​
2020 Conference Speakers
​
Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, is an international speaker, trainer, and consultant in the behavioral health field whose work has reached thousands throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Caribbean and British Islands.
Mark is the author of five books, which focus on behavioral health. Recent writings include Slipping through the Cracks: Intervention Strategies for Clients Multiple Addictions and Disorders, Recovery Management: and Relationship Detox: Helping Clients Develop Healthy Relationships in Recovery. He has had two stories published in the New York Times best-selling books series, Chicken Soup for the Soul. Mark has been a certified addictions counselor for 34 years. He has received numerous awards including a Life Time Achievement Award from the Illinois Addiction Counselor Certification Board and the Barbara Bacon Award for outstanding contributions to the Social Work profession as a Loyola University of Chicago Alumni.
Mark is co-founder of Serenity Academy of Chicago, the only recovery high school in Illinois. He is past president of the board of the Illinois Chapter of NAADAC. He has had a 30 year career as a university educator having taught at the University of Chicago, Illinois State University, Illinois School of Professional Psychology, and Loyola University of Chicago, School of Social Work.
Judge Kyle Napp has been a judge since 2007 and has been the presiding judge of the Drug Court since 2010. Madison County Drug Court was the first drug court formed in the State of Illinois over 20 years ago. The Drug Court consist is an interdisciplinary team consisting of the judge, a state’s attorney, a public defender or liason, multiple probation officers, a drug court coordination and treatment providers. The Madison County Drug Court was certified by the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts in 2018.
Vickie Lewis BA, CRADC, CODP-I, PCGC, is currently the Addiction Specialist in the Central Region for Dominion Diagnostics which specializes in drug testing for Addiction and Behavioral Health. She pursued her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice at Sangamon State University. She is a Certified Reciprocal Alcohol and other Drug Counselor as well as a Compulsive Gambling Counselor and is credentialed as a provider for dually diagnosed clients. Vickie has worked in various areas of treatment for adults, young adults and juvenile parolees. Vickie is a board member with the Illinois Counsel for Problem Gambling. She has participated as the trainer for the Gambling Counselor certification training and conducts presentations on topics relating to process addictions, substance use disorders and behavioral/mental health. Vickie has authored articles that have been published in the National Alliance on Mental Illness Newsletter, National Council on Problem Gambling’s National News publication, Central Illinois Business Publications and the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery‘s Magazine, the Paradigm.
Jennifer Samartano is a Prevention Specialist for Prevent Child Abuse Illinois. Her duties include collaborating, advocating and promoting the prevention of child abuse in the Northern Region of Illinois. She is also the Program Manager for the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program for PCA Illinois. She is a Certified Facilitator and Certified Instructor for the Darkness to Light “Stewards of Children” child sexual abuse prevention program. She also serves on the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services Northern Region Child Death Review Team. Jennifer has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Loyola University and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management & Leadership from Walden University.
Donna Stephens, DNP, RNC-OB, graduated from Belleville Area Colllege in 1981 with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing, McKendree College in 1988 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, University of Missouri in 1992 with a Master’s Degree in Nursing and McKendree University in 2018 with a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree. Her specialty for 33 years has been in women’s health nursing fulfilling various roles from Labor and Delivery staff nurse, Nurse Educator, Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Nursing Director. Donna’s primary interest throughout the course of her Doctorate education and the topic of study in her doctoral project was substance abuse in pregnancy. Donna’s goal was to promote early identification of substance use through screening, referral to appropriate resources, and support and education for the pregnant substance user.
Taylor Marks, LCSW, is the manager of substance use grant programs at Centerstone that provide education and cessation treatment for substances, alcohol, and tobacco/nicotine products, including vapes.
Matthew Bradford has been a police officer for 6 years: 4 years patrol, 1 year MEPAT, and 1 year MEGSI.
Jon Costello has been a police officer for 10 years: 7 years patrol, 7 years SWAT, 2 years Street Crime, and 1 year MEGSI.
Tom Gibbons was elected as Madison County State's Attorney in November 2012 after being appointed to the position on November 2010. In 1998, Gibbons was hired by the State's Attorney's Office upon graduation from St. Louis University Law School. He was promoted to Chief of the Misdemeanor and Traffic Division and was active in the development of the Domestic Violence Court. Gibbons left the office in 2001, but returned in 2004 as a part-time Assistant State's Attorney where he carried a felony caseload. In 2003, he graduated from SIUE with a Master in Public Administration at SIUE. He is a member of the Third Judicial Circuit Family Violence Prevention Council and has served as a volunteer with the Madison County Juvenile Diversion Program.
Nick Novacich has served 19 years as a sworn full-time police officer. In December 2019, he was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain of the Granite City Police Department. Novacich has served 8 Years on ILEAS Region 8 Weapons of Mass Destruction Special Response Team, 7 years on the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, 8 years in investigations, and is a former team leader of Granite City Police Department's Warrant Service Team.
