New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Conference
March 4-5, 2026 | Eatontown, NJDay One
Welcome
Gina Cavallo
NJCAHT Board Vice President and Survivor Consultant Conference Host and Program Lead
Gina Cavallo is a nationally recognized survivor leader, author, and consultant in the anti-trafficking movement, known for bridging lived experience with law enforcement, policy, healthcare, and community response. She is the founder and Executive Director of We RISE USA, a survivor-led nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors, advancing prevention education, and strengthening cross-sector collaboration.
Gina serves as Survivor Consultant and Vice President of the Board of Trustees for the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking, where she supports survivor-centered, trauma-informed systems change and coordinates survivor leadership engagement. She is also the Co-Chair of the Anti-Trafficking Task Force for the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and an appointed Commissioner on the New Jersey Commission on Human Trafficking.
As a survivor of human trafficking, Gina brings lived experience alongside strategic leadership to inform policy, training, and practice. She has testified on trafficking policy before a U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee and New Jersey legislative bodies, partnered with the New Jersey Department of Education to develop Guidelines for Schools on Human Trafficking, and regularly delivers training to law enforcement, students, and community stakeholders.
Gina’s leadership has been recognized with the National Liberators Award for Survivor Leader (2020). She is the author of A Survivor’s Secrets, published in May 2024, which underscores the importance of survivor-centered approaches to justice, healing, and prevention.
From Event to Evidence: Building Trafficking Cases That Survive the World Cup Surge
- What breaks in prosecutions during surge events
- How short-term operations create long-term case failures
- What investigators must document differently when cases originate in event-driven operations
- How rushed rescues without recovery planning weaken buyer cases
William Reynolds
Atlantic County Prosecutor
William E. Reynolds is the first Independent to serve as Atlantic County Prosecutor. He was nominated by Governor Phil Murphy as Acting Prosecutor on June 6, 2022, unanimously confirmed by the New Jersey State Senate on August 8, 2022, and sworn in on August 9, 2022, to a five-year term. A lifelong Atlantic County resident, he grew up in Brigantine and earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers College and his law degree from Rutgers Law School. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the Federal District of New Jersey.
Prosecutor Reynolds brings decades of diverse legal experience, including successful civil trial work in New Jersey and Philadelphia, private practice, service within the Judiciary, and more than a decade as a Dispute Resolution Professional for the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. He also served as municipal prosecutor for multiple Atlantic County municipalities, prosecuting thousands of cases, and as City Solicitor for Ventnor City and Galloway Township. As Prosecutor, he established the County’s first Community Outreach Unit and has prioritized aggressive, victim-centered prosecution—particularly for crimes involving women, children, and individuals with disabilities—while advancing countywide special-needs law enforcement training and strong community partnerships.
Morning Keynote
From Control to Care: Dignity as the Missing Infrastructure in Anti-Trafficking Systems
This keynote brings together two worlds that too often operate in parallel rather than in partnership: law enforcement and lived experience.
Drawing from decades of national leadership in anti-human trafficking initiatives in addition to her own lived experience as a survivor, Tanya M. Gould challenges the field to move beyond awareness and enforcement alone, toward systems built on dignity, accountability, and shared responsibility.
Rather than framing trafficking solely as a crime to be disrupted or a trauma to be managed, this keynote reframes it as a systemic failure of protection, attachment, and identity. Tanya introduces a dignity-centered framework that helps professionals understand how trauma impacts behavior without allowing trauma to become identity and how systems can respond without unintentionally reproducing control, dependency, or harm.
Through real-world examples, policy-relevant insights, and human-centered language, participants will be invited to examine:
• How enforcement and survivor-centered care can coexist without conflict
• The role of boundaries, structure, and community in sustainable healing
• How dignity, when treated as infrastructure rather than sentiment, changes outcomes for investigations, prosecutions, and long-term recovery
This keynote is both a call to alignment and a practical roadmap that honors the critical role of law enforcement while elevating survivor expertise as essential, not optional.
Tanya Gould
Survivor Leader U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking
Tanya Gould is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the fight against human trafficking. She currently serves as the Anti-Human Trafficking Director for the Virginia Office of the Attorney General and was appointed to Governor Youngkin’s Commission on Human Trafficking Prevention and Survivor Support.
In 2022, Tanya received the Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking in Persons and has completed two terms on the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. Her global work includes service on the OSCE International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council.
A sought-after keynote speaker and trainer, Tanya has consulted for numerous federal agencies and organizations, co-produced the documentary Groomed, and serves on multiple national boards. She brings a powerful blend of policy expertise, survivor-centered leadership, and lived insight to every engagement.
