We Are Praesidium

Aaron Lundberg, MSW

President and CEO

Aaron Lundberg works with leadership of large-scale human service organizations across the United States to develop, implement, and monitor abuse prevention policies and training programs. He supervises Praesidium’s team of account managers and has trained thousands of direct care workers, supervisors, administrators, and parents in preventing the sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree in social work from The University of Texas at Arlington, Lundberg has conducted extensive research in the etiology, scope, and prevention of abuse in residential treatment centers.

Ann Bartnik

Chief Operating Officer

Ann Bartnik works in conjunction with risk consultants to support new initiative implementation for Praesidium’s largest clients and has over 30 years of industry experience. Ann led the implementation of a new LMS system, Praesidium Academy, a tool that facilitates abuse prevention training modules for 450,000 individual learners across the organization’s client base. She has also facilitated process improvements across Praesidium’s providers for health insurance, 401k plan, IT and phone services, and product support. Additionally, Ann is leading the implementation of Praesidium’s new Assessment tool. Ann’s cultivated business operations experience across diverse industries includes risk management, non-profit, and healthcare IT. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.

Christy Schiller, MA

Vice President of Consulting

Christy Schiller has over 18 years of industry experience. She applies social science and public health strategies to preventing abuse and its long-term effects. In her role at Praesidium, Christy serves faith-based clients, including the Catholic dioceses and religious orders, The Episcopal Church, the Anglican dioceses, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, The Salvation Army, Presbyterian Church USA, and various denominations through their insurers as well as K-12 public and independent schools and higher education institutions. She has worked with clients in the UK, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy. Christy was instrumental in developing the accreditation program for men’s religious orders and congregations. As a result, she was invited to present this work at the Vatican. Christy also led content development for Praesidium’s Creating a Safe Environment (C.A.S.E.) training program and has helped develop many of Praesidium’s consultants. She is a former complex litigation research analyst and holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a master’s degree in Medical Anthropology.

Kiran Rupani, MPH

Sr. Director of Research and Analytics

Kiran Rupani works with a variety of clients to oversee Praesidium’s Accreditation program to ensure organizations have implemented the highest level of standards for consumer protection. Rupani has also worked with Praesidium’s health care clients to ensure patient safety. Prior to her work at Praesidium, Rupani worked in community health improvement to identify and understand health disparities for multiple counties across North Texas. She received her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Texas Christian University and her master’s degree in public health from the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Candace D. Collins, JD

Director of Strategic Alliances

Candace D. Collins supports Praesidium’s client growth across industries and builds relationships with insurance partners, foundations, and relevant associations. Candace has worked with clients across the globe in the UK, Australia, and other countries. As Director of Strategic Alliances, she works with multiple clients to build organizational prevention strategies while also supporting Praesidium’s crisis response work. Prior to joining Praesidium, Candace served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas. In this position, she focused on consumer and elder protection prosecuting abuse and neglect in group homes and long-term care facilities. Additionally, she has ten years of experience working in the insurance coverage and defense field. Candace holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a Juris Doctorate (JD).

Lindsay Meyer Bond

Director of Client Success

Lindsay Meyer Bond strives to make the world a better place, one day at a time. Lindsay is the Director of Client Success for Praesidium, responsible for finalizing, implementing, and scaling Praesidium’s Guardian Certification to ensure participants are provided with skills, resources, and opportunities to successfully lead their organization’s abuse prevention efforts. She is also responsible for building and maintaining strategic relationships with clients, partners, and other stakeholders to guide our work to ensure that clients’ needs are understood and met.

