Governance & Leadership
The National Board of Executive Function Certification operates under a formal governance structure that ensures integrity, transparency, and accountability in all aspects of certification, education, and professional conduct.
Our Governance Philosophy
NBEFC’s governance model ensures all decisions are informed by multidisciplinary expertise and grounded in evidence-based practice.
Integrity
We uphold the highest standards of professional ethics and conduct in all certification decisions.
Transparency
Our governance structure and policies are clearly defined and regularly reviewed.
Accountability
We maintain responsibility to certificants, the public, and the profession we serve.
Excellence
Evidence-based standards drive our certification, education, and professional development programs.
Board of Directors
NBEFC is governed by a three-member Board of Directors that provides formal oversight of certification standards, ethics, credentialing, examinations, and organizational policy.
Michele Nusbaum
Michele Nusbaum brings more than 20 years of experience as an executive and financial coach, advising C-suite leaders through high-stakes decisions and helping them strengthen the executive-function skills required for strategic leadership. After identifying significant gaps in standards and consistency within the coaching field, she began developing NBEFC’s frameworks in 2023, and the organization officially launched in 2025. As Founder and Board Chair, she leads the Board’s work in certification standards, ethics, examinations, and educational initiatives.
Elliot Magbag
As NBEFC’s Board Secretary and Credentialing Chair, Elliot Magbag brings more than 20 years of experience in healthcare compliance and business management. He supports sound governance, accurate board records, and consistent credentialing practices that uphold NBEFC’s professional and ethical standards.
Rita Suzanne
Rita Suzanne serves as NBEFC’s Director of Standards. She is also Executive Director of the Independent National Board for Grief Coaching, where she oversees education review, examinations, and its public registry. With more than 20 years of experience in business growth, operations, and marketing, she brings valuable insight into credentialing structure and independent assessment practices.
Governance Structure
The National Board of Executive Function Certification is governed by a three-member Board of Directors. The Board provides formal oversight of certification standards, ethical policies, examination requirements, credentialing criteria, organizational policy, and enforcement matters.
Directors bring complementary experience in executive function practice, healthcare compliance, business operations, governance, and credentialing. Board matters are addressed through documented review and voting procedures, with directors expected to disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves when appropriate.
The Board is supported by two advisory structures:
- Standing Committees, which conduct focused review and make recommendations concerning ethics, credentialing, examinations, education, research, and policy.
- An External Advisory Board, composed of professionals with subject-matter expertise in executive function, education, clinical practice, and related fields. Advisory Board members contribute perspective, research-informed insight, and professional guidance but do not participate in formal governance or credentialing decisions.
This structure separates formal Board governance from advisory participation while allowing NBEFC to draw upon multidisciplinary expertise. The Board reviews its governance practices and composition as the organization grows to support accountability, continuity, and responsible oversight.
Advisory Board
Multidisciplinary professionals providing expertise and guidance to strengthen NBEFC’s mission.
Expert Guidance Across Disciplines
The Advisory Board is composed of professionals representing education, psychology, behavioral science, and related disciplines. Members provide expertise and guidance that strengthen the Board’s mission of advancing integrity, quality, and consistency in executive function education and certification.
Each Advisory Board member contributes to the Board’s initiatives through consultation, review, and participation in internal committees aligned with their area of expertise. Their collective insight supports the development of ethical standards, continuing education, and best practices that serve both professionals and the communities they impact.
Committees of the Board
Standing committees support the Board of Directors by providing structured review, subject-matter expertise, and professional input in key areas of executive function certification and practice.
Committees operate in an advisory and support capacity and do not exercise independent governance authority. Recommendations are submitted to the Board of Directors for review and formal action.
Ethics & Professional Standards Committee
Supports the Board of Directors in reviewing ethical questions, professional conduct matters, and alignment with the NBEFC Code of Ethics. The committee provides guidance and recommendations to inform enforcement and policy decisions.
Education & Provider Review Committee
Reviews educational provider applications, continuing education submissions, and program materials for alignment with Board standards and credentialing requirements. Recommendations are submitted to the Board of Directors for determination.
Certification & Examination Committee
Advises on examination design, content domains, delivery procedures, and evaluation practices to support fairness, consistency, and integrity in the certification process.
Research & Policy Committee
Monitors emerging research and professional developments in executive function and related fields and provides guidance to inform updates to standards, continuing education, and Board policy.
Committee Operations
Committees may include Advisory Board members and other appointed professionals with relevant expertise. Committee participation is by appointment and does not confer governance authority. Committee activities are conducted internally to preserve confidentiality, integrity, and the independence of the certification process.
Our Commitment to Excellence
Through the work of its Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and standing committees, NBEFC advances professional excellence, ethical practice, and consistency across the field of executive function.
Annual Review: NBEFC reviews its governance policies annually to ensure continued compliance with national expectations and evolving best practices. The Board remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the ongoing advancement of its standards in service of professionals and the individuals they support.
Questions About NBEFC Governance?
We’re committed to transparency and welcome inquiries about our governance structure.
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