Pamela J. Pine, PhD, MPH is an international health, development, and communication professional who has dedicated her career to improving the lives of underserved populations in more than 30 countries. For over two decades, she has focused on childhood trauma and protection, with particular expertise in preventing and addressing child sexual abuse (CSA), trafficking, and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

She is the Founder and former CEO of Stop the Silence® – Stop Child Sexual Abuse, Inc., a pioneering nonprofit advancing advocacy, training, and trauma-informed programming. Since 2021, she has directed Stop the Silence®, now a department of the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma (IVAT), continuing to lead global prevention, education, and empowerment initiatives for individuals, families, communities, and organizations.

In addition to her nonprofit leadership, Dr. Pine is a professor, 10 times best-selling author (including Stop the Silence® – Thriving After Child Sexual Abuse and a chapter in Brave Kids: Short Stories to Inspire Our Future World-Changers, Volume 3 (lead author, Kaschula) that guides parents and children in talking about abuse), poet, award-winning photographer, and multimedia artist. She integrates the arts—painting, music, and writing—into her work as powerful tools for healing and awareness.

A recognized global advocate, Dr. Pine has appeared on NBC, CNN, PBS, and iHeart Radio, and in The Washington Post, The Washington Times, and On Purpose Women's Magazine. Her awards include: IVAT's Lifetime Advocacy Achievement Award (2017), International Leadership Women's Impact Award (2024), and the 2025 Voices of Courage Award® for her lifelong commitment to protecting children worldwide.

Learn more at ivatcenters.org/stop-the-silence, drpamelajpine.com, or connect on LinkedIn.

Vicki J. Tepper, Ph.D. is Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Division Head of Community Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. A licensed psychologist with over three decades of experience, Dr. Tepper is internationally recognized for her work in pediatric HIV care, mental health, and adherence interventions. She has served as a consultant to the World Health Organization and USAID on pediatric HIV disclosure and adolescent transition and has led numerous federally funded programs improving care for children and youth living with HIV. Dr. Tepper has authored more than 35 peer-reviewed publications and mentored generations of clinicians and researchers. She leads initiatives addressing psychosocial care, adherence, and health equity for vulnerable youth.  Her expertise spans behavioral health, chronic illness management, and community-based interventions for underserved populations.

Originally from New Jersey, Caroline Dato moved to Maryland to earn her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Qualitative Methodology from the University of Maryland, College Park. She later obtained her Master of Social Work from Rutgers University, along with a certificate in Violence Against Women and Children, while recognizing that violence can affect people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. 

Since 2019, Caroline has worked in the violence prevention field across Maryland, including Baltimore City and Montgomery, Frederick, and Baltimore counties. For over four years, she has served at Heartly House as the Community Engagement and Prevention Lead, working in power-based violence prevention, education, and survivor-centered healing and support. 

In 2022, Caroline designed and implemented Heartly House’s first Survivor Speakers Bureau, a program centered on restoring voice and agency to survivors. Through trauma-informed and empowerment-based approaches, she supports survivors in reclaiming their narratives and sharing their power with broader audiences. As a survivor herself, Caroline finds her greatest purpose in creating safe, affirming spaces where survivors are seen, heard, and honored. 

Chelsea Hood is a doctoral student in the School of Social Work at Howard University. Her research focuses on family violence within the Black community, emphasizing the development of trauma-informed and culturally responsive interventions for African American men who perpetrate intimate partner violence and are court-mandated to complete batterer intervention programming.

Chelsea currently works as a licensed psychotherapist in Washington, D.C., and Maryland, working with individuals, adolescents, and couples who are dealing with various stressors that impact mental and emotional wellbeing. She has served as a group facilitator for intimate partner violence offenders, where she guided participants in understanding the impact of their behavior and developing non-violent conflict resolution skills.

Chelsea also worked with the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA), where she advocated for underserved populations, facilitated statewide training, and developed educational content to support survivors and prevent sexual violence. Her academic and professional journey includes international research collaborations in South Africa, Tanzania, and Ghana, where she has engaged with academic institutions and community organizations to address family violence and promote mental health.

