Our Board

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Patricia Nobbie

Patricia Nobbie has filled numerous positions in the human services field for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Most recently, her role focused on stakeholder and advocate engagement and LTSS initiative and resource development.

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.

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.