2019 NASW-NJ Candidate Slate

cast your

VOTE 2019 Chapter Elections

your organization

NASW-NJ is

your

organization.

Our leadership represents you—our diverse members—and is elected by vote of our entire membership.

This process ensures that your voice is heard and that you are represented as the Chapter grows, develops programs, and plans to meet the needs of you, the social workers in New Jersey.

Your voice and your vote is essential.

In 2019, you have the opportunity to elect several key positions, including 1st Vice President, Regional Representatives, and CCNLI, among others.

Read about our candidates on the following pages and cast your vote online!

1st Vice President

The 1st Vice President is the second official in our leadership structure. This individual chairs our Diversity & Leadership Committee, sits on our Finance and Executive Committees, among others, and is poised to step in for the President should they be unavailable. The 1st VP serves for two years on the NASW-NJ Board of Directors.

Judyann McCarthy Associate VP, Center For Family Services Judyann is a lifelong social worker, having earned both her BSW and MSW from Rutgers, Camden. She is an LCSW and Certified Clinical Social Work Supervisor.

She is currently the Associate Vice President of Children and Adolescent Behavioral Health at the Center for Family Services, where she has worked since 1998. In addition to her work, she serves the broader community, having volunteered as a Rape Crisis Counselor, and as an international social worker on mission trips to India. She also served as a Therapist and Case Manager for the Hurricane Katrina Project. Judyann has served the NASW-NJ community, as well, as an active unit member and was awarded NASW-NJ's Social Worker of the Year Award in 2008. She is passionate about the organization and serving her peers. She looks forward to bringing her expertise with the Chapter to the 1st Vice President Role, as well as her professional skills in program development, budgeting, and creating more connectivity among social workers throughout the state.

Brian McGovern CEO, North Jersey Community Research Initiative Brian is a lifelong social worker and innovative leader in the social services sector, serving as the Chief Executive Officer for NJCRI, the largest and most comprehensive HIV/AIDS service organization in the state. Under his leadership, the organization has grown and evolved to meet both the changing funding landscape and the needs of the community, including developing educational programs, and collaborating with medical providers and mental health professionals to bring services to clients. Brian is well-respected within the field, within the community, and is known for creating warm and welcoming environments where clients can connect. He believes NASW-NJ should represent all social workers and is excited to bring his experience with Boards and development in the sector to the Chapter, growing its capacity and reaching more social workers across the state.

La'Tesha Sampson President, Great Joy Consulting

La'Tesha is a well known social worker who owns her own consulting firm and teaches at several Schools of Social Work in the tri-state area. In addition to her social work degrees, she also holds an MPA degree. Prior to starting her own company, she worked in high-level roles in organizations including Easter Seals New Jersey and Rutgers University School of Social Work where she was the Associate Director of their Certificate Program. Her experience includes developing programs, teaching, oversight of large budgets, and working with community partners to further the work of each agency in which she served. La'Tesha is passionate about the profession and organization and views the opportunity to serve as the 1st Vice President as an honor and opportunity to bring her leadership experience to the Chapter and further its mission. She brings a wealth of experience across a variety of disciplines and is excited to lend her voice to the NASW-NJ dialogue.

Regional Representatives

Regional Representatives serve as the voice of our regional units on the NASW-NJ Board of Directors. They represent the diverse views and needs of their respective geographic areas and sit on a variety of committees, ensuring that our diverse membership has a voice at the table.

Regional Reps serve for two years.

Northwest Regional Representative (Sussex/Warren, Somerset/ Hunterdon and Morris Units) Paula Barber Principal, PHB Consulting

Paula is a lifelong social worker with a rich history in leadership roles. She has served in a variety of volunteer capacities in other organizations, including as treasurer and on strategic committees.

She views election as an opportunity to lend her expertise to the Chapter as it continues to grow.

Krystal Gold Program Coordinator, Rutgers Institute for Families

Krystal is a longtime member of NASW-NJ and has had a rich history with the Chapter, having served in a number of capacities, including as an intern at the Chapter. A current Unit Chair, she is passionate about developing programs that meet the needs of members and creating community within the organization. She is excited to build upon the work she has done at the Unit level by representing the needs of her region on the Board of Directors.

Northeast Regional Representative

(Bergen/Passaic, Essex, Hudson and Union Units) Jeffry Gutierrez Founder, OTW

Jeffry is an LSW who has worked in a variety of capacities and started his own company, OTW, Inc. He is active in the community, including on Community Planning Boards and Save Latin America.

He views the Regional Rep role as an opportunity to represent the needs of the region and give back to the organization he sees as our "foundation." He hopes to bring his passion and sense of entrepreneurship to the role.

Sierra Sprig s Clinical Case Manager, Youth Consultation Services (YCS)

Sierra is the current co-chair for the the Essex Unit, where she has worked to bring dynamic events and speakers to the membership. She sees the organization as a place to build relationships and network. She hopes to bring the voice of new social workers to the role, and create a space for all members to come together and dialogue.

Student Representatives

Student Representatives keep the Board connected to the next generation of social workers!

They represent our Bachelor and Master level programs and sit on various committees, ensuring that student voices are represented and the Chapter is connected to their needs. Student Representatives serve one-year terms.

