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Presenter Bios |
Adrienne DeDona | As a public policy facilitator and public engagement strategist, Adrienne DeDona has been advising local governments on how to create more welcoming and inclusive processes for over 20 years. She sees her role as helping community members participate in public processes successfully. She cares about encouraging people to participate who will benefit from being involved, particularly when their knowledge and experiences may represent perspectives less frequently heard during public processes. |
Lauren Garrott | With over a decade of experience in public and private sector planning, Lauren specializes in comprehensive planning, data analysis, and meaningful community engagement. She’s passionate about outreach that builds trust, uplifts seldom-heard voices, and creates space for collaboration between residents and decision-makers. A DEI advocate, Lauren brings an equity lens to her work and earned APA Central Texas’s 2022 Award for Advancing Diversity and Social Change. |
CASSIE HEMPHILL, CP3 | Cassie Hemphill brings 30 years of experience helping people design and lead meaningful public engagement—especially when issues are complex and the stakes are high. She works with practitioners in the U.S. and beyond to build practical skills for navigating diverse perspectives and difficult conversations, helping professionals turn challenging moments into opportunities for clarity and progress. Her work in training and facilitation draws on adult learning principles, conflict resolution practice, and a commitment to staying engaged when conversations get uncomfortable. Cassie serves as a Mentor and Assessor for IAP2’s International Trainer Licensing Programme and the international team updating IAP2’s Global Certificate courses. She is an IAP2 USA Certified Public Participation Professional (CP3), a Certified Mediator (CM), and a Certified Virtual Facilitator (CVF). Her academic research examined how agencies and communities working together can produce better outcomes than either could alone—and how that collaboration depends on honoring both technical expertise and lived experience. |
Sarah Horton | Sarah Horton is the Director of North America at Go Vocal, where she oversees the company’s growth and local government partnerships in the U.S. and Canada. She brings over a decade of executive leadership experience spanning operations and strategy. For the past seven years, Sarah has advised hundreds of state and local government agencies on how to strengthen civic engagement and build trust through inclusive, effective public participation. |
Pete Inego | By working closely with project managers and community members, it’s Pete’s responsibility to shape the conditions for meaningful people-centered engagement, so community voice can infuse with City decision-making. He is a knowledgeable facilitator, planner and engagement strategist. He has more than 12 years’ experience in policy development and project management, and is the current IAP2 Colorado Chapter Board President. |
Heather Imboden | Heather Imboden is the founder of Communities in Collaboration, an engagement and evaluation consultancy based in Oakland, CA. She is a Past President of IAP2 USA and an IAP2 trainer. Heather's practice marries engagement and evaluation by using the tools of engagement to co-create evaluation frameworks, and leveraging evaluative tools to continuously improve engagement practices. |
Justin Schneider | Justin Schneider has more than 20 years of experience working with communities in the United States and abroad, focusing on p2/engagement, community development, community-based research, and legal work. Justin began his connection with IAP2 in 2018 and now supports the Lonestar Chapter. Currently, Justin is based in Austin, Texas and manages Oak Grove Community Consulting. He also works for Austin Parks and Recreation Department as a community engagement consultant and supports training within the organization. If you work for the City of Austin, please reach out to Justin before registering. |
Sara Sisco Sara Sisco is the Senior Manager for Mobility Education and Outreach on the Hopelink Mobility Management Team. Sara has a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University and over a decade of experience in Community Engagement. She has been at Hopelink for six years and has overseen the growth of the Hopelink Mobility Education and Outreach throughout her tenure. When not working on Transportation Education, she is off enjoying all the PNW has to offer with her kiddos and husband. |
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