Speakers

GRACE MANCHALA
Founder/CEO:, Glory for Ashes

Grace Manchala is the founder of Glory for Ashes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating human trafficking.  Having endured trauma in her own life, including encounters with human trafficking, Grace brings deep compassion and advocacy to her work.  She has raised awareness of human trafficking in Montana, training over 3,000 community members and 500 law enforcement and health professionals.  Her advocacy efforts have been instrumental in changing legislation regarding human trafficking in Montana, and she has helped establish numerous human trafficking task forces throughout the state.  

Grace is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Associate (LCMHCA).  Her journey of healing fuels her commitment to support and empower victims of human trafficking and sexual assault.  She is also the co-founder and co-director of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Raleigh, where she resides with her family and continues to champion the cause of justice and provide hope and restoration to those in need.  

KRISTINA BARKEY
MSN, RNC-OB

Kristina Barkey is passionate regarding Maternal Child Health both in the United States and abroad.  As an RN, she has over 30 years of clinical experience working in a high risk/high volume Labor and Delivery Unit in Northern New Jersey.  Currently, Kristina is a clinical adjunct professor in New Jersey, working with nursing students in the field of maternal child health.

 In 2011, Kristina embarked on annual short term medical mission work to Haiti and the Philippines with a team of medical colleagues through her healthcare organization in NJ.  These experiences opened her eyes to healthcare disparity, the marginalized, the vulnerable, and those without a voice.  

In May 2018, Kristina was honored to receive the “Inspiring Global Nurse Award” for her work with healthcare disparity, and the award was presented at the United Nations during International Nurses Day.  After receiving this award she began to collaborate with organizations that focus on creating change with human trafficking issues as it pertains to healthcare. She has provided presentations to multiple nursing programs and healthcare organizations, nationally and internationally. 

Kristina is a speaker focusing on Human Trafficking and the Healthcare Sector, Medical Volunteerism, and Global Maternal Child Health Issues.  She is representing Nurses United Against Human Trafficking (NUAHT) and her focus is to equip healthcare providers with the most current information on Human Trafficking issues with the knowledge and skills to identify and safely aid potential trafficking victims.  

Special Agent Tom Washington,
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Topic: “Human Trafficking in Tennessee, Statistics, Law Enforcement Response”

Special Agent Tom Washington began his years of service to his country in the United States Army where he retired after 20 years of selfless service obtaining the rank of First Sergeant. He then began serving the citizens of Tennessee by working in the Tennessee Highway Patrol and eventually transitioning to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation culminating in 15 years of experience behind the badge between the two agencies. He is currently assigned to the Human Trafficking unit inside T.B.I. where he has attended several trainings and holds various certificates. Special Agent Washington also holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska in Criminal Justice.

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robert Burghardt,
Cybercrime and Digital Evidence Unit
Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Squad
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

Topic: “Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force – Protecting our Children from Online Threats”

Rob Burghardt is the Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) of the TBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. ASAC Burghardt has worked for the TBI investigating Cybercrime and ICAC investigations since 2017. Prior to 2017, ASAC Burghardt served eight years in the U.S. Coast Guard, and was a Uniformed Division Officer for the U.S. Secret Service, assigned to the White House from 2006-2009.

Susan Mathews, MSN
Founder, Love Without Reason

Susan is the co-founder and chairwoman of Love Without Reason, a global nonprofit headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After spending over 20 years in the health care industry, she left her career as a Family Nurse Practitioner and focused on combating human trafficking with Love Without Reason.

She found her purpose through her three children, Philip, Sara and Caleb. Susan is a speaker and the author of “A Mother’s Heart” and co-author of “Raising a Hallelujah” and “If Philip Can, You Can Too,” which she completed for Philip after he went to heaven.