Molly C. Mastoras, MA, LPC

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Molly C. Mastoras is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia and Connecticut. She has worked as an assistant program director and probation counselor for the Fairfax County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court and as a social worker for the Fairfax County Office for Women and Arlington County Child Protective Services (CPS). Molly has worked extensively with survivors of sexual assault throughout her career, leading to the creation of Safe Night Active Bystander, a sexual assault prevention and intervention-training program. 

She developed the Proactive Alliance relationship-based approach, which teaches police and enforcement agencies to develop relationships to enhance problem-solving with the community using adapted counseling therapy concepts. She co-authored several articles, including Proactive Alliance in IACP Police Chief Magazine and Productive and Proactive in Sheriff & Deputy Magazine and Proactive Alliance: Combining Policing and Counselling Psychology in the Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being with Dr. Charlotte Gill. 

Molly has presented the Proactive Alliance concept at the American Society of Evidenced-Based Policing (ASEBP) conference, the Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) Conference, and the International Conference on Law Enforcement & Public Health (LEPH). Molly also serves on the Board of Directors for the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP). 

Molly can be contacted at Molly@safe-night.com.

Dimitrios (Jim) Mastoras is the co-founder and executive vice president of Safe Night LLC, a global consulting firm that provides strategies to improve policing, public safety, and economic viability. Jim served as a Master Police Officer in Arlington County, Virginia, for almost twenty-four years and was named Arlington’s first nightlife liaison. Jim’s nightlife management model was recognized as a national model to reduce alcohol-related violence and harm by the U.S. DOJ COPS Office in a toolkit he authored, The Arlington Restaurant Initiative - A Nightlife Strategy to Improve Safety and Economic Viability. 

Jim is a senior Proactive Alliance relationship-based policing instructor teaching police and collateral city agencies how to establish trustful relationships with community stakeholders to shift to collaborative problem-solving. The Proactive Alliance relationship-based approach has been used to address many complex community issues across the U.S., including alcohol-related violence, homelessness, and traffic safety and engagement. He is also a nightlife safety and community engagement expert who regularly speaks at national conferences. 

Jim has authored and contributed to several publications, articles and toolkits:

• The Arlington Restaurant Initiative - A Nightlife Strategy to Improve Safety and Economic Viability - US DOJ COPS Office
• ARI Observatory Of Public Sector Innovation Case Study - Observatory Of Public Sector Innovation
• Traffic Safety Initiatives: SoberRide-Enhancing Enforcement Efforts Since 1982 - IACP Police Chief Magazine
• Solving Complex Crime Requires Community Relationships  - Policing Insight
• Safe Night Hospitality Resource Guide - Safe Night
• Productive and Proactive - NSA Sheriff & Deputy Magazine
• The Need for Relationship-Based Policing - National Policing Institute
• Safe Night Good Neighbor Initiative Case Study - Safe Night

Jim can be contacted at Jim@safe-night.com

Brandy Nannini is the Vice President of Government Affairs at Smart Start and a Board Director for Safety and Advocacy for Empowerment (SAFE). In her role, she designs legislative strategy, forms broad advocacy coalitions, and implements legislative campaigns aimed at preventing impaired driving through expanded use of ignition interlocks at the state and federal level and in Canada.

Ms. Nannini has 30 years of experience in impaired driving prevention with a career that began at the national office of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and resulted in the passage of hundreds of state laws and several federal laws. She opened MADD’s Washington, D.C. office and led the passage of the Federal .08 BAC law. She also spent 19 years at the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) where she created and managed a 20-year public awareness program with state attorneys general, oversaw traffic safety programs, achieved passage of the Federal Multiple Substance Impaired Driving Prevention Act, spearheaded efforts to pass state laws and launched the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving. She also led the organization’s efforts to focus on drug and polysubstance impaired driving. 

Ms. Nannini serves as the Senior Advisor for Safe Night and also serves on the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Roadway Safety Committee, Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) board of directors and the board of directors for the substance use prevention group, Arise and Flourish. A native Texan, Ms. Nannini now lives in Arlington, Virginia and enjoys traveling, reading, writing, and raising her teenage son.

