2025 Board of Directors
Dolores De Martino, President
English, Spanish Family-to-Family Teacher
English, Spanish Family-to-Family Teacher
Dolores Demartino is a dedicated Registered Dental Assistant licensed in the state of California. She has a diverse professional background, having worked as a Customer Service Specialist for Delta Dental, where she honed her skills in client relations. Dolores also served as a Billing Manager for Universal Care, Virtual Dental Care, and Little Smiles of OC, showcasing her expertise in managing complex billing processes within the dental industry. Additionally, she worked at Planet DDS as an Insurance Specialist, where she further developed her knowledge of insurance practices in dental care. Beyond her dental experience, Dolores has managed several private practice dental offices and has held various managerial positions in the restaurant industry, including Store Manager for multiple restaurants and Customer Service Manager for Skywest Airlines. Her extensive experience in both dental and customer service fields highlights her commitment to excellence and her ability to adapt to various roles and environments.
Lynn Conrad, Vice President
Family-to-Family Teacher, Newsletter, NAMI on Campus HS Clubs
Family-to-Family Teacher, Newsletter, NAMI on Campus HS Clubs
Lynn graduated with a degree in Environmental Science in which she worked for the Southwest Florida Water Management District in Brooksville, Florida. She has three sons and her middle son is challenged with bipolar, depression and addiction. That’s how she and her husband found NAMI. She worked as Program Director for NAMI Westside and also educational coordinator for LACC (Los Angeles County Council). She is a long standing member of NAMI.
Volunteer involvement is the name of the game with many non profits. Lynn ran a Senior Day program called OASIS for 20 years. She had 10-15 volunteers under her tutelage and without them the program would never have existed.
I love NAMI and am committed to helping NAMI Temecula Valley become a shining beacon in the community.
Lisa Pillen, Treasurer
Family Support Group Facilitator
Family Support Group Facilitator
I am a board member and the Treasurer for NAMI, with 25 years of accounting experience. I also own a small accounting and bookkeeping business, Garnet Accounting. For the past six years, I have served as the Family Support Facilitator. I have lived in Riverside County for 46 years, with 30 of those years spent in the Temecula Valley.
Like many others, I came to NAMI broken-hearted and searching for answers. After years of trying to help my daughter and facing continuous setbacks with medical professionals, I felt defeated. When I discovered NAMI, I came seeking help and was welcomed with guidance and resources. This support allowed me to release the overwhelming guilt I had carried, feeling that I hadn’t done enough or didn’t know enough to help my child receive the right care. Although we are still navigating through diagnoses, I now understand that this is a process, and it’s okay not to have all the answers right away. Facilitating the support group has given me the opportunity to give back to other struggling families, while also continuing to learn about the resources available to us. While I know I can’t know everything, NAMI has made me feel less alone in this journey.
Alejandrina Cuevas, Secretary
English, Spanish Family-to-Family Teacher
English, Spanish Family-to-Family Teacher
Alejandrina is a graduate of San Jacinto College, attaining her AA in child development and community health. She was a dedicated preschool teacher with a passion for early childhood education and has lived in Murrieta for 40 years. As an artist, she brings creativity and a unique perspective to all that she do. Additionally, she is fluent in Spanish, which allows her to connect with and support a diverse community. She is excited to serve as the Secretary for NAMI, where she can contribute her skills and experiences to support families and individuals in need.
Jennifer Van Gorp, Social Media and Fundraising
Board Member
Jennifer graduated from the University of Utah with Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and International Studies. She works remotely as the Outreach and Marketing Coordinator for a psychology center in Salt Lake City and has experience in program development, event management, and volunteer coordination. Jennifer volunteers as a social media coordinator for NAMI Temecula Valley and as a Track Manager for the American Marketing Association San Diego. Her interest in mental health has led her to train in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and QPR Suicide Prevention. As a certified hypnosis practitioner, she has seven years of experience facilitating hypnosis for mental well-being.
A Certified Associate Project Manager (CAPM), Jennifer has developed an online Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills program and a professional development program approved by the American Psychological Association. She is currently pursuing her MBA with a concentration in Data Analytics at Louisiana State University Shreveport, with plans to provide data-informed strategies for social impact organizations.
Jennifer received her MBA with a concentration in Data Analytics from Louisiana State University Shreveport and works remotely for an outpatient mental health center in Utah. She has experience in marketing and outreach, brand development, and event management. Jennifer volunteers as a social media coordinator for NAMI Temecula Valley and as a Programming Committee Chair for the American Psychological Association's Society for Media Psychology and Technology.
Dr. Sana Johnson-QuijadaBoard Member
Dr. Sana Johnson-Quijada, MD has been our honored guest at our Ask the Psychiatrist Speaker Meeting and writer for our Ask the Psychiatrist newsletter column.
Since 2002, Dr. Sana has been working in areas of Pharmaceutical research, public speaking, writing, and teaching. She also sees clients in her office where she has an outpatient private practice.. This means she has a wealth of knowledge about treating people with mental illness. She can be reached at her office in Temecula: 951-514-1234
Jeffrey C Nickerson Esq
Board Member
Jeff is an Estate Planning attorney, practicing in Wills, Trusts, Special Needs Planning, Limited Conservatorship & Probate serving all of Southern California. Jeff has a passion for helping Special Needs families. As a Special Needs parent, Jeff has had first-hand experience in addressing Special Needs issues.
Jeff actively participates in the Inns of the Court, Wealth & Elder Counsel, Academy of Special Needs Planners, and Riverside & Southwest Bar Associations. Jeff is an invited speaker to many groups including various Senior Centers, Salvation Army, NAMI, Parkinson’s Support group, Temecula Schools CAC, Murrieta Library, Wildomar Library, Fiesta Educativa, Oak Grove School, and more.
The Nickerson family has lived in Temecula Valley for nearly 30 years and is actively involved in Special Olympics, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Santa Rosa Plateau Foundation, Murrieta Arts Council, and more. In 2013, Jeff launched Exceptional Sports, a non-profit organization that provides recreational sports opportunities to Special Needs families. In August this year, the Exceptional Sports Special Needs Program was named Non-Profit of the Year. Serving the community is a joy.
2025 Leadership
Glen Shepherd
Peer/Family/Warm Line Outreach
Peer-to-Peer Teacher
Kris Sension
Family Support Group
Pricilla Diaz
Email Blasts
Jeff Arnold, Tuesdays
Connections Facilitator
Josh Leak, Thursday
Connections Facilitator via Zoom
Matthew Crossley and Amanda Freyre, Tuesdays
Young Adult Support Group Facilitator
Welcome to our NAMI family of Temeucla Valley!
Welcome to our NAMI family of Temeucla Valley!