sapenconference@gmail.com OR Call: (412) 321-0365
Welcome to SAPEN Join us for our Annual Conference!! July 15-17, 2026
Sexual Abuse Prevention and Education Network
Graduate Hotel
State College, PA
Registration Open
2026 Keynote Speaker: Garrett L. George
Born in October 1974 in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, Garrett L. George’s life has been a remarkable journey of transformation. What began as a childhood shaped by family turmoil and emotional challenges evolved into a powerful story of resilience, healing, and service. Dividing his youth between Oklahoma and Texas, Garrett navigated the complexities of his parents' divorce and endured the hardships of life at a Boys Ranch, where he faced loneliness, physical abuse, and battled suicidal thoughts. During his teenage years, he also experienced a deeply personal betrayal by someone he trusted— he experienced sexual abuse—an experience that quietly fueled years of anger, inner conflict, and pain.
In his early adult life, the weight of unresolved trauma and pain began to surface. After a violent loss of close friends, Garrett spiraled into addiction, struggling to find meaning amid overwhelming grief and internal conflict. At one point, the cumulative impact of his past led him into a dark and dangerous place.
Things became very real in 2002, when a Drug Task Force raided his home in Amarillo, Texas. Yet even in that rock-bottom moment, Garrett reached for something different. Seeking spiritual help, he experienced a life-changing encounter during a prophetic church service—an awakening that became the turning point in his recovery and the beginning of a new path forward.
Determined to rebuild his life, Garrett entered the real estate industry with Coldwell Banker. It was there that his journey of service truly began, as he was encouraged by colleagues to represent the brokerage in a United Way campaign. His desire to give back deepened further on a mission trip to Managua, Nicaragua, where he served families living in extreme poverty—a humbling experience that left a lasting mark on his heart.
In 2008, Garrett moved to Austin, Texas, to pursue a career in construction sales, and his passion for serving others continued to grow. The defining moment came in 2009 on a flight to Las Vegas, where he met a group of car crash survivors and Wounded Veterans competing in a wheelchair basketball tournament. One individual’s story—marked by resilience and perseverance—inspired Garrett to take action. What began as a personal fundraising effort to provide an all-terrain wheelchair exceeded expectations, with surplus funds donated to Trinity Oaks in San Antonio. This partnership led to Garrett serving as Dream Trips Coordinator for six years, organizing outdoor experiences for terminally ill individuals, Combat Wounded Veterans, Gold Star Families, and those with final hunting wishes.
Since 2013, Garrett has worked alongside numerous nonprofits before founding his own, G2 Impact, helping raise awareness and hundreds of thousands of dollars while directly impacting countless lives. His work reflects a deeply rooted belief in the power of faith, community, and shared human experience to bring healing and hope.
Today, Garrett shares his story as a public speaker, offering an honest and inspiring message centered on resilience, redemption, and purpose. His journey—from trauma, loss, and addiction to healing and service—stands as a testament to the power of transformation. Through his continued work and advocacy, Garrett provides hope to others facing their own struggles, reminding us that even the most painful chapters can be redeemed into something meaningful. His message is clear: your past does not define you—purpose does, and YOU matter.
2026 Presenters
Mastering the Art of Group Therapy
Mr. Sawyer earned his MSSW from the University of Wisconsin in 1980. He is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and founder of Sawyer Solutions, LLC, a private clinical and consulting practice. He was a founding board member and Executive Director of Project Pathfinder, Inc., a founding board member and past chapter president of the Minnesota Chapter of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (MNATSA), and is a past board member and chair of the Minnesota Board of Social Work.
In his clinical practice he provides clinical and consultation services to individuals, and organizations. Over the past 40 years he has assessed and treated hundreds of men who have committed sexual crimes and has supervised or been involved in the treatment of several thousand men in sexual offender treatment.
For more than 20 years he served as a consultant to catholic religious orders on matters of sexual perpetrator assessment, and sexual abuse prevention and management. He has provided clinical supervision and training services for the State of Minnesota and has provided clinical supervision to more than 40 clinicians. He has consulted with civil commitment programs, and provided full day trainings and webinars for state agencies and clinicians.
Mr. Sawyer is an experienced public speaker for the media and professionals. He has given lectures and trainings locally and nationally to public and professional groups about sexual offender treatment, group therapy and sexual abuse prevention. He has published more than 24 articles, workbooks, and book chapters on topics ranging from a program for men who use prostitutes, sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, group therapy with adult sexual offenders, sex dysfunction in sex offenders, and sex offender treatment program outcome research.
Bridging the Age Gap: Working with Emerging Adults Through a Trauma-informed Lens
Michele Leslie, Psy.D. Originally from Wisconsin, Dr. Michele Leslie earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Winona State University in Minnesota, and her Psy.D. in Clinical Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Upon graduating, she began her career with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, providing treatment to incarcerated individuals convicted of a sexual offense. In early 2021, Dr. Leslie moved to Utah and worked for the Utah Department of Corrections Sex Offense Treatment Program, conducting psychosexual evaluations for individuals with a sexual offense conviction. In fall 2023, Dr. Leslie was hired as Director of the Sex Offense Management Advisory Committee under the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ), and in Spring 2024, she was hired as Director of the Domestic Violence Offender Treatment Board (DVOT). Combined with her education, internship, and work experience, Dr. Leslie has a decade of experience working with the criminal justice population.
Candice Waltrip, Psy.D. Dr. Candice Waltrip has been working with the sex offense population for the last 20 years in various contexts involving direct and indirect service delivery for both youth and adults who sexually offend. Her doctoral dissertation was on the cognitively impaired juvenile sex offender and she created a prototype of a clinical manual for providers and evaluators on how to intervene with youth who experience cognitive difficulties. She was the Director of the Sex Offense Treatment Program with the Utah Department of Corrections, which oversees the treatment and evaluation of justice-involved adults who have sexually offended and are housed in either of Utah's prisons or contracted county jails. She was also the Chair of the Utah Department of Corrections Sex Offense Task Force which is responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation and fidelity of treatment parameters for community providers and evaluators, and the supervision standards for Adult Probation and Parole agents. Dr. Waltrip spearheaded the creation of the Utah Sex Offense Advisory Committee (previously known as the Sex Offense Management Board), which was implemented in 2023 to develop and implement legislative level policy regarding the sex offense population in the state of Utah, for both Youth and Adults. On a broader macro level, Dr. Waltrip was a member of the Public Policy Committee with ATSA, the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse. She is a dedicated leader in the field and is conscious of psycholegal and ethical implications of engaging in this work as she strives to provide the most evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions for the individual sitting in the room. She was appointed to the ATSA Board of Directors in 2025 and she became an Independent Trainer on gold standard sexual risk assessment tools, the Static-99R, Stable-2007 and Acute-2007. Now, through her private practice, her mission is to continue to complete quality evaluations and educate stakeholders while helping individuals reduce their risk of perpetuating sexual harm, thereby increasing community safety. Completely eradicating sexual abuse is the paramount aspirational goal.
TBA
TBA
Stay tuned for the announcement of our final presenter!