Speakers

Kristen Bare

Kristen Bare is a Certified Public Accountant who has been a part of the Perspective Enterprises family for over 30 years. As the Accounts Manager, she handles everything from bookkeeping and financial reporting to helping clinics and agencies find the right product and equipment solutions. Kristen loves combining her financial expertise with a friendly, personal touch to make sure everyone we serve always gets the best care. When she is off the clock, you can find Kristen spending time with her family, camping, or hitting the slopes for some downhill skiing.

Session: WIC Anthropometric and Bloodwork in Practice

Adam Bast

Adam Bast is a Territory Manager with HemoCue America, supporting healthcare organizations and public health programs throughout the Midwest. He provides education and technical support on point-of-care hemoglobin and glucose testing solutions, helping healthcare professionals implement best practices for specimen collection, quality assurance, workflow optimization, and analyzer maintenance. Adam works closely with WIC programs, physician offices, hospitals, and community health organizations to improve the accuracy and efficiency of point-of-care testing.

Session: WIC Anthropometric and Bloodwork in Practice

Mykala Beard

Mykala Beard serves as a Public Service Manager within Iowa HHS, where she provides leadership and oversight for a portfolio of early childhood and family health initiatives, including the 1st Five Healthy Mental Development Initiative, healthy adolescent development efforts/pregnancy prevention programming, and the Title V Maternal and Child Health team. Her work centers on strengthening systems of care, advancing equitable access to services, and supporting improved outcomes for children, adolescents, and families across Iowa.

Mykala holds a bachelor’s degree from Simpson College and is a Certified Public Manager (CPM), bringing strong training in public-sector leadership, strategic planning, and organizational development. She collaborates closely with state and local partners to enhance program implementation, elevate data-informed decision-making, and build coordinated systems that support healthy development from birth through adolescence. Mykala is committed to fostering innovative, collaborative approaches that promote community wel-‘being and contribute to the long-term strength of Iowa’s public health system.

Session: Learn the Signs. Act Early. Essentials: Free Resources to Support Developmental Monitoring in WIC

Libby Borr

For over 30 years, Libby Borr has been the Products Manger at Perspective Enterprises. Her primary role is developing products and managing the manufacturing and distribution of anthropometric equipment. Within her role, Libby also loves building lasting relationships with WIC professionals across the country, offering expert support with anthropometric equipment and weighing/measuring techniques. She often demonstrates anthropometric equipment at State and National WIC meetings and is frequently in the field servicing equipment. Libby also proudly supports the State of Michigan WIC Program by assisting with quarterly anthropometric training sessions, demonstrating proper weighing/measuring techniques and equipment maintenance. After hours, she loves spending time with her family, playing golf, and tackling home improvement projects.

Session: WIC Anthropometric and Bloodwork in Practice

Stephany Brimeyer, MPH RD, CSP, LD

Stephany Brimeyer, MPH RD, CSP, LD manages CHSC Nutrition Services across the state of Iowa and has been with CHSC since starting her career. The CHSC dietitians primarily work in the early childhood setting but also see children without access to a dietitian up to the age of 21. Most CHSC Nutrition visits are conducted via telehealth. Steph helped to develop and grow this telehealth framework since starting with CHSC in 2012.

Steph is a Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition, is SOS trained and has a Masters of Public Health in addition to her dietitian credentials. Steph was also a LEND fellow while in grad school at the University of Minnesota.

Session: Responsive Feeding and Picky Eating: A Developmental Approach for WIC Provider

Marcos Gonzalez

Marc Gonzalez is an Instructor at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, specializing in use of force, firearms, and defensive tactics training for officers from agencies across Iowa. An Army veteran, he began his law enforcement career in 2014 with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, serving as a Deputy Sheriff until 2020, when he transitioned to the Altoona Police Department.

Leveraging his patrol experience and instructor background, Gonzalez provides scenario-based training that weaves together legal standards, safe and effective firearms proficiency, and practical defensive tactics skills to prepare officers for real-world encounters. He is dedicated to developing officers to make sound, defensible decisions under stress while upholding Iowa’s professional policing standards in every community they serve.

Session: Professionalism Under Pressure: Using Effective Communication in De-Escalation Strategies

Dr. Robert Kruse

Dr. Robert Kruse has served as the State Medical Director and Division Director of Public Health for Iowa’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) since October 2022.

Before joining Iowa HHS, Dr. Kruse was the Medical Director of Occupational Health at MercyOne in Des Moines. Dr. Kruse is board certified in Family Medicine and completed his residency training program at Rutgers University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Iowa and a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Environmental and Occupational Health. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Kruse previously held a faculty appointment as Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Rutgers University’s Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

In addition to his role at Iowa HHS, Dr. Kruse was elected by his peers to serve as the Region VII board member for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and is a board member of Compass Healthcare Collaborative.

Session: Opening Remarks and Welcome

Brook McPherson

Brook McPherson served with the Ames Police Department for seventeen years, holding roles as a police officer, school resource officer, and detective. During her tenure, McPherson served on the department's Sexual Assault Response Team for sixteen years and the Fire Investigation Team for twelve years.

Following her law enforcement career, McPherson spent two years at Iowa State University with the Office of Equal Opportunity, where she investigated Title IX, discrimination, and harassment cases. In 2025, McPherson joined the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy as a general instructor, focusing on communications and investigations. She also assists with the ILEA Basic Academy’s precision driving and first aid programs.

Session: Professionalism Under Pressure: Using Effective Communication in De-Escalation Strategies

Katie Sorrell

Katie Sorrell is the Executive Director of the Iowa Food Bank Association, leading advocacy efforts, strengthening partnerships and leveraging best practices among Iowa’s six food banks to ensure all communities have access to food.

Previously, at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Katie led Growing Together Iowa, a statewide donation gardening program that provided more than 100,000 pounds of fresh produce annually to local food pantries. She also directed a team of healthy food access specialists who partnered with food banks to support and implement healthier practices across pantry networks.

With more than 20 years of experience in food security and nutrition education, Katie brings a strong record of impact across academic, public health and community settings. As a registered dietitian, she has held roles at Iowa State University, the University of California San Diego and the Iowa Department of Public Health, advancing initiatives that improve access to nutritious food.

Session: Supporting our Neighbors Facing Food Insecurity

Lisa Woodruff, RDN, LD

Lisa Woodruff, RDN, LD is a pediatric food allergy dietitian that serves children within Iowa’s early intervention program. She holds a Certificate of Training in Pediatric Food Allergy from Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) and has completed the SOS Approach to Feeding Training Course.

In 2022, Lisa published the children’s book Be a Food Allergy Helper! to help siblings (and friends) without food allergies learn how to embrace the role of food allergy helper.

Session: More Than Just Food Labels: What’s Going on with Food Allergies

Ann Wright

Ann Wright, author of Leading the Team Within, is a leadership coach, facilitator, and keynote speaker with more than 30 years of experience helping individuals lead with purpose, confidence, and heart. She is passionate about guiding people to recognize their unique talents, believe in themselves, and value the strengths of others.

Known for asking tough questions with kindness and compassion, Ann helps leaders build self-awareness, navigate challenges, and develop clear action plans. Through practical strategies and relatable stories, she equips leaders to strengthen culture, collaboration, and trust—grounded in her belief that people are an organization’s greatest asset.

She is the owner of The Wright Coaching and Training Solutions and holds a master’s degree in business leadership.

Session: From Chaos to Care: Delivering Exceptional Service When Stress Runs High