Tobin was born and raised in Flandreau, SD, with his two sisters and mom. He attended undergrad at Black Hills State University where he studied elementary education. After about five years of teaching, Tobin went back to school and earned his masters degree in school counseling, and last year he completed a specialist degree in educational leadership. His counseling experience includes ten years at the middle school level, and this is his first year working at Hawthorne Elementary. In the past Tobin has worked with the South Dakota School Counselor Association serving on numerous boards and roles including treasurer, technology chair, and also association president.

In addition, Tobin has been an active education consultant and speaker locally and nationally. Some topics include: video game/technology compulsion, social/emotional learning, and LGBTQ+ education.

In his spare time, he loves to play with his dogs, watch and play sports, and travel as much as possible. He currently lives with his partner and enjoys the company of his four kids part-time.

Hailey Nold is a student at Augustana University studying psychology and Spanish with an emphasis in clinical counseling, She is passionate about mental health advocacy and research.

Currently, she is a Communications Intern for SD EPSCoR, where she produces media content for the organization’s platforms and communicate with researchers about the various events and publications procured by SD EPSCoR. She is also a Social Media Intern for the Augustana University Office of Admissions, where she creates and manages content aimed at prospective students. If that is not enough, she is also the President of organizations on campus: Psi Chi, Lost&Found, and University Chorale.

As a part of her Augustana experience, she has found a passion for mental health activism. She has been continually working on a research project about how systemically non-dominant students perceive their on-campus counseling clinic through measures of awareness, efficacy beliefs, and willingness to engage. After Augustana, Hailey plans to attend graduate school for clinical mental health.

Christy Alten-Osmera has worked 26 years with Keystone Treatment Center, primarily with adolescents. She has experience working residential, outpatient and in the schools. She is currently the program director and clinical supervisor for the inpatient adolescent unit at Keystone. She is a certified non-violent crisis intervention instructor. She is an internationally certified alcohol and drug counselor, a licensed substance abuse counselor, and a licensed professional counselor of mental health, as well as a qualified mental health professional for SD. She is on the state of SD’s Behavioral Health Advisory Council, and SBIRT subcommittee.  She sits on the board for the National Rural Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Institute.

Christy obtained her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling at Walden University, based out of Minneapolis, MN.  Her undergrad work was at the University of South Dakota, where Christy received her Bachelor’s degree in biology and allied health (alcohol and drug abuse studies).

Outside of Keystone, she enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 children, and multiple pets (some say a small zoo!). She loves the outdoors, photography, and is actively involved in her local church.

Tim Neyhart has a B.S. in Secondary Education. He has been an active member of a number of disability policy work groups concerning special education, mental health, vocational rehabilitation, and other related topics. He is the past chair of the Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired Rehabilitation Advisory Council, past member of the Division of the Vocational Rehabilitation Advisory Council, etc. In 1998, Tim was recognized with the Governor’s Advisory Council Distinguished Service Award.

Tim began his career with DRSD on January 1, 1990. He is now the Executive Director. He says that he likes helping people to identify the things that are important to them and assisting them to achieve those things.

Dr. Paulson is a teacher of pastors or ministers and other church leaders who are working in a church or as chaplains. He has joined the Luther House of Study, which is part of the Sioux Falls Seminary, and holds the chair of Lutheran Theology at the Seminary.  Dr. Steven has a doctorate in systematic theology from the Lutherans School of Theology in Chicago, and has taught at Luther Seminary in St. Paul and Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.  He also is an ordained pastor.  He grew up in Wisconsin, and was a Pastor at a church in Door County Wisconsin, on Washington Island. 

Dr. Steven has family in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and he and his wife Crystal are enjoying life in Sioux Falls SD these past three years, and hope for many more. Dr. Steven has written many books in theology, with a new one out this week called the Outlaw God.

A longtime resident of the Sunshine State, Brooke Allen knows her theme parks. She’s a former middle and high school teacher whose passion for education has now shifted toward public health.

The promise of personalized medicine drew her to the All of Us Research Program. With a one-year-old son and another on the way, the hope of improving health for generations to come is something she can whole-heartedly support. 

Brooke holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of Central Florida and enjoys community theater and plant-based cooking.

Benson Lang'at received a Masters in Social Work from The University of South Dakota and is currently a Clinical Social Worker (CSW) and Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) at Family Service, Inc. Sioux Falls, SD. In addition, he is a Level II Certified Running Coach through Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). He is also an RRCA South Dakota State Representative. Benson is an Elite Distance Runner who was named to the 2020 Boston Marathon Honorary Team.

Angie Collignon is a Court Services Officer for Codington County Drug Court. She has held this position for the last 3 years, and has worked for UJS in various roles since 2007 

Angie was born in  Watertown but left for college and didn’t return until 2016.  She graduated with a BS from SDSU with a major in Sociology and a minor in Criminal Justice.

Donald “Lee” Gabel is in the third year of his second term as a county commissioner. As commissioner, Lee has focused on justice and public safety. He continues to lead the effort to cost-effectively fix the problems of undersized and aging jail and court facilities. Lee is also working with other county and community officials to address the problem of mental illness in our jail and to maximize appropriate alternatives to jail. Lee has spearheaded an effort over several legislative sessions to make counties less dependent on property tax to fund infrastructure projects.

Before being elected, he retired from the U.S. Army at the rank of colonel after over 27 years of military service. In addition to county duties, he also works as a consultant for the U.S. Army and as an institutional researcher at Lake Area Technical College.

He and his wife, Anne, also stay involved with Christian non-profit work. Gabel holds a BA degree, two master’s degrees, and the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. His marriage in 1985 to Anne established a permanent tie to Codington County. After retiring from the Army, he and his family settled in Watertown in 2012. Lee and Anne, have five children.

Mallory and Angela spend this episode discussing the struggles of 2020 and helpful coping strategies for 2021 and beyond.