For the Love of Kids® 2007 Practical Parenting Conference
Meet Our National Speakers
ANN PLESHETTE MURPHY – Morning Keynote Speaker
Ann Pleshette Murphy, author of The 7 Stages of Motherhood: Making the Most of Your Life as a Mom, is the parenting contributor to ABC’s Good Morning America. A sought-after national parenting speaker, Ann Pleshette Murphy is an AOL parenting coach, a ParentSmart columnist for USA Weekend magazine, and the former editor-in-chief of Parents Magazine. She serves on the board of Zero to Three in Washington D.C., the leading national organization dedicated to the development of infants and toddlers, and she chairs the board of the Greyston Family Inn in Yonkers, NY, which provides housing, social services and child care to formerly homeless families. She’s also the mother of two.
PAULA STATMAN – Luncheon Keynote Speaker
Paula Statman, M.S.S.W., is an award-winning author and internationally respected educator recognized for her groundbreaking efforts in the field of child personal safety education. Her practical, positive approach to building healthy families and safe and strong children has benefited hundreds of thousands of parents in the United States and abroad. A popular presenter and parenting expert, she has been a repeat guest on Oprah and the Today Show and has appeared on over 200 radio and television programs. Statman is the author of several books, including Raising Careful, Confident Kids in a Crazy World
, which received a Parents’ Choice Honor and was named one of the “Top 10 Parenting Books” by the Seattle Times. She received a Master’s of Science in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Statman lives in Oakland, CA, with her husband and has a daughter in college.
DR. JANE BLUESTEIN
Dr. Jane Bluestein has worked with thousands of parents and caregivers worldwide. She has appeared internationally as a speaker and talk show guest, including appearances as a guest expert on CNN, National Public Radio and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Dr. Bluestein is an award-winning author whose books include Creating Emotionally Safe Schools: A Guide for Educators and Parents
, The Parent's Little Book of Lists: DOS and Don'ts of Effective Parenting
and High School's Not Forever
. Her down-to-earth speaking style, practicality, sense of humor, and numerous stories and examples make her ideas clear and accessible to her audiences. Her words will touch your heart; her ideas will change your life.
DR. LAWRENCE COHEN
Dr. Lawrence J. Cohen, the author of the award-winning book Playful Parenting
, is a licensed psychologist specializing in children’s play and play therapy. In addition to his private therapy practice, he is also a speaker and consultant to schools and corporations, and a teacher of parenting classes and classes for daycare teachers. Dr. Cohen is also the co-author of Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of Children
and Mom, They're Teasing Me: Helping Your Child Solve Social Problems
. His column in Nick Jr. Magazine was the winner of the 2003 Golden Lamp award from Education Press. Larry lives in Brookline, MA, with his wife and their two teenage children.
Meet Our Local Speakers
Dr. Robin Arthur and Doug Arthur
Dr. Robin Thompson Arthur is a clinical psychologist, recently named Director of Psychology for the Lindner Center of HOPE, the newest world-class mental health hospital, scheduled to open in Mason, Ohio, in July 2008. Dr. Arthur has a private practice in Cincinnati, helping pre-teens, teens, and parents, as well as families and adults. She has worked extensively with youth, parents, and families as Clinical Supervisor for the North Star facility of Talbert House; while on staff at Beech Acres; and while working in the Cincinnati schools, St. Joseph's Orphanage, and Children's Hospital. She is presently adjunct faculty in the Psychiatry Department of University of Cincinnati and the Psychology Department at Xavier University.
Doug Arthur is a former award-winning middle-school teacher and previously Executive Director of TweenPlace, a non-profit providing leadership development programming for pre-teens and adolescent youth. Now affiliated with Atos Origin, a global IT services company, Mr. Arthur serves as their representative on the Youth Council and Youth Advisory Committee of the Southwest Ohio Region Workforce Investment Board. He is also Executive Director of the INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati, a collaboration of businesses and educators working together to give our best and brightest young technology talent a compelling reason to stay in Cincinnati for college and their careers.
Robin and Doug Arthur add to their background the most important parent training ground of all: the parenting of their four children, ages 20, 18, 13, and 11.
Martha Coen-Cummings, Ph.D.
Martha Coen-Cummings is the coordinator of the Outpatient Mason Speech Pathology department for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She received the Ohio Speech and Hearing Association’s “Elwood Chaney Outstanding Clinician Award” in 2007, and has achieved five National Awards through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Coen-Cummings graduated from Miami University of Ohio with a Master of Science degree and earned her Ph.D. at the University of Cincinnati. Coen-Cummings specializes in evaluating and treating voice disorders and auditory processing disorders. She presents on these specialties as well as on childhood language development at the local, state, national and international levels.
Tim Deibel
Tim Deibel is the Life and Health Insurance Specialist for AAA Allied Insurance Services, Inc. Mr. Deibel’s expertise focuses on life, health, disability income and long-term care insurance. He has been with AAA for 14 years and in the insurance field for 19 years. Tim earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA from Xavier University. Tim spends his spare time hiking and camping in America’s National Parks and volunteers in the local community through his involvement in the Lions Club.
