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Jeff Richardson has served as the Executive Director of Mosaic Community Services (MCS) part of the Sheppard Pratt Health System, for twenty-three years and brings over thirty years of experience in behavioral health. He has been instrumental in Mosaic’s growth to become the largest community-based behavioral health service provider in Maryland. Sheppard Pratt is Maryland’s largest provider of mental health, special education, and substance use services, helping more than 70,000 individuals annually.
Mr. Richardson holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland and a master’s in business administration from Loyola University.
Tim Swinfard is the president and CEO of Compass Health Network. Compass is large Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic and Federally Qualified Health Center with over 2,600 employees serving 35 counties in Missouri. He previously served as chief executive officer of the Missouri Coalition of Community Mental Health Centers. The Coalition has led efforts in Missouri to integrate primary care with behavioral healthcare and to implement disease management services for those with co-morbid chronic health conditions. Swinfard earned a bachelor of science in psychology from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and a master of science in counseling from Missouri State University. He is a licensed professional counselor. He serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Council for Behavioral Health and is a former Chairperson of the Board of the Missouri Foundation for Health.
Susie Huhn is the CEO of Casa de los Ninos a nationally accredited child welfare and behavioral health organization providing a comprehensive network of services promoting safe and stable families. Casa de los Ninos has a staff of 350 employees and over 150 volunteers.
Susie Huhn holds a Master Degree in Organizational Management and has over 35 years experience in the provision of Human Services in Arizona. During the last 10 years Susie has grown Casa de los Ninos from a small single service organization to a diverse organization integrating child abuse prevention programs, child welfare and behavioral health services touching the lives of over 5,000 children and 3600 families.
In addition to her paid positions Ms Huhn works on many boards and committees, at a local state and national level with a focus on child welfare, behavioral health, early childhood education, and child abuse prevention. Ms Huhn has held leadership roles with the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers( state trade association), Past Chair and current Advocacy Chair and Treasurer and Child Welfare League of America. Susie is also current chair of a statewide child abuse prevention agency Prevent Child Abuse Arizona.
Susie Huhn holds a Master Degree in Organizational Management and has over 35 years experience in the provision of Human Services in Arizona. During the last 10 years Susie has grown Casa de los Ninos from a small single service organization to a diverse organization integrating child abuse prevention programs, child welfare and behavioral health services touching the lives of over 5,000 children and 3600 families.
In addition to her paid positions Ms Huhn works on many boards and committees, at a local state and national level with a focus on child welfare, behavioral health, early childhood education, and child abuse prevention. Ms Huhn has held leadership roles with the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers( state trade association), Past Chair and current Advocacy Chair and Treasurer and Child Welfare League of America. Susie is also current chair of a statewide child abuse prevention agency Prevent Child Abuse Arizona.
Susan Blue has been president and CEO of Community Services Group since 1987. CSG provides a full array of community based behavioral health and intellectual and developmental disability services in 20 counties in central and northeast Pennsylvania. Blue has also held leadership roles with the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association (the state trade association), the Community Behavioral Healthcare Network of Pennsylvania (a provider-owned behavioral health managed care company), and the Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare.
Sara joined IPHCA in April 2020 after a 20-year career with Illinois Association for Behavioral Health (IABH), including 13 years as its Chief Executive Officer. Prior to her tenure at IABH, Sara worked for the Denver (CO) Public Health Department where she served as coordinator of the Denver Alliance on Tobacco and Health. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Council for Behavioral Health and is Chair of their Public Policy Committee.
Sara’s passion for health promotion and wellness began as a youth leader in two statewide addiction prevention programs: Operation Snowball and the Cebrin Goodman Teen Institute. Her early experiences led her to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Health Promotion from Purdue University, with a goal of creating healthier communities and families. As a breast cancer survivor, Sara uses her patient experience to drive her work to improve health systems.
In 2019, Sara earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, also from Purdue. She is an outspoken animal welfare advocate, a vocal Boilermaker fan, enjoys public speaking and time with friends and family.
