Nikki Tennis directs the Office of Children, Youth, and Families at the West Virginia Bureau for Behavioral Health (BBH). She has degrees in law, journalism, and communication studies from West Virginia University. She is a board member for the WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence and a past chair of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Children, Youth, and Families Division.

Tahnee Bryant is the Substance Use Prevention and Expanded School Mental Health Program Manager II for the WVDHHR Bureau for Behavioral Health. She also serves as West Virginia’s National Prevention Network (NPN) representative. Mrs. Bryant currently serves as the Chairperson for the WV Prevention Steering Committee and WV Strategic Prevention Plan. Mrs. Bryant has over 20 years’ experience within the behavioral health field in various leadership positions. In addition to teaching at the primary level early in her career she has also served as instructor within Higher Education. Mrs. Bryant has an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and a Graduate degree in Leadership, both from Marshall University.

I was born and raised in Three Rivers, Michigan and now live and teach in Paw Paw, Michigan. I played collegiate baseball and earned my teaching degree from Western Michigan University. I'm currently teaching fifth grade and have been doing so for seven years.

Tahnee Bryant is the Substance Use Prevention and Expanded School Mental Health Program Manager II for the WVDHHR Bureau for Behavioral Health. She also serves as West Virginia’s National Prevention Network (NPN) representative. Mrs. Bryant currently serves as the Chairperson for the WV Prevention Steering Committee and WV Strategic Prevention Plan. Mrs. Bryant has over 20 years’ experience within the behavioral health field in various leadership positions. In addition to teaching at the primary level early in her career she has also served as instructor within Higher Education. Mrs. Bryant has an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and a Graduate degree in Leadership, both from Marshall University.

Jo Anne McNemar is a graduate of the WVU School of Medicine with a degree in Community Health Education and a BS Degree in Psychology. She is a certified Prevention Specialist II. With over 30 years of behavioral health experience in crisis intervention, community development, environmental change, youth leadership, and prevention education, she has served in various roles in her career in local, state, and national capacities.

At the WV Bureau of Behavioral Health her passion for substance abuse prevention is shown as she works to develop and increase the skills of others in the field. Currently she serves as the Partnerships for Success Program Director.
Past awards received include the Excellence in Prevention award for model service and dedication, the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award for WV, the US Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Community Coalition and Mobilization, WV Women of Distinction, and Notre Dame High School’s Outstanding Alumni award, Distinguished Italian American Woman, Outstanding WV State Student’s Against Destructive Decisions Advisor, Outstanding Citizen/Leader in Harrison County and WV Remarkable Women and WV Legislative Recognition.

I was born and raised in Three Rivers, Michigan and now live and teach in Paw Paw, Michigan. I played collegiate baseball and earned my teaching degree from Western Michigan University. I'm currently teaching fifth grade and have been doing so for seven years.

Dara Pond is the Director of Prevention Services at Youth Services System, Inc., the Region1 Prevention Lead Organization providing services in the northern panhandle of West Virginia. She is a magna cum laude honors graduate of West Liberty University with a degree in Education and a certified Grants Specialist with more than twenty years of experience as a community health professional.

Jo Anne McNemar is a graduate of the WVU School of Medicine with a degree in Community Health Education and a BS Degree in Psychology. She is a certified Prevention Specialist II. With over 30 years of behavioral health experience in crisis intervention, community development, environmental change, youth leadership, and prevention education, she has served in various roles in her career in local, state, and national capacities.

At the WV Bureau of Behavioral Health her passion for substance abuse prevention is shown as she works to develop and increase the skills of others in the field. Currently she serves as the Partnerships for Success Program Director.
Past awards received include the Excellence in Prevention award for model service and dedication, the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award for WV, the US Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Community Coalition and Mobilization, WV Women of Distinction, and Notre Dame High School’s Outstanding Alumni award, Distinguished Italian American Woman, Outstanding WV State Student’s Against Destructive Decisions Advisor, Outstanding Citizen/Leader in Harrison County and WV Remarkable Women and WV Legislative Recognition.

