Bios

Ms. Comer has well over 10 years of experience architecting and delivering innovative curriculum for government markets throughout California. As CT’s Chief Learning Officer, Lee leverages content area experts to develop training programs that engage learners and produce optimal results. As resources shrink statewide, it becomes increasingly crucial to present information in a variety of ways to a variety of learners and learning styles. Skills taught must be retained and information must be absorbed. Training must create a shift in culture and bring about changes in workplace behavior. As Chief Learning Officer, Lee’ s professional mission mirrors the mission of the company: to offer interactive, substantial, and reliable training that transfers to the workplace. Engaging learners and fulfilling the needs of your department is Ms. Comer’s professional mission.

Ms. Comer is an expert in adult learning theory and holds a doctorate in Adult and Organizational Learning and Leadership from Columbia University, New York, NY. Jean’s Ivy League education and her wide range of teaching and life experiences make her a superlative curricular designer and instructor. In a word, Jean is gifted, both at learning and at training. Participants find Jean’s courses and teaching style authentic while her content accurate and timely. Ms. Comer has taught all levels of Law Enforcement and a wide variety of government staff for over 19 years. She has personally designed and delivered over 35 courses which combine her experience in program management, counselor training, and organizational development consulting. A master facilitator, Jean has a wealth of practical information about organizational development and organizational change dynamics. She was Custom Training’s first employee and continues to be its heart.

Duane Lawrence, with flair and intensity, shares his abundance of experience in the classroom. Gifted at facilitating communication and writing courses, Duane has the ability to teach leadership courses as well as nut-and-bolts courses about time management and “getting the most out of your workday.” Duane draws on his experiences as a director of a juvenile rehabilitation program and his experience managing a variety of hospital and public sector programs in his role as an instructor. Duane holds a doctorate in Education and has a wide range of professional experiences in teaching. It is hard to pinpoint Mr. Lawrence’s greatest strengths. Participants love him, his teaching philosophy, and his classes. He works hard and it shows. Duane is a company jewel.

John Cressy’s writing career and his secondary school classroom experience uniquely qualifies him to facilitate Custom Training writing skills courses. John has a BA in journalism and a valid California teaching credential from the state of California. Mr. Cressy has worked on a variety of California newspapers in the past twenty years, and currently is a freelance writer. He uses his teaching and writing skills to be an engaging and effective writing instructor to government agencies in California. John has the unique ability to communicate in a simple way “what the writer needs to do,” and the learners respond to him. John is very good at his job.

Jerry Flynn is a retired Supervising Probation Officer from Sacramento. After serving in a variety of field positions as a deputy probation officer, Jerry became a supervisor in 1989 and served as Wing Supervisor responsible for programming and staffing of four living units. He served Sacramento County Probation by developing an 80-hour Juvenile Hall staff training program in addition to serving on the Board of Corrections Committee to revise standards for juvenile detention facilities in California. Later, Jerry acted as the Supervisor of the Placement Unit and the Quality Assurance and Technical Assistance Group Home Unit. Jerry has a tremendous amount of probation experience and brings his insight, knowledge and candor to the training room.

James Hill is a Juvenile Hall Supervisor with over 14 years of experience. He helped develop the curriculum and teaches Juvenile Corrections Officers’ Core, teaching Prosocial Skills and Peace Officers Standards and Training courses for the Santa Clara County Probation Department. Mr. Hill earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco and uses his expertise, insight, and humor to engage participants. He has practical experience from a wide variety of assignments. You can apply what you learn the very next day.

Larry Schryver worked for over 37 years for the Los Angeles County Probation Department, retiring in July 2007 as the Training Director. His professional experience includes every phase of probation work including adult, juvenile, investigation, supervision, and special programs in juvenile halls, camps, area offices and Probation Headquarters. Following his retirement, Mr. Schryver worked part time for three years for the Department’s Staff Training Office, Affirmative Action Compliance Programs Office, Performance Management Unit, and Internal Affairs Unit. In this role he assisted the training unit, conducted employment discrimination and internal affairs investigations, and prepared discipline letters.