Forrestal has nearly 20 years’ experience guiding, developing and implementing legislative strategy and policy at the federal level, and with state legislatures, business and healthcare communities. She served as the CBHC Director of Public Policy/Lobbyist prior to joining the U.S, Department of Health and Human Services as the Regional Outreach Specialist in 2010. She served as the Executive Officer/Senior Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist. Prior to becoming Chief Executive Officer of the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council.
Paul Curtis has been Executive Director of CBHA, a statewide association of non-profit community agencies serving the behavioral health community, since January 2017. CBHA is dedicated to the proposition that the people of California deserve a rational, comprehensive, community-based behavioral health system that is adequately funded to serve all those in need of services. Prior to CBHA Paul was the Executive Director of the California Coalition for Youth, an association of non-profits serving runaway, homeless and foster youth while also operating the CA Youth Crisis Line as a state funded program. Paul has over thirty years of experience working in both the for-profit and non-profit world and was involved in the HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ communities for many years. He has an extensive background in developing collaborative community programs, public policy and advocacy efforts and building strong relationships across non-profit, for-profit and government sectors.
At-Large Directors
Willie Brooks serves as the President and CEO of the Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority (DWMHA). The largest Community Mental Health Service Provider and Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan in Michigan with an annual budget of over $800 million serving nearly 75,000 Wayne County residents with serious mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities and substance use disorders.
Mr. Brooks serves as the chief liaison between the organization’s Board of Directors, people receiving services, community partners, and state legislators. He works closely with each of them to ensure that their concerns are addressed, solutions are initiated, and that Wayne County citizens in need of behavioral health assistance receive the quality services that promote independence, inclusion and equality.
Under his leadership, DWMHA has moved to improve and better integrate behavioral and physical health by implementing a Holistic Care Model that incorporates the Social Determinates of Health throughout its Provider Network and the people served in these five areas: Physical and Behavioral Health, Social, Economic Well-Being and Spiritual Care.
Brooks’ has extensive expertise in both healthcare and finance, with a professional career in these fields that span nearly three decades. He earned both his Master of Arts in Economics and Master of Science in Finance degrees from Walsh College. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from William Tyndale College. He has previously served the mental health community as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of the Oakland Community Health Network. He has worked as a healthcare business analyst with Maryland Health Care Systems and was also a marketing director for Blue Cross of Michigan Health Care System.
Willie is well respected among his peers for his detailed knowledge of investing, banking, and monetary policies; healthcare economics, and interpersonal skills involving relationships with people receiving services. His unique and diverse skills are valuable assets to organizations and people he works with, but also to students at Walsh College where he serves as an adjunct professor.
Willie’s longstanding commitment to his family, community, and those in need of help, continue to provide the framework that promotes his credibility and admiration as an exemplary leader.
Dr. Carl Clark’s early experience with his father’s bipolar disorder sparked a commitment to helping people with mental illness regain their lives, hopes and aspirations. As President & Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Center of Denver, Dr. Clark leads the organization in “focusing on what people can do, not what they can’t do. He is dedicated to achieving the organization’s vision of touching all lives in Denver and creating extraordinary experiences that improve well-being.
Dr. Clark’s has extensive involvement at the local, State and national levels. Dr. Clark’s colleagues and the Denver community recognize his valuable contributions. Dr. Clark joined the Mental Health Center of Denver in 1989. He became the Medical Director in 1991, Chief Executive Officer in 2000 and President & CEO in 2014.
Over ten years ago, Dr. Clark challenged the Mental Health Center of Denver to be “The Center of Excellence” with the best and most innovative mental health services in the country. Since then he has led the way in delivering strengths-based, person-centered, culturally-proficient services as well as employing trauma-informed, evidence-based practices.
Under his leadership, the Mental Health Center of Denver has recently been named a finalist for a 2018 World Changing Idea Award from Fast Company Magazine, and recently won the 2018 Excellence in Behavioral Healthcare Management Award from the National Council for Behavioral Health. The Mental Health Center of Denver is proud to be a Denver Post Top Work Place for 7 years running.
