Kerrilyn Scott-Nakai
Projects I Support:
Get to know me
I bring more than 30 years of experience working in the behavioral health, public health, and education fields. I have led numerous initiatives at the national, state, and local levels, and I am called upon as a thought leader and facilitator to advise system and policy change efforts. I have held leadership roles for over 15 training, technical assistance, and workforce development initiatives. Across all work, my career has been dedicated to supporting the holistic health and wellness of youth, families, and communities.
As President and CEO/CFO of CARS, I lead a team of approximately 50 staff, hundreds of consultants, and multiple partnering organizations, and oversee an annual revenue of $15 million. I provide vision, strategic direction, and oversight of fiscal operations for CARS, and I directly contribute to projects. Under my leadership, CARS has grown substantially and diversified funding. More importantly, we have gained clarity on our mission, vision, and values, and we are on a path towards becoming a trauma-informed organization. Team members express appreciation for my transparent and inclusive leadership.
My previous roles as a practitioner, evaluator, researcher, trainer, and project director inform and guide my contributions to designing and approaching our work at CARS. My lived experience drives my passion for and dedication to the work. I bring a deep commitment to honoring and uplifting the voices of lived experience, learning with others, and investing in cross-system collaborations for system transformation.
When I’m not working, I enjoy hosting Sunday dinners for family and friends, competing for a family team win at Tuesday Trivia nights, growing and harvesting yummy food from my garden, hanging out on a rainy afternoon playing Magic the Gathering with my sons, and fitting in a few fun travel adventures each year.
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