* Under Construction for 2026

2025 Main Speakers & Topics

Cassandra Aarssen, Owner of Clutterbug

Topic: How To Organize Your Home For The Different Brains In Your Family

• Learn how to identify your (and your loved ones) natural organizing style.
• Discover simple home organizing solutions that work with your brain.
• Understand how zoning is a critical step in organizing with ADHD.

Fareedah Shaheed, Award Winning-Forbes 30 Under 30 Child Internet Safety Expert 

Topic: Helping Your Child with  Online Safety

• Conversation starters to get your child talking about what they see and do online
• How to teach your child to recognize red flags and make safer choices on their own
• How to set realistic online safety boundaries that your child will actually follow

Jessica McCabe, Author of How To ADHD

Topic: My Top 3 ADHD And Executive Function Tips To Make Life Easier For Your Child

Tera Sumpter, Executive Function Specialist, Author of The Seeds of Learning

Topic: Executive Function As The Foundation Of Learning: Strategies To Support Attention Development

• how EF is the engine behind all learning
• the role that EF plays in child development
• the foundational skills of the EF system
• the misconception around attention
• how to support attention in our students

Hunter Clarke-Fields, Host of The Mindful Mama Podcast, Author of Raising Good Humans

Topic: Mindfulness Tools To Boost Executive Function Through Emotional Regulation

• Understand how stress hijacks the brain—and why calming your nervous system is key to helping kids access executive function
• Use mindful pauses and breath work as real-time tools to respond instead of react
• Explore the link between emotional safety and cognitive flexibility, focus, and impulse control
• Walk away with practical, everyday strategies to foster calm, connection, and cooperation—no perfection required

Chris Guillebeau, Author and Founder of NeuroDiversion

Topic: The Power Of Support: Embracing Non-Traditional Life Paths And A Parent’s Love

Natasha Daniels, LCSW, Founder of AT Parenting Survival for Anxiety & OCD

Topic: Hijacked by OCD: How Intrusive Thoughts Disrupt Executive Functioning

• How OCD can impact executive functioning
• What questions to ask to determine if it is OCD or EF
• 5 Ways to help improve EF when it is OCD

Laura Petix, MS OTR/L, CEO of The OT Butterfly LLC, Author of A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

Topic: How To Manage The After School Transition Like A Pro

• Frontal lobe is unavailable/unreachable when the nervous system is dysregulated
• Following the school day, many kids are dysregulated (with less access to EF skills)
• Provide unwinding time or sensory rich times after school is KEY 
• Accommodate to DECREASE their mental load to save it for bigger things like homework or bed time routine

Erica Whitfield, MACP, LMHC, BC-TMH, Mental Health Counselor, Executive Function Coach, Founder of Positive Development

Topic: Battle of the Brains: How Parents and Kids Can Emotionally Regulate to Win the War on School Stress

• Gain insight into how your child’s brain—and your own—responds to school stress, and why it can lead to conflict.
• Recognize the emotional triggers that cause tension at home and how to spot them before things escalate.
• Learn simple, effective tools to help you and your child stay calm, connected, and better equipped to handle school-related challenges together.

Sasha Long, MA BCBA, Founder and President of, The Autism Helper, Inc.

Topic: Adjusting the Way you Give Verbal Directions to Increase Cooperation and Collaboration

• Learn why process verbal directions can be challenging from some kids. 
• Learn how to give directions in a way to increase understanding and cooperation. 
• Learn how to build in natural reinforcement.

Gabriele Nicolet, MA, CCC-SLP, Parenting Coach, Host of the Complicated Kids Podcast

Topic: Why Your Child's Meltdowns Make Sense (and What to Do Instead)

• Why self-regulation is the foundation for all other learning and behavior
• How to support your child when they’re overwhelmed, without yelling or caving
• Simple, everyday ways to help your child build calm, focus, and flexibility

Crista Hopp, MA, Founder of Connected Pathways & Academy

Topic: No More Silent Struggles: Teaching Your Child How to Ask for Help

• Working Memory: Teach your child how to remember and recognize when they need help, even in the middle of a task or when frustration sets in.
• Cognitive Flexibility: Learn how to help your child shift their thinking when a problem arises, so they can recognize that asking for help is a valid solution.
• Emotional Regulation: Discover ways to help your child manage their emotions, such as frustration or fear, that can make asking for help feel overwhelming.
• The Three Steps to Asking for Help: Break down a simple, three-step process to empower your child to ask for help with confidence

Dr. Jacquelyn Bogdanov, Founder of Child Behavior Clinic Licensed Child Psychologist 

Topic: 3 Ideas Parents Can Practice to Calm Big Emotions and Build a Better Relationship With Their Child

Parents will learn to support their child’s executive functioning by:

• Doing a daily habit that builds connection and their parent-child relationship
• Saying specific phrases that reduce conflict and misunderstandings and improve their child’s problem-solving skills
• Creating a toolbox to get relief from intense emotions anytime, anywhere

Kristen Baird-Goldman, LMFT, ADHD-CCSP, Psychotherapist, ADHD-Certified Clinical Specialist 

Topic: ADHD Is Neurobiological: Simple Ways To Effectively Manage Your Brain & Body

• Health and ADHD, daily check-in's, advocacy, and realistic expectations

Rebecca King, MS, RDN, Registered Dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor

Topic: How to Feed an ADHD Brain: Simple Nutrition Strategies for Focus and Regulation

• Balanced blood sugar = better regulation
• Understanding hunger vs seeking stimulation
• Eating on ADHD meds (when appetite disappears)

Edward Coronado III, Founder of Alma Modern

Topic: How to Help Your Student Study with Less Overwhelm and Better Results

• A simple but powerful 4-step study system designed to make studying feel easier while also being more effective
• Why common study strategies like flashcards and reviewing notes backfire for students with executive function challenges and what to do instead
• Clear, encouraging ways to support better study habits without battles, nagging, or micromanaging

Jesse J. Anderson, Author of Extra Focus: The Quick Start Guide to Adult ADHD

Topic: How to Motivate Your Child with ADHD

• Why ADHD brains are motivated differently than neurotypical brains
• How to find motivation when you have ADHD
• What to do when a strategy stops working

Shane Thrapp, Certified Life Coach in ADHD and AuDHD support for individuals, parents, and professionals.