Adriana Dominguez, JD

Director of Consulting, Latin America

Adriana Dominguez supports numerous youth and vulnerable adult serving organizations from a variety of industries to help them develop, implement, and maintain abuse prevention initiatives and frameworks. Dominguez oversees a significant amount of Praesidium’s international work and collaborates closely with our Praesidium Chile office. As a licensed attorney in the state of Texas, Dominguez brings to Praesidium her experience of working with several immigration nonprofit organizations, specifically on cases involving asylum and unaccompanied minors, and at a family law firm. Dominguez graduated with honors from Villanova University, obtaining bachelor’s degrees in political science and Spanish language and literature. She received her Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

Monica S. James

Director of Learning and Development

Monica oversees the design and development of eLearning courses across the industries and audiences that Praesidium serves and the Certified Praesidium Guardian (CPG) program. Additionally, she applies best practices using Agile, Design Thinking, ADDIE, SAM, and Kirkpatrick Methodologies when developing eLearning courses for clients to address the specific needs of their industry. Monica has 23 years of experience in Learning and Development. She applies her expertise to child abuse protection and internal programs such as Praesidium’s Leadership Training Program, designed to help Praesidium’s Managers, Directors, and Senior Leaders improve and grow within their respective roles. Prior to joining Praesidium, Monica worked for the Department of Defense, Red River Army Depot, and Family Support Activity. She also worked as the Youth Group Director with Grace Community World Outreach Church. Monica chose Praesidium as it aligns with her purpose in serving and empowering others, and she enjoys collaborating with individuals who share this mission. Monica has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

Kevin Neudecker

Director of Background Screening

Kevin Neudecker has over 20 years of experience in the background screening industry. As Praesidium’s Director of Background Screening, Kevin works with our clients that utilize Praesidium background screening services. He is proficient in compliance, policy development and review, quality control, and process improvements. Kevin is FCRA advanced certified by the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.

Audrey Oliver, JD

Director of Consulting

Audrey Oliver works with several Youth Development clients. She helps build Praesidium’s reach within National Governing Bodies (NGBs)—including USA Swimming and USA Gymnastics—and national and local sports organizations. Audrey’s ten years of industry experience helps her oversee our work with YUSA and Boys and Girls Clubs of America. As Director of Consulting, she works alongside Vice President of Consulting Christy Schiller to ensure that the team uses a collaborative consulting model with clients. Audrey has been instrumental in creating and continually updating content for the Certified Praesidium Guardian program and was a part of the creation and launch of Praesidium’s Know Your Score! tool. As a licensed attorney in Texas, Audrey previously worked for the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office on Crimes Against Children cases. She holds a Juris Doctorate (JD) and is humbled to have a career that helps create and maintain safe environments within organizations that serve youth and vulnerable adults.

Michelle (Morris) Wood

Director of Finance and Operations

Michelle is instrumental in enhancing processes across Praesidium’s Accounting Department and automating processes within the organization’s Accreditation, Course Development, and Consulting groups. Outside of Praesidium, she was a Board Treasurer for Ryan House in Phoenix, Arizona (2006-2008) and a PTO Treasurer (2011-2016). With 29 years of industry experience, she has always been drawn to supporting non-profit organizations. She has a passion for keeping children and vulnerable adults safe. Michelle has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Latoya Arps

Product Services Senior Manager

Latoya Arps is a seasoned professional with 18 years of industry experience in customer service and client relations. She holds an Associate of Arts degree, which has provided her with a solid foundation for her career. Throughout her time at Praesidium, Latoya has held various positions, showcasing her versatility and commitment to the organization. She started as an Armatus Support Specialist, providing valuable assistance to clients using Praesidium’s Armatus software. Latoya has been instrumental in the transition from Armatus to Praesidium Academy, supporting the organization’s efforts to provide comprehensive training and education. She was crucial in successfully implementing the Training and Screening integration, ensuring a smooth implementation for clients.

Her dedication and expertise led her to advance to the roles of Product Support Manager, Product Services Liaison, and, ultimately, Product Services Senior Manager. In these positions, she has contributed significantly to Praesidium’s mission. Latoya is involved in various projects within Product Services and Operations at Praesidium. Latoya Arps also supports setting up and onboarding large and complex clients, leveraging her expertise to provide tailored solutions.

