Serve Idaho! Conference National Trainers / Presenters

Mary Barlow-Brusse
Mary Barlow-Brusse is the Public Education Specialist for Ada City-County Emergency Management. She educates the public about the hazards we face in our area and the steps we can take to be better prepared to protect our families and ourselves before, during, and after a disaster. She has spoken to groups such as law enforcement candidates at the POST Academy, the Idaho Rural Health Care Association Conference, and many other community organizations. Mary also coordinates the Ada County Emergency Response Team (CERT) training program, which trains neighborhoods and businesses in basic emergency response skills.

Cathryn Berger-Kaye, M.A.
Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A., travels internationally to promote high quality service learning, literacy, and character development in education. As the author of The Complete Guide to Service Learning, Cathryn is adept at working with K-12 programs, higher education, and organizations to promote the best learning environments for youth. Her new program, Strategies for Success with Literacy: A Learning Curriculum that Serves integrates innovative teaching methods with civic engagement. Based in Los Angeles, Cathy is delighted to be returning once again to Idaho.

Becky Blumer
Becky Blumer is the Assistant Director at Hands On Portland. Becky’s experience includes managing large-scale service events, developing and directing programs, financial management, staff development, fundraising, and operational management. Prior to joining Hands On Portland, Becky was a National Service Fellow with the Corporation for National Service. She also served as an AmeriCorps member and AmeriCorps Leader, and worked as the Program Manager at the Idaho Commission for National and Community Service. She is an active volunteer in her community on political and social causes and serves as a board member on the Women’s Community Education Project.

Shirley Conger
Shirley Conger served as Director of Volunteer Services at West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell for over 17 years. She is a volunteer administration consultant and trainer in the United States and Canada. She continues her lifetime commitment to volunteerism currently by working with United Way, Rotary International, Morrison Center for the Performing Arts, Women's Fitness Celebration, and others. She is a Serve Idaho Commissioner. Shirley holds a B.S. degree from Colorado State University in General Science.

Robert Feeley
Robert Feeley is the Citizen Corps Program Manager for the Bureau of Homeland Security.

Neva Geisler
Neva Geisler is the Volunteer Center & 211 Idaho Project Director for United Way of Treasure Valley. With a professional background in marketing communications, higher education and community service, she brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the United Way of Treasure Valley team. Neva has a BA in Political Science from Albertson College of Idaho and an MA in Communication from the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University. Neva started her career in volunteer services at the age of eight when her Brownie troop planted a tree for the community. This Mom-imposed activity launched subsequent careers as a Girl Scout, a 4-H'er, a Key Clubber, an activist and all-around true believer in volunteerism and community. Neva is a runner, a reader and a lover of fun.

Vonda Hall (panelist)
Vonda Hall is an attorney of Business Law for Albertson's Inc.

Anthony Holmes
Tony Holmes is the Trust Officer for the Pacific Cluster at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). He has been with the corporation since 2001. Outside of CNCS he does volunteer service work with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, AmeriCorps NCCC, he is also the President of the Park Police Volunteer Association. In 2003 Tony won the Willis Greene Community Service Award at CNCS. He has won numerous awards for his volunteer efforts through Prince George’s County Park Police, the Chiefs’ Association of Prince George’s County, Prince George’s Gazette News and Prince George's County. Tony also received the Governor’s Crime Prevention Award. Tony enjoys spending time with his family and giving back to his community in any way possible.

Kelly Houston
Kelly Houston is the Executive Director of Serve Idaho, the Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism, where she administers Idaho's AmeriCorps Programs and is the chairperson of Idaho's Promise: The Alliance for Youth. Kelly has been with the Commission for eight years. In 1997, she was the lead Idaho State Delegate to the Presidents' Summit for America's Future. Kelly has a B.A. in International Affairs and French with a Business and Economics emphasis. Prior to her appointment to Serve Idaho, Kelly was employed as an Admission Counselor at the University of Puget Sound. She also worked for West One Bank as an International Banking Specialist and for the Idaho Youth Ranch as Associate Director of Development and Special Events Coordinator.

Shelly Houston
Shelly Houston is the Community Communications Coordinator for the City of Meridian. In this role she works full time from the Mayor’s Office, directing the growing city’s internal and external communication efforts. She is a Boise native with more than twenty years of experience in the fields of media relations, corporate communications, PR and event planning. She graduated with honors from the University of Puget Sound with a major in Communications and Theatre Arts and a minor degree in Politics & Government. She is also an entrepreneur who co-owns a small business with her twin sister.

Karen Hyatt
Karen is a private consultant on disaster preparedness.

Deb Krum
Deb Krum recently started her own consulting firm, Capacity by Design. Her past employment includes 211 Idaho, Association of Idaho Cities, and Serve Idaho. She currently serves on the Governor's Coordinating Council for Families and Children and chairs the Idaho Rural Community Review Board. Deb enjoys fly-fishing, golfing, backpacking and traveling throughout rural Idaho.

