Our Team
Lynne Revo-Cohen is a founding partner of NewPoint Strategies LLC. She directs the firm’s strategic development in the areas of client services and products, marketing, financial management and public relations.
Ms. Revo-Cohen has been a recognized expert in the field of management consulting for more than thirty years. She is an internationally known business leader, accomplished author, lecturer and consultant. Her areas of expertise cover the full range of ‘high-risk” employment issues. Her clients, numbering over 250, range from Fortune 500 companies to the Federal, State, and local government, Universities and Non-Profit organizations..
Ms. Revo-Cohen is the major architect of an on-line assessment and training tool for high risk issues, such as Diversity and Inclusion, Sexual Harassment/Assault Prevention, EEO, and Culture Change to name a few. She was one of the first businesswomen to identify the “Blended Solution” – delivering training through a combination of on-line learning and instructor led techniques. She led her company’s success in winning the coveted “Blue Diamond Award” for best technology awarded in 2001 by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Revo-Cohen served for four years on the Board of Directors of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce and has been active in the National Association of Women Business Owners, Women in Technology and the Northern Virginia Technology Council. Ms. Revo-Cohen was a founding member of the National Committee on Pay Equity.
Ms. Revo-Cohen has a B.A. degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and an M.A. degree from the University of Maryland.
Karetta Hubbard is a founding partner of NewPoint Strategies, LLC. She directs the firm’s strategic development in the areas of client services and products, marketing, financial management and public relations.
Ms. Hubbard, with more than thirty years of consulting, lecturing and managing experience in strategic management and organizational change. She focuses on innovative approaches to “shared cultural wisdom” in organizations. This concept is a core principal to the firm’s diversity practice.
Ms. Hubbard is an entrepreneur, educator and author with a depth of experience in the field of diversity. She has provided management consulting to organizations throughout the world.
She conceived and developed an innovative technological solution to provide web-based training on high-risk workplace issues to their clients. As a pioneer in the web-based training field, she directed her firm’s success in winning the prestigious Blue Diamond Award for technological achievement.
Ms. Hubbard has been active in the community for more than 30 years, she was appointed to the Small Business Advisory Council (SBA), a past President of the Tyson Business and Professional Women (BPW) and the Fairfax County Democratic Committee.
Ms. Hubbard attended the University of Virginia and received her B.A. degree from George Mason University. She attended Catholic University’s Graduate School in Social Work.
Gwen Crider is a Senior Consultant with NewPoint Strategies. She works with NewPoint clients on a range of issues covering Diversity and Inclusion, Harassment Prevention, EEO, Employee Relations and Conflict Management. Currently, she leads the training team for NewPoint’s major clients, the Architect of the Capitol, State Department (FSI) and Department of Commerce where we are providing training for employees, supervisors and managers. She is also the chief developer of the NewPoint innovative QuickPoints online training tool.
Gwen Crider is an organization effectiveness consultant with expertise in strategic planning, leadership development, diversity and inclusion, and team performance. Her 20 years of experience includes leadership and consulting roles with organizations in the private, non-profit, government, and education sectors.
Gwen served as Executive Director of Diversity Best Practices where she provided strategic direction in the delivery of services to 160 corporate members, including Colgate-Palmolive, Chevron Corporation, IBM, Eastman Kodak, Motorola, and Cisco Systems.
As Executive Director of the National MultiCultural Institute (NMCI), Gwen planned and executed professional development conferences, conducted diversity climate assessments and focus groups, and facilitated strategic planning sessions for clients including the Academy for Educational Development (AED); the International Monetary Fund; Gallaudet University, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HIV/AIDS Bureau; Arlington County (VA) Public Schools; and Valdosta State (GA) University, among others.
Gwen led leadership development and diversity and inclusion initiatives in the museum field as Executive Director of the Austin Children’s Museum, Executive Director of the Science and Technology Center of Atlanta and Deputy Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air & Space Museum. As Board member for the Association of Science-Technology Centers she served as Co-Chair of its Equity & Diversity Committee; served as a Board Member and Co-Chair of the Diversity in Action Task Force for the Association of Children’s Museums, and served on the Diversity Task Force for the American Association of Museums.
As an adjunct professor at George Mason University (VA), Gwen teaches “Diversity in Organizations” to 3rd and 4th year management students. She is the author of numerous articles and a frequent speaker on subjects related to leadership, diversity & inclusion, strategic partnering and workforce development. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Public Administration degree from The George Washington University.
Udall DeOleo is a Senior Consultant for NewPoint Strategies LLC. She is an expert in training and consulting on Diversity and Inclusion, EEO, Sexual Harassment Prevention, and Conflict Management. She also specializes in executive coaching and organizational/leadership/team development.
For NewPoint Strategies, Ms. DeOleo is currently one of the lead trainers for several key clients. She has developed, designed, managed, facilitated and assessed diversity/inclusion programs for such clients as the Architect of the Capitol and the NYNJ Port Authority. Her other clients include the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, Potomac Electric Power Company, Kilpatrick Stockton, UAW/Ford, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Library of Congress, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Labor (Mining and Safety Administration), Arlington County Government, Lockheed Martin, MCI, Watson Wyatt and Abbott Pharmeuceuticals. Ms. DeOleo has also developed, designed and faciliated Sexual Harassment Prevention Training for such organizations as Potomac Electric Power Company, Howard County Government, Howard County Emergency Response Units, National Security Admininstration and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Currently, Ms. DeOleo serves as a University of Phoenix Faculty facilitating on-line Cultural Diversity courses. Formerly, she served as an Adjunct Professor teaching Managing Diversity for the Human Resource Management Masters Program at The American University.
Ms. DeOleo is a certified Executive Coach and specializes in the administration of and coaching for multi-rater assessments as developmental tools for supervisors, managers and executives. She has vast experience coaching mid and senior level leaders in the public and private sectors. Her coaching experience also includes group coaching with intact work teams with whom she effectively worked to move them to a level of high functionality.
Prior to working as an external Organization Development Consultant, Ms. DeOleo worked as an internal Organization Development/Change Management and Executive Development Consultant to Fannie Mae, EDS, MCI, Potomac Electric Power Company, and the George Washington University.
Ms. DeOleo received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Rhetoric and Communication Studies from the University of Virginia and her Masters of Arts in Education and Human Development (concentration in multicultural issues, adult education and training) from the George Washington Universitysity.
Dr. Christopher Kilmartin is a Senior Consultant and Trainer for NewPoint Strategies LLC and part of the NewPoint sexual assault prevention team. He is a professional psychologist, college professor, author, stand-up comedian, actor, playwright, and consultant on gender and violence prevention. He is a Professor of Psychology at The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. He holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a licensed clinical psychologist who has a great deal of experience consulting with businesses, college students, human services workers, athletic departments, the military, and counselors.
