Melissa Farley Ph.D. has been a practicing clinical psychologist for 45 years. She has written 24 peer-reviewed articles on prostitution and trafficking and two books: Prostitution, Trafficking & Traumatic Stress (2004), and Prostitution and Trafficking in Nevada: Making the Connections (2007), based on research funded by the U.S. State Department. She also co-authored the first international survey of prostitution and PTSD in nine countries (2003); the first study comparing sex buyers to non-sex buyers (2011); and the first study of the lives of trafficked Native American women in the United States (2011).

Founder and CEO of Global Centurion, Former Senior Advisor on Trafficking in Persons with the U.S. State Department, Founder

Laura J. Lederer received her B.A. magna cum laude in comparative religions from the University of Michigan. After 10 years in philanthropy as director of community concerns at a private foundation, she continued her education at the University of San Francisco Law School and DePaul College of Law and received her juris doctorate in June 1994. She was the recipient of the University of San Francisco Alumni Women’s Association scholarship in 1991.

Lieutenant with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

Karen Hughes is a Lieutenant with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with nearly 28 years of law enforcement experience. A supervisor for over 19 years, she is currently assigned to the Vice/Narcotics Bureau overseeing the Vice Section where she has led a dedicated and diverse group of investigators who are responsible for investigating all crimes associated to prostitution and its demand.

Jeff is an entrepreneurial business leader with an extensive record of success within the food industry. Jeff has a passion for designing and implementing entrepreneurial business strategies and is considered to be a highly intellectual, driven and transformational leader. After working for over 25 years in the retail supermarket industry, including responsibility for over $14 billion in annual revenue as Senior Vice President, Perishables and Fuel for Safeway, Inc., Jeff transitioned to the manufacturing and marketing side of the business in 2004. Since that time has worked at a senior executive level within both the private and public owned segments of the business.

Referee Carol Chrisman has served as a judicial officer with the Superior Court of California for Sacramento County for almost 15 years. Referee Chrisman has been assigned about equally to adjudicating dependency and delinquency cases. She was the lead judicial officer spearheading the dependency and delinquency drug court programs, which she presided over for a number of years. Referee Chrisman has served as chair of various Court and community collaborative committees.

Victim Specialist
Federal Bureau of Investigation

Anne Darr received her Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University and two Master of Arts degrees in Forensic Psychology and Counseling from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. She received her National Counseling Certification in January 2008. Prior to her employment with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), she was a mobile crisis counselor for Prince George’s County Police in Maryland, responding to domestic violence/sexual assaults, homicides, and would conduct mental health assessments, death notifications, and child/elder abuse assessments. She also worked as an outpatient sex offender therapist for the Augustus Institute in Alexandria, Virginia conducting assessments and individual/group therapy for both pre/post trial patients.

Loren Ditmore has served as a Youth Pastor in the local church and worked with young people since 1992. He is a committed husband and father, pastor and executive director of City of Refuge Sacramento, worship leader, youth probation chaplain, and a man with great passion.

Rachelle Ditmore has served as an Urban Missionary and lived within the communities in which she has served for nearly 20 years.  She has worked with Youth for Christ since 1999. In her heart, God has planted a deep love for people who dwell in the forgotten places of our world and a desire to bring the love of Christ to those who live there.

Dr. Jonathan Fung teaches film production and film theory classes at Santa Clara University. He is a prolific filmmaker and visual artist. He collaborated with Nam June Paik, “the father of video art,” for Modulation in Sync at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. He was a participant at Doek, where his film Een Nauwe Poort (A Narrow Gate) was screened outside the canals of Amsterdam on 17th century ship sails. His work was also exhibited at the Venice Biennale in the Snow Show exhibition. Dr. Fung’s disconcerting video installation on anthropophagi I Eat, Therefore I Am was exhibited at the San Jose Museum of Art. He conceived Down the Rabbit Hole, a video installation exhibited in the Tenderloin District in San Francisco that exposed the darkness of human trafficking and left the viewer with a call to action. His most recent narrative film project, Hark is spreading awareness and raising social consciousness about the sex trade industry. 

