Hyman G. Darling has been with Bacon Wilson, P.C. in Springfield, Massachusetts for over forty years and concentrates in the preparation of estate planning documents, elder law, estates and taxes, guardianship, conservatorship, special needs planning, and adoptions. He previously was employed by Security National Bank in Springfield as a trust officer. Prior to that time, he was employed by Baybank in the Retail Banking Department.

Attorney Darling is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, and is a former President of both the Hampden County Bar Association and Hampden County Estate Planning Council. He is on the adjunct faculty at Western New England University in the LLM program. He is a member of many civic and professional associations including the Planned Giving Committees of the American Cancer Society and Baystate Medical Center. He is an active member of NAELA, previously serving as President, and he has lectured at both local and national NAELA programs and has published and spoken for MCLE. He is also on the faculty of the Tax Certificate Program at Stetson University.

Since 1982, Dr. Janet Williams has dedicated her life to

working with individuals with brain injuries and their families, empowering survivors to

achieve maximum independence. Dr. Williams is co-editor of “Head Injury: A Family

Matter” (1991) and “Children with Acquired Brain Injury: Educating and Supporting

Families” (1996). Her extensive research has taken her to 48 states and several

countries, including Canada, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and

India, where she conducted comprehensive studies on rehabilitation systems for

individuals with brain injuries. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from

Providence College, a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Boston College, and a

PhD from the University of Kansas in Family Studies and Disability.

Janet is also the founder and CEO of both communityworks inc and Minds Matter LLC.

For 35 years Janet and her colleagues have worked in Kansas, and more recently in Missouri, 

Have assisted people with brain injuries to live, work and play in their own community. These services

Are funded by Medicaid waivers, private pay and worker’s comp. 

Samantha Shepherd is the founder and Managing Attorney of Shepherd Elder Law Group, LLC where her
practice concentrates on Medicaid planning, asset & income protection, special needs trusts, and estate
planning. Utilizing her legal expertise and compassionate heart, Samantha has successfully helped over
8,000 individuals and families in Kansas City as aging and disability have left them vulnerable to ensuring
self-care.
Samantha is also the founder and CEO of Assured Trust Company (ATC). As an expert in the field of
Special Needs Planning, ATC, under the guidance of Ms. Shepherd, provides trust administration and
care management services to the most vulnerable.
Samantha received her B.A. from Tulane University and her J.D. from Boston College School of Law. She
has also earned an LL.M. from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. She has been admitted to
practice in Massachusetts, Maine, Kansas, & Missouri.
Samantha is a member of the Kansas and Missouri chapters of the National Academy of Elder Law
Attorneys (NAELA) and has been awarded NAELA’s Council of Advanced Practitioners. She has served on
the National Board of NAELA, a peer-elected position. She is a Past-Chair of the Missouri Bar Elder Law
Committee and Past-President of the Missouri Chapter of NAELA. She is a member of the Estate
Planning Society of Kansas City, the Kansas and Missouri Bar Associations, Johnson County Bar
Association, and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA) where she served as Chair of the
Trust & Estates Committee. She also served on the boards of Kansas Advocates for Better Care and
Down Syndrome Innovations. She is the Founder of the charity, Heartland Special Needs Foundation,
whose mission is support, education, funding, and advocacy for those with special needs and other
developmental disabilities.
Samantha is a frequent lecturer on the topics of Elder Law, Special Needs Planning, and Trust
Administration, advising and educating other attorneys and community organizations. She has spoken
at state (Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma) and national conferences hosted by the National Academy of
Elder Law Attorneys. Samantha has also presented to the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
(KCMBA), Kansas Bar Association, Missouri Trust Institute, National Business Institute (NBI), the Missouri
Bar Estate, Trust, & Elder Law Institute, the Oklahoma Bar, Elder Counsel, Wealth Counsel, UMKC School
of Law, Mid-Continent Public Library, Raytown School District, & the Northland Community Service
Coalition.

