Home / Meet Marilyn

Letting Light in, Wherever It’s Needed

When one of us moves forward, we all move forward. Evidence-based and enlightening, Marilyn’s insights leave a mark on hearts, minds, and protocol in classrooms, boardrooms, and counseling settings.

Who is Marilyn?

Marilyn founded MGS Consulting, a training and consulting organization, upon retiring as a parole officer in 2002. Her singular goal: To bring evidence-based behavioral health advances to courtrooms, counseling spaces, prisons, and individuals struggling to figure out how to live their best lives.

While she specializes in the tangled relationship between trauma and addiction, Marilyn has spoken, trained, and developed curriculum on topics spanning motivational interviewing, cultural competence and professional ethics. Marilyn’s training content is complemented by her engaging delivery. Her following includes court systems, judges, probation officers, treatment professionals, recovery programs, private corporations, and individuals in recovery. All appreciate her ability to reach people – and respect them while doing it.

Research shows us that we are able to re-write our personal stories in a way that allows us to live our best life. As a guide, advocate, and ally, I offer education, guidance, and support to individuals courageously willing to lean in and find their voice – and ultimately, their authentic selves.”

Marilyn’s Bio

Marilyn Stein graduated from Millersville University with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, going on to serve as a parole officer in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania for 23 years. During that tenure she earned a Master’s in Education from Penn State University in Training and Development.

Today, as MGS Consulting, Marilyn is in high demand as an instructor, educator, and coach. She develops curriculum and trains extensively on topics spanning addiction, trauma-informed care, de-escalation, cultural diversity, stigma, and shame. One-on-one clients seek her expertise on everything from empowerment and bariatric transformation to sobriety. Against any backdrop, Marilyn helps people forge their paths through impactful education and acceptance of change, freeing them today’s barriers and girding them for tomorrow’s.

Marilyn serves as Vice President of the Pennsylvania Certification Board of Directors, holds a Certified Allied Addiction certification with a Criminal Justice specialty, and is a Certified TREM (Trauma, Recovery and Empowerment Model) trainer. She is the author of two books: DUI Countermeasures and Motivational Interviewing for Change Agents, and a founder of Highway Safety Central, a breakthrough program designed to eliminate substance use and driving.

Marilyn facilitates a domestic violence batterers intervention group for Lancaster County Courts and has taught an addiction course for the School of Social Work at Millersville University.

She travels extensively for work but calls Lancaster, Pennsylvania home.