Ted Gaines represents the people of the 1st Senate District, which takes in all or parts of Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra and Siskiyou counties.

Ted currently serves as the chair of the Senate Republican Caucus, as well as vice chair of the Senate Insurance Committee; the Transportation and Housing Committee; and the Environmental Quality Committee. He is also a member of the Public Employment and Retirement Committee.

Shane Grammer is a talented designer and artist who grew up fascinated with edgy urban art and design. For the past fifteen years, Grammer has specialized in the creation of unique, highly stylized murals and three-dimensional art pieces. His passion for the colors and textures fostered in urban and industrial art led him to develop SG Studios to design and construct themed environments and retail art installations. Grammer’s urban background has infused his company with creative versatility – SG studios creates everything from realistic city settings that are heavily influenced by urban and industrial design to whimsical forests that are inspired by animation. Grammer’s work with SG Studios has attracted the attention of commercial businesses, malls, churches, restaurants and theme parks throughout the US. His work can also be found throughout cities in Mexico, Brazil, Peru and Cambodia.

Guido Hajenius works with the anti-trafficking organization iEmpathize, to manage programs in Southern California and to engage the region in the fight to end child sexual exploitation and trafficking. After 17 years of non-profit work with university students and community outreach throughout the Southwest and Southern California, Guido and his wife and children moved to west Los Angeles. In April 2011, they started the local branch of the human rights non-profit iEmpathize.

Genny Heikka

Director of Communications at Courage Worldwide

Passionate about using her voice for children who have been victims of sex trafficking, Genny joined Courage Worldwide three years ago after having her heart broken over the issue when she wrote an article about it. She immediately knew she wanted to help, and began volunteering with writing and editing needs at the organization before transitioning into her current role.

Melissa Herrmann has a passion for children-at-risk and social justice. She graduated from Vanguard University with a Bachelors of Science in Sociology. She has been working with orphans, street children, child soldiers, and child prostitutes since 2000 in a variety of settings and countries.

Melissa founded and directed a children’s home in Tanzania, Africa. The home-based model provided excellence in care and raised the standard for orphan care in that district. She used that set of skills to do consulting and training with numerous other orphanage and children’s home directors as well as international social workers.

Jordyn is a junior at Forest Lake Christian High School. She has a heart for the lost and broken in our world. Her heart was met by an opportunity to visit Tanzania, Africa, where she fell in love with the children and people of this impoverished nation. Upon her return, she moved into action within her own community to reach the lost and the broken children within the poorest urban areas of Sacramento.

Sydney is an energetic junior high student who says: “Why should we just sit and wait? There is much work to be done!” At an early age, Sydney has found her passion to lead events and be a voice to girls who don’t have one. Over the past three years, she has worked with her family at Courage House and has grown to love every young girl who has called Courage House home. After working with her mom on events and volunteering at Courage Worldwide, in 2011, Sydney thought it was time for her to do her own event. After much work, she delivered a packed house at the local venue in her home town and raised $5,000 for Courage Worldwide. This year, the Mayor and the town of Loomis stand behind Sydney to raise further awareness and funding for this issue. Sydney has aligned with her sister Jordyn to work with City of Refuge Sacramento and build a performing arts studio where she uses her 9 years of dance experience to teach at-risk girls dance.

Lyndsey Kacalek is the Director of Fashion Design for 3Strands, a unique fashion brand to fight against sex trafficking around the world by supporting common goal organizations. Lyndsey is also the Director of Design for Apricot Lane Boutiques, a U.S. chain of franchised women boutiques with 100+ open and planned retail stores in 29 States.

Brian Keith has gained recognition as an accomplished and gifted sculptor of portraits, monuments and limited edition bronze works. His fascination with the human form and natural ability for storytelling enables him to create evocative, energetic compositions of contemporary subject matter and style, combined with classical technique and mastery.

