About

NAQ has been hosting an annual conference for Developmental Disability Professionals since 1996 - providing an avenue for connecting with other professionals, sharing evidence based best practices, and serving as a resource for learning and continued education. A great deal has changed since that debut event but our focus on providing outstanding tools and resources to QIDPs has not waivered.

NAQ is delighted to announce that NAQ '25, our conference training and networking event, will be held August 5-8, 2025 at The Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, TX.

The theme - "New Frontiers: Inspiration, Innovation, Implementation" is more than just a conference; it's a catalyst for professional growth, inspiration, and collaboration. Annual conference attendees have shared that they appreciate the opportunity to reenergize and reinvigorate themselves and their efforts and are able to bring back new ideas to share with their colleagues and organization. Attendees can look forward to learning about and how to enact new, innovative & practical solutions that help them best support those they serve.
4
Days
55
Speakers
3
Sponsors
46
Sessions
5. - 8. August, 2025 | Grapevine, TX, USA

NAQ '25: New Frontiers

Sponsors

Innovation

Gold

Advertising

Speakers

Rader, Rick
Rader, Rick
Director of the Habilitation Center Orange Grove Center
Stassun, Keivan
Stassun, Keivan
Director, Professor Frist Center for Autism & Innovation
Chicoine, Brian
Chicoine, Brian
Medical Director Adult Down Syndrome Center
Beebe, Doug
Beebe, Doug
Chief Executive Officer Benchmark Human Services
Kral, Leah
Kral, Leah
Author and Non-Profit Consultant Two Larks Consulting
Lasano, Rick
Lasano, Rick
Speaker, Author, Musical Motivator™ Unlock & Amplify
Strouse, Dr. Mike
Strouse, Dr. Mike
President/CEO GoodLife Innovations, Inc.
Leszczynski, Falon
Leszczynski, Falon
Vice President of Operations Home of Guiding Hands
Hershey, Edward
Hershey, Edward
President and Chief Executive Officer Home of Guiding Hands
Carlson, Sarah
Carlson, Sarah
Director of ICF Services/Staff Trainer ABLE, Inc.
Fernandez, Sarah
Fernandez, Sarah
Clinical Director of Behavior Services Sevita Health
Walker, Ronika
Walker, Ronika
Area Director Sevita Health
Lilley, Oushawndra
Lilley, Oushawndra
Program Director Sevita Health
Russell, Jen
Russell, Jen
Staff Development Coordinator Trinity Services
Van Hess, Pamela
Van Hess, Pamela
Associate Director of Community Day Services Programs Trinity Services
Loomis, Kristin
Loomis, Kristin
Co-Director National Leadership Consortium
Bailey, Caitlin
Bailey, Caitlin
Co-Director National Leadership Consortium
Gilden, Cory
Gilden, Cory
Research and Evaluation Manager National Leadership Consortium
Mesa-Alvarez, Monica
Mesa-Alvarez, Monica
Research and Development Assosciate National Leadership Consortium
King, Jenifer
King, Jenifer
Business Development Territory Manager Therap Services
Bowden, Julie
Bowden, Julie
Business Development Territory Manager Therap Services
Wiggins, Scott
Wiggins, Scott
Board-Certified Behavior Analyst Trinity Services
Kline, Roma
Kline, Roma
Clinical Director Abilities Behavior Services
Morrison, Aimee
Morrison, Aimee
QIDP Home of Guiding Hands
Mendoza, Charisse
Mendoza, Charisse
Case Manager Home of Guiding Hands
Melhoff, Hope
Melhoff, Hope
Director of Res. Habilitation Supports ABLE, Inc.
Anderson, Mary
Anderson, Mary
Executive Director ABLE, Inc.
Skabo, Cill
Skabo, Cill
Chief Growth Officer Bravera Holding Corp.
Sivado, Mary
Sivado, Mary
Occupational Therapist Hazelwood Center Community Homes
Cummings, Tony
Cummings, Tony
Physical Therapist Hazelwood Center Community Homes
Wright, Debra
Wright, Debra
Speech Language Pathologist Hazelwood Center Community Homes
Karels, Stacey
Karels, Stacey
Administrator/QIDP Big Stone Community Homes, Inc; Monarch Heights
Moore, Lindsey
Moore, Lindsey
Project Coordinator CQL
Vincent, Mark
Vincent, Mark
Area Director Common Ground/ NHS
Ryder, Scott
Ryder, Scott
Team Leader Common Ground/ NHS
Tabor, Amy
Tabor, Amy
Executive Director NAQ
Kodiak, Chad
Kodiak, Chad
Founder, C.E.O., Pharmacist KodoCare Pharmacy
Knight-Schemer, Grayson
Knight-Schemer, Grayson
Director of Quality Assurance Alabama Department of Mental Health
Atencio, Jamie
Atencio, Jamie
Clinical Nurse Trainer (RN) Wheat Ridge Regional Center
Fisher, Elaine
Fisher, Elaine
Director of Staff Development CDHS Division of Regional Centers
Adams, Chris
Adams, Chris
Independent Consultant Independent Consultant
Beyrer, A.J.
Beyrer, A.J.
Clinical Director Benchmark Human Services
Thompson, Julie
Thompson, Julie
Nursing Consultant Benchmark Human Services
Moore, Diane
Moore, Diane
Executive Director DDNA
Patterson, Wendi
Patterson, Wendi
Director of Growth/Strategic Development Tarrytown Expocare Pharmacy
Edquist, Eric
Edquist, Eric
Senior Vice President Ada S. McKinley Community Services
Kristy Colyer
Kristy Colyer
Vice President of Community Day and Supportive Employment Ada S. McKinley Community Services
Oladimeji O. Olokun
Oladimeji O. Olokun
Vice President of Community Support Services Ada S. McKinley Community Services
Campanella, Tina
Campanella, Tina
Independent Consultant TMC Outcome Strategies
Susan Garnett
Susan Garnett
CEO My Health My Resources Tarrant County
Art Dykstra
Art Dykstra
Chief Executive Officer Trinity Foundation
Mark Klaus
Mark Klaus
San Diego Regional Center Executive Director

Program

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

"We Didn't See it Coming: The Perils and Perks of Aging, Dementia and Longevity" PT. 1

Grapevine Ballroom C

Rader, Rick

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Boxed Lunch

Grapevine Ballroom C

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

We Didn’t See It Coming: The Perils and Perks of Aging, Dementia and Longevity PT. 2

Grapevine Ballroom C

Rader, Rick

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Downtime

Grapevine Ballroom C

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Cocktail Welcome Reception

Grapevine Ballroom C

Exhibitors

Sidelyer
Sidelyer
Neighborhood LTC Pharmacy
Neighborhood LTC Pharmacy
CQL
CQL
Therap
Therap
Goodlife University
Goodlife University
National Leadership Consortium
National Leadership Consortium
High Tide Press
High Tide Press
DDNA
DDNA
Pharmacy Alternatives
Pharmacy Alternatives
All Area Custom Designs
All Area Custom Designs
Neurocrine Biosciences
Neurocrine Biosciences
Smart Relief
Smart Relief

Contact information

Event date:
5. August - 8. August, 2025
Event location:
Organizer:
NAQ 101 Hempstead 1B Joliet, IL United States (815) 320-7301 [email protected]
Contact organizer