NSDTA Leadership

Co-Chair

Mike Byers, MSW
Director
University of Pittsburgh

Mike Byers is the Director of The Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center (CWRC), a program of the University of Pittsburgh, School of Social Work. The Resource Center provides a continuum of services designed to facilitate and sustain positive change in the child welfare system. Services include training, transfer of learning, technical assistance, research and evaluation, project management, and organizational development. Mike brings a wealth of child welfare policy and practice experience through his twenty-year experience in the public child welfare system. He has worked as a public child welfare social worker, supervisor, and manager in both Pennsylvania and California, as well as the CFSR Project Lead and Manager of Statewide Projects for CWRC.

Co-Chair

Tracy Davis
Director
CT Department of Children and Families

Tracy Davis has over twenty-five years of experience working in Child Protection. She has served in various roles ranging from social worker, supervisor, trainer, and manager. Tracy is currently the Director of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families- Academy for Workforce Development. The later part of her career has focused on curriculum development with a child welfare lens, training design, implementation, and delivery. She has leadership experience in workforce development, coordination of large-scale agency training initiatives, and current knowledge of best practices regarding child welfare services. In July 2019, Tracy was elected to serve on the Executive Advisory Board of NSDTA.

Secretary

Lisa Amador, MSW
Administrator
HI Department of Human Services

Lisa Amador, MSW is the Administrator of the Department of Human Services, Adult Protective and Community Services Branch, in the State of Hawaii. She oversees five sections across the State to ensure the safety and protection of vulnerable adults, as well as two community-based programs that prevent premature institutionalization and promote the well-being of elders. She has more than twenty-six years of experience in protective services, including administration, training, supervision, and direct-service casework. Ms. Amador is an active member of the National Adult Protective Services Association’s (NAPSA) Education Committee and is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, with a BA in sociology (1997) and a Masters Degree in Social Work (2003).

Vice-Chair

Chad McDonald, Ph.D, LCSW
Research Assistant Professor
The University of Utah

Chad McDonald, Ph.D., LCSW, is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Utah, College of Social Work, and Director of the Social Research Institute (SRI). With 19+ years of experience in child welfare, including time as a trainer and administrator for the Division of Child & Family Services (DCFS) in Utah, Chad focuses his research interests on workforce development in child welfare, particularly around skills development, using enhanced teaching/learning methods, and competency assessment. Chad is currently the Principal Investigator for the Title IV-E Training/Education Contract for the College of Social Work/DCFS partnership in Utah.

Vice-Chair

Edwin Lebron, M.B.A.
Training-of-Trainers (TOT) / Virtual Learning Specialist,
Ohio's University Consortium for Child and Adult Services (OUCCAS)

Edwin Lebron is the Training-of-Trainers (TOT)/Virtual Learning Specialist for Ohio's University Consortium for Child and Adult Services (OUCCAS). OUCCAS is the state training coordinator for the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program (OCWTP) and the Ohio Human Services Training System (OHSTS). OUCCAS is a team of professionals from three Ohio public universities whose goal is to provide Ohio’s child and adult protective workers and resource families an array of innovative learning opportunities to achieve the knowledge and skill needed to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of vulnerable children and adults. Edwin has worked in various capacities for Ohio’s state training vendor and the North Central Ohio Regional Training Center for over 23 years.

Member At Large

Laurie Jicha, MSW
Oahu Section Administrator, Adult Protective and Community Services
HI Department of Human Services

Laurie Jicha, MSW, is the Oahu Section Administrator for the Adult Protective and Community Services (APCS) Branch of the Department of Human Services in the State of Hawaii. As the Oahu Section Administrator, she oversees 2 Oahu investigation units that ensure the safety and protection of vulnerable adults and the Hawaii statewide Adult Intake Unit that receives reports of vulnerable abuse and neglect for all Hawaii Islands. She has more than twenty-eight years of experience in protective services, including training, supervision, and direct-service casework. Ms. Jicha is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a bachelor's and master's degree in Social Work.

Charmaine Brittain, MSW, Ph.D.
Director, Practice Innovation

Charmaine Brittain, MSW, Ph.D., Director, Practice Innovation, has worked extensively over the past three decades throughout the United States to improve training, organizational effectiveness, and implementation and to strengthen professional development for human service professionals. At the Butler Institute for Families, she serves as the lead on multiple projects, including consulting with child welfare agencies on organizational and workforce development, managing training projects on a range of topics and approaches, overseeing practice improvement projects, and developing professional educational materials. Dr. Brittain previously served as Vice Chair for NSDTA and has been participating in NSDTA for over twenty-five years.

Leslie B. Calloway
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Workforce Development
Louisiana Department of Child and Family Services

Leslie B. Calloway is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Child Welfare Workforce Development for the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. In this position, she spearheads the department's efforts in recruitment, retention, development, training, job satisfaction, and overall employee wellness. By seamlessly aligning these vital elements, Mrs. Calloway has been instrumental in facilitating better outcomes for children and families across the state.
Notably, she played a pivotal role in securing and implementing a nationally recognized Child Welfare Workforce Development project generously supported by the Administration for Children and Families. Through this groundbreaking initiative, Leslie Calloway contributed to the advancement of child welfare practices, employee retention, and the overall well-being of families. Her profound expertise and invaluable insights have been instrumental in shaping the department's trajectory, driving workforce stability and positive change, and influencing brighter futures for all.