Mark Fontaine serves as Executive Advisor to the Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) and Director of the Services Association of FBHA. In 2019 he was instrumental in merging the four Florida mental health and substance use disorder associations into one unified behavioral health association, FBHA, with both a Services and Advocacy association supporting the work of FBHA. The Association has a budget of $22 million with a staff of 25 professionals.
Mr. Fontaine participates in the development of public policy efforts specializing in substance abuse and justice initiatives. His experience includes behavioral medicine, substance use disorder prevention and treatment, mental health, juvenile and adult corrections, and recovery initiatives.
Prior experience includes serving as Executive Director of the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, Executive Director of the Florida Juvenile Justice Association and Project Manager for the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD).
Mr. Fontaine is on the Board of Directors of the National Council for Behavioral Health and serves as Chair of the Addictions Committee. He is a Governor Scott appointee to the State of Florida Drug Policy Advisory Council and serves as President of Floridians for Recovery. He has been providing leadership in the behavioral health and justice fields for over 40 years.
Mark Fontaine has a Master’s in social work (MSW) degree from Florida State University, holds Certified Addiction Professional (CAP) and Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Professional (CCJAP) credentials, and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives. In 2019, Mr. Fontaine was the recipient of National Council for Behavioral Health Visionary Leadership Award.
Brigitte D. Johnson, Esq., is a licensed attorney with over thirty years’ experience in the legal field. Employed at Care Plus, NJ since 1998, recruited initially as a Director, she was promoted to the position of Vice President in 2001 and Sr. Vice President in 2015.
As a member of the Executive Management team of Care Plus, she provides input and oversight on major operational decisions of the Agency including financial, budgetary, and employee relations, future expansion, development and compliance. As General Counsel, she manages all legal affairs of the Agency, including but not limited to contract negotiations, insurance, regulatory matters, and lawsuits. As a member of the Board of Trustee’s Governance committee, Ms. Johnson has assisted with the Board’s re-organization, bylaw revisions and creation of subsidiary corporations and development of corporate strategies including potential mergers and affiliations.
For the past 10 years, Ms. Johnson has served as lead counsel on the establishment of three (3) non-profit subsidiary corporations of the parent organization Care Plus NJ, Inc., one (1) for profit LLC and in 2017, one (1) stand-alone non-profit management entity. In the formation of the stand-alone entity, in 2017, Ms. Johnson served as lead counsel in Care Plus NJ’s bid and eventually the negotiation of a contract to manage Bergen County’s psychiatric hospital (formerly Bergen Regional Medical Center), one of the largest such hospitals in the State of NJ. With the formation of Care Plus Bergen, Inc. (the non-profit management corporation), she lead negotiations for the sublease and lease management agreement with the County of Bergen, employment contract with the CEO and third party operating agreements. Further, Ms. Johnson lead efforts to transition operations of the hospital, the employment of over 2000 employees (including C-Suite executives and unionized employees) and the establishment of Board of Trustees, under the new management structure of Care Plus Bergen, with the renaming of the hospital now known as New Bridge Medical Center.
As Sr. Vice President, Ms. Johnson is responsible for supervising the Human Resources, Quality Assurance (includes Privacy and Compliance), Information Management, Clinical Informatics and Information Technology departments. She also supervises the Work Incentive Services Division of Care Plus NJ.
Ms. Johnson serves as Executive Director over Care Plus Workforce Solutions, Inc., one of the non-profit subsidiaries of Care Plus NJ, which houses several business tracks: Care Plus Laundry, Care Plus Laser Imaging and Care Plus Janitorial. Over the past several years, she has taken CPWS from an annual gross of $15,000 to $6 million. This company provides employment and training opportunities for the disabled and economically disadvantaged through the sales of goods and services to the end-users. Goods sold are shipped nationwide, laundry and janitorial services span throughout Northern NJ regions.