BSW Representative Thomas Cadmus Seton Hall University

Thomas is a current student at Seton Hall University where he has a double major in Social Work and Religious Studies. He is an active member of the Social Work Association at his school.

He is active in his community and volunteers for Daughters of Miriam Center For the Aged in Clifton, NJ. He views election as the BSW student representative as an opportunity to be the voice of bachelor level students across the state, and a champion of NASW to other students.

MSW Representative Rachel Kern Stockton University

Rachel is a current student in the MSW program at Stockton University where she is focused on leadership and management. She currently serves in several leadership roles, including the Jewish Life Steering Committee and her synagogue's Social Action Committee.

She views NASW-NJ as a resource for students, giving them access to scholarships, networking, and professional development. She hopes to bring her diverse experiences to the graduate student representative role to help engage students in the mission of NASW.

Megan O'Brien Seton Hall University

Megan is a current student in the MSW program at Seton Hall University where she is focused on Forensic Social Work. She serves on the Graduate Social Work Student Association at Seton Hall and is an active Junior Board Member at the Pullum Performing Arts Center in South Central Los Angeles where she attends twice yearly meetings. She hopes to bring her broad experience in serving on boards to the student rep role and to use her voice to advocate for the needs of graduate social work students across the state.

CCNLI Representatives

CCNLI Members serve as the nominating committee for Chapter elections.

They collect nominations, and interview and slate all candidates whom the membership votes on each year. They are charged with ensuring candidates reflect the diversity of our membership.

CCNLI members serve for two-year terms.

Charmaine Chaddan Domestic Violence Liaison, DCP&P

Charmaine has worked in the human services sector for over 15 years. She is currently a Domestic Violence Liaison for DCP&P and is currently in school pursuing her degree in social work. She hopes to further her career in leadership in the nonprofit sector. A passionate advocate, she has spent her career working with others, building relationships with diverse communities, and working within the human services sector alongside social workers. She believes in the mission of NASW-NJ and is excited to bring her knowledge to the role, expanding the reach of the Chapter, engaging new members and helping the Chapter identify new leaders.

Marline FrancoisMadden Owner, Hearts Empowerment Counseling Center

Marline is the owner of her own practice based in Montclair, founder of the Therapist Planner, Huffington Post contributor, and expert in a variety of topics. Marline is an advocate for NASW-NJ and current chair of the LASA committee, where she leads the development of the Chapter's legislative priorities. She is active in her community as well, serving as a Board member for the HUBB Community Empowerment Center and a Teen Facilitator for her church. She hopes to further her work within the Chapter by bringing fresh ideas, creativity and passion for social work to the role, helping to seek out new leaders for the Chapter who are innovative and passionate about the growth of the profession.

Anthony Gallo Lead Addictions Specialist, Carrier Clinic

Anthony is an active NASW-NJ member who currently sits on the Finance Committee and the PACE Committee. A passionate social worker, Anthony has been involved in the Chapter for years, serving in volunteer capacities such as Undergraduate Student Representative, and also completing his MSW internship with the Chapter. After graduation, he was also an employee of the Chapter as a special projects associate, overseeing social media, communications, and working with Chapter leadership on legislative issues. Anthony sees NASWNJ as the collective voice of the profession and views his involvement as a way to contribute to the development of the field. He hopes to further his commitment by seeking out highly skilled professionals for leadership roles within the Chapter.

Kassaw Merie

Hina Rehman

Lecturer, Kean University

Sr. Program Coord., Rutgers School of Social Work

Kassaw is a current lecturer at Kean University where he teaches Social Welfare Policy and Services, Research Methods, Program Evaluations and more. He is a longtime member of NASW and has experience in the profession on a national level. Prior to joining Kean University, he was a program manager at Catholic Charities in Arizona. Kassaw sees NASW-NJ as his professional self and hopes to offer context, strategy and cultural diversity to the chapter through his work on CCNLI. He is an advocate for giving back and believes this opportunity to do so would allow him to connect more people to serve with the organization.

Hina is a dedicated social worker who holds her MSW from Rutgers University where she is now a Senior Program Coordinator for the School of Social Work. She is a dedicated member of NASW-NJ having served in multiple roles including as Graduate Student Representative. She currently serves on a number of Chapter committees, including LASA and Diversity and Leadership. She believes NASW-NJ is an organization that listens to the needs of its members and broader society to help eradicate social injustices. She sees serving on CCNLI as an opportunity to continue serving her profession and bring a fresh perspective to the Chapter. A macro social worker, she believes the macro voice is needed and is excited to help bring new leadership into the Chapter.

Mallory Visser MSW Candidate, Rutgers University

Mallory is currently a student at Rutgers University, where she will graduate in May with her MSW with a focus in policy and management. Mallory is an Eagleton Institute Fellow and serves at the State Division on Women where she is working to update the statewide domestic violence plan. She is active in the Chapter, currently serving on the LASA Committee and as a volunteer for activities including LEAD and the Annual Celebration. She is active in the community as well, serving on the board of Young Professionals for Nonprofits and is the current Community Vice President for the Junior League of Montclair-Newark. She views this opportunity as a chance to reach out to social workers in various settings, engage them in the organization and cultivate the next generation of leaders for the Chapter.