Sonny Provetto

Sonny Provetto, MSW, LICSW, is the founder of the Vermont Center for Responder Wellness. As an EMDRIA-approved consultant and former police officer, Sonny brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the field of responder wellness. His research focuses on maintaining resilience among responders in the face of trauma.

Sonny provides proactive wellness services to over 20 departments in Vermont. With over 36 years of combined experience as a police officer and emergency mental health clinician, his clinical practice is deeply informed by his firsthand experiences. He consults on stress and trauma issues with police officers, firefighters, emergency responders, and their organizations, working closely with them and developing proactive wellness programming.

In 2017, Sonny played a pivotal role in his testimony before the Vermont legislature as a subject matter expert on PTSD, influencing legislation that made Vermont the first state to recognize PTSD as a compensable work-related injury for first responders. He is also the recipient of the EMDRIA Advocacy Award for his contributions to advancing EMDR practices with responders soon after traumatic events.

Sonny is currently conducting research on the Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol (ASAP), which he developed to reduce acute stress symptoms and enhance responder resilience if used soon after a traumatic event. His work aims to measure the effectiveness of ASAP in mitigating the immediate impacts of trauma and fostering long-term resilience among first responders. 

Dr. Elise Magnuson

Dr. Magnuson is a Licensed Psychologist in the State of Maine with a private practice based in Portland, specializing in evaluations, forensic evaluations, and consultations. Dr. Magnuson brings breadth and depth to her understanding of individuals and why they engage in behavior. As a mental health professional for almost two decades she has developed a clear understanding of how people respond to difficult situations and has formulated recommendations for what comes next.

Dr. Magnuson conducts risk assessments, psychosexuals, competency evaluations (to stand trial, waive rights, confess), guardianship evaluations, criminal responsibility, diagnosis and treatment need evaluations, fitness for duty, and parental capacity evaluations for people involved in the court process. Evaluated, provided written reports, consulted and testified about the assessments. Provide feedback on other professional’s reports. Provide disability evaluations for SSD.

Sarah Mildrum

Sarah is the owner and CEO of Guiding Light Behavioral Health and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. 

As Maine’s first Emergency Responder and Public Safety Certified Clinician (ERPSCC), she is an expert and visionary in the field of prevention and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Injury in first responders.

Sarah studied sociology and political science as an undergraduate at the University of New England where she found her passion for making an impact in the lives of others. She continued to study the complexities of our society at the UNE and earned her Master of Social Work degree in 2015.

As the wife of a firefighter, she quickly experienced both the positive and negative implications public safety careers have on individuals and their families. 

Sarah is also a mom, a native Mainer, a disc golf enthusiast, and a fan of all things outdoor recreation.

Trainings and Professional Credentials include:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker

• Emergency Responder and Public Safety Certified Clinician

• Certified Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol (ASAP) Facilitator

• Brainspotting Phase 1 and 2

Tina & Jeff Ingemi

Tina and Jeff Ingemi have both been first responders and married for over 25 years with two adult children. Jeff is retired law enforcement, and Tina is current EMS and a counselor for first responders. Both are CISM trained and serve in peer support. They are passionate about helping relationships heal and grow because they understand the impact that emergency response can have on couples.

Jason Mills

Jason Mills is a retired Augusta firefighter/paramedic turned licensed mental health clinician who brings a unique and deeply informed perspective to the intersection of emergency services, resilience, and wellness. With over two decades of frontline experience, Jason understands the culture, challenges, and cumulative toll of public safety work — and has made it his mission to support those who serve.

As the founder and owner of The Resilient Responder, Jason provides specialized mental health services, wellness education, consulting, and peer support training tailored specifically for first responders. His work emphasizes proactive, holistic, and culturally competent approaches that foster long-term resilience and improved quality of life for individuals and organizations alike.

Known for his relatable style and practical insight, Jason is a passionate advocate for shifting the narrative around mental health in public safety. Through speaking engagements, training sessions, he continues to champion the well-being of the first responder community.

Shaun Hadlock

Shaun is the Warrior PATHH Program Manager at the Travis Mills Foundation. He and his team will speak in depth on what Warrior PATHH is as well as giving an example of what to expect while attending the program. 

Brad Gallant

Brad has been a law enforcement officer since 2008. He has filled the role of patrolman, Corporal, Field Training Officer, and has been a K9 handler. 

