Mark Benson is the central and southern Illinois regional coordinator for the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training. Mark is the owner of NSE Solutions, an out-patient counseling practice in Normal, Illinois. He previously was a clinician and program manager for a mobile crisis response team in McLean, Woodford and Tazewell counties. Mark also provided mental health services in the McLean County Detention Facility for approximately 18 years.
Mark has been a certified instructor with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board since 2003 and CIT since 2008 serving as a regional coordinator since 2013. He has conducted trainings in the following areas:

• Crisis Intervention Team training courses: Prep, Basic and Advanced training
• Mental Illness and Suicide Prevention in a Correctional Setting
• Mental Health Issues and Suicide Assessment for First Responders


John Williams is an LCPC, M.Ed. with 30 years of experience working with youth, families, and communities. John has a private S-Corp JFSW, Inc. which provides training including CIT for Law Enforcement Professionals, Consultation, Curriculum Development, Subject Matter Expert with his spouse Richelle an LMFT who provides individual, couples and family therapy.

John leads Cargo Circles for youth and adults.

John served as the Director of Youth Services at Oak Park and River Forest Townships for 24 years where he designed and developed a best practices Youth Interventionist Program involving collaborative funding and interventions among 11 government bodies for 24 years addressing needs of youth and families involved in gangs, drugs and violence.