About Us

Who We Are

2010 Board of Directors and Committee Chairs

 

President	Suzanne Schmidtke
Secretary	Dave Stairs
Treasurer	Barbara Gauthier
1st Vice President	Julia Robinson Shimizu
2nd Vice President	Beth Arnold
3rd Vice President	Daniel Mahoney
Board Members	Joe Conrad
	Zee Dankworth
	Milton Decker
	Mary Harpel
	Jim Randall
	Julia Robinson Shimizu
	Tom Walsh
Advocacy Co-Chairs	Mark Gale Mary Harpel
Communications Chair	Julia Robinson Shimizu
Education Chair	Milton Decker
Finance Co-Chairs	Milton Decker Barbara Gauthier
Fundraising Chair	Beth Arnold
Membership Chair	Barbara Gauthier
Outreach Chair	Zee Dankworth
Special Projects Chair	Joe Conrad
Support Groups Chair	Tom Walsh
Technology Chair	Joe Conrad
Volunteer Chair	Beth Arnold

 

President 2010-2011: Suzanne Schmidtke

Suzanne Schmidtke, LCSW, is a Social Worker from Illinois who retired after 25 years working with adults with serious mental illness and their families.

“There is depression in my own family:  My aunt had bipolar disorder and committed suicide.  My mother had undiagnosed depression and died from alcoholism at  age 57, and my son is an alcoholic.  I became involved with NAMI in Illionois and witnessed the power of grassroots advocacy when the psychiatric research program for which I worked was saved from closure by members of NAMI-Greater Chicago back in the late 80’s.“

Suzanne later became a member of the Board of Directors of NAMI-Greater Chicago and then president of NAMI-Illinois.  When she and her husband moved to Southern California and settled in SFV, she became a member of NAMI-San Fernando Valley and later, a member of the Board. 

“I feel strongly that we must educate people about serious mental illnesses, we must reduce stigma, and we must push for increased funding for research so that we may finally find a cure.”

 

Secretary: Dave Stairs

Dave has been involved in commercial real estate for the past 30 years. Based in Southern California, work assignments have taken him throughout most of the continental U.S. and Hawaii. He is a licensed real estate broker in California and has earned professional designations from the Institute of Real Estate Management and the Building Owners and Managers Association. He has served on the boards of BOMA-LA, IREM-LA, the Century City Chamber of Commerce, and the Whittier Board of Realtors. He is a past president of the Whittier Optimist’s Club.

Dave is a proud graduate of USC with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations. Dave married a “Valley Girl” where they have made their home and raised their family since 1986. A recent addition to the NAMI-SFV Board of Directors, Dave currently serves as its Secretary and is qualified to teach NAMI’s Family-To-Family course. Dave’s involvement with NAMI resulted from the illness of a close family member.

“I am deeply indebted to NAMI and a number of its members for the tremendous amount of support and care offered to me and my family.”

 

Treasurer: Barbara Gauthier

Barbara Gauthier, semi-retired business owner with over 35 years of entrepreneurial experience graduated from the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg, Canada and became a US citizen in 1965. Distraught over the emotional state of a family member she visited a therapist who put her in touch with NAMI.  

“We realized that our family had been unknowingly  dealing with mental illness for 25 years. My husband  Richard and I immediately signed up for the NAMI Family to Family program.”

Barbara became actively involved as a team captain for NAMI WALKS in 2007 and 2008; became Treasurer in 2008 and is active on the Special Projects Committee.  The Gauthier family is very grateful to NAMI for the education and support available to them and all families suffering with Mental Illness.

“We share our NAMI experience with all we know to help educate those around us about mental illness and to help reduce the stigma associated with this disease that touches so many families.”

 

1st Vice President: Julia Robinson Shimizu

Julia Robinson Shimizu is a writer who has devoted much of her career to the non-profit world where she has served the homeless, incarcerated adults, disadvantaged children, troubled teens, emancipated youth and health and environmental organizations. She has been recognized with nomination for Women Making a Difference and by National Institutes of Health for communications in health awareness campaigns. She is also known for her exceptional commitment to causes she cares about. Despite a fear of flying, she took part in a Charity Skydive raising nearly $10,000 for environmental education. She serves on the Board of Directors for DOVIA (Directors of Volunteers in Agencies) and  LA Women’s Theater Festival and has volunteered for numerous organizations. Julia’s family has been touched in many ways by mental illness through several generations. Her service for NAMI-SFV is dedicated to her loved ones with severe mental illness, and to the hope that others can benefit from the organization’s education and information programs that have made such a difference for her and her family.

