2024 VATIE Conference Presenters

Nathan Pope

Editor/Writer VDOE CTE Resource Center

Deborah Tripp

SkillsUSA Virginia Interim Director

Deborah Tripp, teacher at the Academies of Loudoun. Past SkillsUSA Virginia State Director and SkillsUSA National Associate Director of Training, with over 33 years in education. 

Bradley Thompson 

Milwaukee Tools

Jobsite Solutions Strategic Account Manager

 Started with Milwaukee in 2005. Works with some of the largest contractors in Virginia focusing primarily on mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades. Typically spends time in the field on jobsites and contractor offices working with superintendents, foremen, safety leaders and owners. Also helps support trade organizations and training centers such as Assoc. Builders and Contractors of Va, Virginia JATC, United Association and Central Virginia Electrical Contractors Association among others. 

Amber Rodeheaver 

Forensic Technician and BRASSTRAX Technician

Amber Rodeheaver joined the Suffolk Police Department in December of 2020 as a Forensic Technician. In that time, she has gained specialties in digital and vehicle system forensics, including certifications as a Certified Cellebrite Operator and Physical Analyst, and a Vehicle System Forensic Technician, Operator, and Examiner. Amber also holds various certifications in areas such as general instruction, IBIS/BRASSTRAX acquisition, shooting incident reconstruction, basic bloodstain patterns analysis, and clandestine grave/human remains recovery. 

Kelley Smith

DPOR

Kelley Smith is the Executive Director for the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology at the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.  She has approximately 15 years of experience in licensing and regulatory programs for the Commonwealth of Virginia and previously practiced law at a mid-size firm in Richmond, Virginia.  Kelley holds a Juris Doctor from University of Richmond and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University.  

Starr Mason

Haircuttery 

Family of Brands

Dr. Sidney Delepine

Laura Smith

Stephanie Kiel 

Pearson and NCCER

Nicole Kitler 

Pearson and NCCER

Marlo Miranda

ASE Instructor

Marlo Miranda is a retired Automotive Technology instructor with 31 years experience teaching High School level Automotive classes. Marlo is the 2016 ASE National Instructor of the Year, and was 2015 Forsyth County Schools Teacher of the Year and 2016 State Finalist for Georgia Teacher of the Year. Marlo spent many years as an automotive technician, shop foreman, service advisor, service manager and shop owner prior to launching his career as an educator. 

Wendy Duncan

DPOR

Jennifer Stevens

Virginia Ed. Strategies

Lauren-Anne Sledzinski

VDOE Trade and Industrial Specialist

Toni Garcia-Jackson

Product Club

Sandy Wilborn

Virginia Ed Strategies

Sandy Wilborn has been in the field of education since 2006. She began her career as a mathematics teacher with Halifax County Public Schools in Southside Virginia. She taught at both the middle and high school levels and taught dual enrollment courses through a local community college. Sandy joined Virginia Ed Strategies in 2013 and serves as the Director of Operations and Programs. She is the Project Manager for CHOICE, a $10.8m Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant awarded by the US Department of Education (USED) in FY2020 which is providing financial resources and support services to over 1000 high school teachers across Virginia while studying the impacts of giving teachers autonomy in their professional learning. She is a co-author on “The Math Learning Gap:  Preparing STEM Technicians for the New Rural Economy” which is published in The Rural Educator. She has presented at numerous state and national conferences on topics such as motivating students to learn and succeed in math, supporting teachers in a virtual networked improvement community, and the importance of math in high-demand technician careers. 

Megan Ferrell

Virginia Ed Strategies

Megan Ferrell has been in the field of education since 2009. She began her career as an elementary school teacher with Halifax County Public Schools in Southside Virginia where she taught various grade levels. In 2014, Megan was given the prestigious honor of being awarded Teacher of the Year for both her school and the Halifax County Public School division. She also served as a Lead Teacher for several years where she raised funds for students and teachers. During her time as Lead Teacher, she led several trainings for co-workers that included professional development and student information systems. As a 2008 graduate of Longwood University, Megan completed her B.S. in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Elementary Education. Megan has actively retained her teaching certification in grades PK through 6. 

Glenn Hartland

Customer Success Manager at Electude USA

Glenn Hartland brings over 40 years of extensive experience in the automotive industry to his role as Customer Success Manager at Electude USA. His career spans 25 years as a skilled automotive technician, coupled with 17 years in post-secondary education where he excelled as both an instructor and an administrator. This diverse background has equipped Glenn with a comprehensive understanding of the automotive sector.

Paula M. Bruns

Paula M. Bruns has been the Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP), with the Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council (CASC), since February 2022. She was a prosecutor for over 25 years having served as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney and Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Paula

has handled a wide spectrum of cases including grades of homicide, malicious woundings, gang cases, robberies and additional violent crimes, DUI, drug offenses, crimes involving children, burglaries, fraud and others.