NAADAC 2006 Elections

Election Results

The NAADAC election results are in. View the results.

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Voting for NAADAC officers begins: April 1, 2006
Voting for NAADAC officers ends: April 30, 2006

Every two years, NAADAC members have the opportunity to select the officers who will determine the direction of the association. In April of 2006, NAADAC members will once again select a new President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer. There will also be elections for three Regional Vice Presidents for the Mid-Atlantic region the Northeast region and the Northwest region. All positions are for two-year terms.

Only members in good standing who have been actively engaged in work in addiction counseling or as an addiction professional for at least two years immediately prior to nomination shall be eligible for an elective office with NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals.

The following candidates have been nominated for election to the NAADAC Executive Committee and deemed eligible for office by the NAADAC Nominations and Elections committee.

If you have not received a ballot packet by April 7th, please contact Donovan Kuehn at 1-800-548-0497, ext 125 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

NAADAC members can vote on-line with their e-mail address and password. For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 1-800-548-0497.

Candidates for NAADAC President-Elect (listed in alphabetical order)

William R. Cote, APRN-BC, LADC, MAC
Warren A. Daniels III, BA, NCAC I, CADC II, ICADC, CDIS, ICHOW
Patricia M. Greer, LCDC, AAC
Donald P. Osborn, MS, MA, ICAC II, MAC, NCC, NCP, LMFT, LMHC, LCSW
Thurston C. Smith, CAC II, SAP, NCGC II

Candidates for NAADAC Secretary (listed in alphabetical order)

Kirk Bowden, PhD, MAC, NCC, LPC, LISAC
Sharon DeEsch, LPC, LCDC, MAC, CCJP, SAP

Candidate for NAADAC Treasurer

Alvin Feliciano, CADC II, ILSAC, MA

Candidates for NAADAC Regional Vice President – Mid-Atlantic (listed in alphabetical order)
Elected by members in New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia.

William J. Coombs, MDiv, LCADC, NCAC I
Nancy Deming, MSW, LCSW, CCAC-S

Candidate for NAADAC Regional Vice President – Northeast
Elected by members in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont.

Edward Olsen, LCSW, CASAC, SAP

Candidate for NAADAC Regional Vice President – Northwest
Elected by members in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington, Wyoming.

Robert C. Richards, MA, CADC III, NCAC II

Candidate Biographies

Cote

Nominee: William R. Cote
Credentials: APRN-BC, LADC, MAC
City: Lyndon Center, Vermont
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NAADAC activities:
Bill was the Vermont Delegate to the NAADAC Board of Directors for 10 years during the 1980's and 90's. He was a member of the NAADAC National Credentialing Commission (NCC) from 1996-2002. He has been Chairman of the NCC since 2002. Bill has participated in the development of credentialing systems on behalf of the NCC in Cyprus and in Iceland. He has represented the NCC in the IC&RC merger negotiations. He represented NAADAC on the ADA/CDC Oral-Pharyngeal Cancer Prevention Project. Bill is a member of the NAADAC Executive Committee. He was part of the group that wrote the NAADAC Code of Ethics.

Philosophy:
NAADAC has had a leading role in defining the national and international discussion of Addiction Treatment. It has also provided leadership in the establishment of a recognized National Addiction Counselor Certification. We need leadership that is committed to the continued advocacy of Addiction Professionals and of our clients. NAADAC also needs leadership that believes in the importance of competency based credentialing. We can unify the field by completing the process of bringing together the credentialing community. NAADAC needs to recognize the importance of its elected and appointed volunteer leaders. NAADAC is engaged in the noble work of protecting the public and of providing opportunities for our members.

Other Qualifications:
Bill is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Advance Practice Registered Nurse (Nurse Practitioner). He has been in practice for 30 years. He holds certifications in: Psychiatric/MH Nursing, Clinical Supervision, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling and holds the NAADAC MAC. Bill is not only an administrator, but also a front-line practitioner. He works face-to-face with clients every day and understands the perspective of the counselor in the trenches. He can relate to reducing budgets with increasing responsibilities and expectations. He is extremely well respected by supervisors, peers and clients.

Bill was an effective advocate for licensing of Chemical Dependency Counselors in VT. He is a member of the VT License Advisors Board for Alcohol and Drug Counselors. He sits on the VT Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors Certification Board (an ICRC affiliate). He has been nominated to be on the Independent Panel of Mental Health Care Providers for the VT Department of Banking, Insurance and Health Care Administration. Bill has held office as President, Vice President and Treasurer of the Vermont NAADAC affiliate. He has also served as Chair of the ethics Committee and of the Education Committee.

