The Team

Caterina G. Spinaris, PhD, LPC, is DWCO’s founding director and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Colorado. Her professional experience with correctional staff and their family members involves training thousands of staff across the United States; setting up and overseeing a 24/7 hotline for corrections staff and their families for eight years; offering professional counseling services to this population for 14 years; and conducting anonymous online surveys with correctional staff. Caterina writes curriculum that addresses correctional staff wellness issues, based on research conducted by Desert Waters and others, and also based on her clinical experience with this population. She originated the umbrella term Corrections Fatigue to describe the combined and interactive effects of correctional occupational stressors; developed the Corrections Fatigue Process Model, a data-driven theoretical model that aims to explains the cumulative impact of occupational stressors on correctional staff; and designed the Corrections Fatigue Assessment™. Caterina authored the course From Corrections Fatigue to Fulfillment™ (CF2F), and seven other correctional staff wellness courses, six of which are also offered as Instructor trainings with certification. In 2016, the CF2F course received the Commercial Product Award of Excellence by the International Association of Corrections Training Personnel. Caterina has authored and co-authored four books on correctional staff wellness issues, and numerous articles. Recently, Caterina has been involved in Desert Waters’ development of Safety Net Wholistic Correctional Staff Wellness Accreditation Program. Based on her observations, Caterina is convinced that there can be no true prison reform without staff wellness, and that there can be no staff wellness without prison reform. That is why she is an ardent believer in the importance of pursuing both with equal fervor and determination.

Perhaps it is surprising that Steve Mayotte’s background and experience include architecture and construction project management, and that he holds a degree of Bachelor of Design in Architecture. He is also a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional. Steve’s passion for correctional officers began in 2011 in Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town, South Africa, when he and his wife Daria initiated a weekly coffee shop opportunity specifically for South African correctional officers. The desire and need among this population became surprisingly and immediately evident through a variety of ongoing conversations. Steve was trained as a “From Corrections Fatigue to Fulfillment” (CF2F) instructor in Colorado in 2017. Fully convinced of the effectiveness of this program, he spent the next year navigating the process of receiving approval for it to be regularly offered to the correctional officers at Pollsmoor Prison. Once approval was granted, he and his wife experienced to an even greater degree the flood of deep need for this opportunity to be regularly offered as an avenue for assisting men and women to thrive in the correctional workforce. He now uses his building background and multi-cultural experience with correctional officers through the avenue of Desert Waters Correctional Outreach (DWCO) to build into the hearts and lives of the valiant men and women working behind bars.

Daria brings with her a rarely found wealth of multi-cultural corrections experience, combined with her teaching experience and clinical training. With a background and love for teaching, Daria Mayotte first developed a passion for those working in prison while teaching literacy to juvenile offenders at Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2001-2002. Nine years later she returned to South Africa with her family with the intent of further developing juvenile offenders. However, throughout her next eleven years there, she experienced the need and desire from South African correctional officials for further input and development in a variety of areas. She and her husband Steve came alongside them in a variety of ways, supporting, encouraging, and challenging them practically, relationally, and spiritually. Having been trained as a “From Corrections Fatigue to Fulfillment” (CF2F) instructor in 2019, teaching this course soon became a significant key for breakthrough in the lives of South African correctional officers. Daria’s excitement for investing further in the lives of correctional officers through the avenue of Desert Waters Correctional Outreach (DWCO) quickly grew as a result, and she is eager to continue investigating these opportunities on a broader scale through DWCO.

Stephanie Rawlings has a dozen years of correctional experience, with specific expertise in the area of developing, implementing and overseeing staff wellness programming in large correctional organizations, including building and deploying a trauma response unit for staff. She previously served as the Staff Wellness Program Administrator for the Illinois Department of Corrections, and has been sought nationally and internationally for her expertise in systemic correctional staff wellness issues. Stephanie is certified to offer Critical Incident Stress Management services, and Desert Waters’ curricula. In addition to her involvement with Desert Waters, Stephanie serves as a consultant with Hardy and Associates, and as Director of Workforce Wellness for the Florida Department of Children and Families. She holds a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Sciences from Illinois State University.