After almost 13 years in law enforcement Brad found himself in a position where he did not believe he would finish his career in law enforcement. Brad found himself in a position where he was stressed and depressed, ultimately taken out of work "Unfit for Duty". 

Brad came back from his time off and over the next year, forged a new path in law enforcement. Since 2022 he has been actively working on his personal mental health as well as trying to create opportunities for other first responders to better their mental health. 

Brad wrote a LEMHWA grant in 2023 for the Rumford Police Department. The award helped the department build a foundation for a wellness program and ultimately led to the planning of this conference. 

Sean Kilbreth

Sean Kilbreth is a 28 year police officer in New Hampshire and a former DEA Task Force Officer wiht Hillsborough County Sheriff Deputy Southern. Sean is currently on the New Hampshire CISM Team Greater Manchester and a Veteran Suicide Prevention Coalition Team Leader.  Sean is the New Hampshire Fraternal Order of Police Vice President and Community Engagement Coordinator for Forge VFR Veteran and First Responder Program.

Kevin Brooks

Experienced Pastor with a demonstrated history of working in the religious institutions industry and the Law Enforcement community. Skilled in Theology, Discipleship, Pastoral Counseling, Public Speaking, and Spiritual Direction. Strong community and social services professional with a Master of Divinity (MDiv) focused in Pastoral Studies/Counseling from Capital Bible Seminary. Certified Maine Law Enforcement Chaplain from Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Also a Master Chaplain with the International Conference of Police Chaplains. Instructor at Maine Criminal Justice Academy and for the International Conference of Police Chaplains. 

Delaney Ireland

Delaney Ireland is a mental health educator at NAMI Maine (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and the daughter of a retired Maine State Police Lieutenant. Her experience growing up in a first responder family and her background working within Maine’s mental health and crisis system have made her passionate about addressing and supporting the unique mental health needs of first responders and their families. 

Ryan Close

Sgt. Ryan Close is a 16 year veteran of Maine Law Enforcement. He grew up in Sacramento, CA, and attended Prep School and then College in Maine. In 2008, he was hired by the Westbrook Police Department and graduated the 15 BLETP. He has worked as a Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Task Force Officer (TFO) with the United States Marshal Service, Detective and Acting Sergeant. He currently works for the Franklin County Sheriff's Office where he has been since 2021.

Most of Sgt. Close's time was spent in CID where he became a recognized expert in the field of Digital Forensics and Cellular Network Analysis. He has more than 10 years experience working in Peer Support and is very active in the field today. 

Donald Miller - YFFR

Donald Miller is a 15+ year law enforcement officer and has experience working in Rumford and Lewiston. Don is a graduate of  Alfred College and was inducted into their football hall of fame in 2018. Don has a passion for fitness and recently became a Yoga for First Responder instructor in 2024. Don will be co-presenting with Officer Jason Downey from Hudson, NH.

Kyle Tilsley

Husband, Father, and Retired Maine State Police LT. Retired after 28 years. Kyle has spent 28 years with the Maine State Police, the last 3 as Troop Commander of Troop B in Gray. He has been the primary FTO for multiple Troopers in his career and was the Troop B FTO Supervisor for 8 years. Kyle was a Trooper for 17 years, promoted to Sergeant in 2011 and promoted to Lieutenant in 2019. 

Abi Brown, Jill Belleard, and Kristi Carr 

Jill, Kristi, and Abi are all married to police officers. Although significant others are built to be resilient, they’re also an underserved population with a lack of resources. These three women started a significant other peer group in 2023 that continues to thrive and grow connection throughout the community and provides wellness education for both the spouse and the first responder to cultivate a healthy and thriving relationship. More importantly, are the significant others who have dedicated their time to joining the group which has kept it alive for 2.5 years. 

Meredith Stack LCPC & Joanna Stokinger, MS, CA 

Meredith is a licensed clinical professional counselor and life-long Mainer who grew up in Brunswick.  She holds a Bachelor's degree in Education from the University of Maine at Farmington and a Master's degree in Counseling from the University of Southern Maine.  As Program Manager at the Maine Resiliency Center she leads initiatives dedicated to supporting victims/survivors, families, community members, and first responders impacted by the mass shooting that took place in Lewiston on 10/25/2023. 