Bill Cote has published and taught on topics related to Chemical Dependency treatment, professional issues and criminal justice. He has undergraduate degrees in Nursing and in Psychology. He has a Master of Arts in psychology from Boston College. He has gained recognition for using his therapy dog, Cain, in his treatment of incarcerated offenders.

Bill lives in Lyndon Center, VT with his wife, Merry.

Nominee: Warren A. Daniels III
Credentials: BA, NCAC I, CADC II, ICADC, CDIS, ICHOW
City: Grass Valley, California
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Summarize the nominee's NAADAC activities:
Having been a member of NAADAC for the past 12 years I am actively involved on the international, national, state, and local levels with the following:

• On the international level I have been a delegate of IC&RC for 6 years serving on its finance committee and nominations committee
• In 2005 I was involved with assisting the Russians (Urals State Technical University) with accessing U.S. addiction education programming through federal sources.
• On the national level I was appointed to the NAADAC/IC&RC merger group in July 2005
• I have served on the NAADAC Board of Directors for the past 2 years
• I am an active member of the NAADAC PAC
• I was instrumental in negotiating a contract with NAADAC and CAADAC in 2004 which has lead to a strong collaboration on multiple levels
• I am currently assigned to the Workforce Development Committee where NAADAC,
PSWATTC, and CAADAC are developing a California workforce development
program which will span 3 years.
• On the state level I served 4 years as the California Certification Board Chair where in 2000 I was instrumental in developing and implementing a career path which offers multiple levels of certification for the state and has increased membership from 1,400 to 2,700 since its implementation, this ultimately has brought hundreds of new members in to NAADAC
• I am currently serving as California affiliate President with 8 years experience on its Executive Committee. During this tenure I have served as Legislative Chair and spearheaded 5 legislative sessions with the State Legislature focusing on high standards and consumer protection.

Philosophy statement of the nominee on the future of NAADAC:
I believe our profession must be unified on multiple levels. First internationally, then nationally with NAADAC and IC&RC completing their merger, and finally at the state level with strong workforce development programs, then at the local level with community coalitions Our profession's future lies solely in our willingness to put forth the necessary efforts towards establishing a competent and highly professional workforce internationally. I believe this can be accomplished by our involvement internationally, nationally, and locally on multiple levels and with all facets health care.

We will only accomplish the above if our leadership embraces the need to "be different" and "think differently". Each member deserves a voice and an opportunity to lend their expertise, knowledge, and passion to this great organization. Our organization must maintain strong leadership and fiscal management to remain strong and viable for the future. If elected as your President-Elect I shall work diligently with every facet of NAADAC and all other organizations utilizing strong proven leadership to insure we are on firm ground as a profession as we move towards the future and for those that will come after us.

Tasks I will seek to accomplish if elected will be:
• complete the merger process with IC&RC
• advocate for NAADAC international efforts to be increased
• work towards increasing membership advocacy on local, state and national levels
• increase membership benefits
• increase legislative advocacy, developing a strong workforce development program which utilizes demonstrated programs to attract youth members to our profession
• advocate for federally funded scholarships and student loan forgiveness programs for those seeking to enter our profession,
• lastly increasing the technology and its use in our office to work towards eliminating the digital divide between members, affiliates and programs.

Other qualifications of the nominee for this office:
• Through multiple certifications and a Bachelors Degree in the Advanced Study of Addictive Disorders I have enjoyed providing clinical services for a number of years.
• My previous experience in management led me to my current position as Executive Director of a healthcare organization in Northern California. I have had the unique opportunity to pursue my passion for management systems that serve those with addiction issues.
• Through creative leadership and progressive fiscal management I have increased services and revenue by more then 600% in 10 years while creating a highly successful treatment organization. I have been fortunate to serve a Board that has embraced my concepts and visions.
• In 2000 I was honored with being chosen to receive the James Fulton Counselor of the Year Award in California. In 2000 I was involved with spearheading the passage of Proposition 36 which mandated treatment for first time offenders and allocated 120 million in funding to treatment for 5 years.
• I currently serve on the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs Directors Advisory Council and that Departments Counselor Certification Advisory Committee.
• On the local level I am a Court appointed Juvenile Justice Commissioner over seeing juvenile justice activities in my community, and I have served on the Drug Court team for the past 7 years, and Chair the Nevada County Community Drug Free Coalition which is comprised of over 50, local non-profits, businesses, law enforcement, and local government agencies.

