Board of Directors 

Board President 

Retired university educator and administrator. Career included public education and outreach responsibilities at the state and national levels. Recipient of several teaching and team education awards. Roles included: youth education, agriculture education, information technology support, technology team building, university administration, and business to business sales. PhD in Agricultural Economics, MS & BS in Agronomy.

Board Treasurer

Dr. Brandon Helding received his PhD in Curriculum and Instruction at Arizona State University. He has worked, and is published, as a methodologist, statistician, and psychometrician. He has worked as methodologist on four NSF-funded grants, one IES-funded efficacy study, published one book on measurement development, and co-authored a handbook chapter on design research. Additionally, Dr. Helding is or has externally evaluated three teacher PD projects, has worked as a game developer for Google and the Hispanic Research Center at Arizona State University, as a policy consultant for the Lincoln Police Department and American Civil Liberties Union to detect patterns of bias in police officer behaviors with at-risk populations, the Arizona Department of Juvenile Detention Services in a study that helped determine which evaluation procedures corresponded with supports to reduce rates of recidivism, the Wellbeing Initiative Inc., a center for improved mental health services for at-risk individuals,  and a conglomerate of medical researchers at CRESMET and the AMTA at Arizona State University.  They plan to establish evidence for advanced screening procedures for pancreatic cancer and possible clinical drug trials in conjunction with John Hopkins University.

Freelance Personal Assistant

Alex is a freelance Personal Assistant with a passion for mental health. Serving CEOs, politicians, and other professionals–their focus is on creating a space including accountability with an emphasis on self care. Alex wants to help everyone around them climb higher and is willing to organize as well as create processes to make that happen in a very personal way. When they’re not on the clock, Alex likes to sell vintage/antique treasures with their partner and play with their three dogs: Poko, Niles, & Romy.

Seuferer Consulting & Coaching 

Stacey Seuferer is a mental health advocate and life coach helping others see the bigger picture by changing their mindset and goal setting.  She is the Executive Director of Speaking to the Heart Podcast Network, that restores purpose and passion for those struggling with personal wellbeing.  She is also an Executive Assistant for Kat’s and Associates R.E.G. of Keller Williams in Lincoln, Nebraska. Stacey was a contributing writer for a parenting blog for a mental health site. She manages and admins for several Facebook groups for suicide prevention and wellbeing.  She designs logos and inspirational posts for groups while providing peer support to encourage coping through their struggles.  Stacey has done podcasts of loss after suicide, and served on the Nebraska Support Network as a Parent Partner. 

Program Director Saunders County Youth Services

Amber Pelan is the Program Director for Saunders County Youth Services, where she works with children, youth and families on juvenile pretrial diversion programming, chronic absenteeism issues, mental health, and accessing resources and services to promote safety and well-being. Amber writes and manages state and federal grants designed to aid children and families. She has been in the child welfare/juvenile justice field since 2008 and has worked with the Department of Health and Human Services, Children and Family Services, Center on Children, Families and the Law- UNL, and with the developmentally disabled at Region V Services. Amber has a B.A. from UNL and is slowly working on her Master’s in Public Administration at UNO. She is a TeamMates mentor as well as served on the Wahoo Community TeamMates board. Amber also serves on several other boards and state committees that focus on improving the lives of children and families through one modality or another.

FAME Program Manager/Family Peer Support Specialist

Deb Turner is a certified Family Peer Support Specialist/ FAME program manager at Independence Rising, where she works with families to provide services and supports to families raising a child or young adult who is experiencing social, emotional, addiction, or behavioral health challenges in their home, school, community and/or placement. Deb has many years of experience working with families that have youth with mental and behavioral challenges and has provided support to the parent/caregiver. Deb graduated from Central Community College with an associate degree in Human Services and a Chemical Dependency Technician Certificate. Deb completed her studies at Doane College, graduating Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Relations. Deb lives in Overton, Nebraska with her daughter and has three adult sons who live close. In Deb’s spare time she enjoys spending time with her children, baking, crafting, watching K-State Football, and being with friends. She is a member of the Guardians of the Children Flat Rock Chapter in North Platte Nebraska, advocating against child abuse, where she enjoys spending time with other guardians, riding her motorcycle, and taking part in activities with children.