Sara Fincham is the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Service’s Prevention and Stalking Coordinator. Sara participates on the state-wide Key Players for Violence Prevention workgroup as well as the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention workgroup, the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center’s (SPARC) Community of Practice, and on state-wide workgroups to help improve response and raise awareness of issues related to LGBTQ+ survivors and survivors with disabilities. Prior to coming to FRIS, Sara spent 7 years working in community-based violence prevention programs where she was a certified domestic violence advocate.

Teresa McCourt, MS, LSW is the state Prevention Coordinator for WV Foundation for Rape Information and Services. She has over 25 years of experience in senior and executive leadership positions within the field of human services. Teresa received her MS in Strategic Leadership and BS in Behavioral Sciences from Mountain State University. Teresa was with the WV Division of Corrections for 18 years, serving in various capacities including Deputy Director of Training, Director of Offender Programs, and Warden. Following this, Teresa made the move to West Virginia University’s Center for Excellence in Disabilities where she served as a Program Manager and the agency’s Assistant Director. She returned to her roots in direct services for five years, providing counseling services to people with substance use disorders and has recently joined the WVFRIS team. Teresa has expertise in community-and institutional-program development and implementation, service delivery models, serving people with disabilities, and ensuring accessibility of programs and services for those with disabilities. She has served on multiple state and local councils, boards, and committees over the course of her career in corrections and disability services.

Paige is currently the Regional Prevention Coordinator at the Potomac Highlands Guild. Under the West Virginia Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant, provided through the WV Department of Health and Human Resources – Bureau for Behavioral Health, she covers Region 2 (Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan and Pendleton counties) in the state of West Virginia. In this position she provides leadership regarding multiple state grants (SAPT, WVPFS, SOR, SPF-Rx, RAIS) to implement prevention services and trainings related to substance use disorder. She maintains a strong focus in evidence-based prevention programming, strategic planning, workforce development, community mobilization and coalition building.

Before working in the prevention field, Paige worked in pre-college enrichment at the University of California, Santa Barbara providing academic counseling and social mentoring. She completed two terms as Community Coordinator for AmeriCorps Energy Express and is endorsed to substitute teach English, Spanish and Social Studies (k-12) in the state of West Virginia. Other professional experiences include public relations campaigns, advertising campaigns, special event planning, fundraising and volunteer recruitment. She received her Bachelors of Science in Journalism (concentration in Public Relations) and Bachelors of Arts in History from West Virginia University simultaneously in December 2004.

Shelly Mize currently works as the Prevention Grant Director for Westbrook Health Services. She serves as the Prevention Lead for Region 3 in West Virginia. Shelly works daily to educate children and adults about substance abuse prevention and advocates for healthy lifestyle choices and opportunities in their community. She has a BA in Social Work from West Virginia State University. Shelly is a Licensed Social Worker and Certified Prevention Specialist II.

She is committed to improving the quality of life for youth in Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, and Wood Counties. For over a decade, she has educated children in Region 3 by bringing community members together to uplift and guide them. Westbrook Health Services provides a vast array of services and supports designed to better the lives of those we serve. Working with individuals, schools, and other non-profit organizations, Westbrook strives daily to empower people to reach their greatest potential.

Adam Short currently works as the Prevention Program Coordinator in the Southern Region for Westbrook Health Services. He serves the communities of Wirt, Calhoun, Roane as well as Jackson Counties. Adam works with stakeholders and coalitions to help them improve access to services and provide education about substance use and mental health issues in their communities. Adam holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Liberty University as well as an Associate degree in Criminal Justice from West Virginia State University.
Adam has held positions as a law enforcement officer as well as a corrections officer, but his passion is mental health. Adam works in communities to help implement evidence-based programming in schools and the community and helps organize community events. Adam strives to uphold the motto of Westbrook Health Services to be people-driven and community-focused.
Adam has been involved in mission trips to Africa and various parts of the United States and is a Sunday school teacher at his local church. He is an advocate for adoption, reading, and bacon. In his spare time, Adam enjoys spending time playing with his three sons and telling horrible dad jokes.