Nominee: Patricia M. Greer
Credentials: BA, LCDC, AAC
City: Rockwall, Texas
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Summarize the nominee's NAADAC activities:
Pat Greer has served as Mid- South Regional Vice president for three years, having filled the previous RVP's unexpired term for 1 ½ years. She has served on the NAADAC Continuing Education/ Professional Development Committee, as well as the Texas Chapter's conference committee, on the development and delivery of the 2005 annual conference in Corpus Christi. She is continuing in this work, on the 2006 annual conference in Burbank, which will be held in conjunction with CAADAC.

Pat has mentored officers in the Texas chapter, and has assisted in the development of a membership campaign there. She has reached out to the non-affiliate states in her region, to identify interested professionals and to connect them to NAADAC. She is a member of the Public Policy Committee and the Political Action Committee, and is passionate about the need for the profession of chemical dependency counselors to identify themselves to their elected officials and their communities. On behalf of NAADAC, she attends state and local meetings and events, and forwards information from NAADAC to the local membership.

Pat has also been a part of the workgroup tasked with the investigation of a potential merger of the National Certification Committee (NCC) of NAADAC with the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC).

Philosophy statement of the nominee on the future of NAADAC:
It is my belief that NAADAC has been preparing for a compelling role in the preservation and future development of the addiction counseling profession.

The public perception of the clients that we advocate for often overshadows the profile of the people that have trained and prepared for the actual work with chemically abusing and dependent clients, and their loved ones. Our membership is broad; we count counselors, teachers, nurses, physicians, social workers, criminal justice professionals, and psychologists in our ranks. Our members do prevention, education, assessment, intervention, treatment and counseling; as well as research, training, and publishing. Our members and the NAADAC staff serve as a clearinghouse for students interested in learning more about the profession, and we certify the competency of those interested in advancing their professional status through our National Certification Commission. Our future requires that we continue to define our capabilities, demonstrate our professionalism, and network with the other professional disciplines to insure that the highest quality of care is available to the people who need our services.

We also have an obligation to lead our profession into the future with standardized national credentials, alliances with other national organizations and a challenge to our nation to reach out to those who suffer with a powerful set of solutions. We have to explore alternative funding for promotions and professional membership development. We need to reach the non-member counselors and include them in our association. There has never been a better time to organize our resources and use them to our best advantage. I see a bright future, an inclusive future, and NAADAC as the force for positive change in our profession.

Other qualifications of the nominee for this office:
Patricia has served as an officer at local, state and national levels. She has written, developed and supervised prevention, education and treatment programs. She has been a director of a DWI program, co-authored funded grants for family education and treatment, served as Director of Education at the Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and a trainer for dual diagnosis in the state of Texas. She also has a particular interest in counselor burn out and stress management, and has performed training in this area. Additionally, under the supervision of a physician, Pat operated the first treatment program in Texas that had metabolic rebalancing at the heart of a system of recovery. All of these activities required commitment, vision, and a willingness to learn and to work. As President-elect, she would bring passion and a working knowledge of the needs of the counselors to the position. Solution oriented and resource minded, she would focus on the very achievable goal of maintaining NAADAC's position as the premier global organization for addiction professionals.

Nominee: Donald P. Osborn
Credentials: MS, MA, ICAC II, MAC, NCC, NCP, LMFT, LMHC, LCSW.
City: Terre Haute, Indiana
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Summarize the nominee's NAADAC activities:
Indiana Affiliate Board of Directors (four years)
Indiana Affiliate By-Laws Chairman (two years)
Indiana Affiliate Licensure Committee Member (eight years)
Indiana Affiliate Standards and Practices Committee Member (two years)
Indiana Affiliate Personnel Committee (one year)
Indiana Affiliate State President (two years)
Indiana Affiliate Past President (two years)
Indiana Affiliate Board of Directors (currently Ex-Officio member)

NAADAC Clinical Issues Committee Member (one year)
NAADAC Research and Education Committee Member (currently)
NAADAC Special Committee Chair Workforce Development (currently)
NAADAC Advisor on Faith Based Issues (currently)
NAADAC Trainers Academy, Senior Fulbright Scholar (currently)
NAADAC Special Committee Member on Higher Education (currently)
NAADAC Regional Vice President Mid Central (2004-present)

Philosophy statement of the nominee for this office:
"Presenting our best" is what we should represent and actively pursue in every aspect of NAADAC. For many of us in the field and profession of addiction counseling a foundation was built for us to go from and to build upon from the previous generation. Now is the time for us to build for the next generation of counselor and always be mindful of the needs and magnitude of those that they will serve. Along with the mindfulness of the next generation I believe 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. No place more important is that of President to address, articulate and supply the strategy and vision. Yet any leader cannot go this alone they must be cognizant of those who not only share the vision and strategy but also, possess the strength to accomplish the tasks at hand with excellence and professional acumen.

