Marketing, every organization thinks they are doing it well, but are you doing it right? Marketing strategy encompasses more than social media, web design, and email promotions. Marketing is how you appeal to consumers, payers, potential investors, and even your workforce. To be successful, marketing efforts must be imbued with strategy, aligned with your organization’s long-term goals, and comprehensive in its reach to appeal to a wide variety of internal and external stake holders.
Marketing and strategy are two halves of the same coin, and OPEN MINDS new Chief Marketing Officer learning path is dedicated to helping today’s leaders understand market trends and new approaches to leveraging marketing strategy for financial growth and sustainability.
View featured courses and sessions below to get started!
Improving Consumer Experience: The 2025 OPEN MINDS Executive Seminar On Creating Better Engagement & Increasing Revenue
Sponsored By: 
Much focus has been on digital strategies for health and human service organizations. A post-pandemic strategy involves a multi-pronged technology-driven approach that leads to streamlining processes and higher performance. While the pandemic has accelerated the use of technology to support consumer access, using a technology strategy to assure business success goes beyond a consumer digital interface. This seminar will focus on the eight dimensions of digital transformation and provide a road map for executive teams to integrate and incorporate their entire organization. Attendees will gain insights into a digital-first approach focused on consumer experience, organizational efficiency, resiliency, growth, and sustainability. Key objectives include:
- A road map for digital-first evolution and what it means to be a digital-first organization
- The eight dimensions of a digital-first framework for quality and performance
- Critical organizational competencies needed for leading-edge technology transformation
Rick Gutierrez, Ph.D., BCBA
Dr. Gutierrez brings over 20 years of clinical and operational experience to the OPEN MINDS team. His unique blend of experience has allowed him to drive impactful outcomes in the developmental disability and behavioral health fields.
Dr. Gutierrez is a certified Emotional Intelligence (EQ) trainer, licensed psychologist in California, and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). He has overseen a variety of service settings, including adult day programs, residential programs, and intensive therapy programs like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and has worked with individuals across the lifespan who have developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. He has experience managing projects aimed at enhancing service delivery, ensuring that strategic initiatives align with budgeted funding and contribute to sustainable growth. He has worked across diverse funding models, including those from the Department of Developmental Services, insurance companies, and school districts, while ensuring programs meet accreditation standards. Additionally, he has shared his expertise globally, giving numerous talks on program development, leadership, and employee retention. These combined clinical and operational skills make him a versatile leader capable of improving both care delivery and organizational performance.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Dr. Gutierrez served as Vice President, Clinical Strategy & Operations at Easterseals Southern California. In this role he oversaw the outpatient Applied Behavior Analysis provider network and Enhanced Care Management in partnership with Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Gutierrez also oversaw START Crisis services, behavioral services for all residential services, negotiation and management of contracts with network providers and payers, and intake and customer service functions including revenue cycle management, benefits and eligibility, and authorization teams. In addition, he developed and monitored the implementation of a strategic plan in collaboration with the Chief Clinical Officer.
Prior to this, Dr. Gutierrez served as Regional Vice President and Director of Subcontracting also at Easterseals Southern California.
Previously, Dr. Gutierrez served as Clinical Administrator at Applied Behavioral Consultants, Inc. where he oversaw all clinical aspects of community-based behavioral health treatment for consumers in Southern California. He also monitored compliance across multiple areas of the organization, negotiated contracts with most major health plans, and led new program development. Before this role, Dr. Gutierrez served as Regional Director and Program Manager at Applied Behavioral Consultants, Inc.
Before this, Dr. Gutierrez has also served as Program Director, Behavior Consultant, and Case Manager at various organizations. Dr. Gutierrez is an active member of multiple professional organizations.
Dr. Gutierrez earned his Doctorate of Philosophy from Capella University, his Masters of Science from California State University, and his Bachelors of Art from University of California.
Kimberly Bond, MS, LMFT
Kimberly Bond, MS, LMFT, brings more than 30 years of experience providing behavioral health treatment in the public and community settings to the OPEN MINDS team. She currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Business Development. In this role, Ms. Bond focuses on growing the OPEN MINDS client portfolio across all nine verticals of OPEN MINDS business.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Ms. Bond served concurrently as a Program Coordinator III and Clinical Manager of Adult Services and a Program Coordinator II and Clinical Manager of Recovery Services for the Ozark Guidance Center. In these roles, Ms. Bond was responsible for the administrative and clinical oversight of the adult outpatient and adult intensive mental health services on the Springdale Campus as well as the adult recovery/co-occurring services, including domestic violence and anger management treatment.
Prior to joining the Ozark Guidance Center, Ms. Bond served as the Executive Vice President of Center Point, Inc, a large substance abuse provider agency in California. In this role, Ms. Bond was responsible for the clinical and administrative supervision of all community-based programs as well as the women and children residential programs. In addition, Ms. Bond also managed budgets, interacted with funding agencies, and built positive relationships with all stakeholders. Ms. Bond was also in charge of proposal and grant writing, staff management, and training, facilities’ licensing and certifications renewals. Additionally, she prepared and submitted monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports to various funders.
Previously, Ms. Bond served as the President and CEO of Mental Health Systems, Inc. Ms. Bond was very instrumental in growing the agency from $12 million in annual revenue to more than $100 million and becoming one of the largest providers of behavioral health services in California. In this role, Ms. Bond was responsible for the strategic, clinical, financial, and administrative health of the agency, including direct supervision of Senior Executive Staff. In addition, Bond ensured contract compliance of the agency’s 125 different contracts across federal and state agencies and eight counties.
Ms. Bond received her bachelor’s degree in psychology, with honors, and her master’s degree in counseling education from San Diego State University. She is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in both California and Arkansas.
Having An Impact On Health Equity—Challenges, Opportunities & Inspiration
What is the future of measuring and managing health equity issues in the health and human service field? Karen Dale, the Market President at AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia provides insights into the challenges of assuring equity in access to and delivery of health care for all members. In her presentation, she will talk about the effects of lack of equity on the AmeriHealth plan performance and their new initiatives to measure and improve health equity among their members.
AmeriHealth Caritas is a national leader in health care solutions for complex consumers, currently serving approximately 5 million members in 13 states and the District of Columbia. In her tenure as Market President, Ms. Dale has been dedicated to improving health care service delivery and outcomes.
Karen Dale
Karen M. Dale is Market President for AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia, a mission-based Medicaid Managed Care Organization in Washington, D.C., and the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies. Her focus includes applying a health equity lens to impact all levels of policies, processes, decisions, laws, and outcomes for the communities AmeriHealth Caritas serves.
She also leads a decidedly metric-driven business approach to mobilize leaders and accelerate strategies to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion inside and outside the walls of AmeriHealth Caritas. As a result, opportunities for people to experience health, wholeness, and belonging are enhanced by addressing the social, economic, and environmental conditions that are drivers of poor health.
In addressing the landscape of needs among the nation’s vulnerable populations, Dale has cultivated a focus that has helped AmeriHealth Caritas concurrently innovate, while meeting the highest levels of quality and service. These efforts include the use of digital tools to aid in the management of chronic diseases, peer-to-peer outreach using community health workers and peer specialists, and the use of a human-centered member engagement approach.
Dale’s vision is notably reflected in key programs addressing Black maternal health, racism, housing, transportation, violence interruption, and food insecurity. In addition, her philosophy that health care must evolve into a health ecosystem that promotes wellness without barriers, starting where people are, has led to several collaborative relationships with providers, community partners, philanthropists, and businesses to implement sustainable, scalable solutions with high impact.
Her hobbies include gardening, creating healthy Caribbean recipes, traveling, and watching her son’s soccer games.
Housing As Health Care—Addressing The Housing & Homelessness Crisis With ACMH, Inc.