Jonnie is a Certified Prevention Specialist II and an Internationally Certified Prevention Specialist through IC&RC. She has been working in prevention for all of her life, and excels at community based organizing and research. Jonnie learned the value of prevention at a young age and has leveraged that unique knowledge to fuel her passion for empowering people to make the change they want to see in their own communities. Her core value is that wherever we live; we have the obligation to make it healthier, happier, and safer.

Ms. Shahan is the Executive Director of West Virginia Prevention Solutions, Inc. She has been with this organization for 15 years. Ms. Shahan is a licensed social worker, a certified Prevention Specialist III and has studied community mobilization in response to conflict in South America and Mexico. She has been training/teaching adults and youth for 17 years. In addition, Ms. Shahan provides training throughout West Virginia educating professionals, community members, parents, and youth in an array of substance use issues, data, and solutions. She also works with community members and stakeholders to create sustainable positive change using data-driven individual interventions and environmental strategies to prevent substance use. Her passion for healthy youth and communities carries over to her volunteer work as well. Ms. Shahan enjoys coaching youth in NASP and 4-H Shooting Sports, building strong pro-social skills in youth to encourage them to excel in all areas of their lives.

Joined the Charleston Police Department in 2003 and presently hold the rank of Lieutenant. I have held several positions in the department including, detective in the FBI Gang Task force, Hostage negotiator, Dare instructor, Bike Commander and presently Public Services Division Commander.

Born and raised in West Virginia, from Huntington to Barboursville, now in Scott Depot. I have a 3 year old daughter, named Graecyn, who means the world to me with my fiance Samantha. I started with Lowe's in 2016 as a salesman in plumbing at the South Point, Ohio store. Worked my way up through 4 different stores, currently working at the Kanawha City Lowe's.

Kim Shoemake is the Regional Prevention Coordinator for WV's Region 5 serving Mingo, Logan, Boone, Kanawha, Clay, Cabell, Putnam, Wayne and Lincoln Counties. Kim has 9 years of experience in prevention as well as experience in higher education. Kim holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science: Crime Scene Investigation. Kim has had the opportunity to work with youth and young adults in bettering their lives by making smart choices. Kim is passionate about prevention and helping youth make good choices.

Cheryl Jonese, MSCP, PSII, has more than 35 years experience in the substance use disorder field, 25 of those as a therapist working in four states, WV, Virginia, Arizona, and Hawaii in various settings including: Inpatient, Residential, Outpatient, Drug Court, Day Report and Youth Health Expanded School Mental Health. The last 13 years, she has worked as a Prevention Coordinator at the community level working with youth and adults in southern WV. Her work has included helping communities in five counties establish community anti-drug coalitions, coordinate evidence based programming in schools and develop environmental strategies that prevent and reduce the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. She has a BA in Counseling Rehabilitation from Marshall University and MS in Counseling Psychology from Chaminade University, Honolulu HI. She is a WV Prevention Specialist II. She currently serves as a Partnerships for Success Prevention Coordinator for Community Connections, Inc.

Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, is the co-founder and chief executive officer of eMed. Dr. Patrice A. Harris is board-certified in psychiatry and has diverse experience as a private practicing physician, public health director and patient advocate. In 2018, Dr. Harris was elected as the 174th President of the American Medical Association, the first African-American woman to ever hold the position.
Dr. Harris’ life is marked by her passion to improve the lives of children and communities around her, especially communities of color. She is a recognized expert in children’s mental health and childhood trauma, and integrating public health, behavioral health and primary care services. She has received numerous awards in recognition of her service and leadership.
Upon completion of her term as President of the AMA, Dr. Harris has continued in private practice. She regularly consults with public and private organizations on health service delivery and emerging trends in health policy. She is a Visiting Professor at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Psychiatry, an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine and an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Morehouse School of
Medicine. Dr. Harris is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.