Jamie Fray

Business Development Manager

Jamie Fray focuses on building relationships with new and existing clients and has expanded Praesidium’s client base to include government organizations and organizations that serve elderly populations. Jamie also supports YMCAs, schools, and social service organizations in ensuring youth and vulnerable adults are protected from abuse. In addition, she has developed over 100 policy reviews on behalf of Praesidium’s insurance partners, consulted on countless helpline calls, and overseen numerous management system reviews and risk assessment visits. With more than 15 years of industry experience, Jamie conducted research focused on screening and selection, training, and codes of conduct for child abuse prevention measures on behalf of client boards. Prior to joining Praesidium, Jamie served vulnerable populations as a pediatric physical therapist and worked in education for ten years. She holds a master’s degree in Physical Therapy and believes that we can make the world a better and safer place for children with every interaction.

Becca Haas

CPG Product Manager

Becca Haas oversees the Certified Praesidium Guardian (CPG) workshops using Praesidium’s Safety Equation as the framework. With more than six years of industry experience, she uses best practices to guide participants and equip them with the tools to develop safe environments within their respective organizations. Before joining Praesidium, Becca spent two years teaching English in Samoa in the Peace Corps. This experience taught her the importance of collaboration and building strong relationships in achieving collective goals. Becca has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She believes that everyone deserves to learn, grow, and succeed in a safe environment.

Sarah Soto

Product Support Manager

Sarah Soto is a dedicated professional who brings a wealth of industry experience to her role at Praesidium. With two years of experience in the field, Sarah holds a PBSA-FCRA Basic Certification, demonstrating her commitment to upholding industry standards. Prior to joining Praesidium, Sarah had a strong background in customer service and worked in the foster care system. This experience has provided her with a deep understanding of the importance of the work carried out by Praesidium and the value it brings to various industries. As a member of the Support team, Sarah has the privilege of serving all Praesidium’s clients across different industries. Her role involves providing assistance and guidance to clients, ensuring their needs are met, and their questions are answered effectively.

In addition to her support role, Sarah has been involved in significant projects related to Product Services and Operations. She played a vital role in the successful migration and ongoing support of Praesidium’s training platform, Praesidium Academy. Through her contributions, she helps support Praesidium’s mission of providing comprehensive training resources and tools to create safer environments.

Laura Hardin Aceves, LMSW

Senior Risk Consultant

Laura supports and oversees Praesidium’s social service clients, including residential and shelter services, foster care, mental/behavioral health programs, and community-based programs that serve youth and vulnerable adults. Additionally, she leads projects with foundations, healthcare, and education clients. In her eight years with Praesidium, she has been promoted to Senior Risk Consultant, helped 15 organizations achieve Praesidium Accreditation, and facilitated more than 35 Certified Praesidium Guardian workshops. Before joining Praesidium, Laura worked in youth development, outpatient behavioral health, and child welfare programs. Laura has a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Sociology and a Master of Social Work from TCU. As a Licensed Master Social Worker, she is interested in creating a macro-level impact to prevent and address sexual abuse within organizations and communities.

James J. Bourgeois, JD

Senior Risk Consultant

James works with Praesidium’s higher education institutions, youth-serving and athletic programs, municipalities, and insurance partners. He consults with clients to ensure they exceed the standards of abuse prevention and response. Additionally, James presently serves on the Board for the Higher Education Protection Network (HEPNet), and he is a licensed attorney. James has a Juris Doctorate (JD) from South Texas College of Law and attended Florida State University for his undergraduate degree.

J. Ross Mitchell, JD

Senior Risk Consultant

Ross Mitchell manages Praesidium’s school-related work and has experience developing and strengthening abuse prevention practices with schools, universities, religious organizations, municipalities, and other youth-serving organizations. Mitchell develops policy, trains employees and volunteers, conducts risk assessments, and performs accreditation visits to verify abuse prevention systems are in place and functioning as intended. He is a member of the School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, and prior to coming to Praesidium Mitchell worked in his law firm’s education practice group. Mitchell represented teachers in a variety of employment matters and worked closely with teacher organizations and school districts. Mitchell graduated from Baylor University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and obtained his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas.