Joanna is a nationally accredited victim advocate with over twenty years of experience in criminal justice.  She holds a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida and a Master's in degree in Criminology from Thomas College. Joanna is currently Lead Advocate at the Maine Resiliency Center.  Joanna has spoken at several national conferences about victim advocacy and her role as an advocate and a survivor and also co-leads the Parents Of Murdered Children, Inc.’s Maine Chapter. 

Rich Creamer - Farley Center

Accomplished public safety professional and military veteran with over 20 years of experience in a diverse background of law enforcement operations, investigations, and administration. Known for effective leadership in the management of complex situations, large-scale projects, including the budget management of federal grants, implementation of a comprehensive wellness initiative, and the oversight of a mid size agency’s critical incident stress management program. Serving in a leadership capacity since 2016 with a reputation of effective communication and interpersonal skills. 

Chief Tim Barfield, Retired - FirstHELP

Tim Barfield retired from full-time law enforcement after 42 years in 2023. At the time of his retirement, he was the Chief of Police in Wellington, Ohio. He is a husband, father and grandfather who has a love for first responders and their success. His responsibilities and desires have included training, leadership, mental health for first responders and supervision. He is the former president and current treasurer for the Local Initiative Networking Compassion (LINC), an organization he was foundational in developing to help those struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. He is a member of the ILEETA and was a contributing writer to Policeone.com and LawOfficer.com. He continues to learn and instruct on subjects with an emphasis on awareness, mental health, police survival mindset, the addicted community, and ethics. Throughout his career, he observed the lack of assistance needed to ensure that he and other first responders were prepared to respond and deal with the demands and aftereffects of the trauma experienced in the demanding fields they participated in. He has worked with many first responders to help them achieve balance and resilience in their lives and continues in that needed endeavor. 

Billy Dries - Exploring Cold Water Immersion 

Billy is a dedicated police officer with the Eliot, Maine Police Department and a passionate advocate for holistic wellness. With a bachelor's degree in Sports and Fitness Management from the University of New England, Billy combines his background in law enforcement with specialized practices in cold water immersion and breathwork.

Outside of his professional work, Billy enjoys time with his family, boating, and traveling. 

Bring a pair of swim trunks and an open mind—you might just dive into a life-changing experience.

Officer Jason Downey

Jason Downey, has been a certified Police Officer in the state of New Hampshire for 24 years. During his career he has performed many roles. The roles he has performed are a member of the patrol division, Services Division (fleet maintenance, recruiting, training, and community programs), Field training Officer, Crime Scene Team, Accident Reconstruction Team, Lead CPR and First Aid Instructor, School Resource Officer, Team Leader of his departments CISM Team, Comfort Dog Handler, YFFR Yoga Instructor, and now the Mental Health and Wellness Officer. 

Jeremy Spencer - Financial Wellness

Jeremy Spencer is a financial advisor with The Advisory USA, specializing in financial education, family protection, and retirement planning for first responders and working families. With over two decades of service in the military, he brings a mission-driven approach to helping clients build financial resilience. As a speaker, Jeremy translates complex financial concepts into clear, actionable steps. He is honored to be part of the Western Maine Wellness Conference, contributing insights on financial wellness as a key pillar of overall well-being. 

Oskar Matero - Financial Wellness

Oskar grew up in Bath Maine and is a proud graduate of Morse High School. He went on to earn a degree in Finance from the University of Maine at Orono. Oskar has been a licensed Financial Advisor since 2022 and is passionate about helping clients invest with greater confidence and better outcomes by focusing on fundamental principles and proper risk management.

When he's not working, Oskar enjoys gardening with his wife, golfing with friends, and giving back to the community. He serves on the board of Main Street Bath and volunteers regularly at many of Bath’s local event.

Matt Brown - Responders in Recovery Group: How fellowship fosters resilience

Matt Brown served as a state and federal law enforcement officer for 26 years, most of that as a U.S.Probation Officer, serving Androscoggin and Oxford counties. He has also been an EMT, and currently works as a peer support specialist at Spurwink in Portland. He has been in recovery for 23 years, and over 8 years ago started an informal recovery group for police/fire/EMS/corrections that meets twice weekly on zoom, reaching from 20-30 responders weekly.