Conference Speakers
Wellness on the Front Line™ 2023
October 17-20, 2023
We will continue to post additional speakers as plans are finalized.
Mari Aborqui, Civilian Investigator, Anaheim Police Department
Mari Aborqui grew up in a home filled with violence and abuse, which included neglect, emotional abuse and sexual abuse. As a daughter of a mentally ill mother and emotionally void/workaholic father, who abandoned the family in her teen years. Her childhood was filled with feelings of sadness, despair and shame. By the age of 19, she was an unequipped mother of 2 daughters and in an abusive marriage. After years of counseling, internal work and cultivating a relationship with God she was able to work through years of personal pain that negatively affected the lives of her and her children.
Today she is employed as a Civilian Investigator at the Anaheim Police Department’s Burglary/Auto Theft Detail. Before her role as an investigator, she was a Victim Advocate and was stationed at the Orange County Family Justice Center (OCFJC). There is where she worked for eight years assisting victims of family violence, child abuse, elder abuse and sexual assault. The chronic childhood trauma that she had experienced came full circle as she was able to use her own experience to be more effective in assisting the victims she came in contact with. In 2011 she joined APD The Peer Support Program and recently assisted in forming WOA (Women of APD) where their mission is “To Empower, Engage and Heal Each Other Through Connection.”
First Responders are fearless and take on the role of facing the demons and monsters of others yet many of us have not faced our own. We have to do for ourselves what we would do for others. “We cannot heal what we cannot speak”. WOA is taking a step in creating a support group so that we can face the demons of our past together and begin the healing process within.
Dr. Tomer Anbar, CEO, Institutes of Health
Dr. Tomer Anbar is CEO of Institutes of Health, specializing in research and the advanced treatment of such conditions as chronic pain, complex PTSD, brain injuries, and related conditions. In 2002 he launched the Mind/Body Health Init iative to more effectively treat the chronic pain epidemic in the workers’ compensation system, and 2008 founded the Interdisciplinary Functional Restoration Program at Scripps Health. As Chief Clinical Advisor of the Employers’ Fraud Task Force, he advised the California Department of Industrial relations on how to systematically improve clinical outcomes employing evidence-based biopsychosocial paradigms. He is former Chairman of the Pain Rehabilitation SIG of the American Pain Society and former Treasurer of the Musculoskeletal Pain SIG of the International Association for the Study of Pain comprised of 125 countries. Dr. Anbar is former Head of Unit of Clinical and Research Psychobiology at the National Institute of Neurology, Collaborative Center for Research and Training in Neurosciences of the World Health Organization in Mexico City.
Tim Brown, Retired, Decorated 20-Year FDNY Firefighter
Tim Brown is a retired, decorated 20-year FDNY firefighter, a survivor of the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, a first responder to the 1993 terrorist attack on the WTC and a veteran of the New York Urban Search & Rescue Task Force team that responded to the 1995 terrorist attack on the Alfred P. Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City. Tim lost 93 of his friends on Sept. 11th, including his two best friends. His last assignment in the FDNY was Rescue Co. 3 in The Bronx. He served as a Supervisor of Field Operations for four years in Mayor Giuliani’s Office of Emergency Management. Tim spent two years on special detail to the federal government, serving as a special assistant to the Secretary of Health and Human Services helping to build command & control, followed by cultural change in the entire HHS Department. While a part of HHS’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness group, he was a founding member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
On 20 FEB 2003, Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri asked for assistance in dealing with the aftermath of the Station Nightclub fire that killed 100 people. HHS sent Tim to assist the Governor. Tim advised the Governor for nearly two years to help with the disaster as well as to rebuild RI’s homeland security and emergency management organizations.
Since May of 2012, he has been a part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s 9/11 Prosecution Task Force in the case United States vs. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, et al. Tim is currently the liaison to the 9/11 families, survivors, victims, and witnesses and other US Government departments for the lead Prosecutor. He maintains a TS/SCI clearance.
Matt Fiorenza, Retired Firefighter/Paramedic
Matt Fiorenza is a retired Firefighter/Paramedic that served The City of Anaheim Ca for 22 years. After ten years on the job he began having issues with anxiety, stress, and depression and was later diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Today Matty is a sober mentor to men and woman in the First Responder community and spent 3 years as a Shepherd at the Save A Warrior program. Matt helped to start a very successful First Responder only Treatment Center in Newport Beach Ca, proactively reaches out to brothers and sisters who may be struggling. He worked as an instructor with Santa Ana College where he facilitated mental health blocks to new recruits so they have healthier coping skills. He has spoken at many different first responder agencies all over the Country and loves teaching meditation. Matt was featured in PTSD911 documentary. His passion is to provide other first responders with education, resources, hope, and a path towards healing. Axel Rose is Matt’s Service Dog who is trained through the Working Dogs for Warriors organization, a mental health organization that trains dogs. Their unique approach to building community around providing Service Dogs to veterans and first responders struggling with PTSD has been instrumental in Matt’s recovery. Axel Rose had been to Chicago, Dallas and Wisconsin. He also works with Matt at various debriefings and mental health centers where he performs a dual role as a therapy dog. Axel spends his time off chasing the ball and playing tug of war!
