Our Board

 Youth Mental Health First Aider 

"As a Dad of four young adults as well serving as a youth minister and youth sports coach for many years,  I have witnessed first hand and engaged with many of our teens who are struggling with and striving to cope with anxiety and other mental health challenges. I love our youth and am excited to serve with the Nimmo Family and Z-Cares team of supporters to enable our youth to be healthy in Mind, Body and Spirit."

  Youth Mental Health First Aider  

 "I met the Nimmo family under unfortunate circumstances when they lost their son Zachary.  I connected with them in a way I don't always connect with people.  They didn't just move my heart, they inspired me.  Z-Cares Foundation felt like part of my family and I wanted to be part of it and I felt I had something I could contribute.  I personally believe in the mission.  We should be able to jump in and help without hesitation if someone is struggling and find the courage for ourselves to speak up if we are struggling.  That is whyI joined Z-Cares and am honored to a part of it."  

  Youth Mental Health First Aider  

" Z-Cares is important to me because of the experiences I have had with angst, depression, and anxiety myself.  I have moved through life often succeeding on paper, or according to society's measures, but sometimes I have felt like I am simply hiding in plain sight.  The things that Z-cares is promoting awareness around are things that were often a part of my daily experience, but the way they showed up for me did not fit the assumptions society has traditionally made around what depression looks like.  I am also very happy, optimistic, and a lover of life, and I want to be involved with this organization in a way that shows others how to live authentically with all of these emotions, thoughts, and qualities that can simultaneously make up a person's identity.  Z-cares is actively addressing some of the most important issues facing people of all ages these days, and I am proud to be part of the movement."    

 Mark A. Reinecke, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He served for 18 years as Professor and Chief of the Division of Psychology at Northwestern. Prior to this he served for 14 years as the Director of the Center for Cognitive Therapy in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago. He is a Distinguished Fellow and former president of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, and a Diplomat of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in both Clinical Psychology and Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Dr. Reinecke also is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. He is the recipient of the Cynthia D. Belar Distinguished Service Award from the American Psychological Association. His research and clinical interests center on understanding and treating depression, suicide, and anxiety among children and adolescents. He has lectured internationally and has served as a visiting professor at institutions in Europe and Asia. Dr. Reinecke is widely published, and has authored or edited eleven books, including Cognitive therapy across the lifespan, Comparative treatments of depression, Cognitive therapy with children and adolescents, Personality disorders in children and adolescents, and Cognitive-behavioral therapy with adults.  His first book for a general audience, Little ways to keep calm and carry on was published by New Harbinger. A new book, Landmark papers in psychiatry, (Oxford University Press) was published earlier this year.  

 Youth Mental Health First Aider 

Vanessa Varrelman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Credentialed School Counselor in the Tri Valley. Vanessa received her Master of Science in Counseling, and Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential from California State University East Bay. With experience working in: youth programs, group therapy centers, education, and private practice, she specializes in working with youth and their families to navigate challenges of childhood and adolescence.   Utilizing client-centered, solution-focused, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, Vanessa supports clients on their journey towards mental wellness. Vanessa is passionate about: mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and ending the stigma surrounding mental health through education and advocacy. For self-care Vanessa enjoys the outdoors.