Sarah Roebuck is the Senior News Editor for Corrections1, Police1, FireRescue1 and EMS1, where she oversees daily news coverage across four public safety publications. She has 10 years of journalism experience and has worked in newsrooms across the country, with a focus on digital storytelling and audience engagement. Her reporting on the 2025 New York corrections officer strike earned an Eddie & Ozzie award for Outstanding News Coverage, recognizing her comprehensive and balanced coverage of one of the largest labor disputes in corrections history.

Michael Cantrell is a retired federal corrections professional with over 29 years of experience, including service as Chief of the Office of Emergency Preparedness with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. A certified instructor in firearms, non-lethal weapons, and disturbance control, Michael is recognized as a leading expert in correctional operations and staff development. He is the author of Power Skills: Emotional Intelligence for High-Stakes Professionals and host of The Prison Officer Podcast, one of corrections' most practical resources for career growth and mental health resilience. Michael speaks nationally on leadership, emotional intelligence, and professional development. Visit theprisonofficer.com.

Peter J. Bludworth is a career corrections leader with over three decades of experience in federal and private sector facilities, rising from Correctional Officer to Warden and executive leadership roles. He has overseen complex operations, staff development, and emergency response in high-security environments, with a focus on safety, accountability, and real-world leadership. He currently serves as CEO of Bludworth Solutions and hosts the Corrections Unfiltered podcast, where he brings practical insight and unfiltered conversations to corrections professionals nationwide.

Dana Mueller has more than 11 years with the Colorado Department of Corrections and serves as a case manager at Colorado’s oldest prison, a medium-custody facility. She holds a BA in Sociology with an Anthropology concentration and has completed graduate coursework in Criminal Justice and Social Work. As a steward with COWINS Local 1876, Dana advocates for staff voice and workplace reform. She participated in the 2022 One Voice United Norway Delegation and continued her leadership development through the organization’s Leadership Assembly training program

Jennifer Ward is credentialed/degreed/experienced in Corrections/Counseling, Psychology, Business/Public Administration, has been a licensed Addictions/Substance Disorder clinician for over 3 decades. Starting a career in Corrections in 1995, working her way through all the security ranks up to holding Warden positions in several facilities in all security levels, male female and juvenile and special treatment/mental health populations along with many other special assignments. Jennifer has served as an ACA Auditor, a labor relations negotiator, policy writer. In retirement, she currently works for IL Fraternal Order of Police Corrections Lodge actively involved in writing and following legislation and acting as a Corrections advisor. She also serves as the IL FOP State Lodge Wellness Committee Co-Chairperson, is a Law Enforcement Chaplain and minister and additionally she is the Owner/Director of a state licensed private practice in Springfield IL, providing services to Corrections/Law Enforcement Officers and the public with a focus on Substance Disorders and alternative more rapid methods of treatment such as hypnosis.

Scot Ward began his law enforcement career with the Illinois Department of Corrections in 1995, retiring as a Sergeant in 2020. A professional mixed martial arts fighter and instructor, he trained colleagues in control tactics and worked with high-risk offenders, also serving as an academy instructor. He has expertise in critical incident command operations, intelligence gathering, and has served in executive security roles for gubernatorial candidates and transition teams.

He currently serves as President of Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Corrections Lodge 263 and 2nd Vice President of the Illinois FOP State Lodge, representing law enforcement and corrections statewide. He is Chair of the State Corrections Committee and a member of the National FOP Corrections Committee. Active in legislative advocacy, he helped pass the Corrections Law Enforcement Off-Duty Carry Law and collaborates nationally on best practices.

Scot is deeply committed to elevating the visibility and respect of correctional officers, ensuring they remain an essential and recognized part of the law enforcement profession.

Tori Fontz has been with her husband, Fred since 2007 and has experienced firsthand the impact of a career in corrections since he entered the field in 2014, the same year Tori moved to Maryland. They were married in 2017 and have since worked together to better understand and navigate the challenges the profession can place relationships, Drawing from both her personal experience and her background in training and facilitation, Tori co-leads the Family Wellness Program to help bridge the gap between Officers and their families and to create space for conversations that are often left unspoken.

Fred Fontz is a Sergeant with the Anne Arundel County Detention Center in Maryland, bringing over 12 years of experience in corrections. He has served in peer support, working directly with staff to navigate the personal and professional challenges of the job. Throughout his career, Fred has developed a leadership style centered on communication, accountability, and supporting others both on and off the job. Recognizing the long-term impact correctional work can have on officers and their families, he is passionate about strengthening relationships outside the facility. Through the Family Wellness Program, Fred aims to provide practical tools that help correctional professionals maintain balance, improve communication, and protect what matters most at home.