Mr. Schryver has a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice Administration. His education and experience served him well as a supervisor and manager. Over his 17 years as a Probation Director, he was responsible for managing some of the largest and most complex operations in the department.

Mr. Schryver has developed and taught courses for probation staff at al levels. He uses his insight, pleasant and supportive personality, and probation background and experience to provide meaningful and relevant training.

Mike Shores has excelled in a number of assignments and settings during his successful 19-year tenure with Sacramento County Probation Department. Currently an Assistant Division Chief, Mike has managed Placement, Field and Institutional divisions while developing his expertise in evidence-based practices implementation. In 2008, Mike was named the Chief Probation Officers of California Northern Region and ultimately statewide employee of the year for his work in culture change, implementing an assessment tool, and developing evidence-based programs. An accomplished probation professional and a recognized leader, Mike brings an insider’s perspective to the unique challenges facing departments as they seek to implement evidence-based practices.

Robert Edmisten has worked in the probation field for 14 years in a broad range of assignments including EBP Implementation Coordinator, Community Supervision, prevention and intervention programs, institutions, and background investigations. For the past several years, he spearheaded the implementation of evidence-based practices across all divisions in the Sacramento County Probation Department. Rob has developed a very high level of expertise in the areas of assessment, evidence-based programming, outcome measurement, and fidelity. One of his particular competencies is making clear to all levels of staff the many ways in which evidence-based practices can be operationalized.

Troy Gielish is a police sergeant with over 15 years of law enforcement and teaching experience. His Law Enforcement career includes both State and Federal agencies, and he has trained well over 3,000 law enforcement, civilian, and military personnel. Sgt. Gielish has the unique ability to teach a variety of course topics well. He has been featured on television programs including The Learning Channel, and America’s Most Wanted. He is an engaging and effective communicator. Sgt. Gielish has a tremendous amount of energy and brings his passion for training to the classroom. He is fun, engaging, and to-the-point.

Sally Savage-Lebhart’s career in the Federal Aviation Administration and her rise from an entry level Program Analyst to a Planning Manager is a true example of grit, brains, and raw ambition. Sally has the ability to grab her audiences and keep them engaged all day; her unique story offers real-world skills and hope to all who are trying to climb the ladder of success in any government arena. She went from preparing presentations for high-level managers to being a high level manager in her own right. A true self-made woman, Sally earned a Masters in Public Administration as well as got her Juris Doctorate, and passed the bar in 1995. There is very little this woman cannot do. She is a true treasure chest of on-the-job-experience as well as a HUGE source of inspiration for any professional support staff on his or her way up the ladder.

Tracy Bartlett is a seasoned educator and an insightful instructor. With a rich and varied life experience, Ms. Bartlett is approachable, candid, and down-to-earth. Ms. Bartlett excels at working with groups and with at-risk youth in interesting and unique settings. Tracy has a Master’s Degree in Counseling and is qualified to teach courses in which mental illness, addiction, and relationships are the central emphasis. She is engaging and knowledgeable. Tracy understands learning and is invested in the process wholeheartedly.

Alan Nicholas has worked in Law Enforcement for over 24 years, over half of that time as a San Diego Police Department Field Training Officer. Adept at teaching a wide range of topics, Alan is an engaging and thought-provoking instructor. He teaches a wide variety of subjects ranging from various Law Enforcement communications courses to suicide prevention in jails and institutions and courtroom testimony courses. His no-nonsense approach as well as his sense of humor makes him an outstanding trainer and facilitator. He is flexible in the classroom and eager to paint a picture that participants can understand immediately and then use on the job. Mr. Nicholas has a flair for the dramatic and a gift for the humorous. Great instructor!

