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Elections - November/December 2025 - Charting a Course for 2026
Each November-December the RECAMFT members elect a new Board of Directors for coming year (some years there are additional issues for the members to vote on, such as bylaws updates, etc.). The presidency is a three-year commitment as President Elect, President and Past President. The Secretary and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) are each two-year terms, as are the Director at Large (DAL) seats. You can view the current 2025 Board here. RECAMFT's board composition currently consists of
2026 Board of Directors Candidates Below are the slate of candidates running for each open position. There is one candidate each running for President Elect and CFO. There are two candidates running for our DAL seats. We need additional people to run for our open DAL seats. Please consider joining us! |
2026 Director at Large candidate
2026 Director at Large candidate
2026 Prelicensed Director at Large candidate
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Jessica Heaney, LMFT 
Tara D'Orazio, LMFT
Jenny Patterson-Kerr, LMFT
Danielle "Elle" Saunders, LMFT
Candidate Statements Candidates were asked to respond to 3 questions.
Below are each candidate's answers. |
2026 President Elect candidate statement Why are you interested in serving on RECAMFT’s Board of Directors? I returned to graduate school to become an LMFT at 50 years old. I found immense support and encouragement from my connection with the RECAMFT pre-licensed group as well as the membership as a whole. I was able access important information about the process of becoming an LMFT, connect to others at various stages of their LMFT journey, and make lifelong connections. I have benefitted, witnessed and experienced the dedication and passion of the Board of Directors and I want to give back. My experiences as a member since 2019 and board member for the last five years have provided invaluable benefits that I simply can’t imagine I could have gained elsewhere. I want to be a part of ensuring that this continues for another 50 years. I have been involved with many organizations and have found the vibrant energy and inclusive culture of this organization inspiring. I am grateful to have a professional community where we can learn from one another and address important issues that impact our profession. I believe in the mission of RECAMFT and want to serve on the Board to “promote and maintain professional competence and integrity with knowledge, innovation, compassion, humor and respect for human dignity and diversity”. What are your 1-year goals for RECAMFT? RECAMFT exists to support the MFT community and it is important to understand what is most needed by our MFT community. Our organization, RECAMFT, has been successful in doing this for the past 50 years. Much of our membership needs continue - connection, training, support, community. However, the ways in which we access and deliver some of these changed during the pandemic. My goal is to continue to innovate to meet the membership where we are today. My one year goal is to innovate the ways in which we do this so that RECAMFT can continue for another 50 years. Because I have been on the Board for a number of years, I understand some of the challenges and long term goals. I want to see our shorter goals in support of our strategic plan.
What is your 5-year vision for RECAMFT? RECAMFT has a long and strong history over the past 50 years. I want to continue to support the events and ideas that have been generated. Additionally my vision is to develop more ways for more of our membership to be actively involved in the organization and benefit from our collective resources. I want to focus on keeping what works, and implementing new ways to engage members. If elected president, I will work collaboratively with the board to continue to ensure that we are a relevant and sustainable organization. 2026 CFO candidate statement Why are you interested in serving on RECAMFT’s Board of Directors? It would be an honor to continue my work on the RECAMFT Board of Directors as your CFO. Over the past term, I have greatly enjoyed expanding my skills in financial leadership and working with my dream team of co-collaborators on RECAMFT's many amazing projects. I am eager to continue helping our organization dream big and reach new milestones in sustainability, community engagement, and member support. I am excited to continue building systems that make our finances transparent, values-driven, and easy for future leaders to carry forward.What are your 1-year goals for RECAMFT? RECAMFT has made significant progress in stabilizing our budget and rebuilding financial consistency after the many changes COVID brought to how we offer services and connect with members. These past 3 years I have focused on cultivating a board culture where everyone feels confident and engaged in financial decisions. My next focus is to increase the chapter's advertising efforts to generate consistent non-dues revenue that supports our members.
What is your 5-year vision for RECAMFT? In the next five years, I envision RECAMFT as a financially thriving, mission-driven organization. Our membership will continue to grow as more clinicians recognize the value of our programs and benefits, with dues reinvested into high-quality education, professional development, and member support. Through strategic investments in advertising, CDs, and outreach, non-dues revenue will expand—allowing us to grow scholarships, develop new initiatives, and strengthen our community presence. Our budget will reflect our values, ensuring that every financial decision supports our mission and the wellbeing of our members. I’d like to see RECAMFT offer financial literacy and business development workshops to help members strengthen their professional foundations and succeed as practice owners.2026 Director at Large candidate statement Why are you interested in serving on RECAMFT’s Board of Directors? I am interested in being Director at Large on RECAMFT’s Board of Directors because being a therapist in private practice can be an isolating experience. I want to join with other therapists to help promote RECAMFT’s mission by providing opportunities for networking, education, community and outreach. What are your 1-year goals for RECAMFT? When I was an intern, I was fortunate to have gone to many of RECAMFT’s Friday symposiums at the Odd Fellow’s Hall on Pacific Avenue in Santa Rosa. There I networked, collaborated and learned about a variety of topics, as well as earned CEU’s. As an intern, I had a wonderful networking opportunity and ended up being hired at a local crisis facility and learned about the social rehabilitation model. I gained a great deal of experience and met many colleagues. In a year’s time, I imagine creating another safe space for other interns and licensed therapists to earn CEU’s, to network, meet their colleagues and collaborate. In addition, I would like to see more diversity in our organization. When I look around the room, I see a lot of white women and although I identify with this group, I would love to welcome those with diverse backgrounds which would ultimately expand our membership, as well. The more members in our group, the more opportunities to hear diverse perspectives and voices, which I believe is essential to our mission and upholding our racial and social justice pledge. What is your 5-year vision for RECAMFT?As I close my eyes and imagine what I would like to see in 5 years, it is an expansion of my 1-year vision. First and foremost, our organization feels soulful. We care deeply about each other and take great care to provide a safe and caring atmosphere. RECAMFT continues to grow and expand. Members are diverse and active. We collaborate and network with one another. We provide monthly in person meetings at a hall or center where many attend, a monthly talk is given and CEU’s are attained. Our groups are full of bright licensed therapists as well as interns who are collaborating, reaching out and supporting one another. All views are listened to and all feel safe and supported because there is room for differences of opinions as well as similar ideas. We gather quarterly for networking opportunities at a local café both pre-licensed as well as licensed therapists are attending. We stay within budget with all of our activities and they are fun and interesting. There is a sense of accomplishment, deep-satisfaction, joy, and success for all! It is a lively organization to be a part of. 2026 Director at Large candidate statement
Why are you interested in serving on RECAMFT’s Board of Directors? I am interested in serving on RECAMFT's Board of Directors because I have had the pleasure and benefit of belonging to my East Bay Chapter in the past and valued the collegial support when I was newly licensed and building my practice. I am ready to pay back to my professional organization and assist the membership needs for my colleagues in this beautiful county. I am finding every RECAMFT member, and especially the Board to be an exceptionally warm, professional, creative and inclusive group that I would be proud to be a part of.
What are your 1-year goals for RECAMFT? My 1-year goal for RECAMFT would be to increase in-person networking opportunities and assist with lightening the load of current Board members. I am excited to work with increasing the opportunities for other RECAMFT general members to get involved and volunteer for events and build community and support.
What is your 5-year vision for RECAMFT? My 5-year goals for RECAMFT would be to assist in a continuous leadership flow of what is already established and working so well. To also continue to ask and listen to what is next for current and future members for an increase in joyful, useful participation to our organization. |
Redwood Empire Chapter of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists |
