CADTP Fall Conference

Michele Wong currently serves as a Branch Chief in the Licensing and Certification Division (LCD), formally the Substance Use Disorder Compliance Division (SUDCD) with the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).  Michele joined DHCS as the Assistant Division Chief of SUDCD in September 2014.  As a Branch Chief of LCD, Michele has oversight of the licensing, complaint, and incident review activities related to Mental Health Rehabilitation Centers (MHRCs), Psychiatric Health Facilities (PHFs), Narcotic Treatment Programs (NTPs), and Driving-Under-the-Influence (DUI) Programs, as well as the oversight of mandated activities related to approvals of county-designated 5150 facilities, Counselor Certifying Organizations and the SUD workforce. Under Michele’s direction, her team is responsible for the implementation of new legislation, including SB 823 requiring DHCS to adopt the American Society of Addiction Medicine Criteria as a standard of care for residential treatment programs. While with SUDCD, Michele was part of the team to implement the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) 1115 Waiver and served as the lead for External Quality Review Organization and DMC-ODS evaluation activities.  Prior to coming over to DHCS, Michele had over 14 years of experience with the Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) of the California Department of Social Services.  In her various roles with CCLD, Michele gained extensive knowledge of program oversight, monitoring and stakeholder collaboration and engagement.  Her most recent role with CCLD was as the Assistant Program Administrator of the Adult and Senior Care Program where she was responsible for the oversight of all statewide field and complaint operations for these programs.  Michele receives her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Associates degree in Early Childhood from Pacific Union College in Angwin, California and her Masters degree in Experimental Psychology from California State University, San Jose.

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Rich Desmond, a fifth generation Sacramentan, was elected to represent District 3 on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in November 2020.

Rich joined the California Highway Patrol in 1995 and spent several years as a patrol officer in Los Angeles and Sacramento before promoting up the ranks into a variety of field and administrative positions, including assignments in the CHP’s Office of Internal Affairs and Office of Risk Management. In 2011, Rich became the Commander of CHP field operations in eastern Sacramento County. He took over the CHP’s legislative affairs program in 2014.  While in this position, he participated in the development of the CHP’s budget and worked on legislation affecting several areas of public policy, including traffic and public safety, law enforcement transparency and accountability, and use of force. In 2018, Rich was promoted to CHP Chief and temporarily assigned to the State Assembly as its Chief Sergeant-at-Arms before retiring in late 2019. Rich is proud of his participation in the CHP’s creation o​f an AMBER Alert system to locate abducted and missing children and the development of the CHP’s Mental Illness Response Program that trains officers how to safely resolve encounters with people experiencing a mental health crisis.

As a lifelong resident of Carmichael, Rich has a long history of involvement in the community. In 2005, Rich participated in the development of the Carmichael Community Action Plan, resulting in a new vision for Carmichael. He also served multiple terms as a Commissioner on the Sacramento County Adult and Aging Commission and helped establish the Sacramento Senior Safehouse to protect seniors at risk of abuse and neglect. In 2018, Rich was appointed to serve as a member of the Carmichael/Old Foothill Farms Community Planning Advisory Council that provides feedback and community perspective on development proposals in District 3.

Rich graduated from Jesuit High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Santa Clara University.  While working for the CHP, he went to McGeorge School of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctor in May 2000. As an attorney, he maintains a solo law practice and previously worked part-time as an associate at Desmond, Nolan, Livaich & Cunningham, a firm founded by Rich’s grandfather in 1929.

Rich and his wife Lisa have five children ranging in age from 12 to 21. They are active members of our community, frequently spending time on the American River Parkway, at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center, and in local parks. Their family volunteers at the annual American River Parkway cleanup and local Special Olympics events.  Rich has spent many years coaching his kids but now spends most of his time as a spectator. He also spends time volunteering at the Sierra Arden Neighborhood Food Locker and has assisted at the Carmichael Homeless Assistance Resource Team’s Winter Sanctuary program and the COVID-19 testing site in North Highlands.

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Tracy Langlands currently serves as a Supervisor of the Driving Under the Influence and Criminal Justice Section within the Substance Use Disorder Compliance Division at the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Ms. Langlands oversees the monitoring for Driving Under the Influence Programs and is the Legislative Coordinator for the Division. Prior to State service, Ms. Langlands served as a member of a United States delegation to a United Nations panel on the use and dissemination of nuclear data. She is skilled in governance, currently serving as a member of the Risk Committee for the California Health and Human Services Agency, and previously serving on the Crocker Art Museum board of directors and the National Association of Corporate Directors Northern California Chapter advisory board. Tracy has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a specialty in language interpretation and translation, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration.