Blue Dot Human Trafficking Initiative
The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, Anti-Human Trafficking Manager along with Mercy Medical Center, Forensic Nursing Program and the Baltimore City Human Trafficking Collaborative, Victim Services Committee continue to run the “Blue Dot Human Trafficking Initiative” in the City of Baltimore. Blue Dot is a 24/7 emergency response to any human trafficking survivor or sex worker located in Baltimore City or surrounding jurisdictions. This program will ensure that no survivors of trafficking fall through the cracks, and that all identified survivors receive appropriate services. Only law enforcement, fire department EMTs, Hospitals, and selected service providers can access the Blue Dot. Mercy is acting as a one stop shop for entry into services. Survivors are offered a large array of services at Mercy in include medical exams, forensic exams, food, clothing, SDT testing/treatment to include AIDS, detox, mental health and other services. There is also onsite advocacy for survivors who will connect them to long term case management and housing. This program requires no insurance and is free of charge to the survivor. The survivor will remain anonymous throughout their time at Mercy Medical Center.
The Blue Dot Human Trafficking Initiative has become a National Gold Standard and received the 2023 Presidential Award for Excellence in Combating Trafficking in Persons. There were only two recipients from across the United States that received this prestigious award. Blue Dot has been a game changer for the City of Baltimore.
Thomas Stack
Anti-Human Trafficking and Sexual Assault Response Manager for the City of Baltimore
Thomas Stack is the Anti-Human Trafficking and Sexual Assault Response Manager for the City of Baltimore within the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, where he oversees citywide trafficking and sexual assault response efforts. He is the founder and Co-Chair of the Baltimore City Human Trafficking Collaborative and previously served as Human Trafficking Policy Analyst for the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention, where he led statewide anti-trafficking initiatives, developed policy, conducted law enforcement trainings, and served on the Governor-appointed Safe Harbor Workgroup for child sex trafficking victims. Mr. Stack retired from the Montgomery County Police Department after more than 26 years of service, including 14 years in the Vice and Intelligence Unit, and has investigated over 450 prostitution and human trafficking cases. He served as a Task Force Officer with the FBI’s Maryland Child Exploitation Task Force and was a lead investigator in the United States v. Jeremy Naughton human trafficking case. He has testified before the Maryland House and Senate Judiciary Committees and is recognized as an expert in prostitution and human trafficking investigations by Maryland courts.
Collaborating on Purpose
Collaboration is perhaps the most important need within the anti-trafficking movement, yet it is routinely misunderstood, confused, and often overlooked in pursuit of individual interest. Multidisciplinary teams, comprised of law enforcement and service providers are a relatively new step in fostering collaboration in the counter-trafficking space but do they work? Whom do they best serve? What are the results of these teams? In 2019, Doug Gilmer began researching these questions as part of his doctoral dissertation. His research, the first of its kind on this topic ever conducted, involved in-depth interviews and focus groups of law enforcement, service providers, and ultimately survivors, across the country to better understand the outcomes of effective collaboration, what effective collaboration looks like, how collaboration really works, and the challenges to collaboration. In this presentation, Doug boils down this research (leaving out the boring research stuff), and presents his findings in a very unique, humorous, and memorable format to help those wanting to work more effectively, build shared purpose within their teams, task forces, and MDTs.
Dr. Douglas Gilmer
President of Resolved Strategies, retired HSI Special Agent and former Senior Law Enforcement Advisor at the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking
Dr Doug Gilmer is the 2024 recipient of the William Wilberforce Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts in countering human trafficking around the world. A 35+ year law enforcement veteran, he most recently served as the Senior Law Enforcement Advisor at the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) in Washington, D.C. In 2021, Doug earned his PhD while completing groundbreaking research on the outcomes of multidisciplinary teams in countering human trafficking. Retiring in August 2024, Doug’s dedication to efforts surrounding anti-trafficking/exploitation have not stopped. He is the Founder & President of Resolved Strategies, LLC, a global justice solutions group, working with non-profits, NGOs, law enforcement and government agencies, the technology industry, and the financial sector, to better equip them to protect vulnerable populations. A well published author and passionate communicator, Doug strives to connect people and organizations with mission and purpose to drive change in their communities and around the world.
Case Scenario Presentation: “Seminole County Human Trafficking Case Study”
This case scenario will walk through real investigations conducted by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, highlighting how traffickers recruit victims through social media, the steps taken to identify and recover victims, and the challenges faced during prosecution. It will include examples of undercover operations, evidence collection, and multi-agency collaboration, as well as the obstacles encountered when preparing victims for trial. The goal is to demonstrate the importance of a victim-centered approach and persistence in dismantling trafficking networks while ensuring survivors receive long-term support.
Maurice Edwards
Supervisor
Child Sex Trafficking Team
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Maurice Edwards is a Supervisor on the Child Sex Trafficking Team within the Analytical Services Division at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, where he oversees team operations and collaborates closely with law enforcement, partners, technology companies, and service providers on sensitive trafficking-related matters.
Mr. Edwards began his law enforcement career in 2006 with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, where he investigated missing juvenile and human trafficking cases and served as a Task Force Officer with the FBI Innocent Images Task Force. He also served as Chair of the Seminole County Human Trafficking Task Force from 2015 to 2021 before retiring in 2022. His work has been recognized with multiple Florida Governor’s Human Trafficking Awards and his 2023 induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame for Distinguished Service.
