Phil Elberg

Phil Elberg is a retired New Jersey lawyer. His litigation work on behalf of adolescents harmed at a cultic New Jersey behavior modification program recovered more than $17,000,000 for its victims and was described as “heroic” in a reported decision. He has worked on a pro bono publico basis to expose the harm resulting from the misrepresentations and the absence of checks and balances that characterize the “Troubled Teen Industry.” He was the first winner of the International Cultic Studies Association’s Margaret L. Singer Award for his work in “Advancing the Understanding of Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence.” He has served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Newark Legal Services and as a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Ethics’ Committee for the Newark vicinage. He was a founder and Board Chair of Newark Public Radio, Inc., the owner of America’s preeminent jazz station, WBGO.         

Bill Goldberg

For thirty-three years, Mr. Goldberg was the Program Supervisor for Rehabilitative Services for Rockland County, New York, and for eighteen years he was an Instructor in the Social Sciences and Social Work Departments of Dominican College, Blauvelt, New York. He has been invited to testify before several state legislatures, including the New York State Assembly Committee on Child Care, the New Jersey State Assembly Judiciary Committee, and the Connecticut State Judiciary Committee to address cult-related matters. He has served as an expert witness in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

For the past forty-five years, Mr. Goldberg has co-led a support group for former cult members. This group is the oldest group of its kind in the world. Mr. Goldberg has published many articles on coercive control dynamics in professional journals and books. In 2017, he co-edited a book entitled, Cult Recovery: A Clinician’s Guide to Working with Former Members and Families.

Matthew Broderick

Matthew Broderick was born and raised in a high-demand, abusive cult, Tony Alamo Christian Ministries.  On September 20, 2008, he was taken in a raid by the FBI and federal marshals.  His transition to life outside the cult inspired him to apply his experience to help others, particularly children.  Without the support of his parents who lost custody of their children because they refused to live outside the cult, Matthew set out on a new course.  At the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Matthew earned a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and a Juris Doctorate at the William H. Bowen School of Law. 

Following law school, was selected from a competitive to serve as a Foster Youth Intern for the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) in Washington, D.C., the nation’s top think tank on adoption and foster care issues. He wrote, “Addressing the Overuse of Psychotropic Medication among Foster Children,” for the 2015 CCAI report to Congress. Matthew presented his article to and answered questions from White House officials and members of the U.S. Congress. This published article is widely read by policy experts and child welfare professionals. In Washington, D.C., Matthew also served as an intern for U.S. Representative Markwayne Mullin. His duties included researching child welfare, energy, and other legislative issues.

Returning to Arkansas, Matthew continued to deepen his legal experience. He worked as a Rule XV Law Clerk for the Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney and then served as Assistant Director of the Sentencing Commission where his work included development, coordination, and analysis of data received from the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Community Corrections. His responsibilities included preparing impact assessments on proposed criminal justice legislation during legislative sessions. Matthew then joined the law firm of Wright, Lindsey & Jennings, LLP where he was involved in all aspects of litigation support including legal research, factual investigation, asset research, medical records, and deposition summaries and trial preparation.  Currently Matthew works at Critzer Cardani, PC Law Firm in Richmond, Virginia.

Matthew is a dedicated community volunteer.  His service includes the Arkansas Food Bank, Silent Sunday: A Benefit for Arkansas School of the Deaf, and Adopt-A-Highway.

Tamara Boyer

Tamara Boyer is a dedicated attorney with over thirty years of experience in corporate law specializing in consumer and commercial banking and finance. Raised in Sarasota, Florida, Tamara moved to Knoxville immediately after graduating from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law.

Throughout her career, Tamara has demonstrated a commitment to working alongside the ongoing business concern as an In-House Counsel. She began her legal journey as a Staff Attorney and then General Counsel for the Financial Services Division of Clayton Homes, Inc., Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance. She joined Citigroup as the Senior Vice President of Legal for Citi’s North America Manufactured House Finance Group. Tamara contributed to the establishment of US Bank in the East Tennessee market and gained significant insight into wealth management. Today, Tamara serves as the Assistant General Counsel of FirstBank where she contributes her manufactured housing expertise to the Special Lending Group and her years of management to the bank’s real estate holdings.

In addition to her legal work, Tamara is deeply committed serving the Knoxville and Greater East Tennessee communities. She volunteers her time serving as a Planning Commissioner on the City of Knoxville/Knox County Planning Commission. She is Chairman of the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of East Tennessee, the immediate Past Chairman of the Girl Scouts Council of East Tennessee and served as a Trustee on the Webb School of Knoxville Board of Trustees. She is a 2021 graduate of Leadership East Tennessee and a 2016 graduate of Leadership Knoxville.

Tamara achieved a personal goal in 2022, when she taught her first class as an Adjunct Professor at The University of Tennessee Knoxville. She joined the Haslam College of Business Department of Management and Entrepreneurship where she teaches Introduction to Management, Solving Complex Business Problems, and Ethical Leadership.

Tamara is a member of several professional organizations, including the Knoxville Bar Association. She is passionate about continuing education and stays abreast of the latest developments in the law and their ethical ramifications through seminars, workshops, and scholarly publications.

In her free time, Tamara enjoys traveling near and far, especially getting back to Sarasota whenever possible, and spending time with her family and friends.