His major scholarly work is The Masculine Self (5th edition Sloan, 2015, now co-authored by Andrew Smiler), which has also been translated into Korean. He has also co-authored Men’s Violence Against Women: Theory, Research, and Activism, Overcoming Masculine Depression: The Pain behind the Mask: (also translated into Hebrew and Korean; 2nd edition, 2013), and Sexual Assault in Context: Teaching College Men about Gender, a manual based on his consultation experiences.
Drawing on his background as a professional stand-up comedian, Dr. Kilmartin wrote a solo theatre performance on men’s issues entitled Crimes Against Nature. This work, an integration of his scholarly and performing interests, and performed by the author, has toured to over 150 campuses and other venues for a total of 220 performances. He is currently touring with a lecture/storytelling/multimedia hybrid entitled Guy Fi: The Fictions that Shape Men’s Lives.
Dr. Kilmartin delivered the Keynote address at the NCAA Violence Prevention Summit in 2011 and has also consulted with the U. S. Department of Education, the U.S. Army and Air Force, and the international group, Democratic Control of the Armed Forces. He served as a consultant for three years with the United States Naval Academy on a revision of sexual assault and harassment prevention curriculum. He was a scriptwriter for an Army training film on the same topic.
Dr. Kilmartin was the Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the United States Air Force Academy for the academic year 2013-14. In 2007, he was the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Gender Studies at the University of Klagenfurt, Austria, one of only 39 such honors awarded annually worldwide. He was elected to Fellow Status in the American Psychological Association in 2008 and is a Past President of Division 51 of that organization, the Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity, which awarded him its Researcher of the Year distinction in 2010. In 2015, the University of Mary Washington granted him its Professional Achievement Award. He has been a featured presenter at the National Psychotherapy with Men Conferences. Dr. Kilmartin is an internationally-recognized expert on gender and violence prevention.
Raj Gupta is a senior consultant and trainer with NewPoint Strategies, LLC. He brings over 25 years of EEO expertise with the EEOC headquarters in Washington, D.C. His primary role is to provide consulting to NewPoint Strategies clients in the area of EEO compliance, complaint investigations, Affirmative Action, diversity, and harassment prevention training.
Mr. Gupta has worked with NewPoint Strategies in providing consulting and training on employment issues for numerous government agencies and private clients. Mr. Gupta has had an illustrious career as senior legal and policy advisor to five Presidential Appointees at the EEOC. He represented the Commission in appellate litigation, headed a Policy Development branch, and served as an administrative judge for class actions. He represented the EEOC on Vice President Al Gore’s National Partnership for Reinventing Government (NPR) and on the NPR Diversity Task Force. He co-authored two NPR repots: “Best Practices in Achieving Workforce Diversity” and “A Report on the Status of Diversity Initiatives in the Federal Government.”
Mr. Gupta is listed in the premier edition of WHO’S WHO AMONG ASIAN AMERICANS. He has been interviewed extensively for the EEOC Oral History Project and his interviews are a part of the EEOC historical collection at the U.S. National Archives.
Mr. Gupta received masters of laws degrees from the university of Delhi, Columbia University, and the New York University. He graduated at the top of his law school classes at the University or Delhi. He also has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Delhi. He is a member of the New Delhi bar, the New York bar, the U.S. Supreme Court Bar, and the bars of several U.S. Courts of Appeals and District Courts.
Gordon Sumner, Jr., PhD, is a Senior Consultant for NewPoint Stratgies LLC. Dr. Sumner is on the NewPoint team for sexual assault prevention services for the military service branches. He provides direction and leadership to the team to ensure NewPoint’s service offerings are consistent with DoD core principles and procedures.
Dr. Sumner is also the founder of Gordon Sumner Consulting, a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business and Native American Small Business providing professional consulting services focusing on developing sound business strategies for firms with a focus on Federal government actions, increasing the firms’ visibility to the Federal, state and local governments, large and small businesses and associations. He provides project support for veteran businesses, Guard and Reserve components, and family and employer support programs.
Prior to establishing Gordon Sumner Consulting, Dr. Sumner served as the Executive Director for the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). As a presidential appointee and member of the Senior Executive Service he provided executive leadership to the largest volunteer organization within the Department of Defense promoting cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and assisted in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment. He was a leader in ensuring the principles of Diversity and Inclusion were adhered to in the makeup of personnel for key committees in the organization. Since 2012 he provides support to the Unicorn Group who is committed to delivering effective business development solutions for our clients by tapping executive relationships.
After retiring from the US Army as a Colonel select in 1997, Gordon served as a Project Manager, Program Manager, Director and Managing Director, SYColeman, formally SY Technology, a wholly-owned subsidiary of L3 Communications, as a consultant to the Chief of Staff, Army and establishing the Active Component / Reserve Component Integration Directorate as well as delivering state-of-the-art solutions to customers, expanded leading market positions to deliver value to all of our stakeholders, and provided innovative solutions to a broad base of customers, from the U.S. government and its allies to the world’s most prestigious corporations. He then served as the VP, Government Services Division with Peduzzi Associates, LTD, providing talent, knowledge and experience to commercial and government clients in Washington, D.C. and around the world via two areas of concentration — Business Development and Services for small start-ups and large established businesses.
He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Adult Education from Madison University, a Master of Business Administration (Summa Cum Laude) from Auburn University, a Master of Education (with Honors) from Boston University and a BS, Music Performance and Music Education, Jacksonville State University. He is also a Graduate at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Gordon currently serves as a Senior Fellow and Affiliate Faculty, George Mason University; Council Member, Graduate Education Development Council, Auburn University; Scholar, Washington Scholars Program, The Admiral Carey Foundation; Board of Advisors, Office of Military Services, George Mason University. He served on the Board of Governors, Jacksonville State University. He is the Secretary, Board of Directors, Veterans Moving Forward, a nonprofit whose mission is to provide service dogs to veterans with physical and mental health challenges.
Gordon is a member of a variety of veteran service organizations, associations and business groups where he has served in many leadership positions at the local and national levels.
Dr. Alan Berkowitz is a Senior Consultant/Trainer for NewPoint Strategies. He is currently o the NewPoint team as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for US Navy training project for Leaders in the Pacific Fleet. Dr. Berkowitz is an SME for the US Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy on the topics of sexual assault prevention and bystander intervention as well as a Key Strategy Contributor and Reviewer for the Department of Defense 2014-2016 Sexual Assault Prevention Strategy. From 2011-2012 he served as a Highly Qualified Expert in Sexual Assault Prevention for the Department of the Navy. In this capacity he provided leadership training throughout the Atlantic Fleet on sexual assault prevention and bystander intervention as well as assisting in the development of the successful Great Lakes Naval Training Station sexual assault prevention program. In the last eight years Dr. Berkowitz has presented at over fifteen conferences for military leaders on their role in creating a Command Climate that can prevent sexual assault and foster effective bystander intervention. In addition he frequently visits military bases to provide leadership training and consultation services.