With those things in mind I invite you to join me in addressing and setting forth on the following mission, that I believe can in part address an ever-growing need for this organization and the profession. I wish to propose that we now begin to develop National standards and competencies with specified content to be taught in colleges and universities in the United States. From certificate programs to graduate schools we gather to establish a national curriculum of study for substance abuse and addictions counseling that is scope of practice and degree specific. These programs must also incorporate preparing students for respective national and state certification and licensing. We as NAADAC can put into place for students the conduit of science to practice that has evidence based results with the assist of new classroom technology. In this way we can have an impact on how substance abuse and addictions can assist or be taught with areas such as nursing, criminal justice, social work, psychology, marriage, family and faith based issues and continuing research.

I wish to call upon faculty and alumni practitioners from current programs to help formulate sound advice into this endeavor as well as examine their respective courses of study. NAADAC can address several issues such as, workforce development, retention of professionals, and a younger workforce. In this way state affiliates can welcome, mentor and support new student members into their organization and the profession. I also envision the establishing within NAADAC a national committee or board to maintain and review curriculum and render programs as "NAADAC Approved" with the state affiliate. That upon graduation graduates may in part or total be prepared to sit for the certification exam. What I have proposed can be done and I truly believe must and will be done. I just ask for you, no matter on what level, in what way, you step forward and present your best for this mission and with the next generation we will be," Presenting our best".

Other qualifications of the nominee for this office:
Mr. Osborn's education includes:
B.A. in Christian Ministries with concentration in counseling and psychology from Lincoln Christian College,
M.S. in Counseling from Indiana State University, with postgraduate work in Marriage and Family Therapy and additional studies in Psychological Appraisal.
M.A. in Pastoral Theology from Saint Mary of the Woods College with specialization in Psychology and Religion
Postgraduate work in, Addiction Counseling, Vincennes University.
Currently in Doctoral studies for Ph.D. in Counselor Education with specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from Indiana State University.

He holds the following state and national certifications and licenses:
Indiana Certified Addiction Counselor II (ICAC II) Indiana Association for Addiction Professionals.
National Certified Addiction Counselor II, (NCAC II) National Association of Alcohol and Drug abuse Counselors.
Master Addiction Counselor, (MAC) National Board of Certified Counselors.
National Board Certified Counselor, (NBCC) National Board of Certified Counselors.
National Certified Psychologist, (NCP) North American Association for Masters in Psychology.
Clinical Member, American Association for Marital and Family Therapy.

He is licensed in Indiana in the following:
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Professional Experience:
Professional work experience has been in mental health and addictions as case manager, therapist, clinical supervisor and Director of Clinical Addictions. Other employment has been as a Health Care Administrator for the State of Indiana. He currently is employed as a Substance Abuse Supervisor at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility in Carlisle Indiana and also serves as the facilities Coordinator of Research and Statistics for Higher Education. Other duties include serving as a Train the Trainer instructor for the states Cognitive Behavioral Program. He also is the Southern Indiana Team Leader/ Clinical Mental Health Advisor for the Indiana Department of Correction Emergency Response Operations Critical Incident Team. Mr. Osborn has been ordained as a minister for twenty- five years in the Christian Church. The last fifteen years as Minister of Second Christian Church in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Mr. Osborn serves as an adjunct faculty member to Ivy Tech State Community College in the Department of Human Services. While at Ivy Tech he has developed and written the course of study for the Certificate in Addiction Studies, which has received NAADAC and IAAP Provider status. He is an advisor and faculty consultant to Vincennes University for the certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling. Other faculty responsibilities are with Indiana Wesleyan University. At IWU he teaches undergraduate courses in Addiction Counseling, Psychology, Biblical Studies and courses in Business and Management. He also teaches for the Graduate School of IWU in the Department of Counseling, which has also received NAADAC and IAAP Provider Status.

During the past several years he has served as a consultant and advisor to faith based groups, churches, public and private schools as well as large and small corporations on issue regarding, education, treatment and policy. He has also traveled widely as conference, workshop and institute speaker. He has also written articles for publication and has recently contributed to a chapter on "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Substance Misuse" for a soon to be published book. He and his wife Cindy have three daughters Shawna, Tiffany and Sara.