The link between health outcomes and homelessness or lack of affordable housing has not disappeared. With changes in federal policy on the horizon, gain an update on housing support services, opportunities for specialty health care providers serving these vulnerable populations, and innovative programs that are making it work. Hear from national experts and case studies of successful housing programs.
Discover the work of ACMH, Inc., a not-for-profit founded in 1973. They will discuss their housing programs with a rehabilitative focus licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health since 1979. ACMH, Inc. focuses on adults with serious mental health illnesses, equipping them with the skills they need for increased independence.
This session will discuss:
- Sources of funding for bricks and mortar, rental subsidies, and service delivery
- Best practice-supported housing models
- How states and specialty providers are operationalizing new housing service models through Medicaid
Daniel Johansson
With more than 4 decades of experience in behavioral health, Dan has been Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of ACMH, Inc. since 2003. He earned a B.A. from Columbia University in the City of New York and an M.Div. from the Seminario Evangélico de Puerto Rico. He is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and serves a parish in an immigrant community in Hudson County, New Jersey.
Evolving Best Practice Models In Whole Person Care For People With Cognitive Disabilities: A Panel Discussion
As we embark on times of great change, organizations must reflect on where they are on the journey to whole person care, and what their strategic vision for the future is. With challenges like funding for dual eligibles and complex care individuals, organizations are looking for ways to integrate care to ensure there is “no wrong door” when consumers are receiving services.
Join a panel of experts and hear how they are addressing these challenges by shifting to integrated care models and developing innovative programs in order to serve the most complex and costliest of consumers with great outcomes and cost-savings to the system.
During this session, attendees will hear:
- Advances in whole person care models for people with cognitive disabilities, including technology, staffing, and service models of care
- The legal, governance, and programmatic strategies when implementing a whole person care model
- Solutions to integrate whole person care strategies for a more holistic and impactful approach to service delivery
Tine Hansen-Turton, MGA/MPA, J.D., FCPP, FAAN
A seasoned Healthcare and Human Services Executive with 25 years of experience in C-suite executive leadership throughout her career in Nonprofit, Private, and Government Organizations, Tine Hansen-Turton is the President and CEO of Woods System of Care (WSOC). WSOC is a leading population health and advocacy organization in PA and NJ that provides life cycle care to meet the lifelong needs of children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A), acquired brain injuries, and /or mental health challenges who may also have complex medical and genetic conditions. She oversees 7500 staff that serves more than 52,000 individuals. Ms. Hansen-Turton also serves as the founding Executive Director and Administrator for the Convenient Care Association (CCA), the national trade association of over 3500 private-sector retail clinic industry, serving 40 million people with basic health care services across the country. Ms. Hansen-Turton formerly served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at Public Health Management Corporation, where she oversaw and led corporate strategy, operations, business development, and M&A. Additionally, Ms. Hansen-Turton served as CEO of the National Nurse-led Care Consortium, a non-profit organization supporting the growth and development of over 500 nurse-managed and school health clinics. Ms. Hansen-Turton also teaches public and social innovations, leading nonprofits, health policy, and the social innovations lab at the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government and School of Nursing. Ms. Hansen-Turton is the founder and publisher of a social impact/innovation journal and has published eight books. She received her BA from Slippery Rock University, her Master of Government/Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government, and her Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law.
Simon Kimmelman
Simon Kimmelman, Esq., serves as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Legal Officer for the Woods System of Care. In his role as Chief Legal Officer, he heads up the Woods Legal Department and oversees all law-related matters for Woods, its affiliates, and related entities. As Chief Operating Officer, he is directly responsible for implementing the Woods Strategic Directions Plan and coordinating the Woods System of Care operations. Previously, he was a member of Sills Cummis & Gross P.C. and served as Managing Partner of the Firm’s Princeton, New Jersey office. Mr. Kimmelman’s practice was focused on business bankruptcy, health law, general corporate matters, and commercial litigation. He has represented major entities involved in many of the most significant Chapter 11 cases filed in New Jersey and several other jurisdictions. He served as the bankruptcy trustee for Kiwi International Airlines and John Z. DeLorean. He is admitted to the Bar in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He is a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and former Chair of the Bankruptcy Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Lawyers’ Advisory Committee to the New Jersey Bankruptcy Court. In recognition of his contributions to the advancement of medicine and dental medicine, he has recently been elected a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Mr. Kimmelman has been involved in various charitable endeavors and most recently served as President of Har Sinai Temple in Pennington, New Jersey. He also served as a long-standing Member and Board Chair of the Woods Resources Board of Trustees. Mr. Kimmelman received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School.
Dr. Sailaja Musunuri
Dr. Sailaja Musunuri, MD, Executive Vice President of Integrative Medicine and Chief of Psychiatry. Dr. Musunuri is an accomplished physician, psychiatrist, and leader with over 20 years of experience in clinical practice, specializing in the care of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, autism, co-occurring psychiatric disorders, and other complex medical conditions. She currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Integrative Medicine and Chief of Psychiatry at Woods System of Care, where she is recognized for her exceptional leadership, innovative thinking, and ability to deliver results across diverse clinical settings. Double board-certified in both Adult and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Musunuri is known for her compassionate, high-quality care and her ability to think creatively, challenging conventional approaches to healthcare. Her leadership extends beyond clinical practice to include fostering key collaborations with nonprofit health organizations and pharmaceutical leaders, focusing on improving services and outcomes for individuals with intellectual disabilities. She has played a pivotal role in building trust and driving mission-critical initiatives within her organization. Dr. Musunuri is also the founder of the Mollie Woods Hare Center for Excellence in Neurodivergence – Intellectual Disability, Autism, and Mental Health, which serves as the training and dissemination hub for best practices in the field. In addition, she is an active Board Member of The Network: Toward Unity for Health (TUFH), a global non-state actor aligned with the World Health Organization. TUFH works to foster equitable, community-oriented health services and research globally, and Dr. Musunuri’s involvement further underscores her commitment to enhancing healthcare access for vulnerable populations. With her unique combination of clinical expertise, leadership, and global partnerships, Dr. Musunuri continues to drive forward the strategic goals of Woods System of Care, ensuring that individuals with disabilities receive the highest quality of care and support. Her connections across the U.S. and India are instrumental in developing new programs and partnerships aimed at improving services for people with disabilities in both regions.
Jeanne Marshall, M.Ed, MA, BCBA, LBA
Jeanne Marshall has been affiliated with the Easterseals Midwest organization since 1987 when she began volunteering and working as a classroom assistant. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a Master’s degree in Special Education in 1991. She served in a variety of program roles prior to becoming the Director of the Training Program in 1997. In 2004, Jeanne was appointed as Chief Program Officer for and continued in that role until 2024 when she was appointed President. In 2004, she completed a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from The University of Nevada and is a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst. She also holds teaching certifications in Special Education for Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders.
Jeanne has served for more than 15 years as a surveyor for CARF International , a not for profit organization that reviews and grants accreditation for organizations providing services in the industry. She has served on the Board of Directors for St. Bridget of Kildare School, The Association for Aging With Developmental Disabilities, the Missouri Association for Behavior Analysis, and The Autism Collective. She currently serves on the Missouri Autism Commission and the Starling Board of Directors.
Tisha Jackson
Tisha Jackson is an experienced executive leader in healthcare operations, currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer at Abound Health. In this role, Tisha is responsible for leading operational strategies, ensuring quality and compliance, and fostering innovation.
Previously, as a Novant Health leader, she was responsible for both ambulatory and acute facility neuroscience programming. Tisha holds a Master of Science in Health Administration from Louisiana State University at Shreveport and is dedicated to advancing quality outcomes in healthcare.