Admitted to New Jersey Bar 1988
J.D. Howard University School of Law, 1987
BA Cum Laude, Virginia State University, 1984
Memberships:
Legal and Professional: Member Healthcare Compliance Association, New Jersey Bar Association, Association of Corporate Council, American Healthcare Lawyer, American Health Information Management Association, and Former Chair Bergen County Youth Investment Council.
Regional Directors
Region I
Heather M. Gates, MBA, is the President/CEO of Community Health Resources (CHR), the most comprehensive, nonprofit behavioral health care organization in Connecticut. Under her direction, CHR has remained true to its core vision of providing expert mental health and addiction services to people of all ages and has expanded its scope to also provide primary care, supportive housing, therapeutic foster care and a range of other critical services.
Prior to coming to Connecticut Ms. Gates worked in the Western Massachusetts community service system in a variety of capacities since 1976. Her first role was as a legal advocate representing individual’s rights as well as participating in the oversight of the implementation of the Brewster V. Dukakis Consent Degree. Ms. Gates went on to become the Executive Director of a small supported housing program in Holyoke and later worked for the Department of Mental Health as the Director of Managed Care for the Holyoke/Chicopee Area. In all of these positions Ms. Gates provided leadership for system change and reforms.
Ms. Gates is a member of the Medicaid Behavioral Health Partnership Oversight Council and served on the state’s Alcohol and Drug Policy Council. She currently is co-chair of the Public Policy Committee for the Connecticut Nonprofit Alliance and is a member of the Practice Transformation Task Force for the Connecticut SIM. Ms. Gates received her BA from Hampshire College and her MBA from the University of Massachusetts Isenberg School of Management.
Rich Leclerc was President and CEO of Gateway Healthcare, a network of eleven nonprofit community behavioral health and human service organizations serving approximately 15,000 individuals annually and employing approximately 800 staff. He serves as chair of the Audit Committee for the National Council for Behavioral Health and is Vice Chair of the Public Policy Committee. Richard is a director and vice chair of the RI Council of Community Mental Health Organizations; member of the board of directors of the Pawtucket Credit Union, Pawtucket Foundation; and is a director and officer of the Rhode Island Quality Institute.
Region II
New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
John Kastan, Ph.D. is Chief Program Officer at The Jewish Board, one of New York State’s largest community-based providers of child and adult mental health, supportive housing, child welfare, domestic violence, and I/DD services. Prior positions include Executive Director, Peninsula Counseling Center; senior management positions at St. Vincent’s Hospital, The Mount Sinai Hospital, and St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center; and Assistant Commissioner for Planning and Project Management at the New York City Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services. He has been a faculty member at The Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at New York Medical College, and the New York University School of Social Work. He is a member of the New York State Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council, and is Board President of the New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare.
Robert N. Davison, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Montclair, NJ-based Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris, Inc., is an accomplished professional who has been serving the mental health needs of communities throughout New Jersey for more than 25 years.
In his role as Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris, Inc.’s CEO, Davison manages the overall operations of a comprehensive community mental health facility that each day serves the needs of more than 1000 individuals and their families who are confronted with mental illnesses or emotional disturbances. A staunch advocate for humane, compassionate, and ethical treatment of individuals who suffer from mental illness, Mr. Davison has helped to establish the Mental Health Association of Essex County as one of the state’s premiere service providers.
In addition to his professional service, Davison maintains his interest in community issues in a variety of other ways. He is a founding Board member of the Newark-based Partnership for Children of Essex County, a child-welfare agency, and is also is a founding member and past president of Advance Housing, a community-based organization whose mission is to provide independent, normalized living arrangements for individuals with mental illnesses. A former 3-term councilman in Caldwell, he also served as a legislative aide to Assemblyman John F. McKeon. He is also a former member of the Board of Trustees of The Bridge, Inc., a non-profit family service agency based in Caldwell.
