Douglas Bennett, M.D. practices pediatrics at Irondequoit Pediatrics and is affiliated with Strong Memorial, Rochester General, Highland and Park Ridge Hospitals. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Golisano Children’s Hospital.  He received his B.S. from Tufts University and his M.D. from SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association.  

Beth Krause is a Registered Dietician and director of food services for the Fairport Central School District in Fairport, NY. She is also the parent of a child with a food allergy. She encourages parents to work closely with their children’s school to manage dietary restrictions and prevent accidental exposure to allergens.  

Shayr Guthrie is the mother of a child with a severe allergy to nuts. In 2003 she and her husband introduced AllerGators, a line of allergy alert clothing and safety products with child-friendly graphics. AllerGators are sold online at www.AllerGators.com. The Guthries donate 10% of the profits from AllerGators sales to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network to support food allergy awareness, advocacy, and research.

Joanne Panarisi is a Reiki master and practitioner and a clinical social worker. She received a B.S. degree from Nazareth College and an MSW from Syracuse University. She conducts individual and group trainings and workshops on a variety of topics, including stress management. 

Michele Borba, Ed.D., is an educator and author of 21 books, including 12 Simple Secrets Real Moms Know: Getting Back to Basics and Raising Happy Kids, Nobody Likes Me, Everybody Hates Me!. She received a Doctorate in Educational Psychology and Counseling from the University of San Francisco, an M.A. in Learning Disabilities, and a B.A. from the University of Santa Clara. 

Maria Pascucci is president and founder of Campus Calm, a Web site where students speak out about grades, stress and personal well-being. Maria, an admitted former perfectionist, is a summa cum laude graduate of Canisius College in Buffalo, NY, where she earned a B.A. in English and History with a concentration in Writing and Women's Studies. She founded Campus Calm to help other students break away from perfectionism.

Earl Farber is principal of the Andrews-Trahey School at Hillside Children’s Center’s Monroe Avenue campus and a former special education teacher. He has a B.S. degree in business and distributive education and an M.S. degree in special education from Canisius College and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from SUNY Brockport. He is also the father of a child with special needs.

Robert Rummel-Hudson is the father of Schuyler, a child with special needs. He began blogging about Schuyler in 1995 and has just published his first book, Schuyler’s Monster: A Father’s Journey with his Wordless Daughter, describing the challenges of learning to advocate for his daughter with healthcare professionals and the special education system. He is employed as "Minister of Propaganda" for the University of Texas School of Architecture.

Jennifer is the mother of two children, one with special needs. Her son’s complex healthcare requirements have forced Jennifer to become the case manager for his team of specialists and his advocate in the special education system. 

Jessica Pool is director of resources for the Dibble Institute for Marriage Education, a nonprofit  organization dedicated to helping young people learn the skills necessary for successful relationships and marriages. Their "Relationship Smarts PLUS" program guides teens in building healthy relationships and making wise choices. Covers topics such as values clarification and peer pressure, attractions and infatuation, building blocks for positive relationships, how to gauge relationship health, principles of smart relationships, and breaking up.  

Theresa Brown is community partnerships manager for the Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley. She is responsible for recruitment, placement, retention, and support of girls and supervision of staff for urban programs. In her work Theresa has many opportunities to counsel urban youth about dating gang members, the consequences of dating choices, and other relationship concerns. 

Annie Fox is the author of The Teen Survival Guide to Dating and Relating: Real-World Advice on Guys, Girls, Growing Up, and Getting Along and founder of The InSite, a Web site for teens and young adults. She has a degree in human development from Cornell University and  Master’s degree in Education from the State University of New York at Cortland.

Dr. Craig Cypher is the psychologist and clinical supervisor for residential programs at Crestwood Children's Center. He is a New York State Licensed Psychologist and received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL.  A Rochester native, Dr. Cypher has worked with children, adolescents, and college-age young men and women in a variety of prevention, intervention, and positive youth development settings in Chicago and the Rochester area. His areas of interest include strength-based approaches to treatment, the emotional development of boys and men, and sport and performance psychology.

Dr. Lisa Boesky is a national speaker, media psychologist, and author of books and DVDs on emotional and behavioral issues. She has worked with a wide range of individuals -- from those who were mildly stressed to the most troubled, challenging, and dangerous individuals in psychiatric hospitals and jails and prisons. Dr. Lisa has consulted on mental health policy for a variety of agencies, helped develop a mental health screening tool, and is regularly sought by legal professionals to serve as an expert witness on cases involving mental health and suicide.

Clyde Comstock is chief operating officer for Hillside Family of Agencies, where he is responsible for overall operations of affiliates Crestwood Children’s Center, Hillside Children’s Center, Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, and Snell Farm Children’s Center. He earned his B.A. at Hamilton College and has an MSW degree from Boston University School of Social Work.

Edward Suk is executive director of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children / New York Branch, (NCMEC/NY).  Trained in clinical social work, Mr. Suk began his career as a child and family therapist specializing in individual, group, and family treatment for childhood victims of sexual abuse and severe physical abuse. He has also been trained forensically in the assessment of child sexual abuse and in forensic interviewing of children. He was coordinator of a major sexual trauma treatment program for six years and director of the Lee Gross Anthone Child Advocacy Center in Buffalo, NY for seven years. He is former chairman and current board member of the New York State Children’s Alliance (NYSCA) and is past president of the Board of Directors for the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) based in Washington, DC. 

Denise Taylor is a behavior consultant for Hillside Children’s Center. She completes risk assessments of children with developmental disabilities and provides training and clinical supervision to HCC staff. She earned a B.S. in Education with a major in early childhood education at SUNY Buffalo, as well as an M.S. in Education with a major in special education. 

Dan Lesinski is associate leader for residential services and developmental disabilities service leader at Hillside Children’s Center. He earned a B.A. in psychology at Canisius College and an M.S. in helping services from the University of Rochester. He is an adjunct faculty member at SUNY Buffalo, where he teaches Issues in Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities.

Sherry Walker-Cowart is president & CEO of The Center for Dispute Settlement, a community dispute resolution program serving eight counties in Western New York. She is a certified mediator and arbitrator. She received a B.A. degree from Keuka College and Masters degrees from the State University of New York at Brockport and Keuka College.

Leslie Smith is director of Monroe County Mediation and Youth Programs at The Center for Dispute Settlement and a former teacher of anger management, conflict resolution techniques, and skill development to youth. She received a B.S. degree from the State University of New York at Brockport, a Masters degree in education from Nazareth College, and a Certificate in management studies from Simmons College Graduate School of Management.

Mark Stone is a youth advocate for Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, where he works with youth at risk of dropping out. He earned a B.S. degree from the State University of New York at Brockport and is a candidate for a Masters of Divinity at NorthEastern Seminary.

Mary Jo Acomb is manager of the Community Service and Youth Court Programs for Hillside Children’s Center. She helps youth referred to these programs build self esteem, gain responsibility for their actions, and develop positive connections in their community through participation in community service projects.