Bridging the Gap: Survivors and Law Enforcement in Conversation
Moderator – Gina Cavallo
Fear and mistrust of law enforcement remain among the most significant barriers to identifying victims and holding traffickers accountable, not only during major events like the World Cup, but long after the crowds leave and the headlines fade. This moderated panel brings survivor leaders and law enforcement professionals into honest conversation about where trust is lost, how system responses can unintentionally retraumatize, and what meaningful partnership truly looks like in practice.
Through real-world experiences and case-based discussion, panelists will examine critical gaps in identification, reporting, and investigative processes, and explore how agencies can build sustainable, survivor-centered practices that extend well beyond the tournament
Action objectives:
• Identify common points where survivors disengage from law enforcement and why
• Recognize behaviors, language, and procedures that build trust rather than fear
• Apply trauma-informed, survivor-centered approaches during first contact and interviews
• Strengthen collaboration between survivor-led organizations and investigative teams
• Commit to at least three concrete changes participants will implement in their departments following the conference
Gina Cavallo
NJCAHT Board Vice President and Survivor Consultant Conference Host and Program Lead
Gina Cavallo is an author, national speaker, advocate, and consultant in the anti-trafficking movement, recognized for her survivor-informed leadership and commitment to strengthening systems that serve victims and survivors. She is the founder and executive director of the survivor-led nonprofit We RISE USA and serves as Survivor Consultant and Board Vice President for the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking (NJCAHT). Gina also co-chairs the Anti-Trafficking Task Force of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is an appointed member of the New Jersey Commission on Human Trafficking, where she helps advance survivor-centered policy, collaboration, and accountability across sectors.
Sergeant Marshall Wang
Human Trafficking Unit
Morris County Prosecutors
Marshall Wang began his career with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in 2007. Marshall had worked in different units within the Prosecutor’s Office until 2011, when he was assigned to the Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit where he would spend the majority of his career. While assigned to the Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit, Marshall had worked as a detective, detective supervisor, and ultimately was promoted to sergeant of the unit. Sgt. Wang had investigated and supervised numerous human trafficking investigations, sexual assault investigations, and child endangerment cases during his tenure. Sgt. Wang is the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice’s Academy’s instructor for Sex Crimes Investigations as well as the instructor of Interview and Interrogation.
David Ryan
Chief Westchester Police (Retired)
David Ryan served as Chief of Police in Pound Ridge, NY for over 23 years, retiring in 2022 after a
40-year law enforcement career. Chief Ryan is a nationally recognized subject matter expert in the fields of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking. He has introduced numerous programs which have created working partnerships with law enforcement and many aspects of the local and regional community including school districts, community mental health organizations, faith-based organizations, and human trafficking service providers. Chief Ryan’s current roles among many others include: Coordinator of the Westchester County NY Anti-Trafficking Task Force (ECM) as assigned through the International Organization for Adolescents; Director of the Westchester County NY Domestic Violence High Risk Team; Law Enforcement Training and Policy Consultant to the NY State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Division of Criminal Justice Services; Instructor and Consultant to the Montclair University Global Center on Human Trafficking; Member – Department of Justice Office for Violence Against Women Peer Review Team; International Association of Chiefs of Police Faculty Member; Police Instructor – Leadership Institute to Combat
Human Trafficking; Consultant and Instructor to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research Law Enforcement Training and Technical Assistance Consortium (LETTAC); and Instructor – Leadership Institute to Combat Human Trafficking.
Megan Lundstrom
Chief Executive Officer, Polaris
Megan Lundstrom is a nationally recognized leader in human trafficking prevention, survivor-led systems reform, and data-informed policy and program design. She serves as Chief Executive Officer of Polaris, where she leads national strategy, research, and partnerships that integrate advocacy, technology, and survivor insight to disrupt trafficking across industries.
Grounded in lived experience, Ms. Lundstrom has helped shape how government and the private sector understand trafficking, particularly at the intersection of labor, transportation, and exploitation. Her survivor-informed frameworks have guided prevention strategies across corporate, financial, and transportation sectors and strengthened coordinated responses nationwide.
Ms. Lundstrom has led federally supported research, advised state and federal agencies, served on governor-appointed anti-trafficking councils, and consulted with the U.S. Department of State. Her work has informed legislation, prosecutions, and national partnerships addressing both labor and sex trafficking.
Katrina Massey
Lived Experience Expert
Having been exploited in the commercial sex industry as a teenager in Atlanta and New York to becoming a real estate broker and restaurateur of several ventures managing over $6 million annually, Katrina Massey has used her experiences to inspire professionals and the lives of youth affected by sex-trafficking to find balance, inspiration, and progression beyond trauma and experiences that affect personal growth. Katrina began in the movement as a victim’s advocate and expert speaker on the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). She is often tapped by government entities, law enforcement, social service agencies, juvenile court systems, and families to inform treatment services, facilitate training, and create awareness; her insight has proven invaluable. As a Restaurateur and Entrepreneur, Katrina has partnered with numerous ventures, employing survivors and implementing mentorship programs. She has used her experience and expertise to create opportunities for survivors, giving them a reflection of the possibilities beyond their trauma. For nearly twenty years, her knowledge and expertise have impacted changes in laws on the local and national front. Katrina’s partnerships include Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign, Sanctuary for Families, CATW, Runaway Girl, NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking, and others. She also sits on several boards including PACT (Protect All Children from Trafficking) and local mutual aids. Being of service is her passion. In all she does, she leads with compassion.
