Schedule

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
NAMI-LINN COUNTY

-Michelle Sutton is a dedicated and visionary leader in community advocacy and justice reform. With over 15 years of experience in human services, mental health, and policy engagement, Michelle brings a unique, community-first perspective rooted in compassion, resilience, and action. A two-time graduate of Mount Mercy University, she holds degrees in Sociology, Psychology, and a master’s in criminal justice. Her background blends academic knowledge with deep field experience, empowering her to lead innovative solutions in resource navigation, crisis intervention, and public education. Michelle’s career has been shaped by a passion for advocacy. From court liaison and family support specialist to statewide presenter and legislative advocate, she has worked across public, nonprofit, and criminal justice sectors. She continues to inspire meaningful change through every role she takes on—grounded in a belief that access to care should never be a privilege, but a right.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
NAMI IOWA

Ryan is the Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Iowa. At NAMI Iowa, Ryan leads the state office, providing training and technical assistance, administering programs, systems and policy advocacy, and more. NAMI Iowa also convenes and makes connections, through an annual Fall Conference, a legislative Day on the Hill, and their signature event, the NAMIWalk, each September. Prior to joining NAMI Iowa, Ryan led a major capital campaign at Des Moines Playhouse, and as director of charitable giving at the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. In his free time, he has also served on several nonprofit boards, and is currently a member of the Polk County Conservation Board.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
LINN COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS CENTER

Erin Foster serves as Executive Director of the Linn County Mental Health Access Center, where she provides strategic and operational leadership for Linn County’s first 24/7 crisis services hub. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Iowa in 2007 and her Master’s in Organizational Leadership from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023.

Since establishing the Access Center in 2019, Erin has guided its development from policy design to daily operations, uniting four partner organizations under one model of care. Since opening in 2021, the Center has provided crisis intervention and support to more than 5,000 individuals.

Throughout her career, Erin has been recognized for fostering collaboration among community partners and driving systems-level change to strengthen behavioral health access, prevention, and crisis response.

SENIOR DIRECTOR
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
IOWA PCA

Abbey Ferenzi is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and the Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services at the Iowa Primary Care Association, where she plays a central role in advancing Iowa’s behavioral health system transformation. With over 20 years of experience dedicated to behavioral health services, Abbey has been involved with programming across the spectrum including residential treatment for at-risk youth, juvenile detention facility social services, targeted case management, adult residential and habilitation services, permanent supportive housing initiatives, clinical assessments and compliance, outpatient psychiatry and therapy, community-based medication management, day habilitation, assertive community treatment and crisis response and interventions. Her work has consistently centered on meeting the complex needs of individuals and families through person-centered, community-based supports. Abbey is deeply committed to building better systems—those that are accessible, responsive and impactful. Her expertise spans program design and implementation, operational oversight, workforce development, clinical assessments, treatment planning, personnel leadership, policy development, and public engagement. She has served in numerous roles throughout her career that bring a grounded, hands-on understanding to strategic system-level work. Known for her passion and vision, Abbey continues to champion collaborative, innovative approaches that strengthen Iowa’s behavioral health infrastructure and improve lives statewide.

DIRECTOR OF OUTPATIENT SERVICES,
ABBE CENTER

Theresa has worked in the behavioral health field since 1992, 28 of those years at the Abbe Center for Community Mental Health.  Licensed as a Mental Health Counselor and certified as an Alcohol and Drug counselor, Theresa is passionate about meaningful access to services, especially for families with complex needs and limited resources.  Theresa has provided, implemented, and overseen many pilot projects and evidenced based practices designed to improve health outcomes for Eastern Iowans that need it the most.

SCHOOL BASED THERAPIST,
LMHC

Nikki is a graduate from Upper Iowa University.   As a licensed mental health counselor dedicated to serving children and families, Nikki has worked at Tanager in a variety of different roles.  Nikki is deeply passionate about mental health advocacy.   Nikki's commitment stems from personal experiences with those who have faced mental health challenges and the devastating impacts of suicide. This journey has shaped her understanding of the importance of fostering resilience and support within families. Nikki believes that every child and family deserves the tools to thrive and overcome adversity. Together, we can create a community where mental health is prioritized and stigma is diminished.

BOARD MEMBER,
NAMI LINN COUNTY

Born and raised in Iowa, Steve Miller is a well-known lecturer and mental health advocate. In addition to speaking at colleges and conferences, he often serves as a featured source/spokesperson discussing mental health issues and NAMI’s mission in newspaper articles and media presentations. He has served as a NAMI Connection Support Group Model National Trainer, traveling nationwide to train prospective facilitators and model the NAMI mission. Steve also serves as a NAMI Iowa Peer-to-Peer Director and Class Mentor. He has held numerous NAMI consumer-related offices over the years, including National Consumer Council Director and Vice-Chairperson of the National Consumer Council Executive Committee. From 1998-2000, he was NAMI Linn County President; from 2001-2004 he was on the NAMI National Board of Directors; and from 2002-2005 he was Vice-President of NAMI Iowa. He also has served on numerous public advisory boards, including the Iowa State PACT Advisory Council, Mental Health Planning Council, Dual Diagnosis Committee, and Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities Board. He earned an Associate's degree from Kirkwood Community College and has taken courses at the University of Iowa. 

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY MANAGER,
TREATMENT ADVOCACY CENTER

Leslie Carpenter is the Legislative Advocacy Manager for the Treatment Advocacy Center, a co-founder of Iowa Mental Health Advocacy, and a lobbyist in the Iowa Legislature.

She is a retired physical therapist who now works to improve the mental illness treatment system.  She serves on the NAMI Iowa Board of Directors and teaches 3 of the NAMI Signature Programs, with her most recent emphasis on NAMI Provider Training.  She provides advocacy presentations to a wide variety of audiences to help people to understand the causes of the mental health crisis, to humanize it and to share practical solutions.

 Leslie successfully led an effort in Johnson County to create Iowa’s first AOT (Assisted Outpatient Treatment) Program in conjunction with Iowa’s first Civil Mental Health Court.  She also serves on multiple advisory boards and committees as a family member with lived experience, including the National AOT Advisory Committee.

Leslie and her husband, Scott, have 2 adult children, one of whom lives with a severe Schizoaffective Disorder.  Leslie and Scott received the Isabel Turner Award from the Iowa City Human Rights Commission in 2020 for their advocacy work, and Leslie also received a Corridor Business Journal “Woman of Influence” award in 2024.  Most recently, she received the ISPN (International Society of Psychiatric Nurses) Psychiatric Mental Health Advocacy Award in 2025.  Leslie has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy from Russell Sage College.