Dr. Berkowitz is a prolific researcher and scholar who has written extensively on the subject of sexual assault prevention and who is frequently invited to be a keynote speaker on this topic. He is also the founder of the “Men’s Workshop” – a sexual assault prevention program for men that has been evaluated as reducing actual sexual assaults by 75% after four months. In addition, he is the author of a highly acclaimed book on bystander intervention that provides a model for methods of effective intervention. Dr. Berkowitz has received five national awards for his work.
In addition to working with the military Dr. Berkowitz conducts workshops for colleges, universities, State Health Departments and Sexual Assault Prevention Coalitions on men’s responsibility for preventing rape, the use of media to prevent violence, bystander intervention theory and skills, culture-change, and the characteristics of effective prevention programs. Alan has been a presenter and on the planning committee for the first three National Sexual Assault Prevention Conferences hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and was a founding member of the Board of Directors of End Violence Against Women International.
Dr. Berkowitz received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Cornell University in 1981.
Maura Weir is a Senior Consultant with NewPoint Strategies and is currently serving on the NewPoint team on Suicide Prevention for the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Fleet. As Recovery and Wellness Coordinator at a local college in Massachusetts she specializes in health promotion and education for students and the larger community. She is currently providing technical advice in developing alcohol and drug prevention, intervention and protocols for the campus.
Maura is responsible for the development, coordination, and evaluation of campus outreach, awareness, and bystander programming that targets student well-being, healthy relationships, gender-based violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, and alcohol and other drug misuse. She is also responsible for promoting, coordinating, and implementing the facilitation of evidence-based alcohol and other drug related prevention programs.
Maura‘s presentations and workshops for all partners and constituents in the college community are always booked to capacity because of her approach and connection with the audience. She is able to use her vast knowledge and humor appropriately to catch the interest of the audience. The feedback is always positive and leave the audience wanting more. These abilities have made her a sought after presenter in many health subjects including suicide prevention, alcohol and drug misuse and Mental Health First Aid.
She is also a seasoned trainer in other evidence based best practice programs including the internationally known Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training; CONNECT postvention module, Mental Health First Aid, and Breaking Free from Depression curriculum.
Maura has received citations and awards from state and local levels for her outstanding leadership in the field of suicide prevention and alcohol and drug misuse education. She was the recipient of the 2012 Leadership Award in Suicide Prevention sponsored by the Department of Public Health and Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention for her dedication and commitment to the topic of suicidology She has also been recognized by the Massachusetts Army National Guard for her well-received training of their Suicide Intervention Officers.
Maura has presented at the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) Annual Conference and the European Symposium for Suicide and Suicidal Behavior. Maura serves on the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention. She is an active member of AAS and the International Youth Research Committee. She has personally trained over 8,000 people in suicide prevention and alcohol and drug misuse, intervention and recovery work.
Maura is currently working on her Doctorate in Psychology from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology and has received a Master’s in Youth Health and Education Management from the University of Melbourne, Australia. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from the National University of Ireland.
Chief Kelsey is a Senior Consultant and Trainer for NewPoint Strategies and is on the NewPoint team for the military conducting training in prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse and other destructive behaviors. Chief Kelsey joined the United States Navy on March 6, 1996. He will soon retire after a successful 21 year career in the Navy where he rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
Chief Kelsey had several accomplishments throughout his career in various assignments at duty stations in the U.S., Iceland, and Afghanistan and sea duty deployments to Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and to Iwakuni, Japan.
His primary assignments have been in the field of Aviation Life Support Systems. After serving as individual Augmentee tour in Afghanistan performing detainee operations, he took orders to HSM-78 where he made a Rim of the Pacific deployment on the USS Ronald Regan and a Southern Seas deployment on board the USS George Washington. Chief Kelsey then transferred to shore duty for the final time in 2016 when he took orders to HSC-3.
During his Navy career Chief Kelsey fine-tuned his skills as a presenter and teacher to other Sailors. After completing Journeyman Instructor School he spent 3 years teaching the Navy’s newest Sailors their trade as an “A” school instructor leading to his qualification as a Master Training Specialist.
Over the past four years Chief Kelsey has traveled to 10 bases in the pacific theater to give “edutainment” style presentations to Sailors on skills and perspective they need to prevent “destructive behaviors”. His training was critiqued very well because his story provided actual insight and value that Navy attendees could take away and use immediately.
Chief Kelsey and his wife Kristen live in San Diego, California. They have a blended family of 6 children total with 3 young daughters still at home. His oldest son Tyler, followed in his father’s footsteps when he joined the Navy when he turned 18. Chief Kelsey will continue his commitment to the Navy in his future professional life as a “keynote presenter” on how Sailors and Soldiers can build and sustain Resiliency and prevent destructive behaviors both for themselves and their colleagues. He is pursuing a Masters Degree in Human Resource Management.
Benjamin F. Brooks is a Senior Consultant and Trainer for NewPoint Strategies LLC. He served on the NewPoint team for the NY/NJ Port Authority to provide training in Harassment Prevention and Diversity to the police force. He is currently the lead on police training for “de-escalation” in minority communities. He is a retired Major of the Pennsylvania State Police, Management Consultant, and Founder of Major Ben’s Consulting Agency, specializing in providing assistance to companies to more effectively implement their Cultural Diversity programs. His specific areas of expertise include: A Unique approach to Understanding , Valuing and Managing Diversity, Dealing with Difficult People, Policing Your Image, Preventing Sexual Harassment in The Workplace, Stress Management, and Workplace Violence. As a former licensed Private Investigator, with three decades of experience, he has a keen awareness of sensitive workplace issues.
Brooks is a native of Elizabethtown, North Carolina. In 1979, he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from Kutztown University, Kutztown, Pennsylvania. He completed the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Management Training Program for Senior Managers, the FBI National Academy, Pennsylvania State University Police Supervisor In-service Training, and Police Executive Development Program. He is certified by the U.S. Department of Justice for Diversity Training.
Brooks’ yearning for social justice led him to enlist in the Pennsylvania State Police in 1961. He was one of the first African-Americans in the history of the State Police. Ben rose through the ranks to become the first African-American Captain/Troop Commander. In 1987, Brooks became the first enlisted member of the Pennsylvania State Police to head the Affirmative Action/Contract Compliance Division. In that capacity, he developed the State Police’s Sexual Harassment policy and training program, and redefined the concept of Affirmative Action, and its relationship to cultural diversity. He joined a multi-agency task force which was responsible for training Police and Corrections Departments throughout Pennsylvania in the Ethnic Intimidation laws relating to hate crimes.
