Presenters
Norman Hoffman, PhD, EdD, LMHC, LMFT, CFMHE, CCCE, CFBA, CFP
A man who saw the potential, an innovator, pushing the boundaries to advance the cause of licensed professional counselor in the field of forensic mental health. He had the vision, the success in his field, sometimes overcoming great challenges to pave the way for those seeking status and professional recognition in a field of forensic mental health that has in the past been inaccessible.
Dr. Hoffman had the boldness and courage to create a training and certification process paving the way for those seeking the status as psychiatrists and psychologists have. His dedication and persistence, despite systematic discrimination, made it possible for licensed professional counselors to have equal, if not elevated status in the field of forensic mental health.
Dr. Hoffman is considered a pioneer with his passion and creativity to develop the pattern for those who pursue a role as an expert forensic mental health expert witness.
Today, as Clinical Director of the Counseling and Psychotherapy Center in Ormond Beach, Florida, Dr. Hoffman continues to break through conventional barriers to provide families with the help and guidance they need. But he has not forgotten his musical foundation. He credits music with inspiring his collaborative approach to working with parents and professionals, and he continues to perform and write the jazz that started it all.
Aaron Norton, PhD, LMHC, LMFT, CFMHE, CFBA, CFP
Dr. Aaron Norton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with certifications in addictions, alcohol and drug counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical mental health counseling, trauma treatment, forensic mental health evaluation, forensic behavioral analysis, and forensic psychometry. He serves as executive director of the National Board of Forensic Evaluators (NBFE), assistant professor of instruction at the University of South Dept. of Mental Health Law & Policy, International Counseling Task Force chair for the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), consulting editor for AMHCA’s “The Advocate Magazine,” and chair of the Government Relations Committee for the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association. He co-authored the forensic evaluation section of the “AMHCA Standards for the Practice of Clinical Mental Health Counseling,” authored the proposal for AMHCA’s Clinical Mental Health Specialist in Forensic Evaluation (CMHS-FE) credential, served on panels responsible for creating certification standards and exam content for three forensic specialty certifications offered by NBFE, and has been published in several journals and professional magazines. He has 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist and 15 years of experience in forensic evaluation and clinical supervision.
Kim Banister, Esq.
Kim Bannister is a private attorney with a practice centering on family law, domestic violence, dependency and probate. She is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator. She is the former managing attorney for the family law division of Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc. (CLSMF). During her tenure at CLSMF, she managed seven attorneys and support staff in twelve counties across Central Florida and was named Outstanding Supervisor of the Year.
Kim is also actively involved in a variety of community and professional organizations. She is the current President of the Volusia County Bar Association and a former Executive Board member. She is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Volusia Flagler PACE Center for Girls, serving for six years, and a past member of the Junior League of Daytona Beach.
She has also served as a two-term President as well as Vice President and Board Member for the Volusia Flagler Association for Women Lawyers, and served on the State Board for the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. She has served on the steering committee for the formation of Sally’s Safe Haven Visitation Center in Flagler County. Ms. Banister is a past volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America and served in leadership with the Girl Scouts of America for over seven years.
David L. Ferguson, Esq.
David Ferguson, a Seabreeze High School graduate, holds degrees from Daytona Beach Community College and the University of Florida, culminating in a Juris Doctorate from Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law in 1982. With a career spanning over three decades, Ferguson initially worked in insurance defense before branching out into various legal domains including personal injury, criminal law, family law, estate planning, trusts, and probate. His extensive experience in representing clients across Volusia, Flagler, Orange, and Seminole counties underscores his expertise in criminal defense, family law matters, and diverse legal areas.
Notably, he also served as a chief executive for Rankin-Patterson Oil Company, offering unique insights into safeguarding assets during divorce and estate planning processes. Actively engaged in community service, Ferguson is involved in multiple organizations and holds a strong commitment to mentoring in Volusia County Schools. He remains a proud and active member of the Ormond Beach/Daytona Beach area, contributing to the community through his legal expertise and civic engagement.
Katrina Muse, Esq.
Katrina Muse is a seasoned attorney with over 30 years of legal experience, specializing in family law, adoptions, injunctions, criminal defense, and traffic matters. A graduate of the University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law, Katrina MuseEarly in her career, Katrina Muse served as an Assistant State Attorney for theSeventh Judicial Circuit, representing cases in Putnam and Flagler Counties. Thisrole provided invaluable courtroom experience and honed her skills as a litigator.
In 1991, Katrina Muse was admitted to practice before the United States DistrictCourt for the Middle District of Florida, further expanding their ability to represent clients in federal legal matters.For the past three decades, Katrina Muse has maintained a thriving private legal practice, offering dedicated and compassionate representation to clients in a wide range of legal issues.
Her commitment to providing personalized attention and achieving favorable outcomes has earned her a strong reputation in the legal community. Katrina Muse's extensive experience, professionalism, and dedication make her a trusted advocate for clients navigating complex legal challenges.
Dayanna Lopez, Esq.
Attorney Dayanna Lopez practices in the areas of family law, personal injury, civil litigation and criminal trial law. Ms. Lopez earned a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in English and Political Science in 2004, before pursuing a law degree from the same school. In 2009, she received her Juris Doctorate of Law from the Stetson University College of Law. While in law school, she received the Exemplary Leadership & Dedication Award and the Outstanding Service Award from the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association. Ms. Lopez continues to serve her Alma Mater, by participating every year with the Stetson University Model United States Senate, actively mentoring and encouraging those wishing to pursue a career in law or public service.