Nicola “Dr. Nikki” Smith-Kea, PhD defines herself as a boundary spanner and scholar-practitioner with deep experience in policing, community engagement, policy, research, and analysis at the international, national, and local levels. She is the founder and principal of Smith-Kea Consulting, focused on exploring strategies that improve outcomes, drive transformative solutions and policy change, and cultivate trust between communities and police. She has expertise in gender equity in policing; policing at the intersection of mental health, substance use, and homelessness; community policing; violent crime reduction; and policing reform. 

Dr. Nikki most recently, served as a Stoneleigh Fellow and Executive in Residence with the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) where she worked towards promoting and developing internal accountability, officer safety and wellness practices, and focused on healthy police-community engagement. In this position she was embedded on the PPD Executive Team and worked on developing/implementing a number of reform efforts including an Early Intervention System (EIS), Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE), Place Network Investigation (PNI), 30x30 Initiative, a Racial Equity Plan, and more.

She also served as the Criminal Justice Manager on the Policing team at Arnold Ventures, overseeing a diverse portfolio and managing a variety of stakeholders including law enforcement practitioners, policymakers, research institutes, national membership organizations, and advocates. Previously, she served as a project manager and senior policy analyst and technical assistance manager at the Council of State Governments Justice Center, where she worked closely with a broad spectrum of law enforcement agencies across the U.S, helping to promote healthy police/mental health collaborations. 

Dr. Nikki holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology, and a master’s degree in sociology from the University of the West Indies, a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Maryland, and a master’s and PhD in leadership and change from Antioch University.

Since 2003, Gregory Abbink has been a senior police officer for the Austin Police Department (APD), TX, and is currently assigned as a Continuing Education Instructor at their Training Academy. Officer Abbink has collaborated in developing courses in writing departmental policy addressing respectful engagement and interaction with all segments of the LGBTQ+ community. Officer Abbink played a role in writing his department’s search policy so that it is in line with national best practices when searching transgender and gender non-binary individuals. He created a unique class to teach cadets and officers how to engage the transgender, gender non-binary, and gender fluid members of the community with respect and dignity. In addition to the transgender class Officer Abbink developed, he teaches other in-service classes such as Police Legitimacy/Procedural Justice, Tactical Report Writing, CPR/First Aid, Community Policing, Resolving Conflict, Surviving and Thriving in a Toxic Work Environment, and police emergency driving and Precision Immobilization Technique.

Over the past several years, Officer Abbink has worked on implementing new policies and procedures within the APD and took part in developing a human resources guidebook to assist City of Austin employers and employees titled, ‘Guidelines Supporting Transgender, Gender Non-Binary, and Gender-Diverse Employees’. He has been a driving force in the APD’s continuing efforts to make sure all segments of Austin’s diverse community are treated with the same amount of professionalism, respect and dignity. Officer Abbink discusses the steps that law enforcement can take to better their understanding of people’s individual identities and how our respectful interactions can have a significant impact on gaining trust and legitimacy with members of a community who are still very marginalized.

Before joining APD, Officer Abbink proudly served four years in the United States Army as a linguist. Originally from Upstate NY, Officer Abbink now enjoys spending time with his wife and 12-year-old son on their 17 acres in Lexington, TX, with their dwarf goats and mini donkey.

Greg can be contacted at GAbbink@safe-night.com you'd like to show.

Elena Ameres is an academic professional with a background in forensic science, crime scene analysis and collection, sociology and psychology research methods, including cognitive and humanistic psychology. In her role at the Academy of Saint Elizabeth, she has served as administration liaison focused on conducting peer assessment reviews and professional career development for new teachers.

Elena was a DEI committee liaison, leading roundtable discussions to provide policy and program recommendations for the school administration. She is the also the Academic Team Leader for Science & Technology and teaches Chemistry, Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Forensic Science.

Elena earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Montclair State University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Psychology and Criminal Justice from Siena College.

Elena can be reached at EAmeres@safe-night.com

Sarah Bradley is the Associate Director for Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center Injury & Violence Prevention Program in Richmond, Virginia. She oversees more than ten injury and violence prevention programs and is responsible for providing training and technical assistance to other Trauma Centers on initiating a Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP).

Sarah has over a decade of experience in public health and nursing. She is a Registered Nurse (RN), a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), and a Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN). She earned a master of public health from the University of Southern California and bachelor's degrees in Nursing and International Studies from the University of Miami, FL.