Brooks has appeared on “About the Law,” a program at WHAG-TV an NBC affiliate, Hagerstown, Maryland on “Affirmative Action In Law Enforcement”, and “Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.”
Brooks is a member of the National Speakers Association, American Seminar Leaders Association, Dale Carnegie Group, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. (NOBLE). He is a published author (Human Resources strategies that work).
Eva Young is a Senior Consultant for NewPoint Strategies. She currently serves on the NewPoint training team for the New York/New Jersey Port Authority. Eva is an Organizational Development (OD) Practitioner who works independently and in collaboration with management consulting firms to design and deliver strategic interventions. For NewPoint Strategies, Eva provides leadership and implementation on Train-the-Trainer engagements.
Eva provides technical assistance, small and large group interventions, facilitation and training in areas such as: Managing Diversity (dialogue across differences, diversity awareness and skills building, power dynamics), Retreat Facilitation, Train the Trainers, Team Training and Development (team building, communication skills, goal setting, group dynamics), Anti-Racist and Anti-Homophobic Work, Community Capacity Building, and Cultural Competency.
Eva Young has provided consultation to profit and non-profit companies interested in creating planned change and helps organizations assess their readiness for change through cultural audits. Eva engages small and large groups in individual and collective learning processes with a commitment to action.
Eva has a Masters in Social and Organizational Learning from George Mason University, and she is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) Community Fellows. Her educational background and professional experiences has provided Eva with the theoretical understanding to guide and design her work. She is in a continuous learning process, and keeps deepening her own understanding of change, diversity, human relations, and productive workplaces and communities.
Some of the clients Eva Young has worked with independently or in collaboration with other consultants include: PepsiCo, Monsanto, SodexhoUSA, National Parks Conservation Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the Fairfax County Public Schools, Texaco, District of Columbia Public Schools, The National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Control and Prevention, Northrop Grumman, the New York State Health Department AIDS Institute, the Tellin’ Stories Project, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Montgomery County Health Department, and the United Nations.
Eva is a founding member of the Diversity Leadership Forum, the leading organization for diversity practitioners. In addition, Eva is fluent in English, Spanish, and French.
Roger Owen is a senior EEO Investigator for NewPoint Strategies LLC in the Southern California area. He just successfully completed an EEO investigation for USGS in California. Mr. Owens is a former Federal EEO Counselor and Investigator with more than 15 years of experience in employment issues, discrimination, training, counseling, and Special Emphasis programs. He performs counseling and training on various EEO issues surrounding Title VII, Age Discrimination in Employment (ADEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Equal Pay Act, and EEO/Affirmative Action issues. Mr. Owen has given numerous training classes to employees and supervisors on all forms of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, and diversity in the work force.
For the past two decades, Mr. Owen has performed EEO investigations with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Mr. Owen performed nearly a thousand investigations to include the States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Nebraska, Nevada, the Counties of Imperial, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego. He also investigated cases with Southern California cities and hundreds of private companies and organizations. Mr. Owen also mediated cases to successful conclusions during Fact Finding meetings with the Charging Party and the Respondent. Mr. Owen had the distinction of being the highest producer of investigation cases within the Los Angeles District Office jurisdiction. Mr. Owen’s performance was of such high quality that he received Outstanding Performance Reviews for 5-6 years in a row.
Besides counseling cases with EEOC, his last two years of federal service was with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection where he served as the Diversity and Civil Rights Officer for the agency for Southern California. Mr. Owen worked with the Complainant and management to secure a resolution of the issues brought forward at the lowest possible level. Mr. Owen was successful in negotiating a resolution or settlement with dozens of cases. He also supervised nearly a dozen Special Emphasis committees in providing monthly EEO programs for nearly 4,000 employees in Southern California.
Ms. Chanel is a Senior Consultant and Trainer with New Point Strategies. She is an accomplished and seasoned attorney with a unique combination of teaching experience, alternative dispute resolution experience, and extensive litigation experience. She serves in the capacity as a consultant and trainer for New Point Strategies LLC in the areas of EEO, mediation, harassment prevention, diversity, employee relations, conflict resolution and EEO/Affirmative Action investigations. Lisa is the lead trainer for Newpoint at the Foreign Service Institute, State Department. She also provides EEO investigations and organizational assessments for NewPoint clients.
Ms. Chanel received a Juris Doctorate degree from Seton Hall School of Law in 1998. She also earned her Masters degree from Boston University in 2009 and a Bachelors of Arts degree from Howard University in 1994. Ms. Chanel’s devotion to civil rights issues led her to attend the National Fair Housing Training Academy where she graduated with a Certificate in Investigator Training. She is also recognized as a trained Investigator by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) from which she also earned a Certificate in Investigator Training.
Ms. Chanel has been committed to the area of civil rights for seven years by serving as a Mediator, Mediation Program Assistant, Investigator, and Fact-Finding Conference Examiner to address Charges filed directly with EEOC, the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD
In addition to Ms. Chanel’s seven years in the area of civil rights, she has been a practicing attorney for approximately 13 years and has achieved admission to four State Bars and three Federal Bars: United States District Court for the District of Columbia Bar, United States District Court of Maryland Bar, United States District Court of New Jersey Bar, State of New Jersey Bar, State of Maryland Bar, State of New York Bar, and the District of Columbia Bar.
In 2005, Ms. Chanel broadened her career aspirations to include academia. She has served as an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia where she has taught Introduction to Logic, Introduction to Social Ethics, Conflict Resolution and Mediation Techniques, and Justice Issues in Society. She has also served as a member of the adjunct faculty at Howard University where she has taught Principles of Reasoning and Philosophy of Law.
Dr. Karyn Trader -Leigh is a Senior Consultant and Trainer for NewPoint Strategies LLC. She is currently on the team for Employee Relations training at FSI, State Department. Trader-Leigh provides consulting in organization Development, Human Capital, Diversity and Inclusion. Karyn has served as CEO of KTA Global Partners for 18 years, providing consulting services in Human Capital planning, developing talent management systems, performance management accountability and performance assessment systems, leadership development, succession planning, culture change, and capacity building. Karyn is currently involved in a system wide performance management project driven by the Government Performance and Results ACT (GPRA). As a researcher she has been involved in global and national studies. Her portfolio of clients includes government agencies, private sector corporations, NGO’s and global multilateral institutions. Government agency work includes NSA, NASA, Homeland Security, DOD, IMF, United Nations, and Army Research Lab.
Karyn has worked as a Director of Human Resources, Employee Relations Director, and Director of Training and Organization Development in Aerospace and IT organizations. She has also served as Program Director and Researcher for the Joint Center for Political & Economic Studies and Adjunct Professor Hampton University School of Business. Karyn served as a senior consultant to the National Multicultural Institute for 14 years, leading diversity initiatives and training D&I advocates.
