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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. |
Emily Gallant | With over 16 years of experience spanning leadership team coaching, innovation management, organizational development, and stakeholder engagement, she brings deep expertise in the conditions that make high-value collaboration possible and the wisdom to know when it breaks down. Certified in Systemic Team Coaching®, she works with teams and leaders navigating complexity, high-stakes decisions, and the hard work of leading together -- focusing on how teams think, decide, and operate within their wider stakeholder ecosystem. Her IAP2 training and global practice across energy, water, healthcare, transportation, education, and more have shaped a grounded, practical approach to designing the conditions for collective progress. |
Pete Iengo | 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 Young | Heather Young, Sr Community Engagement Manger, has been with the City of Fort Collins for 8 years. She focuses on establishing structures and tools for community members to provide meaningful input in government decision-making processes. Her professional and academic background is in communication, outreach, and natural resources, with a B.S. in Environmental Communication and a M.S. in Public Communication and Journalism, both from Colorado State University. When she’s not working, you’ll find Heather spending time outside, at a yoga class, reading a book, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. |
Rachel Paulsen | Rachel Paulsen is a Communications Specialist with Salt Lake City Government, where she has spent nearly three years strengthening how the City connects with residents. She has |
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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. |
Kyle Strayer | Bio coming soon! |
The Co-Founder and Vice President of the Land Heritage Institute Foundation, Co-Founder of the American Indians in Texas Institute and Co-Founder of the National Urban Indian Family Coalition. Ramon has decades of research on the history of the Coahuiltecan tribes that inhabited the areas where San Antonio now continues to grow. His genealogical knowledge is sought out by people nationwide seeking to understand their heritage. His grandchildren remain an inspiration. Ramon also serves as a spokesperson for the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation. |
Doug Zenn |
Doug Zenn has 30 years of experience in the communications field and has developed and managed community involvement, awareness, and education efforts around numerous issues including visioning, transportation, water resources, community-based planning and more. Doug has led Zenn Associates’ development of the innovative “Three-Dimensional Public Participation” model (3DP2) an approach that expands community access to project information and provides unique avenues for community input including the use of new technologies. Doug also serves on the executive committee for IAP2’s Cascade Chapter (Oregon and Southwest Washington) and is a certified trainer for IAP2’s public involvement foundations courses. Doug Zenn has 30 years of experience in the communications field and has developed and managed community involvement.
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