An Update On Innovative New Programs At Elevance Health, Evernorth & Mercy Care: A Roundtable
Join our payer panel to hear the latest in innovative programs that top health plan industries are implementing today. This series will feature different payers from across the nation at each 2025 event.
Tad Gary
Tad Gary is the CEO of Mercy Care, an Arizona-based managed care organization serving more than 475,000 Medicaid and Medicare members under six governmental contracts. These include AHCCCS Complete Care, Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS), Regional Behavioral Health Authority for Maricopa County, Developmentally Disabled, Department of Child Safety Comprehensive Health Plan (DCS CHP), and Medicare Dual SNP contracts.
As CEO, Tad is responsible for all health plan activities for all product lines. He also supports all Mercy Care business development and implementation efforts throughout Arizona.
Tad has held multiple leadership roles during his more than 20-year career in health care and social services. Tad is a member of the Greater Phoenix Chamber Board and a Trustee of the Vitalyst Health Foundation. He was also appointed to the State of Arizona Opioid Review Council and to the Phoenix Police Review and Implementation Ad Hoc Committee. Tad is the former president of the Arizona Counselors Association and former President of the Institute for Mental Health Research EpiCenter, serving adolescents experiencing their first episodes of psychosis.
He earned his master’s degrees in counseling and education and has completed executive education in finance and accounting from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
David Lederman
Dave Lederman is currently a Senior Product Manager at Elevance Health. In his 2nd year at Elevance Health, Dave’s role is focused on developing strategies to expand access to behavioral health and substance use care in the commercial space. This work comes with an opportunity to shape Elevance Health product offerings when it comes to member experience, client reporting, and provider and vendor relationships.
Dave earned a Bachelors Degree from Tel-Aviv University in 2007, and a Masters Degree in Business Management with a focus on Health Sector Management from the Temple University at Philadelphia in 2013. Prior to getting his graduate degree, he worked at Columbia University on a behavioral health and substance use study identifying the impact of genetic and environmental effect on behavioral health and substance use. After graduating from Temple University, Dave worked as a business consultant at telehealth and remote monitoring start up. Dave transitioned to lead projects at a Behavior Health Analytics start-up, identifying ways to drive members to seek care for chronic conditions and co-morbidities.
Douglas Nemecek, M.D., MBA
Dr. Doug Nemecek is the chief medical executive for behavioral health quality, integration, and clinical operations. He helps ensure network access and availability, patient safety, compliance with clinical guidelines, customer and provider satisfaction, and utilization management. Additionally, he works directly with customers and clients to mold operations and provides clinical expertise in new and existing behavioral health and integrated program development. Additionally, he continues to develop unique relationships with our network providers to ensure our customers and providers achieve optimal total health outcomes.
Dr. Nemecek currently serves on the Board of the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness. He also serves on the Scientific Board for Shatterproof, a national non-profit organization dedicated to ending the devastation that addiction causes families.
Emerging Markets In Behavioral Health Crisis Systems From Affiliated Sante Group & Recovery Innovations
Behavioral health crisis response programs are continuing to improve the access issues consumers have experienced in recent years, such as inadequate provider availability, limited transportation options, and long wait times for appointments. In addition, crisis response programs keep consumers from needing to go to emergency rooms, therefore reducing costs.
Hear how Affiliated Sante Group, a behavioral health pioneer located in Maryland and North Carolina, with over 40 years in mental health and crisis delivery services, is creating a behavioral health crisis system of care. Their innovative programs include the use of FCC-approved geo routing, peer and licensed professional mobile crisis teams, crisis intervention training with law enforcement and first responders, and school intervention services.
Then hear from Recovery Innovations, a global organization with over 50 mental health and substance use crisis programs located throughout the United States and abroad, on their use of the Crisis Now model for crisis stabilization with a focus on trauma-informed care and the use of peer supports.
Back by popular demand, this session features specialty crisis service providers with different approaches and delivering different levels of crisis care within their community.
Key takeaways include:
- Learn the core components of an evidenced-based crisis delivery system
- Understand key trends in federal and state financing of crisis delivery systems
- Discover innovative approaches to adding crisis models for organizational growth
Elizabeth Jones
Ms. Jones has a wealth of experience database design, configuration, and reporting. She started out in 1999 building databases in 1999 for small non-profit organizations to assist in synthesizing donor contribution records and fundraising practices. Since then, she has provided database system administration for multiple systems across multiple nonprofit sectors.
In addition to database configuration and management, Ms. Jones has used her love of writing and passion for public health in the development arena and has been the team lead for over 150 grant proposals and applications and has assisted in securing more than 16 million dollars’ worth of grant funding in the last 15 years.
Ms. Jones has been working with the Affiliated Santé Group (Santé) since 2006. She has a wealth of crisis system and behavioral health program support experience including program design, project management, proposal development, and data and reporting. As the Director of Advancement for Santé, she is responsible for configuring, supporting, and training three separate data systems overseeing proposal development and project coordination. She specializes particularly in crisis metrics and has participated in both local and State Crisis Metric workgroups and advisory sessions.
Ms. Jones is currently pursuing her Masters of Public Health through the Milken Institute with George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She is committed to effecting positive change through data-driven service enhancement, effective data analytics, and person-centered approaches to documentation and system design.
Joy Brunson-Nsubuga, MA, MBA, LMFT, LCAS, CCS
Joy Brunson-Nsubuga is a native of South Carolina. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Francis Marion University in 2006 and Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy with a certificate in addictions counseling from Appalachian State University in 2009. She completed one year of Executive Leadership Coaching utilizing Oxford Leadership Principles in 2019 and completed her MBA with a concentration in healthcare management and information systems at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington in the Spring of 2023. She currently holds full licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, and Certified Clinical Supervisor as well as the AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation. Joy is an expert in Systems Thinking and Therapies, Behavioral Health Crisis Systems, and Substance Use and Medication Assisted Treatment. She has experience in leading multi-state operations and is currently Chief Operating Officer for RI International overseeing all clinical services and supports in ten states. She also owns a private practice, Relatively Speaking Therapeutic Center, and offers family and couples therapy, supervision for marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, and substance use professionals seeking full licensure, consultation for agencies, and offers presentations on systemic therapies, crisis interventions, leadership practice, and addictions treatment. Joy is the former Professional Practice Board Chair for the North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy Association.
Joy resides in North Carolina with her two boys.
Addressing Health-Related Social Needs In Your Service Delivery: Strategies & Solutions
Social determinants of health, such as housing instability, food insecurity, and lack of access to care significantly impact overall well-being, especially for those with cognitive disabilities. Service providers across various sectors of health care, social services, and community organizations, are increasingly called upon to address these needs to improve health outcomes. In this session, we will explore effective strategies for integrating health-related social needs into service delivery for the autism and I/DD populations.
This session will cover:
- Identifying common health related social needs in persons with cognitive disabilities
- Practical strategies for incorporating screenings and assessments into service delivery
- Building collaborative partnerships with community organizations and leveraging technology to better track and address social needs.
Marco Damiani, MA, BS, ABD
Marco Damiani has spent his entire career in disability rights, fighting for full inclusion of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities into their communities. Starting as a Direct Support Professional, working for a non-profit at the Willowbrook State School as it began closing, he quickly realized the power of collective advocacy on behalf of people who are perceived as different. As Marco’s career progressed, he devoted much of his energy in working to achieve health equity for people with disabilities, playing a major role in developing integrated care models for people frequently underserved by the conventional healthcare system.
As CEO of AHRC NYC, a Forbes Best American mid-size company, he leads a staff of 5,000, supporting 15,000 individuals with IDD and their families.
