Bios

Gwen Drenick, MPH, CHES is Director of the Community Alliance Network (CAN) for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence - Orange County (NCADD-OC). CAN is the prevention branch of the NCADD-OC and is dedicated to working with local communities to implement prevention strategies that denormalize the use of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATODs). Ms. Drenick directs staff and leads collaborative planning activities and educational programs to reduce the prevalence of ATOD-related problems in communities throughout Orange County. Ms. Drenick graduated from California State University, Long Beach with her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics, and earned her Master of Public Health from the University Of California, Los Angeles and is certified as a Health Education Specialist. With CAN since 2001, Ms. Drenick has served as Associate Director and Program Manager for the Tobacco Free Communities project and assumed the position of Director in fall of 2005. She also serves on the Board of the Southern California Chapter of Society for Public Health Education. To contact Ms. Drenick, call 949.595.2288 or gdrenick@canoc.org

Laura Muesse is the Program Manager for Community Alliance Network's South County ATOD Prevention Project. Her course of study includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Behavioral Science with Chemical Dependency certification along with experiential therapy training. She has worked with health and wellness programs for over 20 years, most recently in tobacco control. The South County Prevention Project provides community health education and technical assistance on alcohol, tobacco and drug-related issues to South Orange County residents. Laura oversees the regional ATOD program implementation working with the team of Health Educators dedicated to this project.For more information call 949.595.2288 or lmuesse@canoc.org.

Monica Nguyen is a Health Educator for the Community Alliance Network's South County ATOD Prevention Project. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Science. She is working with community members and youth to continue healthy lifestyles away from alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Monica is taking the lead on the South Team DUI campaign for Aliso Viejo, under the guidance of Laura Muesse. Monica is also a current member of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC) and is bilingual in both Spanish and English. For more information call 949.595.2288 or mnguyen@canoc.org.

Terah Glass is a Health Educator for the Community Alliance Network's South Orange County Prevention Project. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Science at California State University, Fullerton, and is a member of the Health Science Honor Society, Eta Sigma Gamma. Terah is working to promote healthy lifestyles among youth by preventing underage drinking and drug use. She is striving to reduce the prevalence of underage drinking through community education and awareness. Terah leads the South Orange County Underage Drinking Task Force where community mobilization is essential to promote changes in the attitudes and behaviors toward underage drinking. For more information call 949.595.2288 or tglass@canoc.org.

Melissa Belluz is the newest South Project Health Educator. She brings a wealth of experience in prevention, working with youth and adults in alcohol and drug education. Her course of study includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Science from California State University, Fullerton. She is also an alumna of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, with their philanthropy focused on Breast Cancer awareness and research and still actively participates in fundraising events partnered with Susan G. Komen Foundation and Yoplait yogurt. She currently is assisting South Orange County Health Care Sites in implementing aocohol screening, brief intervention and treatment referrals. For more information call 949.595.2288 or mbelluz@canoc.org.

Tobacco-Free Communities

Margo Allen Finlayson, MBA, is the Program Manager for the Tobacco Free Communities project in the City of Laguna Niguel. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and earned her Master of Business Administration from the University Of California, Irvine. She chairs the Secondhand Smoke Work Group for the Orange County Tobacco Education Coalition and participates on the Prevention Coalition of Orange County, the CUSD Child Welfare Council and the Irvine Prevention Coalition. She has worked with youth development programs in Orange County for the past 10 years as a volunteer, consultant and director. For more information call 949.595.2288 or mfinlayson@canoc.org

Tiffany McCune is the Program Coordinator for the Tobacco Free Communities project in the City of Laguna Niguel. Tiffany earned her bachelors degree from Concordia University in Irvine. Together with youth, local businesses, educational institutions and community members, she is working to reduce the prevalence of tobacco through education and prevention stategies thoughout the City. By limiting access and promoting cessation and education the Tobacco-Free Communities program is working towards a healthier Orange County. To contact Tiffany, please call 949.595.2288 or email at tmccune@canoc.org