Family Resource Network has appointed Joelle A. Mefford, an Emmy Award-winning marketing executive and Chief Marketing Officer at DriveShop, to its Board of Trustees.
Mefford brings two decades of experience building and scaling nationally recognized brands. As CMO of DriveShop, she leads national marketing strategy, branding and design, creator and experiential activation, and client growth. She previously played a pivotal role in transforming HEVĒ, later rebranded as INVNT Digital, into a nationally recognized digital agency trusted by brands including L’Oréal, Purina, Lexus, 5-hour ENERGY, BlackRock, SHRM, and PatientPoint.
Her appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Family Resource Network, which serves approximately 30,000 individuals across three affiliates: Autism Family Services of New Jersey, Epilepsy Services of New Jersey, and Caregivers of New Jersey, and continues to expand its reach across the state.
“The families we serve don’t always know we exist until the moment they need us,” said Liza Gundell, CEO of Family Resource Network. “One of our greatest challenges is making sure families are aware of the resources available to them. Joelle’s expertise in using the power of authentic human stories will help us amplify our voice and expand awareness so more families can find the right support at the right time.”
“I’ve dedicated my career to telling stories that carry great weight, the kind that move you and make you pause because they are undeniably true,” says Mefford. “In healthcare, those stories belong to all of us, because at some point we each are a patient, a caregiver, or someone doing the quiet work of support. I’m honored to join Family Resource Network and help bring greater visibility to the help that exists right here in our backyard for those with autism, epilepsy, and developmental disabilities, so New Jersey families do not have to navigate life’s hardest moments alone.”
About Family Resource Network
Family Resource Network is a statewide nonprofit providing shared infrastructure and leadership to three affiliates. For more than 56 years, the Network has delivered more than 30 programs and services spanning support coordination, community-based and respite services, employment and transition supports, education and advocacy, and family-centered programming across New Jersey.