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Director, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program
Director, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Program, Voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor, UCSD Health Sciences – Dept. of Psychiatry Clinical Faculty, UCSD Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program Clinical Faculty, UCSD Community Psychiatry Program, Double boarded: Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology & Diplomate of the American Board of Preventive Medicine—Addiction Medicine, Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association
Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine

Bio:  Joe Anthony Sepulveda, M.D., FAPA, FASAM, is an adult psychiatrist double boarded by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology and the American Board of Preventive Medicine, certified in the subspecialty of Addiction Medicine and a Fellow of both the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).  Dr. Sepulveda received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physiological Sciences from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), received his medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and completed his residency in psychiatry from Stanford University Hospital & Clinics.  He is the Chief of Psychiatry and Medical Director for Substance Use Disorder Services at Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD), the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in San Diego.  He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) department of Psychiatry and is on the clinical teaching faculty for the UCSD Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program, the UCSD Community Psychiatry Residency Program and the FHCSD Family Medicine Residency Program.  In addition, Dr. Sepulveda oversees the FHCSD Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Program and is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, The San Diego Psychiatric Society, The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), and the California Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM).

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Tonier Cain International focuses on heightening awareness of the characteristics and effects of trauma and improving the performance of service providers, businesses, government agencies and others who interact with trauma survivors.

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B.J. Davis, Psy.D, LAADAC, has been researching, developing, and implementing evidence-based treatment strategies since 2001. He spent more than 10 years as the executive and clinical director of one of the largest outpatient substance abuse and co-occurring treatment facilities in Northern California, overseeing treatment of over 500 clients monthly. The Davis Model, his innovative approach to treatment of substance use disorders adapted from William Glasser’s Choice Theory, has helped tens of thousands of individuals achieve recovery and improve their quality of life. The basis of Dr. Davis’ model is recognized as an evidence-based approach by the National Registry on Evidence-Based Practices and Program.

Dr. Davis’ model focuses on client empowerment, quality of life, and patient autonomy.

In addition to his work in the addiction treatment field, Dr. Davis serves as an adjunct professor at Alliant International University, where he teaches and mentors doctoral candidates. Dr. Davis also provides ongoing training and clinical supervision to (how many) counselors and clinicians at Wellspace Health, one of the largest regional physical, mental, and behavioral health treatment organizations in northern CA. Dr. Davis has served as a curriculum and program development consultant to numerous organizations, treatment centers, and agencies.

Dr. Davis is a dedicated educator, public speaker, community advocate, and sought after consultant. He is a Thought Leader and active contributor to Wholehearted.org. His TEDx talk, Freedom from Self Doubt, has reached millions of viewers worldwide.

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Dr. Fredrick Dombrowski is a Professor with the University of Bridgeport’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. Dr. Dombrowski has worked in the field of co-occurring disorders since 1999. Dr. Dombrowski’s theoretical approaches include DBT, CBT, and Motivational Interviewing. Dr. Dombrowski has been a director for inpatient and outpatient programs at NY and CT. Dr. Dombrowski has experience providing supervision to clinicians ranging in all discipline’s educational backgrounds. He is passionate about evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders and engages in ongoing advocacy for marginalized populations.

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Dr. Nola Veazie holds doctorate degrees in Psychology and Leadership and Organizational Management. She is the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of V-Solutions Consulting, LLC a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). For the past ten years, V-Solutions have provided training and consulting services, staff development, and continuing education units. Dr. Veazie is an editorial board member for the International Journal of Education, Culture and Society. Dr. Veazie is a retired Air Force Veteran with 22 years in the fields of mental health and addiction. She is published in several peer-reviewed journals and has several books.

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As NHTSA’s Probation Fellow, Mark Stodola brings over 30 years of experience working in the field of court management and adult probation in Arizona. Mark worked at the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department for 18 years serving in several capacities including field supervisor and division director overseeing drug and alcohol treatment programs, problem solving courts and services for the mentally ill. Mark later became the Court Administrator of the Tempe Municipal Court where he served for eight years managing the day-to-day activities of the court including budget, case processing, program development (including the establishment of Arizona’s first municipal mental health court) and managing personnel. Most recently, Mark served as Program Services Manager in the Adult Probation Services Division of the Arizona Supreme Court where he had oversight of treatment programs for Arizona’s Adult Probation Departments. Mark received his undergraduate degree in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his master’s degree in Education from Northern Arizona University. Mark became a Graduate Fellow through the National Council of State Courts Institute of Court Management. In his spare time Mark serves on several boards, including the CADTP Certification Board and is actively involved in community activities with his wife, Susan.

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Bill Woodbury is a SUDCC II and has worked in the field of chemical dependency since 1988. He has served in a variety of positions, including counselor, program director and interventionist as well as enjoys training future counselors and working as an equine assisted counselor. Bill’s ability to communicate with a varied audience has led him to develop numerous workshops, focusing on providing practical tools that can assist in lasting change. Whether facilitating groups for newly recovering addicts, their families or the professionals who serve them, Bill’s compassion combined with humor, allows the freedom to look honestly at issues without needless introspection.

Linda Woodbury has worked in a variety of settings, serving youth and families since 1995. As a Family Life Educator with an MA in Family Science, she utilizes a strengths-based approach that fosters resiliency, supports systemic healing, and contributes to post-traumatic growth. In addition to her work with Bill, she has a passion for assisting parents in times of developmental transition, ranging from new parents to those raising emerging adults to those providing varying levels of care for their grandchildren, including custodial grandparents. She believes in the inherent worth of every individual and that all families can reach their potential given the opportunity.

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