About Our Conference Speakers

Jason Boron is a strengths-based leadership coach whose primary focus is helping others identify and leverage individual talents to maximize their potential. He founded Leading Strong in 2017 with a mission to share what he discovered during his own development journey. . .When you focus on what you do best, each and every day, you create opportunities to live your best life.

Jason draws on his education in sport psychology, experience in leadership development, and ideas from today’s greatest thought leaders to help others realize their potential. Since 2007, Jason has designed and conducted leadership training and coaching. As a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, Tiny Habits Coach, and LEGO SERIOUS PLAY Certified Facilitator, he provides individuals and teams opportunities to build self-awareness and more effectively leverage their strengths.

Jason supports the local business community and efforts to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem through participation in regional organizations, including the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce (GARCC) and the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund. He served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for GARCC in 2021. Jason graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in psychology and West Virginia University with an M.S. in sport psychology

A 35-year, award-winning theatre professional having directed, choreographed, and taught performance techniques throughout Southeastern MA. The Director of Education for the NPMSG Academy and also spearheads the increasingly popular Employee Wellness segment of NPMSG Academy. Dori holds a BFA from The Boston Conservatory as well as an M.Ed. from Cambridge College and an MA from Emerson College. She earned her Ph.D. in education through Lesley University.  Recently, Dori spoke at The International Association for Creative Arts in Education and Therapy (IACAET) regarding her research examining the relationship between spirituality and the theatrical rehearsal process. She is also a national speaker on mindfulness and meditation and its role in the performing arts.

Dori is a respondent and workshop presenter for the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild (METG) The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) and the New England Theatre Conference (NETC).

Patricia (Trish) Danner serves as Regional Outreach Specialist for the United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) in Region III.  In this capacity, she serves as an advisor to the HHS Regional Director on and provides outreach to a variety of stakeholders on issues related to the Department.  She also serves on the HHS Region III Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force.  She has assisted in identifying stakeholders throughout the Region to partner with to organize human trafficking education and awareness events.  These stakeholders include Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs, the faith-based community as well as the medical community.  She also serves on the Delaware Human Trafficking Medical Committee and the Maryland Child Labor Trafficking Learning Collaborative.  She is the lead of the Regional Interdisciplinary Collaborative Working to End Human Trafficking (the RIC).  The RIC consists of national representatives from OTIP, ORR, and Polaris as well as federal representation of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health, Health Resources and Services Association, the Administration of Children and Families and the Office of the Regional Director.  Stakeholders represent the entire HHS Region 3 and includes survivors and tribal members.  The RIC held its first Regional Human Trafficking Summit in February, 2021 for advocates working to end human trafficking and will be holding annual regional meetings.

Prior to joining HHS, she served as a Local Government Policy Specialist in the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), where she worked on local government legislation and local government policies.  Additionally, she served as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Secretary for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the Pennsylvania Department of Health. At the Pennsylvania law firm of a Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, she was a paralegal and the Government Affairs and Administrative Coordinator.

Erica Etterling is the Rental Compliance Support Manager in Compliance and Asset Management at Virginia Housing.  She has worked in the affordable housing industry for over 25 years and serves as an internal advisor on the regulations governing the federal and state housing programs administered and monitored by Virginia Housing.  She loves all the moving parts in working with affordable housing programs and takes every advantage to gain new knowledge and share her knowledge and experiences with others.

Dan earned an Associates of Applied Science degree in Electronic Engineering from Ivy Tech State College in Muncie, IN.  He also attended the University of Evansville, where he studied Business Management. Since 2005, Dan has completed training on REAC/UPCS inspection protocol, HQS inspection protocol, Georgia Department of Community Affairs Tax Credit inspection/ADA protocol, Michigan State Housing and Development UPCS+ Protocol for State Tax Credit Units, Pro Lab Mold and Mildew Certification, Middleton Real Estate Home Inspectors Basic and Advanced Courses and obtained State of Michigan Builder’s License. Dan has performed UPCS annual inspections in over 100,000 public housing and multifamily units throughout the nation. Since 2021, Dan has conducted NSPIRE training to multiple Public Housing Agencies, Property Management Companies and has spoken at numerous conferences on NSPIRE.

Tanya Gould is a dedicated solutionist in the fight against human trafficking, passionately working to influence legislative policy and elevate public awareness. She currently serves as the Anti-Human Trafficking Director for the Office of the Attorney General in Virginia and was appointed to the Governor’s Commission on Human Trafficking Prevention and Survivor Support.