Don is the 2nd Vice President of Nevada’s corrections union, chairman of the union’s legislative committee, and a longtime advocate for officer wellness, resilience, and sustainable workforce practices. With two decades of experience in Corrections, he strives to bring collaboration between the agency and the union to create a healthier environment for officers and strengthen public safety. Don was appointed to Nevada’s Purple Ribbon Task Force, a statewide body charged with developing recommendations to improve mental and physical wellness for firefighters, peace officers, and other first responders. As a seasonal lobbyist, he advances member‑centered reforms that elevate the profession.

Mike Thompson has served with the Nevada Department of Corrections since 2015. As Vice President of the Fraternal Order of Police Nevada C.O. Lodge 21, he is committed to strengthening membership and fostering a safer, more supportive environment for correctional officers. Originally from New York, Mike relocated to Las Vegas in 2002, where he met his wife Julie, whom he's been married to for 14 years. They are the proud parents of two sons, MJ and Dylan. A former ECAC hockey player, Mike remains active in the sport and participates in several charity hockey events each year, supporting injured police officers.

Gina Lopez is currently a parole officer for 20 years with the NYS DOCCS and is the PEF Division 236 Council Leader for over 6 years representing parole officers, senior parole officers, parole revocation specialists, Re- Entry services and Administrative Law Judges.

Wendell Powell Is a Correctional Captain at Harnett Correctional Institution in North Carolina. I have served the North Carolina Dept of Adult Corrections for over 20Yrarrs. He is currently the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) President which has over 43,000 members.

Mike Simpson has served as a Correctional Officer with Suffolk County, Massachusetts since 1996, bringing nearly three decades of frontline experience and dedication to the profession. A committed advocate for his peers, he has been a delegate with AFSCME Local 419 since 1999 and has held a leadership role as Vice President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO since 2010. Through his work, Mike has consistently championed the rights, safety, and professional recognition of corrections officers across the state.

Jon Zumkehr is the president of local 4070, the union representing correctional officers and staff at Thomson federal prison. He's known for his work advocating for prison employees, especially when it comes to better working conditions, raising awareness about mental health challenges faced by correctional officers, and pushing for safer staffing levels. Zumkehr’s leadership has led to real changes: he played a key role in securing pay raises, retention bonuses, and direct hire authority to help fill staffing gaps at Thomson. In recognition of these efforts, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) named him the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.

Sarah Kirkendall is a Licensed Vocational Nurse with 10 years of experience working in the California correctional system. She is passionate about correctional staff wellness and the importance of collaboration between healthcare and custody teams.

Through her work, Sarah has developed a strong belief in the power of communication, resilience, and shared humanity. Her message emphasizes that behind every role is a person and that we are all in this together.

Chris Summers is a seasoned corrections professional and union leader with more than 21 years of dedicated service. Rising through the ranks from Correction Officer to Correctional Sergeant, he has built a career defined by strong leadership, integrity, and a hands-on approach to advocacy.

Chris began his union involvement in 2012 as a local steward, steadily advancing to Chief Steward at Attica Correctional Facility. He later served as Recording Secretary and Executive Vice President before being elected President. Throughout his tenure, he has earned a reputation for standing firm on behalf of the membership and navigating complex challenges with resolve.

Known for his resilience, Chris has led not only through professional adversity but also personal health struggles, demonstrating determination and an unwavering commitment to those he represents. His leadership continues to reflect a deep sense of responsibility, strength, and dedication to the workforce he serves.

Phil Rizzo is a retired Captain from the New York City Department of Correction. Over the course of his career he spent more than a decade with the Department's Emergency Unit (ESU), where he served as a Training Captain. During that time, he responded to major emergencies throughout New York City and beyond. Following the September 11 attacks he was deployed to Ground Zero, where he worked for six months during recovery operations. He also responded to national crises, including Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath of American Airlines Flight 587. He retired in 2010 after a career focused on leadership, training and frontline emergency response.

Richard Palmer began his distinguished career with the New York City Department of Correction in 1984. Over two decades of service, he rose through the ranks with unwavering dedication, ultimately achieving the rank of Warden before retiring in 2004. Throughout his career and retirement, Mr. Palmer has remained a steadfast champion for correctional professionals and a tireless advocate for those who serve.

On September 11, 2001, Mr. Palmer was serving as Deputy Warden in Command when the first plane struck the World Trade Center. Tasked by Commissioner Bernard Kerik to lead uniformed DOC personnel in assisting the NYPD, he found himself on the streets below the towers, guiding fleeing pedestrians. When the second plane hit, and amid reports that the towers would fall, he and his team were ordered to pull back, only to watch in disbelief as the Twin Towers collapsed. Within the hour, DOC personnel returned to Ground Zero under Mr. Palmer’s leadership, bringing essential resources including lighting, communications equipment, water, blankets, and body bags to support search and rescue operations.

The Department of Correction played a critical and often overlooked role in the aftermath, managing morgue operations, providing round-the-clock Emergency Services Units at Ground Zero, and staffing recovery operations at the Fresh Kills landfill in 12-hour shifts.