In November, 2004, Mr. Davison’s commitment to public service was recognized and advanced when he was called upon to serve as Chairman of New Jersey Governor Richard J. Codey’s Task Force on Mental Health. Over a period of fourteen months, the Task Force addressed key issues such as housing, community-based services, insurance parity, and state and county psychiatric hospitals. Their work and the Task Force’s Final Report provided a blueprint for overhauling and comprehensively reforming New Jersey’s mental health system.
In 2006, Mr. Davison served on Governor Jon Corzine’s Transition Team for Human Services and on Governor Corzine’s Policy Advisory Council on Human Services Restructuring. In 2007 Mr. Davison was appointed to the Governor’s Campus Security Task Force. Mr. Davison served on the New Jersey Attorney General’s Less-lethal Advisory Committee. In Nov. 2008 Mr. Davison was appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on Police Suicide. In 2009, Davison was elected to the Board of Directors of Active Minds, Inc. a national organization focusing on College and University mental health, located in Washington, DC. In 2014 he was appointed by the Chief Justice of the New Jersey State Supreme Court to the Judiciary’s Mental Health Implementation Committee. Mr. Davison was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Council for Behavioral Health, beginning his term on July 1, 2015.
A 1984 graduate of Seton Hall University, Davison received his Master’s Degree in Counseling from Montclair State University in 1990. In addition to his academic credentials, Davison is a Licensed Professional Counselor (L.P.C.).
Region III
District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
Trained and licensed as a psychologist, Alan Hartl came to Lenape Valley Foundation in 1981 and has served as its CEO from 1992 through 2019. During his tenure, Lenape Valley Foundation revenues have grown by about 700%, staffing by about 300%, and more than 20 programs were added. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council for Behavioral Health, elected in 2012 by National Council organizations located in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. to serve as their Regional Representative. He also served as Co-Chair of the RCPA Political Action Committee and is Chair of the RCPA Government Affairs Committee. Mr. Hartl also was a Member of the Advisory Board of CBHNP/PerformCare and a Board Member of CBHNP Services, Inc., both subsidiaries of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies. He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association Workers Compensation Self Insurance Trust Fund. Mr. Hartl serves on the Board of Advanced Metrics, a provider-owned outcomes management software company serving a variety of health and human service customers.
Cari is a licensed social worker who has been working in community mental health for over 20 years. She started her career working on the inpatient psychiatric unit at Montgomery General Hospital and then at Threshold Services residential rehabilitation program. She received her MSW from the University of Maryland in 1995 and worked for Johns Hopkins Bayview Mental Health Capitation Program Creative Alternatives in Baltimore for 3 years. She returned to Threshold Services in 1997 and served as a Residential Program Director, Rehabilitation Director and Clinic Director as well as the Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Cho has been actively involved in implementing evidence based practices, including Family Psychoeducation, Integrated Treatment for Co-occurring Disorders, Motivational Interviewing, Illness Management and Recovery, Supported Employment and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention. She facilitates training and consulting on these topics in Maryland and DC. In 2012, Threshold Services merged with St. Luke’s House and became Cornerstone Montgomery. Ms. Cho is the President and CEO. Cornerstone is the largest provider of mental health services in Montgomery County serving over 2400 people. Cari is a member of Rotary and serves on the Board of Directors for Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland. She was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the National Council for Behavioral Health.
Region IV
Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee
Linda McKinnon has been the President and CEO of Central Florida Behavioral Health Network for the past 17 years. Central Florida Behavioral Health Network is responsible for assuring high quality accessible and coordinated services and a system of care that is community driven for persons with no other resources. Central Florida Behavioral Health Network has grown to include over 100 Provider Agencies in 14 Counties and serving 150,000 people in treatment. McKinnon is the Chairperson of the Florida Association of Managing Entities (FAME) and is the former State President of NAMI Florida. McKinnon has also been a Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist working at all levels of care for substance abuse and mental health treatment for both private not for profit and for profit settings. Additionally, she has been appointed to serve on the board of the newly formed West Coast healthcare Coalition.