Marco is an appointee to the NYU College of Dentistry Dean’s Strategic Advisory Council and is a recipient of the Kriser Medal, the College’s highest honor, a recipient of Pace University’s Opportunitas-in-Action Medal, The Arc of the United States National Convention of Executives Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award, a Certificate of Special U.S. Congressional Recognition for outstanding and invaluable service to the community, Crain’s Business and Empire BCBS Whole-Healthcare Hero and The Excellence in Autism Award from Mental Health News Education. He has also received Citations from The NYS Assembly and the Bronx Borough President for Meritorious Advocacy and Community Service.
He is a Mayoral Appointee of the NYC Community Services Board, a member of NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ Transition Team, Board Member of the Inter-Agency Council of IDD Agencies, NY Disability Advocates, Care Design NY, Metro Community Health Centers, and Cafe Joyeux U.S., an international network of cafes staffed primarily by neurodiverse people. He has published articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities and the Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, among others. Marco has a BS in psychology from Manhattan College, a Masters in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University, and is ABD in Educational Psychology from New York University.
Nia Uhlenhake
With over a decade of experience in the field of Autism and advocacy, Nia Uhlenhake is the Family Support and Community Outreach Manager at AZA United, where she has been a driving force for the past six years. Nia’s journey in this field began 12 years ago when her son, now 17, was diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, ODD, and Anxiety. Motivated by a deep desire to understand the systems of care to better support her son, she began working at the Division of Developmental Disabilities as a Support Coordinator. This early experience ignited her passion for helping families navigate complex systems and led her to AZA United.
Starting as the sole Family Support Specialist, Nia helped develop the family support program from the ground up. Soon she began leading a thriving team of five additional family support specialists. Her unwavering commitment to advocacy and her “no stone left unturned” approach has made her a trusted resource for families, ensuring they receive the support and resources they need to thrive. Nia has become a reliable community resource and has been invited to present at multiple events and serve as a panelist, sharing her expertise and experiences with a wider audience. She was also the recipient of the 2024 Arizona Peer and Family Career Academy’s Family Support Partner of the Year Award, a recognition of her dedication to supporting families in need. Nia is passionate about creating lasting positive changes in the lives of families and individuals.
The Monarch Whole Person Care Model: A Lunch & Learn Session
Blake Martin, MHA
Blake Martin, MHA, serves as Monarch’s President. Under the direction of Chief Executive Officer Dr. Peggy Terhune, Blake leads the organization’s strategic planning efforts, build and maintain relationships with state and national policymakers and oversee operations of key business units, enabling the company to continue as well as expand the delivery of exceptional care across all services.
As President, Blake is directly responsible for identifying and developing strategic opportunities and maintaining relationships with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, statewide local management entities and managed care organizations (LME/MCOs), social services agencies, licensing agencies and the people and families Monarch supports, among other key stakeholders.
Blake brings extensive experience in health care administration, operational oversight and fiscal management, having most recently served as Monarch’s Chief Strategy Officer, where he led the development and implementation of a new five-year strategic plan. He holds both a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree and a bachelor’s degree from Pfeiffer University. He also serves as a member of Pfeiffer University’s Board of Trustees.
Findings Of The 2025 OPEN MINDS National Innovation Survey: How Specialty Providers Are Moving Innovation To Action
“Innovation” means novel ideas that can be transformed into services that generate value for customers, payers, and providers. Each year OPEN MINDS conducts a comprehensive survey of provider organizations to uncover which innovations are having the greatest impact in the field and are helping organizations gain a competitive advantage. The survey examines the leading program and service innovations— from readmission prevention programs and eCBT to Community Outreach Workers – and compares trends in adoption to prior years.
This session will also feature case studies by organizations that embraced innovation and put it into practice, examining how the idea was selected, how it operates, who pays for it, and lessons learned along the way. Including:
- Implementing First Episode Psychosis Services with Journey Mental Health Center of Madison, WI
- Addressing urgent behavioral health needs through crisis observation/stabilization centers with Connections Health Solutions of Harrisburg, PA
Join OPEN MINDS and our guests for this in-depth examination of how innovative ideas make it to market.
Courtney Sanchez, MBA, MHA
Courtney Sanchez is passionate about expanding access to high-quality behavioral health care and creating meaningful partnerships that drive real change. As the Director of Partnerships at Connections Health Solutions, she works closely with communities, health plans, and government agencies to develop innovative crisis intervention and stabilization services that meet people where they are in their time of need. With a background in business development and healthcare administration, Courtney brings both strategic expertise and a deep commitment to improving behavioral health systems across the country.
With more than a decade of experience in behavioral health operations, Courtney has played a key role in launching crisis stabilization centers, including the Emergency Behavioral Health Crisis Walk-In Center in Harrisburg, PA, and the upcoming crisis walk-in center in Montgomery County, PA. Her ability to bridge the gap between policy, operations, and community needs makes her a trusted leader in the field.
Beyond her professional work, Courtney is actively engaged in community advocacy and governmental affairs, ensuring behavioral health services remain a priority at the local and state levels. She is dedicated to building strong partnerships that make a lasting impact on individuals, families, and communities.
Tyson Rittenmeyer LPC, MT-BC
Tyson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Wisconsin and Oregon as well as a nationally Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC). Tyson’s career in mental health service delivery began in 2004. Over the past 21 years, Tyson has provided case management and direct therapy services; clinical, programmatic and licensure-oriented supervision and managerial/directorial oversight over multiple mental health departments across both private for-profit and public non-profit organizations. Tyson’s leadership style is steeped in the values of integrity, initiative, psychological flexibility, humility, humor and vision. As a leader, he regularly seeks to balance precision and gentleness for the staff and teams he oversees.
Tyson first began working with first-episode psychosis programming under the Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA) while at Mid-Columbia Center for Living in Hood River, OR. More recently, Tyson has been helping to oversee the PROPs (Promoting Recovery from Early Onset Psychosis) program at Journey Mental Health Center in Madison, WI. PROPs is one of the most established and eldest first episode psychosis in Wisconsin.
Outside of work Tyson is a parent, musician, mountain biker and lover of the outdoors.
Sawyer Smith, MA, LPC
Sawyer is a Licensed Professional Counselor and manager of Promoting Recovery from Onset of Psychosis (PROPs) Program in Madison, Wisconsin that works with individuals experiencing their First Episode of Psychosis (FEP). He has worked within the program for over 2 years, filling multiple roles as a program coordinator, team leader, and manager on the team. Sawyer brings a dual focus of clinical expertise and business to the table as he also holds an MBA in Accounting and Finance. Sawyer is dedicated to developing and growing programs like PROPs to provide specialized care to individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis, striving to improve outcomes through a holistic and coordinated approach.
Uncovering The Challenges & Opportunities For Reimbursement: A Payer Panel
Join our expert payer panel as they delve into the complexities of reimbursement in the Autism and I/DD market. This session will explore the key challenges and emerging opportunities for payers, providers, and stakeholders navigating this landscape. Panelists will share insights on policy changes, funding models, and innovative solutions that can help ensure accessible and effective care for the autism and I/DD populations. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how reimbursement strategies can drive improvements in care and outcomes for these complex consumers.
David Donohue, MBA
David Donohue is the Market President of CareSource’s Arkansas Market, CareSource PASSETM. Prior to joining CareSource, David served as the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Medicaid plan with WellSense Health Plan, where he led state operations. David’s dedication to Arkansas extends back to the launch of the Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity.
David has extensive experience working with people with complex needs, including individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and those with significant Behavioral Health challenges.
His passion for these populations is rooted in working for and with fee-for-service providers of services as well as hospital systems and provider practices.
He has also supported the launch of managed care programs for both traditional and complex populations across the country. His previous work includes helping to develop specialized programs for people with Intellectual and Development Disabilities, Crisis Programs, and Value-Based arrangements for a variety of provider-types.
Community involvement is a priority for David, and he regularly supports organizations focused on eliminating food insecurity and improving health equity.
