Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Bureau of Alcohol Education Conference

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is pleased to invite you to its Bureau of Alcohol Education Conference on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg/Hershey, 604 Station Road, Grantville, PA 17028.

The conference will feature sessions that explore winning strategies and promising, evidence-based practices relevant to the prevention of underage and dangerous drinking in communities, schools and on college campuses. The purpose of this event is to deliver information about current programs and discuss successful strategies used to lower underage and dangerous alcohol consumption. The audience of the conference is law enforcement, educators and alcohol education professionals.

The conference timeline (subject to change) is:

7:30-8:30 a.m. Registration

8:30-8:45 a.m. Welcome/Opening Remarks

8:45-9:45 a.m. Keynote

A Case Review of the Timothy Piazza Hazing Death Investigation Part 1
David D. Scicchitano, Special Agent, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General

This presentation will provide insight into the Timothy Piazza hazing death at Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Penn State University - arguably the state's largest fraternity hazing death investigation, as well as one of the largest in the country. Attendees will learn about the case investigative techniques used; the role of alcohol and hazing; fraternity culture and how Beta Theta Pi fraternity dynamics and standard operating procedures contributed to Piazza's death as much as alcohol did; the criminal charges and what transpired in court; and the final outcomes for those arrested and subsequent changes in law.

9:45-10 a.m. Break

10-11 a.m. Keynote

A Case Review of the Timothy Piazza Hazing Death Investigation Part 2
David D. Scicchitano, Special Agent, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General

This session will continue the presentation on the Timothy Piazza hazing death investigation.

11-11:15 a.m. Break

11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions

What Works in Prevention? Avoiding Ineffective Prevention Strategies
Grace Kindt, MPH, CPH, Prevention Section Chief, and Dr. Laura Suits-Dolan, DHSc, MPH, Prevention Program Analyst, Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

Science shows that not all prevention strategies are created equally. This interactive session will teach participants how to identify ineffective prevention strategies - with a focus on the top seven prevention strategies to avoid and why - and provide guidelines on how to replace these with effective alternatives. Attendees will have the opportunity to converse, brainstorm and share insights to foster an understanding of the key components that define successful prevention strategies.

Alcohol-Influenced Behavior: The ABCs of BAC and Why That Matters in Behavior
Dr. Daniel Gittins, Associate Director, DU CARES, Duquesne University

Alcohol is a drug that impacts and alters behavior. In low doses those behavioral changes may seem insignificant, but in larger doses behavior will change in significant ways. The dynamic is progressive, observable and predictable in nature. This presentation will explain what blood alcohol content (BAC) is, what a standard drink is, how alcohol works in the brain and what observable behaviors will be present due to the areas of the brain impacted and the risks to the drinker.

Case Law
Nathan L. Boob, Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association

This presentation will provide a legal summary of the last years’ new case law, statues and court rules from Pennsylvania’s courts. Discussion will be tailored to law enforcement best practices and techniques for successful prosecution.

12:15-1 p.m. Lunch

1-2 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Prevention and Advocacy in Action: What Works, What Doesn’t and Why it Matters
Jeff Hanley, Executive Director, Commonwealth Prevention Alliance

This session will challenge common assumptions about substance use prevention programs and explore the critical role of risk and protective factors in determining why some prevention strategies succeed while others don't. Effective, evidence-informed prevention addresses these factors to prevent and reduce not only underage and excessive drinking, but also various substance misuse and mental health issues. A key focus will be advocacy and its role in sustaining effective programs despite funding cuts and shifting policies, as well as collaboration with community stakeholders - such as college campuses, law enforcement and prevention organizations - to elevate impact and influence policy decisions supporting prevention.

Effective Management of Collegiate Certified Peer Educator Programs
Colleen Lanzoni, LPC, Campus Counselor, The Pennsylvania State University – DuBois Campus

Collegiate Certified Peer Educator (CPE) programs are highly effective at promoting prosocial positive behaviors on campus, including reducing underage and risky alcohol consumption. The Pennsylvania State University - DuBois Campus has successfully developed, integrated and managed a CPE program for the past seven years. In this session, participants will learn about this CPE program, how to effectively recruit and retain student leaders and the role of CPEs on campus. Historical perspectives on engaging student involvement and how to sustain a CPE program over time will also be provided. If managed correctly, CPE programs can be one of the most effective prevention tools campuses can have.

Liquor Laws and Current Trends
Erick Gall, Enforcement Officer 3, Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement

Attend this session to learn about the history, authority and functions of the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (BLCE). Attendees will learn how complaints are initiated, investigated and completed; the difference between the criminal process and administrative process; be introduced to fake IDs and common indicators of a fake ID; and discuss liquor law trends and what officers are seeing in the field such as hookah lounges, after hour establishments, breweries/distilleries/wineries and nuisance bars.

