2025 SPEAKERS

Karen McCullough is a nationally known keynote speaker delivering High Content, High Energy, High Humor.Karen McCullough is called a Branding Expert (she worked with Ralph Lauren), a Social Media Enthusiast (she tweets), and a Millennial Evangelist (she sees the future). She’s an award-winning speaker who inspires and empowers organizations and individuals to evolve, grow, and realize their true potential for excellence. She has a 20 year business background as a retail CEO- she knows first hand, sales, marketing, branding, employee retention, and the “art of managing and promoting young employees”.  Some of her clients include McDonalds, General Dynamics, Shell Oil, Marriott Hotels, Procter & Gamble, Exxon, Symantec, HP Enterprise, Humana, and McGraw-Hill.

Karen believes that enduring success is the combination of talent, attitude, relationship building, and the ability to adapt and change. 

Achieving your goals requires honesty to identify what it is that is getting in your way and the courage to change.

Kelsey Tainsh has been through more in her 33 years than most will endure in a lifetime. Successfully overcoming a brain tumor at only 5 years of age, Kelsey went on to be a happy, healthy kid and a champion athlete. 10 years later, at 15, it all came crashing down when the tumor returned followed by a crippling stroke. Her friends had disappeared, her right side didn’t function and she became paralyzed with fear and self doubt.  Despite her significant physical challenges, she worked hard to pull herself up and charged back into life graduating magna cum laude from the University of Florida and going on to work for one of the most recognized companies in the world – The Coca-Cola Company.

Today, this remarkable young woman has become a champion for the rest of us. An acclaimed professional speaker and para snowboarder, Kelsey travels the country speaking to students, organizations and corporations about the power of persistence and perspective.

Gerry Brooks has been an educator for 25 years, beginning as a third grade teacher in Palm Bay, FL. He earned his masters in administration and has been an elementary principal for 15 years. Originally using humorous videos to encourage his staff, Gerry has become a national encourager for teachers through social media and speaking events. He is a voice for teachers, but his passion is leading others to be responsible for their own personal climate and culture in the workplace. His book, “Go See the Principal,” outlines strategies for taking on this responsibility. Gerry and his wife, Kelly, have three adult children and live in Lexington, KY.  He currently has a following of over 3.2 million people. 

David B. Rubin, Esq., is a sole practitioner in Metuchen, New Jersey and of counsel to The Busch Law Group, LLC.  A graduate of Duke University and Rutgers Law School, Mr. Rubin represents public school districts and private schools throughout New Jersey.  He has served as Chair of the National School Boards Association’s Council of School Attorneys, and President of the New Jersey Association of School Attorneys, and is co-author of The Ethical Educator: Pointers and Pitfalls for School Administrators (Rowman & Littlefield 2022).  Mr. Rubin has attained an AV rating from the Martindale-Hubbell legal directory, is listed in SuperLawyers Magazine and Best Lawyers in America, and is a frequent author and lecturer in the fields of education law and legal ethics.

Lindsay Wagner is an occupational therapist who has been practicing in the field of autism for 19 years.  As the Director of Neurodiversity and Community Inclusion at the League School for Autism, she consults with community-based organizations, employers, and schools on autism education and neurodiversity-affirming practices and leads the implementation of the program’s SCERTS® Model. Lindsay is a certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist and a doctoral candidate in Bay Path University’s Health Sciences department.

Michael John Carley is an author, school and business consultant, and former Executive Director in the autism, neurodiversity, mental health, disability, and DEI worlds. He runs New York University’s Connections Program for Global Students with Autism, and is the current Neurodiversity & Leadership Advisor for the League School for Autism. He is the author of Aspergers From the Inside Out (2008), Unemployed on the Autism Spectrum (2016), and The Book of Happy, Positive, and Confident Sex for Adults on the Autism Spectrum…and Beyond! (2021).

Abbie S. Fink is president of HMA Public Relations. She has been with the firm since 1993, most recently serving as vice president/general manager.  Her varied marketing communications background includes skills in media relations, digital communications/social media strategies, special event management, community relations, issues management and marketing promotions for both the private and public sectors, including such industries as healthcare, financial services, professional services, education, economic development and real estate, government affairs and tribal affairs, as well as not-for-profit organizations.  Fink serves as HMA’s primary media and digital communications trainer.  She has conducted training sessions for a variety of organizations including professional services organizations, not-for-profit organizations, government agencies and trade associations.