Brent Parker has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and Sociology from Illinois State University. In 2014, he retired from the Colorado Department of Corrections, after 29.5 years of service, during which where he held sixteen different positions and moved through the ranks from correctional officer to director of training. Specifically, he moved through the security and housing ranks, where he promoted offender success and maintained safety and security. Brent then moved to administration, serving as re-entry specialist, program manager, public information officer, legislative liaison, and finally the director of training, where he oversaw the Corrections Training Academy.  With a heart for staff safety and wellness, the Training Academy gave Brent the opportunity to provide career development opportunities and quality training programs. He taught criminal justice classes at the Pueblo Community College, and served at state and national levels. He was elected president of the Colorado Criminal Justice Association, Colorado’s chapter of the American Correctional Association, and he sat on national ACA committees and review boards. Brent has been a workshop presenter for the American Correctional Association, and served the National Institute of Corrections as a regional training coordinator and nationally certified trainer. After retiring from the CDOC, Brent was asked to serve locally at the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, where he developed training programs and worked with probation and local specialty courts. He served at that position until the end of 2016. Brent has devoted his working life to the success and safety of both staff and offenders, and that is why he continues to promote corrections employees’ well-being, now through Desert Waters’ services. He has been involved in corrections at all levels and understands from first-hand experience the challenges faced by today’s correctional staff, supervisors and administrators.  Brent’s life-long motto is:  Leave it better than you found it.​

Dr. Brocato has 12 years of combined research and applied experience in measure design, survey research, assessment systems design, program evaluation, qualitative research, and data analysis. She has statistical software experience with Mplus, SAS, SPSS and R. Dr. Brocato also has experience with advanced statistical methods, structural equation modeling (IRT, CFA, EFA), missing data methods (multiple imputation and FIML), diagnostic classification models, longitudinal data analysis, measurement invariance, and scoring. Dr. Brocato’s applied areas of research have included higher education, child clinical assessment, and positive psychology. She has helped community mental health centers, large hospital systems, and government agencies evaluate and improve their programs and assessment systems. With programming experience in four statistical programming languages, expertise in theoretical and applied psychometrics, and experience as both a designer and user of measures, Dr. Brocato lends a unique and well-rounded methodological rigor to evaluation and assessment teams. She also has experience writing grants, managing multi-million- dollar research programs across multiple sites, providing training to small and large audiences, and translating complex psychometric theory into presentations and documents that are accessible to lay audiences.

Jeffrey Rude has been a Master Instructor with Desert Waters since 2017 and is also currently working for the Washington State Department of Corrections (WADOC), which he has done since July 1995. He has worked in a variety of positions to include Officer, Sergeant, Grievance Coordinator, and Case Manager. Jeff has been an instructor for the WADOC since 1997, and has instructed Emergency Response, Stress Management, Report Writing, Prison Safety, Security Mindset, and other courses. He is an instructor for Assisting Individuals in Crisis through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and instructs those who wish to use these techniques to assist others or who want to become part of a local CISM team. Jeff has experienced many different incidents during his career, and has come to understand how this type of work can affect all corrections staff. He is a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team, and has been deployed to several incidents in order to provide stress-related care to first responders. About that, he has said, “It is a true blessing to be able to assist others who are experiencing a traumatic event, and see them recognize they have the strength to persevere.” He says his passion is for the welfare of his fellow staff, which is why he serves with Desert Waters, and believes he has been called to minister to others as he is able. Jeffrey is a National Police & Fire Chaplains’ Academy graduate, and a certified chaplain.

Greg worked for Oregon state corrections nearly his entire adult life after graduating from Oregon State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He started his career at the Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) as an academic counselor, and then served as OSP’s Staff Training Coordinator for eleven years. He worked as a department-level new employee and in-service instructor until he was selected to be the department’s Leadership Program Manager, and then Staff Training/Professional Development Administrator. He was the Oregon Department of Corrections’s Labor Relations Administrator until retirement in 2009. He developed and was lead author of The Six Moving Parts Model of Correctional Employee Training Effectiveness, a research-based system that describes the crucial mechanisms that agencies must implement in order to ensure efficient and effective use of staff training resources, published by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC)/U.S. Department of Justice. Greg has spoken at numerous conferences and training sessions around the country, has instructed at the university and community college levels, and has taught parenting classes for prison inmates. He holds a Master of Science degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, concentrating on the personal and professional consequences of work-related trauma and chronic stress, and the rapidly expanding field of human neuroscience. His concern for the health and skills of the corrections workforce has been his motivation throughout his career.

