for the Office of Public and Professional Guardians. Darby graduated from American University, Washington College of Law in Washington D.C. after completing her first year at Stetson College of Law, in St. Petersburg. Darby has been an active member and presenter for Bar Associations, Estate Planning Councils, charitable boards, Aging Academy, and various organizations throughout her career speaking on a variety of fiduciary and aging related topics. |
Erica K. Smith Roodhouse Roodhouse Law, PLLC
Erica Roodhouse is the owner of Roodhouse Law, PLLC, a boutique St. Petersburg trust and estate firm. She concentrates her practice in estate planning, probate and trust administration, and guardianships. She also frequently writes and speaks on those subjects. Erica is a Past President of the St. Petersburg Bar Association, Past President of the Suncoast Estate Planning Council, Past Chair of Sixth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee D, and a Graduate of the American College of Trust and Estate Florida Fellows Institute. Erica has a passion for the Tampa Bay community and volunteer work. She currently serves as Immediate Past Chair of the Pinellas Community Foundation, Board Member for the Community Law Program, and Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees at First United Methodist Church St. Petersburg. She recently completed her term as an Executive Board Member of the St. Petersburg Free Clinic. She has been awarded the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Award for the Sixth Judicial Circuit and the 2025 St. Petersburg Bar Foundation Heroes Among Us Award, and she has been a Finalist in the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce’s Iconic Women of Vision Award. Erica earned her law degree, with honors, from Stetson University College of Law and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of The College of William and Mary. |
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Honorable Judge Pamela Campbell Section 4 – Probate and Mental Health Division, Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida |
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