Keynote Speakers

Join us for breakfast on Monday, July 28th to kick-off the Mid-Year!

Dr. Frances Dunn Butterfoss

Frances Dunn Butterfoss is a health educator and President of Coalitions Work, a consulting group based in the Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia that is dedicated to building coalitions and partnerships for community health. She previously held the EVMS Foundation Professorship in Pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) in Norfolk, Virginia and directed its Division of Community Health and Research. Dr. Butterfoss teaches in the EVMS Masters in Public Health program and serves on its curriculum committee. She is the founding director and current board member of CINCH, a community child health partnership, and PIV, a state immunization coalition. These coalitions promote immunizations, access to insurance and health care, asthma management, obesity and injury prevention, and data-driven health assessment and research. From 1995-98, she directed the national Immunization Coalition Training Institute and now provides consultation and training across the country on how to develop, sustain and evaluate coalitions for health promotion and disease prevention. Dr. Butterfoss has received research support from many federal and foundation grants and has published widely in professional journals and textbooks. Fran is the Deputy Editor of Health Promotion Practice, and past President of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE). Her awards include SOPHE's Health Education Mentor (2002), EVMS' Woman in Medicine & Science Professional Achievement (2004), YWCA of South Hampton Roads' Woman of Distinction (2006) and Norman B. Arnold Alumni Award (2006). She completed undergraduate and masters' degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and her doctorate in health promotion and education from the School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina.

Richard Kopanda

Mr. Richard Kopanda is the Acting Deputy Director for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). In his role as Chief Operating Officer of the Center, Mr. Kopanda is responsible for the management of CSAP's internal operations, including resource management and performance. He is also responsible for the development of CSAP's strategic program plans and implementation of substance abuse prevention programs. His permanent position is Deputy Director, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, with a role similar to his current position. Prior to this he served as SAMHSA's Executive Officer. In that capacity he developed budget requests, program plans, and program policies in the area of substance abuse and mental health prevention and treatment. Mr. Kopanda was responsible for the Agency's administrative management program, including information resources, financial management, grant and contract administration, and general administrative services.

Prior to coming to SAMHSA, Mr. Kopanda served for five years as Budget and Planning Officer of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Previous positions include Deputy Executive Officer, Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration (ADAMHA); Budget Officer, ADAMHA; and assignments at the Administration on Aging and the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Mr. Kopanda began his federal career as a physiologist with the National Institute of Mental Health, a component of the National Institutes of Health. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in biological sciences from Northern Illinois University, and his Masters of Arts degree in biology/neurophysiology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Sue Thau

Sue Thau is a Public Policy Consultant representing Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). She is nationally recognized for her advocacy and legislative accomplishments on behalf of the substance abuse prevention field. She has an extensive background in public policy and has held high positions at the federal, state, and local levels. She was a Budget Examiner and

Legislative Analyst at the Office of Management and Budget, in the Executive Office of the President for over ten years. She has an undergraduate degree from Cornell University in Human Development and Family Studies and a Master's Degree from Rutgers University in City and Regional Planning. Sue was a driving force behind the passage and full funding of the Drug-Free

Communities Act and has helped to save and enhance the funding for the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, programs funded through the Centers for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. She is highly respected as an expert on demand reduction issues by members of Congress and staff on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill.

Renée Zito

Renée Zito was appointed Director of the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on February 22, 2007.

In her role she will lead the State's alcohol and drug treatment and prevention efforts. She oversees approximately 300 employees in the Department and is responsible for an annual budget of $600 million, which includes funding for both the federal Substance abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant and the Drug Medi-Cal program.

Renée's extensive background in the treatment field brings a unique perspective to the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. Throughout her career Renée has always had an interest in women's issues. Renée previously served as director of programs at Marin Services for Women since 2000, where she oversaw and managed the staff for the residential and outpatient programs, housing and education services, as well as the admission department. She was able to successfully expand treatment services transforming Marin from a 12 bed facility to a 40 bed facility.

She also served as executive director of Hazelden Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Center in New York. Under her leadership, Hazelden went from a halfway house to a treatment center providing a full continuum of services. Prior to that, she was director of treatment at Smithers Alcoholism Rehabilitation Center of the St. Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center.

Renée taught at the New York State Academy of Addiction Studies and served as an adjunct instructor at Hunter College. Renée is from San Francisco, and has a master's degree in social work from Hunter College and a bachelor's degree from Fordham University.