2025 SPEAKERS

On September 28, 2016, Molly Hudgens, a school counselor in Pleasant View, Tennessee, averted a school shooting when a fourteen-year-old eighth grader, armed with a semi-automatic handgun and an additional magazine of ammunition, came to her in the counseling department at Sycamore Middle School with a plan to harm people on their campus. He told her, “I think you’re the only person who can talk me out of this.” After ninety minutes of talking and ultimately praying with the young man on her knees beside him, Hudgens was able to convince the student to relinquish the weapon to her with no shots fired and no lives lost. As a result of her intervention, Hudgens became a 2017 recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Citizens Honor for a single act of heroism.

Jeff Bean is the current Director of Safety/Security for the Troy 30c School District in Will County, Illinois. Prior to that, Jeff was a Police Officer for almost 24 years in Woodridge, Illinois. During his career in law enforcement Jeff received multiple awards and commendations, and spent over 10 years working in the schools.

Jeff is a NASRO trained School Resource Officer, and a certified A.L.I.C.E. instructor. He also founded his own business in 2012 called SafeSchools4All which focuses on educating students and parents, and training educators and law enforcement on topics pertaining to school safety, social media, and how best to keep our kids safe.

Captain Todd Hill is a thirty-year veteran of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, serving as the Commander of the Homeland Security, Wellness & Professional Development (HSWPD) Division.  Captain Hill oversees the Training Unit, Force Analysis Unit, Crisis Response Unit, Recruiting & Retention Unit, Accreditation, the Peer Support Team, the Comfort K9 Program and is K9 Cali’s Handler.  Captain Hill implemented the agency’s CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) program in 2015 and the agency’s Peer Support Team in 2017.  

Captain Hill was the Incident Commander at the agency’s Line of Duty Death in 2017 and the Incident Commander for the 2021 Oxford High School Mass Casualty Shooting.

Comfort K9 Cali is a three-year veteran of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, assigned to Captain Todd Hill, helping to oversee the Homeland Security, Wellness & Professional Development (HSWPD) Division.  K9 Cali is a member of the agency’s Peer Support Team, responding to officer involved shootings, officer injuries, and other critical incidents.  K9 Cali is on Instagram (@deputy.cali) and Facebook (Deputy Cali).

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Comfort K9 Unit is comprised of 15 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel K9’s The Cavalier breed was chosen due to their personality traits (affectionate with families, good temperament with young children, and good temperament with other dogs).  Trained in basic obedience and therapy canine training, the unit is designed for both the first responders and the community.  Comfort K9’s are deployed in different areas of the agency to reach as many people as possible; assigned to patrol, school resource officers, community liaison officers, dispatch, special units, and the Peer Support Team.

Matthew Harland is an adjunct professor of Criminal Justice at Moraine Valley Community College and is an actively serving police officer with the Oak Lawn Police Department, where he serves as a Use of Force instructor, Field Training Officer, and Special Response Team Squad Leader. He is the President of Metropolitan Alliance of Police Chapter #309, and teaches active threat response to first responders and educators. He has incorporated mental health and mental wellness practices into the department's curriculum to shift the narrative and move the culture of first responders to one that is accepting of the realities of the profession's impact on its practitioners.

Christy Lister, the state representative for Blue H.E.L.P. Illinois is a frequent guest speaker for recruits. Christy lost her law enforcement husband, Kenneth Lister to suicide June of 2019 and is committed to saving other families from enduring what hers has. Christy and the rest of the team at First H.E.L.P. is convinced that we need to reach officers as early as possible in their careers, and the academy is the best place to start.

Natalie’s life story is one of survival, resilience, and unwavering hope. At just 27, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. After enduring six rounds of intensive chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, she defied the odds and entered remission. That experience shaped her passion for patient care and for helping others rebuild their lives after hardship.

A decade later, Natalie’s strength was tested again. On October 1, 2017, while attending the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas, she was shot in the face during what became the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Her injuries were catastrophic—her jaw was shattered, her facial nerves were destroyed, and she spent 20 days in the ICU followed by nine major surgeries in her first year of recovery. Despite partial paralysis, she never gave up. Instead, she uncovered new depths of courage and determination.

