Amanda Ayers, MPH, has been working in the field of prevention and health education for nearly 15 years. She began working as a Prevention Specialist at the Southeast Prevention Center and went on to hold Assistant and Associate Director positions there as well. She has also served as a public health consultant, and is now a Senior Community Health Associate at Health Resources in Action, Inc. She has worked with coalitions throughout the Southeast and Central Massachusetts areas; many with a focus on tobacco or underage substance use prevention. Strategic planning, evaluation, evidence-based prevention, and coalition development, capacity building, and sustainability are skills that have been developed and enhanced over the years through experience and advanced training. She has been trained in the Healthy Communities principles and had an opportunity to incorporate that model in several communities. Trainings on a variety of prevention issues, including social norms, YRBS analysis and reporting, grant writing and coalition development have also been conducted. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Connecticut.