Opening Keynote Speaker

Matthew Thomas Morgan

Matthew Thomas Morgan is an American retired professional wrestler and politician best known for his runs in WWE and TNA, where he was a two-time TNA World Tag Team Champion. Billed as “The Blueprint,” the 7-foot competitor also starred as Beast on American Gladiators. A former college basketball player, he later became mayor and city commissioner of Longwood, Florida.

FACC’S CLOSING KEYNOTE
MANDY HARVEY
America's Got Talent Golden Buzzer Winner
Mandy Harvey brings her inspirational story and message along with singing

 

Sonny Peacock serves as the Assistant Secretary of Probation and Community Intervention with the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). In his role as Assistant Secretary, Sonny leads a staff of over 1,300 DJJ employees and oversees all intervention and case management services for youth who have been court-ordered to be supervised by DJJ, placed in the care and custody of DJJ, or have agreed to participate in a diversion program in lieu of formal court handling. Assistant Secretary Peacock began his career with DJJ in 1999 and has served in several different roles including as a delinquency case manager, juvenile probation officer, juvenile probation officer supervisor, delinquency prevention specialist, operations management consultant, operations management consultant supervisor, senior management analyst, senior management analyst supervisor, and director of policy and programming. Career highlights include: 2019 – Completion of the Senior Leadership Program at the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE); 2010 – Completion of the Certified Public Manager program through the Florida Center for Public Safety at Florida State University; 2008 and 2010 – Davis Productivity Award winner; and 2006 through 2008 - Served on Governor Bush’s Reducing Underage Drinking Taskforce. Assistant Secretary Peacock holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Criminal Justice from the University of West Florida. In his spare time, Assistant Secretary Peacock enjoys going to the gym, hunting, fishing, watching sports, serving in his church and spending time with family.

Dr. Mimi Graham is a nationally recognized expert in trauma-informed practices and model programs. Since 1993, she has served as the Director of the Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy, a multidisciplinary center known for pioneering work in policy, professional development, and model programs.
As a member of the Florida Supreme Court Committee on Children, she spearheaded statewide problem-solving courts to break the multigenerational cycle of trauma. She organized a Think Tank of state leaders, compiled the Showcase of Florida’s Cutting-Edge Trauma Initiatives; developed the FSU Trauma & Resilience Organizational Certification, created an online trauma education for the judiciary, and authored a chapter for a national Trauma Handbook. Dr. Graham received the 2020 Florida Bar Medal of Honor and the 2023 Lawton Chiles Statewide Advocacy Award for Children. Her work continues to shape policy, transform practices, and enhance systems that promote well-being for children and families.

Emmanuelle D. René, MA, is a Senior Community Corrections Officer with the Orange County Corrections Department and an Adjunct Professor with the Seminole State College School of Public Safety. With more than 20 years of experience in institutional and community corrections, she has worked extensively in inmate and offender supervision, reentry and transitional services, corrections training, rehabilitation, case management, and criminal justice education.
Ms. René began her corrections career with the Florida Department of Corrections, where she served as a Correctional Sergeant supervising inmate care, custody, and control operations. During her tenure, she also served as a Field Training Officer, FDLE Defensive Tactics Instructor, Internal Security Relief Sergeant, member of the Cell Extraction Team, and member of the Designated Armed Response Team (DART). She later joined Orange County Corrections, serving in roles within Inmate Administration, Training and Staff Development, and Community Corrections.
As a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) - certified General/High Liability Instructor, Ms. René specializes in defensive tactics, officer wellness, CPR/First Aid, leadership development, and professional training. In her role as an Adjunct Professor, she instructs the law enforcement academy recruits.
Throughout her career, Ms. René has collaborated on and facilitated initiatives related to officer development, trauma-informed practices, wellness, mentoring program coordination, succession planning, case management training, and human trafficking committee efforts. She has also contributed to coordinating reentry resource fairs, court partnership initiatives, and community-based transitional support services for justice-involved individuals.
Her presentations draw heavily from real-world correctional experience and focus on inmate and offender deception, manipulation, grooming behaviors, boundary testing, and behavioral dynamics within institutional and community supervision settings. She is passionate about equipping criminal justice professionals with practical strategies to recognize manipulation tactics, maintain professional boundaries, enhance officer safety, and strengthen decision-making under pressure.
Ms. René holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership from Webster University.

Vin Petty

Florida Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor

Vin Petty currently serves as Florida’s Statewide Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP). In that role, Mr. Petty coordinates the training of prosecutors and law enforcement officers statewide regarding DUI related matters. Mr. Petty has served in this role since March 2017.

Prior to becoming the Florida TSRP, Mr. Petty served as an Assistant State Attorney and the DUI Prosecution Specialist for the Sixth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office Pasco County Division. In that position, Mr. Petty focused his efforts solely on the prosecution of DUI cases. He would personally handle the intake and review of all Misdemeanor DUI Cases in Pasco County. Additionally, Mr. Petty personally handled not only the intake and review of all Felony DUI Cases in Pasco County, he also personally handled all stages of the prosecution of those cases. Finally, Mr. Petty was also personally responsible for the intake, review and prosecution of all DUI Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide Cases in Pasco County.