In 2022, Tanya received the prestigious Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking in Persons. She has served two terms on the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking and has been a member of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council (ISTAC).

Tanya is a sought-after speaker, having delivered lectures and training sessions at universities and participated in numerous podcasts, articles, and public service announcements. She co-produced the documentary short film *Groomed*, which sheds light on the dark realities of human trafficking.

As a keynote speaker at anti-human trafficking conferences, Tanya has engaged with various communities and raised awareness both nationally and internationally. She has consulted for multiple agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, the Department of Education, the Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign, Global Strategic Operatives for the Eradication of Human Trafficking, Inc., and the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Office. Tanya also serves on boards such as Polaris, Beloved Haven, the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum Task Force on Human Trafficking, and The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE).

In addition to her professional endeavors, Tanya is deeply committed to her community. She has served as a Museum and Fine Arts Commissioner for the city of Portsmouth, started an after-school program, and co-led the annual Cradock Festival. Tanya has also supported families at crisis pregnancy centers in Virginia and was a candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates District 21 race in 2021.

Tanya’s exceptional contributions have been recognized with the Attorney General Alliance Sword and Shield Award in 2023. She represented the Commonwealth of Virginia at the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime as an official member of the U.S. delegation.

With a wealth of experience and a tireless commitment to eradicating human trafficking, Tanya Gould is a powerful keynote speaker who brings passion, insight, and inspiration to every engagement.

Mr. Johnson has been involved in the development and management of residential and commercial enterprises since 1976. He has coordinated the development of over 70 multi-family housing complexes utilizing federal, state, and conventional financing, of which more than 40 used the federal low-income housing tax credit. He is now President of A.J. Johnson Consulting Services, Inc., a full-service real estate consulting firm specializing in due diligence and asset management issues, with a particular emphasis on properties utilizing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. Mr. Johnson served as a technical advisor to Congressional staff during the drafting of both the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program and the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988.

His company has performed asset management reviews on more than 5,000 properties containing approximately 460,000 units since January 1995. Mr Johnson is a contributing author to The Low-Lincome Housing Tax Credit Advisor, as well as being a member of the Board of Advisors to The Tax Credit Housing Management Insider, a monthly tax credit compliance guide.

Mr. Johnson was also a member of the Task Force that developed the Housing Credit Certification Exam on behalf of NAHB, and is a NAHB recognized Section 42 Trainer.

Mr. Johnson holds the S.T.A.R. (Spectrum Training Award Recipient) designation for demonstrated expertise in the regulations and management principles of Rural Rental Housing and is a Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP©).

Shamere McKenzie is a dedicated consultant, activist, and internationally recognized speaker known for her expertise in human trafficking. With a remarkable journey of turning personal adversities into opportunities for liberation and protection, Shamere has become a catalyst for social and political change both in America and across the globe.

As the Chief Executive Officer of Sun Gate Foundation, an anti-trafficking organization, Shamere passionately channels her commitment to education and policy into providing survivors of human trafficking with essential educational opportunities. Her influential role extends to the Maryland State Human Trafficking Task Force, where she co-chairs the victim's services committee.

Beyond her impact in the United States, Shamere responded to a call from the Ministry of Justice in her birthplace, Jamaica, and holds the distinguished title of the first appointed Anti-Human Trafficking Ambassador for Jamaica since 2018.

Drawing on her experiences as a former Program Director, Shamere authored a groundbreaking anti-trafficking program and oversaw an emergency residential program for adult survivors. She is a sought-after resource, having trained various professionals, including the FBI, Homeland Security, and Bureau of Diplomatic Security, as well as personnel from churches, hotels, and airlines, on identifying and responding to human trafficking victims.

Shamere's compelling narrative, rooted in her lived experiences with sex trafficking, has been featured in several books, documentaries, and media outlets, serving as an impactful educational tool. Her most recent documentary, "False Promises," released in 2018 on the island of Aruba, specifically addresses sex trafficking awareness among Caribbean youth.

In 2015, Shamere graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. She actively contributes to various boards, advisory boards, and speaker's bureaus, garnering numerous awards in recognition of her outstanding work.

