Speakers Page

Dr. Curran earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Mississippi State University and his Doctorate in Inorganic Chemistry from Florida State University. 

During his 28 years of public service, he has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to contribute in many roles, protecting Florida’s environment and serving Florida’s industries and consumers.  Early in his career, Dr. Curran was appointed to multiple laboratory management positions with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. He initially worked closely with the department's air program. He was heavily involved with many of the department's projects relating to surface and ground water quality issues, hazardous waste determinations, as well as laboratory investigations involving environmental crimes and perceived threat materials, such as anthrax. 

In 2005, he moved into the consumer service arena when he was appointed Chief of Petroleum Inspection for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).  That role morphed and expanded into the Chief of Standards role, where he also represented FDACS nationally as the Weights and Measures Director of Florida.  Following this decade-long role, he later served in roles with FDACS as the Assistant Director of Consumer Services, then as Assistant Director of Food Safety, and since 2017, he has served as the Director of Food Safety for the agency. This role now includes the oversight of age-restricted foods such as hemp and hemp extract for human consumption, as well as kratom products.

The Division of Food Safety became an integral part of Florida’s Hemp Program when it was enacted into state law in 2019.  The division is now responsible for the permitting and inspection of establishments in Florida that are extracting, manufacturing, distributing, storing, or selling hemp and hemp extract and other age-restricted products intended for human ingestion or inhalation.  The division conducts inspections of the more than 13,000 establishments selling age-restricted food products and collects random samples of these products from locations across the state, which are then tested in the division’s laboratories for a variety of biological and chemical contaminants, controlled substances, and labeling claims. 

Richard Grosfelt served for over 34 years with the U.S. DEA, spending 28 years as a Special Agent and 6 additional years as Outreach Coordinator for the DEA’s Pharmaceutical Diversion Control Unit. His experience at the DEA has given him a specialized knowledge of both the current drug trends situation and tactical awareness, with an extensive background in teaching and conducting presentations through various training programs. His expertise was gained through conducting numerous narcotics investigations as well as through his certifications as a DEA firearms, tactical, and defensive tactics instructor. In his outreach role, he directed educational programs focused on raising awareness of current drug trends/dangers among diverse audiences, including students, parents, educators, coaches, healthcare professionals, and community groups. As a result of his extensive tactical background, he has also conducted situational awareness training sessions to non-law enforcement personnel during wellness programs designed to increase their overall personal safety.

Jake Boyd has been in law enforcement since 2009.  He has served with the Texas Department of Public Safety since 2012.  During his time with the Texas Highway Patrol, Boyd became part of the Texas Crimes Against Children Interdiction for the Protection of Children (IPC) program.  While assigned to the Texas Highway Patrol Region 1D of Texas, Boyd made multiple IPC traffic stops resulting in child rescues and investigations being initiated.  Boyd was also assigned to assist Troopers identify and rescue endangered or exploited children and identify those who pose a high-risk threat to a child.  Boyd coordinated with Victim Services, the Texas Fusion Center and Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to assist in locating missing children and at-risk children.  He also completed the 40-hour Specialist Interview course instructed by Dr. Joe Sullivan, Forensic Solutions, Ireland.  Boyd is a Master Peace Officer with a Master’s Degree of Science in Criminal Justice.  He currently oversees the IPC program as a Sergeant in the Training Operations Division – Crimes Against Persons Training Unit.  

Jody Heavilin has over 30 years of experience in substance use prevention, intervention, and treatment. She led a county-wide coalition through the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), resulting in a 64% reduction in 12th graders who self-reported drinking and driving. Jody worked as a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist for Prevention First before transitioning to the Alcohol Policy Resource Center, serving as the Administrator since 2019. She is responsible for the APRC monthly newsletter, which has a nationwide reach of over 7,000 people, resource creation, and has provided training to more than 500 law enforcement officers on Alcohol Compliance Check Investigations.

Jody’s expertise includes the SPF, coalition capacity building, alcohol policy, data analysis, and environmental prevention strategies. She received two Illinois MADD Hero of the Year Awards (2011, 2014) and the 2022 Illinois Prevention Leadership Award. Jody earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Eureka College.

Deputy Mark Andrews holds a master peace officer license and is a TCOLE certified instructor. He began
his career as a dispatcher for Boerne Police Department, graduated from the academy in 2001, and
became a Deputy in Comal County in 2002. In 2007, Deputy Andrews moved to the Hays County Sheriff’s
Office and is currently assigned to the Community Outreach Unit.
Over the course of his 23-year career, he has worked in several different capacities, including patrol,
environmental crimes, and crime prevention. Deputy Andrews obtained his Certified Crime Prevention
Specialist certificate in 2018 and enjoys working with the community in all aspects of his current
assignment.
Over the summer of 2022, Hays County experienced the loss of several high school-aged children due to
fentanyl poisonings. In response, the Sheriff’s Office formed a task force to include other area law
enforcement agencies and the DEA. Sheriff Cutler tasked Deputy Andrews to learn everything he could
possibly learn and present that information to as many people as possible. Deputy Andrews joined Janel
Rodriguez, the founder of the forever15project who lost her son to fentanyl in 2022, to bring a very
emotional and moving presentation to anyone and everyone. Together they have presented to more
than 25,000 students and adults in more than 350 presentations.