Martin Loaiza, President: Martin A. Loaiza, LISAC is currently the treatment coordinator for the Yuma County Adult Probation Department where he provides clinical oversight to the in-house Drug Court program and the four Licensed Substance Abuse Counselors who provide the treatment aspects of Drug Court. He provides treatment recommendations to officers who are dealing with challenging issues related to domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health treatment caseloads. Martin also serves as a liaison between probation officers, treatment facilities, and the local Adult Detention facility to expedite treatment and reduce recidivism. His 15 years of experience in this field have taken him from prevention education, gang awareness, working with juveniles and adults dealing with substance abuse issues, conducted educational presentations to the community, he researched, developed, implemented, and managed a successful ten bed residential facility for the local RHBA and he serves as the chair for the meth treatment subcommittee in Yuma County.

Mike Zlatev, Treasurer: Mike Zlatev is an M.A. student in Community Counseling at Northern Arizona University in Yuma.

Pit Kolodinsky, Southwest Chapter Chair: Pit Kolodinsky, Ph.D., LPC is an Associate Professor of Counseling at Northern Arizona University, and coordinates the Community and School counseling programs on the NAU-Yuma campus. Pit is an Arizona LPC and NBC Counselor with 17 years of clinical experience, much of it in sexual abuse treatment, traumatic incident reduction for PTSD, hypnotherapy, anxiety disorders and marital counseling. Research interests have focused on spirituality and meditation in the counseling arena, as well as occupational self-efficacy, and most recently, brainwave biofeedback. Pit was active in AZCA from 2002-2004, and has been instrumental in the development of training opportunities (Parent Project, Eating Disorder treatment, and Traumatic Incident Reduction) for AZCA-Southwest (Yuma chapter) since May 2005.

Gordon Gray, Ottawa University Faculty Representative: Gordon Gray, MC, NCC, LAC, LISAC is currently the Field Placement Coordinator and adjunct professor for the Ottawa University Master of Arts in Professional Counseling program. Gordon contracts with CLTatum & Associates and provides in-home counseling services to children and families involved with Child Protective Services and in conjunction with the Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Department and Maricopa County Superior Court serves as the counselor for the Juvenile Drug Court serving Glendale and the West Valley. Gordon is an active member in the ACA, ACES, ALGBTIC, and IAAOC. Gordon is an Arizona native.

Jennifer Walker, Northern Arizona University Faculty Representative: Dr. Jennifer Walker has a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Arkansas. She has worked as a Counselor Educator for the past thirteen years, at 4 different universities in 4 different states. Dr. Walker is currently the coordinator for the Community Counseling M.A. program at Northern Arizona University. Dr. Walker has taught a multitude of courses, and particularly enjoys teaching group counseling and practicum. Dr. Walker has worked as a counselor for ten years with clients including people with HIV/AIDS as well as drunk driving offenders. Dr. Walker is a licensed counselor in the state of Missouri, and hopes to someday become licensed in Arizona. Dr. Walker’s scholarship has focused on multiculturalism, mentoring, and women in academia, and counselor training. Dr. Walker is currently co-authoring an article on gay affirmative counseling and training issues with LGBT clients. Dr. Walker is a member of the American Counseling Association, and served on the editorial board for the Journal of Counseling and Development for 4 years.

Scott Baker, University of Phoenix Faculty Representative: Scott Baker, PhD, NCC, LAC has a doctoral degree in Counselor Education from Kent State University. He currently works as a Lead Faculty Member and Research Fellow in the CACREP-accredited Masters of Science in Counseling program at the UOP. His clinical work as a counselor in the field of forensics (www.fceinfo.com). Dr. Baker serves as the Chair of the Search Committee, website editor, and Co-Editor of the AZJC. Dr. Baker is an active member of ACA, ACES, AMHCA, and ASGW. He has been on the editorial board of the Journal of Mental Health Counseling for 2 years.

Callie Dahlgren - University of Phoenix Student Representatives

Callie Dahlgren is currently a graduate student in the Community Counseling program at the University of Phoenix. She graduated in 2003 from Arizona State University where she majored in Psychology and minored in Business. In November, Callie was a co-recipient of the 2008 Graduate Student of the Year Award from the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. In the past, she has volunteered with the Community Assistance Program at Phoenix Fire Department, providing crisis counseling services to the community. In addition to being a member of the Arizona Counselors Association, Callie is also a member of the American Counseling Association and the Psi Omega Pi Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society.

Christine Pellegrino - University of Phoenix Student Representative

is currently enrolled in the Master's of Science in Counseling program at the University of Phoenix. She has served as an EAP committee member for AFA Council 66 for the past 6 years, whereas she has been the recipient of several prestigious awards acknowledging her dedication to the EAP program. Additionally, she is the co-recipient of the 2008 WACES Student of the Year Award. Christine is an active member of the Psi Omega Pi Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota. She has 24 years of experience within the airline industry and received an undergraduate degree in Education from Arizona State University.

Larry Sideman, Argosy University Faculty Representative: Dr. Sideman – Chair, Ethics Committee – is currently a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Argosy University, The American School of Professional Psychology in Phoenix, Arizona. He is licensed by the State of Arizona as a Psychologist, a Professional Counselor (LPC) and as an Independent Substance Abuse Counselor (LISAC). He maintains a private practice in Phoenix, is the Clinical Director of the Maricopa County Sherriff’s Office ALPHA program, and is currently the Chair of the Arizona Counselors Association Ethics Committee.

Lori Epting, Newsletter Editor: Lori Epting, M.C., L.A.C. is currently a therapist at Psychological Counseling Services (www.pcsearle.com) and Forensic Counseling and Evaluations (www.fceinfo.com). She provides counseling for adolescents, couples and adults working with a variety of issues including depression, anxiety, trauma, infidelity, divorce and co-parenting. Lori received her Master's degree in Counseling from Arizona State University in May 2007 and is a Licensed Associate Counselor. Lori graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2001 with an undergraduate degree in Business Management. Lori completed her internship at Psychological Counseling Services, an intensive outpatient practice, which specializes in trauma reduction, couples therapy, sex and love addiction and other compulsive issues. She is also forensically trained and provides services for the Court including, therapeutic intervention and co-parenting therapy.

Patricia Kerstner, PhD, NCC - Dr. Kerstner is the Campus College Chair for the Social and Behavioral Sciences area in the College of Social Sciences at the University of Phoenix/ Phoenix Campus. An Arizona licensed psychologist and a National Certified Counselor (NCC) , she is active in the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) and the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision( WACES). She is past-president of the Western Region ACES, which includes California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Arizona and Australia/New Zealand. In July, 2007, she completed her elected one-year term as secretary of the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision, a national office.

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