KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

STEVE SCULLY

Senior Executive Producer & Political Editor of C-SPAN

Steve Scully is C-SPAN’s Senior Executive Producer/ Political Editor/ Primary host.  Since 1991, Steve has been responsible for coordinating all aspects of C-SPAN’s campaign programming for C-SPAN, C-SPAN.org and C-SPAN Radio (now heard on XM/ Sirius Channel 132.)  His responsibilities expanded to include senior producer for the networks White House coverage, a position he continues to hold today.  In 2006 he designed and launched C-SPAN’s new site for politics: WWW.C-SPAN.ORG/Politics. In addition, he manages a team of field producers responsible for coverage of The White House, politics and special projects.

Steve also serves as the regular Sunday host of Washington Journal, a live three-hour news and public affairs program. In addition, he hosts and produces other C-SPAN programs, including BOOK TV’s “In Depth,” “Road to the White House,” & C-SPAN Radio’s ”Washington Today,” a live two-hour afternoon drive time program heard nationwide on XM/ Sirius and on-line at www.C-SPANRadio.org

Elected by his peers from the White House press corps, he is the former president of the White House Correspondents’ Association (2006-07), and currently serves as a WHCA Board Member. 

Beginning January 2003, Steve assumed the Amos P. Hostetter Chair at the University of Denver & Cable Center, teaching a distance-learning course on the media, politics and public policy issues via cable fiber line between Washington, D.C., Denver (University of Denver), New York City (Pace University) and Fairfax, Virginia (George Mason University).  www.CableCenter.org It is the only college level course of its kind in the country, linking students to leaders in politics, journalism and business from our nation’s capital.  Recent guests have included NBC’s Brian Williams, ABC’s Jake Tapper, Sen. Lamar Alexander, Fmr. President Bill Clinton, fmr. Speaker Newt Gingrich and fmr. Senator Bob Dole.

Before coming to C-SPAN, Steve covered business, politics and local government as a reporter and anchor at WHEC-TV (NBC Affiliate) in Rochester, N.Y.  Prior to that, he was an anchor and reporter at WSEE-TV in Erie, PA and WHBF-TV (CBS Affiliates) in Rock Island, Illinois.  Steve taught several courses on the media & politics at St. John Fisher College & Nazareth College in Rochester, NY between 1988-90.   While attending college, he served as an intern in the office of Delaware Sen. Joseph R. Biden, and later a staff assistant in Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s media affairs office.

In 1985 he earned his Master of Science degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in Evanston, Illinois, graduating magna cum laude.  Prior to that he received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Political Science from The American University in Washington, DC, graduating with honors. He also studied media & European affairs at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark.)

Steve Scully sits on a number of national civic boards, including the CJ Foundation for SIDS and First Candle, both devoted to the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome.

Cable Fax Magazine recently listed him as on of Cable’s 100 “Heavy Hitters”.  In January 2004, New York’s Newsday listed Scully, along with Tim Russert, Katie Couric and Bob Schieffer as one of the media’s most influential movers and shakers in political programming.  C-SPAN’s campaign coverage earned the network a 2004 Emmy and a 1992 Cable Ace Award, the industry’s highest honor.

A native of Erie, PA, he is one of 13 children in a family with five sets of twins.  Steve and his wife Kathryn live in Fairfax, Virginia and are the parents of four children –Mary Cathryn (15,) Daniel (12), Cristen (10) and Natalie (19 months).

Utah native Barbara Smith began her broadcasting career at the age of 17 at KLVR radio in Heber City, Utah. Her early interest in communications led her to Brigham Young University where she earned a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism and an associate degree in education.

She has since worked as a reporter and anchor for KSL radio, KIFI television in Idaho Falls, and as a backup anchor for another television station in Salt Lake City.

Barbara joined the ABC 4 news team in October, 1990 as a Good Morning Utah anchor. She has also worked as weekend anchor and reporter during her many years at ABC 4. In January, 2001 she joined Randall Carlisle weekdays at 5:00 & 5:30 pm.

Barbara finds public service rewarding and is currently a spokesperson for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and a volunteer for the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America. Barbara also enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons and daughter. Her hobbies include water skiing, camping, mountain biking, and flower gardening.

Scot Allgood, PhD has been on faculty at Utah State University since 1992.  He is the Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program and for an added adventure this year is the Interim Department Head for Family, Consumer, and Human Development.  Scot did his undergraduate work at Weber State in Family Relations, Psychology, and Communications.  He was the first graduate of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Montana State University and then completed his graduate work with a Ph.D, in Marriage and Family Therapy at BYU.  Upon graduating from BYU Scot was an Assistant Professor at Auburn University in Alabama for four years.  Scot helped create a psychoeducation program in Northern Utah for foster parents who were in the process of adopting.

