Leadership Spotlight

Kirsten Murphy

Executive Director, Vermont Council on Developmental Disabilities; President, NACDD Board of Directors

 

“Service is the very purpose of life.  It’s the rent we pay for living on the planet.”- Marian Wright Edleman

 

Board of Directors

Board of Directors - FY 2024

  • President: Kirsten Murphy, Executive Director, VT
  • Vice President: Eric Stoker, Information Specialist, UT
  • Secretary: Julie Horntvedt, Executive Director, ND
  • Treasurer: Patrick Reinhart, Executive Director, AK
  • Immediate Past President: Kimberly Mercer-Schleider, Executive Director, IL

At-Large Directors

  • Emmanuel Jenkins, Community Relations Officer, DE
  • Patrick Reinhart, Executive Director, AK
  • Kayla Green, Project Management Analyst, WY
  • Jon Meyers, Executive Director, AZ
  • Darryle Powell, Sr., Executive Director, AL
  • Emily Hartley, Deputy Director, MO
  • Christine Pisani, Executive Director, ID

Committee Leadership

Audit Committee

Chair: Eric Stoker, Information Specialist, UT

The Audit Committee consists of three to five members and shall be responsible for the selection of the independent auditor, the review and monitoring of the Corporation’s response to the audit recommendations and/or findings, and the review and assessment of internal organizational policies regarding risk management, code of conduct and processes for handling of external and internal complaints with regard to auditing matters. The Audit Committee shall be chaired by the Vice President; and the Treasurer shall not be a member of this committee.

Finance Committee

Chair: Patrick Reinhart, Executive Director, AK

The Finance Committee consists of five to nine members and shall be responsible for working with the CEO on the development of the Corporation’s annual budget; monitoring the financial status of the organization; developing a membership dues structure and approving investment options. The Treasurer of the Corporation shall serve as the Chair of the Finance Committee; and the Audit Committee Chair (Vice President) shall not be a member of the Committee. The Finance Committee shall work closely with the chief executive officer, who is ex officio to the Finance Committee and not permitted to vote. The Finance Committee shall report on its activities at Board of Directors and Membership meetings.

Member Services Committee

Chair: Kayla Green, Project Management Analyst, WY

The Member Services Committee consists of seven to twenty members and shall be responsible for soliciting, prioritizing and recommending strategies to the Board for improving Council performance and meeting the spirit and intent of the DD Act. The Members Services Committee Chair shall be appointed by the Board; the Member Services Committee Chair shall appoint the Committee Vice-Chair.

Public Policy Committee

Chair: Brett Williams, Policy Analyst, MI

The Public Policy Committee consists of seven to twenty members and shall be responsible for considering DD Act and other public policy priorities of the Corporation, recommending public policy positions to the Board and advising the Board on a recommended public policy/legislative agenda each year. The Public Policy Committee Chair shall be appointed by the Board; the Public Policy Committee Chair shall appoint the Committee Vice-Chair.

Self-Advocacy Committee

Chair: Emmanuel Jenkins, Community Relations Officer, DE

The SAC is open to Executive Directors, Council staff and other advocates with an interest in self-advocacy/advocacy as it relates to State/Territory Developmental Disabilities Councils. The SAC supports Councils in their work around self-advocacy by identifying best practices (what is working/not working in the SA movement from DD Council perspective), sharing information and making recommendations for and working collaboratively with AIDD on supporting self-advocacy across all State/Territory Developmental Disabilities Councils.

Strategic Communications Committee

Chair: Emmanuel Jenkins, Community Relations Officer, DE

Vice-Chair: Travis Chapman, Communications Representative, MI

The newly created Communications Committee is open to Executive Directors, Council staff, and advocates interested in developing and improving their Council’s communications strategies. The Communications Committee supports Councils by sharing information, making recommendations, and providing feedback on topics to help Council’s communicate effectively with the public.  Committee meetings are also an opportunity to build positive relationships and engage in peer-to-peer discussions with communications leaders inside the DD Council network.”