Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Alan L. Berman, PhD (Lanny)
Dr. Berman is Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Between 1995 and 2014 he served as Executive Director of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS). Prior to this he attained the rank of tenured full professor of psychology at American University (1969-1991) and was named Director of the National Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide at the Washington School of Psychiatry (1991-1995). He is a Past-President of the AAS (1984-1985) and of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (2009-2013). He is the AAS’s 1982 Shneidman Award recipient (for Outstanding Contributions in Research in Suicidology), and 2006 Louis I. Dublin Award recipient (for outstanding service and contributions to the field of suicide prevention). A Diplomate in Clinical Psychology and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the International Academy for Suicide Research, Dr. Berman maintains a private practice of psychological and forensic consultation in Chevy Chase, MD. He has published over 17.5 professional articles and book chapters and has edited/authored 8 books.

Cal Beyer, CWP, NAC
Calvin Beyer is Senior Director of SAFE Workplaces for national nonprofit SAFE Project (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic). Beyer leads national efforts to integrate mental health, substance use, suicide and overdose prevention into workplace culture—particularly within the construction industry. With over 35 years of experience in safety, risk management, and organizational strategy, he has held leadership roles at, Holmes Murphy Lakeside Industries, Arch Insurance, and Zurich North America. A champion of human capital risk management, Cal helped launch the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention and co-led the Workplace Task Force. He serves on the Executive Committee for the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. He has authored more than 150 articles, delivered over 500 presentations, helped organize 30 regional suicide prevention summits and conferences His contributions have been recognized by Engineering News-Record (ENR) as a Top 25 Newsmaker and honored by the International Risk Management Institute (IRMI), the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and United Suicide Survivors International. A Certified Wellness Practitioner with a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas, Cal is known for his integrity, vision, and unwavering commitment to saving lives and improving workforce wellbeing.

Mark Sinyor, MSc., MD, FRCPC
Dr. Mark Sinyor is a Staff Psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and lead of Sunnybrook’s Suicide Prevention Research Collaborative (SPRC). He has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles on the topic of suicide. His research focuses mainly on population-level strategies for suicide prevention with an emphasis on how media messaging impacts suicide. He also conducts studies of coroner records of suicide deaths in Ontario as well as a small number of clinical trials. Dr. Sinyor is Vice President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and global lead of IASP’s flagship “Partnerships for Life” initiative aimed at coordinated action to reduce suicide in countries worldwide. He is lead author of the Canadian Psychiatric Association guidelines on responsible media reporting about suicide. He has also created a free mental health literacy curriculum that teaches middle schoolers coping skills and distress managements while reading “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” in English language. The curriculum has been used by thousands of young people worldwide.

Matt Zakreski, PsyD
As a keynote speaker, Dr. Zakreski brings an engaging blend of energy, humor, heart, and authenticity to his presentations. He has a gift for translating complex neuropsychology concepts into practical strategies that resonate and connect with audiences. His talks are
not only informative but also deeply inspiring, providing his audiences with realistic, tangible approaches to navigating the world, informed by brain science and best clinical practice. Dr. Zakreski seeks to entertain, inform, and inspire wherever he speaks. Dr. Zakreski covers a wide range of topics, including creating hope, managing imposter syndrome, overcoming perfectionism, and fostering emotional intelligence. His engaging style and ability to connect with his audience create an immersive experience that
leaves a lasting impact.

Dr. Zakreski is a respected author, whose work appears in peer-reviewed journals and industry periodicals, including Gifted Child Today, Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, and Journal of Gifted Education and Creativity. Recognized as an expert on child psychology, he was quoted in a recent New York Times article on millennial parents. Dr. Zakreski’s first book, Neurodiversity Playbook: How Neurodivergent People Can Crack the Code of Living in a Neurotypical World, was published in late 2024 and debuted at #1 on Amazon's gifted students' education new releases list.