Hollie Nadel
Survivor Leader
Director of Advocacy and Engagement 3 Strands Global Foundation
Hollie Nadel is a survivor leader and national advocate in the anti-trafficking movement, bringing expertise in advocacy, policy, training, and survivor engagement. She serves as Director of Advocacy and Engagement for 3Strands Global Foundation and collaborates with cross-sector leaders to advance survivor-centered protections and justice.
Hollie has spoken for organizations including ACAMS, USAA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, congressional briefings, and state and national anti-trafficking forums. She has served on advisory boards for leading anti-trafficking organizations and holds a certification in Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking. Her work focuses on strengthening survivor leadership and advancing bipartisan anti-trafficking policy.
How Good Legislation can Help Law Enforcement Successfully Prosecute Offenders and
Protect Victims
Senator Angela V. McKnight
New Jersey Legislative District 31
Senator Angela V. McKnight was elected to the Senate in November 2023. She previously served in the Assembly, representing the 31st District from 2016-2024. She was Deputy Majority Leader from 2022-2023. The senator is a resident of Jersey City, and is the founder and chief executive officer of AngelaCARES, an advocacy and support organization for senior citizens. She is also the owner of Care About You, LLC, which provides consulting services for the elderly population, and is CEO of Thank HER Now, LLC. She also conducts speaking engagements, training, mentoring, and business consulting as the Carepreneur. She is the producer of the Thank Her Now Podcast and CEO of the company. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix. Senator McKnight currently resides in her hometown of Jersey City. She is a mother of two children (21 and 29), is a first-time grandmother, and is happily married to her high school sweetheart.
Panel From Identification to Prosecution: A Survivor-Centered Case Pathway
Moderator – Theresa Hilton
This case-based session examines a trafficking investigation from first contact through prosecution, highlighting how investigative choices impact survivor cooperation, evidence development, and case outcomes. Using real-world scenarios, the presenter will demonstrate where cases commonly fail, and how trauma-informed, demand-focused strategies improve both survivor safety and successful prosecution.
Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to integrate survivor engagement, recovery planning, and accountability into every phase of a trafficking investigation.
Theresa Hilton
Director, NJ Division of Criminal Justice
Theresa L. Hilton is the Director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), Office of the Attorney General. Prior to this appointment, Director Hilton supervised the DCJ Human Trafficking and Victim-Centered Crimes Bureau, Major Threats Bureau, Bias Bureau, and Environmental Crimes Bureau. Director Hilton was also responsible for developing trauma-informed strategies for the eradication of domestic violence and sexual assault across New Jersey. Recently, Director Hilton served as the Acting Mercer County Prosecutor from August to December 2024. Before joining DCJ
in September 2022, Director Hilton spent seven years as an assistant prosecutor with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, with her last assignment as the supervisor of the Domestic Violence Unit. Director Hilton began her career as an active-duty assistant staff judge advocate of the United States Air Force, where she was involved in the investigation and prosecution of multiple sexual assault allegations, among other responsibilities. She is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserve. Director Hilton received her B.A. in Mathematics from Hamilton College, New York, in 2003 and her J.D. from the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly University of California Hastings College of the Law) in 2007.
Tanya Gould
Survivor Leader U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking
Tanya Gould is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the fight against human trafficking. She currently serves as the Anti-Human Trafficking Director for the Virginia Office of the Attorney General and was appointed to Governor Youngkin’s Commission on Human Trafficking Prevention and Survivor Support.
In 2022, Tanya received the Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking in Persons and has completed two terms on the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. Her global work includes service on the OSCE International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council.
A sought-after keynote speaker and trainer, Tanya has consulted for numerous federal agencies and organizations, co-produced the documentary Groomed, and serves on multiple national boards. She brings a powerful blend of policy expertise, survivor-centered leadership, and lived insight to every engagement.
Laura Magnone
Bureau Chief of the Human Trafficking and Cyber Bureaus within the Division of Criminal Justice
Laura Magnone serves as the Bureau Chief of the Human Trafficking and Cyber Bureaus within the Division of Criminal Justice at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. In this role, she oversees the investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking, sexual assault, and child exploitation cases.
Laura joined the Attorney General’s Office in 2023, following an accomplished career as a Senior Assistant Prosecutor with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. There, she worked in the Sex Crimes and Child Endangerment Unit, prosecuting numerous first-degree cases. Most notably, Laura led the prosecution of Morris County’s first human trafficking trial, securing a guilty verdict and a 40-year state prison sentence.
Laura, a dedicated career prosecutor, has also served as an Assistant Prosecutor with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, where she gained experience in the Appellate, Juvenile, Homicide, and Special Victims Units.
