Bart Stevens

• In 1993, established Bart Stevens Special Needs Planning, LLC, (www.bssnp.com) the first company in Arizona dedicated exclusively to providing Special Needs Planning Services
• Special Needs Planning and Consulting services offered nationwide
• Arizona Certified Legal Document Preparer (AzCLDP)
• Associate Member Arizona Bar Association and Maricopa County Bar Association
• Seminar and Conference Speaker for the Autism Society of America National Conference, Greater Phoenix Autism Society, National Down Syndrome Society and Congress, National Spina Bifida Association, The Arc, the Epilepsy Foundation, World Congress on Disabilities; SARRC (Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center), Crecer Con Amor AZ State Conference; YMCA Law Day; Learning Disabilities Association; and the AZ State University Special Ed Teachers Program
• Author of “The Beginner’s Guide to Special Needs Planning”

• Speaker to Professional Organizations including: the Arizona College of Estate Planning Attorneys, Arizona Association of Independent Paralegals, the Arizona and Oklahoma Departments of Developmental Disabilities, Certified Financial Planners Association, The Society of Financial Service Professionals of Phoenix, The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), and AZ Partners in Policymaking Conference
• Published Articles include The Advocate (The Autism Society of America’s newsletter), Exceptional Parent magazine and Paraplegia News
• Interviewed by The New York Sunday Times; Mature Outlook Magazine; Kiplinger Reports; The Washington Times; The Chicago Tribune and the Arizona Republic
• Services: Special Needs Trusts and related Legal Documents, Guardianship, Letter of Intent (Information/Care Directive), Government Benefits, Funding Budgetary Needs

David M. Terk

A native of Los Angeles, David resides in the San Fernando Valley with his wife, Siri, their daughters, Fiona and Isley and a menagerie which includes three cats two birds and Leopard Gecko named “Cookie”. In setting the course for his professional career, David knew he wanted to do work that would result in changing people’s lives for the better. Upon being introduced to Special Needs Planning and how it impacts the lives of families and persons with special needs, he knew he had found his mission in life.

David enjoys the challenge of helping people maximize and protect the benefits they are entitled to and is passionate about helping families to create a secure future for all their loved ones. He is a highly sought after speaker on the many subjects and issues that affect the community and provides comprehensive planning services through his firm, Serenitas Special Needs Planning. Organizations he has addressed are C.A.R.D., Mychal’s Learning Place, LAUSD, My Gym, DSALA, and Regional Centers.

Active in the community, David volunteers his time with The Special Needs Planning Institute (www.SNPInst.org). In his free time, David enjoys cooking, gardening, playing guitar, martial arts, and spending time with his family. He holds a B.A. from Tulane University and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University.

Dennis W. Spiegelman, Regional Director

After a successful career in special needs and traditional estate planning in the Los Angeles and San Diego County area, Dennis retired in 2017. 

As a volunteer at the Carlsbad Senior Center, Dennis observed that his information and services would be of benefit to the special needs community. He decided to continue providing information to families by becoming an associate of The Special Needs Planning Institute, a non-profit dedicated to providing educational and informational updates on issues affecting persons with special needs and their families. His educational seminar, Guidance For a Lifetime of Care, provides comprehensive information on all aspects of planning. 

Dennis and his wife, Marion, have been married since 1972, have two children, one grandchild and a parrot named Bilko. He is also a proud Vietnam Veteran. 

Chloe Renshaw

As a mother to a son with autism, I have firsthand experience navigating the complexities of special needs planning. This personal journey has shaped my professional path and fueled my passion for helping families create secure and fulfilling futures for their loved ones with disabilities.

I hold a degree in Philosophy, which honed my critical thinking skills and deepened my appreciation for compassionate problem-solving. Over the course of my career, I’ve cultivated a unique blend of professional expertise, personal insight, and unwavering dedication to advocating for individuals with special needs and their families.

For more than 15 years, I worked as a licensed massage therapist, owning and operating my own clinic in Anchorage, Alaska. Consequently, this part of my professional life instilled in me the values of empathy, patience, and personalized care—qualities that have carried over into every facet of my work. Later, I transitioned to the legal field, earning a Paralegal Certificate from the University of Arizona. As a personal injury paralegal, I gained invaluable experience navigating complex legal systems and advocating for clients during challenging times.

