Leadership
Nina Richtman serves as Interim Executive Director of TAC, where she provides steady leadership and is focused on strengthening the organization’s foundation while positioning it for its next phase of growth. Previously, Richtman served as TAC’s Director of Advocacy for 3 years, where she led TAC’s nationwide policy and advocacy initiatives, including legal consultation, resource and information sharing, educational programming, and support through the TAC Helpline. Richtman began her career as a technical scientist in agriculture before transitioning to the nonprofit sector in 2019. Her background in science and human-centered service delivery shapes her commitment to elevating lived experience and advancing innovative, data-driven solutions. Prior to joining TAC, Richtman worked at the CSG Justice Center and NAMI, where she led initiatives focused on crisis response and justice diversion. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Master of Science from Iowa State University.
Sharron Day brings more than 30 years of nonprofit experience to her role supporting the organization’s mission and the people who carry it forward every day. She leads key operational and administrative functions, including office management, finance, human resources, technology, and performance management, with a focus on creating strong systems that help the team do its best work. Throughout her career, Sharron has been committed to advancing mission-driven organizations and strengthening the programs that serve communities. Before joining TAC, she served as a station advocate for PBS KIDS, helping public television stations implement services aligned with goals established by the U.S. Department of Education. She also worked as a program associate and meeting management specialist for the Early Head Start National Resource Center at ZERO TO THREE. Sharron holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational administration from George Mason University and a master’s degree in business administration from Argosy University.
In Alphabetical Order:
Leslie Carpenter tracks legislation across the country, provides consultations to legislators and SMI advocates, and educates, engages, and mobilizes advocates to support state and federal policy reforms. She also supports TAC’s assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) Team, helping states and communities implement and strengthen AOT programs nationwide. Carpenter has been active in Iowa as a volunteer lobbyist, NAMI Iowa board member, and speaker at state and national conferences, and previously led the successful effort to establish Iowa’s first AOT program in Johnson County. Carpenter holds a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy and retired from a 34-year career as a physical therapist to focus on reducing barriers to treatment for people with serious mental illness. She and her husband have two adult children, one of whom lives with severe schizoaffective disorder.
Jerri Clark manages media relations, supports help seekers through the TAC Helpline, and offers training and technical assistance to grassroots advocates. A regular public speaker at local, state, and national conferences relevant to SMI systems change, she has been featured by PBS NewsHour; World, Slate, and AwareNow magazines; The Seattle Times; Tony Mantor’s “Why Not Me?” and numerous other news shows, publications, and podcasts. Clark dedicates her work to the memory of her son, Calvin, whose psychotic condition and suicide death are documented in her memoir of self-help and advocacy, “Gone Before Gone: When Mental Illness Steals Someone You Love”. Clark has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas.
Brooke Gentry manages TAC’s learning and education initiatives, including leadership of the AOT team responsible for delivering technical assistance to state and local government agencies, provider organizations, and other clients. She oversees the development and implementation of educational programming, training resources, and LMS-based learning content that promote AOT best practices. Previously, Gentry worked at the Expect Miracles Foundation, where she provided financial assistance to young adult cancer survivors. There, she utilized Salesforce to administer grants, manage applicant support, and oversee the funding process. Gentry has a bachelor’s degree in religious studies with a minor in Mandarin from Colby College.
Katie Helbing supports caregivers, family members and individuals requesting help and resources through the TAC Helpline. Helbing began her career in the agriculture industry after completing her college education. Upon becoming a parent of children with congenital birth defects, she began advocating for those with disabilities. Helbing earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University.
Shadoe Jones advises on key policy considerations, collaborates with legislative partners, and provides legal counsel to advocate for the improvement of state and federal laws and systems of care to benefit individuals experiencing SMI with psychosis. Previously, Jones served as a criminal defense attorney for those with SMI in Arizona. She advocated for resolutions that acknowledged the role of SMI, included treatment, and mitigated the impact of criminal charges on the individual’s future and access to benefits. Jones received her juris doctor from Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law and her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology from the University of Delaware.
Ashlee Reyes is an integral part of advocacy operations at TAC, supporting the organization’s state and federal policy efforts through legislative tracking, grassroots engagement, and administrative coordination. She monitors mental health legislation nationwide, helps manage action alerts and advocacy campaigns, and provides operational support for events, educational initiatives, advocacy resources, and stakeholder outreach. Reyes plays a key role in connecting advocates with timely opportunities to engage policymakers and advance reforms that improve access to treatment for people with SMI. Prior to joining TAC, Reyes built extensive nonprofit experience at the Arizona Foothills Foodbank, where she led the volunteer program and oversaw volunteer recruitment, scheduling, education, and community engagement initiatives.
Shanti Silver spearheads TAC’s public affairs efforts, including digital communications, branding, and publications. She also provides research and data support across the organization to inform legislative advocacy and is a recognized subject-matter expert on AOT evaluation and data collection. Prior to joining TAC, Silver worked in higher education where she used analytics to evaluate programs and improve the student experience. Silver has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in statistics from Kenyon College, and is pursuing a master of science degree in educational data science from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Brian Stettin serves as Legal Advisor for TAC, supporting state advocacy and policy initiatives focused on improving access to treatment for people with serious mental illness. As TAC’s Policy Director from 2009 to 2022, Stettin led national efforts to strengthen civil commitment laws, expand AOT, and support implementation of treatment programs across the country. From 2022 to 2026, Stettin served as Senior Advisor on Severe Mental Illness in the New York City Mayor’s Office. He has also held several positions in New York State government. As an Assistant New York State Attorney General in 1999, Stettin drafted the original proposal for Kendra’s Law. He earned his undergraduate degree from the City College of New York and his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.