First Responder Conference | Alzheimer's Assoc.

NAVIGATING ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA

A CONFERENCE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

8:30 am to 3:00 pm

About the Conference

Join us for a highly informative and transformative conference dedicated to raising Alzheimer's awareness, specifically tailored for first responders. This professional event provides a unique platform for esteemed industry experts and passionate individuals to share knowledge, best practices, and cutting-edge research about Alzheimer's disease management, prevention, and care. By fostering collaboration and community engagement, this conference equips first responders with invaluable tools, insights, and strategies to enhance their understanding and approaches when dealing with Alzheimer's-related emergencies. Register today!

This conference is free. All attendees will receive a complimentary breakfast and lunch.

Conference Schedule

8:30 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast and Networking

9 am - 9:15 am | Welcome and Introductions

Speakers

Delia Jervier, Alzheimer’s Association
Craig Burge, Illinois State Police

9:30 am -10:30 am | Caregiver Panel Discussion

Moderator

Deborah Pascua, Chicago Police Dept.

Speakers

Ruth Reko, Marty Wilke, Peggy Rubenstein

10:30 am - 10:45 pm | Break

10:45 - 11:20 | First Breakout

Silver Search:

Moderator

Billie Bales, Effingham Police Dept.

Speaker

Craig Burge, Illinois State Police

TRIAD:

Moderator

Deatria Johnson, Chicago Police Dept.

Speakers

Paul Kubinski, Kendall County and Maggie Newlin (APS)

Search and Rescue :

Moderator

Sally Bown, Chicago Police Dept.

Speaker

Kimberly Gotte, KCEMA

11:25 am- 12 pm | Second Breakout

Silver Search:

Moderator

Billie Bales, Effingham Police Dept.

Speaker

Craig Burge, Illinois State Police

TRIAD:

Moderator

Deatria Johnson, Chicago Police Dept.

Speakers

Paul Kubinski, Kendall County and Maggie Newlin (APS)

Search and Rescue :

Moderator

Sally Bown, Chicago Police Dept.

Speaker

Kimberly Gotte, KCEMA

12 pm - 1pm | LUNCH

1 pm -1:45 pm | Scenario Discussion

Moderator

Craig Burge, Illinois State Police

Speakers

The planning committee, attendees

1:50 pm - 2:20 pm | Adult Protective Services

Moderator

Deborah Pascua, Chicago Police Dept

Speakers

Brian Pastor and Dana Wilkerson, IDOA

2:25 pm -2:55 pm | Brain Health, Research, New Era of Treatment

Moderator

Olivia Matongo, Alzheimer’s Association

Speakers

Lycia Neumann, Alzheimer’s Association

2:55 pm - 3 pm | Closing

Speakers

Olivia Matongo, Alzheimer’s Association
Craig Burge, Illinois State Police

schedule

Location

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Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago

2815 Jorie Boulevard
Oak Brook, IL 60523

Please contact Olivia Matongo at omatongo@alz.org for inquires or questions related to this educational event.

speakers

Speakers

Illinois State Police
Missing Persons Manager
AMBER Alert and Silver Search Coordinator

Craig is a graduate of Western Illinois University in Macomb, il with a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration.

Craig began his law enforcement career, with the Sex Offender Registration Unit of the Illinois State Police. He spent 12 years dealing with all aspects of sex offender management issues including sex offender registration, writing new sex offender laws, and training law enforcement throughout Illinois.

In December 2011 Craig was named the Illinois Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager, the AMBER Alert Coordinator, and the Illinois Child Safety liaison. In January 2016 Craig was tasked with putting together the Illinois Silver Search Task Force.

Along with Chairing the AMBER Alert and Silver Search Task Forces, Craig is the president of the Midwest Coalition for missing person enforcement, and a member of the interstate task force on sex offenders, the Illinois human trafficking task force, and a featured speaker for the Department of Justice on Missing person issues and investigations.

Marty Wilke, a groundbreaking media executive, pioneered as the first female President and General Manager of two Chicago TV giants: WGN-TV and CBS 2 Chicago/WBBM-TV. After graduating from DePaul University, she worked at several Chicago advertising agencies as a media negotiator until she moved to media sales in '93, excelling at Katz Television, NBC 5 Chicago, and WGN-TV.

As WGN-TV's GM from 2008, Marty integrated CLTV News into the WGN newsroom, expanding news content, making WGN-TV Chicago's top local news source. She brought the Chicago Blackhawks broadcasts back to WGN-TV and profitably steered WGN through Tribune Company's ownership change and bankruptcy.

