Meet Our Team
Our team is dedicated to providing education, support, advocacy, and hope throughout eastern Iowa and western Illinois. We are honored to serve our community alongside volunteers, partners, and individuals with lived experience.
Mark Mathews
Executive Director
Reach out to Mark about:
Organizational partnerships, leadership opportunities, speaking engagements, board relations, and community collaboration.
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Mark Mathews brings decades of leadership, advocacy, and community service experience to NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley. His professional background includes public safety, youth mentorship, nonprofit leadership, and community outreach — all rooted in a deep commitment to helping others navigate difficult moments with compassion and dignity.
Prior to joining NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley, Mark served for more than nine years as Executive Director of EveryChild (formerly the Child Abuse Council). His experiences working on the front lines of crisis response helped shape his understanding of mental health, trauma, and the importance of accessible community support.
Today, Mark works alongside staff, volunteers, and community partners to expand mental health education, support, and advocacy throughout eastern Iowa and western Illinois while helping reduce stigma and ensure that no one feels alone in their journey.
Brooke Hendrickx
Director of Development
Reach out to Brooke about:
NAMIWalks, sponsorships, donations, marketing and communications, media inquiries, website updates, and outreach opportunities.
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Brooke Hendrickx leads development for NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley, helping connect individuals and families to mental health education, support, and advocacy across eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
Working to strengthen outreach, community partnerships, and access to mental health resources across the region, Brooke focuses on making it easier for individuals and families to find the support and information they need.
She brings more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit and public health work, including leadership roles at the Rock Island County Health Department, where she supported community health initiatives and programming, and at EveryChild, where she oversaw community education, development, and communications programming.
Brooke holds a bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and is a certified teacher. She has also completed training in trauma-informed and prevention-based education models that support her work in community outreach and engagement.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family—her husband, two teenage sons, and two Australian Shepherds—especially watching her boys play basketball. She also enjoys reading, traveling, and binge-watching a good show.
Emma Nelson
Program Manager
Reach out to Emma about:
NAMI programs and classes, volunteer opportunities, presentations, and community education partnerships.
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Emma Nelson joined NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley in 2026 as the organization’s first full-time Program Manager. A graduate of St. Ambrose University with degrees in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology, Emma is passionate about building connections, strengthening programs, and expanding mental health awareness throughout the community.
Emma’s passion for mental health advocacy is deeply personal and continues to drive her work every day. Prior to joining NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley, she interned with the Quad Cities Area Trauma-Informed Consortium, gaining experience in community collaboration and trauma-informed care initiatives.
Emma enjoys working closely with volunteers, community partners, and coworkers who share the same commitment to supporting individuals and families affected by mental health conditions. She believes strongly in the power of connection, compassion, and creating welcoming spaces where people feel seen and supported.
Outside of work, Emma enjoys spending time outdoors, fishing, taking walks with her dog, and spending time with her partner and pets. She is also a cheer coach at Pleasant Valley Junior High School and previously served as president of a nonprofit college organization dedicated to raising service dogs.
Lindsey Mack Schneider, LISW
TIC Systems Coordinator & Change Agent
Reach out to Lindsey about:
Trauma-informed care training, the Quad Cities Trauma-Informed Consortium (QCTIC), systems collaboration, and community education.
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Lindsey Mack Schneider, LISW, is committed to building healthier communities through trauma-informed care. With dual master’s degrees in Social Work and Business Administration from St. Ambrose University, she brings both clinical experience and systems-level leadership to her work with NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley.
Lindsey believes that a truly healthy community is one that understands and responds to the impact of trauma. She began her career as a therapist working with children and adolescents experiencing trauma, anxiety, and depression before transitioning into a systems-level role focused on broader community change.
In her current position as Trauma Informed Care Systems Coordinator and Change Agent, Lindsey facilitates the Quad Cities Trauma Informed Consortium, partnering with organizations across healthcare, education, criminal justice, and social services to integrate trauma-informed practices into their systems. She also teaches in the Master of Social Work program at St. Ambrose University, supporting the development of future social workers and mental health professionals.
Lindsey’s work is driven by a belief that every person we encounter is carrying experiences we may not fully see, and that communities thrive when care, understanding, and trauma-informed practices are embedded at every level.
Outside of work, Lindsey enjoys reading, coloring, traveling, and attending concerts and music festivals. She values time spent being social and connected with others, and finds energy in both creative and community experiences.
Laurie Edge
Support & Education Coordinator
Reach out to Laurie about:
NAMI Family-to-Family, support groups, volunteer opportunities, peer-led education programs, or finding support for yourself or a loved one.
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Laurie Edge joined the NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley team in 2020 after more than seven years as a dedicated NAMI volunteer. Her connection to NAMI began long before that. Since 1978, Laurie has supported several family members living with serious mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, and has experienced the loss of two loved ones to suicide. When a mental health crisis affected her immediate family in 2012, Laurie and her husband attended NAMI Family-to-Family. The education, support, and hope they found through the program inspired her to become a volunteer so she could help other families facing similar challenges.
Today, Laurie serves as NAMI GMV's Support & Education Coordinator, overseeing the organization's signature education programs, support groups, presentations, and volunteer-led initiatives. She is a nationally certified NAMI trainer and has extensive experience leading and training others in programs including Family-to-Family, Family Support Group, Family & Friends, Ending the Silence, and Provider Education. She is passionate about helping families find hope, connection, and practical tools for navigating mental health challenges.
Before joining NAMI professionally, Laurie and her husband owned and operated AAA Contracting in Davenport for more than 42 years before retiring in 2025. Her favorite part of the day is connecting with volunteers and community members and hearing the joy, laughter, and hope that can come from shared experiences and support.
Laurie and her husband are proud parents of three adult children and grandparents to four grandchildren, all of whom live nearby. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and enjoying the outdoors.
Interested in Joining Our Mission?
Volunteers and community partners help make our work possible.