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NACG Board of Directors

Susan Giambalvo, NACG Board President
Susan Giambalvo
NAGC Board President
Executive Director, Caring Unlimited - York County's Domestic Violence Resource Center
(Sanford, ME)
Bethany Gardner, NACG Board Vice President
Bethany Gardner, MA
NACG Board Vice President
Director of Bereavement Programs, Eluna Network
(Seattle, WA)
Tina Barrett EdD, NACG Board Secretary
Tina Barrett, EdD
NACG Board Secretary
Executive Director, Tamarack Grief Resource Center
(Missoula, MT)
Blair Thompson, MDiv, NACG Board Treasurer
Blair Thompson, MDiv
NACG Board Treasurer
Chief Executive Officer, Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA)
(San Antonio, TX)
Darcy Walker Krause J.D. LSW, NAGC Immediate Past Board President
Darcy Walker Krause, J.D., LSW, C.T.
NACG Board President
Executive Director, Uplift Center for Grieving Children
(Philadelphia, PA)
Tashel Bordere, PhD, FT
Tashel Bordere, PhD, FT
Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Science and State Extension Specialist
University of Missouri-Columbia (Columbia, MO)
Sydney Ford
Sydney Ford
Juvenile Defense Attorney, DeKalb County Public Defender's Office
(Decatur, GA)
Catherine Alicia Georges, EdD, RN, FAAN
Catherine Alicia Georges
Professor and Chair, Department of Nursing at Lehman College of the City University of New York
President, National Black Nurses Foundation
(Bronx, NY)
Dan Layman
Daniel Layman
President and CEO, Ele's Place
(Lansing, MI)
Ryan Loiselle, MSW, LICSW
Ryan Loiselle, MSW, LICSW
Program Director, Friends Way
(Providence, RI)
Jim Price
Jim Price
Senior Vice President, Industry Relations, Park Lawn Corporation
Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
(Mountainside, NJ)
Jim Santucci, CPA
Jim Santucci, CPA
Executive Director
Kara (Palo Alto, CA)
Jennifer Wiles, MA, LMHC, BC-DMT
Jennifer Wiles, MA, LMHC, BC-DMT
Director of Children's Services, Beth Israel Lahey Health at Home
(Sudbury, MA)
Brennan Wood
Brennan Wood
Executive Director, The Dougy Center
(Portland, OR)
  • Susan Giambalvo, NACG Board President
  • Bethany Gardner, NACG Board Vice President
  • Tina Barrett EdD, NACG Board Secretary
  • Blair Thompson, MDiv, NACG Board Treasurer
  • Darcy Walker Krause J.D. LSW, NAGC Immediate Past Board President
  • Tashel Bordere, PhD, FT
  • Sydney Ford
  • Catherine Alicia Georges, EdD, RN, FAAN
  • Dan Layman
  • Ryan Loiselle, MSW, LICSW
  • Jim Price
  • Mary Robinson
  • Jim Santucci, CPA
  • Jennifer Wiles, MA, LMHC, BC-DMT
  • Brennan Wood

  • Susan Giambalvo, NACG Board President

    I had no idea the impacts of childhood bereavement before I came to work for the Center for Grieving Children in Portland Maine over ten years ago. Now I realize that was a direct result of our cultures difficulty talking about grief and supporting those who our grieving. When I thought about the children and families I had served over the years, almost all had been grieving. I had lacked the knowledge and skills to truly help. These are the same skills and knowledge—deep listening, respect for others experience and the trust that people can heal when they have the support they need—that can and must be applied in all our work alongside others for healing and change. That is why I am a part of the NAGC.

  • Bethany Gardner, NACG Board Vice President

    My life was transformed in a MA in Counseling Psychology program that emphasized personal storytelling and grief work as a primary means to healing and growth. Though my mind and heart were primed for the work ahead, I could not have predicted a career in youth and family bereavement support. Through a friend and a good bit of luck, though, I was hired as a program coordinator in a Seattle-based hospice grief support program during my final year of grad school. After almost four years in that role, I transitioned to the Eluna Network (formerly The Moyer Foundation) to oversee the national Camp Erin network.


    When I joined TMF’s staff, I became a member of NAGC and attended my first Symposium in Orland, FL, in 2012. I was new on the job and had no idea the amazing community I was (literally) about to dance my way into. NAGC educational offerings and my relationships with NAGC members around the country have elevated my work and provided me with a smart, caring, fun, and growing crew of colleagues – a necessity to sustain each of us in this field. I am a better human and provider because of NAGC. My gratitude is BIG! I am honored give back and help with the work of creating welcoming, relevant spaces for learning, connection, and best practices development for supporting our communities. We are better together!

