BISC-MI - Key Persons

Chris Huffine, Psy.D., licensed psychologist, has worked with abusive men for the past 30 years. He is the Executive Director of Allies in Change in Portland, Oregon. During his career he has worked with thousands of abusive men and hundreds of female and male victims of abuse. He is considered to be a national expert on working with abusive partners and has provided trainings around the country, including a semi-annual 40-hour training in Portland on the Allies in Change curriculum. He recently published a book for abusive partners called "Becoming Allies . . . With Your Partner, Yourself, and Others: Addressing the Abuse and Control in Your Relationships". He is a member of the advisory group to the Oregon state attorney general to monitor standards for batterer intervention programs and of the Oregon Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team.

Job Titles:

• Co - Founder
• BISC - MI Chair
• Director of Abuse Intervention and Systems Response for the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence

David serves as the Director of Abuse Intervention and Systems Response for the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence. David concluded his 33 years of service at Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County (CSSW) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in May 2021 as the Vice President of Programs & Facilities. David has served as the Director of the Washtenaw Child Advocacy Center and the Clinical Director of the Behavioral Health Services department. Also, during these 33 years David served in many different leadership capacities including Chief Operating Officer and a brief time as the Interim President and CEO. David has been directly involved in the anti-domestic violence movement since 1986 when he founded the ADA Program. He is an Adjunct Lecturer with The Eastern Michigan University, School of Social Work and Concordia University in Ann Arbor, MI. David is a co-founder and current Chair of the Battering Intervention Services Coalition of Michigan (BISC-MI: https://www.biscmi.org/). He has served on numerous local and state boards and committees. He has conducted trainings in over 20 states and in Canada and has been featured on local, state and national television, in magazines, professional journals and newspapers. David has been an administrative/clinical supervisor and consultant to individuals and programs who have chosen to begin working in the field of battering intervention. In 1990 David received the Distinguished Alumnae of the Year from the Eastern Michigan University School of Social Work. In October of 1997 David received the Summit III Award "In Recognition of Your Collaborative Efforts to End Domestic Violence" Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board Michigan Family Independence Agency. In May 1997 David was appointed by Governor John Engler (Michigan) to Co-Chair the Governor's Task Force on Batterer Intervention Standards. This project was completed in June 1998. In 1998 David was appointed to the Domestic Violence Benchbook Advisory Committee of the Michigan Judicial Institute. David has served as a faculty member to the Michigan Judicial Institute, the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. David was named the 2009 National Association of Social Workers-Michigan (NASW-MI) Social Worker of the Year. David's work in the movement to end domestic violence was featured in the book Gender-Based Perspectives on Batterer Programs: Program Leaders on History, Approach, Research and Development, by Edward W. Gondolf, 2015. In 2017 David was awarded the Glenn R. Winters Award (renamed the Nachtigal Award in 2018) from the American Judges Association. This award is given to a "To a non-judge who has made a substantial contribution toward improving the judiciary". In 2021 David began serving as a partner and technical assistance provider on a project with the Center for Court Innovation and Futures on the Abusive Partner Accountability and Engagement Technical Assistance Project grant from the Office on Violence Against Women.

Job Titles:

• Vice President of Children 's Services at LACASA Center

Elizabeth Stahl is the Vice President of Children's Services at LACASA Center, Livingston County's center that addresses child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault. Elizabeth has served in numerous leadership and supervisory roles over the 26 years she has worked at the agency. Most recently, she has served as the Director of the agency's Child Advocacy Center. With this, she has coordinated the LACASA's Child Abuse Response Effort (CARE Project) as well as the lead forensic interviewer of children who have been sexually assaulted and/or severely physically abused. She also worked collaboratively with a community team to establish the Trauma Informed Assessment Program. This multi-disciplinary team works to provide trauma informed services in the community that includes professional development, parental support, assesses children who have experienced severe trauma, and strategizes plans to improve the emotional, educational and social well-being of these children. Within her role, she also provides supervision to the Children's Counseling Program, Legal Intervention Program and SANE program. She also has provided supervision as well as facilitation for the Battering Intervention and Women Who Use Force programs at LACASA. Additionally, Elizabeth participates in local and state collaboratives that address interpersonal violence and trauma. In September of 2022, Elizabeth joined the BISC-MI board. Elizabeth is a graduate of Taylor University where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. She received her Master's in Social Work from Wayne State University.