Emily Shank is a Maryland family law attorney and the founder of Shank Law, LLC in Towson. She is passionate about custody cases. Emily often serves as a court-appointed Child's Attorney in Baltimore and Carroll Counties. In that capacity, she works alongside therapists, evaluators, and treatment providers to help courts understand children's needs and family dynamics.

In addition to litigation, she is trained in Collaborative Divorce, is a certified mediator, and serves as a Settlement Officer in contested matters. Emily was admitted as a Fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) in 2025, has been recognized by Maryland Super Lawyers (2020–2026), and was named one of The Daily Record's Leading Women (2019).

Emily lives in Baltimore with her husband, two daughters, and 5 pets. Her home is chaotic and messy—much like family law.

Jennifer Redding, LCSW-C, is an executive leader, consultant, and nationally recognized speaker with over 28 years of experience in behavioral health, trauma-informed care, and organizational leadership. She has directed multi-million-dollar behavioral health systems and is the owner of Harford Counseling. Jennifer created Harford Counseling in 2009 to address the gap in care for individuals impacted by trauma, mental illness, and substance use. Jennifer co-founded Pebbles Throw Consulting, where she partners with organizations nationwide on leadership development and strategic planning.

Jennifer is known for her ability to guide leaders through complex change processes, strengthening organizational culture, and implementing trauma-informed practices across healthcare, law enforcement, education, and social services systems. She is frequently invited to deliver keynotes and workshops on leadership resilience, trauma and substance use, and crisis intervention, with a particular focus on working to mitigate the long-lasting effects of trauma with first responders.

Her board leadership includes service as Chairperson of the Harford County Mental Health and Addiction Advisory Council (MHAAC) and previously serving as Vice President of the Harford County Office on Mental Health, President of the Harford County Local Management Board, and acting as a Behavioral Health Consultant on law enforcement crisis negotiation and intervention teams. Jennifer’s contributions have been recognized with honors including being an Athena Leadership Award Finalist (2024), receiving recognition at the U.S. Army Leadership Symposium (2023), and as a Harford County Champion for Children and Youth (2016).

Judie Saunders is a Partner with ASK LLP, a national law firm offering individuals and corporations, bankruptcy, transactional and litigation services. Judie leads the firm's Sexual Abuse and Human Trafficking Department. She has secured millions for survivors of sexual violence. Judie has more than twenty years of experience litigating cases involving sexual abuse, workplace sexual harassment, and discrimination. Judie has represented survivors in cases against youth organizations, athletic entities, local and state governments. Judie has extensive courtroom experience, including jury trials.

Prior to ASK LLP, Judie represented and counseled numerous high-profile clients including Olympians, NCAA Division I student athletes and elite gymnasts, where she sought redress for injuries sustained due to abusive coaching practices. Judie secured the longest suspension in USA Gymnastics history against an abusive coach.

Judie is an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and International Institution of Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR).

Judie also spent a significant amount of her career in politics, including as a legislative analyst for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and as a staff member on several state and national campaigns.

Judie is an established thought leader in areas related to the intersection of law, policy, and human rights. She frequently writes, speaks, and is quoted on these issues for major publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Bloomberg News, Forbes, and Good Morning America.

Judie is a co-author of "A War on My Body: A War on My Rights," with several renowned women's rights advocates.

Kristen A. Dunn is a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) and forensic social worker. Ms. Dunn currently serves as a Child Protective Services Program Manager at the Frederick County Department of Social Services in Frederick, MD. Her extensive experience in child welfare spans over two decades. She previously worked as a Forensic Interview Specialist, conducting interviews with children who may have experienced maltreatment or witnessed violence, and providing expert testimony in court. She has also held positions as a Social Work Supervisor and a Child Protective Services Investigator.

Ms. Dunn has been a part of the Child Advocacy Center of Frederick County's Multidisciplinary Team since 2006. She is also a facility dog handler, providing specialized services to include support to children during forensic interviews, court accompaniment and prevention programming.

