2008 Elections to the Board of Directors

CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BOARD CHAIR

Elizabeth Earls, MA
Rhode Island Council of Community Menal Health Organizations

Elizabeth Earls brings to the National Council her extensive federal and state legislative experience. As the president and CEO of the Rhode Island Council of Community Mental Health Organizations, she leads advocacy efforts for nine nonprofit community mental health organizations in Rhode Island. Earlier, she served as Staff Director for Massachusetts State Senator Nicholas J. Costello. She was the chief staff aide for the Special Senate Committee investigating Patient Care in State Mental Health Hospitals, and wrote the Special Committee's report: There Is No Excuse.

Earls has an MA in Pastoral Ministry and a BS in Psychology. She has served on the boards of several organizations including the Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, Leadership Rhode Island, and the Women's Development Corporation. She was appointed to The Governor's Council on Behavioral Health in 1999 and The Governor's Advisory Council on Health in 1998.

Video: Liz Earls address to the the National Council Board, July 2007

William H. Kyles, PhD
Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Inc., Independence, Missouri

William (Bill) H. Kyles is president/CEO of Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Inc., and organization that serves more 4,000 families annually in 20 programs from outpatient services and alcohol and drug treatment to adult community support and homeless services.

He has served two terms as president of the Missouri Coalition of Community Mental Health Centers, and seven years on the Western Regional Advisory Council for Psychiatric Services. As a mental health advocate, he testifies on numerous bills related and provides advice to politicians regarding improvements in mental health care. In 1990, he helped lead the way to increasing the county mental health levy to expand services in all of Jackson County. He has also been instrumental in the Jackson County Anti-Drug Sales Tax.

Kyles was recognized in 1994 by Kansas City Globe as one of the 100 Most Influential African Americans in Greater Kansas City. He has a master's degree in clinical psychology from the University of Illinois and a master's in public administration from the University of Nebraska, Omaha.

SECOND VICE CHAIR

Carl Clark, MD
Mental Health Center of Denver, Denver, Colorado

Dr. Carl Clark is the current CEO and former Medical Director of The Mental Health Center of Denver, a private, not-for-profit, community mental health care organization providing comprehensive, recovery-focused services to more than 6,500 residents in the Denver metro area.

In 1993, Dr. Clark was chosen as NAMI’s Exemplary Psychiatrist of the Year and in 2000, he was elected Professional Man of the Year by the Colorado Business Council. Dr. Clark is also Assistant Clinical Professor at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

SECRETARY-TREASURER
Rick Weaver
Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health, Yakima, Washington

Committee Leaders

James L. Dill
Alabama Council of Community Mental Health Boards

ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES
George DelGrosso
Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council

Directors

REGION I
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

Rabbi George Astrachan
Board, Gateway Healthcare, Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Jeffery Walter
Rushford Center, Inc., Meriden, Connecticut

REGION II
New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

Joseph Masciandaro
Care Plus NJ, Paramus, New Jersey

Maureen C. Stankowitz
Board, Preferred Behavioral Health of New Jersey, Lakewood, New Jersey

REGION III
District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia

Susan Blue
Community Services Group, Mountville, Pennsylvania

Jeff Richardson
Mosaic Community Services, Timonium, Maryland

REGION IV
Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee

David Ptaszek
Pennyroyal Center, Hopkinsville, Kentucky

Bob Sharpe
Florida Council for Community Mental Health, Tallahassee, Florida

REGION V
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin

Mary Anderson
Board, Newaygo County Mental Health Center, White Cloud, Michigan

Donald Miskowiec
North Central Behavioral Health Systems, LaSalle, Illinois

REGION VI
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

Alfred H. Forsten
Board, Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County, Houston, Texas

Pete Kennemer
Western Arkansas Counseling & Guidance Center, Fort Smith, Arkansas

REGION VII
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska

William H. Kyles
Comprehensive Mental Health Services Inc, Independence, Missouri

Pat Connell
Boystown National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska

REGION VIII
Arizona, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

Carl Clark, MD
Mental Health Center of Denver, Denver, Colorado

Neal Cash
Community Partnership of Southern Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

REGION IX
California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada

Katherine Mason
Catholic Charities of San Jose

Mary Hargrave
River Oak Center for Children, Carmichael, California

REGION X
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

Shirley Havenga
Community Psychiatric Clinic, Seattle, Washington

Steve Horn
Alaska Behavioral Health Association, Soldotna, Alaska