2009 NAMIGO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tom has served as the Board President for NAMI Greater Orlando since January 2006.  He became introduced to NAMI's programs and services through POWER Seminole County in support of his daughter.  A Division Vice President for maxIT Healthcare LLC, Tom enthusiastically supports NAMI 's mission by participating in various speaking engagements and periodic fundraising and awareness-raising events.

When her two adult sons were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Wanda found hope and support in the Family-to-Family education course.  Her continued involvement with NAMI expresses her desire to educate and assist others to more easily navigate the road to evaluation and treatment.  A board member since January 2008 and Vice President since January 2009, Wanda also contributes to NAMI's efforts by serving as a NAMI Basics teacher and NAMIGO Walk co-captain.

Linda Gregory, Secretary

After Linda's husband was killed by a person with mental illness, she began working with the offender's sister, Alice Petree, Seminole County Sheriff Donald F. Eslinger, and various community leaders to make needed changes in laws and services for the mentally ill.  They soon realized that the issue extended beyond the confines of their county, so they reached out to other organizations striving for the same goal; NAMI was one of the first such organizations with which they partnered.  Linda is now the Secretary for the NAMIGO Board of Directors and also serves as a CIT trainer, teacher and trainer at state and national conventions, and is currently involved in a coalition between NAMI and Murder Victims for Human Rights.

When mental illness struck her family, Donna found support, guidance and resources through NAMI's family and consumer support groups and the Family-to-Family education program.  Donna utilizes her accounting expertise as Pricing Manager and Office Administrator for Rexel Active to serve as Treasurer for NAMIGO's Board of Directors.  Additionally, she is a state teacher trainer for Family-to-Family, Florida's Family-to-Family Program Director, a Family-to-Family teacher since 2000, and she is the 2009 committee co-chair for the NAMIGO Walk.

Deanne S. Adams

Lt. Deanne Adams is the crisis intervention team (CIT) coordinator for the Orange County Department of Corrections.  She has worked tirelessly to ensure law enforcement officers are properly trained to handle situations involving people with mental illness in a state of crisis.  As well as being a NAMIGO board member, Deanne also serves on the Board of Directors for the Pathways Drop-In Center and has been instrumental in its recent renovation.

Marcia Gilliam

A SEDNET Project Manager for Orange County Public Schools, Marcia has been advocating and promoting mental health awareness and resources for children and their families on behalf of NAMI since 2003.  Aside from her duties as a board member, her other volunteer activities include: Child/Family Advocate; parent recruitment for POWER support groups and NAMI Basics; and promoting Parents and Teachers as Allies presentations at schools.

Jennifer Helsel

Jennifer has been a member of the NAMI family for more than 6 years and has been on the Board of Directors since September 2002.  Her wealth of knowledge pertaining to mental health issues and NAMI programs is a great asset to our organization; her list of many responsibilities include: Resource Administrator for the NAMIGO Office; Peer-to-Peer mentor and trainer; Connection facilitator; member of the NAMIGO Consumer Council; and leader of the Consumer Women's Group.  Aside from her duties with our local affiliate office, Jennifer is also chair of the NAMI Florida Consumer Council and an active member of the state board.

Marianne Cassetta Link

Marianne first saw an ad for NAMI's family support group around the time of her son's diagnosis in 2000.  She subsequently enrolled in a Family-to-Family class that Fall and has been active in NAMI since: Marianne has been heavily involved in running the NAMIGO Administrative Office in the past; serves as a support group resource person; represents NAMIGO on the Hacienda Board; hosts consumer parties at her home; has helped organize several education sessions and annual meetings for the organization; heads the Lunch Bunch, a social event for consumers and family members; and is the 2009 committee co-chair for the NAMIGO Walk.

Marcia Mathes

Marcia has been involved with NAMI for more than 16 years, ever since she and her husband first attended the pilot program that eventually became the Family-to-Family education course.   She has been a member of the board since December 1997 and participates in a long list of NAMI-related activities: she is the newly appointed president of the NAMI Florida Board of Directors; chair of the NAMI Florida Child & Adolescent Committee; POWER facilitator; trainer and presenter for Parents and Teachers as Allies; Family to Family teacher; member of various advisory councils/committees with Orange County and Orange County Public Schools; member of the Orange County Juvenile Justice Task Force; member of the Board of Florida Substance Abuse Mental Health Corporation; and a CIT trainer.  Marcia is also part owner of Mathes Management Enterprises, a financial consulting firm and small loan institution.

Joe Mendoza

Joe has been involved with NAMIGO for over a year and is a passionate advocate for consumers' rights.  A board member since December 2008, he is also a Connection facilitator, chair of the NAMIGO Consumer Council, and Consumer Council liaison to the University of Central Florida.

Deborah Parrott

Debbie is a Certified Public Accountant and President of her own accounting firm who became involved with NAMIGO after her son's bipolar disorder diagnosis.  She has been a member for two years, a board member since January 2009, serves on the NAMIGO Walk Committee, and is a family support group facilitator.

Andrew G. Storie, Esq.

A local attorney who started the Law Office of Andrew G. Storie, Drew has devoted his practice to helping Central Florida families deal with and understand family law and divorce.  His prior experience as a prosecutor for Brevard and Seminole counties and as a teacher in the Orange County public school system gives him a unique perspective on the legal aspects of mental health and treatment as well as on education and children's needs.