board meetings

Monthly board meetings are open to those who want to help plan events, organize educational programming, lead special projects, and more.

​Meetings are always held the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.  Visit our Events Page for more details.

join the board!

Our elections are held annually, although existing board members have the option to elect interim board members who are actively involved with the organization, at any time.

Board members serve two year terms and are current NAMI members. No more than 15 people may be on the board at one time.

If you'd like to be considered, please regularly attend board meetings and get involved in projects or apply when we send out our annual call for applicants.

Meet the board!

Mindy greiling, president

Mindy was a state representative for 20 years, served on state and national NAMI boards, and is the author of Fix What You Can, a book about her legislative work and her family's story about her son's schizo-affective disorder.

jennifer laforgia, Vice president

Jennifer worked at the Mayo Clinic as a health information writer/editor for 15 years and has facilitated a NAMI Family Support Group for 7 years. She has several family members with mental illness. ​

colleen oftedahl, secretary

Colleen worked for MnDOT for 32 years and joined the NAMI Ramsey County board four years ago.  She has family members who live with mental health issues.

joan cleary, director

Joan recently retired from a career in health philanthropy, nonprofit management and government. As a daughter and mom, Joan has family experience with mental illnesses. ​

michele gran, director

Michele is a co-leader of a NAMI First Episode Psychosis family support group at Fairview hospital and established a caregiver support group for parents of daughters and sons with psychosis. She is an advocate for people with chronic mental health concerns at local and state events.

Debra Gunsell, director

Debra graduated from Metro State with a BA in Liberal Arts. She lives with schizoaffective disorder, depression, anxiety, etc.  She works full-time as a PCA.  She is currently training to become a Connections support group leader for those who live with a mental illness.

Carrie roach, m.s., director

Carrie promotes NAMI programs that ensure rapid and successful recoveries for those of us with the lived experience of mental illness by seeking to advance relevant access to exceptional care for everyone. She also sits on the Board with others from around our nation to guide the whole NAMI organization. She is dedicated to guiding conversations away from “us” and “them” onto continuums of care.

tara jebens-singh, director

Tara is the president/CEO of Northeast Youth and Family Services, a non-profit, community-based mental health agency serving the Northeast Metro.  She is a caretaker and advocate. ​

sarah norton, director

Sarah founded a non-profit called Serving Those Serving to provide mental health benefits to those working in the service industry. She spent 24 years as a server, bartender and restaurant manager in the Twin Cities and has devoted her life to supporting the industry she loves.

mary o'brien, director

Mary is a professional artist specializing in oil painting and portraiture.   She participated in the early years of Fairview Hospital’s First Episode psychosis support group and has a family member who lives with mental illness.

peter jarnstrom, ADVISOR

Peter has family members who live with mental illnesses and lives with multiple illnesses and autism. He enjoys advocacy and educating the public on mental health issues.

katy jo turner, nami Ramsey organizer

Katy Jo has friends and family members who live with mental illnesses and she lives with a mental illness and a sleep disorder. She has worked part time with NAMI Ramsey since January 2019. When she’s not working with NAMI, she’s writing and illustrating children’s books and exploring nature.

BOARD MEMBER EXPERIENCES

Contact us

email
namiramseycounty@namimn.org
namihelps@namimn.org (helpline)
​

phone
651.645.2948 x 126
651.645.2948 x 117 (helpline)

address
NAMI Minnesota
Attn: NAMI Ramsey County
1919 University Ave. W #400
St. Paul, MN 55104
A proud affiliate of NAMI Minnesota.