Ms. Dunn's expertise includes best practices in child forensic interviewing, child maltreatment investigations, and legal interfacing in child welfare cases. She has previously presented at many events, to include The Frederick County Human Trafficking Response Team's Annual Summit, The Child Advocacy Center of Frederick County's "Stronger Together: A Community Response to Child Abuse Summit," international conferences on the topic of "Facility Dogs: Thinking Outside the Box" and provides training/presentations upon request from local community partners.

Kathryn Robb directs the Children's Justice Campaign at ENOUGH ABUSE®. She is a lawyer and legislative advocate who has been fighting to pass meaningful child sex abuse legislation across the country for over 21 years. She has actively worked with lawmakers and governors, writing and editing legislation and testified in over thirty states. She regularly testifies as a national expert before legislative committees and full chamber briefings. An outspoken survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Kathryn uses her voice to implement common-sense legislative changes in the states and at the federal level to end child sexual abuse. She is a national expert on Statute of Limitations reform/elimination aimed at providing justice for survivors, accountability for abusers and the prevention of child sexual abuse. She regularly works with lawmakers and other advocates and national organizations. Kathryn implements a team approach strategy and believes that all voices are needed and should be respected in the mission to end child sexual abuse.

Kathryn writes opinions for local and national press and appears on news outlets at the local and national levels. She is a regular columnist for Verdict Justia. Kathryn regularly speaks before the press, as a presenter at national conferences, and frequently appears as a guest on numerous podcasts across the country. She participated in Scouts Honor and A Peloton of One documentaries and has agreed to be part of another, which is presently in production.

A co-founder of New Yorkers Against Hidden Predators, a coalition of organizations, advocates, and sex abuse survivors from across New York, Kathryn worked closely with then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, his staff, and New York state legislators to finally pass the New York Child Victims Act. After a 12-year hard-fought battle, the bill was signed into law on February 14, 2019. The New York Child Victims Act led to the drafting and passage of the Adult Survivors Act which ultimately led to the victory by E. Jean Carroll. Kathryn is a lawyer by trade and an expert specializing in legislative advocacy, sexual abuse laws and SOL reform. Kathryn was a board member and legislative advocate for the nonprofit Massachusetts Citizens for Children for ten years, and she was instrumental in the SOL change to MA General Laws in 2014, and the 2019 changes in Arizona, California, Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington D.C. Recent SOL changes in Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, and Maryland, as well as the limited revival windows opened for Boy Scouts survivors in Alabama, Indiana, and Iowa, were also supported by Kathryn. In 2025, Kathryn testified in support of the recently passed Amended Gender-Motivated Violence Act in New York City, which holds institutions accountable by reopening the lookback window for victims. She is a member of the Massachusetts bar. Kathryn is also a certified trainer for the MassKids ENOUGH ABUSE® campaign, training the trainer program.

In 2023, Kathryn was the recipient of the "Unsung Hero" Award at the New England Legal Award for her legislative advocacy. In 2025, Kathryn was the recipient of the "Voice for Children Award" and the "Courageous Voice Award" by the No More Victims Alliance for her work in passing Trey's Law in Texas and Missouri.

She received her Juris Doctor from New England Law| Boston and a Master of Science (MS) focused on Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from the University of Hartford.

Kathryn seeks to change both state and federal laws to reflect the safest standards for children, and victim-friendly laws, policies, and practices. She is passionately committed to employing the rule of law and sound public policy to uphold the dignity and protection of all children while holding those who harm children fully accountable under both criminal and civil law.

Megan Leader is the Training Manager at the Children's Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania (PennCAC). Prior to joining the PennCAC team in March 2022, Megan was a Forensic Interviewer for nine years and has interviewed approximately 3,000 children.

From her first-hand experience as a Forensic Interviewer, Megan knows the day-to-day work that CACs do to provide a child-friendly, trauma-informed, and evidence-based response to abuse. In addition to conducting interviews as part of the investigation process, Megan provided training to new CAC staff and multidisciplinary team members, and participated in community prevention programming. In her role at PennCAC, she helps ensure that CAC teams are supported with relevant training and professional development that will strengthen the local response in communities across Pennsylvania.

