NAMI is pleased to announce two candidates running for the Executive Directors' Council (EDC)-elected seat on the 2024-2025 NAMI Board of Directors! One candidate will be elected to serve for the standard three-year board term. 

PLEASE NOTE: This election is running in parallel to the general election to fill five open seats on the NAMI Board of Directors. While it has the same deadlines and key dates, only Executive Directors will be voting to elect one of the two candidates to fill this seat. 

Candidates for the Executive Director Council-elected seat on the NAMI Board of Directors

Both nominees are NAMI members as well as the current Executive Director at a NAMI Affiliate or NAMI State Organization. Nominations were made and seconded by fellow EDC members by the nomination deadline, which is 60 days prior to NAMI's Annual Meeting. 

In addition to their statements of candidacy and their NAMI affiliations, each candidate profile includes the letter of nomination from the Executive Director recommending them for service to the NAMI Board and a summary of statements the nominator provided in support of their candidacy. Each candidate profile also includes a recorded speech from the candidate.  

The candidates are listed in the order that the written nomination was received by NAMI: 

• Lauren B. Simonds, Executive Director of NAMI Washington, nominated by Sue Abderholden, Executive Director of NAMI Minnesota and seconded by Brenda Scott, Executive Director of Mt San Jacinto
• Rebecca Kiessling, Executive Director of NAMI Northern Virginia, nominated by Susan Motley, Executive Director of NAMI Central Virginia and seconded by Nick Macrini, Executive Director of NAMI Virginia

 

2024 EDC Elections Key Dates

Below are important deadlines and key dates related to this year's EDC-elected Board seat elections process:

• May 3: Voting packets emailed to EDC voting members
• May 6: Online voting opens
• June 4, 6:00 p.m. MT: Online voting closes
• June 5, 1:45-2:45 p.m. MT: NAMI Annual Meeting at NAMICon 2024

 

Voting Information Distribution

NAMI sent voting materials to EDC voting members on May 3. The email contains information on the election and guides Executive Directors to the NAMI website for details about candidates. 

If you are an Executive Director but did not receive your voting information, please email voting@nami.org.

Online Voting

Voting opens Monday, May 6 and will close on Tuesday, June 4 at 6:00 p.m. MT SHARP.

Election Results

Election results will be reported at the NAMI Annual Meeting being held at NAMICon on June 5, 2024 from 1:45-2:45 p.m. MT. Results will also be posted on www.nami.org/voting.

Questions?

If you have questions about the 2024 NAMI voting and elections process, please send an email to voting@nami.org.