While serving as an Assistant State Attorney, Mr. Petty served as a Liaison between the Pasco State Attorney’s Office and all local law enforcement agencies. In that position, he provided periodic training to all local law enforcement agencies regarding DUI issues.

Mr. Petty is also an FDLE-CJSTC Law Enforcement General Instructor, and has been teaching law enforcement throughout the State since 2010. He has created both a 24-hour “Practical DUI Trial Preparation & Presentation” Course and an 8-hour “Basic DUI Trial Preparation” Course and has taught those and other similar courses for law enforcement agencies across the State.

Mr. Petty is also very active with MADD, and he is a member of the MADD West Central Florida Advisory Board. MADD selected Mr. Petty as its Florida Prosecutor of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Mr. Petty was licensed to practice law in Florida in 2006 and North Carolina in 2005; he is currently an Inactive Member of the North Carolina Bar. Mr. Petty is admitted to practice in all Florida and North Carolina State Courts; the US District Court of Florida’s Middle District; the US District Court of North Carolina’s Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts; the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals; and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Petty received his B.A., Summa Cum Laude, in Political Science from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 2002. He then received his J.D., Cum Laude, from Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida in 2005, receiving a Concentration Certificate in Advocacy.

Joan P. Chesnes, CEO. Pride Integrated Services. Inc

Joan is a graduate of Florida State University with a degree in Criminal Justice. My career started in Probation where I continued in various roles for twenty years. In 1995 I entered the DUI arena and continue there today. As the CEO of Pride. we currently operate licensed DUI Programs in Palm Beach & Pasco County. FL.

Carmen Dixon, Nurse Consultant for the Office of Medical Marijuana Use

She is tasked with providing education and information about the Florida Medical Marijuana Program and conducting outreach efforts to inform doctors, nurses, patients, law enforcement and caregivers about the medical marijuana program. Carmen has worked with the Department of Health since 2017. Prior to that, she was an ICU/Trauma Nurse for more than 15 years. Carmen enjoys cheering for the 2x Super Bowl Champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, watching college football, spending time with her family and her very large puppies and she loves all things Disney, Little House on the Prairie and Golden Girls.

John Thompson, FDC Assistant Regional Director, Region IV Community Corrections

John Thompson has been employed with the Florida Department of Corrections since September of 1994. He began his career as a Correctional Probation Officer and has worked his way through the ranks to his current position. He currently serves as the Assistant Regional Director of Community Corrections, Region IV, where he assists the Regional Director in overseeing the probation and parole operations of 41 field offices within six judicial circuits in South Florida.

Joe Winkler serves as the Assistant Secretary of Community Corrections with the Florida Department of Corrections, where he provides oversight to 140 probation offices statewide and direction to correctional staff supervising 150,000 adult felony offenders. He also provides direct oversight to the four Community Corrections Regional Directors, as well as the Bureau of Probation & Parole Field Services and the Bureau of Community Programs.
Mr. Winkler started with the department in 2001 as a probation officer. He has served the department in multiple roles holding every certified position and being promoted to his current position as the top person in Florida Community Corrections.

Mr. Winkler received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology from Saint Leo University. He serves on the Board of Directors with the Florida Association of Community Corrections and the National Association of Probation Executives. He is the Florida Commissioner of Interstate Compact and on the Board of Governors with the American Correctional Association. Mr. Winkler is a member of the National Institute of Corrections Probation and Parole Executives and the American Probation and Parole Association.

Chief Probation Officer Christina Ash has dedicated 21 years to serving the youth and families of the state of Florida with her work within the Department of Juvenile Justice. CPO Ash is a proud alumnus of Florida State University and began her career as a Juvenile Probation Officer in 2005 in Circuit 3.  In 2012, she was promoted to Juvenile Probation Officer Supervisor. In 2013, she was given the opportunity to become a statewide trainer for the Department, resulting in her training hundreds of staff to effectively serve the youth and communities in our state. In 2018, she transitioned into the role of Assistant Chief Probation Officer and then as Chief Probation Officer in Circuit 2. In 2025, Chief Ash returned to Circuit 3, where it all began, as the circuit’s Chief Probation Officer. Ms. Ash serves on the Board of Directors with the Florida Association of Community Corrections. 

Since 2024, Milton Fonseca has served as the Volusia County Director of Misdemeanor Supervision Services for Advocate Program, Inc. (AP), an organization he joined in 2004. Beginning his career as a Front Desk Clerk in the DUI Department, he advanced through a series of leadership positions, including Program Coordinator, Program Manager, and Director of Performance and Quality Improvement, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to excellence in human services and community supervision. Raised in South Florida by a resilient single mother after his family emigrated from Cuba in 1991, Milton developed a deep appreciation for perseverance, service, and community impact. He holds an Associate Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Leadership and Innovation with a concentration in Human Resources. Milton is a Volunteer Peer Reviewer for Social Current and the Council on Accreditation (COA), a member of the Florida Association of DUI Programs (FADP), an active supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida Association of Community Corrections (FACC). His professional and volunteer efforts are driven by a passion for leadership, public service, and creating meaningful opportunities that strengthen communities.

2026 Training Institute

Probation 101: Back to Basics
Institute at a Glance

Friday, July 17, 2026