Sue Lin
Sue Lin is the Project Director of AUCD Cooperative Agreement with the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She provides
leadership, information and develops opportunities for the AUCD network of centers and programs to conduct research and education activities in the areas of disability, prevention of secondary conditions and health
promotion for people living with disabilities. Sue has trained nationally as the Senior Training Associate for the
National Service Inclusion Project. In this position, she conducted trainings nationally and provided ongoing technical assistance for AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Learn and Serve programs in the area of assistive technology. She is dedicated to the inclusion of individuals with disabilities as full and productive members in their community. Sue has a M.S in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Matt McCarter
Matt McCarter moved to Boise from Seattle, WA in July of 2002 to begin as the Executive Director of the City of Boise's Healthy Community* Healthy Youth Initiative. He graduated from Lewis and Clark High School - Spokane, WA in 1991 and he earned his BA from Western Washington University - Bellingham, WA in 1995. His background is in facilitation, leadership development and experiential education. Working as a Community Organizer for King County Government, he supported community efforts to prevent substance abuse and violence among youth using the tools and philosophy behind the 40 developmental assets. Matt utilizes percussion and sleight of hand to build rapport and initiate dialogue about healthy choices with young people and community volunteers. Previous to providing technical assistance to community groups, he managed the Seattle Police Department's volunteer program and served as a JustServe AmeriCorps volunteer. The foundation of his work is the belief that every individual and community has the potential to create happiness and success for themselves. He lives in Boise with his wife, Erin, and their young daughter, Queen Ruby and his family just welcomed a baby boy into the family (Indy).

John McCarthy
John McCarthy is chief of the Wilderness Ranch Fire Protection District. He holds national certifications in Structural Fire fighting, wildland fire fighting, hazardous materials operations, extrication and rescue and is an emergency medical technician. He is a state-certified instructor in fire fighting, rescue, hazardous materials and incident command. He lives and works in Boise County Idaho.

Jim McNall
Jim McNall is the Loss Control Coordinator for Idaho Counties Risk Management Program (ICRMP). He has worked for ICRMP for the past 13 years. In his current role he provides training and risk management advice on numerous topics relating to Local Government. Jim grew up in the Sandpoint area. He served as Bonner County Commissioner for 12 years and was active in State and National County associations.

Jenny Price
Jenny Price has a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication, Cum Laude from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She’s currently working toward her Master of Science: Education. Prior to joining the Big Brothers Big Sister’s team, Jenny was a Graduate Assistant at SIUC in New Student Programs and her experience includes leadership development, public speaking, and marketing. Jenny has been with Big Brothers Big Sisters for 3 years and has been a Big Sister for 1 year.

Shelli Rambo Roberson
Shelli Rambo Roberson resides in Eagle with her husband Brad Roberson, a training program manager for Hewlett-Packard, their daughters Luci, 2 ½ and Lilli, 1, and their twelve pets - two dogs, three cats, three horses and four bunnies! Shelli has worked for The Boeing Company as the Board Coordinator for the Boeing Employees Good Neighbor Fund, at Mercy Centers for Recovery as a Counselor and Educator, at Boise State University as a Research Analyst for a publication on at-risk youth, as a Health Promoter for the National Spit Tobacco Education Program and as a Secondary Education Instructor at Eagle Academy Alternative High School teaching English and Sociology. Shelli is currently the Executive Director of the Idaho Governor's Council on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and the Program Manager of the Title V Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program of Idaho for the Governor's Office and the Generation of the Child Initiative.

Helen Savage
Helen Savage is the Community Development Resource Specialist for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. She currently serves as a Serve Idaho Commission and is a past AmeriCorps member.

Nick Smith
Nick Smith is the Civic Education Coordinator for the Idaho State Department of Education working in Civics, Service-Learning and Character Education. Prior to working at the State Department, he served four years as a Principal/Teacher in the Bliss School District, an active Character Ed and Service Learning K-12 school, in Bliss, Idaho. As principal and teacher, Nick actively administered these programs in the district and the Bliss community. As a National Center for Civic Education Trainer in Project Citizen he has instructed teachers throughout the country in the Project Citizen program and methods in which to implement the program in their classroom and school.

Elesheva Soloff
Elesheva Soloff While attending the University of Michigan, took an active role in disability issues particularly related to deaf/hard of hearing students both on- and off-campus. After graduating, she participated in a year-long national service program, AVODAH, working for an organization that provides services for low-income senior
citizens. Elesheva trained the volunteers to modify their teaching techniques to accommodate seniors with limited mobility, enabling the volunteers to become more aware of different needs and promote inclusiveness in our activities. Currently is a Training Specialist and has been on NSIP team for two years helping with training and providing technical assistances.

Dr. Andrea Taylor
Andrea Taylor, Ph.D. is the Director of Training at Temple University’s Center for Intergenerational Learning, an organization with a 25- year history of implementing innovative cross age programs. The Center’s National Training Network provides training and technical assistance focusing on civic engagement of older adults and strategies for infusing intergenerational approaches into social service, health and educational systems. Dr. Taylor is also the Developer and Principal Investigator of Across Ages, an evidenced-based model project funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, which involves intergenerational mentoring as an approach to positive youth development and the prevention of school failure, substance abuse, and early or repeat teen pregnancies.

Melissa Thomsen
Melissa Thomsen has a Bachelor of Arts degree from in Social Science with an emphasis in Sociology, Psychology and child development from Boise State University. Prior to coming to Big Brothers Big Sisters she worked for the Boise School District for 3 years. Melissa has experience in child development, curriculum development and staff development. She has been with Big Brothers Big Sisters for 3 years and has been a Big Sister for 2 years.

Linda Webb
Linda Webb is a youth development specialist in Idaho with 25 years of experience in volunteer management. She has a MEd in General Counseling and a Ph.D. in Adult Education. Linda has worked extensively at the state, regional and national level providing volunteer management and leadership development education programs.

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