Board Overview
Meet the 2022 NAMI Butler Board of Directors
Joyce Saunders
PresidentJoyce Saunders is a retired Human Resources Manager with a degree in psychology from Oakland University, Rochester MI. After retirement, Joyce became the Board of Directors Secretary/Treasurer of a family-owned business, providing human resources, financial and payroll services. She continues in her role as Secretary/Treasurer and HR Consultant. Since 2006, she has served on several advisory boards in the mental health field, including Board Secretary of the Mental Health Association, Board Secretary of a community mental health center, member of the former NAMI Pennsylvania board, former Vice President and currently serving as President of NAMI Butler PA. Joyce is certified as a NAMI Family to Family Leader, NAMI Homefront Teacher, and NAMI Family Support Group Facilitator.
Rich Wozniak
Vice PresidentNAMI Butler County welcomes Rich Wozniak as the newest member of its Board of Directors. Rich may be a familiar name to many involved with this area’s social service agencies.
From 2008 through 2019, Rich served as the manager of the Butler County Center for Community Resources’ (CCR) Crisis Program. While there, he helped develop the Crisis Intervention Training for First Responders for Butler and surrounding counties. Following his retirement in 2019, he remains a consultant for the for the crisis program for CCR and other agencies throughout Pennsylvania.
Rich also continues to serve as a certified Mental Health Delegate for Clarion County, a 24-hour/7-day service for those seeking information or considering psychiatric hospitalization for themselves, a family member, or friend.
Prior to his work at CCR, he was supervisor for Glade Run Lutheran Services in Zelienople.
Rich says he joined the NAMI Butler board to “increase community awareness of NAMI Butler County’s goals and services.”
Rich received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Penn State University. He lives in Slippery Rock with his wife, Tammy. They have four adult children and two grandchildren.
Linda Schmitmeyer
SecretaryLinda Schmitmeyer first joined the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in the mid-1990s, when her husband, Steve, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She became a member of NAMI Butler County’s Board of Directors in 2018 and now serves as the Board secretary. Linda is a certified instructor for NAMI’s Family-to-Family, a free, 8-session educational program for family, significant others, and friends of people with mental health conditions. A retired teacher and public relations professional, Linda is the author of “Rambler: A Family Pushes Through the Fog of Mental Illness,” an intimate, hopeful story about her family’s struggle with Steve’s mental illness. Steve and Linda have shared their experience with various audiences, including university students, library patrons, book clubs, and senior living communities. Linda and Steve live in Middlesex Township and have three adult children. Learn more at www.lindaschmitmeyer.com.
Steve Sutton
TreasurerI’ve worked as an auditor for Highmark BC/BS for about 28 years. My mother was an alcoholic which I didn’t consider at the time as mental illness. I considered it a character flaw that had a profound effect on my life. My son was diagnosed as bipolar in his twenties, although he probably had it earlier. My wife and I joined NAMI in hopes of understanding the illness better and learning to cope. I serve on the Board of Directors as Treasurer for NAMI Butler County PA.
Mary Lindsay
I am a retired elementary school teacher with twenty-one years of service. My husband, Jim, and I have four adult children and seven grandchildren. In 2004, I joined Butler Nami seeking help and support for my ill family member. For the next six years, I attended support meetings, conferences and Nami conventions. I also read and studied the books from the Nami library. In 2010, I trained for and became a “Family-to-Family” teacher. In 2014, I became a support group Facilitator. Currently, I am a facilitator for the Evans City and Saxonburg support groups. I also had a role in the development of the Bulter CIT training program, and gave talks on “Family Impact.” Nami gave me the knowledge and support that enabled me to help my ill family member. I became a Nami volunteer because over the past sixteen years. I have acquired valuable knowledge and lived experience that can be of use for those who are having similar difficulties.
Bruce Wood
After four years of Navy duty, Bruce Wood worked in quality control and electro-mechanical engineering, and in sales as a Midwest sales manager. He was active in automotive and quality control associations, and established his own sales company selling gaging products in the upper Midwest. He also worked as a liaison construction engineer for a townhouse management company. Bruce was a member of the Canadian Legion holding several offices, including Commander of the Great Lakes Region. Bruce is on the Board of Directors for the Butler Lions Club, and joined the NAMI Butler PA Board in November 2019.
We're Here to Listen
In Crisis?
Butler County Mental Health Crisis Services can be accessed by calling 1-800-292-3866 or by texting #63288.
Crisis services operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (the Lifeline)
24/7 Crisis workers available to support you
