Leadership Institute

Susan Gagnon
Director of Adult Community Corrections
State of Maine Department of Corrections

Bio:
In 1997, Susan Gagnon began her career... with the Maine Department of Corrections as a Juvenile Probation Officer. She promoted to Regional Correctional Manager in 2007, supervising and coaching the probation officers, in evidence-based practices and current correctional practices.

In 2011, she was promoted to Regional Correctional Administrator, supervising a nine-county division within the Department of Corrections of juvenile probation officers. Susan transferred to the Adult Division of Probation and Parole in 2013, coordinating all functions of a seven-county region, including programming, recruitment and policy development.

In 2019, Susan was promoted to Director of Adult Community Corrections, managing a sixteen-county division for the State of Maine. The Director is part of the Executive Leadership Team for the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections. Her responsibilities include developing and implementing policies & initiatives, supporting the goals and objectives of the department and providing guidance to the community stakeholders to the mission of the department.

In addition to these responsibilities, Susan is responsible for the coordination of the Parole Board and Executive Clemency Board in the State of Maine , the Fugitive Apprehension Unit , and oversees Victim Service’s . Susan has several special projects that she is passionate about , including the implementation of therapy dogs for her staff , women in leadership and staff wellness . When you see her , ask her about Ruby and Zen , the division’s therapy dogs !
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Why Susan enjoy serving as an LI Mentor:
As a graduate myself of LI7 in 2021, I wanted to give back to future leaders within the field. LI provides an opportunity to network, hear from national leaders in the field and develop skills necessary for advancement. There have been so many graduates of LI who have gone on to be promoted and give credit to the skills and time they spent in LI. I am blessed to work with the other LI coordinators and our goal is to improve LI with each session.

Fun Fact:
I am a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan and my husband & I catch games whenever we can. We are grandparents of three and family is everything to us. I love to travel and being a part of APPA / LI has brought me to places that I had never been before.

Favorite Quote:
“Your leadership is always showing.” – John Lorenzen

Tiffany L. Yacomeni
Branch Chief
Court Services & Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA)

Bio:
In 2008, Tiffany L. Yacomeni started her career... as a Community Supervision Officer in the Domestic Violence Unit with the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency and has diligently worked to contribute to promote public safety, integration of justice-involved individuals, promote accountability, and to support the fair administration of justice. In 2016, Tiffany was promoted to Supervisory Community Supervision Officer and worked in the General Supervision Unit, Transitional Intervention for Parole Supervision Unit, Minimum Supervision Unit, and the Compliance, Monitoring, and Intelligence Center. In 2023, she was promoted to Branch Chief.

Tiffany is an American Probation and Parole Association Leadership Institute Coordinator. The Leadership Institute is a 12-month training opportunity for emerging leaders in the field of community corrections/supervision. Leadership Institute Coordinators administrate and facilitate all aspects of the training curriculum. She graduated from the Leadership Institute in 2021. She also contributed to the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency’s Supervisory Community Supervision Officer’s Academy curriculum development and implementation.

Tiffany has continued to serve in the United States Air Force Reserves since 2003 and was selected in 2024 as the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 50th Aerial Port Squadron.

Tiffany L. Yacomeni holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Frostburg State University and a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University. She is currently working towards obtaining her Doctoral degree in Criminal Justice Leadership from Liberty University.
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Why Tiffany enjoy serving as an LI Mentor:
I enjoy serving as an LI Coordinator because it allows me to play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of leaders. I get to work with passionate individuals who are eager to develop their skills and make an impact. It's inspiring to see participants grow, gain confidence, and enhance their leadership potential through the LI. Being in this role provides a sense of fulfillment because I can create and organize sessions that empower individuals with the tools they need to succeed. It’s a great opportunity to collaborate with diverse teams and bring together different perspectives. I am also fortunate to work alongside three intelligent, compassionate, and dynamic Coordinators who share my values and passion.

Fun Fact:
A fun fact about me is that I have been a member of the United States Air Force Reserves for 22 years (May 2003). I am currently serving as the Senior Enlisted Leader of an Aerial Port Squadron in California.

Favorite Quote:
“Greatness begins beyond your comfort zone.” – Robin Sharma

Jennifer Gray
Chief Deputy Director
Marion County Community Corrections

Bio:
Jennifer Gray graduated from... the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology. Upon graduation, Jennifer began working with court ordered juveniles in therapeutic group home settings. In 1995, she made a transition to the Washington County Juvenile Court in Fayetteville, Arkansas, as an Intake Officer. For four years she managed a caseload of Children In Need or Services (CHINS) and juvenile diversion clients.

Upon relocating to Indianapolis in 1999, Jennifer was employed as a Probation Officer with the Marion Superior Court Adult Probation Department. Shortly after she accepted a Behavioral Health position with a local behavioral health provider on the Forensics Team working inside the Marion County Jail providing behavioral health services and substance abuse evaluations. It was this role that led to her career with Marion County Community Corrections in 2005, serving as the Behavioral Health Supervisor. She was promoted to Deputy Director of MCCC in 2008 and to Chief Deputy Director in 2017.

Jennifer graduated the American Probation & Parole Association Leadership Academy, Class 7, in 2021. She has served as a volunteer Coordinator for the Leadership Institute since graduation. She is a certified facilitator for Appreciation at Work, Thinking For a Change, and the National Curriculum Training Institute’s cognitive behavioral programs as well as Real Colors.
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Why Jennifer enjoy serving as an LI Mentor:
I enjoy serving as an LI Coordinator because it’s an opportunity for me to give back to APPA but most importantly to support up and coming leaders in our field. The program was incredibly impactful for me as an LI7 graduate, opening numerous doors for networking, sharing ideas, and learning about other jurisdictions. Every year we strive to build this program and improve, making it a wonderful learning and growth opportunity for the participants.

Fun Fact:
Mom of 4 and Grandma of two adorable little boys. My youngest is a high school senior and is a heart transplant recipient and will be 10 years post-transplant in July. I volunteer for the Indiana Donor Network (IDN) as a Family Advocate to educate and share information on donation and transplantation in high schools and the Indianapolis community. I am in my 4th year of volunteering for IDN.

Favorite Quote:
This one is a hard one because there’s so many great quotes whether its personal or professional! This one is personal to me and one I came across when my son was a baby and my world crumbled with his bleak diagnosis --- “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” - Randy Pausch from his book, The Last Lecture. I referred to this many times and educated myself on my son’s complicated heart defects and became a fierce advocate for his care and treatment.