Key Staff Members
The staff of NAMI Minnesota is dedicated to increasing understanding of mental illness and creating change in the mental health system through increased education and awareness. Their passion for their work is fueled by personal experience with mental illness and by a deeply held belief in social justice. Key staff members are listed below with their phone extensions. NAMI Minnesota’s phone number is 651-645-2948.
Marcus Schmit, MPP, Executive Director (Ext. 105)
Marcus Schmit succeeds Sue Abderholden, who led the organization for more than 20 years. He previously served as executive director of Hearth Connection, a nonprofit focused on ending long-term homelessness through supportive housing and systems partnerships. He has more than two decades of experience in nonprofit and public-sector leadership. His career includes serving as an assistant commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Corrections, as director of advocacy at Second Harvest Heartland, and in senior roles at MNsure and in the office of then-U.S. Rep. Tim Walz.
Marcus expressed that it is an incredible honor to follow Sue Abderholden and to help guide NAMI Minnesota at such a critical time. He emphasized that NAMI plays a unique and vital role in Minnesota, providing education, support, and advocacy for people living with mental illness and their loved ones. Marcus is eager to listen, learn, and continue advancing this mission in partnership with the organization’s team, board of directors, members, and communities across the state.
Management Team
Sara Carothers, Director of Operations & Grants Management (Ext. 124)
Sara provides leadership and guidance for overall office operations, including oversight for accounting/finance, financial reporting, grant deliverables & tracking, HR, and technology. She also oversees the process for evaluating program quality and effectiveness. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for the past 20 years, focusing primarily on fundraising, community connections, and helping people give their time in meaningful ways. Sara recently earned her Masters of Public Administration degree from Ohio University.
Abby Webster, Director of Development (Ext. 104)
Abby provides leadership to the Development and Communications staff and directs NAMI Minnesota’s fundraising strategy. She has 15 years of fundraising experience working with a variety of donors including Corporate, In-Kind, Individual Major Gifts, and Special Events, most recently at Make-A-Wish Minnesota. Abby has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and has continued her education through the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. She is passionate about philanthropy and helping donors make a difference with their gifts.
Greta Kjos, JD, Director of Children’s Programs (Ext. 110)
Greta provides leadership and guidance for NAMI Minnesota’s children’s, youth and young adult programs. She brings extensive knowledge of the children’s mental health systems through her own lived experience as a parent of a child living with mental illnesses. She is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid. Her passion for helping others led her to write a book and start her own business where Greta created mental health programs, wrote curriculum and offered coaching. Greta has a B.S. degree in Political Science and a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law. As a former attorney and corporate leader, she brings a wealth of experience in leadership, strategic planning, outreach and collaborative partnerships.
Molly Peterson, MPH, Director of Adult Programs (Ext. 131)
Molly provides leadership to the Adult Programs Team, which is responsible for NAMI Minnesota’s many support groups, suicide prevention efforts and programs, and mental health and well-being classes for employers and the general public. She coordinates programs for families of adults living with a mental illness, working with our volunteers to host various programs and workshops throughout the year.
Molly has spent the last ten years in the public health field working at the state and local government levels in health research and education, epidemiology, and program evaluation. Molly holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Kent State University and a Master of Public Health degree from Cleveland State University. She’s passionate about NAMI Minnesota’s mental health programs and advocacy work as she has supported family members living a mental illness.
Angela Moore Smith, Director of Outreach and Engagement (Ext. 118)
Angela works to expand access to mental health resources, strengthen community partnerships statewide, and foster spaces where individuals feel safe to engage in open conversations that promote healing, connection, and understanding around mental health challenges.
Angela is a dedicated community outreach and engagement professional with over 13 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Prior to joining NAMI Minnesota, Angela served at Wilder Foundation, first as an early childhood educator at the Wilder Child Development Center and later as a Community Outreach Coordinator she led culturally responsive outreach initiatives and public health campaigns across the Twin Cities aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes for Black and Brown mothers and babies. Among her most notable projects was leading the Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA) Know Your Rights Campaign, which worked to close knowledge gaps and empower pregnant, recently pregnant, and nursing BIPOC mothers and birthing people to better understand and access workplace protections guaranteed under WESA.
Staff Contacts
Fanny Fernandez, Parent Educator-Bilingual (Ext. 133)
Kay King, Older Adults Program Coordinator and Community Educator (Ext. 113)
Renée Labat, Youth Programs – Bilingual (Ext. 300)