Karyn’s article on Identifying Resistance in Managing Change was based on dissertation work completed in the US Department of State examining implementation of a radical change to management and support structures in U.S. embassies worldwide. Other international experience includes consulting in Eastern Europe, lecturing in the Peoples Republic of China, presenting papers in Britain, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, The Czech Republic and living and working in a war torn country in West Africa.
Academic credentials include a Doctorate in Organization Change from the Pepperdine School of Education and Psychology, MA, International Transactions School of Public Policy, George Mason University, Masters Work in Organization Development, Pepperdine University. Ethnic and Conflict Management Training from Central Eastern University and the Open society Institute in The Czech Republic. Certifications include Conflict Dynamics Profile, Benchmarks (360), Executive Dimensions, Disc, and Certified Coach (ICC) international Coaching Community (London).
Judith Gail works internationally facilitating change and transformation; specifically organizational effectiveness, leadership development, whole systems change, and engaging differences through diversity and inclusion to augment an organization’s capability, capacity, and competency.
Her clients have included for profit and not-for-profit agencies, specifically, academia, automotive, healthcare, utilities, state and local government, and the United States Air Force. Additionally, she has coached executive leaders on the nuances of leading organizations where the culture presents itself as safe and one that ensures all organizational members are protected by the company’s policies and procedures.
Organizations have engaged Judith to initiate their diversity, inclusion, cultural competence, and multicultural divisions. Her role has been to facilitate the design of an organization’s strategic imperative, initiate corporate diversity and inclusion committees, design D&I learning experiences, and develop diversity network groups.
A member of the esteemed NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science where she is also on faculty, Judith is also a member of the Organization Development Network. She holds an adjunct position at the American University, School of Public Affairs in Group Dynamics. Additionally, she is co-author of Leadership in a Global and Multicultural Society, Shriberg & Shriberg. Chapter 3; Practicing Leadership: Principles and Applications, 4th Edition. Most recently, Judith co-wrote the Blueprint for Sustainable Change in Diversity Management and Cultural Competence: Lessons from the NCHL Diversity Demonstration Project where she was the diversity coach and strategist for the research project.
Judith holds a Master of Science Degree specializing in Organization Development (M.S.O.D.), from The American University/NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science, in Washington DC. She also has a BA in Business Administration.
Through her youth leadership development program, Global Youth Insight, Judith is dedicated to empowering youth to become change agents that will create a more just and inclusive school, community and world. Judith lives in Washington DC with her dog Langston and is dedicated to experiences that make her smile.
Anthony Holliday is a senior consultant and trainer for NewPoint Strategies, LLC. Mr. Holliday has extensive experience in labor relations and law, mediation, contract negotiations, and handling disciplinary and adverse actions as a former labor relations advisor in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of the Navy and the Federal Labor Relations Authority. His work as a labor advisor with federal agencies and as an officer of Probation and Parole with the State of Florida covered a range of issues concerning diversity and conflict resolution.
Currently, Mr. Holliday is the President of the Holliday Consulting Group offering education, training, and support in a variety of areas. He has served as a Professor of Legal Environments with the School of Business, Howard University and has taught Mortuary Law as an Associate Professor for the University of the District of Columbia.
Mr. Holliday is certified as a mediator with the District of Columbia Superior Court, the Department of Human Rights and Minority Business Development, and the U.S. Postal Service. His experience as an independent consultant spans over several years and includes service with the U.S. Department of Education as a grant reviewer for law school clinical programs and contributions to the Congressional Record and technical reports generated from the proceedings of the U.S. Senate Commission on the Status of the African-American Male.
Additionally, Mr. Holliday has conducted national labor law seminars; served as a trainer/facilitator for workshops and seminars on topics such as Alternative Dispute Resolution/Conflict Resolution, Managing Diversity, Sexual Harassment, EEO Practice and Procedure, and Supervisory and Management Skills.
Among the professional organizations in which he holds membership are, among others, the Society of Federal Labor Relations Professionals, the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution, the Golden Key National Honor Society, and the Phi Delta Kappa Professional Fraternity in Education.
Mr. Holliday received his LL.M in Labor Law from Georgetown University Law Center and holds a J.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida.
Shelley Gugig is a consultant and trainer with NewPoint Strategies LLC. Ms. Gugig has over 25 years of results-oriented experience in the Training and Organizational Development arena. She specializes in the areas of diversity, harassment and discrimination prevention, EEO and compliance, management and leadership skills, human resources policies/procedures, career development, and team building.
Ms Gugig ‘s training experience has spanned all industries nationwide including: financial services, heath care, technology, education, insurance, transportation, publishing, law enforcement and law firms. Some of her clients include: JP Morgan Chase, Pershing, KPMG, Pfizer, and Time Warner.
Ms. Gugig is the principal of Professional Training Strategies, a business consulting organization that provides services on a national basis to privately held companies as well as not for profit organizations. Professional Training Strategies provides training, organizational development, executive development and operations support to organizations in order to efficiently and effectively implement their business strategies, goals and values.
Prior to starting Professional Training Strategies, Ms. Gugig served as Vice President; Director of Training and Organizational Development for Citibank. In that role, she was responsible for all business training initiatives for the New York Metropolitan area while managing and mentoring a team of more than 30 training professionals. Her team was responsible for all aspects of training and development including; EEO/compliance, sales, systems, operations, management/leadership and professional skills. The success of this team was due in part to Ms. Gugig’s strong philosophy to tie all training to business goals and outcomes and develop strong partnerships with the management team.
Ms. Gugig also served as Vice President of Training for Professional Development at Citibank. In this role, she was responsible for ensuring the development and skill acquisition of all training professionals in compliance and business matters in order to build a world class training organization.
Ms. Gugig received her Master and Bachelor Degrees with Honors. Her Master Degree is in Personnel and Guidance Services from Kean College. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from the University of Maryland
Master Chief (Retired) Steve Hady is a Senior Consultant to NewPoint Strategies. He is a team leader for NewPoint’s sexual assault prevention practice. He assumed the position of Senior Enlisted Advisor (SEA) for the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity (ODMEO), for the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, on 28 March 2011 after serving as the Executive Director for the Military Leadership Diversity Commission (MLDC).
In his most recent position as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for ODMEO, Master Chief Hady, advised the Director for ODMEO and senior leadership on matters pertaining to Equal Opportunity and Sexual Harassment/Assault Prevention, to include, review of military service records regarding sexual assault cases, EO and Sexual Harassment training, and the training curriculum for all military equal opportunity advisors. He served as a subject matter expert providing the Military EO perspective as part of the Department of Defense working group for the repeal implementation of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and training for policy implementation. Additionally, he was directly responsible for answering all Congressional Inquiries regarding the recommendations provided in the MLDC formal report.
