ºÚÁϳԹÏ

Dr. Jason Roop is the founder and CEO of the Center for Trait-Based Transformation and the creator of the nationally recognized Trait-Based Models of Recovery and Prevention. Drawing from his personal journey of overcoming 17 years of addiction, along with rigorous research and professional expertise, Dr. Roop has dedicated his career to reshaping addiction recovery through strength-focused, evidence-based methodologies. His innovative models have been adopted by treatment centers, schools, and communities nationwide, significantly impacting mental health outcomes and long-term recovery.

An award-winning leader in the behavioral health field, Dr. Roop received the prestigious 2024 Burns Brady Innovator of the Year Award (awarded by YPR Louisville) for his transformative contributions. He serves on the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Commission, guiding strategic distribution of funds for statewide prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives. As a highly sought-after speaker, Dr. Roop has presented at major national conferences and symposia. He is also a published researcher with multiple peer-reviewed articles highlighting the role of inherent strengths and leadership traits in addiction recovery and personal transformation.

Dr. Roop holds a Ph.D. in Business Management and a Master of Theology, continually advocating for a strength-based approach that empowers individuals and transforms communities.

Lindsay Rice is an experienced educator, speaker, and advocate who brings over a decade of classroom experience and a lifetime of lived expertise as a neurodivergent individual to her work. As a teacher, parent, and lifelong learner, Lindsay bridges the gap between neuroscience and real-world practice, offering educators transformative strategies to support and empower neurodiverse learners.

With a background in Speech and Hearing Science and a Master’s in Childhood Education, Lindsay specializes in brain-based instructional practices, including stress cycle awareness, executive functioning support, and brain priming activities that help students access learning with confidence. Her engaging, accessible approach makes complex concepts like cognitive load, masking, rejection sensitivity, and dopamine regulation understandable—and immediately applicable—in any classroom setting.

Lindsay is passionate about shifting the narrative from deficit-based models to strength-based support. She believes the most effective training for supporting neurodivergent students should center the voices and experiences of neurodivergent educators themselves. Through her work, she empowers teachers to move beyond labels and see the extraordinary potential in every learner.

Whether she’s speaking at national conferences, facilitating educator workshops, or mentoring rising teachers, Lindsay’s mission is clear: create classrooms where all brains are welcomed, understood, and set up to thrive.

Megan Rookard (she/they) is the Coordinator and Advocate for Pathways Porchlight, a state-designated Rape Crisis Center serving ten counties in Eastern Kentucky, and has been serving in this role for 3.5 years. Megan has an Associate’s degree in Human Services Technology and a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Southern. Given the art degree thing, Megan did not expect to find a career working in the anti-violence field–and yet, now they can’t imagine doing anything else. They are deeply committed to creating spaces for productive dialogues around sexual violence, violence prevention, and anti-oppression. In their free time, Megan enjoys spending time with their partner, daughter, and menagerie of animals. Their hobbies include: collecting Dad jokes, finding sunny spots in which to nap, and using IMDB to identify everything an actor has ever been in, much to her partner’s annoyance.