Her expertise in human trafficking cases has earned her commendations for both investigations and successful prosecutions. Additionally, she has served as the legal advisor to the New Jersey Sex Crimes Officers’ Association.
Laura currently serves on the New Jersey Human Commission and until recently served on the New Jersey Supreme Court Criminal Practice Committee. These appointments reflect her dedication to advancing New Jersey’s criminal justice system.
Jason Maloney
Detective I New Jersey State Police
Human Trafficking Unit
Detective I Jason Maloney has served as a New Jersey State Trooper for over ten years and has spent more than four of those years assigned to the New Jersey State Police Human Trafficking Unit. In this role, he investigates human trafficking cases across the state, approaching each investigation with a victim-centered and trauma-informed perspective. Detective Maloney has led and assisted in numerous investigations that have resulted in the successful prosecution of traffickers. He is deeply committed to building trust with survivors, strengthening interagency collaboration, and advancing proactive strategies to combat exploitation. His work reflects a focused dedication to identifying trafficking patterns, fostering partnerships at both the local and federal levels, and enhancing investigative strategies to more effectively address human trafficking.
John-Michael Lander
Survivor Athlete Leader
John-Michael Lander is a former Olympic diving contender and sexual abuse survivor. As a 14-year old Olympic-bound athlete, the adults entrusted in John-Michael’s training groomed and trafficked him into silence. Through his experiences he created the Predatory Grooming Trifecta© and Predatory Internet Grooming© (PIG). He is the founder of An Athlete’s Silence. He has been in Time Magazine, USA Today, on CBC Canada Tonight, Safe Sports International, and NCOSE Global Summit. He worked on the Athletes’ Bill of Rights, and was a discussion panelist for Netflix film, Athlete A. He interviewed for the George Clooney Production Company’s documentary on a university doctor’s sex scandal. He is currently on the board of directors for She Has A Name in Columbus, Ohio. And is the author of two novels, Surface Tension and Cracked Surface. As a certified Coach and Trainer for the Self-Talk Institute, John-Michael works with survivors on changing their ideology of false-self to change their future. He participated with NJCAHT with the “HT101” and “How to Talk to Your Children and Keep them Safe Online” Presentations. The recipient of the 2024 Freedom Award. Nominated for the 2025 and 2023 Liberator Award.
Stephanie Jimenez
Human Trafficking Program Specialist
New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Division of Criminal Justice
Stephanie Jimenez is a Human Trafficking Program Specialist with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Division of Criminal Justice. She has more than a decade of experience in the human services and victim advocacy field, working extensively with survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual violence, and complex victimization cases. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology from Montclair State University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Research and Data Analysis at Montclair State University
Stephanie began her career providing direct crisis intervention and advocacy services in domestic violence safe houses and court-based settings. She went on to serve in multiple roles within the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, including Victim Witness Advocate and Project Direct Coordinator, where she supervised victim services programs, trained local law enforcement agencies, coordinated multidisciplinary teams, and strengthened countywide responses to crime victims.
In her current role with DCJ, Stephanie provides comprehensive, trauma-informed, survivor-centered support to victims of human trafficking statewide. She works closely with law enforcement, prosecutors, and community partners throughout investigations and prosecutions. Her work includes crisis intervention, safety planning, court accompaniment, victim rights education, referrals to essential services, community outreach, and the delivery of specialized training to service providers, law enforcement, and community partners on the identification and response to human trafficking. She is fluent in Spanish and holds multiple state-recognized certifications in domestic violence advocacy, sexual violence advocacy, victim assistance, non-fatal strangulation, and forensic interviewing.
When the World Is Watching: Why the World Cup Is a National Accountability Test
• Why mega-events expose systemic blind spots
• How Congress views the World Cup as a stress test for national trafficking policy
• What federal accountability looks like before, during, and after the tournament
• Why this conference matters in shaping long-term reform
This becomes: Why this moment matters nationally.
Congressman Chris Smith
4th Congressional District
Elected in 1980, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester, N.J.) is currently in his 23rd, two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and serves residents of the Fourth Congressional District of New Jersey. Mr. Smith serves as a senior member on the Foreign Affairs Committee and as Chairman of its Africa Subcommittee, which has oversight over the continent, with U.S. legislative authority over Africa, along with important State Department bureaus and programs. These include the Office of Foreign Assistance; The Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy, including PEPFAR; the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and; The U.S. Agency for International Development. He has been appointed to serve as both the Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and as Co-Chair of the bipartisan House/Senate/White House Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC). In the 119th Congress he has also been appointed as a member of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, which includes the regional focus of Central and South America and functional jurisdiction over the bureaus such as the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, which covers his groundbreaking work to fight human trafficking, advance religious freedom and international labor rights. He has also served as “Special Representative” on Human Trafficking for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Additionally, he previously served as Chair and highest-ranking House member of the bipartisan House/Senate Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE, or Helsinki Commission) serving as chairman five times, and has served as Chairman of the Veterans Committee (two terms), and chaired the Foreign Affairs’ past subcommittees on human rights, international operations and organizations, and global health.