Gulbin Durmus holds both a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Clinical Psychology and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She has 10 years of experience working in the mental health field. Her work history is intense and diverse, and she had held many positions: intensive community case manager, outpatient program therapist, outreach coordinator, and psychiatric hospital social worker. Currently, and for the last several years, Ms. Durmus has excelled as a valued clinician on the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (P.E.R.T.) with the San Diego Police Department. As a first responder, she provides psychiatric crisis interventions, conducts assessments, performs triage, arranges hospitalizations, and connects citizens with resources. She is also a vital in assisting Peace Officers in making determinations about dispositions and is routinely utilized for high profile cases, working in collaboration with ENT, SWAT, and the FBI. Ms. Durmus encounters the criminally mentally ill with great frequency and observes how the stakeholder communities have gaps in dealing with this population. Ms. Durmus believes that cross-systems collaboration and education will lead to improved service delivery. By bringing her expertise and insight, her practical approach, realistic scenarios, and creativity into the training room, she has the capacity to empower participants to effectively handle challenging situations.

A San Diego Police Department Sergeant, Paul Phillips has a great deal of training experience in street gangs, report writing, and courtroom testimony. He has a wide range of workplace experiences and was San Diego Police Officer of the Year, 2006. In addition, Paul has received dozens of commendations and is an engaging instructor. Paul truly enjoys showing others the fun aspects and the challenges of various aspects of law enforcement and the dynamics of interacting with a variety of learners.

Mike Raneses is a 40-year veteran of California law enforcement: he has experience as a deputy sheriff and sergeant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, a probation officer with the Orange County Probation Department, and a parole agent with the California Department of Corrections. Raneses holds a BA in Criminal Justice Administration and a MA in Public Administration. Mike’s extensive teaching and training experience includes a wide variety of criminal justice operational and management courses taught at training academies and at the college and university levels. Retired from the US Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Mike has a passion for encouraging and developing leadership skills at all levels and effectively applying those skills within an ethical framework in the criminal justice community.

Jack Greer is a sheriff’s correctional sergeant with over 15 years of experience in law enforcement. His assignments have included watch commander, jail investigations supervisor, jail training manager, and transportation unit supervisor. Greer has taught various STC certified courses ranging from Adult Corrections Core to a varied range of annual training topics. He has successfully taught courses in the following area: investigations, report writing, courtroom testimony, criminal & administrative investigations, policies & procedures, communications, supervision & leadership, ethics, riot control, and critical incident planning management and review. Mr. Greer holds a BS in Multidisciplinary Studies and is a certified instructor for the recognition, prevention and management of Excited Delirium and Sudden, In-custody deaths. Greer is professional and savvy. Participants engage easily with him as a facilitator.

Julie Stedman has successfully worked in the field of probation for over 30 years. Ms. Stedman has held several positions as a probation officer including adult and juvenile field, juvenile diversion, and adult and juvenile investigations.  In 2007 she promoted to supervising probation officer and presently runs an adult field unit at Orange County Probation. Stedman has trained several probation officer Core courses, delivered foster parent training, Interstate Compact Training, Offender Workforce Development Training, and Group Facilitators Training for Thinking for a Change.  Ms. Stedman is a certified trainer in Offender Workforce Development through NIC (180 hours) and learned to train group facilitators for Thinking for A Change with the coauthor of Thinking for a Change, Juliana Taymans. Stedman provides engaging training and utilizes many methods of instructional development to reach all types and levels learners and staff.

Pamela Newcomb has delivered training to numerous probation volunteer training academies and probation officer Core courses, probation officers, supervisors and managers. She has taught many areas: victim awareness, legal foundations of restitution, child trauma, domestic violence, report writing, elder abuse, Offender Workforce Development, and identity theft.  Ms. Newcomb has also designed and presented training for community providers and community college classes in basic field safety, juvenile court and probation, sentencing alternatives, California incarceration trends.  She a certified trainer in Offender Workforce Development and participated in over 180 hours of training provided by the National Institute of Corrections.  She has also completed the Correctional Leadership Development Academy through the National Institute of Corrections, and the Orange County Manager’s Leadership Academy.  She strives to create a positive and meaningful learning environment through effective communication and an evidence-based curriculum that provides participants with additional resources.