Prior to arriving on staff, Master Chief Hady served as the Executive Director for the Military Leadership Diversity Commission, and Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Navy Diversity Directorate. For his last sea tour he served as Chief of the Boat onboard USS KENTUCKY (SSBN 737) (BLUE). His previous Sea Duty assignments include Medical Department Representative for USS WEST VIRGINIA (SSBN 736) (GOLD), USS FRANCIS SCOTT KEY (SSBN 657) (BLUE) and Commander, Submarine Squadron 16.
In his shore duty assignments, Master Chief Hady has served at Naval Hospital Charleston, SC as a general duty Corpsman, a clinical laboratory technician and as the Clinic Manager/Leading Chief for the Family Practice Residency Training Clinic. Master Chief Hady served as the Force Enlisted Manning Officer and the Force Equal Opportunity Advisor for the Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet as well as the Diversity Lead for the Naval Undersea Enterprise (USE).
Master Chief Hady is a graduate of HM “A” School, Basic Laboratory Technician School (NEC 8501), Submarine Independent Duty School (NEC 8402), Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, and the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. He has also earned an Associate’s Degree in Supervisory Leadership from Hawaii Pacific University and is a certified diversity practitioner by Souder, Betances and Associates, Inc.
His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), Navy Good Conduct Medal (nine awards), National Defense Service Medal (two awards), Global War on Terrorism Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Sea Service Ribbon (three awards), Expert Rifleman Medal, and Expert Pistol Medal. In addition, he is entitled to wear the Submarine Enlisted Warfare Qualification and the Enlisted Command Master Chief Insignia (Post Tour).
Rachel Castellon is a Senior Consultant at NewPoint Strategies and is a subject matter expert (SME) on sexual harassment in the military. She is committed to the eradication of sexual harassment and is a dedicated and passionate consultant, trainer, facilitator and coach. Rachel recently completed a successful active duty US Air Force career that ranged from overseas duties in Italy, Republic of Korea, and deployment to the Middle East, as well as a number of stateside assignments, culminating at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI).
Rachel enlisted the first seven years of her Air Force (AF) career then was selected for a commissioning program. She earned her second lieutenant bars and became a human resources officer for the remaining 14 years. The final six years of her career were focused on Equal Opportunity (EO), Diversity, and Human Relations. As a result, she was instrumental in a number of AF-level initiatives. Highly regarded as a sage visionary, she was the number one choice to help draft and finalize historic AF EO documents and guidance, such as the AF EO Strategic Plan, the EO AF Instruction, and the career field education and training plan. Proving her mettle on these critical documents, she handled a variety of sensitive tasks to include co-author on a courses of action package to the AF Vice Chief of Staff to gain approval in creating a training requirement for joint based civilians who were EEO personnel converting to AF positions. Rachel also served as the Air Force Service Liaison while at DEOMI. She was a natural choice to serve as lead of the Joint Complaint Processing working group, meticulously researching similarities and differences among the services and components as a stepping stone to devising innovative proposals for an evolving Joint Base and service-integrated deployment environment.
She was entrusted as DEOMI’s SME for the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s comprehensive study on sexual harassment in the military. She also served as SME for HQ AF EO Office’s sexual harassment in the military briefing to a congressman; and representative to the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s during their Service specific portion of the comprehensive study on sexual harassment in the military.
Rachel was instrumental in the coordination and execution of the first AF EO World-wide Training Workshop. She maintained direct oversight over logistics, resources, technologies, briefings, and the results were nothing short of phenomenal. A training needs analysis was conducted to identify training gaps and isolate areas for standardization and the agenda was built upon the community’s clear message of the training needed. Over 185 AF EO professionals were in attendance; the results of the participant surveys were very positive with 97% stating the training was right on target.
She was the first military member of the AF-level Barrier Analysis Working Group, investigating ways to overcome obstacles towards providing a diverse civilian AF workforce. She served as a board member for the 2010 A1 Community Awards Affirmative Employment Program and Special Emphasis Program category. She has been recognized with several awards to include Field Grade Officer of the Year (DEOMI 2010); the Col L. Joseph Brown EO Program Team Award at the Air Force level in 2008; the DEOMI Annual Team Award in 2008; the Outstanding USAF Military Equal Opportunity Individual Award for Air Force Space Command in 2007; and the USAF Military Equal Opportunity Office Award for Air Force Space Command in 2007.
Rachel is a life-long learner and has earned her associates, bachelors, masters and PhD degrees. Her PhD dissertation study focused on sexual harassment experiences and tolerance levels, analyzing the similarities and differences among and between male and female active duty Equal Opportunity Advisors. She also holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification. She enjoys family, friends, and staying physically fit while volunteering for organizations within her community.
Greg Jenkins is a Senior Consultant at NewPoint Strategies and is the team leader for the sexual assault prevention practice. He is a dedicated and passionate consultant, practitioner and life-long learner of Diversity & Inclusion, Equal Opportunity and Leadership. Greg recently completed a successful US Army career that ranged from overseas duties in Germany, South Korea and combat duty in Iraq to include a number of stateside assignments culminating in Washington D.C.
Greg is a thought leader on issues related to soldiers and veterans. His leadership efforts and activities includes; veteran focused radio show appearances; numerous diversity and inclusion published articles; lobbying on behalf of survivors of military sexual trauma to members of Congress; volunteer work with suicide awareness and prevention and Department of Defense employer supporting organizations; resulting in countless veterans supported and increased employer training and education levels
Greg’s performance in Military Equal Opportunity efforts resulted in developing a model program for other Army Equal Opportunity and human relations efforts. Greg has served as the senior commander’s liaison with state and local organizations, along with educational and community leaders resulting in improved civic relationships.
He was selected by the Director of the Army’s Diversity Task Force to help establish the Army’s Diversity program, policy and products. He was instrumental in the planning and execution the Army’s Diversity marketing campaign achieving world-wide coverage for the Army’s 1.4M Soldiers, Civilians, and their family members.
Greg is an experienced instructor who has provided training, facilitation and oversight for thousands of personnel ensuring quality and relevant Military Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Leadership training and education for mid, senior and executive level managers and leaders. Most recently, Greg has become a volunteer for the State of Missouri, Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve.
Greg has outstanding project management skills that resulted in the planning, coordination and execution of the inaugural 2010 Army Diversity & Leadership Training Symposium, and the first-ever combined, effective educational experience for over 570 Equal Opportunity Advisors, EEO managers, human relations and diversity practitioners. He planned, organized and executed three annual Senior Executive Diversity Awareness Training conferences for over 450 senior executive services/general officers, resulting in advancing their diversity and human relations competence and professional development.
Greg is a published author and graduate of Webster University, where he recently attained his master’s degree in Human Resources Development. He enjoys his friends, family and staying physically fit while volunteering for organizations within his community.