From these two life-altering battles, Natalie developed practical coping mechanisms and a powerful message of perseverance that she now shares with audiences around the world. Her story of survival and renewal has inspired students, professionals, and communities alike. She has been featured by Dateline, ABC, FOX, Inside Edition, and CBS, and starred in the Emmy-nominated Paramount+ documentary 11 Minutes. Known for her warmth and humor, Natalie captivates listeners by blending her lived experience with uplifting lessons that empower others to discover their own inner warrior.

Today, Natalie enjoys life in Southern California with her husband of 22 years and their 2 year old goldendoodle Leo. She finds peace by the ocean  watching her husband surf, in her garden, exploring jeep trails,  a good book, or enjoying sweet treats—proudly embracing her title as a “dessert connoisseur.”

Deputy Fire Marshal/Certified Fire Investigator/Professional Firefighter/EMT

Dean has a strong passion for First Responder mental health.  Dean was nearly broken by the day-to-day trauma of being a fire fighter and then the overwhelming weight of the Las Vegas mass shooting. By diving into EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Equine therapy, Dean is emerging in a healthy way with a focus to help other first responders.

Dean is a nationwide speaker that touts the importance of “getting help” and using natural measures to heal trauma. Dean is self-described as a “Believer, father, coach, firefighter, here to be a flawed by honest example”. Dean is a Lead on the fire department Peer Support Team and considers this his most important role.

Dean has done multiple media events including ABC 20/20 Heroes and Heartbreak, ABC 20/20 “Vegas Lights and Country Nights,” Paramount Pictures “11 Minutes”, and Investigation Discovery “Las Vegas Mass Shooting”.

Connie Schonert-Long is a Division Director with the Orange County Probation Department, bringing 28 years of experience in community corrections and public safety leadership. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, a master’s degree in Emergency Management, and a certificate in trauma. As a Master Instructor and certified Standards and Training for Corrections (STC) Instructor, she has trained countless professionals on critical topics impacting officer safety and wellness.
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A survivor of the Route 91 mass shooting, Connie was awarded the Medal of Honor for her courage and service during the tragedy. She now openly shares her personal journey of resilience, recovery, and healing—bringing a unique and deeply personal perspective to the importance of wellness in law enforcement.
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Connie also co-founded The County Strong Project, a nonprofit dedicated to creating healing spaces for survivors of trauma and violence. Through her speaking, teaching, and leadership, she equips first responders with tools to strengthen resilience, prioritize wellness, and find hope in the aftermath of crisis.

Terri Keener, LCSW, LSCSW, is a certified EMDR therapist with over 25 years of specialized experience in mass casualty response and trauma treatment. Following the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting, she served as Behavioral Health Coordinator at the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center, where she developed and implemented comprehensive support programs for survivors and first responders affected by mass violence locally and nationwide. She now operates a private practice specializing in equine-assisted EMDR, leadership training, and team building.

Laura Higgins is a Certified Equine Specialist and owner of Tranquility Ranch Equine Assisted Therapy, LLC. With over 20 years of experience as a horse trainer and riding instructor, she became certified in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy in 2012 and now focuses exclusively on therapeutic work with first responders, active duty military, and veterans.

At The Stable Arena, Terri and Laura have developed a specialized therapeutic program integrating evidence-based clinical trauma treatment with equine-assisted therapy, specifically designed for mass violence survivors and those experiencing community trauma. Both practitioners are trained in EquiLateral*, an innovative evidence-based approach combining EMDR therapy with the therapeutic presence of horses.

Their integrated treatment model leverages horses' innate ability to attune to human emotional states, providing a non-judgmental presence that creates a safe therapeutic space for processing difficult experiences and developing emotional regulation skills. This approach has demonstrated effectiveness with mass violence survivors, first responders, and community members affected by traumatic events, offering an alternative pathway to healing that addresses the full spectrum of trauma responses.

Their work with Dean McAuley, a Deputy Fire Marshal/Fire Investigator and Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting survivor, exemplifies the program's tremendous impact. Dean completed an Arena EMDR Intensive program at The Stable Arena in April 2023, and his transformative healing journey demonstrates the effectiveness of their integrated approach. Dean now speaks openly about his mental health journey and advocates for the therapeutic benefits of equine-assisted EMDR, serving as a powerful testament to the program's ability to facilitate meaningful recovery from mass violence trauma.