Leadership

The National Council of Dementia Minds (NCDM) is proud to be a not-for-profit organization governed and founded by persons living with dementia. In fact, NCDM is the first known national not-for-profit organization governed by persons living with Neurocognitive Disorders.

Board Members

Steven Barbieri

Board President, & Founder

Steven worked for Wells Fargo Bank for 32 years serving as the VP & District Manager. Steven was responsible for the largest district in California with 12 branches, 250 employees, and a $1.6 billion deposit base. Steven is engaged in legislative advocacy efforts at both the state and federal levels. He has participated in multiple fundraising events and is especially proud to be a part of an event that raised a record $10 million in one night. Steven has also proudly participated in several clinical trials. Most notably, Steven is an accomplished martial artist inducted in the Elite Black Belt Hall of Fame. Steven enjoys world travel with his wife and three children. He was diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in 2011.

Steven lives in Meridian, Idaho.

Monica Downer

Vice President

Monica is a graduate of Georgia State University and was a dedicated special education teacher for 19 years. Monica continues to capitalize on her educational skills as a national dementia educator and advocate. She works tirelessly to debunk the stigma and myths associated with dementia, especially the myth that only older people get dementia. Monica is an avid reader and enjoys cooking. She is married and has two sons. In 2016, Monica was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) with moderate memory loss at the age of 45.

Monica lives in Winder, Georgia

Mark Roberts

Secretary & Founder

Mark is a former Mechanical Supervisor at a private college. Throughout his life he has worked as a skilled tradesman in heating, air conditioning and construction. For decades Mark has served his church and community with active involvement on various boards of directors for non-profit and human service organizations. Today, Mark serves as a national dementia advocate and speaker. He especially enjoys being a friend and source of hope for persons newly diagnosed. Mark enjoys the great outdoors especially trout fishing in northern Michigan. His love of nature is only second to his love for his family. Mark is easy to spot in a crowd because of his constant companion and dementia service dog, Sophie. In 2014, Mark was diagnosed with Young Onset Vascular Dementia at the age of 62.

Mark lives in Elwell, Michigan.

Linda Brewster

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Mark lives in Elwell, Michigan.

Dona Denham

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Mark lives in Elwell, Michigan.

Kelli Miller

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Mark lives in Elwell, Michigan.

Dr. Arnold Beresh

Treasurer

Arnold (Arnie) Beresh, DPM, is a former podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon. Throughout his career, Arnie served in a variety of leadership roles including a fellow to the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and National Board of Podiatry Examiners as well as serving as the president of the Virginia Podiatric Medical Association. Arnie utilizes his leadership skills as a state and national dementia advocate and educator. He monitors drug trials and research and provides expert testimony at the state and national levels. Arnie is particularly passionate about educating future medical providers about dementia. He is also known for both his humor and generosity. He and his wife have had a life-long love for pets and now enjoy a variety of animatronic pets. In 2015, Arnie was diagnosed with MCI and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) at the age of 62. In 2022, he was diagnosed with mixed dementia.

Arnie lives in White Lake, Michigan.

Staff Members

Brenda Roberts

Executive Director

Brenda Roberts has over 40 years of experience in the human service field working with elders and persons living with disabilities. Her passion is learning from and supporting persons living with dementia to transform the worldview of Neurocognitive Disorders. She envisions a world where all persons living with dementia experience agency, inclusion, and shared power in all aspects of private and public life. Brenda is proud to have been a part of the “original” Dementia Minds since its inception and honored to serve as the Executive Director for the National Council of Dementia Minds. Brenda is known for her optimism, enthusiasm, and boundless energy.

Lisa Dedden Cooper

Director of Operations

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Lauren Strich

Director of Support & Communications

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We would also like to acknowledge the significant contributions of our former Board Members and Founding Members in their respective positions.

Bonnie Erickson

Founder and Former Board President

Brian LeBlanc

Founder and Former Board President