Katie Reese, JD

Senior Risk Consultant

Katie Reese is a senior risk consultant and helps youth-oriented organizations that offer educational, charitable, cultural, and recreational services and activities. Katie provides guidance to organizations that want to continue fostering a culture of safety that builds upon their current foundation and standards for child protection. In addition to supporting numerous clients, she has conducted more than 100 interviews and trainings on behalf of Praesidium. In addition, Katie has been extensively involved in research projects to develop various client and state-specific resources. Before joining Praesidium, Katie practiced law and has experience working in a juvenile sex offender program that incorporated counseling and therapeutic intervention. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Juris Doctorate (JD). Katie enjoys providing preventative-based guidance and resources to organizations worldwide.

Mary Hammonds

Senior Accreditation Specialist

Mary Hammonds holds a strong background in psychology and industry experience that directly relates to the work conducted by Praesidium. With three years of industry experience, Mary has a diverse background that includes working in a social service organization for two years and providing therapy to individuals with autism in a healthcare setting for three years prior to joining Praesidium. This experience has given her a deep understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable populations and the importance of creating safe environments. In her role at Praesidium, Mary serves various clients, including religious and consumer-serving organizations.

She has worked with clients in Canada and Mexico, demonstrating her international experience and ability to adapt to different cultural contexts. Her industry focus centers around providing support and guidance to these organizations to ensure they implement effective abuse prevention policies and practices. Mary has achieved significant accomplishments during her time at Praesidium and has played a crucial role in assisting over 50 organizations to attain accreditation, highlighting her commitment to helping organizations meet the highest standards of safety and protection. Additionally, Mary has had the opportunity to work on extensive research projects, further expanding her knowledge and expertise in the field. Mary holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, providing her with a solid foundation in understanding human behavior.

Doug Berkel

Risk Consultant

Doug serves Praesidium’s youth development clients, including YMCAs and youth sports organizations. He facilitates training and Certified Praesidium Guardian Workshops and conducts risk assessments, management systems reviews, and policy reviews. Before joining Praesidium, Doug spent 20 years with YMCA, where he was promoted to Vice President of Youth Development and Executive Director roles. During his tenure at YMCA, he saw the direct impact Praesidium has in promoting a culture of safety within youth programs. Doug has a Bachelor of Social Work and believes quality youth programs begin with creating a physically and mentally safe environment.

Beth Boyer Kollas, MS, MDiv, PhD

Risk Consultant

Beth Boyer Kollas is a highly educated professional with a diverse medical and mental health background. She has a BS in Biochemistry, MS in Immunology, MDiv (Counseling), and dual PhDs in HIV/AIDS and Psychology/Counseling. Certified in numerous areas, Beth’s experience and knowledge is extensive in the healthcare arena.

Beth has dedicated her life to working with healthcare organizations, policymakers, religious organizations, and educators to create safe environments for youth and vulnerable adults. She has worked with clients across the globe in West Africa, South Africa, and the Dominican Republic. For the past 30 years, she has been a leader, pastor, educator, and researcher in these fields. In addition to her work in safety & risk management (YMCA) and higher education (educator, published author, and researcher), Beth also brings 15 years of experience in policy work involving youth and vulnerable adult populations.

Saúl Espinoza

Accreditation Specialist

Saúl is an Accreditation Specialist focused on serving Praesidium’s religious clients and many of Praesidium’s clients in Latin America. In his role, he enjoys the macro level work he does with clients. Additionally, Saúl is a Co-Chair of the organization’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee. Saúl has 6+ years of experience. Prior to joining Praesidium, Saúl worked as a probate court investigator. He conducted guardianship assessments and presented cases of abuse to probate judges. He also worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas. Saúl has a Bachelor of Science in Social Work.