Dr. Steven Ronik is currently the Chief Executive Officer for Henderson Behavioral Health. Henderson is a nationally recognized behavioral health system, known for its innovative and leading evidence-based clinical services. Prior to his current role, Dr. Ronik held several leadership positions at Zucker/Hillside Hospital at Northwell Health, formerly known as the Northshore/LIJ Healthcare System in New York City.
Dr. Ronik has served as the Chairperson of the Florida Council for Community Mental Health—the leading trade association for behavioral healthcare organizations in Florida. He has been recognized for his leadership with numerous awards, including the Ultimate CEO Award from the South Florida Business Journal, the EPIC Award from the Mental Health Association of Southeast Florida, Advocate of the Year Award from Broward County, and the Time Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Dr. Ronik is a board member for the National Council for Behavioral Health and Mental Health Corporations of America.
Dr. Ronik currently serves as adjunct professor for Nova Southeastern University. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with highest honors, from the State University College of New York at Oneonta, an MSW from Adelphi University, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Ronik also provides consultation services to many organizations relative to leadership, management, and organizational development.
Region V
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
Mark has dedicated his entire career to advocating for the rights of stigmatized and vulnerable people. For the past seven years, he has led Thresholds, an innovative community-based organization that provides behavioral healthcare and supportive housing to more than 10,000 people each year in Illinois. During his tenure at Thresholds, he has overseen explosive growth, but also a culture shift that embraces change, innovation, transparency, and yes – love. Thresholds has been recognized for five consecutive years as a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and a Chicago’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. Prior to his work at Thresholds, Mark spent decades as a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS as CEO of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Mark holds an MA in Political Science from Northwestern University and a BA in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame.
Edward Woods was first appointed to the Board of Directors for LifeWays Community Mental Health in 1990. Mr. Woods has served on the boards of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Jackson County Community Foundation, The Enterprise Group, Jackson Area Manufacturers Association, Jackson County Foster Care Review Board, National Association of Foster Care Reviewers, Allegiance Health Quality Council, and Catholic Charities. In 2010 Mr. Woods was elected to serve as president of the Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards (MACMHB), is an active member of the MACMHB Executive committee, and is chairperson of the MACMHB Cultural Diversity Committee. On March 27, 2012, Ed was reappointed to the LifeWays Board by the Jackson County Commissioners for another 3-year term. During his tenure at LifeWays, he has held every board officer position and has chaired all board standing committees at least once.
Region VI
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Randy Tate is the CEO of NorthCare, a 501(c) 3 operating as a public safety net for behavioral health services in Oklahoma County. The agency is also the state’s largest provider of child welfare services and alternatives to incarceration. He has been an officer for the Board of Directors of an LGBT advocacy organization, served on a Board of Directors for a Senior Day Health corporation, and has been a member of the Mayor’s Task Force to end homelessness, and multiple legislative task forces. He has also provided a range of clinical services including: psychosocial assessment and treatment plan development, individual, family and group treatment, case management, and rehabilitation services. He has also served adults with serious and persistent mental illness, individuals with HIV and other chronic illness, and individuals with serious substance abuse and dependency.
Danette Castle serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Texas Council of Community Centers. As an association, the Texas Council represents the thirty (39) Community Centers of Texas on public policy and legislative matters affecting the statewide public system of care for people with intellectual disabilities, serious mental illness and substance use disorders.
Beginning in 1978 as a direct care provider at a state school in Iowa, Ms. Castle embarked on a career that spans over thirty (30) years of service and leadership for people with disabilities. Prior to assuming the position at the Texas Council in January 2008 she served as the CEO of the Lubbock Regional MHMR Center.
Throughout her career, Ms. Castle has been recognized as a leader who makes things happen at the local, state and national level—someone who never lets go of the vision of an America that defines ‘opportunity for all’ as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for every citizen—with and without disability. She has served at the local, state and national level on countless boards, committees and workgroups—all dedicated to improving access to quality services for people who face the challenges of intellectual disabilities, serious mental illness and substance use disorders.
Ms. Castle holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Master’s degree in Education from Texas Tech University.