While employed as an Outpatient Therapist, Megan conducted individual, family, and group therapy using various treatment modalities and interventions to enhance familial relationships, improve communication, and manage maladaptive behaviors. She also has experience conducting therapy on an adolescent inpatient unit.

Megan brings subject matter expertise in trauma and victimization, a strong understanding of the NCA Standards for Accreditation for Children's Advocacy Centers, and familiarity with court and criminal justice processes as they pertain to child abuse cases.

Megan has a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Millersville University.

Molly Cupid is the Clinical Director at the Tree House Child Advocacy Center in Montgomery County, MD. Her prior positions include investigating child sexual abuse and fatalities for Montgomery County Child Welfare Services and providing evidence based therapy to adolescent males with histories of abuse who had been adjudicated for their own problematic sexual behaviors.

At the Tree House, Molly continues her commitment to children's recovery following abusive incidents by overseeing the forensic interviewing department and the mental health team. The Tree House CAC works with both the internal and external multi-disciplinary team, which includes MCPS, the Montgomery County Police Dept., Montgomery County Child Welfare Services, the Office of the County Attorney, and the State's Attorney's Office, to treat the whole child.

Molly has also spent the past two years further developing the Tree House's prevention education and training arm, strengthening partnerships with educational institutions such as MCPS, the Universities at Shady Grove, and Bowie State University, and other community organizations such as the Lourie Center, EveryMind, and CTC.

Nicole Assi, LCSW, LCSW-C is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 14 years of experience spanning child welfare, school social work, and outpatient clinical practice. She specializes in the treatment of complex trauma and has advanced training in Internal Family Systems, Deep Brain Reorienting, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and EMDR. She currently co-owns and practices at Soul Meets Body Treatment Center LLC in Hanover, Pennsylvania.

Nicole has held supervisory and leadership roles within child welfare and public education systems, including management of high-acuity abuse cases, strengthening interagency collaboration with local providers, leading systems-level development of social-emotional and mental health programming, and delivering professional development for multidisciplinary teams.

Using a systems perspective, Nicole brings an experiential and person-centered approach to her work. In addition to providing therapy services to adults, she offers clinical supervision to social workers pursuing licensure. She has a particular interest in supporting therapists and clinicians in deepening embodiment, compassionately understanding their internal systems, and nurturing the connection between these practices and their own work with clients.

Kirsten A. Johnson, LCSW, LCSW-C is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience spanning clinical practice, child welfare administration, education systems, and organizational consulting. She is an IFS Certified Therapist and is also trained in EMDR, TF-CBT, and IFIO.

Kirsten has served in senior leadership roles within public child welfare and education systems, including directing large-scale programs, overseeing quality assurance, and leading trauma-informed systems transformation initiatives. She currently co-owns and practices as a therapist at Soul Meets Body Treatment Center, where she works with individuals and couples with complex trauma histories.

Grounded in both clinical and systems perspectives, Kirsten brings a thoughtful, compassionate lens to working with trauma. Kirsten is especially interested in the inner experience of therapists and practitioners; the protective parts that show up in trauma work and how cultivating awareness and compassion for these parts can support ethical, sustainable practice. She brings curiosity, humility, and warmth to teaching clinicians how to care for themselves while caring for others.

Dr. Pamela Atueyi is a board-certified clinical supervisor with extensive experience in counseling, advocacy, and professional development. She has worked with individuals, families, and organizations to foster emotional well-being, resilience, and effective communication. Dr. Atueyi is passionate about helping professionals in high-stress environments develop practical strategies to manage stress, regulate emotions, and sustain hope and effectiveness in their work.

Her perspective combines professional expertise in clinical supervision and mental health with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those in helping professions. She is drawn to this topic because of her earlier learning lessons and mistakes of being a new and young manager. How she navigated those mistakes has led her to help others avoid or reduce those. She has been instrumental in helping working mothers navigate burnout and stress by building practical, sustainable strategies for balance, boundaries, and wellbeing without guilt or perfection.

