CHAIR

William H. Kyles, MA, MPA
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.

FIRST 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.

Jeff Walter

Jeff Walter is president and CEO of Rushford in Meriden, CT. Walter is responsible for ensuring the organization is able to achieve its mission to provide affordable, accessible behavioral healthcare services to children, adolescents, adults and families in need. He has been with the organization for more than 28 years and has been integral to Rushford evolving into one of the leading behavioral healthcare providers in the state.

SECRETARY-TREASURER

David Ptaszek, LCSW
CEO, Pennyroyal Center, Hopkinsville, Kentucky

David Ptaszek has served as the Executive Director of the Pennyroyal Center since January 2002.  Pennyroyal provides a full continuum of services for persons affected by mental illness, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities and serves eight counties in western Kentucky.  From 1978 until 2001, Ptaszek was president and CEO of Bridgeway (formerly Spoon River Center), providing a full array of services in substance abuse, mental health, and developmental disabilities to 27 counties in western Illinois and eastern Iowa. During his tenure at Bridgeway, Ptaszek supervised the development of over 120 units of community housing for persons with disabilities. He also served on the Blue Ribbon Committee appointed by Governor Jim Thompson to recommend low-income housing alternatives for the homeless.

Committee Leaders

PUBLIC POLICY CHAIR
Rusty Selix
Executive Director, California Council of Community Mental Health Agencies

VICE-CHAIR
James L. Dill
Executive Director, Alabama Council of Community Mental Health Boards

ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES CHAIR
George DelGrosso
Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council

100% ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE
James L. Dill
Executive Director, Alabama Council of Community Mental Health Boards

Directors

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

Ralph Provenza, MSW
Executive Director, United Counseling Services of Bennington, Bennington, VT

Katherine Wilson
President and CEO, Behavioral Health Network, Inc., Springfield, MA

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

Peter Campanelli, PsyD
President and CEO, Institute for Community Living, New York, New York

James Marhold, PhD
President/CEO, Declarations, Inc., Manalapan, NJ

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

Susan Blue
CEO, Community Services Group, Mountville, Pennsylvania

Jeff Richardson
President and CEO, Mosaic Community Services, Timonium, Maryland

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

David Ptaszek
CEO, Pennyroyal Center, Hopkinsville, Kentucky

Jon Cherry, CPA
President/CEO, LifeStream Behavioral Center, Inc., Leesburg, FL

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

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

Donald Miskowiec
President and CEO, North Central Behavioral Health Systems, LaSalle, Illinois

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

William (Bob) Brown, JD
Board Member, Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Tarrant County, Board Member, Texas Council for Community MHMR Centers, Mansfield, Texas

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

REGION VII
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska

Pat Connell
Director, Boystown National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska

Cindy Kaestner
Executive Director, Abbe Center for Community Mental Health, Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Jon Gordon
Executive Director, Midwestern CO Mental Health Center

Neal Cash
CEO, Community Partnership of Southern Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

REGION IX
California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada

Richard Van Horn, MD
President and CEO, Mental Health America of Los Angeles, Long Beach, California

Mary Hargrave
President and CEO, River Oak Center for Children, Carmichael, California

REGION X

Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

Shirley Havenga
CEO, Community Psychiatric Clinic, Seattle, Washington

Steve Horn
Executive Director, Alaska Behavioral Health Association, Soldotna, Alaska

AT-LARGE DIRECTOR

Jan Kelton
Victim/Witness Coordinator, Polk County District Attorney’s Office
Frederic, WI