Dawn Konrady-Fanslau
Director
Child Welfare Education Institute, Stockton University

Dawn Konrady-Fanslau, EdD, LSW, MBA, MA, manages three statewide Title IV-E programs--the Baccalaureate Child Welfare Education Program (BCWEP), Masters Child Welfare Education Program (MCWEP), and New Jersey Child Welfare Training Partnership-Southern Region (NJCWTP-SR), and serves as the lead for or consults with the NJ Department of Children and Families to organize several other statewide initiatives. Dawn is a member of the NJ Child Placement Review Board and sits on the university Committee for the Protection of Minors. She served in leadership roles on several boards and is an adjunct instructor of management, social work, and leadership courses. Her research interests are child welfare, organizational development, and child welfare workforce development.

Laurence Nelson
Director of Training and Professional Development
Georgia Division of Family and Children Services

Laurence is responsible for improving the knowledge, skills, attitudes and practice of new and veteran staff through the implementation and delivery of competency-based training, coaching and supervisory mentoring. Laurence attended Florida A&M University for his undergraduate studies and holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Georgia. Laurence is no stranger to Child Welfare and supervision. Having spent the past 18 years with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, Laurence has served in the capacity of case manager, supervisor, administrator, training coordinator, data manager and county director. Laurence’s greatest accomplishment was organizing the Every Day is Father’s Day festival while at Clayton County DFCS and assisting with implementing simulation in the DFCS Child Welfare Training Academy. Laurence is passionate about being a father and social worker and enjoys sports, jazz, woodworking and cooking. Laurence is a member and past-President of the Georgia Professional Human Services Association, a graduate of Leadership Clayton and recently received his professional coaching certification through the University of Denver, Butler Institute.

Cynthia “Cindy” Parry, Ph.D.
Evaluation Consultant
C.F. Parry Associates

Cynthia Parry, Ph.D., has thirty years of experience evaluating human services at state and national levels. Dr. Parry is currently an evaluator for the Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD), specializing in testing and measurement. She has led training evaluation efforts in multiple states. She serves on the Executive Advisory Council for the National Staff Development and Training Association and the steering committee for the National Human Services Training Evaluation Symposium.

Marlo A. Perry, Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor
University of Pittsburgh

Marlo A. Perry, Ph.D., is a Research Associate Professor in the School of Social Work’s Child Welfare Education and Research Programs (CWERP) at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Perry also serves as the Director of Research and Evaluation for CWERP and oversees all research and evaluation projects across the CWERP continuum, which includes Pennsylvania's Title IV-E programs and the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center (https://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/)
Dr. Perry is interested in how large-scale, system-wide applied research can inform policy and practice in order to benefit vulnerable children and families. Her specific research interests include the following three areas: (1) the enhanced rigor of Pennsylvania’s training for child welfare professionals, particularly the evaluation of simulation training, team-based learning, and transfer of learning to the field, (2) the successful implementation of evidence-based practices within the child welfare context, and (3) the measurement and cultivation of emotional intelligence competencies in child welfare professionals, particularly as they relate to well-being and commitment to the field.

Lonetta Richardson Bryan, M.A.
Deputy Director
County of Riverside, Department of Public Social Services (DPSS)

Lonetta has worked in social services for over 25 years. Over the course of her career, she has served as a Mental Health Clinician, Training Coordinator and Staff Development Manager. Lonetta currently serves as the Director of the Office of Health and Wellness (OHW) with the Department of Public Social Services in Riverside California. The OHW provides support to staff by offering peer support, self-care tools and other resources. As a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, Lonetta provides executive and team coaching to individuals and organizations. Lonetta received her BA from Spelman College and her MA from Clark Atlanta University (Educational Psychology), Azusa Pacific University (Clinical Psychology) and Golden Gate Theological Seminary (Theological Studies) respectively. As a wellness coach, Lonetta enjoys helping people to live their best life and reach their full potential.

Terrance Stroud
Deputy Commissioner
NYC Department of Social Services

Terrance Stroud is the Deputy Commissioner for New York City’s Department of Social Services, overseeing the Office of Training & Workforce Development. Terrance has been honored for his work and contributions to the community with distinctions such as Home Reporter News’ “Star of Brooklyn," City & State's “Top 40 Under 40,” and a Black Enterprise Modern Man. Terrance serves on the alumni and advisory boards of Brooklyn Technical High School, Brooklyn College & Indiana Maurer School of Law and is an Adjunct Professor of Law overseeing Maurer’s NY Externship Program. Terrance was appointed to the NY State Staff Development Advisory Committee in 2019 and joined NSDTA in 2019.

Alison Book, LCSW
Director, Human Services
UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education

Alison Book, LCSW, ACC, is the Director and Chair of Human Services with UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education, which delivers training, workforce development and organizational development services to human services professionals across California. Alison has more than 17 years of experience in human services, including 10 years in public child welfare services as a social worker, supervisor and manager. Her workforce development experience includes training, coaching and consultation for public agencies with an emphasis on leadership, coaching, organizational improvement and implementation science to support best practice. Alison is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, holds an Associate Certified Coach credential with the International Coaching Federation, and was the recipient of California’s statewide Partnerships for Well-Being Collaboration/Integration Award in 2021.

Alexander Figueroa
Assistant Director of Learning and Development
American Public Human Services Association

Alex brings over thirteen years of experience in training facilitation in child support, leadership, and professional development to the APHSA OE team. He’s experienced in delivering comprehensive training and specialized workshops at various state, regional, and national conferences. Before joining APHSA, Alex was the Manager of Human Services Initiatives at the Institute for Families (IFF), Rutgers School of Social Work. In that capacity, he managed the staff at the New Jersey Child Support Institute (NJCSI).

Maurine Jones
Senior Meeting Manager
American Public Human Services Association

Maurine Jones serves as the Conference Meeting Planner for the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA). With 15 years of experience creating and executing successful event experiences, Maurine provides meeting management support with our Membership & Events Team. Good at wearing multiple hats, Maurine is adept at responding quickly to changing circumstances, always maintaining an upbeat, can-do attitude.