Rebecca Carter, MD is a General Academic Pediatrician and is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at University of Maryland School of Medicine. She serves as Vice Chair of Education and Training for the Department of Pediatrics at University of Maryland and is Division Head and Director of Community Outreach and Engagement of General Pediatrics. She graduated from University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2010, and completed her Pediatric residency at Children's National Medical Center Residency Program.

She is also the director for the Advocacy and Social Justice track in the pediatrics residency. Her primary areas of focus are in health equity and community access, adverse childhood experiences, and social drivers of health, and in educational models to teach the next generation of pediatricians how to address social drivers in their health care delivery.

As a co-director of the University of Maryland Golisano Children's Hospital TEAMS initiative (Transforming Engagement, Access, and Mobile Services), she has been the clinical lead for mobile health initiatives, pairing efforts for primary care delivery on the mobile unit alongside pediatric specialty care, health education efforts, and engagement initiatives across Baltimore City.

Director, Child Advocacy Center of Frederick County

Manage all operational, programmatic and administrative aspects of the Frederick County Child Advocacy Center (CAC).

Direct and supervise the daily operations of the center, ensuring a safe child-friendly environment.

Direct and supervise program operations (forensic interviews, advocacy, therapy, and medical) and staff.

Assure compliance with NCA National Accreditation Standards.

Implement and refine policies and procedures for the operation of the CAC.

Assure all CAC staff follow an agreed upon process for collaborative response in alignment with established CAC policies and procedures.

Coordinate activities of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).

Assess and monitor the operation between agencies, make recommendations to the Executive Board and implement changes as applicable.

Collect, compile and maintain case statistics and program outcomes; prepare quarterly programmatic and statistical reports.

Facilitate and monitor interagency problem solving and peer reviews.

Develop and monitor progress with the CAC strategic plan.

Develop and monitor a comprehensive funding strategy for the CAC including grant writing and grant management.

Facilitate the implementation of the local Memorandum of Understanding between CAC partner agencies and the bylaws of the Executive Board.

Develop and facilitate community outreach activities and conduct community presentations.

Develop, coordinate, and implement a training plan for CAC staff and MDT members.

Yolanda Johnson joined CASA/Prince George’s County as the Executive Director in May 2023. Yolanda brings extensive experience in child welfare, juvenile justice, advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement to her role as Executive Director. She has dedicated her career to advocating for those most vulnerable to inequality and injustice through her work in vocational education, state government, and nonprofit leadership.

Prior to joining CASA, Yolanda served as the Senior Director of Community Initiatives for Street Law, Inc. for over seven years, a global nonprofit designed to advance civic and legal education to empower all people to positively transform their world. Through multi-sector partnerships with criminal justice, child welfare, corporate, and education, Yolanda successfully scaled a national civic and legal education program to advance justice for youth and adult populations most vulnerable to injustice, including survivors of trafficking and domestic violence.

Yolanda’s background also includes a twelve-year tenure at the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), where she held roles as a Case Management Specialist Supervisor in Montgomery County, Maryland and Assistant Regional Director in Baltimore City, Maryland. Yolanda was awarded a secretary’s citation for her leadership while at DJS.

Yolanda has a bachelor’s degree in child and adolescent studies from Bowie State University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Nyack College. A Certified Diversity Executive®, Yolanda has experience in workforce development and training facilitation in cultural competence, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In addition to her professional journey, Yolanda is an active volunteer in civic and community organizations. She has served as a board member and Board President for Equipment Connections for Children since 2017, an organization that helps to ensure children living with physical disabilities have the equipment they need to thrive in Maryland and surrounding areas. She also volunteers as Vice-President of Membership for the American Business Women’s Association, Maryland Capital Chapter where she was recently awarded the 2023 Top Ten Business Woman award for her career and community contributions.

Crimson Barocca, LCSW-C, has been at Center for Hope for the last 15 years; however, she began her career 20 years ago at child protective services in Baltimore as a forensic interviewer, investigator, and supervisor.