Harry Schaeffer is currently retired but prior to retiring he spent over 35 years in senior leadership at an organization that provides services to individuals with significant intellectual disabilities and medically complex.  Programs offered include Early Intervention, School, Adult Day, and Group Homes for both children and adults. Harry’s responsibilities included operational oversight of all programs and services, budget development, strategic planning, quality assurance and quality improvement.  He is an NCASES site reviewer and a member of the NCASES standards and process committees.

Cheray Christiansen is a dedicated Compliance Manager at LifeScape, where she has been an integral part of the team for the past 14 years. In this role, Cheray ensures that the organization adheres to all state and federal regulations, as well as the standards set by accrediting bodies. Her expertise and commitment to compliance has been instrumental in maintaining the highest levels of operational integrity and safety.

One of Cheray's notable achievements at LifeScape is the development and implementation of a comprehensive workplace violence prevention program. This initiative, guided by OSHA's recommendations, has significantly enhanced the safety and well-being of all LifeScape employees. Cheray's proactive approach and attention to detail have made her a trusted leader in the field of compliance.

Peter York is Principal and Vice President of Analytic Solutions at BCT Partners, with over 25 years of experience in evaluation and nonprofit consulting. He specializes in developing analytic techniques that leverage machine learning and big data to create predictive, prescriptive, and rigorous evaluation models for social change, including in child welfare, education, and disability services. York has led numerous research projects with major foundations and government agencies. He authored "Funder's Guide to Evaluation" and co-authored the Rockefeller Foundation's "Measuring Results in the Age of Big Data." A sought-after speaker, York regularly presents on evaluation, capacity building, and data analytics at professional conferences.

Cheryl A. White, MSM currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at the League School for Autism, bringing over two decades of expertise in nonprofit management and special education. She has researched teacher retention and student voice in programming. Cheryl has led several organizational improvement initiatives and consultations. Cheryl is a licensed Special Education Administrator and is a doctoral student at Bay Path University, Educational Leadership program.

Gabrielle (Gabby) Caroselli is the Director of Quality and Evaluation at Nexus Family Healing, a behavioral health organization providing residential, community-based, and foster and adoption services across the US. Gabby has worked on quality improvement projects throughout her career for nonprofits and for-profit entities. She has led multi-disciplinary teams across the early education, restorative justice, and behavioral health fields. She understands the value in managing projects and processes, and believes strongly in the development and investment in staff. Gabby holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Boston University and a Master’s of Education from George Mason University. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and is currently learning to speak Italian.

Ra Shone Franklin is veteran school administrator over twenty-five years in school leadership and several years supporting leading principals.  During that time, he has been fortunate to work in rural, urban, and suburban communities serving youth from every type of social economic background.  As a supervisor he sees himself as a dream manager that maximizes the potential of each employee.  As a leader he is adept at understanding the art and science of leadership.  He is the product of two teachers.  A husband and father of two daughters.  He is a sports fan and a student of history.  He has a broad range of expertise from strategic planning to student achievement and restorative practices. The focus of his career has been to ensure a better future for children that most need support. 

Amanda Link has over 15 years of experience providing behavior analytic services to a wide range of individuals in nonpublic school, home, and clinic settings. Currently, Amanda works for Sheppard Pratt Schools as a Regional Behavior Services Manager, where she supports behavior programming across multiple schools and provides supervision to staff seeking national certification in applied behavior analysis. Amanda earned her master’s degree in clinical psychology before completing post-graduate certificates in applied behavior analysis and professional counseling. Amanda is a licensed behavior analyst (LBA) and graduate-level professional counselor (LGPC) in the state of Maryland and a member of the Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Sciences.

With over 15 years of experience in the special education field, Megan Anders, PhD, BCBA-D, has worked extensively with individuals with severe disabilities in the school, home, and adult services settings. Megan also works for Sheppard Pratt Schools as a Regional Behavior Services Manager providing consultation and supervision for prospective BCBAs. Dr. Anders holds a master’s degree in special education, a PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst in Maryland. Dr. Anders is a member of Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis  and the Association for Behavior Analysis International.