2-2:15 p.m. Break

2:15-3:15 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions

PAYS in Your Community: Leveraging Data for a Positive Impact
Lee Winterhalter, MEd, Awareness and Community Education Supervisor, and Shelbe Weaver, MA, Student Assistant Program Coordinator, Fayette County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc.

This presentation explores how the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) can be used to drive meaningful, data-informed change in communities. Attendees will learn how to interpret and humanize PAYS data to identify youth behavioral trends, inform policies and support youth-focused initiatives. Through real-world examples and best practices, this session emphasizes making data relatable and actionable for educators, leaders and community groups and highlights the importance of empathy, collaboration and effective data sharing to foster understanding and engagement. Participants will gain insights into survey methodology and data reliability and learn strategies to harness PAYS data within their community as a foundation for positive, lasting impact on youth and families.

Culture Shift Without the Drift: Transforming Learning Without Losing Fidelity
Jason Scott Quinn, Certified Master Facilitator and Team Performance Specialist, Collegiate Empowerment

First, it was the Internet, then Google, YouTube, TikTok and now AI. Everything's available at any time wherever we are. So, if you’re still delivering prevention education, intervention, assessment or treatment the same way you were five years ago, it’s time to rethink that approach! Join this high-energy session to explore how organizations and leaders around the world are transforming their learning and development cultures to deliver uniquely engaging experiences that are evidence based and proven to prevent underage and dangerous drinking in communities, schools and on campuses. We call it The Experience Development Framework™; you’ll call it your saving grace. This session will energize, engage and empower you to stop practicing out-of-date strategies and enter the future of training, onboarding and team development.

Crossfading and Alcohol Alternatives: Alcohol, THC and What Else?
Maggie Nunley and Shawn Noonan, Regional DUI Program Administrators and Drug Recognition Expert Instructors, Pennsylvania DUI Association

This training provides professionals with a clear understanding of crossfading - the combined use of alcohol and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) - and its impact on impairment, public safety and enforcement practices. Attendees will explore how different substances interact in the body, the behavioral and physiological signs of mixed intoxication and the challenges these pose. Additionally, this session introduces emerging alcohol alternatives used to achieve a psychoactive effect without traditional substances such as non-alcoholic mood enhancers and functional beverages (e.g., kava, adaptogens, nootropics and THC/CBD). Understanding these new trends is essential for accurate assessments and appropriate responses.

3:15-3:30 p.m. Break

3:30-4:30 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Treating Older Adults with Substance Use Disorder
Diana Santiago, Clinical Supervisor, LCSW, CAADC, CCS; Dr. Ming Wand, MD, FASAM Medical Director; and Dr. Devon Dautrich, PhD, Psychologist and Supervisor of Psychological Testing Services, Caron Treatment Centers

When people talk about substance use disorders (SUD), older adults are often underrepresented, with the focus trending toward the opioid epidemic and Fentanyl. While these things are important, older adults are dying due to alcohol-related illnesses at a record rate. Older adults are often not assessed correctly by medical providers with certain medical problems attributed to age, rather than a substance use disorder. This session will educate those who interact with older adults and provide tools to recognize if an older adult has issues with substances.

B=MC2: A Theoretical Construct to Understand and Change Behavior
Dr. Daniel Gittins, Associate Director, DU CARES, Duquesne University

Why did he do that? Why would she go back to him after he hit her? Why is there so much underage drinking? Why do people lie so much? Why do we do the things we do? Behavior is a complex puzzle to solve. How can a person be happy, gregarious, friendly and helpful one minute and aggressive and mean the next? Behavior is a product of one’s motivation, circumstances and consequences (real or perceived). In this presentation, participants will learn about the variables that comprise the B=MC2 model for behavior and how it can be used to assess, shape and change behavior.

Alcohol is a Drug
John Witkowski, Corporal, Communications Unit, Pennsylvania State Police and Drug Recognition Expert Instructor, Pennsylvania DUI Association

Attend this session for a deep dive on the ins and outs of alcohol. Alcohol is a drug. In fact, alcohol is the most abused drug. Learn about the impact of alcohol and get answers to alcohol-related questions on consumption and impairment. By understanding how alcohol affects the body, session participants will gain a better understanding of the concept of how drugs impact the body.

4:30 p.m. Adjournment

Registration:

The conference registration deadline is September 26, 2025. Since there are a limited number of seats, we recommend registering early. Within the registration, you will be asked to select one workshop per concurrent breakout session.

Lodging:

If you plan to stay overnight, the hotel has reserved a limited number of rooms at a discounted rate. To receive the discounted room rate, you must book the room before September 27, 2025 via the Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey reservation link, or by calling 717-469-0661 and use the booking code AEC.

We look forward to seeing you at the conference!

Host or Publisher Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Bureau of Alcohol Education