NAGTRI relies on the feedback and guidance of the NAGTRI Advisory Board to ensure that it continues to be responsive to the needs of the attorney general community. The NAGTRI Advisory Board members include training coordinators, executive staff, and other staff from attorney general offices.

Advisory Board members support continued growth by:

  • Providing continuous advice, counsel, and expertise regarding the development of NAGTRI operations, including curriculum and support to assistant attorneys general and other staff in NAAG member offices.
  • Attending regular planning and development meetings. These conversations serve as an opportunity for Advisory Board members to provide input on NAGTRI’s strategic planning, identify areas of curricular and faculty development, and give feedback for ways that NAGTRI can further support the AG community.
  • Serving as the representative from their jurisdiction to provide valuable insight into the specific training needs of their office.

Current Advisory Board Membership

  • Jessica Leeah
    Senior Assistant Attorney General, Alaska Attorney General's Office
  • Janelle Etelagi
    American Samoa Attorney General's Office
  • Joseph Kanefield
    Chief Deputy & Chief of Staff, Arizona Attorney General’s Office
  • Julie Benafield
    Chief Deputy, Arkansas Attorney General’s Office
  • Bonnie Kneitel
    Legal Training Coordinator, Division of Operations, California Attorney General’s Office
  • Eric Meyer
    Colorado Attorney General’s Office
  • Antoria Howard
    Associate Attorney General, Connecticut Attorney General’s Office
  • Joe Grubb
    Deputy Attorney General, Delaware Attorney General’s Office
  • Gary Kohlman
    Senior Counsel for Litigation, District of Columbia Attorney General’s Office
  • Patrick Buerkle
    Education and Training Specialist, Florida Attorney General’s Office
  • Wright Banks
    Chief Deputy Attorney General, Georgia Attorney General’s Office
  • Fred Nishihira
    Chief of Staff, Guam Attorney General’s Office
  • Kaliko Fernandes
    Hawaii Attorney General’s Office
  • Brian Kane
    Assistant Chief Deputy, Idaho Attorney General’s Office
  • Thor Inouye
    Director of Attorney Recruitment & Professional Development, Illinois Attorney General’s Office
  • Jamie Rivera
    Illinois Attorney General’s Office
  • Patricia Orloff Erdmann
    Chief Counsel for Litigation, Indiana Attorney General’s Office
  • Nathan Blake
    Chief Deputy, Iowa Attorney General’s Office
  • Deann Tiede
    Human Resources Director, Kansas Attorney General’s Office
  • Carmine Iaccarino
    Executive Director, Office of Civil & Environmental Law, Kentucky Attorney General’s Office
  • Terry Alario
    Special Agent & Operations Officer, Louisiana Attorney General’s Office
  • Bill Stiles
    Chief Deputy, Louisiana Attorney General’s Office
  • Debby Willis
    Assistant Attorney General & Chief of Child Support Enforcement Division, Maine Attorney General’s Office
  • Laurie Lyte
    Director of Professional Development & Planning, Maryland Attorney General’s Office
  • Juliana Rice
    General Counsel, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
  • David Tanay
    Director & Division Chief, Michigan Attorney General’s Office
  • Jillian Sully
    Executive Assistant, Minnesota Attorney General’s Office
  • Cammie Ainsworth
    Mississippi Attorney General’s Office
  • Joshua Shasserre
    Chief of Staff, Nebraska Attorney General’s Office
  • Jessica Adair
    Chief of Staff, Nevada Attorney General’s Office
  • David Rotman
    Training Attorney, New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office
  • Margaret Cotoia
    Director of the Attorney General’s Advocacy Institute, New Jersey Attorney General’s Office
  • Tamarra Howard
    Training and Development Director, New Mexico Attorney General’s Office
  • Michael McDermott
    Training Coordinator, New York Attorney General’s Office
  • Kimberly Kinirons
    Assistant Attorney General in Charge, New York Attorney General’s Office
  • Melissa Lovell
    Agency Legal Specialist, North Carolina Attorney General’s Office
  • Matthew A. Sagsveen
    Solicitor General, North Dakota Attorney General’s Office
  • Lillian Tenorio
    Chief Deputy, Northern Mariana Islands Attorney General’s Office
  • Meredith Rockwell
    Chief of Human Resources and Labor Counsel, Ohio Attorney General's Office
  • Lori Carter
    Deputy First Assistant Attorney General, Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office
  • Marc Abrams
    Assistant Attorney in Charge, Oregon Attorney General’s Office
  • Michelle Henry
    First Deputy, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office
  • Leonardo Cabán-Rodríguez
    Special Aide to the Attorney General, Puerto Rico Attorney General’s Office
  • Adi Goldstein
    Deputy Attorney General, Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office
  • Barry J. Bernstein
    Deputy Attorney General, South Carolina Attorney General’s Office
  • Dawn Jordan
    Senior Deputy Attorney General, Tennessee Attorney General’s Office
  • Spencer Austin
    Chief Criminal Deputy, Utah Attorney General’s Office
  • Joshua Diamond
    Deputy Attorney General, Vermont Attorney General’s Office
  • Carol T. Jacobs
    Deputy Attorney General, Virgin Islands Attorney General’s Office
  • Ryan Ferguson
    General Counsel, Virginia Attorney General's Office
  • Aileen Huang
    Deputy Attorney General, Washington Attorney General’s Office
  • Doug Buffington
    Senior Deputy Attorney General, West Virginia Attorney General’s Office
  • Nate Zolik
    Senior Counsel, Wisconsin Attorney General’s Office
  • Jay Jerde
    Special Assistant Attorney General, Wyoming Attorney General’s Office