Motivational Interviewing in Practice

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R. Jason Nespeca is currently a Regional Administrator in The Akron Region of The Adult Parole Authority. He was a Parole Officer from 2004, until becoming a supervisor in 2012. He was recently promoted to the position of Regional Administrator in August of 2022. Previously, he worked as a Case Manager and Probation Officer with the Community Corrections Association. He has participated in MI training since 2011. He is a Motivational interviewing subject matter expert for Ohio Parole and was instrumental in developing their Motivational Interviewing training track. He is a 2022 graduate of ODRC’s Executive Leadership program. He received his B.A in Applied Science from Youngstown State University in 2001.

Rebecca Schnaar is a Parole Program Specialist/Sex Offender Specialist for the Adult Parole Authority under the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. She started in ODRC as a Parole Officer in Cincinnati in April of 2018. Rebecca has experience as a case manager in a Halfway House and a Community Based Correctional Facility before becoming a Parole Officer. She trains in the Ohio Risk Assessment System, Thinking for a Change, Motivational Interviewing, Parole School, CPR, and Instructional Skills. Rebecca facilitates programming including Thinking for a Change, Decision Points, Sex Offender Programming and serves on many committees throughout the state. She has spent time as a Task Force Officer with the US Marshals and as a Field Training Officer. Rebecca obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in both Criminal Justice and Sociology from Western Michigan University and her Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from University of Cincinnati.

Joseph Suciu is a Parole Program Specialist for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections who currently coordinates grant projects. He was instrumental in development of updated Evidence Practice trainings and applications. He was recognized as the Division of Parole and Community Services Employee of the Year for 2020 and Cleveland Region’s Parole Officer of the Year for 2010. With over 27 years of Community Corrections experience, his previous positions include Parole Officer, Jail Coordinator, Program Administrator, Case worker and Cognitive Skills Specialist. Currently, he coordinates grant projects involving the incorporation innovative solutions and evidence practice into community corrections practices. He has trained extensively on evidence-based practices. His trainer certifications include Ohio Risk Assessment Systems, Level of Service Inventory, Thinking for a Change Facilitator, Decision Points Facilitator, Core Correctional Practices and Motivational Interviewing. He has developed Motivational Interviewing training curriculums for Criminal Justice professionals, and currently participates in an MI Community of Practice for Parole. He obtained a Master of Science from the University of Cincinnati in Criminal Justice.

Kathleen (Kat) Weber is a Parole Officer and currently acting Senior Parole Officer in Dayton, Ohio. She has been in the capacity of Parole Officer since January 2015. She is a certified Motivational Interviewing Instructor/Trainer and Coach, and she regularly trains and coaches new and existing Parole Officers. She is a victim coordinator, human trafficking liaison, member of Employee Recognition Committee, a part of the case review committee, and most recently a part of the innovation and statewide implementation teams. She graduated from Wright State University with both a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and Master’s Degree in Applied Behavioral Science.