Bev Ingram
Bev Ingram has 25 years experience providing services as an occupational therapist primarily in the field of early intervention and pediatrics. She has 5 years experience as a program director for the REACH Infant Learning Program and manages multiple grant projects and staff supervision. She has coordinated the Alaska Transition Training Initiative (ATTI) since 2004 and is an experienced trainer and facilitator for the project. Bev is an effective leader and has excellent communication, team building, and consensus building skills.

Bev has served on many statewide and local planning teams. She was a member of the Early Intervention Committee of the Governor’s Council for Disabilities and Special Education for six years, past president of the Alaska Infant Learning Program Association, and served on the Key Coalition, a statewide advocacy group supporting persons with developmental disabilities. She has been an active member of the Juneau Transition Team- Partnerships for Families and Children since its inception in 1999.

Jonathan’s Infant Learning Program family services care coordinator gave Debbie an application to apply as a Partners In Policymaking intern in January of 2004. She was accepted, and PiP helped to shape her life in a new direction. The advocacy training was invaluable, and Debbie was encouraged to get involved with the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education. This was Debbie’s beginning.

In July of 2004, Debbie was appointed to the Early Intervention Committee of the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education as a public member. In November of 2004, Debbie became a Parent Trainer for the Alaska Transition Training Initiative. In July of 2005, Debbie was appointed by the governor to the full board of the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education. In May of 2007, Debbie was elected by the Governor’s Council to be the vice chair.

Through the Early Intervention Committee/Governor’s Council and Jonathan’s Infant Learning Program, Debbie is able to continue to enhance her understanding of disabilities and family advocacy by attending numerous workshops, trainings, and conferences.

People wonder how she finds the time to do all this. Debbie answers, “Everyone has a busy life. It is only those of us that live the life, that know what needs to be changed, and have the passion to make that happen.”

Dianne Zemanek
Dianne came to Southeast Alaska 11 years ago from Washington. She was on an adventure and fell in love with the area and the people. Dianne taught in Juneau and Chatham School Districts. She worked her way up through many positions and has worn many hats: teacher, principal teacher, special education teacher, itinerant special education teacher, special education director, and state special education consultant. She also served on the Governor’s Council Early Intervention Committee for 3 years. Each of these opportunities allowed Dianne to work with communities and children in many different roles, and she has enjoyed the challenges of each.

Dianne joined ATTI as a trainer in May of 2004. Diane is married to Patrick and they live in Tenakee Springs.

Janell Mead
Janell Meade is the mother of four daughters, including 15-year-old Heather, who was the lucky recipient of Infant Learning Program services from the time she came home from the hospital at 2 months until her transition to preschool at age 3. Janell was an ATTI team member years ago and rejoined the team in 2005.

She has also been a pediatric office nurse and school nurse, and strongly believes that the timing and quality of intervention impacts the functional level of both children and families, including a positive impact on marriages (she has been married for 20 years), and she greatly appreciates the efforts of early education teachers and the difference that they make.

Kathryn Cardarelle
Kathryn Cardarelle has been an early childhood educator for more than 30 years. She has worked in private and state-sponsored childcare for infants/toddlers as well as preschool programs. Graduating in 1987 with a B.A. in elementary education from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN, she started her elementary career as a kindergarten teacher. In 1991, she and her family moved to Alaska. In 1997, she completed a master's degree in education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Special Education from Anchorage University. For the past 10 years she has worked as a Preschool Special Education teacher. Currently, she is working at Anne Wien Elementary in Fairbanks, the seventh Alaska school district in which she has worked.

Kat and her husband have enjoyed exploring the rural and urban areas of Alaska and making new friends along the way. Kat joined the ATTI team in the winter of 2006.

Mira Ericksen
Mira Ericksen joined ATTI in May 2002 and assisted Bobbi Figdor, then project coordinator, in all office and training material organization. Mira brings exceptional office management and organizational skills to the project. She has enjoyed the flexibility of the part-time job and being a part of a dynamic team of women. Most recently, Mira has collaborated with Bev Ingram to co-coordinate the project.

Currently, Mira lives in Corbett, Oregon, where she and her family moved in January 2007. Mira continues to enjoy her involvement with the ATTI project and telecommuting.

Ann Brantmeier
Ann Brantmeier has lived in Alaska Native villages for 25 years. Originally coming from a large family in rural Wisconsin, she brought with her a great love for people and the land. In 1992, Ann made Kaltag her permanent home, where she now lives with her 12-year-old daughter and a friend. She is a member of the Kaltag Wellness Team and supports local families and agencies to build a healthy community. She also serves on the local school board and regional health board, and volunteers at a variety of community events.

Ann began working for Head Start in 1995 as a nutritionist/educator and then as a prenatal home visitor for three families. Her love of children and desire to help them develop to their greatest potential prompted her to obtain her master's degree in early childhood education through the University of Alaska Southeast distance education program in May of 2006. Currently Ann is working as the Special Needs Coordinator for the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) Head Start. She coordinates services for children with special needs in the nine villages served by TCC.

Heather Wheeler
Heather Wheeler joined the ATTI team in the fall of 2007. She has been an educator in the state for 19 years. She has taught in Northwest Arctic and Fairbanks, and currently lives in Kodiak. She has taught preschool to 12th grade and has served as assistant principal and principal at Kodiak High School. Currently, she is in her fourth year as Director of Special Services for the Kodiak Island Borough School District.

Heather has also served on several state committees such as the Retention and Recruitment Committee, the K-2 Grade Level Equivalency/Early Learning Guidelines Committee, and the State Determination Setting Stakeholder Group.

Jeanne Gerhardt-Cyrus
Jeanne Gerhardt-Cyrus is a parent of six children, all of whom are affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol. A resident of the Northwest Arctic Borough since 1982, she and her husband Tom have been fortunate to live first in Buckland and now Kiana. She is a retired special and regular education teacher, has served as FASD Diagnostic Team Coordinator and Tribal Education Coordinator, and is currently a consultant with and president of Kobuk Valley Consulting.

Jeanne also serves as the Northwest Arctic Peer Navigator with Alaska Youth and Family Network. She is a board member for the Stone Soup Group (PTI Grant Advisory Committee), and is deeply involved in the Bring the Kids Home Initiative (member of the Education Sub Committee and Residential Services Certificate Advisory Committee) and an FASD Demo Project Advisory Committee Member.

Jeanne is a tireless advocate for her own children and all other children and youth, especially those experiencing FASD and behavioral health issues. She adamantly believes in the importance of the family voice, and that prevention must begin with intervention.

Charlie Johanson Adams
Charlie Johanson Adams has been an ATTI trainer for eight years. Charlie is the owner/sole-consultant of Leading EDGE Consulting, a Chugiak-based private company specializing in leadership mentoring, systems development, strategic planning, program development/implementation, program evaluation, and group facilitation.

A 34-year veteran leader in the early childhood, leadership, disabilities, and family services field, Charlie has served on various statewide, regional, and national committees/boards and has written and published articles, curricula, and manuals promoting leadership within the field. Of the 34 years, 15 were spent as Executive Director of FOCUS, Inc. and Chugiak Children’s Services (CCS), serving the Eagle River, Chugiak, and Mat-Su Valley communities.