Speakers

Susan Leibman, IBCLC, RLC lives in Easton, Maryland with her daughter Emma (12) and son Atticus (6). She was accredited in 1998 and founded LLL of the Mid-Shore the following year. She is currently serving LLL as the Professional Liaison Advisor for Southern and Appalachian Regions of the Eastern United States Division.  Susan is the daytime General Education Diploma (GED) instructor at the Family Support Center in Easton. Susan works part-time for the Mid-Shore WIC nutrition program as an IBCLC and maintains a small private practice.

Rae Davies, BSH, CD(DONA), LCCE, IBCLC For over thirty years, Rae's professional career has been dedicated to childbirth and breastfeeding education, and providing training programs for doulas, childbirth educators, and midwives. She is the past executive director of the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) where she represented CIMS on the US Breastfeeding Committee; she serves on the International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization board of directors, and is co-chair of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) Health Care Practices Task Force.   

Naomi Drew is recognized around the world as an expert in conflict resolution and peacemaking. She is the author of six widely-used books for parents, educators, and kids, including Peaceful Parents, Peaceful Kids. She has served as a parenting expert for "Classroom Close-ups," an Emmy-winning public television show. Her latest book, The Kids' Guide to Working Out Conflicts: How to Keep Cool, Stay Safe, and Get Along, was honored with four awards including The National Parenting Publications Gold Award. Ms. Drew's on-line newsletter, Peaceful Parents, and her website, LearningPeace.com is a valuable resource to parents and teachers worldwide.  

Alexa Fagan, DC began her study of how chiropractic care influences women's health, fertility, prenatal care, pregnancy, pediatrics, and breastfeeding issues at the age of 16. She went on to receive her Doctor of Chiropractic Degree at Life University in Marietta, GA. Dr. Fagan is a member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association and is licensed in the state of Florida by the Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine.  

Jami Guercia, M.A.Ed., is a nationally known Brain Gym® consultant, author and speaker. She also facilitates graduate courses through Teacher Education Institute, Notre Dame and College of St. Rose on such topics as Whole Brain Learning, Cooperative Learning, Character Education and Innovative Testing Tools.  She has been providing families, educators, professionals and students with innovative learning strategies and stress reduction techniques through her workshops and individual sessions for over a decade. 

Michelle Isla (CD (DONA), CLC, CPCE) lives in Orlando with her husband Jason and daughter Luna Jane.  She strives to holistically support others' growth through her work as a lactation counselor, doula, and offering Birthing from Within® childbirth preparation classes.  Michelle is dedicated to honoring the spirituality of birth and helping women to embrace their individual transformation. 

Heather Harper Palmer is a Creighton Model FertilityCare Practitioner, labor doula, and babywearing consultant. After teaching women about fertility for nearly seven years, she marvels at the level of empowerment this information can bring. Heather joined LLL in 2004 and continues to support its endeavors in Jacksonville. 

Denise Punger MD FAAFP IBCLC is in private practice with her husband in St. Lucie County, Florida. They have three unschooled, drum-banging, karate-kicking sons. Her perspective as a board certified family physician with expertise in breastfeeding is truly unique. Permission to Mother is her first book. Much of it has been worked on at home with the three boys active in the background. She has been a La Leche League Medical Associate since 2000.

Robert W. Sears, MD, FAAP, is a board certified pediatrician in private practice with his father, Dr. Bill Sears, in Dana Point, CA.  "Dr. Bob", as his little patients like to call him, received his medical degree in 1995 from Georgetown University and completed his pediatric training at Children's Hospital Los Angeles in 1998.  He is a co-author of six books so far in the Sears Parenting Library. His latest and first solo work, The Vaccine Book – Making the Right Decision for your Child, highlights his passion for providing America's parents with a fair and objective look at childhood vaccines. Other works include The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood, Father's First Steps, The Baby Book, The Premature Baby Book, and The Baby Sleep Book.

Jim Weiss recordings are highly praised and recommended by practically every homeschool journal and professional including Home Education Magazine, Homeschooling Today, Greenleaf Press, The Well Trained Mind, Family Times, The Link, and countless others.  Jim travels extensively across the United States and Canada presenting library, school, store and community events; teacher workshops; and his favorite, HOMESCHOOL CONFERENCES. He has performed at The White House Easter Event and starred in and hosted a PBS Storytelling pilot that won a Northern California Emmy Award for Best Children's Show. 

Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Cornell University. She became an LLL Leader in 1985 and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 1990.  She has a private practice in Ithaca, NY, has written many breastfeeding resources including chapters in Smith's The ABC's of Private Practice and Genna's Supporting Sucking Skills in Breastfeeding Infants, and has spoken across the English-speaking world.  She is the mother of two breastfed sons and mother-in-law of two wonderful young women.