Magaly Rojas Cheng is a partner at Clark Lau LLC in Boston, Massachusetts. She counsels employers and employees on various immigrant and non-immigrant processes. She also assists clients in obtaining permanent residence, with a particular emphasis on PERM labor certification applications.  She enjoys working closely with clients to understand their objectives and provide a clear strategy to help accomplish them. Prior to joining Clark Lau LLC, she was an immigration attorney in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she assisted clients with family- and employment-based petitions and permanent residence applications including consular visa applications. As an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), she serves as a member of the Department of State Liaison Committee. 

Vincent W. Lau is the managing partner of Clark Lau LLC in Boston, Massachusetts and he counsels employers and employees on a range of temporary and permanent immigration options.  He enjoys taking complex immigration legal concepts and breaking them down into tangible and comprehensible ideas for employers and employees.  It is with this same spirit that he speaks regularly at immigration conferences across the country, serves fellow immigration attorneys in leadership roles with the American Immigration Lawyers Associations government liaison committees, and teaches business immigration at Boston College School of Law.  Vince received his B.A., cum laude, in Political Science from Yale University, M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the Boston College School of Education, and J.D. from the Boston College School of Law.  Vince has been voted among “The Best Lawyers in America” since 2010, listed with “Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders: Corporate Immigration,” and ranked by “Chambers & Partners Immigration Legal Rankings – Nationwide and Global.”

Michael L. Kelly is the Executive Director, and Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Boston Higashi School, Inc. located in Randolph, Massachusetts. Mike has been serving as the School’s Executive Director since 2008. Mike is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts, has been with the Boston Higashi School for 35 years and held prior positions as the School’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Mike has also worked in Public Accounting including several years at the Accounting Firm of Ernst and Young as a Manager and Senior Manager. Mike earned a degree in Business Administration from Salem State University and obtained a Certificate of Leadership in Private Special Education from Suffolk University.  

In 2024, Mike assumed the role as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of NAPSEC after serving for two years as a member of NAPSEC’s Finance Committee. In addition to the current Treasurer’s position at NAPSEC, Mike has and continues to serve on the Audit Committee, Contracts and Reimbursement Committee, and the Government Affairs Committee for the Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Schools (Maaps).  

Blu Santee is a seasoned professional in risk management and safety, currently serving as a Vice President and Risk Services Manager at HUB International Limited. HUB is a leading full-service global insurance broker providing property and casualty, life and health, employee benefits, investment and risk management products and services. With over 25 years in the field, Blu brings a wealth of experience in risk consulting and regulatory compliance across diverse industries such as construction, manufacturing, healthcare, education and many other various industries.

In his current role, Blu leads a team of risk consultants in central and northern California, focusing on developing and implementing effective risk mitigation strategies for HUB clients. His expertise encompasses various areas including, but not limited to employee and leadership training, company culture development, emergency management, industrial hygiene assessments, regulatory compliance, program development and workers' compensation cost reduction.

Blu's contributions extend beyond his managerial role; he has actively participated in national committees and international safety advisory boards. He is also recognized as a professional keynote speaker and trainer, sharing his insights on safety and leadership at numerous conferences across the U.S. His comprehensive knowledge and dedication to enhancing workplace safety makes him a valuable asset in the risk management sector.

Dr. Shawn Kurrelmeier-Lee is a mission-driven, results-oriented leader with years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Shawn is the President and CEO of Chattanooga Montessori Foundation. Shawn was previously the Chief Reading Officer for Read 20, a community-wide early literacy initiative for almost 20 years. 

 Prior to Read 20, Dr. Kurrelmeier-Lee was the Vice President of the Public Education Foundation, Vice President of United Way of Greater Chattanooga and the Executive Director of the regional Center for Nonprofits. From 1991-2000, Shawn was the Vice President of the Siskin Foundation and Director of the Siskin School, a private school for children with disabilities birth through age 13. Shawn was a consulting teacher and supervisor in special education and an elementary and middle school teacher in the beginning of her career.

 Shawn has taught at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the MPA program and Southern Adventist University in the Master’s in Education program. In addition, Shawn has consulted and facilitated strategic planning, board development, and program development for many organizations.

 Shawn is a NCASES site reviewer and was a commissioner for NCASES from 2004-2013. Shawn has helped to create two private specialty schools, one for adults with intellectual disabilities and one for children focused on birth to five with an emphasis on multi-cultures. Shawn wrote the licensing regulations for Tennessee for educating adults with intellectual disabilities. In addition, Shawn was honored to be named a Woman of Distinction Award in 2007 and the Alpha Delta Kappa Award for Doing Good in 2010.