Jim Ryan is an Ohio Certified Prevention Consultant and Internationally Certified Prevention Specialist with 35 years of experience in substance use prevention, behavioral health, systems development, training, and technical assistance. His work has spanned local, state, national, and international arenas and various community sectors, from schools and provider systems to business, community, and government systems. Educated at The Ohio State University, Jim has devoted his career to individual and community health, evidence-based prevention practice, and development of the prevention profession. In addition to his role with APSI, Jim serves as the executive director of ADAPAO, the professional membership association for prevention professionals in Ohio and chairs the ADAPAO Prevention Think Tank, a leadership group of Ohio prevention professionals. Jim is also senior trainer for Working Partners®, a national leader in drug-free workplace and workplace-based prevention services and has worked with innumerable public and private employers on workplace-based prevention for nearly 20 years. Jim co-founded Outlook, an award-winning newspaper targeting the LGBT population, in 1996, and served as the editor of the publication until 1999. Jim also has a lifetime history of community engagement and volunteerism: He served as an inaugural member of The Ohio State University English Department Alumni Advisory Board, has co planned and implemented multiple national sporting events, and has mentored youth and provided training and guidance to professionals within the child welfare system for 30 years.

 

Jim serves on the Prevention Committee of the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board and was Ohio’s nominee for the International Credentialing & Reciprocity Consortium’s 2014 Prevention Professional of the Year Award. Jim’s primary goal as a veteran prevention professional is the continued development of the prevention professional field and prevention practice through high quality training, professional mentoring, peer networking, systems linkages, and practitioner innovation.