First Responder Safety & Wellness Seminar - Preparing for Life’s Ambushes

Name: First Responder Safety & Wellness Seminar - Preparing for Life’s Ambushes
Start: 2026-06-16T08:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-06-18T16:00:00-04:00
Location: CCBC Dundalk Campus

Schedule

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026 at 08:00 am to Thu, 18 Jun, 2026 at 04:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

CCBC Dundalk Campus | Dundalk, MD

This impactful seminar is designed to help first responders build resilience and stay healthy throughout their careers. Life’s ambushes—both personal and professional—can strike without warning. Learning to prepare for them means you’ll be better equipped to handle whatever comes your way.
Through real-life experiences, presenters will share lessons from critical incidents, substance abuse, Line of Duty injuries and deaths, and the effects of cumulative stress. You’ll gain insight into how poor sleep, lack of exercise, and inadequate nutrition impact mental and physical health—and learn practical ways to overcome them. Finances can be one of the biggest stressors in your life. The presentation “Financial 911” will get you on track for success.
The seminar draws on proven programs like the mE2We Program: Choosing Individual Wellness and the Below 100 Program Tenets: Wear Your Belt, Wear Your Vest, Watch Your Speed, WIN: What’s Important Now? Remember: Complacency Kills! These programs focus on practical approaches to individual wellness and prevention of the leading causes of Line of Duty Deaths and injuries.
Whether you’re just starting or decades into your career, this seminar offers tools, perspective, and techniques to help you, you families, and your peers live well and stay mission-ready.
Why Attend?
• Empower yourself with tools to thrive through adversity
• Learn from experienced peers who’ve lived through the challenges
• Build a network of support and shared purpose
• Commit to a life of service that doesn’t come at the cost of your health
Build strength. Build resilience. Be ready for life’s ambushes.
Baltimore County Police Training Facility
Community College of Baltimore County – Dundalk Campus
Roy N. Staten Building, 7200 Sollers Point Rd, Dundalk, MD 21222
Biographies:
Keynote Speaker: Marc “Junk” Junkerman – mE2We™ Program – Choosing Individual Wellness; A Primer for Wellness Drownproofing is a program designed by Marc “Junk” Junkerman rooted in his 33-years of overlapping law enforcement and military service which included more than two-decades of experience within the public safety behavioral health arena. Marc retired from active service in 2021 and used his LLC to become a nationally recognized public safety wellness presenter. He has now taken his nearly four-decade personal and professional journey and distilled what he’s learned into a blueprint for building individual and organizational wellness.
mE2We™: A primer for wellness drownproofing. You can’t help anyone until you help yourself. The establishment of individual purpose, ownership, and accountability is a cornerstone of the mE2We™ program. This training helps individuals “drown proof” themselves for their journey “on life’s ocean”. The course is anchored by a unique approach to balance, consistency, and validity applicable to anyone interested in a practical approach to his or her own wellness. www.marcjunkermanconsulting.com

Keynote Speakers: Major Tim Moore MWAA PD, Lt. Tim Blayman - Facility Dog Tiller MWAA PD &
Sgt. Enzo Diaz – Facility Dog Vader - Virginia State Police – Compassion on 4 Legs: The Power of a Facility Dog's Presence after the Midair Collision at Reagan National Airport – On January 29, 2025, a tragic midair collision occurred at Reagan National Airport, claiming 67 lives. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Police Department and Virginia State Police were among the responding agencies.
Major Tim Moore - Bio TBA
Lt. Blayman and his canine partner, Tiller—a 4-year-old black Labrador facility dog—were among the first on scene. Tiller is specially trained to provide psychological and emotional support to individuals and groups experiencing stress, anxiety, or trauma. Following the incident, he offered comfort and support to law enforcement personnel, family members, and airport staff for more than three weeks. Placed by Mutts with a Mission in 2023, Tiller’s unique training and calm demeanor help reduce stress, foster communication and positive interactions, and promote well-being among officers in high-pressure situations.
Sgt. Enzo Diaz – Bio TBA

Seminar Moderator: Eric Brennan – Below 100, Suicide Prevention & Bring It on Mindset – Eric is a 26-year veteran of the Baltimore County Police Department and former U.S. Marine. During his career, he has served as a Patrol Officer and First Line Supervisor, K9 Unit Handler, Mobile Crisis Team Supervisor, Peer Support & Wellness Team Member, and is currently a Firearms Training Team Supervisor. He recently received his Peer Support Specialist certification after attending the Fraternal Order of Police Power in Peers Program. As an instructor, Peer Support Specialist, and First Responder Safety & Wellness Seminar Founder, Eric has taught the tenets of Below 100 since 2015 and has expanded the training from a one-day Below 100 Class to a three-day Safety & Wellness Seminar for First Responders and their families. By partnering with expert guest presenters, Eric has been an advocate to reduce the number of Line of Duty Deaths and suicides through educating our First Responders on the topics of safety, wellness, mental health, suicide prevention, and financial security.

