.png)
Conference Presenters
Ronna Caras
Hugh Lee, JD
Ronna Caras is a learning and development professional who joined The Center for Guardianship Excellence in 2020. Her work involves turning the center’s research and insights into learning experiences including webinars, instructor-led training programs, eLearning, videos, infographics and tools for professional and family guardians. Before working at The Center, Ronna was President of a boutique training firm for 30 years. She and her team developed product, staff, and leadership training for global clients in the public, private and social sectors. Ronna has been a frequent speaker for an array of industry organizations and companies during her long career. She brings memorable stories that educate and inspire and remind us what learning something new can mean. Ronna is a graduate of Emerson College.
Prof. Hugh M. Lee, J.D., is an attorney and professor of bioethics and interdisciplinary studies at Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University. His teaching and research focus is on the intersection of law, ethics, and health care policy. He has written and spoken extensively about guardianship and conservatorship, Medicaid, Medicare, Long-term Care Insurance, senior housing and supports, and substituted decision-making. Prior to his appointment at Brody School of Medicine in 2015, he taught for 19 years at the University of Alabama School of Law, directing the Elder Law Clinic, the Civil Clinic, and the Foreclosure Relief Clinic at various times throughout his career. He has won state and national awards for his advocacy, and was most recently named a UNC Board of Governors Distinguished Professor for Teaching
Kathleen Rodberg
Kathleen Rodberg is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Elder Law. From traditional estate planning and administration to the unique and challenging issues facing the elderly and those with special needs, Kathleen helps clients and their families plan for the future. Kathleen regularly helps clients establish and administer guardianships and special needs trusts, develop comprehensive Medicaid and long-term care plans, and prepare estate planning documents.
Scott Mooneyham
More info coming soon
Jonathan Martinis
Jonathan Martins is the Senior Director for Law and Policy for the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, leading it's efforts to ensure that older adults and people with disabilities have access to the services and supports they need to lead independent, inclusive lives. In 2013, Jonathan represented Margaret “Jenny” Hatch in the “Justice for Jenny” case – the first trial to hold that a person has the right to use Supported Decision-Making to make her own life choices instead of being subjected to a permanent, plenary guardianship. Since then, Jonathan has led SDM projects in New York, Nebraska, Ohio, California, Virginia, Vermont, Missouri, and Kansas. He has also educated and trained tens of thousands of older adults, people with disabilities, families, and professionals across the country on SDM theory and practice. Jonathan has written or co-written over 60 publications on SDM, including the first textbook and first theory-to-practice guidebook on the subject.
Amy Willoughby Bryant
A consummate professional, attorney Amy Willoughby Bryant has a heart for public service and leadership. Amy’s work has been a reflection of her professionalism and passion during her many years of legal practice. Amy is excited to serve Metro Davidson County and Nashville’s community of individuals with a disability as the Office of Conservatorship Management (“OCM”), Director. She views this as a tremendous opportunity to combine her professional expertise with her passion for protecting Nashville’s vulnerable adults.
As the Director for the OCM, she oversees the management of the office, staff, advisory committees, policy and procedure changes, education, training and litigation. The blueprint for a statewide office exists in the
policy and procedures of this Nashville office. She is well versed in the laws and the policies involved in conservatorships. She has successfully led the OCM office for the past five years. She continues to make contacts and raise awareness about the need for more oversight in Tennessee.
Amy has had several articles published. A few op-eds have been published in the Tennessean and the Tribune. In 2023, she pinned an article about the need for training that was published in the National Guardianship Association newsletter. More recently the Tennessee Bar Journal featured her article, “How Can Tennessee Provide Better Oversight for Conservatorships?” in its July 2023 issue.
Additionally, through her role at the OCM, Amy launched the first and only statewide online training for conservators in the state of Tennessee. This program has been shared with all of the judges and clerks across the state and nationally. The quizzes and videos have been viewed over 7,000 times and over 1,600 completions of the quizzes. It is very exciting that conservators statewide have been trained under this program.
Amy demonstrates her passion for her community through her service as a leader, instructor and volunteer. Amy serves as an adjunct professor at Belmont University College of Law in Elder Law. She has served as a member or leader for numerous organizations. She is currently the Board President for the Conservatorship Association of TN and President for the National Guardianship Association.
This Memphis native is a Tennessee State University alum with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Economics and Finance. Amy continued her education by obtaining her Juris Doctorate from Saint Louis University School of Law.