Dr. Joy Bloom Wright is a Senior Consultant and Trainer with NewPoint Strategies. For NewPoint, Dr. Wright provides training in sexual assault prevention for the US Navy. Dr. Wright is an Organizational Development Consultant with more than twenty years of military and corporate consulting and leadership experience. Her areas of expertise range from sexual harassment prevention, diversity training, team building, strategy consulting, leadership training and organizational change.
Dr. Wright was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and one of the first females to assist with the integration of women on aircraft carriers. She provided training and feedback through this integration process. She received two Navy Commendation Medals and a Navy Achievement Medal for her expertise in training and for the development of programs in the military.
Dr. Wright served as an active duty Naval Flight Officer. She was trained in the Fleet Replacement Squadron in Virginia Beach, Virginia to fly F-14 Tomcats as a Radar Intercept Officer. Joy was the first female on board the USS Roosevelt Aircraft Carrier as a Division Officer in charge of several hundred naval personnel. She served for seven and half years active duty in the navy, has been a navy spouse for over sixteen years and is now President and Co-Founder of Dr. Bloom Consulting and Dr. Bloom Inc.
Dr. Wright earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland. She earned her Masters in Psychology from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. She earned a Doctorate in Organizational Development from Alliant University in Fresno, California. Joy currently resides in Temecula, California with her three sons and husband. Her husband is a former F/A-18 Super Hornet Pilot who now flies for UPS and VR-57 in the Navy.
Ray Leonard Junior is a Senior Consultant with NewPoint Strategies and is on the NewPoint team for Sexual Assault Prevention with the US Navy. He is a lead presenter in NewPoint’s training on Bystander Intervention, which begins with a personal account of the traumatic story of Ray’s father, Sugar Ray Leonard, who was a victim of sexual assault when he was 17 years old and in training for the US Olympics. This personal story and its lifelong impact have a dramatic impact on the audience and the stereotypes held on “who is the typical victim” of sexual assault.
Ray has over eighteen years of domestic and international experience as a professional manager and organizational consultant in government, universities, corporations, sports and finance industries. Ray has a unique ability to direct complex projects from concept to fully operational status. Ray has over ten years experience in developing and offering training in Workplace Ethics, Diversity, and Sexual Harassment Prevention Programs for many organizations. He has managed medium to large-scale projects globally and has had speaking engagements globally.
Ray has a strong collaborative approach and a facilitative style valuing broad input while maintaining a focus on results and impact. He has been responsible for creating effective and sustainable management development programs that have improved managerial effectiveness at several organizations. He excels at coaching managers, leading inter-disciplinary teams to build the internal capacity of a company to manage and train staff, facilitating meetings and retreats that focus on employee engagement, team building, and change and performance development. Ray has provided vision and goal-focused team strategies for corporate giants such as Coca Cola, Polaroid, Everlast, EA sports, and many other organizations.
Ray is a member of several governance and advisory boards. He is the former CEO of Leonard Sports & Entertainment, a full service sports and entertainment management company specializing in pairing celebrities with corporations and performing large scale speaking engagements with his father, Sugar Ray Leonard. He has a passion for charitable work and community development, serving on the Board of Directors for Walking Miracles and he served as Co-Executive director for the Youth Recreation association of Philadelphia for over 2 years, and has been a mentor for the Magic Johnson foundation and The Walking Miracles Foundation.
Ray is a native of Maryland and has a Bachelors of Science from Ohio University in Athens, OH where he was 2 sport division 1A athlete, excelling in football and track and field. He is married with 4 children.
Deborah Horan is a senior consultant for NewPoint Strategies and serves as a leading expert on the issue of sexual assault and domestic violence prevention. She was a key advisor for the NewPoint project at West Point on sexual assault prevention issues. She assists in the design, protocol and delivery for the methodologies and training utilized in sexual assault prevention engagements.
Deborah Horan has more than 20 years political and policy experience, with an emphasis on issues affecting women and children. She holds a masters degree in Social Work and currently works for Kensington Wheaton Youth Services providing mental health services to individuals, families, and groups. She is a member of the Maryland State Department of Education’s Sexual Assault Prevention Advisory Committee.
As a violence prevention consultant, Ms. Horan has worked with organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the National Sexual Assault Resource Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Ms. Horan designed and implemented the Violence Against Women initiative, including activities, programs, and educational materials for patients and physicians. She also designed and implemented the National Rape and Sexual Assault Prevention Project.
Ms. Horan has served as a presenter at the local, state, and national level, reviewed grants for the Department of Justice’s Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes against Women on Campus Program and coauthored several articles and monographs addressing violence against women and violence prevention.
Cheryl Epps is a senior consultant with NewPoint Strategies LLC. She has successfully performed Federal agency EEO investigations for NewPoint. Ms. Epps is an attorney who brings more than 20 years expertise in employment issues, group training and counseling, organizational behavior and change processes. She performs consulting and training on a range of issues including EEO, mediation, diversity, conflict resolution and EEO/Affirmative Action investigations.
Over the last decade, Ms. Epps has conducted EEO/AA investigations for a range of clients, including the Securities Exchange Commission, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Agriculture, Social Security Administration and others. She has conducted training for a diverse group of clients, including The Washington Post, US Coast Guard Global Intelligence Unit, Datatel, Inc., The National League of Cities and others.
Ms. Epps has focused extensively on women’s issues in the workforce, including sexual harassment. She conducted a two-year series of trainings around the country for the International Women’s Media Foundation, focusing on diversity, women’s employment issues, conflict resolution, and sexual harassment. Ms. Epps also worked as Chief Federal Lobbyist for Federally Employed Women, a national advocacy group working on employment issues for women employed in the Federal Government.
Prior to focusing on management and employment issues, Ms. Epps was an Assistant District Attorney with the Office of the District Attorney, County of New York and the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, City of New York. She also served as Assistant Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on the Judiciary.
Ms. Epps received a Juris Doctorate degree from Georgetown University with law review membership. She graduated cum laude from Howard University with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Psychology and a Master’s degree in Higher Education, with a secondary focus on Counseling and Therapy. She has also studied at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa and at Johns Hopkins University.
Connie J. Kirkland, M.A. is a senior consultant for NewPoint Strategies and serves as a leading expert on the issue of sexual assault prevention. She was a key advisor for the NewPoint team project at West Point on sexual assault prevention. She assists in the design, protocol and delivery for the methodologies and training utilized in sexual assault prevention engagements. Connie was a primary advisor in NewPoint’s development of the STOP application on sexual assault prevention for colleges and universities.
As Founder and Director of the Office of Student Mental health and Behavior at the Northern Virginia Community College, Connie provides behavioral intervention and response services for Sexual Assault to a community of over 80,000.
