Officers
Desiree Loucks Baer – Chairperson
NADSP
Desiree Loucks Baer serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) and the Supported Decision-Making Coordinator for the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation.
LEARN MOREDesiree Loucks Baer – Chairperson
NADSP
David Ervin – Vice-Chairperson
Makom
David Ervin has worked in the human services field for more than 35 years. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Makom, a provider organization supporting people in Maryland and Virginia. David is also a published author and speaker, covering topics such as healthcare systems for people with IDD, organizational development, agency transformation, and more.
LEARN MOREDavid Ervin – Vice-Chairperson
Makom
Celia S. Feinstein – Treasurer
Independent Consultant
Celia Feinstein, FAAIDD, is currently working throughout the country as an independent consultant in the areas of quality assessment and improvement. She is the Emerita Executive Director of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, Pennsylvania's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Training, Service and Advocacy.
Celia S. Feinstein – Treasurer
Independent Consultant
Margaret A. Nygren – Secretary
AAIDD
Margaret A. Nygren Executive Director & CEO of AAIDD since 2010, is responsible for the executive direction, leadership, and management of operations of the organization. Dr. Nygren oversees the organization’s core functions of education, publications, public policy, and member services.
LEARN MOREMargaret A. Nygren – Secretary
AAIDD
Laura Vegas – Immediate Past Chairperson
NASDDDS
Laura Vegas is the Director of National Core Indicators for the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS). Laura has more than 27 years of experience working in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
LEARN MORELaura Vegas – Immediate Past Chairperson
NASDDDS
Directors
Christopher Banks
Autism Society of America
Christopher Banks serves as President and CEO of the Autism Society of America. Banks has a comprehensive background in human services and healthcare - increasing fundraising efforts, measurably improving revenue strategies, and being a transformational leader committed to diversity and cultural growth.
LEARN MOREChristopher Banks
Autism Society of America
John Butterworth
Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston
John Butterworth is a Senior Research Fellow and Director of Employment Systems Change and Evaluation at ICI, University of Massachusetts Boston. He has 40 years of experience as a researcher, consultant, trainer, and manager of employment services.
LEARN MOREJohn Butterworth
Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston
Thane Dykstra
Trinity Services, Inc.
Thane Dykstra is the Chief Executive Officer at Trinity Services, Inc. Thane has expertise in contemporary therapy models including Positive Psychology and its role in person centered planning. Thane is credited for the creation of the National Association of QDDPS (NAQ) in 1996 and he continues to serve in a leadership role for the organization.
LEARN MOREThane Dykstra
Trinity Services, Inc.
Chester Finn
NYS OPWDD
Chester Finn works for the NY State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and serves as Vice Chair for the NADSP Board of Directors. He is a nationally-known disability rights activists who served as National President of SABE and is a past president of SANYS.
LEARN MOREChester Finn
NYS OPWDD
Tia Nelis
TASH
Tia Nelis is the Self-Advocate Engagement Consultant at TASH. Previously she was a Self-Advocacy Specialist at the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Institute on Disability and Human Development, University of IL at Chicago. Nelis also is one of the past chairpersons SABE.
LEARN MORETia Nelis
TASH
Patricia Nobbie
Elevance Health, Inc.
Patricia Nobbie is the Disability Policy Engagement Director at Elevance Health, Inc., where she focuses on stakeholder and advocate engagement and LTSS initiative and resource development for people with IDD, caregivers, and older adults.
LEARN MOREPatricia Nobbie
Elevance Health, Inc.
Chris Stewart
The Arc of Central Alabama
Chris Stewart is the President and CEO at The Arc of Central Alabama. In this role, Stewart is responsible for oversight of more than 650 employees across 89 locations, who manage a wide range of programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
LEARN MOREChris Stewart
The Arc of Central Alabama
Angela Weis
Mosaic
Angela Weis is the Senior Vice President of Mission Support for Mosaic. For more than 20 years, Weis has held various leadership positions throughout the human services field. Before joining Mosaic, Weis worked for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
LEARN MOREAngela Weis
Mosaic