Vance Row, RYT 500 – Calming My Stormy Seas: How Yoga Quieted the Storm Within, iRest, and Beginner Level Yoga Sessions – Vance Row is a retired Public Safety Professional from Ocean City, MD. During his public safety career, Vance was a Police Officer for 22 years, as well as a Police/ Fire Dispatcher for 3 years. As a result of this experience, Vance became a Yoga Teacher to share the benefits with others like him. Since that time, Vance is now a Registered Yoga Teacher thru Yoga Alliance with more than 500 hours of Teacher Training. Included in that training are such organizations as Warriors at Ease, Veterans Yoga Project, Boulder Crest – Struggle Well Guide, and the iRest Institute. Since his retirement, Vance works as an independent contractor for O2X, Boulder Crest Foundation, and various other Mental Health and Wellness Organizations. At the current time, Vance is working on obtaining his certification in Peer Recovery thru the State of Maryland.
Vance regularly gives presentations where he addresses some of the factors that affected him in his Law Enforcement Career. In this presentation, “Calming My Stormy Seas, How Yoga Calmed the Storm Within”, Vance describes how police culture and stress led to potentially catastrophic results. Vance now speaks on topics related to suicide prevention, alcohol abuse, and overall wellness for those in all First Responder Communities. Ultimately, his story shows the power of yoga in resilience and why Vance wants to use yoga to combat First Responder/ Military Suicide. In November 2021, Vance founded “Yoga Rescue” as a way to do so. www.yoga-rescue.com

Susan Radcliffe, LCSW-C, RYT 200 – Mental Management/ Mindful Movements “Emotional Trauma & The Brain” – Sue is a mental health therapist with over 25-years of clinical experience working in sexual assault/domestic violence programs, therapeutic foster care, outpatient mental health clinics, psychiatric units, partial hospitalization programs, juvenile delinquent facilities, detention centers, and in public health. A graduate of Yeshiva University with a Master’s of Social Work, she currently resides and works on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Sue is employed by the Dorchester County Health Department located in Cambridge, Maryland. She is trained in several evidenced-based treatment modalities such as Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), iRest Yoga Nidra level 1, and trauma-informed yoga. She has been qualified as an expert witness in trauma and child and family psychotherapy in several judicial jurisdictions in her area.
Additionally, Sue is a trainer for Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). In 2023, Sue was appointed to the Police Training and Standards Commission Board by Governor Moore. Sue has a passion for neuroscience and trauma and breaking down brain science into understandable language. She has presented to law enforcement, FBI, correctional officers, first responders, states attorney’s offices, and is an instructor for the Maryland Judiciary.
In 2019, Sue was awarded the Maryland Department of Health Individual Innovation Award for her development of a wellness program for correctional officers that incorporated the neuroscience of trauma, and the healing benefits of trauma informed yoga. This program was researched and later published in the January 2022 Journal of Offender Rehabilitation. Sue has also published in Corrections Today, American Jail, Daily Business Review, New Jersey Law Journal, Texas Lawyer, The Crime Report and The Maryland Social Worker.

Phoenix Advocates – Line-of-Duty Death Planning Sessions – From the Ashes... Phoenix Advocates was born out of unthinkable grief and shared trauma. We have a strong desire to make first responders' jobs safer so that other families don't have to live the nightmare of a Line of Duty Death.
Celeste Flynn's husband, Lieutenant Nathan (Nate) Flynn, was killed on July 23, 2018. He was a thirteen-year veteran of Howard County Fire & Rescue Services, Maryland. The cause of Nate’s fire was determined to be lightning induced failure of the residential Corrugated Stainless-Steel Tubing (CSST), used in the home's propane delivery system. In addition to his wife Celeste, Nate is survived by five children: Alex, Gavin, twins Teagan & Connor, and Breccan.
Jenn Alcorn's husband, Lieutenant Andrew "Stew" Alcorn, died on August 22, 2021, and was a 14-year veteran of the Frederick City Police Department. Stew died suddenly at home, on a Sunday, due to what was determined to be severe coronary artery disease after suffering a pulmonary embolus most likely as a result of dehydration from a triathlon he completed the day before his death. In May 2022 Stew's death was determined by the State of Maryland Workers Compensation Commission to have been causal to his occupation as a police officer. In addition to his wife Jenn, Stew is survived by his children Drew, Mackenzie, and Addison.
Sara Laird’s husband, Battalion Chief Joshua (Josh) Laird, was killed on August 11, 2021. Josh was a twenty-one-year veteran of Frederick County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Maryland. The cause of Josh’s fire was determined to be lightning induced failure of the residential CSST, used in the home's propane delivery system. In addition to his wife Sara, Josh is survived by his daughters Erin and Madelyn. www.phoenixadvocates.org