  • Tina Barrett EdD, NACG Board Secretary

    Tina Barrett, EdD
    NACG Board Secretary
    Executive Director, Tamarack Grief Resource Center
    (Missoula, MT)

  • Blair Thompson, MDiv, NACG Board Treasurer

    Blair Thompson, MDiv
    NACG Board Treasurer
    Chief Executive Officer, Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA)
    (San Antonio, TX)

  • Darcy Walker Krause J.D. LSW, NAGC Immediate Past Board President

    The story of why I chose NAGC starts with my mom dying when I was 15 years old. My hometown did not have a children’s bereavement center, and for so many years, even after I sought professional and familial support, I felt alone in my grief. I knew that grieving kids needed more support. As a young professional, I began to volunteer with organizations for grieving children and decided to leave the law in order to pursue this passion. As the Executive Director of The Uplift Center for Grieving Children in Philadelphia, my job is my passion as we help provide free grief support to the children in the City of Philadelphia.

  • Tashel Bordere, PhD, FT

    Tashel Bordere, PhD, FT
    Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Science and State Extension Specialist
    University of Missouri-Columbia (Columbia, MO)

  • Sydney Ford

    Sydney Ford
    Juvenile Defense Attorney, DeKalb County Public Defender's Office
    (Decatur, GA)

  • Catherine Alicia Georges, EdD, RN, FAAN

    I have seen the maladaptaions that have emerged in adults because of the lack of resources tha were not available when they sustained a loss as a child. All children must have an opportunity to grieve since grieving is part of the process of living. I am particularly cognizant of the losses to children from racial and ethnic communities. Our moral compass must guide us in assuring that there are safe places for healthy grieving to happen.

  • Dan Layman

    Daniel Layman
    President and CEO, Ele's Place
    (Lansing, MI)

  • Ryan Loiselle, MSW, LICSW

    Ryan Loiselle, MSW, LICSW
    Program Director, Friends Way
    (Providence, RI)

  • Jim Price

    I’ve been in the death-care profession for over 50 years. Knowing now that 1 out of 5 children in North America are grieving based upon the loss of someone that is very close and significant in their lives, I am hopeful that I’m able to better connect those in my profession with regard to how very important it is to have the appropriate conversation with children’s parents. It is critical to understand the importance of reaching out to bereavement counselors in their communities as well as supporting the wonderful efforts of NAGC.

  • Mary Robinson

    I believe the world is driven by unresolved grief. Serving on the Board of Trustees of the National Alliance for Grieving Children provides me the opportunity to be of service and work towards our vision of ensuring that no child grieves alone. This will only be accomplished through education and advocacy on behalf of all grieving children and teens. I know of no organization like the NAGC working so hard and so effectively to create a world where children coping with loss grow up emotionally healthy and able to lead meaningful and productive lives. These children will be the next generation of healers for bereaved youth.

  • Jim Santucci, CPA

    Jim Santucci, CPA
    Executive Director
    Kara (Palo Alto, CA)

  • Jennifer Wiles, MA, LMHC, BC-DMT

    Jennifer Wiles, MA, LMHC, BC-DMT
    Director of Children's Services, Beth Israel Lahey Health at Home
    (Sudbury, MA)

  • Brennan Wood

    Brennan Wood
    Executive Director, The Dougy Center
    (Portland, OR)
  • Susan Giambalvo, NACG Board President
  • Bethany Gardner, NACG Board Vice President
  • Tina Barrett EdD, NACG Board Secretary
  • Blair Thompson, MDiv, NACG Board Treasurer
  • Darcy Walker Krause J.D. LSW, NAGC Immediate Past Board President
  • Tashel Bordere, PhD, FT
  • Sydney Ford
  • Catherine Alicia Georges, EdD, RN, FAAN
  • Dan Layman
  • Ryan Loiselle, MSW, LICSW
  • Jim Price
  • Mary Robinson
  • Jim Santucci, CPA
  • Jennifer Wiles, MA, LMHC, BC-DMT
  • Brennan Wood

Call for Nominations

The NACG always welcomes nominations from NACG members for leaders to potentially serve on the NACG Board of Directors.

Do you know someone who has . . .

  • Passion about childhood bereavement
  • A commitment to and understanding of the mission of NACG, preferably based on experience 
  • Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of grieving children.
  • National experience
  • Willingness to share time and talent
  • Track record of Board leadership
  • A natural affinity for cultivating relationships
  • Achieved leadership stature in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector
  • Accomplishments that will allow him/her to attract other well-qualified, high-performing Board Members

If you know this person, we want to know about them.  Please submit names of any potential NACG Board members.  

Submit a Nomination