Meet Our Trainers

Your NDK training program will be conducted by one of the experts listed here:

Randy Copas
Senior Vice President of Programs, Starr Commonwealth

Before becoming Vice President, Randy served as the Executive Director of the Starr Commonwealth Hannah Neil Center in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to his responsibilities as Vice President, Randy has trained for Starr Commonwealth / No Disposable Kids conducting numerous workshops at regional and national levels on peer group methods; Servant Leadership, Adultism, Working with Sexually Reactive Youth, and other treatment related topics. Randy is also a former officer of the National Association of Peer Group Agencies and Strength Based Services International.  

Dr. James Longhurst
Senior Vice President of Clinical and Psychological Services, Starr Commonwealth

Jim Longhurst's ability to connect with teens, parents and staff is a tribute to his engaging, refreshing and down-to-earth manner.  Our parents will be the first to tell you – Jim can make even the most complex issue understandable and manageable.   Jim joined Starr commonwealth in 1973 and has been involved in administering and providing clinical services ever since.  Today, Jim’s influence can be felt all across the organization where he oversees all therapeutic models in Michigan and provides clinical direction for increased quality of care.  And Jim’s influence doesn’t stop there.  His ground-breaking work on Starr’s innovative No Disposable Kids® program, with its emphasis on creating positive peer cultures in today’s schools, is receiving national attention for its relevancy and effectiveness.  His efforts with Albion Public Schools resulted in the successful – and the first of its kind – implementation of a two-year Anti-Bullying Program.   Jim received his undergraduate degree, his Masters in Counseling and his Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University.  He’s a member of the American Psychological Association, Michigan Psychological Association and the American Correctional Association.  Jim is a lead trainer for No Disposable Kids, a certified facilitator for Starr’s Oneness of Humankind initiative, and an adjunct professor at Albion College.

Thomas Tate
Senior Vice President for Research, Evaluation & Training, Starr Commonwealth 

In addition to his roles with Research, Evaluation & Training, Tom serves as the Executive Director of Starr’s No Disposable Kids® program, which provides training to schools and child caring agencies who seek to improve their educational and/or therapeutic treatment environments.  Over the past thirty years of developing residential peer group programs, Tom has written numerous articles on the attributes of adults serving troubled children, strength-based assessment and intervention, and servant leadership. He is a former officer of the National Association of Peer Group Agencies and Strength Based Services International, and has presented workshops nationally and abroad to professionals working with troubled youth populations.