2024 SPEAKERS

Dr. Peter Langman is a psychologist whose research on school shooters has received international recognition. His book, Why Kids Kill: Inside the Minds of School Shooters, was translated into German, Dutch, Finnish, and Russian. His work has been cited in congressional testimony on Capitol Hill and he has been interviewed over 500 times by media outlets in 35 countries. After the Sandy Hook attack, the CEO of the American Psychological Association presented Dr. Langman’s recommendations on school safety to President Obama. He has presented at both the FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC, and the FBI National Academy in Quantico. He has been an invited speaker at the National Counterterrorism Center and was hired by Homeland Security to train professionals in school safety. His book, School Shooters: Understanding High School, College, and Adult Perpetrators was published in 2015. From 2018 to 2023 , Dr. Langman was a researcher with the National Threat Assessment Center of the United States Secret Service. His new book is Warning Signs: Identifying School Shooters Before They Strike. He currently serves as the Director of Research and School Safety Training with Drift Net, a Chicago-based school safety and security organization.

Dennis Graff has been in the fire service for 21 years with the last 19 years serving on the City of Waukesha Fire Department. Working through the ranks of firefighter/paramedic and Lieutenant, he has served as Division Chief of Training for 10 years overseeing EMS, Health and Safety for the department. Dennis has been a fire and EMS instructor at Waukesha County Technical College for over 10 years with the intent of “paying it forward” to share information and prepare the future of the fire service. He holds an associate’s degree in Fire Science from Milwaukee Area Technical College and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Beloit College.

Captain Dan Baumann has been employed with the Waukesha Police Department for over 24 years. He has served in the Patrol Division, Criminal Investigation Division and the Special Services Division, having Commanded all three.  His professional career, both in the military and in law enforcement he has had the opportunity to be a first-line supervisor, middle-manager and work in the executive leadership team.  Captain Baumann built a partnership with the Milwaukee County Chief’s Association and was instrumental in the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team, being a lead agency (Shoot Team).  He is the President of the Suburban Mutual Aid Response Team, he is the Tactical Unit Commander, he is the Peers Support Unit Coordinator and prides himself on enhancing the wellness and resiliency of the agency.  Captain Baumann earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and obtained a Master’s Degree in Management and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy Session 272.During the Christmas parade tragedy mass casualty event he served as the Public Information Officer for the City of Waukesha.

Manager,Emergency Department
ProHealthWaukesha Memorial Hospital 

Compassion, patience and caring became apparent early in Sherry Berg. At just 6, she los ther father to cancer and immediately began helping her mom care for five younger siblings. Those qualities steered her to a career in nursing, where she continues to care deeply for the sick, the injured and the traumatized. As manager of the emergency departments at ProHealth Care hospitals in Waukesha and Mukwonago, she has supported and inspired her staff during the challenges of COVID-19. Her strength, calm demeanor and experience also shone when she was watching the Waukesha Christmas parade and immediately sprang into action to treat marchers and onlookers injured during the tragedy. Then she rushed to Waukesha Memorial, where she mobilized her team to provide care for dozens.  Sherry is described by her supporters as “a natural leader with a deep passion for her community” and lauded as a “person (who puts) her own problems aside and takes on another’s burden.”

A Colorado Native, Madalena received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Strategy from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2018. Following her undergraduate studies, Madalena worked for a non-profit in Los Angeles, CA. While serving in this role she went out for a night of dancing with her friends at Borderline Bar and Grill and the unthinkable happened - a gunman came in and started shooting. Madalena was able to find safety in the attic above the bar where she stayed for the remainder of the tragedy as 12 people, including responding Police Officer Sgt. Ron Helus, were killed.

After surviving the Borderline tragedy, Madalena had to make a decision about what her future would look like. Within a week, she made a choice to not let evil win and to be a force for good in the world. After serving four years as an Emergency Management Specialist for Jeffco Public Schools, the School District she grew up in, Madalena now proudly serves as the Senior Manager of Strategic Projects, Recovery, & Resiliency for Jeffco. In this first-of-its-kind position, Madalena supports the proactive implementation of strategic safety initiatives and recovery planning prior to crisis occurring. She is a certified Threat Liaison Officer for the state of Colorado and is trained in CPTED, CIT, FEMA’s Incident Command Series and Professional Development Series, and Single Officer Response to an Active Shooter.

Lindsay Webster is a speaker and advocate for mental health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Lindsay's journey as a trauma survivor began on September 16, 2013, when she found herself face to face with an active shooter at the Washington Navy Yard. Lindsay returned to work just four days later, determined to be with her colleagues and embark on her path to recovery.

Drawing from her own experiences, Lindsay emphasizes the importance of therapy and a robust support system in processing trauma and moving forward in life. Lindsay focuses on supporting first responders, threat assessment teams and emergency management personnel to aid them in understanding the perspective of those impacted by an active shooter. Acknowledging that PTSD will always be a part of her life, Lindsay firmly believes in facing life's challenges head-on. She encourages individuals to live life on their own terms and not be defined by their traumas.

Lindsay Webster holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science in Acquisition Administration from Central Michigan University. She joined the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) in August 2011, where she works in Program Management and Acquisition.

Lindsay is dedicated to leveraging her story to contribute to the broader conversation around mental health, PTSD, and the unique challenges faced by those who have encountered mass casualty events. Her resiliency and commitment to advocating for trauma recovery align with her broader goal of fostering a greater understanding of mental health.

Joseph Peterson is a Professor of Geology and Paleontology at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Originally from outside Rockford, IL, he received his Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University and his Masters and Doctorate from Northern Illinois University. While teaching a geology course at NIU in February of 2008, a gunman entered the classroom and began firing at a crowd of nearly 180 students. Joseph survived the attack with minor injuries.

After completing his PhD in 2010, he accepted a position in the Department of Geology at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. When he isn’t teaching courses on geology and paleontology, he partners with UW Oshkosh Police Department Chief Christopher Tarmann to present training workshops to promote open campus communication and best practices for active threat assessment and attack preparedness.

Chief of Police in Highland Park, Illinois
Lou Jogmen has over 31 years of law enforcement experience and has been serving as the chief of Police in Highland Park, IL since February of 2018. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University Of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and a master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Roosevelt University.  Chief Jogmen has served on the Board of Officers for the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police since 2019 and recently completed his one-year term as President of this 1400-member association. Chief Jogmen is also a Certified Chief of Police through the ILACP’s credentialing program.  In his work away from the department he has conducted individual, pre-employment psychological assessments for public safety agency candidates and public safety promotional assessment center processes. He is also a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of PoliceStaff and Command, Senior Management Leadership Program, and their Executive Management Program.