Michelle Emanuel
Michelle Emanuel is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor® and Certified Baby’s First Massage Instructor® and has eleven years experience as a pediatric Occupational Therapist. She is the owner of Whole Body LLC, a private practice dedicated to your baby’s wellness. Michelle teaches parents and other caregivers newborn, infant, and pediatric massage; provides Craniosacral Therapy services and helps parents incorporate Tummy Time into their daily routine. She has a passion for conveying unconditional love and respect to children through the use of touch. Michelle resides in Cincinnati, is married and has three children who love massage – ages 9, 6, and 4.
Kevin Hall
Kevin Hall is the Senior Property and Casualty Insurance Specialist for AAA Allied Insurance Services, Inc. Kevin specializes in automobile, home, personal umbrella and event insurance. He has been with AAA for two years and in the insurance field for five years. Kevin earned his bachelor’s degree from Mid America Christian University and is a Student Ministries Pastor. He and his wife Aimee reside in Germantown and are in the process of adopting their first son, Mason.
Craig and Donita Jackson
Craig and Donita Jackson have been married for 14 years. Craig Jackson, MBA, is the Director, Business Development for Accel Advisors and Donita Jackson, PC, is a school counselor in the Indian Hill School District. Together they formed Jackson Consulting Group, whose mission is to lead couples in the restoration of intimacy to their relationships and to encourage them to live their best lives. Craig and Donita help couples achieve this goal primarily through marriage enrichment classes, presentations, workshops, weekend retreats, and couple-to-couple counseling. As a part of the Building Strong Marriages Coalition, the Jacksons' instruct lessons on FranklinCovey’s The 8 Habits of a Successful Marriage, AAFLE Making Your Good Thing Better, and other curricula which they have developed relying upon their marriage experience, education, research, and hard knocks. Residents of Forest Park, Craig and Donita are the proud parents of a beautiful daughter and two handsome young men.
Barbara James
Barbara James has worked as an instructor of the gifted, science specialist, and teacher of 20 years with the Cincinnati Public Schools. National Board Certified, her teaching accomplishments have earned her both state and local recognition, including the Governor’s Leadership and the Excellence in Education Awards. A veteran workshop leader, Barbara has presented seminars on several college campuses and to a variety of audiences on effective classroom discipline, outdoor education, and topics in science. Barbara resides in Cincinnati with her husband of 25 years and their son, a recent Brown University graduate.
Noah Koterba
Noah Koterba is a Licensed Financial Consultant with National City Investments. Noah joined the National City team in 2005. He is a lifetime Cincinnati resident who grew up in the West Chester, Ohio, area. His career focus includes financial planning/management, retirement planning, education savings and general investments.
Jim Mason
Jim Mason has served as President and CEO of Beech Acres Parenting Center since 1989. During that time, the former orphanage has been transformed from a traditional social services agency to a dynamic community resource serving all parents. Throughout his career, Mason has filled numerous professional roles, including child and family therapist, probation officer, teacher, sports coach, and staff trainer. In addition to his duties at Beech Acres Parenting Center, he is sought nationally to teach and consult on numerous subjects. Jim has been married for 34 years to his wife, Debby. They have three married adult children and three grandchildren.
Jamie Mazza
Jamie Mazza is a certified teacher and Licensed Professional Counselor. Jamie coaches parents to help their families through transitions such as divorce, grief and loss, as well as other parenting challenges. As an educator, Jamie has taught students of all ages, ranging from preschool through college, and adults. She combines her 25 years of experience with children and families with her talents as a therapist to help parents develop their children’s strength and resilience so they can emerge triumphantly when they are confronted with adversity.
Nancy Prisby, MSW
Nancy Prisby, MSW, has over 10 years of experience in family counseling. A Beech Acres/For the Love of Kids Parent Coach, Nancy focuses on strengths while helping parents navigate the daily challenges of raising their children. As a hospital social worker, Nancy observed the power of resilience first-hand while working with children with cancer and their families. Nancy has also counseled children in schools and led interactive discussions teaching anger management and conflict resolution. She has a Master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver. Nancy lives in Michigan with her husband and three children, ages 8, 6, and 4.
Catherine Strunk, RN
Catherine Strunk, RN, is the program director and educator for the Surviving the Teens Suicide Prevention Program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Strunk fully developed and implemented a multi-class curriculum in 2001 that has been presented to teenagers in 34 area schools about stressors, coping, depression and suicide prevention. Currently, she has presented to more than 20,000 teens and hundreds of parents and teachers on depression and suicide.
Katrina Zeit
Katrina Zeit is a speech-language pathologist for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Zeit specializes in treating speech and language disorders in children under age 3 and provides parent training in therapy. Zeit has presented on integrating parent training with language therapy in children. Currently, she is president of the Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association (OSLHA). In 2006, Zeit received Honors from OSLHA, which is the highest recognition given by the association. Most recently, she was nominated for the Dorine Seaquist Award for Outstanding Women of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in 2007.