“Our son seemed to have disappeared. He went away to college, suffered a break and returned home. All we had dreamed for him slipped away as he stood alone in his room. Silent. We begged him to get help, hungered for him to talk again. As a writer, who cares deeply about words, our son’s loss of language was a horrible blow. When we found NAMI, we began to understand his illness and learned how to help him. NAMI gave us the tools to communicate with our son and with each other. We are so grateful to finally have hope for recovery.”

 

2nd Vice President: Beth Arnold

Beth is a CPA and Controller. Her business skills and experience position her
to lead and organize fundraising and awareness initiatives such as the annual walk-a-thon.

Beth became involved in NAMI-SFV in December of 2008 after learning her cousin was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. He lives in Kentucky and is an amazing self-taught artist. Due to his illness he now lives with his parents and has no friends nearby. NAMI has taught Beth how to be a better friend and support to her cousin and his parents. Her cousin is now receiving treatment from new doctors and her family has hope that he will be able to return to his own home and live a happy and productive life although she knows the road will be challenging due in part to the stigma that continues to hurt those with a serious mental illness.

 

3rd Vice President: Daniel Mahoney

Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Daniel was an owner/operator of an active antique restoration and interior woodfinishing businesses.  At his lowest point, he lost his business, and experienced  the death of his closest friend. There was a major fire in his house and subsequently became homeless. 

Daniel began abusing alcohol and street drugs.  This led to his addiction, hospitalizations and time in jail.  Subsequently, he was exiled from his family.

After two hospitalizations, he discovered that NAMI meetings were being held in the same clinic where he was receiving his mental health services.  By becoming a regular at NAMI support groups his recovery began to take hold. 

“It wasn't until I got involved with NAMI, Project Return Peer Support Network and Twelve Step programs that I took responsibility and became dedicated to my own to recovery.”

Daniel brings personal experience of his own ordeal and recovery to NAMI.  He is a Certified Peer Advocate and currently facilitates three support groups at mental health centers in the San Fernando Valley.

Recently Daniel was elected to the Board of NAMI's San Fernando Valley affiliate and appointed Third Vice President.

 

Board Members

Joe Conrad

Joe has been involved in Residential Real Estate Financing industry for the
last 20 years. He has owned his own company, worked as VP of Business
Development for a regional mortgage banker and currently works on his own
providing real estate financing as well as loan modifications to homewowners
throughout the United States. Joe is a licensed sale agent in the State of
California and his corporation is a licensed broker under the Department of
Real Estate. He is also involved in selling residential and commercial real
estate and has experience in Real Estate Development.
Joe attended Monmouth College (N.J.) and Stockton State College (N.J.) and
majored in Media Studies. He and his wife have 3 boys and make their home in
Topanga, CA. Joe became involved in NAMI when one of his family members as
well as a close friend was dealing with some challenges. The family to
family provided immeasurable help to his wife and through NAMI resources,
their family member received a significant amount of disability income. It
was a god send for them.
"I don't know where I would be if I didn't have access to the resources that NAMI provides. It was so beneficial to myself and my family, we had to find a way to give back. The Special Projects Committee was a natural way to get involved since it lets any member of NAMI, exploit their skill set to give something back. I encourage any of you to contact me or come to one of our meetings"

Zee Dankworth

Zee Dankworth is retired from a career in sales and in Gerontology and now teaches NAMI Family Education Program, helps with a support group and drives NAMI-SFV Outreach efforts to raise public awareness.

"I want to share this information to help reduce the stigma of this sad and lonely illness. NAMI continues to give me hope. It is so rewarding and comforting to be involved with others who truly understand. Much more needs to be accomplished for our loved ones and I am proud to be a part of getting that to happen.

"I'm a mother of five wonderful children. One of my children was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder as a teen and began to experiment with street drugs and drinking. I focused on his drug use. I thought the answers were simple..."Don't use drugs, take your meds". I blamed myself since our family had fallen apart with divorce. I did get help with the Al-anon program and recommend it, but I needed more. I had little understanding of serious mental illness. NAMI has been the answer for me. I first attended a support group and then the 12 week Family to Family Education Program and became so grateful for the friends, knowledge and resources. Please join us!"

