Sergeant Kevin Briggs
2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

For over two decades, Sergeant Kevin Briggs patrolled the Golden Gate Bridge – one of the most frequently visited sites for suicide in the world. Through compassion, eye contact, and an extraordinary gift for listening, he talked more than 200 people back from the edge. His TED Talk, “The Bridge Between Suicide and Life,” has been viewed over six million times worldwide.

Today Briggs trains first responders, educators, and community leaders worldwide through Pivotal Points, the organization he founded. He is a recipient of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Leadership Award, a trainer for the FBI and Secret Service, and the author of Guardian of the Golden Gate – an Amazon bestseller whose story has been optioned by Hollywood.

Ben Marciano
SPECIAL GUEST – CITY OF OCALA MAYOR

For over 20 years, Ben Marciano has dedicated his life to serving the Ocala community. Starting as a health trainer, he quickly rose to become the executive director of the DeLuca YMCA, transforming it from one of the lowest-ranked facilities in the region into a thriving center for health and wellness.  His passion for fitness and community service led him to co-found Zone Health and Fitness, a premier gym with two locations in Ocala, providing thousands of residents with resources to stay active and healthy.

Ben holds an associate degree in Criminal Justice from the College of Central Florida and has remained deeply involved with local law enforcement and community outreach. Now serving as Mayor of Ocala —one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation—he prioritizes public safety, mental and physical health, and community engagement. In his role as mayor, he oversees the Ocala Police Department, supporting and strengthening several community-focused initiatives. He was also instrumental in bringing back the Mounted Unit and introducing the first annual OPD Ball in 2024.

A dedicated advocate for youth programs and community service, Mayor Marciano works closely with organizations such as the Chief Greg Graham Legacy Foundation, The Centers Ocala, Boys & Girls Club, The Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County, Project Hope, the American Heart Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Men’s Prayer Breakfast. He is also a strong supporter of mental health initiatives, partnering with programs like Wear Gloves, Saving Mercy, and local domestic violence and sexual assault centers. His commitment to youth and family services was recognized with the prestigious Chairman’s Award from the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services, the organization’s highest honor.

Ben and his wife, Danielle, are proud parents of three children and are active members of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.

Curt Bromund

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER – MARION COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT

With a diverse career spanning over three decades in leadership, healthcare, education, and business, Curt Bromund built a reputation for transformative and innovative strategies that left a beneficial mark on the communities served. Currently, as the Chief Executive Officer for the Marion County Hospital District, Curt was instrumental in pioneering healthcare and public health projects that aim at improving the health and well-being of Marion County’s residents. This includes key achievements like the creation of a $15M annual public health grant system, the Fitness and Nutrition in Schools (FANS) program, the Active Marion Project (AMP), and the visionary Beacon Point treatment campus aimed at tackling the opioid crisis and substance use disorders for uninsured and income-constrained citizens of Marion County.

Before this, Curt served in various leadership capacities as CEO at Childhood Development Services, Inc. in Ocala, FL. Here, the responsibilities encompassed a wide array, from directing HR and finance functions across multiple counties, to crafting strategies for expanding the corporation’s funding sources. The tenure at CDS is also marked by the oversight of a multitude of federal, state, and proprietary programs ($69M annual budget with 400 employees operating in 42 counties).

Beyond his multi-disciplinary corporate journey, Curt also made significant contributions to academia in his community. As an Adjunct College Instructor at the College of Central Florida since 2011, Curt was awarded the Adjunct Instructor of the Year in 2018 and was instrumental in developing the curricula for business administration courses, providing a pragmatic blend of
theory and real-world applications.

The earlier years of Curt’s career saw significant contributions as the President of Bromund Consulting Group, authoring “The Roadmap to Effective Leadership,” and serving as an integral part of the executive team at Financial Independence Network Ltd., Inc. (ranked 63rd in Inc. 500’s fastest growing privately owned companies in the U.S.).

Educationally, Curt holds an MBA from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Governors State University. A former Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Curt has also been an active contributor on several boards and committees, emphasizing a commitment to community development, education, and public policy.

Throughout his career, Curt consistently participated in visionary leadership roles, and committed himself to the community’s well-being, and displays a unique ability to bring innovative ideas to fruition.

Debra Velez

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER – MARION COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT

Debra Velez is a nationally recognized public health and human services executive with more than 30 years of experience developing innovative programs and leading systems change initiatives that improve the lives of children, families, and communities. Since beginning her career, she has dedicated her work to strengthening families, preventing child abuse and neglect, expanding access to behavioral health services, and addressing complex social and health challenges through collaboration, prevention, and evidence-based solutions.

Throughout her career, Debra has designed, implemented, and overseen a wide range of prevention and intervention programs focused on child welfare, maternal and child health, kinship care, substance use disorders, homelessness prevention, domestic violence, behavioral health, and community wellness. Her expertise in program development, strategic planning, and resource leveraging has resulted in the successful acquisition of more than $3 million in legislative appropriations and more than $20 million in grant funding to support community-based initiatives. She has built successful partnerships among healthcare organizations, schools, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders to create sustainable solutions that improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.