Crimson has conducted over 2300 forensic interviews and has provided training locally, nationally and internationally to interviewers, child protective services staff, law enforcement, legal, medical and mental health professionals. Crimson provides training on basic and advanced forensic interviewing topics, working with multi-disciplinary teams, and dynamics of abuse in children. She led the development of the nationally recognized interview structure, Forensic Interview Toolbox (FIT). Crimson oversees and supports training and ongoing curriculum development. Crimson was at the forefront of developing tele-forensic interview practice nationally and continues to research and present nationally on this topic. She currently facilitates forensic interview peer review locally and nationally and is routinely an expert consultant and witness on forensic interviewing and sexual abuse dynamics. Crimson received her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland and is a licensed clinical social worker.

Kathryn (Katie) Gravely is an Attorney for Violence Prevention at the Center for Hope. Katie supports the Center for Hope’s mission to safeguard children and neighborhoods from all forms of violence. In their current role, Katie serves as the Center for Hope's MDT facilitator, prepares staff and MDT members for courtroom testimony, assists children and their families with immediate legal needs, and provides local and national training with the Forensic Interview Research and Education team. Before joining the Center for Hope, Katie was a Special Victim’s Unit prosecutor handling sex crimes, child abuse, and infant death investigations, ultimately specializing in child sex offenses that involve delayed disclosures, recantations, polyvictimization, and repeat offenders. Barred in Maryland, Katie holds a law degree from American University’s Washington College of Law and a master’s degree in Political Science from Virginia Tech.

Meghan McGowan, LCSW-C, is a forensic interviewer and multidisciplinary team (MDT) liaison with the Frederick County Department of Social Services in Maryland. She conducts trauma-informed, research-supported forensic interviews at the Frederick County Child Advocacy Center, ensuring developmentally sensitive and evidence-informed practices when gathering information from children and vulnerable victims and witnesses.

In her role supporting MDT coordination, Meghan strengthens interagency communication, enhances case-tracking and information-sharing processes, and helps align investigative responses across child protective services, law enforcement, prosecution, medical, mental health, and victim service providers. Her work centers on navigating complex systems with clarity, accountability, and a shared commitment to best practice.

Before specializing in forensic interviewing, Meghan worked in Child Protective Services investigations and collaborated extensively with MDT partners. She also supervises MSW students, provides training and presentations on mandated reporting, CPS investigations, and MDT collaboration, and contributes to countywide protocol development for coordinated responses to human trafficking.

Meghan is committed to changing the conversation in child-serving systems—moving beyond siloed approaches toward transparent, trauma-informed collaboration that supports both survivors and the professionals who serve them.

Amanda Lee has been a trial attorney for over 20 years and is a certified professional coach who has spent her career in and out of the courtroom advocating for women and children. A survivor of domestic violence, she founded The Lee Consultants to provide strategic, trauma-informed services for high-achieving professionals experiencing domestic abuse, including tailored coaching and executive-level training to raise organizational awareness and increase support.

Dr. Angélique Black McKoy is the Associate Director of Training & Engagement. In this role, she oversees the efforts of the Training Institute team and ensures the quality of its services with efforts to best meet the educational needs of the community. She is also responsible for creating professional development opportunities that are responsive to audiences and developing technical assistance products that highlight field best practices and serve as a social enterprise for the organization.

Dr. Angélique is a seasoned trainer and facilitator as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Doctor of Christian Counseling (DCC). She has notable counseling experience with a myriad of populations including children and families (child-serving organizations/OMHC), child welfare (treatment foster care), and marriage and singles.  She is also a licensed minister, public speaker, and recorded singer.

As a fierce advocate for people with special needs and their families, she previously using her philanthropic skills as former Co-Chairperson of the Harford County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) and former Board Member of Not-Another Child, Inc. in New York City, whose mission is to provide wholeness, healing, and advocacy to communities and families impacted by gun violence and other traumatic events. She currently advocates as a Board Member for the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV).