Under Marty's CBS 2 Chicago/WBBM-TV leadership in 2012, viewership and revenue soared, and the station’s community engagement flourished.

Throughout her career and now in retirement, Marty passionately supports the Alzheimer's Association, the American Red Cross and DePaul University. She's a member of The Chicago Network, Economic Club of Chicago, and Illinois Broadcasters Foundation. Marty also serves on Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter's Board, IL Silver Search Steering Committee and she chairs DePaul University College of Communication's Dean's Advisory Council.

Maggie is the Adult Protective Services Supervisor, Southeast Kane and Kendall Counties, for Senior Services Associates Inc. Maggie has extensive experience in the criminal justice and social services field, especially with children, children with special needs, adults, and seniors.

Additionally, Maggie sits on several boards and teams, including the Kendall County TRIAD, State TRIAD, M Team, Fatality Review Team, and Mental Health Community Stakeholders, to name a few. Maggie graduated from Aurora University with a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice.

When she is not working, Maggie enjoys photography, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, scuba, travel, art, playing with her dog, Magnolia, and spending time with her husband, Mike. A fun fact: Maggie only had her first taco after college.

Peggy Rubenstein is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Care Consultant for the Alzheimer’s Association. She collaborates with families to provide short and long-term care planning, disease education, resources and emotional support. For many years she managed support groups for people living with early stage dementia and their care partners. Peggy believes persons living with dementia and their families can live with meaning throughout the journey. Additionally, she maintains a private counseling practice dedicated exclusively to dementia related concerns.

Brian Pastor serves as the Division Manager of Advocacy and Prevention Services with the Illinois Department on Aging and in this capacity directs the statewide Adult Protective Services Program. Before this role, Brian was a research professional with experience in neurological and oncological clinical research, research to support older adults with the use of technology, and research administration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. During his time with the Illinois Department on Aging, Brian has developed and implemented strategic goals for the Adult Protective Services Program including the development of a quality assurance team, the use of quality data analysis to inform policy, and a modernization of the program’s service provision.

Senior Director, Health Services Research
Alzheimer's Association

As senior director, Health Services Research, Dr. Neumann plays a pivotal role in advancing research that informs evidence-based policies and practices for timely, quality, cost-effective and equitable person-centered dementia care.

Before joining the Alzheimer’s Association, Dr. Neumann held roles at Highmark Wholecare, a Medicaid and Medicare managed care organization based in Pittsburgh, and Instituto Oncoguia, a Brazilian cancer patient advocacy organization. With more than 25 years of experience, she has planned, managed and evaluated health and social programs, leading to numerous publications about citizen-driven community development, evaluation of public policies and programs, aging and population health.

A member of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and the American Evaluation Association (AEA), Dr. Neumann is committed to helping organizations be more effective by using research and evaluation to inform decision-making and by establishing purposeful partnerships to strengthen the impact of their work. Her interests lie in health care policy and programs, global health, health disparities, caregiving and aging, both as an applied researcher and evaluator.

She serves on the editorial board of Innovation in Aging, a scientific journal of the Gerontological Society of America, on the Advisory Council of the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging and on the board of directors of Jeremiah’s Place, a crisis nursery.

Dr. Neumann completed her Ph.D. in behavior and community health sciences from the School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh. She also earned graduate certificates in the Evaluation of Public Health Programs and Latin America Social and Public Policy. Dr. Neumann holds a master’s degree in public administration from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, and two bachelor’s degrees in business administration and social communications.

Kendall County Sheriff’s Office

My position answers to the Detective Sgt and I handle all the Mental Health and Elder Service-related incidents occurring in unincorporated Kendall County.

I am currently chair of Kendall County Triad, Area 2 Fatality Review team, Kendall County Mental Health Stakeholders, and Kendall County Law Enforcement Agencies CIT quarterly.

I have a 22-year-old daughter who is a paralegal for a Joliet Law Firm and a 17 year old son Junior at Joliet Catholic Academy who plays High School and travel baseball.

Ruth Reko has been an Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter volunteer for ten. She hold a variety of roles in Legislative Advocate (10 years), Community Educator (8 years), and Help Line Volunteer (8 years).

Prior to becoming a volunteer at the Association, Ruth worked an as Organization Development Consultant for 20 years for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s 300 health and human services agencies. She also worked as a supervisor of Lutheran Disaster Response; Director of a hospital-based hospice unit; and a Caseworker for two adoption agencies.

Ruth sits on a number of committees including Age Options (Area Agency on Aging for Suburban Cook County) Advisory Council member, Arbor West Neighbors, Advocacy Committee, Oak Park River Forest Townships and Senior Services Advisory Council.