SPEAKER BIOS

Jennifer S. Young, M.S., LMFT, CRM, BSP, EMDR

Jennifer S. Young, M.S., LMFT, CRM, BSP, EMDR is a licensed somatic neuropsychotherapist specializing in trauma treatment for first responders. She is a former professional athlete and has been in the healing field for over 20 years. She has worked as a trauma therapist for Veterans’ Affairs and has worked with peace officers and their respective associations for the last several years. 

Jennifer Gonzalez
Community Preparedness and Engagement Program Supervisor, Long Beach Department of Health & Human Services

Jennifer Gonzalez has been working in public health since 2003, bringing over two decades of experience in emergency response, risk communication, and community preparedness. She holds a bachelor’s degree in health science and a master’s in clinical psychology, blending her expertise in public health and psychology to lead with empathy, strategy, and collaboration.
As the Community Preparedness and Engagement Program Supervisor at the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, Jennifer leads a team within Public Health Emergency Management, overseeing risk communication, the Disability, Access, and Functional Needs (DAFN) program, and the Volunteer and Resource program. She believes that effective leadership is built on collaboration, humility, and legacy planning—core values that guide her work in strengthening emergency response efforts.
Jennifer has played a key role in multiple large-scale emergency responses within Joint Information Centers (JICs), including the COVID-19 pandemic, a cybersecurity incident, and severe windstorms caused by Los Angeles-area wildfires. She thrives in high-pressure environments and is passionate about working alongside others in JICs, often leading information production to ensure accurate and timely messaging.
Outside of work, Jennifer is deeply in love with her family—her partner, three amazing daughters, and their beloved little dog, Rico. She enjoys small talk that turns into deep conversations, capturing moments with iPhone photography, and discovering life hacks and new rice cooker recipes.

Laath Martin
Media Relations Specialist, City of Long Beach

Laath Martin is an award-winning communicator with over 12 years of communications experience. He currently works in the City of Long Beach’s Office of Public Affairs and Communications, supporting the City’s media relations and other communications strategies and providing guidance and training to department staff. He previously worked with the City’s Public Health Emergency Management and Incident Management teams, supporting and developing communications strategies for public health and local emergencies, including a nationally recognized COVID-19 response, as well as mpox, homelessness, a network security incident, and much more.

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