Dr. Wendy Blank Dr. Wendy Blank is currently the Chief of Mental Health Services for the Illinois Department of Corrections.  Dr. Blank began her career in Corrections in November of 1996, at which time she began a doctoral internship at the Illinois Youth Center-St. Charles.  She briefly left the Department to complete her post-doctoral fellowship at Olympia Fields Osteopathic Hospital and Medical Center, but returned to IYC-St. Charles as a contractual psychologist in October of 1998. Dr. Blank transferred to the Illinois Youth Center-Warrenville in July 2001, where she assumed the role of the Psychology Treatment Unit Administrator.  In January 2005 she was made the Assistant Warden of Operations and held that position until she was made the Acting Chief of Mental Health Services in November of 2005.  Her position became official in June of 2006 and she was responsible for the mental health services in both the Illinois Departments of Corrections and Juvenile Justice until October of 2008.  Dr. Blank was trained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a hostage negotiator and became an IDOC hostage team member in 2003 and the leader of the hostage team in 2007.  Dr. Blank holds a B.A. in Visual Arts, a B.A. in Psychology, and Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and is licensed to practice as a Clinical Psychologist in Illinois.  She is a member of several committees, including the Association of Correctional Mental Health Directors (Founding Member/Administrative Board Member), Illinois Childhood Trauma Coalition, the Illinois Suicide Prevention Strategic Planning Committee, and the Illinois Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council, and a past member of the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership (Executive Board), the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice Transition Team member (IDJJ Services Committee co-chair and IDJJ Behavioral Health chair), and the Prison-based Re-entry Systems Preparation Committee.

Ray Byrne Chief Byrne began his career as a patrol officer with the Downers Grove Police Department and served in a variety of specialized capacities. He worked his way through the ranks to the position of Deputy Chief of Police. In 2002, he was appointed as the Chief of Police for the Lombard Police Department. Chief Byrne has been in law enforcement for thirty-one years. Chief Byrne has also served as an elected official having twice been elected to the position of Village Trustee in the Village of Woodridge. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Studies from Northwestern University and a Law Degree from DePaul University. Chief Byrne is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command. Chief Byrne is a Past President of the DuPage County Chiefs of Police Association. He is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.

Lt. Jim Glennon Lt. Jim Glennon, the third generation in a family of law enforcement officers, began his career in 1980 with the Lombard, IL Police Department. Retiring as a Commander, Jim held positions as a patrol officer, detective, sergeant, and Commander of the Investigations Unit. In 1998 he was selected as the first Commander of Investigations for the newly formed DuPage County Major Crimes (Homicide) Task Force. Lt. Glennon has a BA in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Law Enforcement Justice Administration from Western Illinois University. Jim attended the School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University where he was elected class president, received the prestigious Kreml Leadership Award, and began teaching for Northwestern within months of completing the 400 hour course. Lt. Glennon was one of the two original Defensive Tactics Coordinators for the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy in DuPage County, IL. Lt. Glennon began instructing in 1991 and specializes in courses that deal with Officer Safety, Communication and Leadership. Creating LifeLine Training in 1995, Jim has trained in over 45 U.S. states and in Canada. Jim taught the Calibre Press Street Survival Seminar for eight years and served as both its Lead Instructor and Director of Curriculum.  In 2010, Jim won the prestigious ‘Maggie” Award for Columnist of the Year for his articles on Policeone.com. Currently the Lead Instructor with LifeLine Training, Inc., Jim’s been added to the cadre of outstanding instructors with the Department of Homeland Security’s FLETC-SLLETC and continues to instruct with ILEETA. Jim authored the book: ARRESTING COMMUNICATION: Essential Interaction Skills for Law Enforcement published by PoliceOne and Calibre Press and named, “One of the Top 10 Best Law Enforcement Books of All Time”, by LawOfficer.com. Jim's courses, book and articles can be found on LifeLine Training’s website: www.LifeLineTraining.com  Contact Jim at jim@lifelinetraining.com

Hale Guyer Investigator Hale Guyer is a retired Special Investigator with over 32 years of law enforcement experience. He has been an Adjunct Professor for the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy at the College of Dupage for over 8 years developing and instructing classes involving high technology crimes and certified through the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board on various topics including Cyber Terrorism, Cyber Stalking, Identity Theft, and Computer Fraud. He is also a training & technical consultant for the Office for Victims of Crime through the Office of Justice. Hale is the recipient of the Governor's Award for Excellence for personal achievement in law enforcement training, and an Award for Excellence from the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy, College of Dupage, along with the John Edgar Hoover Memorial Gold Medal for Distinguished Public Service Award. He has multiple training and conference appearances throughout the United States and the U.K, and has appeared in media on CourtTV,TechTV,Superstation WGN, and Law & Order Magazine. Hale is a member of the National Chiefs of Police, the International Police Association, the High Technology Crime Investigation Association, Infragard, the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association, the National Association of Investigative Specialists, the Fraternal Order of Police, and a licensed Private Investigator in the State of Illinois.

Daniel L. McCollum Dan began his law enforcement career in 1972. He currently serves as the Chief of Police for the Village of LaGrange Park, Illinois. First appointed Chief of Police at the age of 24, his introduction to law enforcement teaching occurred in 1979 at the Police Training institute of the University of Illinois in Champaign. Since then, he has developed and taught courses throughout the United States on firearms, supervision, emergency vehicle operation, firearms instructor, police recruitment, selection and promotion, investigating the use of force and others. A past-president of both the DuPage County and West Suburban Chiefs of Police, Dan is a frequent guest speaker at various colleges, universities and seminars. He has developed and administered numerous management and supervisory promotional processes for the past 20 years. In 2006, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement for Excellence in Law Enforcement Training from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. In 2004, he received the Outstanding Faculty Member Award from the College of DuPage Adjunct Faculty Association in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. A graduate of the 130th Session of the FBI National Academy, Dan holds a Masters Degree in Business administration from North Central University.

Linda S. Pieczynski, J.D. Linda S. Pieczynski, J.D. is currently a municipal prosecutor for numerous local governments in DuPage County, Illinois and was deputy chief of the criminal division at the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office prior to establishing her law firm in Hinsdale, Illinois. She is the author of Illinois Criminal Practice and Procedure 2d (2005) by West and Roll Call News, a bimonthly newsletter for Illinois police officers.  She has been an instructor for the International Code Council (ICC) for over ten years, teaching the Legal Aspects of Code Administration.  She has served as an expert witness and is the author of a four book series on building and fire codes. She is a member of the Illinois Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association and the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers. She is a graduate of DePaul College of Law in Chicago.