Members, Unity Will Serve as Focus for the Next Term

For Immediate Release - Alexandria, VA

Donovan Kuehn
703-741-7686, ext. 125
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NAADAC members chose a mix of continuity and experience in electing leaders to serve on the Executive Committee and lead the association for the 2008-2010 term.

The newly re-elected and elected national officers include Donald P. Osborn of Noblesville, Ind., as President-Elect, Sharon DeEsch of Greensboro, N.C., as Secretary and Robert C. Richards, of Eugene, Ore., as Treasurer. Regional Vice Presidents for the Mid-Atlantic (Nancy Deming); Mid-South (Greg Lovelidge); Northeast (Edward Olsen) and Northwest (Peter C. Formaz) regions all ran unopposed.

As President-Elect, Osborn would like to ensure NAADAC retains a leadership role in the addiction profession. "NAADAC must always be visionary in anticipating what may be the pressing needs of the field, its professionals and the organization. Leadership at all levels must be ready to inform the members and present solutions and options within a reasoned and effective strategy," stated Osborn.

DeEsch, expressed her passion about being a member of NAADAC. "I have always believed that we counselors are stronger by joining together at all levels. I have been blessed to watch our profession blossom in so many directions," said DeEsch. "We have faced challenges and problems but have walked through them always with our head up high. I am proud to be a Chemical Dependency Counselor," she added.

Richards put his name forward as a candidate because of his desire to serve the interests of the NAADAC membership. "First and foremost, I believe it is our responsibility to support and advocate for our profession and members. It is also our duty to provide our members with the highest quality of services, education, products and credentialing. In doing so, we must always be a role model organization with unquestionable professionalism and ethical standards," he stated.

The unsuccessful candidates, Presidential candidate Warren A. Daniels III, from Grass Valley, Calif., candidate for Secretary Jerome L. Synold from Carlsbad, Calif. and current Treasurer Michael Angelo, from Bakersfield, Calif., also had a wealth of experience at the state, national and international levels. The three candidates had a combined 48 years of NAADAC membership.

The transition to the new officers will take place at the end of the NAADAC Board of Directors meeting, which is being held on August 31, 2008, at the Recovery for a Lifetime Conference in Overland Park, Kan. Current NAADAC President Patricia M. Greer will serve in her post until 2010.

Complete results of the 2008 election are below.

Total # of Voters: 1641
Turnout: 17.27%

President-Elect
Warren A. Daniels III 683
Donald P. Osborn 875
Write-ins 2
No Choice 45

Secretary
Sharon DeEsch 993
Jerome L. Synold 554
Write-ins 3
No Choice 55

Treasurer
Michael Angelo 664
Robert C. Richards 882
Write-ins 2
No Choice 57

Mid-Atlantic Regional Vice President
Nancy Deming 132
Write-ins 1
No Choice 9

Mid-South Regional Vice President
Greg Lovelidge 89
Write-ins 0
No Choice 15

Northeast Regional Vice President
Edward Olsen 149
Write-ins 0
No Choice 9

Northwest Regional Vice President
Peter C. Formaz 115
Write-ins 2
No Choice 8