Amy J. DeLaney is the Founder and Managing Partner of DDV Law, Ltd., one of Illinois’ most established elder law firms. For more than 25 years, she has dedicated her practice to representing older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their families in complex matters involving Medicaid and special needs planning, nursing home residents’ rights, guardianship and probate litigation, and estate and trust administration. Amy is widely recognized for her ability to navigate high stakes cases while developing forward thinking strategies that protect vulnerable individuals and preserve family wealth.

Amy is a Board Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), a distinction held by a select group of attorneys nationwide and certified by the National Elder Law Foundation and the American Bar Association. She has been consistently recognized as a Leading Lawyer, Super Lawyer, and one of the Top 50 Female Attorneys in Illinois. She holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell and maintains a perfect Avvo rating. Her work and advocacy have been featured in national and regional media, including The New Yorker, The New York Times, New York Magazine, Chicago Tribune, CNN, WGN, and PBS.

Beyond her practice, Amy has played a meaningful role in shaping elder law policy in Illinois. She is a past President of the Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and continues to serve on its legislative committee. She was actively involved in developing emergency rules for remote notarization during the COVID 19 pandemic and was appointed to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Remote Notarization Task Force. Amy has also contributed to legislative developments impacting the Illinois Trust Code, Probate Act, and Nursing Home Care Act, reinforcing her role as both an advocate and architect of the law.

Amy is a sought after speaker and educator, serving on the faculty of the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and previously teaching at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. She is also a dedicated community leader and serves on the board of the Veterans Legal Aid Society, supporting access to legal services for those who have served.

Amy is admitted to practice in Illinois and Indiana, the United States District Court, and the United States Tax Court.

She earned her Juris Doctor from Lewis and Clark Law School, her Master of Science from the University of Illinois Springfield, and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.

Outside of her practice, Amy enjoys time in downtown Chicago, exploring the arts, traveling, snorkeling, skydiving, and spending time with family and friends.

Kathleen Shollenberger is a nonprofit trust administration professional with a background in education and community service, dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate government benefits and trust planning challenges. She serves as Vice President of Advancement with Secured Alliance and its Affiliates, The Good Shepherd Fund and Secured Futures, a Phoenix-based nonprofit that provides trust administration services aimed at preserving government benefit eligibility and protecting assets for people with special needs, minors, and heirs.

Over her career, Kathleen has transitioned from education and nonprofit work into the trust services field, bringing a strong client-focused perspective to complex issues involving special needs, trusts and benefit preservation. She advocates for her clients’ rights and works to connect professionals, caregivers, and families with tailored solutions that support long-term financial well-being.

Outside of her professional life, Kathleen values family time and community engagement, often sharing insights on trust administration, client advocacy, and professional development within her field.

As part of the Assured Trust Company team starting in 2022, Alissa now serves as Senior Trust & Care Officer. Born and raised in northern Minnesota, Alissa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from St. Cloud State University and later earned her Master of Science degree, also in Social Work, from University of Minnesota, Duluth. Upon completion of her advanced degree, Alissa married and moved to the San Francisco Bay area where she lived for over 10 years before moving to Kansas City in 2019.

Most of Alissa’s career has been spent as a Medical Social Worker focusing on geriatric healthcare – specifically skilled nursing and hospice. Alissa loves working to help improve the lives of others, especially those facing challenges in their everyday lives.

Alissa and her husband are parents to 3 wonderful and active children. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching her 3 kids enjoy their various sports and activities, as well as gardening, cooking, and pottery. Alissa and her family enjoy traveling, fishing, camping, and sporting events together and in the cold winter months they enjoy watching movies, crafting, and playing games together.

Shannon K. Briggs is a Partner at DDV Law, Ltd. and a passionate advocate for individuals with disabilities and their families. Her practice focuses on guardianships, special needs planning, elder law, estate planning, and probate and estate administration. Shannon is widely respected for her work in complex guardianship matters, where she skillfully guides families through difficult legal and medical decision making while ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive protection, dignity, and the highest quality care.

Shannon has built a reputation as a formidable advocate in guardianship proceedings. She regularly handles complex and contested cases involving financial protection, medical decision making, and safeguarding individuals from exploitation. Courts frequently rely on her judgment and experience, and she is often appointed by the Cook County courts to serve as Guardian ad Litem to investigate and protect the interests of individuals with disabilities. Her ability to combine legal precision with compassion and practical problem solving has made her a trusted resource for families facing life changing circumstances.