Region VII
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska
Ric Dalke is married to Carol and they have two adult children and 8 grandchildren. Recently they moved to Hutchinson, KS to be closer to their daughter and family and 5 of their grandchildren who live in Wichita, Kansas. Their son, his wife and three grandchildren live in Nicaragua.
Ric received his undergraduate degree from Bethel College in Newton, Kansas in 1975 and a graduate degree in Social Work in 1979 from the University of Oklahoma. Professional work experience includes two Community Mental Health Centers and community organization work with Native Americans in northwest Oklahoma.
After receiving his Graduate degree in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma in 1979, Ric began working for Compass Behavioral Health which serves 13 counties in Southwest Kansas. He worked there until his retirement in 2017. For about 25 years he provided direct behavioral health services and the remainder of his time there he was in management. At the present time Ric is the part time Executive Director of Iroquois Center for Human Development, a CMHC in Greensburg, Kansas. Ric also serves on the Kansas Governor’s Behavioral Health Services Planning Council and the Kansas Association of Counties public policy committee.
Pat Coleman is President and CEO of Behavioral Health Response, Inc. (BHR). BHR is a professionally staffed and accredited clinical contact center that provides expert behavioral health and crisis response services through a variety of platforms 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to agencies and companies worldwide.
Pat’s professional career and educational achievements exemplify her belief that faith, family and community can shape and reshape the course of one’s life. She holds an MBA from Fontbonne University and a Bachelor of Science from St. Louis University. She’s been with BHR since 1997; has held various positions and in December 2012 was appointed to her current role.
Pat is adjunct faculty for Washington University Brown School of Social Work and teaches a class titled: (Managing People).
Pat serves as Advisory Board Chair for Fontbonne University Eckelcamp’s Business School, board member of Metropolitan Zoological Parks and Museum District, executive committee board member of the St. Louis Regional Chamber, and Director (Region 7) -National Council for Behavioral Health.
Driven by challenge, undaunted by obstacles, decisive and hands on, Pat Coleman integrates faith, family, and community by valuing innovation, remaining flexible to change and being committed to excellence through teamwork.
Region VIII
Arizona, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
Daniel is the Chief Executive Officer at Signal Behavioral Health Network. He has been with Signal since 2008, and previously held the position of Director of Information Technology. Together with Signal’s Board of Directors, his mission is to further the quality and outcome-focused services provided by the Signal network in the evolving and expanding landscape of healthcare.
Daniel’s experience prior to Signal was in information systems in the healthcare, disability management, higher education, and media industries. He brings a combination of technical capability and business acumen to his role as Signal’s CEO. He graduated summa cum laude from Waldorf College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Information Systems.
In addition to his position at Signal, Daniel is actively involved in the Colorado Providers Association, Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, and the Jefferson County Child and Youth Leadership Commission.
As Chief of Operations for Valle del Sol, Carmen Heredia oversees program operations of integrated behavioral health and primary care health centers. Valle del Sol is a federally qualified health center with eight locations in Maricopa County and nine locations in New Mexico. Having served the community for fifteen years at Valle del Sol in several management and direct-care positions, her focus has been promoting quality service delivery and organizational excellence. Carmen is currently transitioning to the role of Chief Executive Officer of Valle del Sol.
Carmen is a double-devil, having received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Arizona State University. She is Licensed Master Social Worker in Arizona and focused on planning and administration in her degree program.
She is currently serving as the Vice Chair of the Board of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. Carmen and serves on the boards of the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers, the Mesa Arts Center Foundation, and was recently elected to serve on the Board of the National Council of Behavioral Health representing Region VIII. She is an alum of the National Council’s Addressing Healthcare Disparities Leadership Program.
A leader in her community and organization, Carmen strives for equality and inclusion of underserved populations especially regarding access to quality healthcare and education. As a Mexican immigrant, she passionately volunteers in Latino engagement and voting efforts with her family. Carmen lives in Mesa, Arizona, with her husband and three children.