Dr. Angélique holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix, a CACREP-accredited master's degree in clinical Mental Health Counseling, doctoral degree in Christian Counseling from Dominion Theological Seminary, and is state-board licensed in Maryland. She is a Certified Trauma Professional certification and has a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace certification from the University of South Florida. She is a native New Yorker thriving in Maryland for over a decade with her supportive husband,  Bryan, daughter, Jaelyn, and their fiercely loyal chiweenie, Chewy.

Cara O’Brien has dedicated her legal career for over 17 years to advocating for individuals who have been injured by the negligence of others in complex personal injury litigation.

Ms. O’Brien has extensive courtroom experience and has successfully tried multiple cases to verdict, including obtaining a verdict for over $5,000,000 on behalf of two clients. Ms. O’Brien has changed the lives of her clients through hundreds of six- and seven-figure settlements. She has also represented clients at both appellate levels.

Ms. O’Brien is a member of the many professional organizations including the Maryland Association for Justice and the Society of Women Trial Lawyers. Ms. O’Brien was selected by The Daily Record as a 2019 Leading Women awardee and was named to the 2022 “Power List” of the Top 25 Personal Injury/Medical Malpractice attorneys in the state of Maryland. Ms. O’Brien was honored to receive the 2024 Women’s Caucus Award from the Maryland Association for Justice in recognition of her commitment to mentoring and supporting women attorneys. Ms. O’Brien is involved in several community groups and associations as well.

Ms. O’Brien loves achieving justice for her clients. Her compassionate yet aggressive approach to her cases allows her to obtain the best possible outcome for each client and build relationships with her clients that often continue after the case is resolved.

When she is not fighting for her clients, she enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 children, golfing, running, and cheering on the Ravens and Orioles.

Dr. Danielle Thomas is a statewide leader in victim services and human trafficking response, currently serving with the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy in Maryland. She oversees the Regional Navigator Program, which coordinates multidisciplinary, victim centered support for individuals impacted by human trafficking across the state. With a background in frontline advocacy and rural systems research, Dr. Thomas is deeply committed to fostering collaboration, elevating survivor informed practices, and turning conversation into collective action. Her work centers on building sustainable partnerships that move hope from intention into impact.  

Dr. Razia F. Kosi is a district level educational leader in a highly diverse Maryland public school system. Her leadership centers on advancing equity, elevating trauma-informed practices, championing student voice initiatives, and developing proactive strategies to address and mitigate hate/bias incidents. Beyond her public service role, Dr. Kosi is a mental health professional working to end the stigma surrounding mental health in the South Asian (SA) community and was the founder of Counselors Helping (South) Asians, Inc.(CHAI). Her contributions to scholarship include authoring chapters in books related to mental health, presenting at professional conferences, and appointment to adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University. Advocating for both mental health and education, she has served on executive boards for both national and local organizations serving the SA and AAPI communities. To increase diversity in K-12 education, she co-founded and is a Past President of the Asian American Educators of Howard County. She is currently a commissioner for the Howard County Executive’s AAPI Commission. Dr. Kosi operates a specialized private practice, providing counseling primarily to women of color and Muslim clients across various racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Avalon Sequoia Brandt is a native of Baltimore and was educated in the Baltimore City School System until moving to Harford County where she graduated from Joppatowne High School in 1977.  Ms. Brandt did not take a traditional path to law school, having obtained a Paralegal Certification from the Community College of Baltimore and worked as a Paralegal and Legal Secretary for over 10 years before entering law school. She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Maryland in College Park, while working full time in Washington, D.C. for the prestigious firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. In 1988 she received her Bachelors’ degree. In 1994 she received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

In 1995, Avalon formed her solo practice with a primary focus in family law. In 1996 she joined a partnership firm Wilson & Brandt, P.A., where she continued her family law practice in addition to estates and misdemeanor criminal defense. In 2001, she shifted her focus to complex civil litigation and joined the law firm of Saul E. Kerpelman where she represented hundreds of children and adults who were exposed to and injured from childhood lead poisoning.  In 2015, Avalon joined the law firm of Evan K. Thalenberg and continued to practice lead paint poisoning litigation. In 2022, Avalon join O’Brien Law, where she also practiced lead paint poisoning litigation. For more than 23 years Avalon has litigated hundreds of lead paint cases obtaining multi-million-dollar verdicts and more than $25 million dollars in settlements. 