David holds a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from Ball State University and an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University.
David Rogers
David Rogers is the President of Independent Living Systems (ILS) and a seasoned leader with more than 30 years of healthcare experience in both the public and private sectors. As President of ILS, Rogers is responsible for day-to-day management of the internal operations of the company as well as execution of strategies to optimize people, process, and technology across the enterprise and to continue to advance ILS as a driving force in healthcare innovation.
Prior to being named President of ILS in 2020, Rogers joined Florida Community Care (FCC), a subsidiary of ILS, as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer in 2018. Before assuming his role at FCC, Rogers was Managing Principal of Health Management Associates (HMA) Medicaid Market Solutions where he advised and supported state agencies, health systems, health plans, and others. Rogers served as Assistant Deputy Secretary for Medicaid Operations, functioning as the Florida’s Medicaid program’s Chief Operations Officer. He has also served as Idaho’s State Medicaid Director.
David earned his Bachelor’s degree and Graduate Certificate in Health Services Administration and Public Policy from Florida State University.
Innovations in Medicaid Funding to Advance Whole Person Care: The Arizona H2O Case Study
Organizations seeking new growth opportunities should look to their state Medicaid agencies. As of March 2025, half of all states (24) have approved 1115 Medicaid waivers allowing “medical” dollars to be spent on housing programs, and six others are waiting for waiver approval. This makes Medicaid one of the largest investment options for specialty care agencies interested in expanding into new markets.
Arizona launched its Housing and Health Opportunities (H2O) waiver program in 2024. One year later, join speakers from Arizona Medicaid (AHCCCS), Banner (an AHCCCS Health Plan), and Copa Health (a community behavioral health provider) as they showcase the road to taking H2O live and the impact of Medicaid-funded housing services for vulnerable populations.
In this session, attendees will:
- Learn Arizona Medicaid’s design decisions in creating specialized housing services for Medicaid eligible SMI members
- Discover how a non-profit health plan invested housing dollars to build new programs, and
- Gain insights on how providers are expanding and growing new services and innovative housing models to support the SMI population.
Shar Najafi-Piper, Ph.D.
Shar Najafi-Piper, PhD was appointed as CEO of Copa Health in 2019. A clinical psychologist, Dr. Najafi-Piper has expertise in fully integrated continuums of care for complex-needs individuals and believes in a whole-person health care model that supports successful outcomes.
In leadership roles since 2008, she has also demonstrated notable talent and skill on the business side of the health and human services industry. This ranges from the implementation of quality assurance functions, peer review, utilization review, as well as service and clinical protocols. In addition, Dr. Najafi-Piper has demonstrated success in the areas of program development, contract development/negotiations, public relations, media development, and business growth through revenue diversification including both traditional and non-traditional sources.
Sandra Stein, M.D.
Sandra Stein, M.D. has been the Chief Medical Director of Banner University Health Plans since December of 2020. Previously, she was the Medical Director of Care Integration of Banner Health Network from Oct. 2017 to Dec. 2020. From Oct. 2015-Sept. In 2017, Sandra served as the chief medical officer for Intermountain Centers in Arizona. From March- September 2015 Sandra served as the Behavioral Medical Director for the Arizona Comprehensive Medical Dental Program (CMDP)/State of Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS). From July 1997 to March 2015 Dr. Stein served as a Medical Director for the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona (CPSA), the Regional Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA). Dr. Stein is a double board certified in general and child and adolescent psychiatry. Sandra Stein, M.D. graduated from Albany Medical College in Albany, NY in 1992 and did an internship, general psychiatry residency, and child psychiatry fellowship in 1997 at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson, Arizona.
Theresa Costales, M.D.
Theresa Costales, M.D. became the Chief Medical Officer for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) in January 2025 after serving as Arizona Medical Director for Connections Health Solutions, overseeing clinical operations at the Urgent Psychiatric Center in Phoenix and the Crisis Response Center in Tucson, for several years prior. She is recognized as a health care leader in the State of Arizona, with extensive experience working with individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI), in both direct care and administrative leadership roles, and has partnered with a number of key stakeholders to address systemic gaps and improve outcomes for patients involved in the civil commitment process.
Dr. Costales graduated from Canisius College with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and earned her Medical Doctorate from Georgetown University School of Medicine. She completed the Psychiatry Residency Program at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and is Board Certified in Psychiatry.
The Future Of Value-Based Care For Consumers With Behavioral Health Disorders: The Centene Total Cost Of Care Model In Florida’s Sunshine Health Plan
For health plans, a big challenge is addressing the 5% of the member population with behavioral and cognitive conditions who use 35% of the total resources. The question is how to develop an integrated care model for those consumers that balances the quality of care with the cost of care. In this informative session, Carole Matyas, Vice President of Sunshine Health, a Centene health plan, reviews Centene’s total cost of care model – a program that assigns responsibility for the management of specific consumers to provider organization partners that can address their behavioral health, primary care, and social service needs. Ms. Matyas will discuss the challenges of advanced health plan/provider partnerships – and the future of these partner relationships in a changing health care environment.
Carole Matyas, MSW
Carole Matyas is the Vice President Operations for Sunshine Health Plan. She oversees the SMI Specialty Plan in Florida and has responsibility for overall operation of the program. Carole is accountable to assure the development of a fully integrated medical/behavioral program that is centered in whole person attention and care. She assists with representing the company externally to assure our members, providers and stakeholders have the information and support they need.
Carole has more than 30 years of behavioral health-related experience, with 20 of those years of experience in health plan operations. She joined WellCare in 2011 as VP Behavioral Health Operations at WellCare Corporate office. Previously she worked for Magellan Health Services, first as a general manager for call center operations, and then as Chief of Clinic Operations, where she led practice management and operations of 23 mental health clinics and a psychiatric urgent care center in Arizona. Her additional experience includes serving as Vice President of Public Sector Operations for Schaller Anderson, a Medicaid managed care organization and helped to develop their integrated model; and as Vice President for Value Options, a managed behavioral health care company whose contracts included carve out managed care for state and government agencies, where Carole was executive lead on a large carve out program in Texas. Carole spent her early career as a licensed social worker providing direct clinical services in a group practice, community mental health and a residential treatment center.
Carole has been recognized by Mental Health America and NAMI Texas for her dedication to mental health advocacy. Carole earned both her undergraduate and Master of Social Work degrees from Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Growth Through Mergers, Acquisitions & Affiliations With Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health & Terros Health
A record number of organizations serving complex populations are looking to manage the uncertainties of the current economic climate by pursuing mergers, acquisitions and affiliations (MA&A). Join this exciting session to learn how to position your organization for growth in the changing and challenging health and human services environment through MA&A. Attendees will learn from the real-world experiences of Devereux, a national non-profit provider of specialty residential and outpatient services for persons with autism, disabilities and severe behavioral health conditions, and TCV Community Services, who chose to affiliate with Devereux after careful consideration and scenario planning. Attendees will also learn from Terros Health, Arizona’s largest non-profit community behavioral health provider, as it progressed on its affiliation journey.
Key takeaways:
- The implementation of best practice affiliation strategies and how to select a potential partner
- How to align organizational cultures and sustain employee engagement while managing through turbulent economic times
- MA&A planning, roll-out and implementation management
- Practical lessons the agencies learned on overcoming short-term pain points to achieve new synergies and long-term success
Karen Hoffman Tepper, Ph.D.
Karen Hoffman Tepper oversees the strategic plan and provides guidance and leadership for Terros Health. She leverages the people around her and empowers them to do what they do best: Inspire Change for Life. Karen has over 20 years of Chief Officer experience and holds Doctorate Degrees from the University of Arizona in Human Development and Family Studies.
Richard Rinaldi, MBA, PMP
As Devereux’s senior director of administration, Rich Rinaldi, MBA, PMP, uses project management best practices to either lead or influence every major initiative across the organization.
