Parent University Speakers 

A licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Anne Krick has practiced in the Chicago suburbs for more than 20 years. She specializes in couples’ and individuals’ issues particularly in areas of sexual acting out behaviors. She also treats individuals suffering from anxiety and depressive disorders as well as anger issues. Dr. Krick obtained an M.S. in counseling psychology in 1990 and a doctorate in clinical psychology in 1996.

Dr. Krick has worked at a treatment center in Bolingbrook with adult victims of sexual abuse, at Family Shelter Service with victims of domestic violence, at Chicago Christian Counseling Center in Orland Park, and for the past 5 years has been at Nickerson and Associates, P.C. in Winfield, IL doing individual, group, and couples work.

Laura Jacobson has been a family and consumer science in District 155for thirteen years, and has been a district Love and Logic trainer for the past nine years. Additionally, she has been a Link Crew facilitator for five years. Laura and her family live in Crystal Lake.

Shannon Levitt has taught English in District 155 for ten years. In addition to having been a Love and Logic staff development trainer, Shannon teaches the course "Parenting with Love and Logic" for Centegra Health System. She enjoys using Love and Logic techniques extensively in her classroom and at home with her two children.

Barbara Easterday completed her undergraduate work with an associate of arts degree in nursing and a bachelor's degree in sociology from Indiana University. She obtained a master's of social work degree from George Williams College of Aurora University, and has more than 25 years experience working with children and families. Easterday’s nursing background includes: neonatal intensive care, infant stimulation with focus on high risk children, adjunct lecturer in nursing at Indiana University Southeast Campus, staff nurse with pediatric patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, and nursing and bereavement with Hospice of Northeastern Illinois. Barbara was associated with Family Service of McHenry County from 1998 to 2010, serving as child, adolescent, and adult therapist, and child and adolescent program coordinator. Easterday is currently associated with the Center for Wholistic Counseling in Crystal Lake, IL.

Officer Charles Harris has been a member of the Crystal Lake Police Department for five years with a total of fifteen years experience as a police officer. Officer Harris is presently assigned as a school resource officer at Prairie Ridge High School and has held that position since 2006. He previously served with the East Moline Police Department as a school resource officer for two years and was a member of the East Moline Honor Guard Unit. Harris attended Western Illinois University, and is certified as a Juvenile Officer, Gang Specialist, Field Training Officer, Crisis Negotiator, Evidence Technician, Investigator, and Bicycle Patrol Officer. He is a member of the Crisis Intervention Team—a group that deals with the de-escalation of behaviorally unstable persons.

Dr. Anthony Ebel is a pediatric chiropractor who specializes in spectrum disorders, sensory integration, and overall pediatric and family wellness. His practice, Premier Wellness Chiropractic, is located in Crystal Lake and serves the surrounding communities. Dr. Tony is one of only a few pediatric-certified chiropractors in the McHenry County area, and is an expert in the following areas:

• Neuro-Developmental Disorders (Autism, ADHD, Sensory Integration, Seizures, etc.)
• Autoimmune Disorders (Ear infections, Asthma, Allergies, Eczema, etc.)
• Rehabilitation and Fitness
• Nutrition and Supplementation
• General Family Health and Wellness

Thanks to his extensive education and passion for these areas, he has founded and developed a program called Community Impact. This program is designed to educate and inspire the community in areas related to natural and drug-free approaches to health care, exercise and fitness, nutrition and more. Its mission is to “Impact the community one family at a time” through the foundations of eating, moving, and thinking well.

Shawn Ness has been a guidance counselor at Cary-Grove High School for nine years. He is a member of the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC) and the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). He has attended the National College Admission Counseling Conference for the past four years.

Amy Gartner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who brings hope and humor, energy and enthusiasm to her work with adolescents, adults, and families. She provides opportunities for healing and growth through individual counseling, educational workshops and group therapy. Gartner completed her master’s degree in Clinical Social Work at the University of Kentucky and has been working as a counselor in private practice for more than 15 years. She is also a seasoned trainer and group facilitator, with professional experience working in a hospital psychiatric unit, teaching and counseling in an eating disorder recovery center as well as a medical weight loss and bariatric surgery center. Gartner has also been very active in supporting families as they grieve losses from death, divorce and illness. Her work is grounded in the belief that personal growth requires the development of meaningful connections and a willingness to heal through honesty, courage, and acceptance. Gartner joined Community High School District 155 in 2011 as a social worker serving Crystal Lake South High School.

Jeanne Walsh has more than 20 years experience working with children, adolescents, and families. Walsh has worked in a variety of roles in schools, hospitals, and mental health settings including serving as the founding CEO of a residential treatment center. She has conducted more than 200 workshops nationally and has published articles and book reviews on mental health topics. A recognized speaker on Cyberbullying throughout the metropolitan area, Walsh is currently employed as educational liaison at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital.

Dr. Hank Harvey has been an educator for 18 years. Since 2003, he has served as student services coordinator and director of guidance at Cary-Grove High School. He earned his B.A. in English at Wheaton College, his M.A. in school counseling at Northeastern Illinois University, and his doctorate in educational leadership at National-Louis University. Dr. Harvey and his family reside in Crystal Lake.

