Meet Our National Speakers
William Sears, M.D. – Morning Keynote Speaker
Dr. William Sears, one of America’s most renowned pediatricians, is the father of eight children, author of over 40 books on childcare and Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. A pediatrician for over 35 years, he currently lives and practices pediatrics along with his three sons. Dr. Sears received his pediatric training at Harvard Medical School’s Children’s Hospital in Boston and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, the largest children’s hospital in the world, where he served as Associate Ward Chief of the newborn nursery and Associate Professor of Pediatrics. “Dr. Bill” (as his little patients call him) has been a guest on over 100 television shows including: 20/20, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, Today Show, Dateline and most recently The Dr. Phil Show where he is a regular guest.
Rosalind Wiseman – Luncheon Keynote Speaker
Rosalind Wiseman is the author of Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence, twice a New York Times Bestseller. The book was the basis for the 2004 movie “Mean Girls”. She is the co-founder of the Empower Program, a non-profit organization that empowers youth to stop the culture of violence. Her new book Queen Bee Moms and Kingpin Dads: Dealing with the Parents, Teachers, Coaches, and Counselors That Can Make or Break Your Child's Future was released in 2006. Wiseman speaks to children, teens, parents, and educational professionals throughout the world. She has been profiled in The New York Times, People, USA Today, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Nightline, The Today Show, CNN, Good Morning America, and NPR affiliates throughout the country.
Edward R. Amend, Psy.D.
Edward R. Amend, Psy.D., is a practicing clinical psychologist at Amend Psychological Services, P.S.C., in Lexington, Kentucky with a satellite office in Cincinnati, Ohio. In his practice, Dr. Amend focuses on the social, emotional, and educational needs of gifted and talented youth, adults, and their families. He provides evaluations and therapy, facilitates child and parent discussion groups, and offers consultation and training for school personnel. Dr. Amend is co-author of two award-winning books: A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children; and Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults: ADHD, Bipolar, OCD, Asperger’s, Depression, and Other Disorders. As a strong advocate for the gifted population, Dr. Amend’s service has included the Board of Directors of Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted; President of the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education; Chair for the National Association for Gifted Children Counseling and Guidance; and consultant to the Davidson Institute for Talent Development.
Richard Louv
Richard Louv is an author and futurist focused on nature, family and community. His most recent book, "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder" has stimulated an international conversation about the future relationship between children and nature, and has helped spawn a movement that is now moving into the international sphere. Between 1984 and 2007, Richard was a columnist for The San Diego Union-Tribune and a columnist and member of the editorial advisory board for Parents Magazine. He has appeared on the CBS Morning Show, Good Morning America, Today Show, CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, NPR's Talk of the Nation, and many other programs. In 2008, he was awarded the Audubon Medal by the National Audubon Society – past recipients have included Robert Redford, and Jimmy Carter. In 2005, Discover Magazine named “Last Child in the Woods” one of the top science books of the year. Spirituality & Health Magazine named it one of 50 Best Spiritual Books of 2005. Richard Louv is married to Kathy Frederick Louv. They are the parents of two young men, Jason and Matthew. He is working on his eighth book, but he would rather fish than write.
Dr. Eli Newberger
In addition to his teaching appointments at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health, Dr. Eli Newberger lectures across the country on how children’s character development may be fostered. Dr. Newberger has focused on the nurturing of good character in males. He organized a research team, interviewed families, and wrote The Men They Will Become: The Nature and Nurture of Male Character in which he profiled boys in several age groups and discussed the major moral development issues pertinent to those age groups. The many true stories in the book feature predominantly families that are succeeding in the character development of their children, and how they are doing it, rather than stressing stories of failure and misery. Dr. Newberger’s great skill is showing how to strengthen children's abilities to contend successfully with the personal and moral challenges of a changing world.
Madelyn Swift
Madelyn Swift, M.Ed., is a nationally acclaimed author, speaker, and authority on discipline, family dynamics, and personal communication. Madelyn is President of Childright, an educational consulting firm that provides training to parents and educators. She speaks throughout North America, Asia, and Europe on discipline, problem solving, and character development. An often quoted resource, she is the author of three books: Teach Your Children Well: A Parent’s Guide to Encouraging Character and Integrity, Getting it Right with Teens, and the influential work, Discipline for Life: Getting it Right with Children. As well, she has written numerous articles and is a frequent guest on both radio and television.
Meet Our Local Speakers
Robert Bell
Robert Bell is currently the Director of Community Services for Beech Acres Parenting Center. Robert oversees several major community-based initiatives in the areas of healthy marriage-healthy relationships and effective parenting. A graduate of the Xavier University’s MBA Program, Robert has coordinated organizational training and personal development and leadership training programs for over ten years. He also served as an adjunct professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Cincinnati.
Dave Brewer, M.A., CFLE
Dave Brewer is Director of Training for Beech Acres Parenting Center. His work includes organizational development and the design and implementation of training programs for professionals and family members. Dave’s education includes degrees in psychology, community counseling, and business administration. He has had the opportunity to interact with families as mediator, child and family therapist, and group parent for abused and neglected teens. Dave joined Beech Acres’ team in 1986, where he contributed to the development of a group intervention model, The Boys and Girls Group About Divorce that has received national acclaim. Dave is an experienced professional trainer and has presented workshops across the country. He has been interviewed on TV and radio for his expertise in helping children cope with family changes. Dave is the father of four children ages 17 – 22.
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 is married 35 years to Debby. They have three married adult children and five grandchildren.
Rhonda Ramsey Molina
Rhonda Ramsey Molina currently serves as part-time director of the SAGA Coalition, a Drug Free Communities grantee on the east side of Cincinnati. Rhonda also serves as consultant to community coalitions across the country. Rhonda is a national expert in coalition development and management with 16 years in substance abuse prevention and community organization. Mrs. Molina facilitated the Parent Workgroup in designing the “Strong Voices, Smart Choices” parent education campaign which provided parenting tips to over a quarter of a million households in Greater Cincinnati. She has also trained facilitators to implement programs at local school, community and county agency levels. Ms. Molina has been awarded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Partnership for a Drug Free America, CADCA’s Coalition Advisory Council, Indiana University, and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. She has received the Award of Excellence from the Alcohol & Drug Addiction Prevention Association of Ohio and a leadership award from the Monroe County Indiana Commissioner’s Office for building a county wide drug prevention strategy.
Laura Stanton, CFLE
Laura Stanton is the founder of Mind Seed (www.mindseed.org), a training company that focuses on parent education, child development, diversity, and early childhood education. For 15 years, Laura has provided educational workshops to thousands of parents across the country. She is a Certified Family Life Educator with degrees from Cornell University, Miami University, and the University of Minnesota. She and her husband live in Terrace Park and are happily raising two children.
Rachel Zimmer
Rachel Zimmer has over 13 years of experience working with families and children. Currently, she is a Parent Consultant at Beech Acres Parenting Center. Rachel meets with parents and couples to help them learn tools and techniques that will enhance their relationships as well as resolve conflict issues. She also teaches Parent Enrichment classes that educate parents on child development, positive discipline and communication skills. In addition to her work at Beech Acres, Rachel is a Life, Parent and Health Coach with Hummingbird Coaching Services. Rachel resides in her hometown of Cincinnati where she lives with her husband Mike of 15 years and their two daughters, Sammi and Jackie.