Milton Decker

“I was awakened to a whole new world when I attended a group support meeting at NAMI SFV. There seemed to be a magnetic pull that increased the more I got involved and so I just dove into the pool of it, and have been on a trek for helping others as much as I possibly can. I am the education chair and teach Family to Family. I schedule speakers for our meetings, co-facilitate support groups and participate in our new special projects committee .”

“As far back as I could remember we had a problem in our family with our mother. Her behavior was always different, but little was known and stigma was higher then. We suffered from a lack of having a mother and a father as he was always caring for her. When my dad passed away, I assumed care of my mom and it was then I came face to face with depression and anxiety. After much struggle I had mom put in a board and care, hard to do as I felt I betrayed her and my dad’s last request. In retrospect it was the best thing for all concerned. Afterward, I also came to grips with my wife’s son who had some problems with bipolar episodes, and my son’s wife who also has a depression and anxiety concern.”

Milton is now semi-retired from a career in Landscape Architecture, home remodeling and construction, “I am active in furthering my education thru seminars offered at UCLA and thru NAMI.  I suppose since I spent all my life building and designing things it is reflected in the things I do for NAMI SFV.” 

Mary Harpel

Mary was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in 1967 when she was 19, and was hospitalized four times out of the next five years. She was twenty-four and began working, which gave her the structure and the independence of having her own income. She was (and is) always compliant with her medicines, and the newer psychiatric medicines have done even more to help ensure her health. In1989 she met her husband-to-be, and with his encouragement she was able to return to school, where she graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and a Master's in Gerontological Social Work. She has worked in Adult Day Care and for Los Angeles County Mental Health in San Fernando Valley.

"I joined NAMI in January of 2009, and it has not only enriched my life, but volunteering at NAMI has given me a sense of purpose that I never had before. I took the Peer to Peer and Family to Family classes that NAMI offers and I also attend both support groups. There was mental illness in my family as well, and when I took the Family to Family classes, I discovered that the education and support that the classes offer not only helps families care for their loved ones, but, importantly, gives the families ways to take good care of themselves.

I'm also proud to be Milton Decker's assistant on the Bowling Team!! It gives families and their loved ones the chance to socialize and to simply have a great time together! It's on the third Friday evening of every month and it is really a lot of fun! "

I'm so grateful to be a member of NAMI; it has become a part of why I'm in a strong state of recovery".

Jim Randall

Jim Randall has several members of his family who have schizophrenia, two of which spent considerable time living on the street.  He is very grateful for how NAMI helped him learn to be an effective and  supportive family member and he volunteers to give back to others.  He currently works at the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and is a past President of NAMI-SFV.

Tom Walsh

Committees & Chairs

Advocacy Co-Chairs: Mark Gale, Mary Harpel
Our Advocacy Committee is responsible for keeping us informed on important legislation on federal, state and local levels. This committee also monitors DMH issues related to service delivery.

Education Co-Chairs: Milton Decker, Suzanne Schmidtke
The Education Committee is responsible for promoting and putting into practice our NAMI signature programs including Family to Family, our Expert Speaker Series, scheduling expert speakers and training and promoting NAMI SFV Speakers Bureau, members who volunteer to speak to outside groups such as police, service clubs, church groups, etc. Contact us for more information.  

Communications Chair: Julia Robinson Shimizu
The Communications Committee promotes and expands internal and external communications with members and non-members and is responsible for our
e-newsletter and for our traditional printed newsletter as well as website, phone center and outreach activities.

Finance Co-Chairs: Milton Decker, Barbara Gaultier
The Financi Committee is responsible for the review and guidance of our affiliate's financial matters and assures internal control, independent audit and financial analysis for the organization.

Fundraising Chair: Beth Arnold
Our NAMI SFV Fundraising Committee raises funds to cover operational expenses and trainings and finances specials events/materials. An important facet of this committtee's work is the annual NAMI WALK.

Membership Chair: Barbara Gaultier
Our NAMI-SFV membership chair makes sure that all who need help are welcomed and kept up to date on benefits of membership. This committee also maintains accurate lists of our members, and sends out renewal reminders as well as keeping us informed on membership issues.

Special Projects Chair: Joe Conrad
The Special Projects Committee serves as an incubator to attract quality volunteers and deals with issues that do not fit other committees.

Technology Chair: Joe Conrad
Data management and quality control of our website and database.

Volunteer Co-Chairs: Beth Arnold, Sari Rynew
NAMI SFV is an all-volunteer organization and this committee serves the vital need of identifying, recruiting, organizing and nurturing a stable group of volunteers and matching our volunteer preferences and skills with tasks at hand.

 

 

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