Partners

Meet the trusted speakers, moderators, and subject‑matter experts who collaborate with Dr. Stone at symposiums on workplace and school violence prevention, and who work alongside her to conduct exercises, lead trainings, and strengthen school safety, security, and emergency management programs across diverse educational settings.

Bios of the trusted speakers, moderators, and subject-matter experts who join Dr. Stone on stage for symposiums on workplace and school violence prevention.

Trauma and Resiliency

Autumn Bignami

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢 is a beloved and dedicated educator who was at the height of her teaching career when her life was forever altered by the Route 91 Shooting in October 2017. A survivor of that tragic night, Autumn sustained life-altering injuries and continues to navigate the lasting physical and emotional impacts. Despite the trauma, her steadfast devotion to her students and family became a powerful symbol of resilience. Autumn’s story is not only one of survival but of profound transformation — turning pain into purpose and trauma into a message of hope and healing. Through her strength and authenticity, she has inspired her children and countless others to discover courage and connection in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Pathway to School Violence

Aaron Stark

Known nationwide for his viral TEDx talk “I Was Almost a School Shooter.” 𝐀𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐤 came dangerously close to becoming a school shooter. His life was shaped by relentless physical and emotional abuse that began in early childhood and intensified through his teenage years. Consumed by pain, isolation, and hopelessness, Aaron reached a breaking point—formulating a plan to inflict mass harm. But that trajectory was changed not by punishment or intervention, but by an unexpected act of kindness. A single friend’s consistent compassion pierced through the darkness and ultimately saved lives, including Aaron’s. Today, Aaron shares his story with raw honesty in his widely viewed TED Talk—seen by over 15 million people—delivering a powerful message: sometimes the ones who seem to deserve love the least are the ones who need it the most.

Lead with Awareness

Sherry Stone, Ed.D.

Dr. Sherry Colgan Stone is a nationally respected expert in campus safety, with 36 years in education and 25 years protecting K-12 and higher education communities. Her journey began while teaching at an American school in Pakistan, where responding to bomb threats ignited her passion for crisis preparedness. She currently serves as an Emergency Services Coordinator, and leads Stone Campus Safety, a firm focused on community empowerment through readiness and connection. Dr. Stone shares her expertise nationwide as an instructor for Texas A&M’s TEEX program, and serves on boards such as the Joyful Child Foundation and InfraGard San Diego. With a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, she champions prevention through care, vigilance, and action.

Moderator

Kathryn Hamel, Ph.D.

Kathryn Hamel, Ph.D., is a registered associate marriage and family therapist and seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience across the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. She specializes in trauma-informed, evidence-based care, serving individuals, families, and underserved populations, with a focus on first responder mental health and resilience.

Dr. Hamel brings nearly 25 years of law enforcement experience, retiring as a police lieutenant, and has held executive leadership roles in nonprofit mental health organizations and higher education. She serves on the International Association of Chiefs of Police Human and Civil Rights Committee and has received recognition for her work in advocacy and mental health leadership.

She is an author and holds advanced degrees in public safety leadership, psychology, and criminal justice.

Moderator

Stephen Bucheli Bayne, Ed.D.

Stephen Bucheli Bayne, Ed.D., is a seasoned professional with 37 years of experience across K–12 public education, law enforcement, risk management, emergency management, and safety. He is the founder and principal consultant for Framework Synergy Solutions LLC, a school safety, security, and emergency preparedness consulting firm in Southern California.

Dr. Bayne is dedicated to strengthening school safety and emergency management through collaborative, sustainable systems that integrate people, processes, and practical frameworks. He is passionate about fostering safe, supportive, and resilient learning environments and actively contributes to the field through research, advocacy, and collaboration.

Director of Communications

Anthony Millican

Anthony Millican is an award-winning school communications professional with 25 years of experience in public education, media relations, crisis communications, and emergency preparedness. He currently serves as Director of Communications for Target River, where he supports school districts, charter schools, and mission-driven organizations with strategic communications, public outreach, and reputation management. Anthony also works with charter school networks on communications strategy, stakeholder engagement, and crisis communications.

Before transitioning into school public relations, Anthony worked as a newspaper reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Orlando Sentinel, and San Diego Union-Tribune, experiences that shaped his approach to clear, timely, and trustworthy communication during high-pressure situations. In K–12 education, he has led communications efforts involving school safety, emergency response, collective bargaining, and organizational change. Anthony is CalOES- and FEMA-trained in crisis communications and emergency management, including the National Incident Management System (NIMS), Incident Command System (ICS), social media in emergencies, and multi-hazard emergency planning for schools. He is also fluent in Spanish, helping bridge communication with diverse school communities and stakeholders.

Emergency preparedness and project management specialist

Melissa Manansala Minas

Melissa Manansala Minas is an experienced project management and emergency preparedness professional with more than 15 years of expertise leading large-scale safety, emergency planning, training, and systems development initiatives across public education and community-serving sectors. Her background includes comprehensive emergency operations planning, hazard mitigation, compliance oversight, grant-funded program implementation, and strategic partnership development serving large and diverse communities.

Melissa has extensive experience in consulting, developing and delivering professional learning, providing coaching and technical assistance, leading systems improvement efforts, and helping organizations strengthen operational capacity through strategic planning and implementation. Her work has focused on assessing organizational needs, building practical frameworks, and creating sustainable solutions that support preparedness and resilience.

She specializes in translating complex planning requirements into clear, actionable strategies that help organizations prepare confidently, respond effectively, and build long-term resilience.

School Safety and Preparedness Coordinator

Christine Laehle

Christine Laehle has spent more than three decades building a career at the Orange County Superintendent of Schools in Costa Mesa, California — starting as an Administrative Assistant in 1994 and growing, through dedication and expanding expertise, into her current role as Coordinator of School Safety and Preparedness.

She is a Certified PREPaRE Trainer through the National Association of School Psychologists, specializing in comprehensive school safety planning from prevention through recovery, and a Certified Trainer for the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG), a framework focused on intervention and support to prevent violence. She serves on the Orange County School Threat Assessment Team and sits on both the Emergency Management Council and the Operational Area Executive Board. She has also completed EOC Management and Operations training through the California Specialized Training Institute, a program under the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

Her grant management experience is substantial. She currently oversees three Bureau of Justice School Safety Grants totaling more than $1 million, a responsibility that reflects both the trust placed in her and the scope of her organizational skills.

Beyond her school safety and emergency management work, she delivers human trafficking awareness presentations to school personnel and parents. She serves on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Committee and co-chairs the California County Superintendents County Office of Education's Emergency Response/School Safety Network — a statewide role that speaks to her standing in the field.

Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton, and a Master of Public Health from California State University, Long Beach, earned in 2008. She holds an Anti-Human Trafficking Certification from Vanguard University as well.