Becoming a Special Needs Planner

My true passion, however, lies in special needs planning services—a calling born from my personal experiences as a mother. Recognizing the life-changing impact of thoughtful, comprehensive planning, I’ve dedicated my career to helping families navigate the special needs planning process.

In 2022, my family and I relocated to Arizona, where I now proudly work in collaboration with Bart Stevens Special Needs Planning. Together with Bart’s 30+ years of expertise and my own Arizona Supreme Court certification as an Arizona Certified Legal Document Preparer (#82133), I am equipped to help families navigate special needs planning and provide families with tailored solutions and peace of mind. Together, we are committed to empowering individuals with disabilities and their families to navigate their unique journeys with confidence.

Education and Credentials

• Certified Arizona Legal Document Preparer #82133– Arizona Supreme Court
• Paralegal Certificate – University of Arizona
• Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy – University of Southern Indiana

Professional Affiliations

• Member, Supported Decision-Making Agreements Advisory Committee – The ARC of Arizona
• Member, Arizona Paralegal Association
• Associate Member, Maricopa County Bar Association, Paralegal Division
• Member, Arizona Association of Independent Paralegals

Experience

• Regular Speaker, Special Needs Planning Educational Workshops – City of Mesa Adaptive Recreation Department and other organizations
• Invited Speaker, Mesa School District Transition Department meetings and events
• Extensive experience conducting workshops and guiding families through the special needs planning process, offering practical, compassionate personalized special needs plans tailored to individual needs

Ernest Savage – Special Needs Planner

Ernest began his career as a journalist, studying and reporting on domestic public policy—from welfare reform and education funding to the human stories behind those laws. From think tanks and the halls of Congress to kitchen tables across America, he has always sought to understand how policy is created, implemented, and how it ultimately impacts families.

That curiosity became deeply personal when his own family entered the world of special needs advocacy. Having a loved one with special needs transformed his work from an intellectual pursuit into a mission to protect futures—to turn complex systems into clear, actionable steps that make a lasting difference.

Today, Ernest helps families navigate every dimension of Special Needs Planning: coordinating Legal, Government Benefits, Financial, and Lifestyle strategies so that loved ones can thrive with dignity, stability, and joy. He is passionate about developing practical tools and planning methodologies that families can harness like a shield—protecting benefits, preserving autonomy, and ensuring the best possible quality of life now and in the years ahead.

Nicole Hawkins

Nicole Hawkins brings over 35 years of experience helping private clients and businesses across multiple industries, including retail, manufacturing, insurance, and wellness. Raised in the Phoenix area, she has built a diverse professional background spanning training, planning, buying, and financial services, giving her a well-rounded perspective on both operational excellence and client advocacy.

For the past 15 years, Nicole has focused on the insurance and wellness sectors, where her licensing and expertise have enabled her to guide clients through the complexities of evolving healthcare regulations and government frameworks. Her work is grounded in a deep understanding of the importance of comprehensive financial planning—particularly for families navigating long-term care and special needs considerations.

Nicole’s commitment to service extends beyond the private sector. She spent over a decade in the nonprofit space, serving as a program director for initiatives supporting underserved young mothers. As a mother of four—one with special needs and another with a chronic illness—Nicole brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. This perspective has made her a passionate advocate and lifelong learner dedicated to empowering families.

Motivated by her personal journey, Nicole pursued specialized planning solutions for families with unique needs, which led her to collaborate with the Bart Stevens Special Needs Planning Team. Over the past two years, she has played an active role in education and outreach, leading workshops, participating in conferences, and providing individualized consultations to help families better prepare for the future.

Nicole is the founder of SNH Solutions and serves on the board of a local special needs school in Glendale, Arizona. She holds a degree from Northern Arizona University and maintains licenses in commercial and health insurance, along with FFM certification.

Outside of her professional work, Nicole enjoys traveling, playing pickleball, and spending time with her husband of over 30 years, their children, and their extended family and friends.

Jolene Blackburn

Jolene Blackbourn is a virtual estate planning attorney and funeral planner based in California. 

Jolene has dedicated her professional career to assisting families who have a loved one with special needs.  She is the devoted mom to two children with special needs and two rescue dogs as well. 

Jolene brings compassion and personal insight to her work by showing families how to  protect their assets and properly provide for their loved one’s future care, supervision and quality of life. She works with her clients from the comfort of their home.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing soccer, hiking with her dogs, and exploring the hidden gems of Los Angeles. A passionate Halloween enthusiast, she is also an active member of the local Halloween community.