Shannon’s leadership in the field is widely recognized. She was recently published in IICLE’s Adult Guardianships, Advance Directives, and Mental Health Law 2021 and 2025 Editions, where she authored Chapter Two titled The Appointment Process. She has also been recognized by Super Lawyers as an Illinois Rising Star each year since 2022, an honor awarded to fewer than three percent of attorneys in the state.

Shannon also serves on the faculty of the National Business Institute, where she teaches other attorneys about the probate process and the complex tax issues that arise in guardianship and probate administration. She remains an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and the Illinois Continuity of Care South Suburban Chapter. In addition, she is an accredited attorney authorized to represent clients before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

A lifelong Chicagoan, Shannon enjoys traveling, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.

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Nikki Mitchell leads Mitchell, Brown & Associates, LLC, an elder law and special needs planning practice in St. Louis. She has guided the firm since 2021, building on its legacy while shaping it with her own client-focused approach.

Nikki earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and her law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law, where she concentrated in health law. While in law school, she interned at the medical-legal partnership at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, an innovative program that connected families with medical, legal, and social services in one place. She went on to represent clients at Legal Aid in disability and SSI appeals, special education, and elder law cases, and later advised schools and universities on Title IX compliance.

Her practice today centers on Medicaid planning, special needs trusts, and estate planning for families with special needs. She is known for making complex legal processes accessible and for helping families move forward with confidence. “When clients have clarity and know what steps come next, it makes them feel better right away,” she explains.

As a member of the Special Needs Alliance Board of Directors, Nikki is committed to helping the organization respond to changes in the public benefits landscape and strengthening the partnerships that support families nationwide.

Nikki lives in Kirkwood, Missouri, with her husband, three daughters, and four dogs.

Mr. Neiburger is a recognized and respected attorney in the areas of Estate Planning, Elder Law, and Medicaid Planning, which includes expertise in Long-Term Care Planning, Special Needs Trusts and Tax Planning for families and their elders.

 Mr. Neiburger was named a “Super Lawyer” in Elder Law by Thompson Reuters and the publishers of Chicago magazine.  He also received this honor in 2007, 2009 – 2025.

 He brings a wealth of knowledge, clear and common sense explanations, patience, gentle humor and sensitivity to each of his legal consultations.

 Outside of the law, Ben participates in Extreme Triathlons and has completed crazy races in Chile, Norway, United States, and Scottland. In Scottland he experienced what it is like to have a bog in the middle of a trail marathon and doesn’t recommend that experience to anyone.

 For additional information about Ben Neiburger, JD, CPA and his practice, please visit www.GenerationLaw.com or give him a call at 630-782-1766.

Cynthia Letsch is a 1995 graduate from Drake University Law School.  She is an active member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, National Elder Law Foundation, Special Needs Alliance, and several non-profit organizations providing services to persons with disabilities.

Her practice is limited to Elder Law, Estate and Special Needs Planning, and Probate/Trust Administration, practicing primarily in Iowa.  She is admitted to practice in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and the Federal Southern District of Iowa and the Federal District of Nebraska.

Beth A. McDaniel is the principal of the Law Offices of Beth A. McDaniel, PLLC, a law firm established in 2002. The firm’s primary office is in Renton, Washington with a satellite office in Bellevue, Washington. 

 Beth practices in the areas of estate planning, special needs planning, probate, and trust administration. She is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), accredited through the National Elder Law Foundation, and is the only attorney in King County to hold this designation.  Beth has been recognized as a Washington Super Lawyer by publisher Thomson Reuters for six consecutive years (2020-2025) and was named ‘Best of Renton’ in the category of Best Attorney/Law Firm in 2020 and 2022. In 2023, Beth was elected to the Council of Advanced Practitioners of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and currently serves on its board of directors.

 Beth lives in Newcastle, Washington with her husband, college-aged son, and soon- to-be college-bound daughter. When she is not working, she enjoys being a devoted baseball, swim team, and dog mom.