Rinaldi joined Devereux in 2015 and, since that time, has served in roles of increasing responsibility. In 2021, he was promoted to his current position, overseeing the following areas/departments: 1) Project Management Office 2), New Business Development, 3) Procurement and 4) the national executive administrative assistant team.
Rinaldi has earned the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in not-for-profit-management from Chaminade University in Honolulu. He holds the following professional certifications: Project Management Professional, Certified Scrum Professional – ScrumMaster and Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner.
In addition to his work at Devereux, Rinaldi is an adjunct professor at Wake Forest University and Villanova University, where he instructs students in the area of project management. Previously, he served as an adjunct professor at Harcum College and was a member of the Leadership Main Line Class of 2020. Rinaldi is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) – Delaware Valley Chapter (treasurer) and serves as a board member for his local library in Narberth, Pennsylvania.
Fran Sheedy Bost, M.Ed.
Fran Sheedy Bost, M.Ed., served as executive director of TCV Community Services, a position she has held for over 16 years until her retirement in January 2025. For over 50 years, TCV Community Services has been one of Allegheny County’s most-respected nonprofit organizations providing treatment, care and services to individuals living with behavioral health differences and intellectual and developmental disabilities. In her role as executive director, Bost oversaw TCV’s comprehensive array of programs and services for youth and adults through intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, community living support programs and group homes for mental health adults and individual with intellectual and disabilities, as well as school-based services for children and adolescents.
In 2017, Fran began working with the TCV Board to affiliate with a stronger organization to build capacity to more adequately address the needs of the county. In January, 2022, TCV completed an affiliation with Devereux. The affiliation and integration are viewed as a model on how two mission driven organizations can work together to achieve amazing results.
Prior to TCV, Bost holds more than 35 years of administrative experience in healthcare in Western Pennsylvania. Prior to joining TCV, Bost held the role of vice president of operations at Heritage Valley Health System in Pittsburgh, where she directed the Staunton Clinic and inpatient psychiatric services at two hospitals and six outpatient psychiatric programs. She also oversaw other hospital departments, such as cardiology, radiology and laboratory services.
She also worked for Allegheny Health Choices, Inc. (AHCI), which oversaw Medicaid Behavioral Health managed care in Allegheny County.
Bost also served on the board of Embolden Workers Compensation Trust and as an executive committee member and past president of the Allegheny County Providers Association. She is currently a member of the Allegheny County Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
The Challenges For State Health & Human Service Executives During Times Of Change: Leadership Perspectives
This panel discussion will focus on the evolving landscape of behavioral health service delivery, with a special emphasis on the critical role of government and legislative bodies in shaping the future of care. Through expert perspectives, the panel will explore key challenges and innovative solutions aimed at transforming the accessibility, quality, and efficiency of behavioral health services. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how legislative action, funding, and policy reforms are pivotal in driving systemic change to meet the growing needs of individuals and communities.
Latika D. Davis-Jones, Ph.D., MPH, MSW
Dr. Latika D. Davis-Jones, Ph.D., MPH, MSW currently serves as the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), appointed to the position by Governor Josh Shapiro in January 2023. With over 30 years dedicated to addressing the physical and behavioral health needs of vulnerable populations, she brings extensive experience to her role. Prior to joining DDAP, Dr. Davis-Jones held the position of Senior Director of Behavioral Health at Highmark Wholecare, where she provided leadership and administrative oversight for behavioral health programs, including expanding into new markets and implementing health management initiatives.
Dr. Davis-Jones’s academic contributions include teaching foundational courses on social work practice, diversity, risk, oppression, resilience, and empowerment. She played a pivotal role in contributing to the content and analysis of measures for the book “Measuring Race and Ethnicity: Inside and Out” by the late Dr. Larry Davis and Dr. Rafael Engel. This work focused on psychological measures related to racial identity, acculturation, and intra and intergroup relations, enhancing researchers’ ability to compare concepts across groups and evaluate disparities. Additionally, she served as co-principal investigator on the Strengthening Pittsburgh’s African American Nonprofits (SPAAN) Project at the University of Pittsburgh-School of Social Work.
Dr. Davis-Jones’s commitment to community service is evidenced by her receipt of numerous community awards and her active participation on local boards, reflecting her dedication to making a positive impact beyond her professional responsibilities.
She has also been a vocal advocate in addressing the opioid epidemic, delivering public testimonies before the Pennsylvania House and Senate Policy Committees, and presenting at national and local conferences. Her collaborative efforts have contributed to published reports and journal articles focused on tackling the opioid epidemic in Allegheny County.
Dannette R. Smith, MSW
Commissioner Smith has spent 30 years serving families, children, the aging population, and people experiencing homelessness. She’s led human services departments across the country, most recently serving nearly five years as the Chief Executive Officer at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services where she led five divisions: Behavioral Health, Children and Family Services, Developmental Disabilities, Medicaid & Long-Term Care, and Public Health.
During her tenure in Nebraska, Smith convened a statewide behavioral health task force; focused on opportunities to improve behavioral health services for adults and children, as well as initiated the exploration of Medicaid utilization as a payer for behavioral health services; and redesigned the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center system to include intensive clinical and therapeutic services in the juvenile justice system. While in Virginia Beach, she collaborated with the Sheriff’s Office to provide enhanced behavioral health services in the jail system and provided strategic oversight in the development of the “First Responders” initiative to provide behavioral health services in the community with the Virginia Beach Police Department as part of their service calls.
The 2023 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), Commissioner Smith holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Eastern Michigan University and a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois Chicago. She’s also completed the Kennedy School of Government, Child Welfare Executive Leadership Program at Harvard.
Tech-Enabled Recruiting & Retention: Best Practices For Competing For The Best Talent
In today’s competitive market, tech-driven recruiting is essential for attracting and retaining top talent. This session will showcase practical case studies from organizations that have successfully implemented and optimized Human Capital Management (HCM) systems to streamline recruitment, enhance candidate engagement, and drive financial sustainability. Attendees will gain insights into the real-world application of HCM tools and how they can be leveraged to reduce turnover, enhance efficiency, and foster long-term growth.
Key Takeaways:
- Practical examples of how HCM systems streamline recruitment and cut hiring costs
- Proven strategies for attracting and retaining top talent through technology
- Case studies highlighting the financial impact of smart hiring practices and HCM tools
Brandon Ward, Psy.D.
Brandon Ward, PsyD is a dynamic healthcare leader, bringing together deep clinical insight, experience with complex technology solutions, and an innovative and collaborative style – all in the service of transforming behavioral healthcare in Colorado and beyond. In his current role as Chief Innovation Officer and VP of Information Systems at Jefferson Center, Dr. Ward leads a team of exceptional professionals in this pursuit – partnering within the organization and throughout the community to build robust, secure, and innovative solutions to behavioral healthcare’s toughest challenges.
Navigating The Investment Landscape: A Panel Session
As the health care market continues to evolve, investment opportunities in the sector are becoming more dynamic and complex. This panel will bring together experts from the worlds of health care, finance, and venture capital to explore the latest trends and innovations shaping health care investment today. From cutting-edge technologies like AI and remote monitoring systems to shifts in policy and regulation, the discussion will highlight emerging opportunities, potential risks, and strategies for navigating this fast-paced and ever-changing industry. Attendees will gain insights into the key drivers of health care investment, as well as the challenges investors must consider when evaluating new ventures. Whether you’re an investor looking for the next big opportunity or a health care professional seeking to understand today’s investment landscape, this session will provide valuable perspectives on how to successfully navigate the future of health care investment.
Steven Mason, M.Ed.
Steven is a Managing Partner and healthcare industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience starting and operating market-leading technology and services companies in the health and human services industries.