Brian Shea, Tactical Financial Group – Financial 911 – Brian is a licensed financial advisor dedicated to the specific needs of the Law Enforcement, Fire/ EMS and Military communities, as well as others in the public service industry. Financial literacy is a large part of what Brian does on a daily basis with First Responders. During Brian’s Financial 911 class, students will be informed about preparing for life’s financial speed bumps and preparing for retirement from the job. tacticalfinancialgroup.net

Jimmy & Karen Baker – Jake Baker 27 – The mission of the Jake Baker 27 Fund is dedicated to raising awareness on mental health and suicide by reducing stigma, and providing resources to individuals, teams and organizations. Our aim is to prevent suicide through education, advocacy, and support.
Jake Baker was our beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend to many. On May 23rd, 2024, our lives changed forever when Jake tragically and unexpectedly took his own life. His passing was a devastating shock to all who knew him. In response, we established The Jake Baker 27 Fund with the hope of making a difference.
Jake’s story serves as a powerful reminder that no one should face this journey alone. Through these efforts, his legacy continues to inspire understanding, compassion, and support for those in need. Growing up in Thurmont, MD, where he attended Catoctin High School. He wrestled and contributed to his team’s 2019 football state championship. Jake was a dedicated athlete who loved lifting weights and set several school records. Jake attended Clarion University, Towson University, and Slippery Rock University, where he played football and left a lasting impression on his teammates and coaches. Outside of sports, Jake had a passion for art, kayaking, fishing, working on his truck, playing with Nerf guns, and building Lego kits. www.jakebaker27.org

Mikela Vann – Holistic Whole Foods Nutritionist – Baltimore County Police Department Crimes Against Children Unit
Bio and class information TBA.

Jeff Albanese – The Hidden Call: Off-Duty Trauma and The Law Enforcement Officer –
Bio and class information TBA.

Christina Allen – Center for Trauma, Stress and Anxiety (CTSA) –
Bio and class information TBA.

Food & Beverages:
Lunch, coffee and snacks will be provided daily by our generous sponsors.
Attendees will receive complimentary copies of these books:
Boulder Crest Foundation: Struggle Well by Ken Falke & Josh Goldberg.
Your struggle may come in different forms, and be given one of many different names, such as anxiety, depression, addiction, and/or PTSD. No matter how much you or a loved one is struggling, or what it is called, one thing is almost certainly clear: you aren’t living the life you desire or deserve. Still, there is hope. By embracing the struggle, rather than fighting it, you can stop surviving and start thriving. Ken Falke and Josh Goldberg train combat veterans battling PTSD to understand and achieve Posttraumatic Growth (PTG). PTG helps you discover opportunities from times of struggle, and this book provides actionable strategies for making peace with past experiences, living in the present, and planning for a great future. Through Ken and Josh’s work, thousands have transformed struggle into profound strength and lifelong growth. Now it is your turn. It’s time to learn to Struggle Well.
This book can also be purchased via Amazon at https://a.co/d/0aiGwnB6
Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement: A Guide for Officers and Their Families by Kevin M. Gilmartin, Ph.D.
Dr. Gilmartin is a behavioral scientist specializing in law enforcement and public safety related issues. He is the author of the book Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement: A Guide for Officers and Their Families. He previously spent twenty years working in law enforcement in Tucson, Arizona. During his tenure he supervised the Hostage Negotiations Team and the Behavioral Sciences Unit. He is a former recipient of the International Association of Chiefs of Police-Parade Magazine, National Police Officer Citation Award for contributions during hostage negotiations. He presently maintains a consulting relationship with public safety and law enforcement agencies in the U.S, Canada and Australia. The Department of Justice, FBI, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, New South Wales Police and International Association of Chiefs of Police have published his work. He holds a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Arizona. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and resides in Tucson, Arizona and Bend, Oregon.
This book can also be purchased at https://www.amazon.com/dp/0971725411