2022 Speaker Conference Speaker Bios
Victor Welzant, Psy.D
Liz Fletcher Brown
Maisha Davis, LCSW-C
Maisha Davis, a native of Baltimore, is driven by her passion for the thriving potential that exists within our communities. For more than twenty years, she has shared key social work abilities with families, youth, communities, human service professionals, and organizations that serve a range of populations. Her experiences include working directly with children living with severe emotional trauma; young people who engage in risk behaviors from high-risk communities; and families and parents in need of supports and improved skills to stabilize and maintain their family units.
Additionally, Ms. Davis has experiences in community building and public policy, where she has worked with individuals, funders, private providers, and government agencies to mobilize resources and initiate changes necessary to improve the systems that directly affect the lives of families and children in our communities.
Ms. Davis has over ten years’ experience as a social work administrator, focused on developing professionals and programs, arming both with critical tools needed to instill hope and promote healing, in an environment that upholds responsible and accountable stewardship. Today, Ms. Davis is an adjunct professor with the University of Maryland’s School of Social Work, where she enthusiastically trains the field’s budding leaders, from a practice and curriculum-based perspective. Finally, she is a principal leader with Rafiki Consortium, LLC; and her own private practice, Diaspora Healing and Wellness, LLC – where she continues in her mission to create, facilitate, and fortify sustainable programming and practices that are healing for communities and the practitioners who serve them.
Amie Myrick, LCPC
Amie Myrick is a Maryland licensed clinical professional counselor who specializes in working with traumatized populations. She currently works as a Senior Program Analyst at the nonprofit organization National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), overseeing multiple national projects funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aimed at reducing and preventing substance use, overdose, and the impact and occurrence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and increasing capacities for local health departments and first responders.
Amie is an ACE Interface Master Presenter in the state of Maryland and a national HOPE facilitator and has been invited to train community members and professionals on trauma-related topics throughout the state. Amie worked at the non-profit Springboard Community Services for 10 years, where she served as the Director of Education and Training. During her time there, collaborated closely with the Harford County Child Advocacy Center as a therapist, supervisor, clinical coordinator, and member of the multidisciplinary team.
Amie has presented at local, national, and international conferences for over 15 years on topics related to trauma and advocacy. In addition to her clinical and training work, Amie is a research and training consultant for groups interested in infusing trauma-informed approaches into their work, building parenting and therapist-based skills, and learning more about comprehensive treatment for populations affected by trauma. She is the co-author, author, and co-editor of theoretical and empirical peer-reviewed journal articles and several books, largely focused on working with traumatized and populations in need.
Jennifer Redding, LCSW-C
Jennifer Redding, LCSW-C has been working in the fields of mental health and addiction for 25+ years. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia and her Master of Social Work Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.
Jennifer joined the University of Maryland-Upper Chesapeake Health team in late June 2020 as the Director of Behavioral Health-Outpatient Services and became the Executive Director of Behavioral Health, shortly after. In her role, Jennifer is responsible for providing administrative, financial, and clinical oversight for all of Upper Chesapeake Health’s behavioral health services. This includes the Klein Family Harford Crisis Center, Outpatient/Intensive Outpatient Programs, Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit, as well as Consultative and Collaborative Care programs. Jennifer is an ACE Interface Master Presenter and a Nationally Certified HOPE Facilitator and has provided numerous trainings on topics including trauma-informed care, ethical decision-making in social work practice, mental health and substance use diagnoses, to name a few. Jennifer also created Harford Counseling in 2009, a private practice in Bel Air, Maryland to fill the gap of providing quality, trauma-informed care to those impacted by trauma, substance use, and/or mental health issues.
Jennifer is passionate about creating a safe place for individuals and families to heal, strengthen their resilience, and re-establish a sense of hope, regardless of their life situation.
Victor is a licensed Psychologist in Maryland and has a consulting and clinical practice in Lutherville, where he specializes treatment of trauma and stress related conditions, workplace violence and threat assessment consulting. He is the Director of Education and Training for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, a nonprofit that provides training in crisis support and resilience for Emergency Services Personnel and Health Care Workers. Victor is a consultant to the Harford County Maryland Sheriff’s Department’s Crisis Negotiation, and Critical Incident Stress Management Teams
Dr. Welzant previously served as director of the Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship, and coordinator of psychology for the trauma disorders program at at Sheppard Pratt Health System. He is the past Director of the Psychotherapy Training Program of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation and served on that organizations Board of Directors. He has lectured and consulted nationally and internationally on trauma treatment, crisis intervention and disaster mental health.
He serves and the clinical director of several local peer support teams for law enforcement and the Fire/ EMS services. He is the editor in chief of Crisis, Stress, and Human Resilience: An International Journal.
As an expert in the field of personal transformation, Liz Fletcher Brown works with organizations who want an engaged, productive and committed workforce of happy, enthusiastic and thriving team members.
Her most recent book Full Wattage! A Practical Guide to Living an Engaging and Purposeful Life Worth Celebrating won the Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Silver Medal, was a finalist in the USA Best Book Award, and the Eric Hoffer Book Award.
Originally from Scotland, Liz was awarded a First Class Honors Degree in Dance in the U.K. She then went on to enjoy a successful career as a dancer in New York City, Los Angeles, London and Tokyo. Some of her most fun jobs were performing with various recording artists, including Janet Jackson and Dr John.
Liz then went on to have a rewarding career in the health and wellness industry, first as a massage and yoga therapist, then as a certified counselor as well as a credentialed Success Coach. She also co-owned a successful, multi-disciplinary healing arts center.
Through her speaking, consulting, coaching and writing, Liz brings audiences what they need in order to shine, particularly in the midst of the unpredictable environment we all find ourselves in today. She brings to all her work an infectious enthusiasm and a unique combination of engaging stories and practical ideas based on cutting edge neuroscience to enhance peoples’ working and personal lives. Liz blends hard science and soft skills to empower leaders and emerging leaders to get out of their own way and ignite their brilliance.
She is the creator of The Work Life Integration Model™ and The Undoing Formula™ and has been featured in the award-winning Speaker magazine.
When she was 21, Liz moved from Scotland to New York City, to a country where she knew no one, to follow her dream of dancing professionally. This adventuring spirit continues to motivate her today.