Committed to advancing mental health awareness and neurodivergent equity, Dr. Zakreski co-hosts the Nerding out on Neurodiversity podcast. He is also a frequent guest on psychology and education podcasts, including Learn With Dr. Emily, the Autism/ADHD Podcast, and That’s Total Mom-Sense. Dr. Zakreski is driven by his mission to promote a culture of compassion and
understanding in order to support people in embracing understanding and celebrating their unique brains and ways of operating in the world. There’s nothing he enjoys more than partnering with an organization to advance that cause.

Breakout Speakers:

William Beverly, Ph.D., LMFT, CCHP
Dr. Beverly is a licensed psychologist and faculty member in the counseling department at South Mountain Community College, where he also serves as Coordinator of the Behavioral Health Sciences program. Dr. Beverly has held leadership positions in a wide array of behavioral health settings overseeing numerous behavioral health programs across the state of Arizona, including residential treatment for teens, therapeutic group homes for adults with serious mental illness, forensic psychological services, sex offender treatment, and general outpatient counseling and psychiatric services. He was previously the Lead Psychologist for the Maricopa County jail system, where he co-developed a trauma-informed model for training officers working with inmates with mental illness and cognitive impairment. Dr. Beverly has conducted numerous workshops and published on the topic of suicide prevention and intervention with vulnerable populations. Dr. Beverly is also an adjunct professor at Northern Arizona University, where he has taught in the educational psychology department for the last 10 years.

Nikki Kontz, LMSW
Nikki is the Clinical Director for Teen Lifeline, a local non-profit dedicated to providing a safe, confidential and crucial crisis service where teens help teens make healthy decisions. She has been working in the field for the past 16 years including work on a crisis mobile team, postvention intervention and assessment for hospitalization. Nikki possesses a master’s Degree in social work from Arizona State University and specializes in mental health issues, crisis intervention, suicide prevention/postvention and education, and adolescence. She currently is a state Licensed Master Social Worker, a certified crisis worker through the American Association of Suicidology, field instructor for the Social Work Department at ASU, and serves as the President on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Talmage Erickson & Jeff Erickson
Talmage Erickson and Jeff Erickson, AKA "The Screen Guys." Jeff is a licensed Therapist and sexual addiction counselor, and Talmage is a recent college graduate. They are on a mission to change the way we use our technology and social media.

When Talmage was 14, his dad invited him to use a flip phone for all of his high school. He agreed, and learned how to manage digital devices thoroughly. Now, together, they teach parents, students, and educators how to become digitally deliberate.

Joshua Stegemeyer, MA - MFT/CC
Joshua Stegemeyer serves as the State’s suicide prevention coordinator and has worked for Arizona Department of Health Services since Janauary, 2022. Additionally, Joshua serves as a Health Safety Officer for the Arizona Health Emergency Operations Command, meeting the needs of the personnel responding to Arizona’s health emergencies. Prior to serving the state of Arizona, Joshua was in practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Orange County, California. Joshua holds an M.A. - Psychology, with emphases in Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as Clinical Counseling, from the Chapman University System, Irvine, California. Joshua is married to his lovely wife Samantha and is a medically retired, Army Combat Veteran.

Kelly R. Vallo
Kelly Vallo is a member of the Navajo Nation, of the Bitterwater Clan, born for the Sun People Clan. Her maternal clan is the Start of the Red Streak People, and her paternal clan is Acoma Pueblo. She is half Navajo and half Acoma Pueblo. Kelly earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from Arizona State University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Behavioral Health at ASU. With over 15 years of experience in behavioral health, she is a passionate Indigenous social worker who integrates her cultural background to build strong, respectful relationships with Tribal Nations across Arizona.
Kelly is a Project Manager at the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, where she provides Youth Mental Health First Aid training to Indigenous communities. Her work includes partnerships with the Arizona Department of Education through Arizona Bright Futures, supported by the Garrett Lee Smith Grant for Suicide Prevention in Tribal Communities, she provides ASIST and safeTALK training to Tribal communities across Arizona. She is also co-developed a Human Trafficking in Indigenous Communities Train-the-Trainer curriculum in collaboration with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.