Nominee: Thurston C. Smith
Credentials: CAC II, SAP, NCGC II
City: Charleston, SC
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Summarize the nominee's NAADAC activities:
Thurston has served NAADAC faithfully for over twelve years and was a 2004 candidate for NAADAC President-Elect. He has served on both personnel and finance committees of NAADAC, has fulfilled two terms on NAADAC's Executive Committee, as Southeast Regional Vice President; 2000 – 2004, and fulfilled a previous appointment as National Membership Committee Chair; 1998 – 2000. He has also served on both the Peer Assistance and International Committees of NAADAC, and as the Southeast Regional Conference Chair, 2000. Moreover, he has been frequently called upon to represent the organization at various symposiums and legislative events throughout his tenure of NAADAC service. He has had an extensive record of service on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (SCAADAC), and has historically maintained simultaneous - dual NAADAC memberships, encompassing the states of Georgia and South Carolina alike. He has a proud record of achievement on both state and national levels, and is the recipient of the NAADAC "One to One Membership Campaign Award – 1996; the South Carolina Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselor's, Counselor of the Year Award – 1997; the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center's 2002 Merit Award; the Southeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center's 2003 Service Award, the prestigious Honor as the NAADAC Lora Roe Memorial Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselor of the Year – 2003, the NAADAC 2004 Executive Committee Service Award; and the Florida/NAADAC 2005 Service Award. He has also received commendations by both the Governor of South Carolina and U.S. Congressional Representative.

Philosophy statement of the nominee for this office:
Since its inception in 1972, NAADAC has affirmed its commitment to the field of addictions, placing advocacy, access to treatment - counselor education and recognition as its top priorities. Likewise, in its mission to lead, unify and empower addiction focused professionals NAADAC is continuously challenged to take its place as "leader" among allied health care associations, as well as develop the earning potential, visibility, and status of its members. In this respect, my vision for NAADAC will encompass the following strategies.

• NAADAC must make every effort to advocate for, and protect the individuality of addictions-focused professionals as "real experts" in the treatment of addictive disorders; thereby, ensuring adequate compensation and third-party reimbursement for services are prioritized.

• With professional ethics in mind, NAADAC must continue to develop its membership through training and workforce development initiatives that emphasize the value of research, prevention and evidenced-based practices in addictions treatment.

• In its responsibility for the good of the public, NAADAC should continue its efforts toward reducing stigma and discrimination of persons with addictive diseases, and in every instance, educate the media, opinion leaders, legislators and allied healthcare professionals about chemical dependency, the value of treatment, and the professionals who provide it.

• Moreover, in unifying the profession NAADAC must continuously empower its members and affiliates to pursue licensure, state recognition and advanced level education and training for addictions-focused professionals. The continued collaboration and partnership with the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) remains critical to these objectives, as a "voice of consensus" is added impetus for the future of our profession. Membership recruitment, retention, and regional - affiliate leadership development prove to be equally essential to this vision.

Philosophically, NAADAC's strength lies in its diversity, as does America's. As NAADAC President, I will seek to partner with organizations of like interests, whose membership reflect a broad and diverse group of individuals. I will empower NAADAC's Executive Committee, Executive Director, and Board of Directors to develop mechanisms that ensure opportunities for growth, professional development, and inclusiveness remain available to all NAADAC members and affiliates. After previously serving on and leading several NAADAC committees, I have come to understand the true value of diversity, its contribution to the common good, and its overall benefit to our organization. With this in mind, I will promote these tenets and continuously solicit new ideas from our membership. Additionally, I will seek to expand the diversity of NAADAC's standing committees to reflect every aspect of its membership and broaden its leadership and cultural affairs programs. Moreover, as leader, my responsibility is to ensure that each NAADAC member, affiliate, and organizational entity is represented with fairness, dignity and respect. These precepts will forever guide my decision making, and as in the profound words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "I can never be who I ought to be until you are what you ought to be."

Other qualifications of the nominee for this office:
Thurston has been in civil service for nearly eight years and is employed by the Veterans Health Administration in Charleston, South Carolina, as a Substance Abuse Program Coordinator. He has held numerous leadership roles in his community and in the addictions profession. He is the former Director for Client and Prevention Services for the ACCESS Network, and is the 1998 graduate of Leadership Beaufort, a civic program of Beaufort, SC's Chamber of Commerce. Thurston received the "Key to the City" by Mayor Larry Abernathy of Clemson, SC, was appointed to the Nancy Moore Thurmond Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policy Initiative, was a Candidate for Charleston City Council in November 2005, and in June 2002, provided oral testimony before the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus. He has served as a field reviewer and technical consultant for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA – CSAT); the S.C. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (SC-DAODAS); IRETA, the Institute for Research, Education and Training in Addictions – the Northeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center; and as the S.C. Liaison to the Southeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center (SATTC – Morehouse School of Medicine). He has been cited and published among a host of journals and abstracts, within both public and private sectors. He has fulfilled a S.C. Governor's appointment as Chair, Charleston County Foster Care Review Board and is currently fulfilling a S.C. Governor's appointment to the Charleston/Dorchester Mental Health Board. He has previously served on the S.C. Army National Guard's Counter Drug Team. He is a respected trainer in addictions treatment, as this is his passion, and he consults as an administrative and program surveyor for CARF: The Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission in Tucson, Arizona. His most memorable contribution to drug policy and public service, was his December 2000 service as Delegate to Colombia, South America, in an initiative sponsored by the U.S. State Department and Partners of the Americas (Non-Governmental Organization), where he received his Honorary Citation for Substance Abuse Lectures by University Del Valle's Department of Psychology. He most recently completed the Veterans Health Administration's - Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN-7) Action-Based Leadership Program and has been selected to serve on the prestigious Veterans Health Administration's 2006 Carey Award Board of Examiners in Washington, D.C.

