Speaker Highlights

James Eberspacher | Intent vs. Impact: Are We Set Up to Fail
James Eberspacher is the director of the National Center for DWI Courts (NCDC). NCDC is a division of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) providing training and technical assistance to DWI court professionals. Eberspacher's background in treatment court includes experience at the state and local levels. He has more than two decades of combined experience in treatment courts, corrections, policy development, and training/technical assistance.

Maria Abelar | Understanding Emerging Adults | Core Correctional Practices: From Theory to Practice
Maria Abelar is a program manager with Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department in Houston, Texas. She has held management positions in various units of the department including Day Reporting Center, Mental Health Initiative, Centralized Assessment Unit, Outpatient Counseling and Client Support Services and Quality Assurance. Abelar is a master trainer in the delivery of the Texas Risk Assessment System and a certified Effective Practices in Community Supervision (EPICS) trainer.

John Haroldson | Prosecutor Specific
John Haroldson is the first Latino elected as district attorney in the state of Oregon and has served as a prosecutor since 1988. His commitment to treatment court programs is underscored by his proactive and direct engagement with the Benton County drug treatment court, a program in its 16th year of operation and recognized as a National Mentor Court. Haroldson has served as adjunct faculty for the NADCP, National District Attorneys Association, Conference of Western Attorneys General, American Bar Association and Willamette University College of Law.

Dr. Kevin McCauley | Psychoneuroimmunology—When Stress, Trauma and Addiction Intersect
Dr. Kevin McCauley is a non-practicing physician who has worked in the field of addiction treatment for nearly two decades. Dr. McCauley first became interested in the treatment of substance use disorders while serving as a Naval Flight Surgeon for Marine Corps heavy-lift helicopter and fighter/attack squadrons. For more information visit https://drkevinmccauley.com/. 

Michael Chaple, PhD | Aiming Higher than Compliance
Michael Chaple, PhD, is an assistant professor of clinical medical psychology (in psychiatry) at Columbia University. He has researched such topics as behavioral and pharmacological treatments for substance use disorders and co-morbid mental and physical health conditions.

Aaron Arnold | The Future of Treatment Courts
Aaron Arnold is chief development officer at the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, where he works to develop new initiatives to support and strengthen drug courts across the country. Prior to joining NADCP, he spent 15 years at the Center for Court Innovation, overseeing the Center’s national work in the areas of treatment courts, community justice, alternatives to incarceration, tribal justice and more.

Pierre Quinn | It’s In The Bag: Finding Team Success in a Changing World
For more than 15 years, Pierre Quinn has taught higher education, faith-based, nonprofit and corporate leaders the strategies they need to experience personal success and professional growth. He is the author of "Leading While Green: How Emerging Leaders Can Ripen Into Effective Leaders" and "Leading While Scared: How To Find The Courage To Keep Going." Quinn is the CEO of The Cardell Group, LLC, a consulting firm which focuses on growing leaders and empowering teams of all sizes. For more information visit https://pierrecquinn.com/.