In 2025 Avalon joined the Yost Legal Group where she currently works on child sexual abuse cases.

Avalon is a member of the Character Committee for the State Board of Law Examiners, the Maryland Association for Justice and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer starting in 2020. She is admitted in the U.S. District Court of Maryland and she has been admitted Pro Hac Vice in Illinois and South Carolina. 

Avalon has a deep commitment and passion to help others. Since 2008 she has been on the Board of Directors for L.I.F.E. Incorporated (“Living In a Free Environment”), a non-profit organization which provides housing, employment and social activities for adults who have physical disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. She currently serves as President.

Avalon lives in Baltimore with her husband, and she is an avid sports fan who loves football, basketball and Mixed Martial Arts.

Missy Cougnet is an LCPC at Springboard Community Services and has been a therapist there for nearly 8 years.  She has a background in substance abuse counseling and now specializes in treating children with problematic sexual behavior (PSB-CBT) and individuals needing to process trauma (TF-CBT).  In addition to seeing clients at SCS, Missy works part time as the therapist on staff at the Carroll County CAC.  Missy is committed to her role in providing individual behavioral health services to those who are in need.

Natalie Klein is employed by Springboard Community Services working as a Victim Advocate at the Carroll County Children’s Advocacy Center, where she supports children and their non-offending caregivers throughout the investigative and healing process. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Towson University in 2023 and brings prior experience from working in the State’s Attorney’s Office. Natalie is dedicated to providing consistent, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive advocacy from initial intake through case resolution and beyond.

Avalon Sequoia Brandt is a native of Baltimore and was educated in the Baltimore City School System until moving to Harford County where she graduated from Joppatowne High School in 1977.  Ms. Brandt did not take a traditional path to law school, having obtained a Paralegal Certification from the Community College of Baltimore and worked as a Paralegal and Legal Secretary for over 10 years before entering law school. She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Maryland in College Park, while working full time in Washington, D.C. for the prestigious firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. In 1988 she received her Bachelors’ degree. In 1994 she received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

In 1995, Avalon formed her solo practice with a primary focus in family law. In 1996 she joined a partnership firm Wilson & Brandt, P.A., where she continued her family law practice in addition to estates and misdemeanor criminal defense. In 2001, she shifted her focus to complex civil litigation and joined the law firm of Saul E. Kerpelman where she represented hundreds of children and adults who were exposed to and injured from childhood lead poisoning.  In 2015, Avalon joined the law firm of Evan K. Thalenberg and continued to practice lead paint poisoning litigation. In 2022, Avalon join O’Brien Law, where she also practiced lead paint poisoning litigation. For more than 23 years Avalon has litigated hundreds of lead paint cases obtaining multi-million-dollar verdicts and more than $25 million dollars in settlements. 

In 2025 Avalon joined the Yost Legal Group where she currently works on child sexual abuse cases.

Avalon is a member of the Character Committee for the State Board of Law Examiners, the Maryland Association for Justice and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer starting in 2020. She is admitted in the U.S. District Court of Maryland and she has been admitted Pro Hac Vice in Illinois and South Carolina. 

Avalon has a deep commitment and passion to help others. Since 2008 she has been on the Board of Directors for L.I.F.E. Incorporated (“Living In a Free Environment”), a non-profit organization which provides housing, employment and social activities for adults who have physical disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. She currently serves as President.

Avalon lives in Baltimore with her husband, and she is an avid sports fan who loves football, basketball and Mixed Martial Arts.

Missy Cougnet is an LCPC at Springboard Community Services and has been a therapist there for nearly 8 years.  She has a background in substance abuse counseling and now specializes in treating children with problematic sexual behavior (PSB-CBT) and individuals needing to process trauma (TF-CBT).  In addition to seeing clients at SCS, Missy works part time as the therapist on staff at the Carroll County CAC.  Missy is committed to her role in providing individual behavioral health services to those who are in need.