Our Team

NAMI SMC Staff

Laura Parmer-Lohan

Chief Executive Officer

Laura Parmer-Lohan is the Chief Executive Officer of NAMI San Mateo County, where she is dedicated to ensuring that every individual and family affected by mental health conditions has access to hope, support, education, and advocacy. She believes that mental health is essential to overall well-being and is passionate about building a community where no one has to face mental health challenges alone.

Laura brings more than two decades of leadership experience across the nonprofit, corporate, entrepreneurial, and public sectors. Before joining NAMI, she served as Chief of Staff for Amgen’s South San Francisco R&D site and founded a successful health technology consulting firm. She also served on the San Carlos City Council, including as mayor, where she led the community through the COVID-19 pandemic and championed initiatives that strengthened health, inclusion, and community resilience.

Recognized as one of the San Francisco Business Times’ Most Influential Women, Laura is known for bringing people together to solve complex challenges with compassion, collaboration, and purpose. She is honored to lead NAMI San Mateo County in its mission to improve the quality of life for all those affected by mental health conditions.

Rocio Cornejo Panameno

Education & Volunteer Director

Rocío Cornejo Panameño is the Director of Education & Volunteers at NAMI San Mateo County, where she has spent the past 10 years advancing culturally responsive mental health education, support, and advocacy for peers and families. She joined NAMI in 2016 and brings over 12 years in the mental health field — work rooted in her own lived experience, which continues to fuel her passion for it. A former Vice Chair of the San Mateo County Mental Health & Substance Abuse Recovery Commission and a graduate of the San Mateo Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Leadership Program, she has been honored with the Tony Hoffman Award (2020) and the George Culores Award (2022). Bilingual and first-generation, Rocío builds partnerships across the county so that language and culture are never barriers to care. She lives in San Mateo with her husband and two sons.

Latona Mitchell

Education & Staffing Coordinator

LaTona “Tonya” Mitchell is the Education & Outreach Lead at NAMI San Mateo County, where she is dedicated to expanding access to mental health education, peer support, and community partnerships. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of Phoenix and is passionate about serving others with compassion, while enjoying baking, crocheting blankets for her grandchildren, and spending time with family.

Yvette Morales

Youth Outreach Associate

Yvette Morales is the Youth Outreach Associate at NAMI San Mateo County, where she has supported youth in San Mateo County for over four years, including two years with NAMI SMC. She supports the Uplift Teen Group and coordinates social media and communications, while pursuing her Master’s of Science in Justice Studies. In her free time, Yvette enjoys reading, going to the movies, and spending time with family and friends.

Calvin Shelton

Senior Peer Facilitator & Instructor

NAMI has given me the opportunity to use my empathy and lived experience to help other consumers on their journey toward recovery. I enjoy walking and keeping up on current events. I am so happy that NAMI San Mateo County at this time is fostering the inclusion of young people in our efforts to combat the ever-present stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Nidhi Dash

Events and Fundraising Data Coordinator

Nidhi brings experience in nonprofit leadership, board service, and fundraising, having supported organizations through partnerships, annual giving efforts, and community engagement initiatives. She is passionate about creating meaningful connections and impactful outreach campaigns that bring people together while advancing NAMI San Mateo County’s critical mission.

Stephanie Cho

Youth Programs Outreach Coordinator

Stephanie Cho is the Youth Programs Outreach Coordinator at NAMI San Mateo County. She brings over 13 years of experience in education, community outreach, and relationship management, most recently at EdTec Inc., where she built partnerships with charter school leaders and nonprofit organizations to expand the company’s reach within California and across the nation. She is passionate about expanding mental health education and support access to the young people of San Mateo County.

Board of Directors

Board members of NAMI San Mateo County strive to create an environment of support for those dealing with day-to-day issues of living with a mental illness, and for their friends and relatives.