Nominee: Kirk Bowden
Credentials: PhD, MAC, NCC, LPC, LISAC
City: Mesa, Arizona
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Summarize the nominee's NAADAC activities

• NAADAC (3 years) continuing education auditor.
• NAADAC (2 years) Counselor Magazine peer review for the editorial review committee.
• Arizona Association of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors (AzAADAC) (2 years) central chapter board member, president elect and president.
• AzAADAC (2 years) ethics chair.

Philosophy statement of the nominee on the future of NAADAC

I believe that NAADAC must make every effort to insure that every state recognizes addiction as a behavioral health specialty. I believe that NAADAC must protect its members and the public by working to insure that state legislatures do not allow other behavioral health specialties such as social work and psychology to replace alcohol and drug addiction counselors in the treatment of the chemically dependent.

I believe that NAADAC must work to insure that its members receive fair compensation for service provided. NAACAC must seek legislation and work with insurance companies and other third party providers on insure fair payment for addiction related services.

I believe that in order maintain a future for the field of addiction counseling that NAADAC must make every effort to insure that its members are active in developing and maintaining a high standard of personal and professional ethics.

Other qualifications of the nominee for this office

• Chair of the Rio Salado College Chemical Dependency Counseling department.
• Part time consultant to the University of Arizona Applied Behavioral Health Policy Division.
• Member of the board of directors of INCASE (International Coalition for Addiction Studies Education)
• Former member of Arizona's behavioral health regulatory board (The Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners). Chair Counseling (Two terms) Counseling Secretary/Treasurer (Two terms)
• Former clinical supervisor and addictions therapist at Thunderbird Samaritan Medical Center.

Education: Ph.D. in psychology

Licenses and Certifications:

Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners
Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor (LISAC)
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

National Board for Certified Counselors
Master Addiction Counselor (MAC)
National Certified Counselor (NCC)

Nominee: Sharon DeEsch
Credentials: LPC, LCDC, MAC, CCJP, SAP
City: Dallas, Texas
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Summarize the nominee's NAADAC activities:
• Vice Chair of the Ethics Committee 1990-1992
• Chair of the Ethics Committee 1992-1994
• Regional Vice President – Mid-South 1994-1996
• Speaker at Annual Conference – 4 years
• Member of Editorial Review Board

Sharon has been involved with state and national Ethics Committees and has served as Chairperson of both. She has been published on the subject of ethics both in The Counselor Magazine and The Professional Counselor Magazine.

For the past 19 years, she has been very active in her state and national professional association, serving at the national level as the Regional Vice President on the NAADAC Executive Committee as well as the NAADAC's Board of Directors. She presently sits as a commissioner of The National Certification Board, (NCC) which provides national counselor credentialing. She also represents the Commission by serving on the NAADAC Ethics Committee.

Philosophy statement of the nominee on the future 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, and with many speedbumps. I don't know why my God gave me the energy to be so involved, but I have had the opportunity to meet and learn from an array of gifted and talented people in my 23 year career. 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. I often watch the Academy Awards and wonder, why can't we have a spectacular show giving trophies to all those counselors who have in some way helped an addicted person off the bottom of their life to sunshine. But I know, we receive those trophies in terms of a smile, a hug or a simple thank you. That's enough for us, because we know in our hearts we are helping. When asked about what NAADAC does for me? Remember, the counselor helps the client, the state association helps the counselor and the National Association helps the state. We are clearly connected, with pride.

Other qualifications of the nominee for this office
Sharon has worked in the field of Addictions for the past twenty three years. She has worked in both inpatient and outpatient modalities providing direct care to chemically dependent persons and their families. She is presently Clinical Director of Genesis Counseling, Assoc. in Dallas, Texas.