He has been instrumental in Fund I’s investments, including Care Continuity, where he recently served as CEO. Prior to serving as Executive Vice President at Iodine, Steven was the Chief Executive Officer at ChartWise Medical Systems, Inc., a computer-assisted clinical documentation system company that automated and improved the completeness and accuracy of physician documentation for faster and more optimal reimbursement of services provided. Iodine acquired ChartWise in 2021.
Prior to his success with ChartWise, he led several successful start-up ventures including OnFocus Healthcare, a leading provider of web-based enterprise performance management software solutions for healthcare providers and payers. The company was acquired by MedeAnalytics, where he was Senior Vice President and General Manager of the EPM Business Unit. In this role, Steven was primarily responsible for integrating, managing, and growing the Mede Performance Management (MedePM) business unit within the broader MedeAnalytics portfolio.
Additionally, he was Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Qualifacts Systems, a SaaS based electronic medical records software provider, and Chief Operating Officer of Camelot Care Centers, a national behavioral healthcare provider organization.
Steven received his BA in History from the University of Mississippi and an M.Ed. Human and Organizational development / counseling from Vanderbilt University. Mr. Mason currently serves on the Board of Directors of several private digital health companies.
John Tote
John is a strategic business development innovator who can engage and assist a variety of agencies and organizations in providing a vibrant foundation and platform for growth. John has more than 30 years of working in and partnering with groups of all sizes to create unique pathways of excellence designed on each entity’s individual characteristics, needs and goals.
With his passion for seeing others succeed, John has developed a career of advocacy, service, and organizational growth and excellence. In roles ranging from business and strategic development leadership to CEO, through John’s guidance organizations have experienced more than $800 million of financial growth. Further, these organizations have been able to hire more than 4,600 additional professionals to assist in service delivery and community enhancement.
John has also been able to utilize his experience and background in for-profit, not-for-profit, public sector and academic settings to provide motivating and thought-provoking messages to thousands of individuals and groups around the country. John’s extensive written articles, in-person presentations, podcast and webinar events now number more than 500. Additionally, John has also directed and hosted more than 85 conferences and seminars throughout the US.
With an ever-changing health and human services landscape, John continues to provide a stable base of usable, realistic leadership that is vital to payers and providers of services in critical areas of organizational quality and impact, such as strategy development, operational growth, leadership development, governance, financial modeling, integrated care planning and network development, the use of data and analytics, mission and vision development, marketing, communications, brand differentiation and more.
Jonathan Evans
Jonathan Evans, MS, brings 30 years of experience in the behavioral health field.
Previously, Mr. Evans was the Chief Executive Officer of InnovaTel Telepsychiatry, LLC. He was also the Chief Executive Officer of Safe Harbor Behavioral Health, an organization known for clinical innovations. He brings to the OPEN MINDS team noted expertise in the design of community-based programs, new service line development, expertise in telehealth-based service delivery, and governance and leadership expertise.
Mr. Evans began his career at Hamot Institute for Behavioral Health (IBH), where he initially worked in the emergency department providing initial evaluations for patients. He had a long tenure at Hamot IBH, serving as both Director of the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center (DEC) and the Director of the Adult Division.
Mr. Evans left Hamot IBH in 1993 to become the Founding Chief Executive of Safe Harbor Behavioral Health. Safe Harbor was established to assist the State of Pennsylvania with an initiative to close state hospitals and move consumers with serious mental illnesses to the community. Safe Harbor provides intensive outpatient services to patients with serious mental illness and provides 24-hour a day crisis intervention services to anyone in Erie County. The program’s annual operating budget has grown from the initial $300,000 to over $8 million. Safe Harbor currently provides services to over 4,000 consumers each year.
Mr. Evans is also the Founding President of Northwest Beacon Group, LLC. Northwest Beacon, a subsidiary of Safe Harbor, provides outpatient behavioral health services in the Erie community and employee assistance services to over 100 organizations with over 40,000 employees.
Mr. Evans was also the Founding Board Chairman of Presque Isle Psychiatric Associates, a non-profit organization that provides psychiatric coverage for hospitals and community-based providers. In addition, he serves on many boards, including The Pennsylvania Community Providers Association, The Erie Center on Health and Aging and Community Behavioral HealthCare Network of Pennsylvania Provider Advisory Board.
Mr. Evans received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and his Masters’ Degree in Clinical Psychology from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
Tania S. Malik, J.D.
As co-founder of The Office of CEO, Tania brings a 25-year success record of C-level leadership, board experience, interim executive engagements, consultancy, investor experience, and serial entrepreneurship with multiple successful exits. Over the course of her career, she has realized several industry firsts as she launched several telemedicine companies starting in 1999. She is the Founder or Co-Founder of Medical Web, Inc, Virtual Medical Group, Inc. 1stonlinepharmacy.com (all related to online primary care with Medical Web being acquired), Vital Health Network. LLC (an online naturopathic company that implemented with Aetna), COPE Today, LLC (a telemental health company acquired by a venture firm), Virtual Medical Services and Veteran Benefit Management Services (dedicated to providing Independent Medical Opinions for veterans).
After two exits, she pivoted to board work, consultancy, and investments.
She serves as executive advisor to Excelerate Health Ventures (focusing on health SAAS companies) and member of Triangle Angel Partners (includes companies outside of healthcare).
As COO of the Center of Digital Health, Innovation and Telehealth for Optum, she focused on a virtual-first care delivery model. She also served as a strategic advisory board member for OmnySense, Inc. and Innovatel Telepsychiatry, acquired by Quartet Health in 2021. As co-founder and CEO of Medical Web, she led the first-of-its-kind online physician-patient communication platform to acquisition in 2014. She also served on the Board of Directors for Mindcare Solutions Group upon its 2013 acquisition of COPE Today, and is currently serving on the Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood Direct and other non-profit boards. She is a Fellow in the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) College of Fellows and was the ATA Woman of the Year in 2020.
Early in her career, Tania practiced law as a Senior Enforcement Attorney with the Commissioner of Insurance for the State of Georgia, and held the position of Administrative Law Judge with the Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH) as well as General Counsel for an HMO, Master Health Plan, Inc. A key tenure in management consulting with PricewaterhouseCoopers’ healthcare practice in Atlanta served as a launch pad for business and entrepreneurial opportunities across the healthcare space.
Tania holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University, and a Doctor of Law from Georgia State University College of Law.
Grant Chamberlain
Grant Chamberlain joined Ziegler in 2015 as a managing director in the Healthcare Investment Banking Practice. With over 25 years of investment banking experience, Grant has dedicated the majority of his career to advising HCIT and tech-enabled outsourced services companies with particular focus on transactions with telehealth companies such as Vimly, CXC, TM2U, Somnoware, Avera eCare, Philips Lifeline / ConnectAmerica, Tridiuum, Anelto, SmartMeter, CancerIQ, Validic, Doctible, CentralLogic, SCI, Regroup, Forefront, Basys, Airstrip, Forefront, IRIS, MDLIVE and Voalte.
Prior to Ziegler, Grant led the mHealth sector coverage at Raymond James – which included telehealth, remote monitoring and wireless healthcare solutions – after spending 25 years advising HCIT and tech-enabled outsourced services companies on a broad variety of M&A, joint ventures/partnerships and private financings. Additionally, Grant has completed dozens of transactions in the physician practice management space with a specific concentration in oncology, having closed over 15 deals in that sector in his career.
Prior to Raymond James, Grant was a principal at Shattuck Hammond Partners, which was acquired by Morgan Keegan. He was also a part of the corporate finance group of General Electric Capital Corporation and the financial services division of GE Medical Systems.
