Governance Committee
The Governance Committee is charged with regular review of CHADD bylaws, policies, and leadership best practices. The committee also manages the annual nominations process for the CHADD Board of Directors and committees and the annual Board of Directors’ orientation.
Jeremy Didier, LMSW, ACC, PCAC, Co-Chair
Jeremy Didier, MSW, ACC, PCAC, is the group founder and co-coordinator of ADHDKC, Kansas City’s award-winning CHADD chapter. She holds a BS in journalism from the University of Kansas and recently received her master of social work degree from Fordham University. Jeremy currently works for ImpactParents as an ICF/ADDCA-certified ADHD parent coach, and she is a frequent contributor to their internationally recognized blog. She was honored to attend Chris Dendy’s inaugural ADHD Camp in 2015 and has been thrilled to present at multiple local and national conferences on the underdiagnosis of ADHD in girls and women, among other ADHD-related topics. She is also a passionate advocate for adults living in detention who are struggling with comorbid ADHD and substance use disorder. Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, Jeremy is mom to the fabulous five, four of whom also have an ADHD diagnosis. She and her husband Bryan live with their family in Overland Park, Kansas.
Shirelle F. Pearson, MBA, GBA, Co-Chair
Shirelle F. Pearson is an account manager with Marsh & McLennan Agency (MMA) in their New York City employee health and benefits office, with over thirty years of experience in insurance carrier, human resources, and group benefits consulting. She also extends her knowledge to her graduate students as an adjunct professor at the New York Institute of Technology. She sought resources to support her newly diagnosed son and found CHADD quite valuable in her ADHD educational pursuits, for herself and family. In 2014, she accepted the role of treasurer for the Nassau County chapter and accepted the additional role of coordinator in 2018. Having recently assumed membership on CHADD’s diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, she is currently pursuing an ADHD parent coaching certification. Her career has allowed her the opportunity to effectively communicate across organizations and implement thoughtful benefits and wellness recommendations, positively affecting the lives of thousands of employees and their families. She is a published essayist who enjoys helping clients empower employees through emotionally intelligent strategies, which foster better health, employee satisfaction, higher productivity, and loyalty. A member of MMA’s diversity, equity, and inclusion council she participated in its Aspire mentorship program. She also volunteers as the director of programs with the New York Metro Area chapter of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists (ISCEBS) and its chapter working group. She is a lifelong learner and critical thinker who believes that collaboration is the best way to build a strong village that elevates everyone. She earned her BBA from Adelphi University, her MBA from Dowling College and Group Benefits Associate Certificate from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans in partnership with Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Her crowning achievements are her marriage of twenty-five years and the role of doting mother to her two sons.
Patricia M. Hudak, PCC, BCC
Patricia M. Hudak, PCC, BCC, previously served as the chair of the CHADD Northern Virginia and DC (NoVA/DC) chapter. In that position, she worked with other volunteers to connect the local ADHD community with area resources, resulting in CHADD NoVA/DC being recognized as the 2017 Affiliate of the Year. Pat also co-chaired CHADD’s national affiliate advisory board and was a member of the national marketing and conference planning committees. Her passion for supporting families affected by ADHD came from her own experience raising two boys (now successful young men!) diagnosed with ADHD. She is credentialed as a professional certified coach through the International Coach Federation and as a board-certified coach through the College of Executive Coaching, with additional certificates for coaching children, teens, and young adults with ADHD and executive function disorders. Prior to starting her own coaching business in 2005, she retired from a thirty-year career with the federal government, where she served in an executive leadership capacity. Her responsibilities included strategic planning, overseeing national programs, providing guidance and support to employees at all levels, and collaborating with other federal and state agencies and national professional organizations. In addition to her previous experience with CHADD, she sat on the ADHD Resource Group of Northern Virginia’s board as a director-at-large and held the position of chair for the marketing and public relations committee of the ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO).
Donna Orem
Donna Orem was named president of the National Association of Independent Schools in November 2016. NAIS provides services to more than 1,800 schools and associations of schools in the United States and abroad, including 1,500 nonprofit private K-12 schools in the US. Orem served as the chief operating officer for NAIS for eleven years before becoming president. She joined NAIS in 1998 as the vice president for educational leadership, later becoming the vice president for strategic initiatives and research. Prior to joining NAIS, she served as the vice president for products and services development at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. She also served as associate director for The American Association of University Women. Orem speaks frequently about leadership, governance, trends in independent education, and workforce development, and is the author of numerous books and articles.