Educated in Human Services and Counseling, Sharon received her Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University, Norfolk Virginia. She received a Master of Arts degree from Amber University, Garland, Texas. Sharon has more than one thousand contact hours in continuing education. She has provided more than 150 trainings and lectures for counselors in the area of professional conduct, ethics, and HIV prevention for the past 19 years, nationwide.

Sharon holds a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas, Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) in Texas, a national Masters Addiction Counselor, (MAC) from NAADAC, a Certified Criminal Justice Professional (CCJP), and a nationally certified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP)

Nominee: Alvin Feliciano
Credentials: CADC II, ILSAC, MA
City: San Diego, CA
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Summarize the nominee's NAADAC activities:
Mr. Feliciano believes that treatment for alcoholism and substance abuse works and that there is a need for more treatment professionals. To this end, Mr. Feliciano promotes the education and professionalism of treatment professionals by advocating certification and unification through participation in professional organizations. Mr. Feliciano promotes participation in NAADAC by presenting at various educational institutions that are training tomorrow's treatment professionals and at various forums attended by treatment professionals. Mr. Feliciano's direct efforts have resulted in significantly increased membership in NAADAC. In addition, as the Treasurer for the California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Mr. Feliciano monitors the collection on NAADAC revenues and timely payments to the NAADAC treasury.

Philosophy statement of the nominee on the future of NAADAC:
I believe that "treatment works" and that there is a need for more treatment professionals to bring the disease of addiction under control. To this end, NAADAC is uniquely positioned as the premier national organization of treatment professionals. The thrust for NAADAC needs to be focused on unification of the treatment community under the banner of excellence, ethics, education, and professionalism. To achieve this lofty goal, NAADAC needs a solid financial foundation from which to launch a committed and far reaching campaign of unification and the continued financial resources to maintain this momentum. I am committed to this effort by implementing the needed financial strategies to support NAADAC's unification effort.

Other qualifications of the nominee for this office:
Mr. Feliciano is a member of NAADAC in good standing and has been actively engaged in addiction counseling as a treatment professional for over 10 years. Mr. Feliciano holds a Bachelor of Science in Law from the University of West Los Angeles, a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, and trained at the University of New Mexico in Motivational Interviewing. He is an Arizona Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor-II in California. Mr. Feliciano serves as the Treasurer for the California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, is the Program Manager of a 14-bed treatment facility, trains student counselors in Case Management at the University of San Diego, and serves as Executive Director for Comp Care, Inc. He is the proud husband of Sharon Feliciano, RN, the father of three beautiful children, and grateful grandfather of six wonderful children.

Nominee: William J. Coombs
Credentials: MDiv, LCADC, NCAC I
City: Dayton, NJ
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Summarize the nominee's NAADAC activities:
In 2003, Bill was elected to fill the unexpired term of the Mid-Atlantic RVP who was moving outside the region. In 2004, Bill was elected to his first full term as the Mid-Atlantic RVP. In 2005-2006, Bill was the RVP representative on the Finance Committee. Prior to serving on the NAADAC Executive Committee, Bill served as the President of the New Jersey Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors from 2000-2002. During that time Bill represented NJ at the NAADAC annual Board of Directors meetings. Bill has been a member of NAADAC since 1991.

Philosophy statement of the nominee on the future of NAADAC:
We live in challenging and difficult times. Treatment facilities are closing. Federal, State and other sources of treatment funding are shrinking. Insurance Companies want to minimize lengths of stay. NAADAC has always been in the forefront of advocating for the addiction focused professional. NAADAC must continue to take the lead in representing us at the national level.

NAADAC has been a leader at the national level in presenting trainings that focus on the latest scientific developments and practices. NAADAC must continue to present the highest quality information and trainings available. This has been done and continues to be accomplished through cooperation with governmental agencies and other healthcare professional.

NAADAC must continue to lead the way in the unification of those in the addiction field. Continued conversations with like-minded organizations are vital to our survival and the well being of the individuals we seek to help.

Other qualifications of the nominee for this office:
Bill has worked as an addiction professional for over 20 years. He has worked as a front line counselor with adolescents and has been the Director of inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. He currently works at High Focus Centers, Inc, in Cranford, NJ. He is a counselor in the Adult Day Intensive Outpatient Program. He also has a private practice.

Nominee: Nancy Deming
Credentials: MSW, LCSW, CCAC-S
City: Fairmont, West Virginia
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Summarize the nominee's NAADAC activities:
Current member of the NAADAC Public Policy Committee. Attended and participated in annual NAADAC Board meetings 2000-2003 as the WV representative when I served as President of WVAADC, the West Virginia affiliate for that time period. Have attended numerous NAADAC educational conferences and participated in the regional caucuses.