Amy is married to Julian Bryant and mother of four. She lives by the motto that everything in life happens for a reason, embraces life as it comes, and meets every day with optimism!
Timothy Heinle
Timothy Heinle is an expert on civil indigent defense in North Carolina, including abuse, neglect, and dependency cases, guardianship, and child support contempt proceedings. As a faculty member in the School's Public Defense Education program, he focuses on providing education and resources to civil defense attorneys, including parent attorneys and guardian ad litem attorneys in adult incompetency matters. Heinle joined the School in 2020. Previously, Heinle practiced law in areas including trial and appellate level work on juvenile abuse, neglect, and dependency cases; termination of parental rights hearings; incompetency and guardianship matters; and child support contempt proceedings. In 2022, he received the School's Margaret Taylor Writing Award for “outstanding writing that displays [a] clear and direct style,” for The First Seven Days as a Parent Defender and the Performance Excellence Award for "collaborative, dedicated, and innovative efforts that advance the mission of the School of Government.” Heinle earned a J.D. from New England Law in Boston.
Linda Kendall Fields, MEd
Linda Kendall-Fields is the director of the Cares Program at UNC School of Social Work in Chapel Hill. She has dedicated over 35 years to building communities that are responsive to the needs and contributions of older adults, people with disabilities and families in Minnesota, Oregon, Ohio, Georgia, and North Carolina. During her career, Linda has used collective impact and other community engagement strategies to lead numerous health care, nonprofit and government initiatives. In her role at UNC-Chapel Hill, she leads a team that is dedicated to facilitating systems change with and for adults of all ages. Noteworthy projects include the Rethinking Guardianship initiative, the Supported Living Levels 2&3 Action Team, the Dementia Capable NC Coalition, and NC Money Follows the Person’s Building Home & Community-Based Services through Collective Impact initiative.
Nicki Applefield Engel
As an experienced elder and special needs law attorney, Nicki Applefield Engel helps clients deal with the legal issues involved with the cycle of life. She prides herself on crafting creative solutions and providing peace of mind for her clients and their families. Nicki’s core areas of practice include estate and special needs planning, asset preservation, public benefits, and long-term care planning, guardianships and conservatorships, and probate and trust administration. Nicki approaches her work with compassion, precision, and diligence. She is devoted to providing comprehensive and effective life care planning services for families facing the challenges of life.
Nelia Willis
More info coming soon
Stacey Skradski
Stacey Skradski is a Therapeutic Recreation graduate from Alderson-Broaddus University and is both a North Carolina Licensed Recreational Therapist and a Nationally Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Stacey has been active with NCGA since 2006 as a member, committee member, committee chair, president elect and president. She has extensive experience in Care Coordination, Direct Care and has worked in a variety psychiatric inpatient and outpatient settings. With over 25 years of guardianship experience and has presented at NCGA, the UNC School of Government, and a variety of NC Department of Social Services meetings.
Sarah Richardson
Sarah Richardson, a seasoned Program Administrator with over a decade of public service experience, specializes in program development, strategic implementation, and community outreach. Her passion for impactful social programs has driven her to lead initiatives addressing critical community needs through stakeholder engagement and policy advocacy. She serves as the Adult Services Program Administrator for the NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services where she oversees the program areas of Adult Protective Services, Guardianship, Medicaid Administrative Claiming and Special Assistance In Home Case Managment.Sarah's role has been crucial in developing and executing plans that not only enhance service delivery but also improve community well-being, characterized by her commitment to excellence, data-driven decision-making, and dedication to serving vulnerable populations. Her efforts have led to the expansion of services, improved program efficiency, and fostered an environment supportive of continuous improvement and innovation.
.jpg)
Erica C. R. Costello, JD, MA, NCG
Erica C. R. Costello, JD, MA, NCG, is Associate Director at the ABA Commission on Law and Aging and has worked extensively on elder abuse and guardianship reform efforts at both the state and national level. Prior to joining COLA, she was the Director of Adult Protective Services for the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office in South Bend, Indiana, and worked as a Staff Attorney with the Adult Guardianship Office at the Indiana Supreme Court. She has a B.A. from Indiana University-Bloomington, an M.A. from Northwestern University, and a J.D. from Brandeis School of Law, at the University of Louisville, in Kentucky. In her current position, Erica provides substantive legal support and expertise in the areas of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, adult guardianship, supported decision-making, and access to courts. She is licensed to practice law in Indiana and is a nationally certified guardian.