She previously worked as the Trauma Injury Prevention & G60 Coordinator at Methodist Dallas Medical Center in Dallas, TX, where she served as the Regional Advisory Council (RAC) Trauma Public Education and Injury Prevention Subcommittee Chair. She coordinated the G60 Trauma Program, including conducting research on current best practice guidelines in geriatric trauma care, training for all hospital nursing and ancillary staff, program development and implementation, and coordinating interdisciplinary G60 meetings.

Sarah's research experience includes working as the Principal Investigator on injury and violence prevention projects including Community-Based Partnership’s Efficacy in Decreasing Injury Rates at Night in Dallas, TX and Reducing Recidivism and Improving Outcomes Related to Falls in Elderly Trauma Patients.Sarah is also a contributing author to the article Racial Equity in Trauma Injury: An Unresolved Enigma.

Sarah can be reached at SBradley@safe-night.com

Throughout her career in communications, Sydney has focused on elevating the voices of underserved communities. After earning a B.A. in Journalism from Michigan State University, she worked for publications like M3 Group, Michigan Chronicle, and Bella NYC, covering a local beat. Her feature articles highlighted the stories of mission-led small businesses, artists, and organizations. Sydney is also a founding member of Thrive Detroit. The street magazine was created to be sold by Detroiters experiencing homelessness as an alternative to panhandling. 

Sydney shifted into corporate communications to better understand the needs of underresourced communities with the ability to make a larger impact. Joining the Community Connection team within Blue Cross Blue Shield allowed Sydney to spearhead community activations and align resources that triage the neighborhood issues. 

In 2020, amid a global pandemic, Sydney accepted a position with Citizen to evaluate what safety looks like in densely populated cities nationwide. Sydney became a key player in solidifying the app’s identity and creating a playbook for expansion. She utilized the technology and reach to launch safety campaigns in underserved communities. Sydney shifted the company perception by securing several partnerships with law enforcement agencies, city stakeholders, and organizations. 

Sydney has since channeled her passion into building a creative agency, Yeme. She leverages years of bold storytelling skills and authentic connections to support small teams and creatives in their quest to improve the world around them. Yeme increases brand recognition by creating compelling stories that engage target audiences, expands company reach by diversifying audience access points, and generates leads with engaging content marketing.

Sydney can be reached at SFord@safe-night.com

Siobhan Grayson is a Management Analyst with the Child and Family Services Division of Arlington County, Virginia’s, Department of Human Services. She is a graduate of South Carolina State University (BS) and received her master’s in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh. Siobhan has over 30 years of experience in Child Welfare. 

In Arlington County, Siobhan held various supervisory positions in Child Welfare, including Child Protective Services, Foster Care and Adoption services. Over the years, Siobhan served on a variety of committees and developed the initial (John H. Chaffee) Independent Living program, which supported services for youth in foster care ages 14-21. 

Siobhan served as adjunct professor for George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She holds many certifications including Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Certified First Responder for the National Incident Management Office and is a REVIVE Trainer (Narcan Opioid Response). 

For the last ten years, Siobhan developed and supported the Arlington County Teen Network Board. This youth-led, adult-guided organization employs the Community Youth Engagement model. The pillars of the community-based organization are Leadership, Advocacy, and Community Service. The commission develops and implements data driven projects and events based on a prevention model of intervention practices. 

In her spare time,  Siobhan watching sports and attending movies and live theater. Siobhan also cherishes spending time with her wife and their dog, Hazee. 

Siobhan can be reached at SGrayson@safe-night.com

A native of Seattle, Washington, Michael enlisted in the U.S. Navy working as a flight deck aircraft director and was later assigned to performing anti-terrorism duties throughout the Middle East. Michael deployed three times during the War on Terror, and responded to NYC on 9/11/2001. Michael left the military and began his career with the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office, ultimately transferring to the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) in 2012, where he has a background in patrol and community outreach. 

During his time as a community outreach officer, Michael proposed and established the ACPD's Homeless Outreach Program, a regional, multi-jurisdictional and interdisciplinary outreach program. Michael led a multi-agency team, comprising of more than ten advocacy and assistance organizations, county and state agencies, and community stakeholders. He is a sought-after speaker and presenter by community organizations and law enforcement agencies seeking to improve their response to people experiencing homelessness.