Region IX
California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada
Christine Stoner-Mertz, LCSW, is the Executive Director of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, a 140 member association that serves as the collective voice for organizations that serve children, youth and families throughout California. The Alliance provides public policy advocacy, executive support, policy expertise and collegial support for members’ chief executives and senior staff, as well as advocating on behalf of children and families served through California’s public systems.
Ms. Stoner-Mertz served as President and CEO of Lincoln, an agency delivering behavioral health and family strengthening services in the San Francisco Bay area, from 2005 – 2019. Since 2005, she lead the organization through a transformational period, moving from a residentially-based services focus to designing an array of culturally responsive community and school-based services for children and youth ages 0-21. Her deep commitment to equity is reflected in the transformation of services at Lincoln.
A licensed clinical social worker in California, Ms. Stoner-Mertz received her MSW from the University of Michigan and began her career in California in 1985, as co-founder of Seneca Center, now the Seneca Family of Agencies, where she was instrumental in the development of programs and oversight of operations for 15 years.
In, 1999, she founded inFocus Consulting and Development, LLC providing consultation to over 50 private behavioral healthcare providers as well as the California State Department of Mental Health, various county departments of mental health and social services, and to school districts. As a sought after expert on MediCal EPSDT program design and implementation, Ms. Stoner-Mertz developed the Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Manual.
Ms. Stoner-Mertz has served on the boards of directors of the California Alliance, the California Council of Behavioral Health Agencies, the National Council of Behavioral Health Organizations, and has been the recipient of numerous service and leadership awards during her career, including the Jefferson Award for Public Service.
Dr. Vitka Eisen is the CEO of HealthRIGHT 360, a Federally Qualified Health Center and one of the largest providers of behavioral health services to homeless and low income individuals in California. With over 25 years of experience in the human services field, Dr. Eisen has dedicated her career to supporting people and communities struggling with addiction and incarceration through the provision of integrated, compassionate, and relevant care. Since being named CEO of HealthRIGHT 360 in 2010, Dr. Eisen has led the organization through seven mergers, growing the organization to serve over 40,000 individuals annually.
Dr. Eisen earned an M.S.W. from San Francisco State University, and a Doctorate in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is a person in long term recovery from substance use disorder; having participated in treatment 30 years ago at the agency she now leads.
Off-Board Appointees
David Ptaszek is a native of Illinois. He graduated from the Loyola School of Social Work with a master’s Degree in social work in 1973 and shortly thereafter moved to Kentucky to work with the Pennyroyal Center as the Clinic Coordinator in the Princeton office. The Pennyroyal Center serves an eight-county region in Western Kentucky with its administrative office located in Hopkinsville. In 1977, he moved back to Illinois to take a position with Spoon River Community Mental Health Center (later renamed Bridgeway), as the Assistant Director for Planning and Community Development. Mr. Ptaszek took over the role of President and CEO for the Spoon River Center in 1978, where he worked until December 2001. Bridgeway serves a large portion of Western Illinois and Eastern Iowa providing a full array of services in the areas of substance abuse, mental health and developmental disabilities. While serving as the President of Bridgeway, Mr. Ptaszek was responsible for developing 121 units of HUD-sponsored housing for persons with disabilities. He also served on the board of the Galesburg Chamber of Commerce and was appointed a member of the Governor’s task force on Housing Development. Mr. Ptaszek re-joined the Pennyroyal Center as its Executive Director on January 2, 2002, and he was also appointed as the President and CEO. of Pennyroyal Housing Alternatives.
Topher Hansen started his career in the behavioral health field as a volunteer for the Drug Crisis Center in 1975. After a brief time as a counselor with CenterPointe, Topher attended law school and practiced law from 1985-1993. During his time in private practice, he also served as a CenterPointe Board member and as legal counsel for the organization. In 1993, he returned to the CenterPointe staff as Director of Development/Legal Counsel. He became Executive Director in 2000. Topher has served on numerous local and state committees to help develop Nebraska’s policies and delivery of behavioral health services.
Strategic Partners