Connie has worked for over 27 years in crime victim advocacy, as a college instructor, and as a criminal justice researcher and trainer. She is an ATSS Certified Trauma Specialist (CTS), a National Certified Counselor (NCC), and a Certified Law Enforcement Instructor. She has authored legislative bills, training manuals, and materials related to crime victim issues, specializing in violence against women.
In 2003, Ms. Kirkland partnered with the US Department of Justice National Drug Intelligence Center to co-produce a manual designed for law enforcement and medical investigators, titled “Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault Resource Guide.” She was recognized in 2002 in several ways for her expertise in sexual assault and stalking. She was appointed by the Virginia Attorney General to his Advisory Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. She was also appointed to the Virginia Statewide Sexual Violence Strategic Planning Team. In addition she authored “Campus Stalking,” a bulletin for the US Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office. She was also the Consulting Editor of Campus Safety & Security: Forms, Checklists & Guidelines (2nd Edition) (2002). The recent release of Net Crimes and Misdemeanors (2002), a book on cyberstalking by J. A. Hitchcock featured the advocacy of Ms. Kirkland with victims of campus cyberstalking.
Connie served as Chair of the Northern Virginia Turn Off the Violence Coalition, a major community violence prevention initiative from 1993 through 2001. Connie’s sexual assault research and innovative programming has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice, Violence Against Women Office and the National Crime Prevention Council as a Promising Practices resource. She has also been recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice for her work in the area of sexual assault and stalking protocols, serving as expert resource, national speaker, and federal grant peer reviewer. She is also a consultant specializing in crisis management following workplace violence, campus security initiatives, and public policy development.
Kesha Chiappinelli is a Consultant at New Point Strategies and is a subject matter expert on sexual assault in the military. She is committed to the advancement of the military justice system in regard to the prosecution of sexual assault cases. She is a passionate consultant and trainer who recently completed a successful active duty Air Force career as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate.
Before receiving her commission she completed her legal studies at New York Law School in 2009. Kesha was a judicial intern for a New York State Supreme Court Judge in the Commercial Division where cases of fraud, misrepresentation, derivative actions, and contract disputes are heard. She also had the unique opportunity of interning for a legal analyst at Fox News. She researched and drafted articles which appeared on the Fox News website. Each topic was hand-picked from current events and the legal facets of each topic were analyzed. Kesha also got an inside look at the inner workings of national television news production via access to the recording studios.
While active duty she was stationed at Beale Air Force, a busy legal office with a heavy caseload. Her work as Trial Counsel included high profile sexual assault cases with multiple victims, child victims and child pornography. Some of the cases were of public interest and required coordination with Public Affairs. Additionally, many of the victims she interviewed were victims of retaliation. This ignited a passion for helping to eradicate retaliation and reprisal in the military.
In addition to her role as Trial Counsel she was Chief of Legal Assistance and Employment Law and spearheaded a legal internship program with UC Davis School of Law. She had the opportunity to put her knowledge of employment law to work when she collaborated with the AUSA in Sacramento and an Air Force Civilian attorney on a discrimination case involving civilian employees. Together with the AUSA they coordinated multiple interviews of civilian employees and deposed the alleged victim. She also drafted lengthy internal reports and interrogatories in an effort to find a resolution.
Kesha truly enjoys helping others and when she isn’t busy with her young son she volunteers for an international organization devoted to helping other mothers.
Tonya Saunders, is a Public Policy expert and serves on the team developing “de-escalation” strategies for community policing and intimate partner violence for NewPoint. Founder of Washington Premier Group a government relations and Public Policy firm, that represents a range of private and public clients. Ms. Saunders has an extensive background in federal government affairs and legislative policy that spans over 20 years. She began her career on the staff of Jay Rocefeller and later became a Sr. Vice President at McAuiffe, Kelly & Raffaelli (a firm founded by Governor Terry McAuliffe).
In a chilling period, as a victim of stalking and intimate partner violence, Ms. Saunders was forced to flee for her life. Ms. Saunders used her professional skills and abilities to help legislate for victims of stalking in the aftermath of her own victimization. She was determined to move beyond her own issues and use that experience to advocate for other victims. She chose to work on behalf of the still, little understood and frequently over-looked crime of stalking. She has met with and helped others to understand the importance of addressing the special needs of stalking victims. She frequently provides training and shares her insights with law enforcement, victim advocates, allied professionals and agents of the criminal justice system. She has worked with the commonwealth of Virginia in adding laws to assist victims of stalking. She has served as a Victim Assistance Network (VAN) Volunteer, answering the critical hotline calls from victims across Northern Virginia. She has appeared on The Today Show informing viewers who find themselves in dangerous relationships, based on her own personal experience – how to remain safe.
She is a victim survivor who has chosen to turn adversity into victory by using her exceptional professional skills and experience, coupled with her compassionate nature to support and empower other victims.
Notable Awards and Commendations:
2007 Victory Award (Fairfax County Victim Services, Fairfax County Police)
2008 Department of Justice Victim Advocates Award of the Year
2008 National College of District Attorneys Advocacy Award
TV/Media Appearances:
ID Show: January, 2010, “On the Case with Paula Zahn – Stalking Awareness Month”
Today Show: August, 2005 “How to Recognize a Dangerous Relationship”
Rebeka Haverill is a Senior Consultant for NewPoint Strategies. She serves on the NewPoint training and consulting team on the sexual assault prevention practice. She served for nine years in the military as an advocate for social change, working as a specialist in case management, participating in numerous activities designed toward bringing awareness and change to the military’s sexual assault policies.
Rebekah is a former Army Sergeant and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician who served on active duty from 2004-2008 and in the Army Reserves from 2008-2010. She has become a leading expert and consultant on sexual violence in the military and regularly consults for companies on issues facing women veterans and service members and military cultural competency. Some of the organizations she has worked with include Corporate Solutions for Housing, Intersections International, Community Mediation Services in New York City, and the New York Veterans Mental Health Coalition.
Rebekah has presented at numerous hearings and panels including the Senate Armed Services Sub-Committee on Personnel, Yale Law School, Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Work, the White House and she is a member of the Mayor’s Office for Veterans Affairs (MOVA) Women Veterans Action Panel in New York City. She has also appeared on several television and radio shows including CNN’s Piers Morgan, MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry, the Lawrence O’Donnell Show and the NPR syndicated Diane Rehm Show as well as being published in the New York Times.
Her previous employment includes two years with the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) as their National Helpline for Legal and Social Service Referrals Case Manager before moving into a position as the Outreach and Education Coordinator and with a long term domestic violence shelter as a crisis helpline counselor. During her time as a case manager, Rebekah interacted with and provided referrals and assistance to over 700 women veterans and their families.
Rebekah has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Drury University and an advanced certificate in Veterans Services from Empire State University. She has been accepted to the New School’s International Affairs graduate program and hopes to complete that program in the next two years.