As Chief Operating Officer of the Marion County Hospital District, Debra provides executive leadership for strategic investments and initiatives that improve access to healthcare, behavioral health services, prevention programs, and community wellness throughout Marion County. She oversees innovative public health strategies that impact approximately 150,000 residents annually and has played a key role in expanding services related to behavioral health, substance use disorders, domestic violence, chronic disease prevention, and health equity.

Debra’s leadership and innovative approaches to community health have earned her statewide and national recognition for excellence in public health, prevention, child welfare, and systems transformation. She has received numerous awards recognizing her contributions to improving outcomes for children and families, advancing behavioral health services, and strengthening community-based systems of care. She is a sought-after speaker, trainer, and consultant who regularly presents at local, state, and national conferences on topics including behavioral health, prevention science, public health innovation, community partnerships, and systems change.

Debra holds a Master of Arts in Counseling, a Bachelor of Social Work, and is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt. She remains passionate about creating sustainable solutions that improve the quality of life and strengthen the health and well-being of future generations.

Dr. Vernon Phillips

DIRECTOR OF CHAPLAIN SERVICES & PEER SUPPORT UNIT –  MARION COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Vernon currently holds the position of Lead Chaplain and serves as the Director of Chaplain Services and Peer Support Unit with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. He has a Doctorate of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling, EdS in Community Care and Counseling: Traumatology from Liberty University, and has worked in law enforcement for several years. He is a Clinical Pastoral Therapist, Marriage & Family Therapist, and a Board Certified Christian Counselor with the National Association of Christian Counselors (NACC).

Vernon is a Certified Crisis Chaplain (CCC) with the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional (CCFP), a Certified Mindfulness-Informed Professional (CMIP), and certified in EQ-i + EQ 360 with Multi-Health Systems, Inc (MHS, Inc.). In addition, he is trained in PAIR (Prevention Assessment Intervention and Recovery) Suicide with the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), Individual and Group Crisis Intervention with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), Peer Support and Resiliency with Crisis System Management (CSM) and Law Enforcement Alliance for Peer Support (LEAPS) amongst other training. 

Vernon desires to bring awareness to the growing concern of mental health and wellness in the law enforcement community and, as such, founded the nonprofit Critical Aspects. Critical Aspects, Inc. addresses various topics, such as the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual impacts of the law enforcement profession. As the President/Founder of Critical Aspects, Inc. and the host of the Critical Aspects of Law Enforcement Podcast, Vernon seeks to help change the stigma of mental health and wellness within the law enforcement community.

Battalion Chief Alex Caban

BATTALION CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT HEALTH AND SAFETY – MARION COUNTY FIRE RESCUE

Alexander Caban has dedicated 25 years to the fire service and currently serves as the Health and Safety Chief with Marion County Fire Rescue. Throughout his career, Alex has served in leadership roles involving operational response, firefighter health and wellness, occupational safety, training, physical fitness, injury prevention, and first responder behavioral health.

Alex serves as Director of Marion County Fire Rescue’s Peer Support Team and has played a leading role in developing and expanding the department’s approach to mental health and suicide prevention. Following the devastating loss of fellow firefighters to suicide, Alex became deeply committed to changing the culture surrounding behavioral health in the fire service. His work focuses on early intervention, peer support, reducing stigma, building trusted pathways to professional care, and ensuring behavioral-health resources extend beyond the firefighter to their spouses and families.

Alex holds a bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management from Barry University and is a Certified Trauma Professional and Certified Recovery Specialist. He is a trained Peer Supporter and StruggleWell Guide through the Boulder Crest Foundation and has completed Mental Health First Aid, UCF REACT, and Advanced REACT training. His fire-service credentials include State Certified Health and Safety Officer, Peer Fitness Trainer, Fire Officer II, and Live Fire Training Instructor.

Captian Jesse Blair
EMS CAPTAIN – OCALA FIRE RESCUE

Jesse Blaire is the EMS Captain for Ocala Fire Rescue.  Jesse began providing BLS services as a transport EMT in 1997 transitioning to the paramedic role in 2000.  Since then, Jesse has begun practicing as a first response paramedic for Ocala Fire Rescue, a flight paramedic for the ShandsCair Critical Care Transport Program and a TEMS medic for the Ocala Police Department’s SWAT Team. He is also the co-founder of the University of Florida’s Critical Care Transport Paramedic Program.  He developed and implemented a Mobile Integrated Healthcare Program at Ocala Fire Rescue focusing on chronic disease management, opiate use disorder and dementia/Alzheimer care. 

Jennifer Martinez

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MARION SENIOR SERVICES

Jennifer Martinez has served as Executive Director of Marion Senior Services since August 2015, leading local, state, and federally funded programs that support older adults throughout Marion County, as well as overseeing the county’s paratransit transportation system. Prior to joining Marion Senior Services, she held leadership positions with Outback Steakhouse, Hospice of Marion County, and the Marion County Children’s Advocacy Center. 

A dedicated community leader, Jennifer has served on numerous boards and advisory councils, including the Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Business Council, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Ocala Women’s Network, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Advisory Council. She is also an active member of the Florida Council on Aging and currently serves as First Vice President of the Florida Association of Service Providers. 

