LifeROOTS Announces Three New Board Members

Lewis Reade, Jill Tatz and Susan Iliff Join Board of Not-for-Profit Serving Individuals with Disabilities

LifeROOTS (www.liferootsnm.org), the central New Mexico-based not-for-profit organization serving the needs of children and adults with physical, developmental and/or behavioral challenges, has appointed three new members to the organization’s Board of Directors. The organization has announced that Lewis Reade, Jill Tatz and Susan Iliff have been named to the Board – bringing a wide range of both professional and personal experience to the Board of Directors of the growing not-for-profit organization.

The appointment of Mr. Reade, Ms. Tatz and Ms. Iliff to the LifeROOTS Board of Directors continues to strengthen the role of LifeROOTS in providing important programs and services to help those with disabilities throughout the community. Members of the LifeROOTS Board of Directors provide guidance and oversight of the organization’s strategic initiatives, work to ensure that the organization meets its mission and objectives, and help in fundraising initiatives.

Mr. Reade, Ms. Tatz and Ms. Iliff each bring extensive experience to the LifeROOTS Board of Directors:

Lewis Reade brings a wealth of business expertise and valuable experience in the not-for-profit sector to his position on the LifeROOTS Board of Directors. An International Development Professional with decades of experience in private business, government and non-profit organizations, Mr. Reade has held senior career positions in the U.S. and overseas toward national economic growth promotion in the Middle East, Caribbean and Southeast Asia, and has led programs in economic development throughout the world. He has held executive positions through Chairman of the Board and CEO in a variety of high tech and services businesses, and has twice served as the CEO of major non-government organizations. His work in the U.S. includes having spearheaded and directed many important initiatives in the non-profit arena, including merging Big Brothers of America and Big Sisters International in the first merger of national youth servicing programs.

Mr. Reade’s work in the non-profit sector also included creating and managing programs for families, including child development, mentoring, single parent support, delinquency, prevention and court diversion. He has been named to the National Board of American Humanics, Inc., the national oversight group for all countrywide youth-serving organizations, and has a life-long history of volunteering at all levels in major national organizations, including Boy Scouts of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Junior Chamber of Commerce, INTEL International Engineering and Science Fair-2007 in New Mexico, as well as numerous local groups (including Placitas Artists Series, Albuquerque Council for International Visitors, Sandoval County CIVITAN Club, Rebuilding Together Sandoval County and KUPR Community Radio Station.) He was named to the Big Brothers Big Sisters “Hall of Fame” in 2004 as part of its first "Class", and, in addition to his role on the LifeROOTS Board of Directors, continues to be active in numerous not-for-profit organizations throughout the region. He is a former Electrical/Electronics Engineer with the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps, and also served as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Business Development at Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire.

Jill Tatz, MA not only brings more than 30 years of experience in education to the LifeROOTS Board, but also brings the important perspective of the mother of four children, two who have significant disabilities. She is currently the Director of Congregation B’nai Israel Preschool, and is also Family Faculty for the LEND Scholars Program at the Center for Development and Disability. Ms. Tatz has served as Disabilities Coordinator for the Pueblo of Isleta Early Head Start/Head Start Program, as well as served as Instructor and Clinical Supervisor at the University of New Mexico, where she taught various classes in the departments of Early Childhood and Special Education. She has held Adjunct Faculty positions at the University of New Mexico and Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, as well as Northeastern Illinois University and Erickson Institute in Chicago, IL and National Lewis University in Evanston, IL and Harper College in Palatine, IL. In her role as an advocate for children with disabilities, she is very involved in Special Olympics, City of Albuquerque Therapeutic Recreation Services and Advocacy in the area of Disability and Special Education.

Susan Iliff, MA, OTR/L brings a great deal of direct experience in healthcare and occupational therapy to her role on the board, and has worked as an OT in several settings for more than 15 years. She is an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Lecturer for the UNM Occupational Therapy Graduate Program, and serves as a liaison for the OT community and university. Ms. Iliff, who is currently pursuing a PhD in Occupational Therapy at Texas Woman’s University, teaches and facilitates Problem-Based Learning groups with students, in addition to her work doing site visits in her role as OT. She has more than a decade of teaching experience; in addition to serving as a Faculty Leader/Instructor at the lecturing at the Occupational Therapy Graduate Program at UNM, she also served as Adjunct Faculty, Lab Facilitator and Lecturer for at a UNM/Albuquerque Public Schools Collaborative Program and a Clinical Fieldwork Educator for Albuquerque Public Schools. In addition to her role as a new Board member at LifeROOTS, she is a Fieldwork Advisory Board Director, where she leads monthly meetings with Fieldwork Educators from the Albuquerque community.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lewis, Jill and Susan to our Board, and welcome their valuable experience in business, education, healthcare and not-for-profits as we continue to work to help those with disabilities in our community,” says Kathleen Cates, LifeROOTS CEO. “Each of our Board members brings a unique perspective to their role on the Board, and we look forward to working with them at this important time for LifeROOTS as we continue our mission to empower the lives and shape the futures of those with disabilities.”

For more information about LifeROOTS, including a complete listing of the organization’s programs and services to help children and adults with disabilities, visit www.liferootsnm.org.