The NAQC team is not just knowledgeable, we are deeply committed to helping our members succeed and passionate about working together to improve quitlines' impact on population health. We want to hear from you! Contact us with questions or comments by
email or phone (1-800-398-5489).
| | Thomas Ylioja, PhD
President & CEO
Dr. Ylioja is a clinician, researcher, innovator, and thought leader with more than 20 years of experience in the treatment of commercial tobacco use and dependence. His background includes extensive work as a licensed social worker delivering nicotine dependence counseling, managing treatment programs for priority populations, overseeing quitline programs, and engaging in quitline research, program development, management, and evaluation. Dr. Ylioja’s academic focus on quitlines for priority populations as a systems-level public health intervention and his personal experience with nicotine addiction provide him with a unique and deeply informed perspective on cessation interventions. |
Natalia Gromov
Executive Administrator
Ms. Gromov is an accomplished Administrator with over 17 years of experience, with consistent exceptional organizational and leadership skills in various high-stakes environments. Ms. Gromov is responsible for streamlining operations (including financial management), enhancing team productivity, facilitating adherence to funder reporting requirements, and managing communications and membership programs. Natalia has worked in both nonprofit and private sectors (IT startups and national financial institutions) and holds a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from ASU.
Katie Mason, MPP
Research and Evaluation Manager
Ms. Mason oversees and manages evaluation and research program activities, including the Learning Communities, annual survey of quitlines, and Minimal Data Set. She has close to a decade of experience
evaluating public health and social programs. Katie has worked in government, nonprofits, and the private sector. Prior positions have included Research Associate at the North Carolina Partnership for Children and Evaluation Fellow at the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity. She is fluent in Spanish. Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Public Policy
from Duke University.
Erin Boles Welsh
Senior Consultant
Erin Boles Welsh serves as Senior Consultant, where she provides training and technical assistance in areas such as translating competencies to guide T/TA delivery, conducting literature reviews, advising on public-private partnership questions, designing trainings to support adoption and enhancement of best and promising practices, and mentoring new staff in applying role-specific competencies.
As Co-Founder of the Healthy Communities Roadmap Collective, Erin brings deep expertise in tobacco control and public health leadership. She previously served as Tobacco Control Program Manager at the Rhode Island Department of Health, where she managed the statewide quitline and led the successful transition to a new service vendor. Under her leadership, Rhode Island launched the groundbreaking Text To Be An EX (T2BX) campaign in 2015—the first two-way text messaging program designed to help teens under 18 quit tobacco. As prior Chair of the Tobacco Control Network, Erin championed evidence-based initiatives and launched the Network's shared strategic priority setting process. Erin continues to drive innovation in technology-based cessation strategies, advancing effective approaches to support healthier communities.