Lisa Fuchs | Board President

Strategy Consultant - Retired, Portola Valley, CA

Lisa Fuchs is a strategy and business development leader with extensive experience driving global growth for consumer brands and retailers. She brings expertise in global strategy, marketing, and category management, along with a proven ability to develop and implement pragmatic, results-oriented solutions. Lisa serves as Board President for NAMI San Mateo County, guiding strategic direction and governance to support the organization’s mission.

Ellie Byrd | Board Treasurer/Secretary

Non-Profit Finance & Administration Consultant, Burlingame, CA

Ellie Byrd is a nonprofit finance and administration consultant with over seven years of experience supporting schools and community-based organizations in areas such as finance, accounting, risk management, and strategic planning. She serves as Board Treasurer for NAMI San Mateo County, where she provides financial oversight and strategic insight to support the organization’s mission.

Elyse Brummer | Board Member

Executive Director, Redwood City, CA

Elyse Brummer is the Executive Director of AgeUp, Inc., with extensive leadership experience in senior living and nonprofit administration. She serves as Board Secretary for NAMI San Mateo County, contributing her expertise in organizational management and community-based services.

Kate Phillips, PhD | Board Member

Freelance Writer, Burlingame, CA

Kate Phillips, PhD, is an author and former educator with a background in American studies, literature, and history. She serves on the Board of NAMI San Mateo County, where she helps to advance equitable mental health access and support community education and engagement.

Dr. Jennifer Harrison | Board Member

Clinical Psychologist, Burlingame, CA

Dr. Jennifer Harrison is a board-certified clinical psychologist and art therapist with over 20 years of experience specializing in trauma-focused care across clinical, academic, and forensic settings. She serves on the NAMI San Mateo County Board, contributing her expertise in mental health treatment, assessment, and advocacy to advance the organization’s mission.

Yoko Ng | Board Member

Certified Medical Interpreter, South San Francisco, CA

Yoko Ng is a certified medical interpreter with over a decade of experience supporting patients and providers across clinical, educational, and psychiatric settings in the Bay Area. As a board member for NAMI San Mateo County, she brings a deep commitment to breaking down language and cultural barriers to ensure equitable access to mental health support.

Rona Yang | Board Member

Student, Palo Alto, CA

Rona brings a multifaceted background in executive leadership, high-end interior design, and wellness to the NAMI San Mateo County Board of Directors. Having directed teams in high-stakes tech companies and founded a design practice focused on the intersection of aesthetics and well-being, she deeply understands how environments shape human flourishing. Driven to impact mental health at a deeper level, she recently transitioned into the clinical field of Mental Health Counseling. Her diverse expertise uniquely positions her to bridge strategic leadership, holistic design, and mental health advocacy—cultivating spaces of profound healing and building compassionate support frameworks that empower individuals and families on both a local and systemic level.

Bill Graham | Board Member

Former Hospital CEO, San Mateo, CA

Bill Graham is a seasoned healthcare leader with a decades-long career in hospital administration, community development, and healthcare consulting. As President of Sequoia Hospital for ten years, he built deep expertise in operations, business development, and data-driven strategy. He sits on a number of not-for-profit boards, including Health Plan of San Mateo, serving the San Mateo County Medi-Cal Community and Peninsula Volunteers.

Hee-Yeon Woo | Board Member

Sr. IT Project Manager, Stanford University, Burlingame, CA

Hee-Yeon Woo is a technical and business leader with 25 years of experience delivering complex, large-scale initiatives across Fortune 500, healthcare, AI technology, and higher education organizations. She currently serves as Sr. IT Project Manager in the Office of the CIO at Stanford University, leading a major HR/Payroll systems modernization effort, and has previously held leadership roles at Sapeon (a South Korea AI semiconductor startup), Luma Health, Sencha, and Adobe Systems. Her background spans program governance, quality engineering, and cross-functional team leadership, along with hands-on community involvement as founder of a STEM education program for Bay Area students. Hee-Yeon brings a rare combination of project management rigor, healthcare-sector fluency, and community engagement to the NAMI San Mateo County Board of Directors.

Advisory Council

Ian Adamson

Sally Mayer

Dr. Cameron D. Quanbeck, MD

Sharon Roth

Pat Way