In 2021, Michael accepted a position performing homeless outreach for the Arlington County Department of Human Services Forensic Jail Diversion Team. Michael earned his B.S. from George Mason University in Criminology, Law, and Society, and lives in Alexandria with his wife, a public-school teacher, and their 13-year-old daughter.

Michael can be contacted at MKeen@safe-night.com

Dustin is a Master Peace Officer with the Austin Police Department in Austin, Texas. For almost two decades of service there, he was assigned to patrol in the south side of Austin as a Field Training Officer and Mental Health Officer, providing a critical service to people in crisis. Seeing this service as a calling, Dustin became a member of Austin’s Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) in 2006 and currently serves as a Team Leader. In addition, he is the HNT Training Cadre Lead Instructor who develops, coordinates, and provides training for Austin’s 25-member team of Negotiators and training officers to become new Negotiators. Dustin has also conducted training for several other departments, including teaching in the FBI Hostage Negotiation School in Texas. 

From 2016 to the present, Dustin has been a Senior Instructor in Austin Police Department’s Advanced Education Unit. He is responsible for training officers in various topics such as verbal communications, de-escalation, leadership, and implicit bias. 

Dustin is a U.S. Navy Veteran who served from 1992-2002 and was deployed twice while onboard the USS Anchorage between 1992 and 1998 (Somalia and the Persian Gulf / Kuwait). In 1998, he transitioned to shore duty as a Military Police Officer, where his love of law enforcement started. Dustin was a Watch Commander during the morning of Sept 11, 2001, and recalls the feeling of duty that drew him back to his home in Central Texas to join the ranks of the Austin Police Department. 

Dustin and his wife enjoy the country life, living among the oaks outside of Lockhart, the BBQ Capital of Texas. They have two adult children who both currently serve as well. Their son is a Weatherman in the Texas Air National Guard, and their daughter is a Mass Communications Specialist in the U.S. Navy. 

Dustin can be contacted at Dlowe@safe-night.com

A native of Rhode Island, Samantha (Sam) Brien moved to Northern Virginia to pursue her career in 2016. She began working at Katz, Marshal & Banks, LLP as a Legal Assistant. Sam wanted to further her career and joined the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) as a Management Intern in 2018. She received a full-time position as a Management Specialist then was promoted to Restaurant and Nightlife Liaison in January 2021. 

Sam leads the Arlington Restaurant Initiative, a national model for managing nightlife and the first accreditation program in the US to improve safety standards. In 2021, Sam was inducted into the exclusive group of night mayors and has taken a leadership role in many strategies that have over the past two years, including, “Ask for Angela”, the #BizStongArlVA campaign, and several outreach events. 

She is a graduate of Westfield State University with a B.A. in History and a concentration in Political Science. Sam also earned a Master's degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Administration of Justice from George Mason University in May 2020. She has been awarded the Faithful Servant’s Award for Civilian Employee of the Year for 2018 and the Principles of Government Service Award for Teamwork.

Sam can be contacted at, SMcnamara@safe-night.com

Bob Wright is a nineteen-year veteran of the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) in Virginia. Throughout his career he has served in a broad range of assignments including the patrol division, criminal investigations division and on the community policing teams. His assignments include crime scene agent, detective in both the auto theft and homicide-robbery units and Critical Accident Team (CAT) investigator. As a sergeant, he was appointed 1st Sergeant in the patrol division, Special Operations Section, Motor Unit, and led the tactical plain clothes unit. After being promoted to Lieutenant he was assigned to the Patrol Division. 

While a member of ACPD’s community policing unit, he was a part of the first, full time, nightlife officer detail. With an in depth understanding of the problems and challenges ACPD faced managing nightlife, he was a valuable resource and passionate advocate for the creation of the Nightlife Liaison position and the first nightlife accreditation model in the U.S., called the Arlington Restaurant Initiative (ARI). Bob has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Bob leads Safe Night’s Hospitality and Entertainment Division by helping bars and restaurants reduce their liability through policies and training. 

Bob can be contacted at, Rwright@safe-night.com