Trainers
Debbie Reed, Ph.D.
Debbie Reed has more than three decades of nonprofit marketing, strategic planning, and organizational leadership experience. She has been with Chaddock since 1994, having served as Director of Marketing, Director of Planning and Special Projects, Chief Operating Officer, and starting in 2006, President/CEO of the agency. Debbie is the author of two books, Attachment Theory in Action and Raising the Challenging Child, both written in collaboration with colleague Karen Doyle Buckwalter. In addition, she writes a weekly leadership blog, Reed About Leadership.
Debbie is passionate about developing and supporting nonprofit leaders and helping nonprofit organizations maximize their mission impact. In addition to offering executive coaching for nonprofit leaders, Debbie leads a nine-month Nonprofit Leadership Academy and offers training and consultation for nonprofit organizations and boards. She has conducted a national study on Aspects of Strategic Leadership Unique to Nonprofit Organizations and is a frequent conference speaker on topics related to nonprofit and organizational leadership.
Josh Carlson, LCSW
Josh Carlson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Executive Director of The Knowledge Center at Chaddock. He oversees the training and consultation endeavors TKC offers and is one of the lead trainers. Josh’s areas of expertise are training and coaching related to trauma-informed schools and managing secondary trauma through self-care. He offers workshops in both private and public schools and has spoken regionally and nationally on these topics.
Josh combines his over 17 years of experience at Chaddock with humor and fun that engages his audiences as they learn. He has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Josh is trained and certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) as well as Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS). Josh loves being a father to his four children and you will also find him volunteering at the local Community Theater as an actor in plays and musicals.
Kirsty Ruggles, MS
Kirsty Ruggles has worked with children and families at Chaddock for over 8 years within Outpatient Services, Residential Services, Chaddock’s Special Education School, and now as a Lead Trainer for The Knowledge Center. Kirsty’s experience has made her one of our top trainers. Kirsty’s expertise lies in the areas of Trauma-Informed Schools, Trauma-Informed, Relationship-Focused Interventions, School and District Culture Changes, Early Child Development, Attachment and Developmental Trauma, and Parent-Child Interventions. She has successfully trained individuals throughout the state of Illinois in all education settings, from early childhood up to district-level, and has spoken regionally and nationally on these topics. Prior to her work at Chaddock, Kirsty worked with children and families in both the U.S.A. and U.K. Outside of work, you can find Kirsty spending time with her family or hiking with her dogs.
Jenna Kelly, LCSW, I/ECMH-c
Jenna Kelly has extensive experience in working as a therapist, consultant, trainer and supervisor in children and family mental health services. She is the host of our Attachment Theory in Action podcast. Jenna is passionate about helping increase security and healing for children and families while supporting the professionals who work with families through reflective practice. She has a post-graduate certificate in Infant/Parent Mental Health. She has consulted multiple school and early childhood programs and helps lead a statewide early childhood mental health consultation program called Caregiver Connections in Illinois. She has presented at multiple state and national conferences on various mental health and trauma-related topics. She is a registered yoga teacher and also has a strong passion in using mindfulness and body work to help heal from trauma and stress.