Day Two
Welcome and Recap of Day One
Leadership & Commitment
Leading by Example in a World Cup Year
• Why county sheriffs must treat the World Cup as a year-long readiness effort, not a two-week operation
• How leadership culture inside departments directly affects survivor trust
• The responsibility of command staff to model trauma-informed, survivor-centered practices
• His commitment to collaboration with survivor-led organizations and multidisciplinary partners
• A clear charge to fellow leaders in the room: what he expects departments to implement after this conference
Sheriff Shaun Golden
Monmouth County
Shaun Golden is the 76th Sheriff of Monmouth County and the Chief Executive of the agency which consists of four divisions: Law Enforcement, Communications, Corrections and Special Operations, as well as the administration of the Office of Emergency Management, EMS Operations -MedStar, and the Monmouth County Police and Fire Academies. Sheriff Golden has led and developed numerous public safety programs, initiatives and partnerships. He is a leader in the battle against
drug abuse, and implemented the HOPE One Monmouth Mobile Unit, an innovative, leading approach to combating the opioid epidemic in Monmouth County. He is also a supporter and participant of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Takeback program. The Sheriff works vigorously in maintaining public safety with homeland security efforts and is in the forefront of emergency services through the 9-1-1 Communications Center, the Office of Emergency Management, and Emergency Medical Service Operations. In addition, Sheriff Golden is
instrumental in promoting shared services in Monmouth County, at a cost savings to residents. The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is nationally accredited in all areas of operation and continues to maintain or exceed those nationally accepted standards.
Sex Buyers and the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup: A Case Study in Organized Crime
- How consumer demand for commercial sex spiked around the soccer world cup in South Africa
- The intersection of sex buying, drug trafficking, and organized crime
- Wide implications for law enforcement, policymakers, and anti-trafficking efforts
Marcel Van Der Watt
President & CEO of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE)
Marcel van der Watt, Ph.D., is President and CEO of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, bringing more than 23 years of experience addressing human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and organized crime. His background includes work as a police investigator, hostage and suicide negotiator, and criminal case consultant.
Marcel holds a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in Forensic Investigations and has consulted on sex trafficking cases, provided expert court testimony, and briefed members of the U.S. Congress on issues related to exploitation and online criminality. He is a published author and international speaker who has trained professionals across more than 30 countries.
Keynote Speaker
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport is a lifelong New Jersey resident and the mother of two daughters. As Attorney General, Jennifer oversees over 42,000 law enforcement officers and the 8,000 employees of the Department of Law and Public Safety. She arrives to the role with a long career in public service and with law enforcement, including four years in top roles at the Attorney General’s Office, as First Assistant Attorney General and as Principal Law Enforcement Advisor. Jennifer also spent seven years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, including as Chief of the General Crimes Unit.
In addition to her work as a career prosecutor, Jennifer has held multiple senior roles within law enforcement agencies, including as Division Counsel to the New Jersey Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; as New Jersey Commissioner on the Waterfront Commission; and as an intelligence analyst for the DEA both before and during law school. In the private sector, Jennifer served as Senior Director for Compliance, Deputy General Counsel, and Chief Litigation Counsel at PSEG and as a litigation associate at two major law firms. Jennifer clerked for Chief Judge John W. Bissell of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. She is a graduate of DeSales University and Seton Hall University School of Law. Jennifer grew up in Cape May County and she currently lives in Monmouth County with her two daughters.
After the Stadium Lights Fade: What Accountability Means for Survivor Recovery
• What it means for survivors when major events pass and nothing changes
• The cost of “event-only” responses
• Why accountability must outlive the stadium lights
• How survivors experience systems that prepare for the World Cup but abandon them afterward
This becomes: Why legacy matters more than optics.
Megan Lundstrom
Chief Executive Officer, Polaris
Megan Lundstrom is a nationally recognized leader in human trafficking prevention, survivor-led systems reform, and data-informed policy and program design. She serves as Chief Executive Officer of Polaris, where she leads national strategy, research, and partnerships that integrate advocacy, technology, and survivor insight to disrupt trafficking across industries.
Grounded in lived experience, Ms. Lundstrom has helped shape how government and the private sector understand trafficking, particularly at the intersection of labor, transportation, and exploitation. Her survivor-informed frameworks have guided prevention strategies across corporate, financial, and transportation sectors and strengthened coordinated responses nationwide.
Ms. Lundstrom has led federally supported research, advised state and federal agencies, served on governor-appointed anti-trafficking councils, and consulted with the U.S. Department of State. Her work has informed legislation, prosecutions, and national partnerships addressing both labor and sex trafficking.
Hollie Nadel
Survivor Leader, Director of Advocacy and Engagement
3 Strands Global Foundation
Hollie Nadel is a survivor leader and national advocate in the anti-trafficking movement, bringing expertise in advocacy, policy, training, and survivor engagement. She serves as Director of Advocacy and Engagement for 3Strands Global Foundation and collaborates with cross-sector leaders to advance survivor-centered protections and justice.