Lydia Brennan holds a Masters degree in Community/Clinical Psychology and brings 35+ years of mental health experience both in the community and corrections settings. Since 2009, she has worked for the Central New York Psychiatric Center providing mental health services in the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Lydia has provided direct care in multiple roles, and now serves as a Forensic Unit Chief and Regional Training provider. Community psychology focuses on the idea of prevention, attempting to mitigate problems before they have a significant negative impact. Working in corrections, she saw the negative impact of this work environment on friends and co-workers and found few resources to help individuals cope with these unique stressors. A passion for corrections staff wellness led her to DWCO, which not only recognizes these unique stressors but also offers practical strategies for individual and systemic changes.

Angel Allen-Martin joined Desert Waters Correctional Outreach in September 2022.  She brings over 25 years of experience in the correctional field.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in social work, and is a Licensed Master Social Worker in the State of Louisiana.

Angel’s passion is for the people who serve in the industry of corrections.  Her experience has encompassed mental health and administration in the field of corrections.  She served as a Social Worker, Accreditation Manager, Programs Manager, Assistant Warden and Administrative Duty Officer. She also participated in the start-up team for HMP Blankenhurst in England, training employees in unit management, suicide prevention and designed policies, procedures/post orders, and she developed programs for the incarcerated.

Angel was given the opportunity to serve on and lead the Critical Incident Stress Management Team for the largest private correctional organization in the nation.  Her team consisted of mental health, security and spiritual professionals.  Angel deployed over 107 times during her career.  She developed protocols for the organization to address suicide and homicidal threats made by employees, keeping safety for all as priority as well as obtaining help for employees and family when appropriate. Angel also taught leadership classes and authored monthly educational articles for the employees of the organization.

Angel was honored as Employee of the Year for the Facility Support Center of the organization in 2012.

Angel looks forward to working with the Desert Waters Team helping the great people in corrections.

Steve Howerter is an Illinois Dept. of Corrections retiree with 31+ years of service. He worked as a correctional officer, sergeant, and counselor. He was the initial member of the IDOC Staff Wellness Response Team at his facility when it was created in 2017. He was trained through Desert Waters as a CF2F and True Grit Instructor. He was the SWRT coordinator at his facility and then was named the Northern Region SWRT Coordinator in 2018, with responsibilities over 16 IDOC facility Staff Wellness teams with 100 team members until he retired in 2020. He has been CISM trained to assist groups and individuals in crisis and currently serves on the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Wellness Team. He is also a volunteer firefighter with 27 years of service and is the Assistant Chief of the Cuba Fire Protection District.

Steve and his wife have been blessed with two children of their own, along with their daughter-in-law and one grandson. They live on a small family farm in west central Illinois that was originally purchased by his great-grandfather in 1888.

I am a 20-year retired veteran from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. During this time, I worked my way through the ranks as an Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and retired as a Captain. During my 20-year career, I worked primarily in high-security environments such as Security Housing Units (SHU), Administrative Segregation (AD-SEG), and Level 4 180-designed facilities.

Over the last nine years of my career, I have been actively involved in staff training, including holding the position of In-Service-Training Manager. During this time, I received certifications as a Master Use of Force instructor, Master T4T Instructor, and Master Milo Instructor. I was certified as an instructor in various classes for the staff’s annual training. One of my most impactful certifications was as an instructor of CF2F and True Grit through Desert Waters. I also participated in the departmental Peer Support program, helping and working with staff during critical incidents.

My amazing wife and I are blessed with seven children, of which four are currently active or veterans of the US Navy, and nine grandchildren. They are spread across the country, so they keep us busy. We cherish every moment we spend with our family and are thankful to have all of them healthy and flourishing.