Speaker Biographies are posted in alphabetical order and subject to change.
SUSAN GREGORY-BRUNDAGE
SUSAN GREGORY-BRUNDAGE is a Program Administrator for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE). Her major responsibilities at the Commission are in the areas of education and training, curriculum development, on-line education, and accessibility compliance.
Susan received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Superior and her Master of Liberal Studies degree from the University of Denver. She also has retained a Chemical Dependency Counselor License (LCDC) through the State of Texas for twenty-seven years. She has a varied experience in the field of education including: curriculum development, distance and on-line education, generational learning styles, assessment and evaluation of programs, and creative integration in the classroom. She has worked in various educational venues for thirty-five years as well as being a TCLEOSE Instructor for the past seven years.
Susan's eclectic background in the field of education has also encompassed work in the criminal justice system, to include jail and parole environs as well as in-prison, residential, and out-patient counseling milieus. She is currently involved in the TDCJ - Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments (TCOOMMI) Advisory Council, the Governor's Task Force Sub-committee on Human Trafficking, and Public Electronic Services On-the-Internet (PESO) Working Group.
ANNE PRICHARD GRADY
ANNE PRICHARD GRADY is the Vice President of Strategic Solutions Group. For over thirteen years, Anne has inspired, entertained, and engaged audiences as a professional speaker, coach, and facilitator. Anne's passion is to help drive performance, maximize organizational culture, and develop people to reach their full potential.
Previously, she was the Director of Training and Development for one of the nation's most prestigious country club's and resorts where she led the training and development of over 1,000 employees. She was also a corporate trainer at one of Fortune Magazine's top rated mutual fund companies.
Anne has been a University instructor and currently works with the professional development department at the University of Texas. She holds a Masters Degree in Organizational Communication from Texas State University.
As a parent of a special needs child, Anne has a unique perspective that allows her to turn concepts and ideas into practical, easy to implement strategies. Her blend of authenticity, style, humor, knowledge and personal experience has captured the hearts of audiences around the country.
SCOTT KELLY
SCOTT KELLY is the CRASH Program Lead Instructor for the Texas Municipal Police Assocation. He joined TPMA after 17 years of Law Enforcement experience at the local, state, and federal levels. Scott served as a Patrol Officer, F.T.O., and S.W.A.T. member with the Corpus Christi Police Department. Scott also spent two years as a State Game Warden with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and over 8 years of service as a Special Agent / Criminal Investigator with the U.S. Secret Service.
During his career, Scott received a "Gold Seal" Commendation from the Chief of Police and two Meritorious Service Awards while serving as a uniformed member of the Corpus Christi Police Department. Additionally, he was recognized with over 17 emergency medical responses of a U.S. Secret Service protectee while serving as a Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service. In the private sector, he has served as the Director of Security for both the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and the Texas Rangers Baseball Club. Scott attended The University of Texas and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Southwest Texas State University.
JAMES KOCA
JAMES KOCA is the Criminal Justice Director for the Concho Valley Regional Law Enforcement Academy in San Angelo. He received a Bachelors of Police Science from New Mexico State University and received a Masters in Public Administration from Angelo State University. In addition he holds an Advanced Certificate from TCLEOSE.
James retired from the San Angelo Police Department with over 20 years of service and is currently a reserve officer for the Department. He has attended law enforcement training in areas such as adult learning, law, accident investigation and management.
James is a Senior Associate Trainer for the Transportation Safety Institute teaching basic and intermediate bus accident investigation courses, he is an adjunct faculty member of Howard College, an Education Specialist trained by eBay, and holds memberships in the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, and the International Association of Chief's of Police.
THOMAS M. MANSON, MA
THOMAS M. MANSON is the owner of Police Technical, Inc. Mr. Manson speaks 50 weeks a year at national and international public safety conferences including: IACP (International Association of Chiefs of Police), CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies), ILEETA (International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association) and others.
Mr. Manson taught at, and received degrees from: Wichita State University (Master of Arts, 1996) and Indiana State University (Bachelor of Science, 1993). He began his law enforcement career with the United States Border Patrol in South Texas.
Mr. Manson lives in Indiana with his wife and daughter.
MANNY MARQUEZ
MANNY MARQUEZ has been a Deputy Patrolman with the El Paso Sheriff's Office for 27 years. He has trained thousands of individuals throughout the United States and South America. He has conducted Criminal Interdiction training on behalf of the El Paso Intelligence Center's Operation Pipeline/Convoy and the FMCSA's Drug Interdiction Assistance Program since 1999.
