Adrian Alan
Presenting: 9/28
Active Shooter Debriefing
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Adrian Alan is owner of Critical Impact Group LLC, specializing in performance shooting and
tactical training for law enforcement and private citizens. He is an 18-year law enforcement
veteran, having served in patrol, on crime suppression units, as a SWAT officer, a sniper, and an FTO.
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Adrian has been teaching for over 15 years and holds variety of state and national training certifications. Before starting Critical Impact Group, Adrian spent four years as the founding director of the Vortex Edge shooting school, leading a team of instructors and overseeing the design, construction, curriculum development and daily operation of a 55,000 square foot indoor range and training facility.
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Adrian has a bachelor’s degree from UW-Madison and lives in Southwest Wisconsin with his wife and two children.
Brian Casey
Presenting: 9/28
Peer Support
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Brian Casey is an author, health educator, and director of his agency’s Employee Assistance Program. He has a degree in Health Education from the University of Minnesota and over thirty-five years of experience working as a paramedic, EMS Educator, and police officer. His skills include developing peer support teams, building and maintaining trust with public safety workers, and promoting mental and emotional well-being.
Kyle Gulya
Presenting: 9/28
Legal Update​
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Kyle Gulya is a Shareholder and Chair of the Government Law Group at von Briesen & Roper, s.c. Kyle advises both public and private sector employers with employment- and labor-related issues including regulatory compliance, anti-discrimination practices, contractual and workplace policy matters, and personnel management. He handles numerous aspects of labor-management relations from advising clients during union organizing campaigns to serving as chief negotiator during collective bargaining negotiations. He also advises clients regarding complex internal investigations and effectively resolving personnel disputes. Kyle also assists clients with crisis communications and effectively handling crisis situations, and he regularly advises clients regarding Wisconsin’s Public Records Law and Open Meetings Law.
Kyle has extensive experience involving the unique employment- and labor-related issues faced by Police Departments, Fire Departments, Sheriff’s Departments and Police & Fire Commissions. Kyle is very proud of his relationships with the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, the Wisconsin Fire Chiefs Education Association, and the Wisconsin Police Leadership Foundation.
In 2011, the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association awarded Kyle with the NPELRA Pacesetter Award for his work in conducting supervisor training programs for the Wisconsin Public Employer Labor Relations Association. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 in the field of Labor Law - Management.
Holly Hakes
Presenting: 9/29
Mental Health for Law Enforcement
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Holly Hakes is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and owner of Hakes Wellness Solutions, LLC. Holly’s clinical practice exclusively serves law enforcement officers, other first responders, and their families. She supports clients throughf
both personal and professional struggles including post-incident support.
Holly is an experienced, well received counselor offering counseling, post incident support, training offerings and clinical consultation to peer support teams. She is passionate,
responsive, knowledgeable and describes her approach as person centered, strength based, solution focused and authentic.
Holly has a master's degree in counseling from the University of Wisconsin- Stout and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She brings a diverse background of personal and professional experiences, including work in the industry herself, fueling her passion.
Holly lives in Chippewa Falls, WI and has been married to a recently retired law enforcement officer for 30 years. Lee Hakes retired after 27 years of experience in the field. He has since joined Holly as co-owner and business manager of Hakes Wellness Solutions, LLC. Holly and Lee have three adult children.
Joe Welsch
Presenting: 9/27
Jayme Closs Abduction and Double Homicide Investigation
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Joe Welsch has over 32 years law enforcement experience. For 16 years, he was employed by the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin where he worked in the patrol and detective divisions. He was promoted and worked a supervisor of criminal investigations for the last four years with the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office. Joe was employed as a Special Agent with the Wisconsin Department of Justice- Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) for the past 16 years, and retired in April 2022. He was assigned to the Major Crimes Bureau, where his primary responsibility involved investigating homicides, missing persons and officer-involved deaths. He was assigned as lead investigator in several high-profile homicides and death investigations. Joe is currently employed at RTI International working as a Regional Program Specialist for the NamUs Program.
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Detective Jeffrey Nelson was an experienced law enforcement officer with the Barron County Sheriff’s Department in northwest Wisconsin. He retired in December 2021 after 27 years of service. He worked as a major crimes Detective for 21 years primarily working homicide and death investigation as well as other major crime investigations. Detective Nelson also served as the Tactical Team Commander for the Barron/Rusk County regional Emergency Response Team (ERT) for approximately 14 years and was a member of the tactical team for over 23 years. Detective Nelson holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin- River Falls in the field of Criminal Justice and Sociology. He also has advanced training from the Wisconsin - Department of Justice and FBI in the areas of advanced interviews and interrogations as well as major crime scene investigations. Detective Nelson was also a recent recipient of the 2019 Meritorious Service Award from the Wisconsin Association of Homicide Investigators Association. Detective Nelson also served as a Director for the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Officers Association (WLEOA) for 7 years and was the President of the Barron Area School District –Board of Education for 9 years and serves on multiple other community boards and associations.
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Lt. Ryan Williams
Presenting: 9/27
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Lt. Ryan Williams has worked for the Fond du Lac Police Department for over 21 years. During the course of his career he was a K-9 handler, FTO, School Resource Officer, SWAT Operator as well as instructor in Firearms, DAAT, Professional Communications, Vehicle Contacts, Taser and ALERRT. On March 20, 2011, he was involved in an incident where he was shot in the line of duty. During this same incident, Officer Craig Birkholz was also shot and killed. Lt. Williams has been a strong advocate for Officer Safety and having a positive attitude. He believes that officers should live out Officer Birkholz words of Staying Strong, Staying Safe and Staying Positive.
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