Before joining the Politis & Matovina, P.A. legal team, Attorney Lopez interned in Florida’s Office of the State Attorney. She also interned and worked in the criminal division of the Office of the Attorney General, the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court, and most recently, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida. During her career, she has also contributed to several published books and research projects. Ms. Lopez volunteers her time performing pro-bono legal services for Veteran’s Court in Volusia and Flagler counties along with victims of domestic violence. Ms. Lopez also serves on the Domestic Violence Advisory Committee for the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court.
Attorney Lopez is a member of several professional organizations, including the Florida Bar (2013 - present), Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida (2013 - present), the Volusia County Bar Association (2013 - present), the Flagler County Bar Association (2013 - present), the Putnam County Bar Association (2013 - present), Dunn-Blount American Inns of Court (2014- present), Volusia/Flagler Association for Women Lawyers, the Florida Justice Association (2020 - present) and American Academy for Certified Financial Litigators (2021 - present). She founded the Tax Law Society and participated in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Attorney Lopez is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Mitchel Novas, Esq.
Mitchel Novas is the Felony Division Chief for the Office of the Public Defender for the Seventh Judicial Circuit.
A criminal defense attorney for thirty-eight years and Board Certified Criminal Trial Expert for twenty-four years, Mitchel has extensive experience cross-examining experts and presenting expert testimony. During his career he handled thousands of criminal cases including several Death Penalty cases where the State was seeking execution, and tried over one hundred jury trials. Ultimately, none of the clients Mitchel represented were sentenced to death row.
Judge, Dawn Fields.
The Honorable Dawn Pl Fields (Ret.) served as a judge for the Volusia County Court in Florida. Fields was elected to the bench in 2006 andre-elected in 2012 and 2018. She retired on December 31, 2020. Fields earned a master’s degree in math education from the University of Central Florida. She spent the next eight years teaching mathematics for the Volusia County School District before completing a J.D. at the University of Georgia School of Law in 1993.
After graduating from law school, Fields began her legal career as an assistant state attorney in the Office of the State Attorney for the7th Judicial Circuit. She handled over one thousand cases, sitting as the Chief of the County Court division and the special prosecutor for the Sex Crimes Division.Her memberships have included the Board of Directors f the Council of Aging, the Children’s Home Society, the Richard V. Moore Center, andthe Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Dr. Jean Dwyer, Esq.
Jean Dwyer attended Stetson University College of Law where she obtained her Juris Doctorate. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1991 and since then has represented parties in the areas of criminal, probate, guardianship, family and adoption matters, and provided educational services as an Adjunct Professor at Daytona State College and Keiser University. Jean also served as the General Magistrate for family and dependency matters, the Civil Traffic Infraction Hearing Officer, and the Child Support Hearing Officer for the Seventh Judicial Circuit and continues to serve as the Special Magistrate in Code Enforcement Hearings for the City of Ormond Beach. She elected to advance her education in 2006 to become a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family and County Court Mediator, a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator and Elder Care Coordinator. She continues to champion resolution over litigation by continuing to provide mediation services throughout the state. Ms. Dwyer is also credited with her writing and research contributions for the Florida Bar publication Adoption, Paternity, and Other Florida Family Practice, Eighth and Ninth Editions.
Katherine F. Woodard, Esq.
Katherine F. Woodard, a native of Ormond Beach and graduate of Seabreeze High School, holds a B.A. in Political Science (1976) and a Master’s in Education (1978) from Mercer University, along with a Specialist in Gifted Education (1980) from the University of Central Georgia. After teaching for several years, she earned her Juris Doctorate from Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law in 1987 and has since practiced family law in Ormond Beach and the Greater Daytona Beach area. With nearly 30 years of experience, Mrs. Woodard has represented countless clients across Volusia, Flagler, Orange, and Seminole counties, specializing in complex family law cases, including divorce, child custody, domestic violence injunctions, and high-asset property disputes. She was among the first attorneys in Volusia County to become a certified mediator and has also represented victims of domestic violence under the Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
In addition to her extensive family law practice, Mrs. Woodard has over three decades of experience in criminal law, having served as both a prosecutor and a public defender. As an assistant public defender, she initiated in-take consultations for inmates at the Volusia County Branch Jail. Her criminal law expertise includes DUI defense and the representation of misdemeanor and felony cases. A longstanding member of both the Family Law and Criminal Defense Sections, Mrs. Woodard combines her legal acumen with her background in education to advocate effectively for her clients and their families. An active member of her community, she has served on the Vestry Board and School Board of St. James Church, as well as various civic organizations, including the Junior League and Daytona Beach Rotary Club.
Disclaimers
Meals and Refreshments
NBFE will not be providing meals/snacks during the Academy Training.
If you have any questions about booking your hotel room please contact Valentino@nbfe.net or call or text 386-293-1226.
Continuing Education Information
NBCC ACEP # 6189
Florida CE Broker Tracking # 20-1278627
CE Broker Provider # 50-15823
This workshop has been approved for 13 hours of continuing education (13 general hours) with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, & Mental Health Counseling and the Florida Board of Psychology.
The National Board of Forensic Evaluators (NBFE) has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6189. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. NBFE is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.
NBFE is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. NBFE maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
This webinar has been approved for 16 general Continuing Legal Education (CLE) hours with the Florida Bar Association, Provider #105538, Reference #2500950N, Intermediate Level, 10/17/2025 - 04/30/2027.
NBFE is recognized and endorsed by the American Mental Health Counselors Association.
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Cancellation/Refund Policy.