Topic: Why Parent Training Is the Key To Supporting Executive Function

• Ffocus on the importance of Parent Training is for helping your children with ADHD. 
• Learn why understanding ADHD is the first line of support for Parents with children with ADHD. 
• Understand why we have to reset our expectations so that we are gauging their needs at the appropriate age.  
• Build a toolbox of support systems for your child that empowers them and encourages their unique brain. 
• If you or your spouse have ADHD or other types of neurodivergence, being proactive will support your kids, and the things that you put in place will support your child, neurodivergent or not.

Nelly Kaakaty, Ph.D., Educational psychologist, learning specialist, founder of Learning with Dr. K.

Topic: Beyond Procrastination: Time Management Tools that Actually Work for ADHD Brains

• Why Traditional Time Management Tools Don’t Work for ADHD
• How to Make Time Visible
• The Power of Micro-Planning and Backward Design
• Tools That Work With (Not Against) the ADHD Brain
• How to Build Consistency Without Power Struggles

Brooke Schnittman, Founder of Coaching With BrookeADHD/EF Coaching All Ages & ADHD Coach Training

Topic: Making Sense of ADHD: Brain-Based Tools to Help Your Child Thrive at Home + in School

Bonus Speaker Topics for TEFOS'25

Sarah Rosensweet, Peaceful Parenting Coach

Topic: How to support your child’s emotional overload despite ef challenges

Debbie Steinberg Kutz, Founder of Bright & Quirky

Topic: Helping Kids with Co-Occuring Conditions

Moonlake Lee, Founder, Unlocking ADHD

Topic: Using the CARES Model To Improve Your Child's Buy-in

Ryan Wexelblatt, Founder of ADHD Dude

Topic: Cultivating Cognitive Flexibility

Diane Dempster, Co-Founder of ImpactParents

Topic: Back to School = Reset Opportunity

Elaine Taylor-Klaus, Co-Founder of ImpactParents

Topic: Before You Act… You Have to Take AIM

Dr. Matt Zakreski, ADHD & Executive Function Specialist

Topic: Atomic Habits for Kids

Karen Tui Boyes, Educational Alchemist

Topic: Boosting Working Memory: One Simple Strategy That Sticks

Emily Kircher-Morris, Neurodiversity Podcast, Author, Counselor Consultant 

Topic: Use Energy and Attention Mapping to help Your Child improve Productivity and Self Regualtion

Sarah R. Moore, Author "Peaceful Discipline," Dandelion Seeds Positive Parenting

Topic: The Neuroscience of Planning

Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, Pediatric Psychologist, Parent Coach

Topic: Chaos to Calm with Morning Routines

Jill Stowell, Stowell Learning Centers

Topic: When It Looks Like a Motivation Problem, but Isn’t: Auditory Processing and Executive Function

Gretchen Wegner, Academic Life Coach

Topic: Help Students Advocate for Themselves When They’re Overloaded

Sarah Kesty, Executive Function Podcast

Topic: How to Avoid getting strategy overload, and how to make shifts in our language

Sean McCormick, Executive Function Specialists

Topic: How to Schedule Your Ideal Week

Yulia Rafailova, Founder of MindFull Education

Topic: The Problem Solving Script

Michael McLeod, ADHD & Executive Function Specialist

Topic: Ending Parental Burnout

Sonali Vongchusiri, Parent Coach, Raising Your Strong Willed Child

Topic: Flipping The Perspective on Mistakes

Penny Williams, The Behavior Revolution, Author

Topic: Setting Up Systems That Lead to Independence

Brendan Mahan, ADHD/EF & Parenting Coach, Host of ADHD Essentials Podcast

Topic: Future Thinking in Action

Debbie Reber, TiLT Parenting Podcast, Author

Topic: How to Stop Offering Unsolicited Advice adn What to Do Instead

Elizabeth Sautter, Speech Language Pathologist

Topic: How To Model Behaviors Better for Your Children

Dayna Abraham, Founder of Calm the Chaos

Topic: After-School Chaos & Messy Rooms: Here’s What Actually Helps

Leslie Josel, Order out of Chaos

Topic: 

Mr. Sam 

Topic: How to Shift from “Goals” to Systems while Improving EF

Dr. Sharon Saline, Clinical Psychologist & ADHD Expert

Topic: How to Set Your Child Up for Homework Success

Julie Skolnick, Learning Disabilities Specialist

Topic: How to Use Passions & Interest to Build EF Skills

Elizabeth C. Hamblet, M.S., Learning Disabilities Specialist

Topic: Time Management for Students: This Tool Actually Helps

Finally, if TEFOS helps you, I have an ask...

 The experts I interview are here to help change lives, because there are countless kids out there who are misunderstood, and not getting the support they need.

 Sharing this homepage is the best way to help parents find us!

 So please help share https://ExecutiveFunctionSummit.com/ far and wide, with friends, groups, or on social to help us get the word out!

In gratitude and service,

Seth Perler