George E. Banks, M.Ed.
Resilience@AOL.com

George Banks is the founder and President of Positive Outcomes, an independent consulting firm that provides evaluation services and policy analysis. He has extensive experience in prevention program development and implementation and has served on the board of directors for several nonprofit, human service organizations. He has recently taken on the role of SIG Project Manager for the Governor's Office for Substance Abuse Prevention. Prior to working in the fields of prevention and evaluation, George worked for many years managing and providing emergency mental health services in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He also currently serves as a Resource Consultant for Commonwealth Parenting Center. George has a BS in Psychology from SUNY Brockport and an M.Ed. in Community/Agency Counseling from the College of William and Mary and he is currently working toward a Ph.D. in Evaluation and Policy at the University of Virginia.

Margaret W. Richardson, Ed.D.
mrichar237@aol.com

Dr. Margaret W. Richardson is an independent educational consultant who has designed and conducted evaluations and provided training for North Carolina State University Empowering Purpose Project and the Healthy Carolinians Project. She has also designed and provided training and technical assistance in AOD, parent education, and school/community collaboration. In her leadership roles with the Southeast Regional Center for Drug-Free Schools and Communities, she assisted in the development of training modules, providing training and technical assistance in program evaluation to numerous educators. She has worked most recently for RMC Research Corporation and the Region III Comprehensive Center at George Washington University and has had extensive experience in helping local school districts evaluate SDFS projects.

Gail Maddox Taylor, M.A.

Gail Taylor is currently the Coordinator of Prevention Services for Henrico Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.Gail was formerly the Project Coordinator for the Governor's Office for Substance Abuse Prevention, managing the implementation of the State Incentive Grant. She has also served as Coordinator of Prevention Services for Hanover County Community Services Board where she developed prevention programs promoting healthy youth, families, and communities in Hanover County by preventing substance abuse, violence, teen pregnancy, truancy, and delinquency. She is on the Board's of Prevent Child Abuse Virginia, Commonwealth Parenting, and the University of Richmond's Community Service Associates. Additionally, she has served as the Co-Chairperson of the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards Prevention Task Force and as a trainer for Wingspan Inc., a company that promotes the pro-social skill development of 4 year olds through the Al's Pals curriculum. Ms. Taylor holds a B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and an M.Ed. in Counselor Education from James Madison University.

Laura Yager, M.Ed., CPP-ATOD
laura.yager@fairfaxcounty.gov

Laura is the Director of Prevention Services for the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board. Laura has worked in the field of prevention for nearly fourteen years and in human services programming for more years than she would like to admit. The CSB has developed prevention programs that have received national recognition including: the Leadership and Resiliency Program, named a SAMHSA Model Program in 2000 and an OJJDP Promising Program in 2003; and Girl Power, named an OJJDP Promising Program in 2003. Laura received the Washington Regional Substance Abuse Prevention Award from the Council of Governments in 2000. She is a past Co-Chair of the Prevention Task Force of the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards and served on the Governor's Prevention Advisory Council. Laura has an M.Ed. in Community Agency Counseling from George Mason University, holds an LPC in Washington, D.C., and is a Certified Prevention Professional-ATOD in Virginia. She has provided numerous training programs and consultation at the local, State, and national levels.