Philosophy statement of the nominee on the future of NAADAC:
I think our membership is the future of NAADAC. How we utilize the individual assets of our membership will have a lasting impact on the success of the organization. There are as many organizations in which a professional can choose to affiliate as there are reasons for affiliating with a professional organization. I choose to be involved in NAADAC because it has a single voice, a national presence, and is the one professional organization that can best positively influence national and state policy regarding issues that affect our profession and the clients we serve. I think it's important to stay involved in that process and to serve at whatever level you as a member are able and interested; local, state, or national.

Other qualifications of the nominee for this office:
Over 20 years of experience in the Addictions field in the area of both direct practice and management of residential CD treatment programs and active involvement on the WVAADC Board; the WV affiliate. Have coordinated trainings for WVAADC membership with the Mid-Atlantic Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC), and received various trainings including Trainer of Trainers from the ATTC.

Nominee: Edward Olsen
Credentials: LCSW, CASAC, SAP
City: Lake Grove, New York
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Summarize the nominee's NAADAC activities:
Edward Olsen has been in the chemical dependency treatment profession for the past 25 years. As a member of NAADAC and the Association for Addiction Professionals of New York (AAPNY), he became the chairperson of the Public Policy committee. In that capacity AAPNY began its work on state licensure for addiction professionals. Also through that committee AAPNY became a strong and vocal advocate in NYS Parity Legislation called "Timothy's Law".

In 2000, Olsen became a member of the Executive Board of AAPNY as second Vice- President. In this capacity one of his responsibilities was to assist in the development of AAPNYs Annual Training and Membership meeting in collaboration with NAADAC in 2003. As a result of that collaboration, NAADAC held the first Northeast Regional Conference day in conjunction with AAPNY's annual meeting.

Also in 2003, Olsen was elected President of AAPNY. In that role he was an active member of several committees, including chairperson of NAADAC's National Awards Committee, member of the NAADAC Student Committee and member of the NAADAC Political Action Committee (PAC).

On the state level, Olsen is a member of the Workforce Committee for the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and member of the Credentialing sub-committee. On the local level, he is a member of the advisory board for Suffolk Community College Chemical Dependency Counseling Program. He also serves as a member of the Education Advisory Committee for the Suffolk Coalition Against Chemical Dependencies as well as a member of the Substance Abuse committee for the Ryan White Foundation for HIV/AIDS.

Currently Olsen is the chairperson of the NAADAC Ethics Committee and a member of the discussion panel for NAADAC and the National Association for Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP).

In 2005, Olsen was a presenter at the NAADAC Leadership Conference and remains active with AAPNY as chair of the 2006 Annual Conference.

Philosophy statement of the nominee on the future of NAADAC:
I believe that all chemical dependency advocacy organizations want the same things for out patients and for those of us who serve them. The problem is that we all advocate as individuals. For advocacy to be truly effective we need to develop partnerships and coalitions so that we may speak in one voice. NAADAC can set the course for such partnerships and coalitions to enhance our profession and to ensure that those suffering from the disease of chemical dependency have a loud, strong and unified voice.

Other qualifications of the nominee for this office:
Extensive media experience
Licensed by the NYS Department of Education in Social Work (LCSW)
Credentialed NYS Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC)
Member of the Board of Directors of "Help End Violence Now"
Adjunct Professor of Suffolk Community College, Addictions Counseling Program
NAADAC Substance Abuse Professional (SAP)
Chairperson, AAPNY Licensing Committee

Nominee: Robert C. Richards
Credentials: MA, CADC III, NCAC II
City: Eugene, Oregon
E-mail: robrich88yahoo.com

Summarize the nominee's NAADAC activities:
Past President and current board member for AADACO, The Oregon Association of addiction professionals and Oregon affiliate of NAADAC. Served as President and NAADAC delegate for four years and have been a board member for nearly nine years. Current NAADAC Northwest Regional Vice-President. NAADAC member for nearly 17 years.

Philosophy statement of the nominee on the future of NAADAC:
I see NAADAC as the largest and most powerful voice in support of our profession, our members and those we serve. I believe that we are and will continue to be the leaders of our profession, responsible for the support and advocacy of all addiction professionals.

Other qualifications of the nominee for this office:
Director of Buckley Center in Eugene Oregon. Former president and current member of the Oregon Detox Providers Association. Member of: Eugene Community Response Team, Lane County Human Services Network and United Way Agency Directors Organization.

Former affiliations: Lane County Heroin Task Force and Oregon Detox Task Force.