Hannah Evans, LMSW

Accreditation Specialist

Hannah Evans is a highly qualified professional with a strong background in social work and a focus on abuse prevention. Hannah has a Social Entrepreneurship and Nonprofits certificate from the University of Texas at Austin, further enhancing her skills and expertise. With over five years of industry experience in abuse prevention and seven years in youth-serving organizations, Hannah brings a wealth of knowledge to her role at Praesidium. She has worked in various youth-serving organizations, including mentoring programs, summer camps, schools, and support groups. Hannah spent nearly five years at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, making significant contributions to child safety and abuse prevention. As Program Coordinator, she implemented enhanced abuse prevention training and advocated for policy changes to strengthen youth protection and promote social justice. Prior to that, she served as a Senior Enrollment Specialist, conducting thorough screenings and leading training for volunteers on child safety, trauma-informed care, and cultural competence.

Outside of Praesidium, Hannah has achieved recognition for her outstanding work. She received the Mentoring Professional Award from the Texas Mentoring and Youth Development Conference in 2022, highlighting her dedication and impact in mentoring. Hannah holds a Master’s of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science in Education.

Kayla Wood

Risk Analyst

Kayla Wood is a risk analyst and works with YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) facilities. She focuses on providing training to prevent sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults and handles helpline calls for both groups. In addition, she has conducted numerous management system reviews, over 100 interviews during risk assessment site visits, facilitated Certified Praesidium Guardian online workshops and conducted virtual training on behalf of clients. Before joining Praesidium, Kayla worked in a scientific lab researching ischemic stroke prevention. In addition, she also worked on and presented research on CARE – Census of Athlete Rights Experiences. Kayla has a bachelor’s degree in Biology.

Erica Szewczyk Smith, MSW

Research Consultant

Erica Szewczyk Smith supports Praesidium’s Research and Analytics Department by conducting, reviewing, and analyzing research on child sexual abuse and organizational abuse prevention and risk management. Smith brings over seven years of experience to this role and previously worked as a Senior Risk Consultant with Praesidium. She partnered with various consumer-serving organizations to implement abuse prevention standards and best practices through policy analyses, training, and risk assessments. Prior to joining Praesidium, Smith worked in youth and workforce development programs, public health initiatives, and community research. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Westminster College in Pennsylvania and her Master’s of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh.

Elisa K. Anthony, M.ED

Bilingual Learning Experience Facilitator

Elisa Anthony supports Praesidium by developing and delivering training for bilingual clients to help prevent abuse and preserve trust in their organizations. She has a B.A. in Anthropology, Latin American Studies & Spanish Literature, and a Master’s in Education. She is a certified TEA Professional School Counselor, Crisis Intervener in Suicide Prevention, NOVA Crisis Response Team, and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention CPI. With 15 years of industry experience and eight years in abuse prevention, she has led yearly staff trainings on organization abuse prevention policies and procedures throughout her career. Elisa is passionate about abuse prevention and believes that it can be taught to anyone willing to learn it; we are all responsible for protecting those at risk for abuse.

Krisha Thomason

Account Specialist

Krisha facilitates partnerships with insurance companies for Praesidium’s clients across religious organizations, schools, daycare centers, and country clubs. Specifically, she is instrumental in building solid partnerships with Selective Insurance and increasing background screenings and academy services. Krisha has 15 years of experience in sales and customer relations. She has a bachelor’s degree in Communications.

Ashleigh N. Acosta

Senior Team Coordinator

Ashleigh N. Acosta, a Senior Team Coordinator, leverages her extensive administrative background to excel at Praesidium. Specializing in Youth Development and Higher Education, she plays a pivotal role in ensuring the success of Virtual Certified Praesidium workshops. Ashleigh’s expertise extends to efficient data migration, where she seamlessly transferred client information from an outdated tracking form to a new system, enhancing operational effectiveness and client services. Her meticulous approach, adaptability, and commitment to excellence make her an invaluable asset to the team.