Keith Gordon, US Border Patrol Agent
Assistant Special Agent in Charge
US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General
Special Agent
US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General
Special Agent
US General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General
U.S. Border Patrol Agent
US Immigration and Naturalization Service
Team Leader, Weapons Specialist (Army Ranger)
US Army, 1st Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Bachelor of Science: Sociology and Criminal Justice
William Paterson University
Angela Hearns, Chaplain
Angela is the youngest of six children born to Bishop Henry (a pastor) and Essie Hearns (an elementary school teacher). She grew up in a home filled with love, fun and music, which is where her passion for people began. Angela grew up in the Antelope Valley, in California, and she attended local schools until she entered her college years. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Radio-Television and Film from California State University at Northridge. She was one of the few persons of color to be an on-air news reporter for Channel 3 News in the early 1990’s. She was a substitute teacher for the Antelope Valley Union High School District as well as Los Angeles County Office of Education. Angela also taught Adult Basic Education II at the California State Prison, Lancaster, for five years. Ms. Hearns felt a calling to return to school to pursue a Master’s Degree in the field of Social Welfare, as it would equip her to fulfill her passion to help people. She graduated from UCLA in 1998 with her MSW. She was hired by the Los Angeles County Probation Department in 1999, where she is currently employed.
Angela is also a recording artist, who completed her first CD, ARISE, in 2010. Her video aired on BET, and her songs were aired on Music Choice, KJLH in Los Angeles and other stations in various states. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, shopping and interior decorating.
Lisa Morales, Detective, Miami-Dade Police Department (Florida), Special Victims Bureau
Detective Lisa Morales is a recently retired 32 year veteran of the Miami D ade Police Department. For the last 21 years of her career, she was assigned to the Special Victims Bureau, Vulnerable Victims Unit where she investigated criminal allegations of physical abuse, neglect and exploitation of children, disabled and elderly persons. After her retirement, she remained attached to the Miami Dade Police Department as a Police Reserve Officer in the Special Victims Bureau (SVB) and continues to assist the full time SVB detectives with their investigations. Detective Morales is also a certified criminal justice instructor who teaches Child/Elderly/Disabled Abuse investigations to police recruits and in service personnel at the Miami Dade Public Safety Training Institute (MDPSTI). Additionally, she conducts training and presentations for civilian groups and community organizations on the topics of child and elderly abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Troy Rodgers, Psy.D., Public Safety Psychology Group LLC, New Mexico
Dr. Rodgers is a police and public safety psychologist who has been practicing in the Southwest for the last 20 years. He has been the Agency Director for Public Safety Psychology Group LLC (PSPG) since 2004. At the present time, he works as a consultant/psychologist for over 140 local, state, and federal law enforcement, fire, and corrections agencies. He is an active member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff’s Association, the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals, and the Society for Police and Criminal Psychology.
Dr. Rodgers is a former adjunct faculty member at the University of Phoenix and he has also taught at the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College. Dr. Rodgers has a master’s degree and a doctorate in clinical forensic psychology from the University of Denver. He is currently licensed in New Mexico as a Psychologist. In the past he was licensed as a Professional Clinical Counselor, School Psychologist, and School Counselor.
In 2016, Dr. Rodgers was awarded a Diplomate in Police Psychology from the Society for Police and Criminal Psychology. He was appointed in 2014 by Governor Susana Martinez to the NM Sexual Offender Management Board. In 2019 he became an ethics committee member for the International Association of Chiefs of Police- Police Psychology Section. He is currently a board member for the National Sheriff’s Association-Psychology Section. He is also certified as a Master Professional Lecturer by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Training Academy.
Dr. Rodgers has particular areas of expertise that include substance abuse prevention, law enforcement training, school psychology, police psychology, law enforcement assessment, offender treatment and evaluation, violence risk assessment, school and workplace violence, crisis intervention, behavioral profiling, peak performance training, corrections psychology, and stalking. He is trained in hostage negotiation. Dr. Rodgers has extensive experience in the development of training curriculum for prevention programs and law enforcement and in the actual training of law enforcement personnel, civilian employees, adolescents, and teenagers. Dr. Rodgers is currently completing his Certified Prevention Specialist application. He has been working with children and adolescents for over 30 years. He is one of the founding members of PSPG.
Shelley Townley, Child Welfare Supervisor, Ventura County Children and Family Services
Shelley Townley is a Child Welfare Supervisor with Children & Family Services in Ventura County California. She has thirty years of Child Welfare experience, including supervision of the following programs: Emergency Response, Placement, Children and Family Team Meetings, Emergency Response, Training and the Youth Services Division. In 2017, secondary trauma and its impact to staff lead to the development of a Peer Support Program. She was nominated by her peers to be one of the first peer supporters and was instrumental in the growth and development of the program. Currently, she is a co leader of Peer Support. The Peer Support Program offers individual peer support, resiliency support groups, mindful meditation groups, a day with therapy dogs. We also helped in the creation of a greater all County Peer Support Coalition with Law Enforcement and Fire to collaborate in major events such as the Borderline shooting and the Thomas Fire.
Betsy Watson, MSW, Emergency Response/After Hours Supervisor, Ventura County Children and Family Services
Betsy Watson is a Child Welfare Supervisor with Children and Family Services in Ventura County, California. She has been in child welfare since 2001 and started her career working in Minneapolis, Minnesota in case management and moved to Oxnard, California in 2005. She has worked as an ongoing case manager, emergency response on dayshift and after hours, and has been a supervisor in Emergency Response since 2014. She was nominated by her peers in 2019 to be a peer supporter and was the first supervisor to be nominated to the team. Currently, she is also a co-leader of the Peer Support program. Betsy believes secondary trauma is something we talk about in Child Welfare but until the peer support program was developed we did not have a uniform way to support staff. The Peer Support program is having an impact and the Director to all of Human Services Agency is looking to implement the program throughout the entire agency.
If you would like to review information covering previous conferences, visit our Training Calendar archive section.