Mr. Taber has been with American River Bank since 1985 serving in various executive roles currently as Chief Executive Officer. He has been Chief Executive Officer for American River Bankshares since 1995 and serves on the board of both American River Bankshares and American River Bank. American River Bank is a regional bank serving Northern California since 1983. American River Bank gives business owners more REACH by offering financial expertise and exceptional service to complement a full suite of banking products and services. American River Bank’s honest approach, commitment to community and focus on profitability is intended to lead our clients to greater success.

Dr. Chad Koyanagi is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry with the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.  He works in various clinical settings including the adult inpatient unit, emergency room, homeless shelter/outreach, domestic violence clinic, and rural primary care clinics. 

Dr. Chad Koyanagi is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry with the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.  He works in various clinical settings including the adult inpatient unit, emergency room, homeless shelter/outreach, domestic violence clinic, and rural primary care clinics. 

Jessica Kristie is an award winning author, a writer, and a lover of poetry. She is an advocate for art, an activist against human trafficking, and a soulful contributor to the strengthening of our creative communities.

Kathryn Kurtz received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1999. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Denver, College of Law in 2002. Following law school, Ms. Kurtz briefly worked in private practice at Stevens, Littman, Biddison, Tharp and Weinberg, LLC in Boulder, Colorado.

Jake Larson currently serves as a Pastor at XXXchurch combatting the issues related to pornography abuse and addiction. Beyond all these titles Jake is a husband and father. He speaks regularly to audiences with a passion to see the church love, embrace, and care for overlooked people in our society. Jake is also committed to advancing missional and spiritual renewal in churches by addressing difficult issues of pornography, addiction, depression, social needs, and a list of others.

In January 2007, Catherine Cortez Masto began serving her first term as Nevada’s Attorney General after winning more votes than any other statewide candidate. Known for her integrity and leadership, General Masto has committed her time in office to protecting and advocating on behalf of the people and communities in Nevada.

Tara McConnell, MT-BC, a Sacramento native and graduate of University of the Pacific, is a board certified music therapist and owner of McConnell Music Therapy Services (MMTS) based in Auburn, CA, (est. 2002). MMTS is a music therapy practice that provides services to clients within the greater Sacramento and South Placer County areas in the home, school or hospital setting.

Stephanie has more than 25 years of experience as a music director for various churches and schools and is a pianist, singer, songwriter and recording artist. She also is a chaplain and mentor to the girls at Courage House where she serves as the organization’s creative director.

Moved to be a voice for those without, Stephanie wrote the powerful song “Believe in Me” and then gathered award-winning local bands with the same heart to write music to benefit Courage House.

img class=”alignleft size-full wp-image-23039″ src=”http://courageworldwide.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Assoc_Reggie-McNeal-Headshot100x133.jpg” alt=”Dr. Reggie McNeal” width=”100″ height=”133″ />Dr. Reggie McNeal enjoys helping people, leaders, and Christian organizations pursue more intentional lives. He currently serves as the Missional Leadership Specialist for Leadership Network of Dallas, TX.

“The Music Room is a creative outlet for the talents and thoughts of siblings Aimee Bellanca and Dane Johnson. Formed in 2008, the band began with little more than hopes of not embarrassing themselves at a show for friends at a Memorial Day picnic. However, fate has had other plans. In the audience that day was musician and producer Riley Armstrong, who offered them an opportunity to record some of their songs. As a result of his offer, the 10-song album “Lesser Loves (May, 2009)” was released into the world and the siblings had more of a reason to go play more shows.

Ken Petersen is the Founder and CEO of 3Strands, a unique fashion brand to fight against sex trafficking around the world by supporting common goal organizations. Ken is also the Founder and CEO of Apricot Lane Boutiques, a U.S. chain of franchised women boutiques with 100+ open and planned retail stores in 29 States.