Hollie has spoken for organizations including ACAMS, USAA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, congressional briefings, and state and national anti-trafficking forums. She has served on advisory boards for leading anti-trafficking organizations and holds a certification in Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking. Her work focuses on strengthening survivor leadership and advancing bipartisan anti-trafficking policy.
Ending Demand: Accountability, Recovery, and the Role of Law Enforcement
Gina Cavallo – Moderator
Human trafficking does not end with victim identification, and it does not persist without demand. This panel brings survivor leaders and law enforcement together to examine how investigative practices, prosecution strategies, and community partnerships can disrupt buyers and traffickers while ensuring survivors are not left to navigate recovery alone.
Panelists will explore how survivor experiences expose gaps in accountability, why demand-focused operations often fail without survivor trust, and how agencies can align recovery planning with investigative goals, particularly in preparation for and beyond large-scale events like the World Cup.
Through candid dialogue and real-world examples, this session will challenge participants to rethink how accountability, recovery, and demand reduction must operate as a single strategy, not separate tracks.
Action objectives:
• Understand how survivor engagement strengthens buyer and trafficker accountability
• Identify ways current systems unintentionally shield demand while burdening survivors
• Examine investigative approaches that center accountability without retraumatization
• Learn how coordinated recovery planning improves case integrity and prosecution success
• Commit to concrete steps departments can take to reduce demand before, during, and long after the World Cup
• Local law enforcement
• Service provider/advocate
Focus:
• Response coordination
• Hotlines, operations, communication channels
• What survivors need to feel safe engaging
• Barriers and solutions
Gina Cavallo
NJCAHT Board Vice President and Survivor Consultant Conference Host and Program Lead
Gina Cavallo is an author, national speaker, advocate, and consultant in the anti-trafficking movement, recognized for her survivor-informed leadership and commitment to strengthening systems that serve victims and survivors. She is the founder and executive director of the survivor-led nonprofit We RISE USA and serves as Survivor Consultant and Board Vice President for the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking (NJCAHT). Gina also co-chairs the Anti-Trafficking Task Force of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is an appointed member of the New Jersey Commission on Human Trafficking, where she helps advance survivor-centered policy, collaboration, and accountability across sectors.
Maurice Edwards
Supervisor Child Sex Trafficking Team
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Maurice Edwards is a Supervisor on the Child Sex Trafficking Team within the Analytical Services Division at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, where he oversees team operations and collaborates closely with law enforcement, partners, technology companies, and service providers on sensitive trafficking-related matters.
Mr. Edwards began his law enforcement career in 2006 with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, where he investigated missing juvenile and human trafficking cases and served as a Task Force Officer with the FBI Innocent Images Task Force. He also served as Chair of the Seminole County Human Trafficking Task Force from 2015 to 2021 before retiring in 2022. His work has been recognized with multiple Florida Governor’s Human Trafficking Awards and his 2023 induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame for Distinguished Service.
Cristian Eduardo
Survivor & Human Trafficking Consultant/ Advocate / Engineer
Cristian Eduardo is an advocate, speaker, and educator for anti-trafficking initiatives – including the Equality Model, and an advocate for immigrant and LGBTQ+ rights. He is a survivor of international and domestic human trafficking, a queer Mexican immigrant, a person living with HIV, and someone who speaks openly about the mental health challenges he has faced that frequently result from trauma. Cristian Eduardo is a Survivor Leader at New Yorkers for the Equality Model. He also serves as a member of different Survivors’ Advisory Boards and Councils including: NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking Board of Trustees and Survivor Advisory Board; Alliance to End Human Trafficking; Sanctuary for Families; United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants; PACT-USA. He is a co-chair of the New York State Anti-Trafficking Coalition and the co-founder of United Immigrants of New York and Mujeres en Resistencia, coalitions of advocates focused on creating awareness and educating about gender-based violence, including femicide, and connecting the Spanish-speaking community with accessible resources.
Theresa Flores
LSW, MS Ed – Survivor & Educator
Founder The SOAP Project
Theresa Flores is a survivor of human trafficking, a best-selling author and the founder of The SOAP Project. She is a licensed Social Worker, was appointed to the Ohio Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Commission in 2009 and has testified before the Ohio House and Senate in support of Human Trafficking Legislation. Additionally, the “Theresa Flores Law” was passed in Michigan that eliminates the statute of limitation for children who have been trafficked. Ms. Flores was sold in an underground crime ring in an upper middle-class suburb outside Detroit from the time she was 15-17 years old. She now works with other survivors, has researched the health problems of over 200 trafficking survivors, and has hosted over 400 women at Survivor Wellness Weekends. In addition to publishing 5 books, Ms. Flores has also received many awards including the L’Oréal Women of Worth & University of Dayton’s Alumni Association 2013 Christian Service Award and The Courage Award from the Governor of Ohio for her work in human trafficking.
