Meet Our Trainers

Playworks trainers bring years of experience in education and youth development, and an ongoing commitment to safe, healthy and inclusive play for all children.

Dana LoVecchio
Training Program Director
In 2002, Dana LoVecchio started her tenure with Playworks in the East Bay, CA as a Program Coordinator where she used four square, tag, and kickball to create a safe, inclusive school enviornment for her students. After two years of running on the playground, she became a Program Manager and supported staff in San Francisco, CA. Since 2006, Dana has been leading Playworks Training. She delivers high quality professional development workshops across the country, creates standards for all of Playworks Training products, oversees the quality of all trainers and trainings, and develops Playworks' Training of Trainers program.

Eben Dower
Playworks Trainer
Eben Dower is excited to begin a new chapter with Playworks as the Bay Area trainer.  After two years as a Program Coordinator and two as the National Recruiter, Eben is looking forward to combining his programmatic expertise and passion for introducing new folks to the power of play in this new role. He can't wait to get started with the rock star, close-knit team that is Playworks Training.  Also, he loves chocolate.
 

Brady Gill

Bay Area Trainer
In 10 years of summer camp Brady Gill climbed the ladder from bunk counselor to camp director.  Now with his love of children and passion for play, Brady is delighted to be joining the Playworks team as a trainer for the Bay Area. Brady is inspired by Playworks' philosophy of safe and healthy play and as a Bay Area native, he feels especially honored to be able to share it with this community. 

Ben Stein

Senior National Trainer
Ben Stein hails from the city of Pittsburgh, PA where he spent his time cheering for the Penguins. He joined Playworks in 2005 as a program coordinator in San Francisco where he lived and worked for two years. In 2007, Ben became an program manager, supervising nine schools in East Oakland, where he spent another two years.

Currently, Ben is a trainer for Playworks and develops curriculum for trainings. He has trained adults and other youth workers all across the country to work with kids from pre-kindergarten through high school. In addition,he's provided technical assistance to the staff at many playgrounds around the country. Ben is also responsible for our internal training of our own trainers as well.

In his spare time, he rides his bike and travels the world! 

Deb Sugerman
Training Manager
Playworks Boston

Deb Sugerman comes with 20 years of experience teaching in higher education, where she trained educators to design youth programs and lead activities with elementary and middle school students. She also ran a consulting business where she trained adults in group facilitation skills. She has a background in program evaluation, most recently evaluating the impact of activity-based programs on youth participants.  

Deb believes that youth workers who value the power of play have the ability to positively impact children and organizations. Deb is an avid outdoors person and spends her free time hiking and kayaking.