Manny is a recipient of the El Paso Intelligence Center's Instructor of the Year Award in 2001. He is also the recipient of the EPIC Director's Award and the DIAP "Work Horse Award" in 2009 for his work in conducting training. He has holds many TCLEOSE and other Law Enforcement and Training related Certifications.
DR. BRIAN POLANSKY
DR. BRIAN POLANSKY Dr. Polansky is "Law Enforcement's Communication Professor," and an award-winning educator, speaker, author, and creator of education programs designed to encourage professional success through communication excellence. After completing a Doctorate in Communication Studies at the University of Kansas, Dr. Polansky joined the faculty of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock as professor. He has provided communication education and curriculum development to law enforcement agencies including the F.B.I. National Academy, U.S. Attorney's Office, International Association of Police Chiefs, Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, and police academies and leadership schools throughout the U.S. Dr. Polansky is president of Polansky & Associates and presents continuing education seminars to a wide variety of professionals in law enforcement, corporate business, finance, health care, education, corporate security, and government service.
DEREK PRESTRIDGE
Sergeant Derek Prestridge has served with the Texas Department of Public Safety for 15 years. He is currently assigned to the Department's Education Training and Research Bureau. There, he has worked closely with the FBI, Behavioral Analysis Unit-3 and Texas Attorney General's Office to develop and implement the Interdiction for the Protection of Children (IPC) program. He has instructed IPC to approximately 2000 Texas Troopers since September 2009 and has presented at the Crimes Against Children Conference and the EPIC/DIAP Conference.
ERIC VICKERS
ERIC VICKERS has been working as a licensed peace officer with the Abilene Police Department since 2001. During the early years of his career Officer Vickers was assigned to the patrol division, primarily working the low-income drug zones on the north side of Abilene. While working as a patrolman Officer Vickers graduated from Abilene Christian University with a BA in Spanish. He also became a Field Training Officer and trained new officers for a few years under the San Jose Model of police training.
In 2007 the Abilene Police Department became the first department in the State of Texas to incorporate the Reno Model of Police Training, and in 2008 Officer Vickers was certified as a PTO Instructor by the Hoover Group of Reno. Since that time Officer Vickers has retrained every training officer at the Abilene Police Department to in the PTO method of instruction. Later in 2008 Officer Vickers was assigned to the Training Division as a full-time training instructor. During his time in the Training Division Officer Vickers obtained multiple TCLEOSE certifications, including Instructor Proficiency Certification and Firearms Instructor Certification. In addition, he helped to develop and improve the Abilene Police Department Field Training Program that is based on the Reno Model. Officer Vickers recently returned to the Patrol Division where he continues to serve as a PTO Instructor and as a member on the Accident, Incident, and Pursuit Review Board. He is a member of the Abilene Police Department Hostage Negotiation Team and serves as the Vice-President for the Abilene Police Officer's Association. Officer Vickers has been active in state government and has worked with CLEAT to help pass several pieces of legislation regarding law enforcement in the State of Texas.
J. FRANK WOODALL
J. FRANK WOODALL is the Deputy Assistant Director of the Education, Training and Research Bureau of the Texas Department of Public Safety and has over 37 years of law enforcement experience. He started his law enforcement career with the Texas Department of Public Safety in 1972. He retired from the Texas Department of Public Safety in August 2003, where he was serving as the Captain in charge of the department's training academy. He served as the Director of Education and Training Programs with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education for six years before returning to DPS in September of 2009. He is a Colonel in the Texas State Guard commanding the 2nd Civil Affairs Regiment.
Director Woodall is a graduate of Tarleton State University where he received a Bachelor of Science, Education in 1970. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy 151st Session, FBI Command College, FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Command Institute, and the United States Customs Service Canine Administrators School. He holds a Master Peace Officer license, Firearms Instructor certification, and Instructor certification from TCLEOSE. He is an NRA police handgun and shotgun instructor. In 2003, he received the Wallace Beasley Award for outstanding contributions to law enforcement education and training from the Association of Texas Law Enforcement Educators. He was selected to Who's Who in Business and Management in 2000 and Who's Who in Law Enforcement in 1990. He instructs professionalism, leadership, and ethics to law enforcement and private corporations.