In 1994, Giovanni Leonor began his career as a probation officer, where he worked diligently to support individuals in navigating life's challenges. His bilingual/bicultural skills allowed him to connect with a diverse range of clients and foster understanding in a field where communication is vital. Giovanni quickly became known for his charismatic approach, helping many individuals turn their lives around through education, guidance and support. In 1998, while completing his MSW's final internship requirements, Giovanni authored a 52-week Batterer Intervention Program (BIP) curriculum and bid for County Contract. Being awarded this contract, Giovanni, while still a probation officer, implemented his BIP program at St. Joseph County Adult Probation Department, South Bend, Indiana, where he was at the time employed. Later that year, his BIP curriculum/program received State recognition by The Indiana Judicial Conference and was highlighted in its 1999 State Conference. Shortly after, in the same year, driven by his desire to make an even greater impact, Giovanni founded SECURE Counseling & Psychological Centers. An acronym for Strategies for Effective Cultural Understanding and Relationship Empowerment, SECURE is a community-based organization dedicated to providing substance abuse, batterer's intervention and counseling services to both English and Hispanic-speaking individuals. Giovanni's commitment to his mission is evident in the thousands of lives he has worked with throughout his 30 year-long career. Recognized by both Indiana and Michigan Judicial System as an expert in the field of Domestic Violence. Giovanni holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Andrews University, and a Master's degree in Social Work from Indiana University. Giovanni is a dedicated family man, a seasoned professional, and a passionate advocate for community support. He has been married for 32 years to his best friend, Kimberly, and together they have raised three boys. Giovanni's faith and family is the cornerstone of his life, and he takes pride in nurturing their unique talents and values. In 2014, Giovanni had the privilege to serve as a BISCMI Board Member, and now in 2025 has rejoined the Board with his unwavering dedication to promote the value and essential need to adopt BISCMI Standards in every County in the State of Michigan. It is his conviction that doing so will not only best serve those in BIP treatment, but will further promote victim safety statewide. His unwavering dedication to the community's well-being and personal growth continues to inspire all who have the privilege of working with him.

Job Titles:

• Board Member for the Battering Intervention Services Coalition of Michigan

Holly Rosen is currently a board member for the Battering Intervention Services Coalition of Michigan. She is a Trauma and Victimization Expert that currently provides consultation and expert or opinion witness testimony in Michigan for prosecution and defense cases, related to domestic violence or sexual assault victims being abused; hurting or killing an abuser; being charged with crimes related to victim disclosures that are not believed; or taking part in or covering up crimes due to abuse or acting under duress. Ms. Rosen retired from Michigan State University in February 2024 after a 43-year career working in two survivor programs, from 1981-2024. She was the director of MSU Safe Place, a domestic violence survivor shelter and support program on the campus of Michigan State University, for 30 years, from 1994-2024. Prior to that she worked for 13 years at End Violent Encounters (EVE, Inc.), a domestic violence program in Lansing, Michigan. Ms. Rosen obtained her master's degree in social work at Michigan State University in 1987 and is a Licensed Social Worker (LMSW). She has taught classes on child abuse, social work, trauma, and sexual assault and domestic violence at Lansing Community College and Michigan State University. Prior to retirement she was actively involved in the Capitol Area Domestic and Sexual Violence Coordinating Council for 30 years and was a board member in the past for the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic Violence. Ms. Rosen has facilitated local, statewide, and national trainings at conferences and trainings that are attended by service providers and professionals and has been faculty for the Prosecuting Attorney's Association of Michigan (PAAM) and the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (MCEDSV). From 2018-2024 Ms. Rosen sat on the Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Expert Advisory Workgroup, along with other researchers and service providers, offering leadership and expertise to the MSU President and campus community.

Job Titles:

• Communications Coordinator

Job Titles:

• BISC - MI Treasurer

Job Titles:

• Director of Social Action at HAVEN

Melissa Sinclair is the Director of Social Action at HAVEN, Oakland County's center for intimate partner violence and sexual assault survivors. She manages a team of court advocates and first responders and actively collaborates with law enforcement, court personnel, and other systems to increase understanding of intimate partner violence and continually explore ways to improve experiences and outcomes for survivors. As a leader in her community and an expert in intimate partner violence and sexual assault, Melissa serves as a key provider of training on partner abuse and sexual violence, co-chair of the Oakland County Coordinating Council Against Domestic Violence and the Southfield Coordinated Community Response Team. She has been instrumental in the growth and development of HAVEN's Coordinated Community Response Teams and has tripled the number of teams during her tenure as the Director of Social Action. In March of 2022, she was elected onto the BISC-MI Board, where she will continue to bring a survivor-centered perspective with a focus on coordinated community response to address domestic violence within Michigan and beyond. Melissa has been a part of HAVEN for 6 years, and previously served as a court advocate, first responder, and crisis and support line specialist. Melissa's nearly 10 years of victim advocacy experience began with her role as a Sexual Aggression Peer Advocate at Central Michigan University. She provided survivor-centered Title IX advocacy and conducted training around IPV and bystander intervention. Melissa received a B.A. from Central Michigan University in family studies, with a dual minor in psychology and substance abuse. A passionate advocate who has dedicated her life to eradicating intimate partner violence and meaningfully engaging communities to keep survivors safe and hold offenders accountable.