Angelique is the Cyber Security Director & Division Deputy CISO for GDIT’s Intelligence & Homeland Security Division in Washington, D.C.  For 26 years she has supported the U.S. Government and Commercial clients in Intelligence, Cybersecurity Engineering and C-Suite capacities.

Angelique develops holistic solutions which build on the foundation for Cyber Resiliency and provides Vulnerability Research, Penetration Testing, Cyber Threat Intelligence and System Security Engineering solutions to a variety of clients. 

She is an Air Force Veteran and supports mentorship programs and initiatives for transitioning Military members and their families looking to enter the Cybersecurity field. She is also the Co-Founder and Chairwoman of the Board for the Cybersecurity DIVAS which offers mentorship, certification & educational assistance.

Scott F. Ployer founded National Property Management Strategies Group, LLC on one key principle, to take his over three decades of “boots on the ground” real estate management, development, construction, facilities and safety experience and provide a variety of problem-solving consulting services including development of training programs to share those best practices with others the industry.

Mr. Ployer possesses a unique and diverse set of skills and abilities that he brings to his clients with each engagement. This talent, coupled with a proven track record of attaining the highest level of results, make him one of the most knowledgeable and respected leaders in the industry today. His specialties include, all facets of real estate management operations, asset management, short and long-term capital planning, implementation of energy and sustainability initiatives, providing due diligence for acquisition, refinancing and disposition and development of risk management/mitigation and employee behavioral safety programs.

Mr. Ployer has managed all types of real estate during his career. These include multifamily, condominiums, cooperatives, commercial, including office, industrial, mixed-use and “flex” buildings. He has served as a project executive overseeing more than $1.5B in new construction including state and federal government buildings and negotiated those leases. He has also served as Administrator for the Receiver for various REO or MIP properties on behalf of the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Court, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, MassHousing and Ocwen Federal Bank.

Mr. Ployer attained his unrestricted construction supervisor’s license (CSL) over twenty one years ago and provides Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) services to his clients. These capital upgrade, renovation, rehabilitation, and insurance restoration projects are managed at the highest level. As a licensed construction professional and former general contractor, he truly understands both sides; an owner’s needs and objectives and how best to work with contractors and other professionals to achieve them, on-time and within budget. He also provides litigation support services and expert witness testimony to law firms nationwide on a variety of real estate and other safety-related cases.

Kelly Roper is a Senior Asset Manager with Virginia Housing and has over 25 years of experience in the multifamily housing field. During her career Kelly has won the CMHC Property Manager of the Year, Regional Property Manager of the Year and holds the Assisted Housing Manager (AHM) designation. Her greatest career satisfaction comes from working jointly with industry partners and their teams to provide quality, affordable housing.

Lisa Trosien is a highly respected multifamily educator, speaker, author, and consultant with over 25 years of industry experience. Described by her customers as “incredibly smart” and “amazingly effective,” she’s worked with owners, management companies, and trade associations across the U.S. and Canada. Lisa is utilized as an industry expert by companies such as The Wall Street Journal, CBS Marketwatch, Washington Post, National Public Radio, SELF Magazine, Business Week, Chicago Tribune, and more. Attendees of her educational sessions agree that she presents great information and superior strategies, while still keeping learning both meaningful and fun. Lisa is well known for her meticulous research and strong presentation skills. Her presentations for the National Apartment Association’s “Apartmentalize” conference are consistently top-ranked for both content and attendance.

Matthew Trotter serves as the Director of Education for Chadwell Supply. An HVAC veteran of 25 years, Matt currently oversees all content creation and 4 active trainers in the field conducting in-person training. Matthew’s experience is extensive, completing trade school and a union apprenticeship. Also achieving many certifications from manufacturers including centrifugal teardown cert. His knowledge in electrical and HVAC/R theory, installation and service is profound and applicable. Matt is an avid public speaker, pickle ball player, golfer and serves as children’s ministry coordinator for his local church.

Melvin Bailey is a highly experienced HVAC Service Technician with over 20 years in home and building maintenance. His extensive expertise covers a broad range of areas including troubleshooting controls, wiring, and schematics. Melvin is skilled in electric and gas heat repair, gas pipeline installation, and appliance evaluation and repair. He excels in preventative maintenance for various home and building appliances, ensuring optimal performance and longevity.

In addition to his technical skills, Melvin possesses a solid background in plumbing, carpentry, landscaping, and pool management. His customer service is exemplary, reflecting his commitment to high-quality work and client satisfaction.