Presenter Bios

Heather Carson has been working in the field of adult literacy and career development since 1995. She is a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF), a Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC), a Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP), a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and a NH Certified Secondary School Teacher. She has a Master's Degree from the Bread Loaf School of English and loves to write.

Barbara Warren has worked as a career counselor for seven years. She teaches résumé and business writing as well as many other job-search techniques. She is a member of the National Career Development Association, the National Employment Counseling Association, the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals, and is a Certified Professional Resume Writer.

Denise Sleeper
As the Queen of Possibilities, Denise Sleeper can turn any negative experience into a positive one. With over 10 years experience of coaching people to lead an authentic life, she has learned that periods of great change can be managed well through the use of powerful tools. Denise has a Master's Degree in Public Administration from New York University, additional courses in HR Management; Coaching Executives and is a graduate of Leadership Lakes Region.

Piper Reason has been writing resumes since 1989 when she earned her Master of Human Services degree at Antioch New England. Her teaching/training experiences range from preparing volunteers to answer a suicide hotline to organizational development classes at a local college. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Workforce Development Professional, Job & Career Transition Coach, and a Global Career Development Facilitator.

Rich Paiva
Driven by his life long passion for others to find their own true career path, Rich Paiva has assisted thousands of clients over 17 years in the career development field. He fully utilizes his background in counseling and career development to assist his clients to understand themselves and to use this information to explore meaningful career opportunities. He has worked with diverse populations encompassing the gamut of employment backgrounds as well as successfully developing programs from infancy to maturity. Rich has his Master's Degree in Counseling form Plymouth State University and holds several certifications including as a Job and Career Transitions Coach, a Workforce Development Professional, and a Global Career Development Facilitator. He is a long standing member of the NCDA as well as recently earning his certification as a traditional and e-Learning Career Development Facilitator.

Rosalind Ekman Ladd, PhD. is a Professor Emerita of Philosophy at Wheaton College and a Lecturer in Pediatrics at Brown University Medical School. Her areas of specialty include biomedical ethics and children’s rights. She has published books including Ethical Issues in Home Health Care and Children’s Rights Re-Visioned. In her retirement, she has launched a second career from the North Country in New Hampshire as a grant writer working to provide funding for rural health care initiatives and women’s issues.

Professor Charles Temple, EsQ. oversees Pierce Law's Criminal Practice Clinic and the Advanced Criminal Practice Clinic, programs that offer students hands-on practice representing clients in the courtroom. He also teaches Fundamentals of Law and Criminal Law. Temple brings 21 years of trial experience to the position. He has practiced in the New Hampshire District Courts, Superior Courts, and Supreme Court. He practiced at Upshall, Cooper and Temple for 18 years and remains of counsel to the firm. A member of the New Hampshire Bar Association, Temple participates in the Association's Public Information Committee and serves as editor of the New Hampshire Question of Law. He is also a certified domestic relations neutral evaluator and a Rule 170 civil mediator for New Hampshire Superior Courts. Temple is a member of the American Bar Association.

Ronnie Sandler is a Consultant on civil rights employment issues on major construction projects. She is the President of Compliance USA, Inc. and has provided leadership for the Northern New England Tradeswomen, the National Tradeswomen's Network, the Vermont Dept of Education and STEP UP for Women. She is also a Carpenter and performs home inspections.

Chuck Gherson has over 25 years of experience in career development, welfare to work program case management, program management, labor exchange, interviewing, assessment, and resource development with a short stint in human resources. He has previously worked for the Vermont Dept. of Employment & Training, Early Education Services: a community agency in Brattleboro, Vt. with a subcontract under the State of Vermont Reach Up welfare to work program, and at a local mental health agency doing career development with teens. He is a member of NCDA and NAWDP, and is currently taking certification training for GCDF, and applying for CWDP certification. Living life with a minimum or total absence of stress, and a huge dose of humor and laughter is his driving force.

Diane Gilmore believes that “knowledge is power” and supports the efforts of others to learn for themselves on a daily basis. Diane has spent the last ten years working in adult education with mostly low-income families. She learned firsthand the power of education, while working as an AmeriCorps member in an Adult GED Tutorial program and recently completed her M.Ed in adult learning. Following a stint with Headstart, Diane began working with programs that support TANF recipient families through education, resource development and career guidance. She has been a volunteer for her local community’s coalition against domestic and sexual violence for over twenty years, and was recently elected to the Board of Directors of a community cancer relief agency, Jen’s Friends. Diane has been married to husband, Ray, for over 32 years. She is also the proud mom of two grown sons, one an Army Captain currently serving in Afghanistan and one completing his second year of medical school in Philadelphia, PA.

Donna Meuse
After a short stint of 19 years as a Social Worker and Program Coordinator with the NH Department of Health and Human Services, Donna Meuse had a mid-life epiphany and decided to switch careers to the teaching profession. Originally an educator with the University of NH Cooperative Extension ‘s “LEAP” Program, Donna taught LEAP in Claremont, NH until the program ended in September 2006. She is currently employed as a Career Development Specialist with the Working Futures Program In Manchester and also works evenings as a Welfare Director of two area towns. “I really like the fact that I get to teach job skills to low income individuals during the day but also get to help them in the evening access area resources” states Donna. Donna will be teaching a “Welfare 101” Workshop during the conference.

Dr. Theresa de Langis is the executive director of the New Hampshire Commission on the Status of Women (NHCSW). A frequent speaker at state, national, and international conferences on women’s issues, Terri has been appointed to the Governor’s Oversight Committee on Welfare Reauthorization and co-convened the Gender Equity in Education Task Force with the Department of Education. A graduate of the 2006 Class of Leadership New Hampshire, she is the recipient of the 2006 Susan B. Anthony NH Woman of the Year Award. Terri holds a doctoral degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago (2001), and she is currently an adjunct faculty member of the University of New Hampshire. She lives in Exeter, NH with her life companion and their daughter.

David Phreaner is a powerful and thought provoking presenter. He will capture your heart and your mind through his engaging storytelling and his innate ability to connect with any audience. David uses an eclectic approach in assisting others to create the best life they can imagine for themselves. David brings a unique blend of experiences with him as a former parish and district Unitarian Universalist Minister, Co-Founder and Co-Director of a Wellness and Conference Center, Director of Community Education, Career Development Specialist and a long list of involvement in civic affairs. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a Doctorate in Ministry with a counseling focus, a Certification as a Career Development Facilitator, and most importantly is dedicated to teaching alternative pathways to healing.