Meghan Kratzke has been a school counselor at Cary-Grove High School for nine years. She taught at the high school level for three years prior to becoming a school counselor. Kratzke earned her B.S. in Family Social Services as well as her M.A. in School Counseling at Northern Illinois University. She is a member of the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling and the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

Kurt Wagner is a nationally certified school psychologist in his fifth year of practice. His undergraduate studies at Bradley University were in psychology with emphasis on behavioral analysis and research design, with minor areas of study in philosophy and sociology. He attended Eastern Illinois University for graduate training in school psychology, where he earned a specialist-level master's degree (Specialist in School Psychology) after an internship at John Hersey High School in District 214. In his current role, Wagner employs positive psychology and problem-solving models to serve the children of Crystal Lake South and Prairie Ridge in many ways. In direct work, he provides brief cognitive-behavioral therapy through motivational interviewing, as well as a good deal of organization and time management coaching. Indirectly, Wagner consults with teachers, counselors, social workers, deans, and other administrators regarding individual students up through district-level policies. He is also active in the school psychology community, serving the Illinois School Psychologists Association as the chairperson of the Technology Committee and regularly publishing articles in School Psychology in Illinois. Wagner was recently awarded ISPA’s Distinguished Service award for his work in this role.

Emily Kostner of Family Service & Community Mental Health Center

Dr. Todd Lendvay is owner and administrator of ProActive Behavioral Services. He completed his master's and doctoral training at the Adler School of Professional Psychology, and is an Illinois Licensed Psychologist, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Certified Criminal Justice Specialist (CCJS), a Master in Addiction Counselor (MAC), and is an Anger Management Specialist I (AMS I). He has managed in-patient and out-patient psychiatric programs at a variety of hospitals with children, adolescents, and adult populations. Lendvay has managed an Illinois Department of Human Services grant designed for the assessment and treatment of children and teens who present with complicated psychological/psychiatric challenges. He focuses on diagnostics and is very knowledgeable with psychotropic medications. A passionate, energetic, straight-forward clinician, Dr. Lendvay builds rapport easily and creates positive movement with his clients and affiliated persons. He specializes in assessment and therapy for children, teens, and adults, and couples/marital counseling.

Dr. Douglas Neal has been in practice since 1981. He is passionate about helping his clients discover freedom and live the life for which they were created. Dr. Neal works with children, adolescents, individuals, married couples, and families, creating a safe, trusting environment where clients can focus on dealing with their issues. He greatly enjoys case management—helping his clients manage all of their issues—including medical, psychological, emotional and spiritual.

Dr. Neal received his master’s and doctorate of clinical psychology in 1989 from the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology. In 1981, he received an M.S. in rehabilitation counseling from IIT, working with patients who suffered from different types of spinal cord injury and brain trauma. Dr. Neal completed his B.A. in psychology from Trinity College in 1980. He also studied Theology and Greek at Moody Bible Institute.

Dr. Neal lives in Crystal Lake with his wife Kathy. They have two adult children, Zack and Pete.

Lorena Gorey is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with offices in Crystal Lake and Chicago. Dr. Gorey graduated with honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She holds an M.S. in Counselor Education from Illinois State University and a doctoral degree in Counselor Education from Northern Illinois University.

In addition to her formal academic credentials, Gorey has received training at the Center for Cognitive Coaching in Boulder, Colo. Cognitive coaching is a process that supports individuals in becoming self-directed, with the cognitive capacity to be self-managing, self-monitoring, and self-modifying. Dr. Gorey's clinical work has a special focus on women and adolescents. Her empathy and compassion provide clients with a sense of being heard and understood.

Dr. Gorey served Community High School District 155 as a guidance counselor and director of guidance for 28 years and spent four years as vice principal at Crystal Lake Central High School.

Officer Mark Szumanski is a five year veteran of the Crystal Lake Police Department and serves as school resource officer for Crystal Lake South High School. In total, Officer Szumanski has 11 years experience in law enforcement and holds a law enforcement instructor designations. He is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association and is a state certified juvenile officer, evidence technician, narcotics investigator (basic), and truck enforcement officer.

Dan Blair has worked 20 years in social service settings. He is experienced as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and is a trained, court-approved, divorce mediator, Nationally Certified Parenting Coordinator, and a Certified Anger Management Specialist. He is trained as a child custody evaluator and is a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and the Professional Academy of Custody Experts. Blair has been a live-in houseparent to over forty abused or neglected children. He also has been a foster parent, a consultant to group homes and foster homes, and a Clinical Director. He earned his B. A. in Psychology at Trinity College and his M. A. in Clinical Psychology at Wheaton College.

Kerrie Kurth is the lead teacher for Crystal Lake South High School's Functional Living Skills program—a position she has held for the past six years. Kurth completed her undergraduate studies at Illinois State University with a degree in Special Education. She earned a master's degree in the art of teaching with an emphasise in ppecial educaiton in 2009, and is currently pursuing an educational leadership master's degree. Kurth helped students launch the district's first Best Buddies chapter, and has served as the group's faculty sponsor since its inception five years ago. Best Buddies is an international organization that pairs students with disabilities with non-disabilied peers to form a one-on-one friendship.

Linda Hall has been with Youth Service Bureau for nearly five years, facilitating a support group for pregnant and parenting teens in the community and in the high schools. Hall also facilitates prevention groups in several schools in McHenry County, working with children from pre-K through grade 12. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, and lives in Crystal Lake with her husband and three college and high school-aged children.

Angela Dampier is a licensed clinical social worker, a certified alcohol and other drug abuse counselor, and a substance abuse professional as recognized by the Department of Transportation. She works with a variety of clients, and has a special interest in teen substance use and depression, codependency, and sports psychology, and works with couples on relationship issues and challenges in communication. Her approach is a holistic one, with the belief that the mind-body connection is very influential over our lives. Angela Dampier has a master of science in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Speaker information coming soon.