Dr. Douglas Gilmer
President of Resolved Strategies, retired HSI Special Agent and former Senior Law Enforcement Advisor at the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking
Dr Doug Gilmer is the 2024 recipient of the William Wilberforce Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts in countering human trafficking around the world. A 35+ year law enforcement veteran, he most recently served as the Senior Law Enforcement Advisor at the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) in Washington, D.C. In 2021, Doug earned his PhD while completing groundbreaking research on the outcomes of multidisciplinary teams in countering human trafficking. Retiring in August 2024, Doug’s dedication to efforts surrounding anti-trafficking/exploitation have not stopped. He is the Founder & President of Resolved Strategies, LLC, a global justice solutions group, working with non-profits, NGOs, law enforcement and government agencies, the technology industry, and the financial sector, to better equip them to protect vulnerable populations. A well published author and passionate communicator, Doug strives to connect people and organizations with mission and purpose to drive change in their communities and around the world.
Melanie Thompson
Chief Advocacy & Outreach Officer Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
Melanie Thompson is a survivor of sex trafficking and prostitution, and is separately a speaker, activist, and leader in the global fight to end prostitution and commercial sexual exploitation. Trafficked and sold into prostitution at the age of 12, she was later arrested and placed into foster care. She became an activist at age 14. With over 16 years of advocacy experience, she is both a national and international expert consultant and speaks avidly to the intersectionality of race, child welfare, juvenile justice, LGBTQ+ rights and other systems of oppression. As a subject matter expert, Melanie has extensive media experience and has testified before numerous legislatures and entities, including the United Nations and various Parliaments, about the need to pass strong anti-trafficking laws and end the arrests of sex trafficked and prostituted people in the sex trade. She sits on several Survivor Advisory Boards working to implement inclusivity and create more effective strategies for survivors everywhere. By day, she serves as the Chief Advocacy & Outreach Coordinator at the UN NGO-Coalition Against Trafficking in Women International.
No Trafficking Zone Law Enforcement Training
No Trafficking Zone conducts scenario-based, interactive, real-time training for law enforcement officers, recognizing that human trafficking is often hidden in plain sight. Victims are frequently encountered not by specialized human trafficking investigators, but by patrol officers, school resource officers, deputies, and first responders who may lack the training, resources, or experiential knowledge needed to identify both trafficking victims and traffickers in real time. This one-of-a-kind, real-time training model is led by human trafficking specialist Jacquelyn Aluotto and survivor-leader Courtney Litvak, who together train and work alongside local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement agencies. The training places officers in realistic scenarios they are likely to encounter in the field, strengthening their ability to recognize trafficking indicators, assess risk factors, identify traffickers, and respond appropriately using victim centered and trauma-informed approaches.
No Trafficking Zone’s specialized law enforcement training is meticulously designed to equip officers with practical, actionable tools to effectively combat human trafficking. Officers learn how to investigate cases, document indicators, engage victims safely, and navigate the complexities of coercion, control, and exploitation. The training also includes customized, culturally responsive strategies to ensure officers can appropriately engage with diverse
communities and populations.
Through this immersive training, law enforcement personnel become a critical frontline force in disrupting and dismantling human trafficking networks. Agencies are also trained on how to effectively leverage partnerships with advocates, survivor leaders, service providers, and multiagency task forces, ensuring coordinated responses that protect victims, strengthen investigations, and bring traffickers to justice.
Jacquelyn Aluotto
President
No Trafficking Zone, NTZ
Jacquelyn Aluotto is a nationally recognized human rights activist and anti-trafficking leader known for building innovative partnerships across law enforcement, media, technology, and community sectors. She began her work exposing violence and exploitation as the producer of the documentary Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY), which documented abuse, trafficking, and survival inside shelters across the United States and helped spark national prevention efforts.
Aluotto has advised lawmakers and testified at congressional briefings on trafficking patterns and legislative solutions, including co-authoring an amendment to secure restitution for victims trafficked through Backpage. In 2019, she was appointed to establish an Anti-Trafficking Unit within one of the nation’s largest law enforcement precincts, serving as a Human Trafficking Liaison and advocate for children and families.
In 2020, she co-founded No Trafficking Zone, a nonprofit dedicated to disrupting trafficking networks by increasing accountability and risk for offenders. Under her leadership, NRG Park became the world’s first sports and entertainment venue designated as a No Trafficking Zone.
Courtney Litvak
Lived Experience Expert
Courtney Litvak is a survivor leader and Director of Survivor Initiatives for No Trafficking Zone. She previously served as an Honorable Member of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking from 2020–2023, appointed by former President Donald Trump. During her term, she helped develop recommendations to improve federal anti-trafficking policy and consulted with federal agencies to strengthen survivor-led programming, including work with the President’s Interagency Task Force and the Senior Policy Operating Group.
Ms. Litvak also serves as a survivor consultant within the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign and is a nationally recognized subject matter expert and advocate. In her role with No Trafficking Zone, she leads survivor initiatives, victim advocacy, and collaboration with law enforcement and nonprofit partners nationwide.
As a survivor of trafficking exploited during her own high school years, Ms. Litvak has been instrumental in advancing legislation to protect students and youth. She has testified at the Texas Capitol and supported the passage of key anti-trafficking laws, including SB 1831 in 2021 and HB 3553 and HB 3554 in 2023.
Sponsors and Partners
Thanks to our sponsors and partners.
