Get to Know Us


Marcie Seidel, Executive Director



Marcie Seidel became Executive Director of Drug Free Action Alliance on July 1, 2011 after serving as Assistant Director over seeing the areas of communications and public policy for the agency since 2007.  In the role as Assistant Director, she also led the Ohio College Initiative to Reduce High-Risk Drinking as Project Director.   

Prior to Drug Free Action Alliance, Marcie served eight years as chief of staff to Ohio’s First Lady Hope Taft and she served on the senior staff of advisors to the Governor. In this capacity, she worked extensively at the state and national level on alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention activities. Before coming to the First Lady’s office, she served as director of the Women’s Division at the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services.

Marcie received her degree in Bachelor of Science from Miami University in Ohio and is also an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist I.







Allison Sharer, Director of Programs


Allison has worked in the field of alcohol and other drug abuse prevention for over 20 years and has held leadership positions at the international, state and local levels.

In addition to her position as Director of Programs with Drug-Free Action Alliance, Allison does independent training and consultation, including services to support the development and implementation of drug-free workplaces.  She has also developed and presented workshops, training and other education opportunities for a wide variety of audiences including parents, college students, community groups and human service providers.

She graduated from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor's degree in Communication and is an Ohio Prevention Specialist II.

Denise Johnson, Accountant

Denise Johnson currently serves as the Accountant for Drug-Free Action Alliance. She has worked in fiscal management for 22 years and has also served in the field of alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse prevention for 12 of those years.

As the mother of two active teens, when Denise is not crunching numbers at the office, she is likely to be found at one of her children’s sporting activities. She is an involved and active parent with a passion for the agency’s mission.  

Denise graduated from Franklin University with a Bachelors of Science degree in financial management.



Emilie Brown, Administrative Assistant


Emilie Brown joined Drug-Free Action Alliance in 2006 serving first as a receptionist and moving into the Administrative Assistant position, where she assists not only the Executive Director but the Drug-Free Action Alliance Board of Directors.

She oversees the office IT needs and is an active member of the Parents Who Host, Lose The Most: Don’t be a party to teenage drinking program team.  Prior to Drug-Free Action Alliance, Brown owned her own business and had the opportunity to enjoy various job experiences through the years.

Emilie also received her diploma from Central Ohio Technical College where she became a Licensed Practical Nurse.










Karen Downing, Project Assistant

Karen has provided administrative support for Drug-Free Action Alliance for three years, and has worked for over 22 years in various non-profit agencies including the American Heart Association, Columbus Speech and Hearing Center and Buckeye Association of School Administrators.

Karen's responsibilities now include supporting the Ohio College Initiative, Statewide Prevention Coalition Association and KNOW!  She also oversees workshop and conference registration and ordering of product.

Karen attended Franklin University where she received a Secretarial Certificate. 

Kristen Frederick, Program Manager - Ohio Center for Coalition Excellence


Kristen Frederick is Project Director for the Ohio Center for Coalition Excellence, which ensures that coalitions have access to high quality training sessions, networking opportunities, resources, assistance with technical questions and policy initiatives.

Mrs. Frederick also coordinates the Statewide Prevention Coalition Association (SPCA). As a unified voice, SPCA members advocate for local, statewide and national policy issues that relate to substance abuse prevention and meet on a bi-monthly basis to share knowledge and resources to help them strengthen and sustain their coalition infrastructure.

Prior to entering the ATOD prevention field, she worked with emotionally disturbed and abused children and their families as a case manager. Mrs. Frederick is an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist I.  









Michelle Morse, Program Manager - Know!

Michelle Morse is Program Manager for Know! – a program empowering parents to raise their children to be substance-free. As a mother of four, Michelle knows first-hand the importance of parents talking early and often with their children about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Twice monthly, Michelle writes and distributes Know! Parent Tips via email, with information and ideas in helping to prevent adolescent drug use and abuse.  

Michelle graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and worked as a news reporter prior to stepping into the non-profit world. To sign up for Michelle’s Know! Parent Tips, please visit: HelpThemKnow.com.

Tony Coder, Communications Manager

Tony joined Drug-Free Action Alliance as Communication Manager and Project Manager for the Ohio College Initiative to Reduce High-Risk Drinking in July of 2011.  He also is responsible for managing public policy issues.

Prior to joining Drug-Free Action Alliance, Tony was the Assistant Deputy Director of External Affairs at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and also served as the Director of Constituent Affairs.

Tony also worked as Project Director for former First Lady of Ohio, Hope Taft, and helped create the Telly-award winning Smart and Sober campaign with Henry Winkler and hip-hop star Bow Wow, a project designed to bring awareness to the consequences of underage drinking.

Tony earned his Bachelor’s of Arts in Communications from the University of Toledo.

Derek Longmeier, Program Manager - Parents Who Host, Lose The Most


Derek Longmeier has been involved in the field of alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse prevention for 20 years and currently serves as Project Director for the nationally-recognized Parents Who Host, Lose the Most: Don't be a party to teenage drinking public awareness campaign.

Derek also manages Drug Free 24/7: The Way to Go! and the Drug-Free Action Alliance Youth Philanthropy Council.

Derek has a B.A. in Psychology from The Ohio State University and obtained a Masters of Business Administration from Ohio Dominican University.

Derek also has been accredited as an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist II.

Malaika Stubbs-Wilson, Program Manager - SOLACE