NASDDDS Executive Director’s Note: Staff on the Move

I am so very pleased to announce some important changes within our organization! These changes will position the association to continually improve our member services and to enhance our national presence in some key areas.

Mary Lou Bourne has agreed to take on the role of Chief Quality and Innovation Officer (CQIO) for the association. In this role, Mary Lou will lead our overall quality efforts and will spearhead our innovation approaches.                             

Laura Vegas will move into the NCI Director role, taking on the day-to-day leadership of NCI in addition to continuing her work on the Supporting Families Community of Practice and Business Acumen.  

 Jeanine Zlockie will be taking the Director of Special Projects role, taking on additional technical assistance responsibilities, a great service to the association as I shift roles.

 In addition to these position shifts, the following staff have agreed to serve as leads for some key policy areas that continue to be high priorities for our members. 

 Barbara Brent has agreed to lead the association’s policy work around supporting people with co-occurring mental health support needs and I/DD. Barb has also agreed, along with  Rie Kennedy-Lizotte, to co-lead our work on alternative payment model – an ever increasing area of interest for many of our members!

 Many thanks to these team members for their ongoing and stellar contributions to NASDDDS!

 We are also actively recruiting for a Communications and Events Manager. This role will focus on building upon our stellar member communications to introduce new modes of getting information into the hands (and ears!) of our members.  See the NASDDDS website for the position announcement at www.nasddds.org.

 These are important but preliminary steps to position the association for the future!  Please join me in congratulating our team on their new roles!    

–          Mary Sowers/NASDDDS Executive Director