Jennifer’s leadership and commitment to community service have earned widespread recognition. She was named a Top 40 Under 40 professional, received the 2010 Business Advocate of the Year Award for her advocacy on behalf of local nonprofits, and led Marion Senior Services to be recognized as Nonprofit of the Year by the Community Foundation in 2023. 

A long-time Ocala resident, Jennifer earned a degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida. While she is proud of her professional accomplishments, her greatest source of pride is being the mother of her daughter, who is currently attending Florida State University.

Joe Hassler
CHAPLAIN – OCALA POLICE DEPARTMENT

Chaplain Joe Hassler brings more than a decade of ministry experience in the church, correctional, and law enforcement settings. He currently serves as the Chaplain for the Ocala Police Department, providing spiritual care, crisis support, and wellness guidance to officers and staff. His broad background informs his insight into the challenges faced by first responders and their vital role in caring for the community that they serve. 

Robin Lanier

VICE PRESIDENT – MARION COUNTY SERVICES AT SMA HEALTHCARE

Ms. Lanier holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Webster University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Flagler College. She is Six Sigma Yellow and Green Belt Certified.

Ms. Lanier has more than 30 years of progressively responsible experience in behavioral health, child welfare, Medicaid-funded services, quality and utilization management, accreditation, program administration, and executive leadership. Since July 2021, she has served as Vice President of Marion County Services for SMA Healthcare, supporting planning, implementation, fiscal oversight, policy development, operational performance, and staff leadership for SMA.

Previously, Ms. Lanier served as Interim Chief Executive Officer of The Centers from November 2020 through July 2021, directing operational and fiscal functions, strengthening policies and procedures, communicating with the Board of Directors, and supporting senior leadership. From 2017 to 2020, she served as Director of CMA at The Centers, overseeing Marion County child welfare services in coordination with Kids Central, Inc., including dependency and adoption case management, transportation, visitation coaching, and more than 100 FTEs.

Prior to her current SMA role, Ms. Lanier held senior leadership positions with The Centers, Kids Central, Inc., and Partners for Children and Families, overseeing adult mental health, child welfare, targeted case management, quality and utilization management, Medicaid compliance, accreditation, data reporting, grant monitoring, and multi-program operations. Her prior roles included supervising large multidisciplinary teams, managing program budgets, supporting Joint Commission and Council on Accreditation activities, coordinating behavioral health services for children and adults, and monitoring service quality and fidelity.

Dr. Kellie O’Dare, PhD

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR & DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UCF RESTORES

Dr. Kellie O’Dare is a nationally recognized researcher and educator focused on advancing mental wellness, suicide prevention, and organizational resilience within public safety. She serves as Research Associate Professor and Deputy Executive Director of UCF RESTORES. She is also the Founder of the 2nd Alarm Project. With a Ph.D. in Social Work and background in public health and policy, her work centers on translating research into practical, sustainable solutions.  She has secured more than $8 million in external funding to advance applied research, prevention initiatives, and statewide capacity-building efforts for public safety. She is especially passionate about supporting first responder families, recognizing their critical role in resilience and long-term wellbeing. In addition to her professional expertise, Dr. O’Dare brings meaningful personal connections to the fire service. She is the niece of Shawn T. O’Dare, a firefighter/paramedic killed in the line of duty in Miami-Dade County, and the spouse of a current Florida professional firefighter/paramedic. Her work is grounded in both the science of and her lived experience in the first responder community. 

Samantha Lawson

SR DIR TRAINING INTITUTE • SAMH – LSF HEALTH SYSTEMS

Samantha Lawson Davis is a seasoned behavioral health leader with more than 20 years of experience in training, workforce development, and organizational leadership. As Senior Director of the International Training Academy of Excellence at LSF Health Systems, she leads the development of evidence-based, trauma-informed training programs that strengthen Florida’s behavioral health workforce. She holds advanced degrees in Organizational Leadership, Industrial Psychology, and Business Administration and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education at the University of Florida. A certified instructor in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, de-escalation, and Mental Health First Aid, Samantha is recognized for building collaborative training networks, advancing workforce excellence, and improving systems of care through education, innovation, and advocacy.

Lindsey Brown, M.Ed. Ed.S.
Director of Training and Partnerships with the Florida LEADS

Lindsay Brown, M.Ed. Ed.S. is a suicide prevention subject matter expert and consultant with nearly 20 years of experience. Most recently, she was the Director of Training and Partnerships with the Florida LEADS Zero Suicide Project, a federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that worked to build suicide safer communities throughout Florida.  

Beginning her work as a suicide hotline counselor, she earned her masters and specialist degrees in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida and served people in crisis through individual and group counseling. Since joining the suicide prevention grant implementation team at University of Central Florida, University of South Florida, and Florida Behavioral Health Association in 2015, Lindsay has trained over 8,000 people in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention strategies and coached countless behavioral health, health, school and community support service systems in suicide evidence-based practices. She currently leads Florida’s Zero Suicide Learning Collaborative and the Florida Zero Suicide Coalitions Alliance.