KERSTIN DAYNES

Kerstin Daynes was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado where she met and married (1998) her childhood sweetheart, Joel Daynes. She graduated with a degree in Family Science with a Marriage and Family Emphasis from BYU in 1999. Things that bring her great joy include running, cycling, reading, organizing, being out in the warmth of the sun, eating out, having a Saturday soda, and saving money by finding a great deal. Even though their continuing battle with infertility has spanned over many years and has included medical treatments which failed 100% of the time, the Daynes have witnessed a miracle along the way in the birth of their son. They currently live in Lehi, Utah. Kerstin is the author of Infertility: Help, Hope, and Healing, an honest and reassuring book for couples trying to make sense of infertility within a Christian framework. Using personal experience, tangible  strategies, and the validation of sorrow, Kerstin helps couples to heal emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially. In her efforts to help couples, she has also created and maintains ldsinfertility.org, leads support groups, and is the organizer of the annual Utah Infertility Awareness Conference. She has reached into the adoption community by speaking at several conferences about infertility and preparing ourselves for adoption.

The Fawson’s adopted their first son in 1969. While living in Oregon, they adopted Aaron in 1972.  It was a joyous occasion when Aaron made contact with his birth mother. Getting to know his birth family has enriched and enlarged Aaron’s life, as well as that of his adopted family, in ways that cannot be measured. 

Annette Goodrich is a sophomore at UVU and is double majoring in Music Education and Ballroom Dance. She placed a beautiful baby boy last Christmas for adoption and has a wonderful open relationship with his family. Whenever describing her experience at placement she says, "It was like my world corrected itself. Everything that I had done wrong was righted in that moment." She is proud to be a birthmother and share her experience with you.

Renette was raised in southern California but moved to Utah in 1982. She’s been married for 30 years and has 9 children, one of which placed a baby for adoption last December. She is a Behavioral Science major here at UVU, and is involved with LDS Family Services in supporting other grandparents through the placement process. Renette is also currently involved with the national FSA board in organizing grandparent classes at the 2010 and 2011 national conferences. 

JACK L. JENSEN

CHUCK JOHNSON

Charles “Chuck” Johnson is Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of the National Council For Adoption (NCFA) and the Director of the Infant Adoption Awareness Training Initiative. In his current position with NCFA, Mr. Johnson is responsible for coordinating efforts among member agencies and professionals involved in national and global adoption advocacy. He also coordinates NCFA’s adoption training efforts and is responsible for NCFA’s National Adoption Conference. He served as a consultant to training and recruitment activities and was the primary editor and writer of the NCFA’s highly rated Consider the Possibilities curriculum. He is also the project manager and editor of the Intercountry Adoption Journey: Hague-Compliant Training from NCFA, a Web-based training for prospective adoption parents that promotes the learning objectives required by the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. Prior to joining NCFA, Mr. Johnson served 17 years with a licensed child-placing agency, including eight years as its executive director. He has assisted in the licensing and start-up of two adoption agencies and was a consultant and on-camera participant to Hallmark Entertainment’s A Family for Li. His recent citations include CNN International, USA Today, Newsweek, the New York Times, the Associated Press, and Family News in Focus. Mr. Johnson is a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Social Work and holds a Masters degree from Birmingham Theological Seminary. He has been a licensed practicing social worker since 1986. He is a father by adoption and lives with his wife and three children in Maryland.

Dr. Shiroma received her undergraduate degree in Behavioral Sciences with an emphasis in Psychology from Utah Valley University, received her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology focused in marriage and family therapy and her Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology with a focus on Religious Studies.

Dr. Shiroma is a member of UVU College of Humanities and Social Sciences Advisory Board, and serves on the planning committee for their annual conference on adoption.

Outside of professional interests, she enjoys cooking, crafting and traveling. An important aspect of her life is family - her husband, daughter and pets.

STANFORD SWIM

Stanford Swim is the president of GFC Foundation, a Utah-based private foundation. Prior to taking his current post, he was senior analyst for Probity Advisors, an investment management firm in Dallas, Texas. He also worked in the technology industry as a software engineer and database developer. He is the current chairman of the National Council for Adoption, and also serves on the boards of the State Policy Network; the Sutherland Institute; and Legacy Films Foundation. Stan received an MBA from Southern Methodist University and a BS in computer science from Utah Valley State College. He and his wife, Michelle, live with their two sons in Utah.