In addition, Grant is an elected Director of the ATA, the leading international advocate for the use of advanced remote medical technologies. He is also on the Board of Directors for The MAVEN Project, which uses telehealth and a network of volunteer physicians affiliated with the nation’s foremost medical school alumni associations to improve healthcare access for underserved populations.
Grant earned a B.A. in finance and investment banking from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Executive Strategy, Marketing & Growth Officer Networking Luncheon
Join us for this private luncheon for OPEN MINDS member organization executive leaders – created for executives serving as the head of marketing, business development and strategy. This networking session aims to provide opportunities for leaders from across the country to share solutions to the challenges in serving consumers with complex needs. (To register, contact Erin Deppen, Education Events Manager, at 717-334-1329 or edeppen@openminds.com.)
Paul Duck
Paul M. Duck brings over 25 years of experience in leadership and management focusing on managed care, health information technology organizations, strategy, business development, and market expansion, and customer experience optimization to the OPEN MINDS team.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Duck served as the Vice President, Strategy & Development at Beacon Health Options. In this role, Mr. Duck led the organization’s strategy and business development efforts – responsible for a 30% increase in net revenue and initiated over $1 billion in revenue generation. Mr. Duck was active in national behavioral health initiatives as an executive of Beacon Health Options, including participating as a speaker at national and state association meetings.
Before joining Beacon Health Options, Mr. Duck was the Vice President of Business Development at Netsmart Technologies. During his tenure, Mr. Duck was responsible for business planning, including, the oversight of strategic activities including acquisitions, development, and execution of strategic initiatives, and positioning, and sales of large strategic customers. He also led the rollout of the company’s benchmarking and data analytics product suite.
Prior to Netsmart, Mr. Duck served as the Chief Executive Officer for Coastal Orthopedics and Pain Management, a large group practice with five clinic locations and two ambulatory surgical centers. As the organization’s chief executive officer, Mr. Duck was responsible for significant positive changes in leadership and corporate culture, financial and operational performance, compliance, and governance. Mr. Duck improved net collections by over $1 million per month and grew the practice through negotiating better contract rates with payers. He also implemented an organizational rebranding initiative and launched a new marketing campaign.
Prior to Coastal Orthopedics and Pain Management, Mr. Duck served as the President and Chief Executive Officer for Florida Radiology Imaging, one of the largest outpatient diagnostic imaging service companies serving the greater Orlando market. During his tenure, Mr. Duck led the construction of three new, full modality, diagnostic imaging locations. Mr. Duck revolutionized the company’s culture by creating a highly attractive and functional work environment.
Mr. Duck earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Case Western Reserve University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Electronic Engineering Technology from the Electronic Technology Institute. Mr. Duck received an award by Inc Magazine for leading Florida Radiology Imaging as one of America’s fastest-growing companies. Mr. Duck recently served as a contributing author to the book The New Health Age: The Future of Health Care in America.
Lauren Frantz
Lauren Frantz brings expertise in event planning, marketing, and campaign development to OPEN MINDS as the General Manager of Executive Education.
Previously, Ms. Frantz was the Program and Marketing Director for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation in Tampa, Florida. In this diverse role, Ms. Frantz supervised the foundation’s event and marketing teams and was responsible for event planning/logistics, implementing a strategic plan for the foundation’s digital marketing efforts, and developing custom campaigns for corporate partners.
Prior to her role as Program and Marketing Director, Ms. Frantz served as the foundation’s Program Manager and was responsible for enhancing national programs through innovative campaigns, implementing event marketing strategies, and coordinating more than 20 annual events. Ms. Frantz worked heavily on the foundation’s Fashion Funds the Cure program and event series. A main component of which was a nation-wide event tour that partnered with some of the country’s leading property companies, retail vendors, and corporate entities to create high-end fashion show galas and ultimately raise critical funds for pediatric cancer research.
Ms. Frantz enjoys both the creative and the analytical aspects of her work, she strives to embrace out-of-the-box thinking while also ensuring strategic implementation of processes and communication across teams. Her work style has been heavily influenced by her background in performing arts and work with local non-profit organizations in the Tampa Bay area. She strives to bring a broad view and creative edge to her work and is always searching for new ways to engage an audience.
Ms. Frantz graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in health management and biological science.
Deanne Cornette, MHA, GPC
Deanne Cornette, MHA, GPC, brings over 20 years of experience in the behavioral health field. Ms.Cornette currently serves as a Senior Associate for OPEN MINDS and brings to the OPEN MINDS team noted expertise in strategic planning, grant writing and revenue development.
Previously, Ms. Cornette was the Vice President of Strategic Development for Tampa Family Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center. In this role, she managed grants, contracts, front desk operations, training, quality assurance special assignments (risk assessments and responses to complaints), credentialing and billing functions. In a very short time period, she successfully procured funding to integrate behavioral health services, brought a system of processes to track health indicators and improve value-based care payment and service and became proficient in utilizing HRSA’s reporting portals.
As Counsel for Strategic Development at Agency for Community Treatment Services, Inc. (ACTS) and Vice President of Business Development for Gracepoint (merger), Ms. Cornette directed strategic development, contract negotiations, revenue development, marketing and grants. In this capacity, she targeted funding sources and built a lucrative cash flow that provided needed services to vulnerable populations in need of behavioral health treatment.
Some of her most successful negotiations created best practice services for veteran’s programs, women’s services, as well those involved with the criminal justice system. Her portfolio includes a wide array of awards from a multitude of agencies including, but not limited to: SAMHSA, HUD, Centers for Medicaid, and the Department of Transportation and collaborations with private, non-profit and government entities. Most recently, she worked with Gracepoint to develop Hillsborough’s Centralized Receiving Facility, one of the first funded in the State of Florida. From a system of care for jail diversion to evidence based practices for individuals who are homeless with behavioral health needs, her awards have netted over $80 million dollars to our community.
In addition, Ms. Cornette served as the Vice President for the National Contract Management Association Suncoast Chapter, Vice President of ACTS Affordable Housing Board of Directors, Vice President of ACTS Foundation Board of Directors, and was a member of Hillsborough County Health Care Advisory Board. She is the recipient of University of South Florida’s 2018 Florida Outstanding Women of the Year in Public Health. Her Centralized Receiving Facility collaborative won a 2018 WEDU PBS Be Brilliant / Innovation Award. Her concept of Housing, Engagement and Retention Tenancy (HEART) program won the 2018 Heart for Homeless award through the Housing and Education Alliance.
Ms. Cornette received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and her Masters Degree in Health Administration from the University of South Florida.
Transforming Your Brand Image For Maximum Consumer Engagement & Visibility: A Clarvida Case Study
Organizations that want to stand out from the crowd should first look at their brand and image through the eyes of their employees. That’s one of the key lessons learned by a comprehensive health and human services agency that embarked on a campaign to create a single company identity and culture across 17 states, 72 service lines, 27 websites, and 50 years of tradition. Join Clarvida (nee Pathways) to learn how a strategic re-branding initiative improved staff recruitment and retention, heightened employee satisfaction, and set the stage to launch their 2030 vision: doubling their community impact to 180,000 people served each year.
Attendees will learn:
- How and why to start a re-branding initiative with the end in mind
- Navigating the transition to a “single company culture” over multiple “mini-cultures”
- Practical guidance and lessons learned from creating a new company image
Whitney McChane
Whitney McChane brings over two decades of marketing, branding, and communications expertise to her role as Chief Marketing Officer at Clarvida, along with experience supporting other high-impact organizations such as United HealthGroup, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. As leader of the Marketing discipline, McChane is transforming the Clarvida brand into a symbol of excellence in health and human services. She is modernizing the brand and crafting a narrative that captures the essence of Clarvida: helping everyone, clients and employees alike, achieve their personal best. In parallel, McChane is building Clarvida’s Marketing Shared Services function to bolster the company’s marketing and communications across every market and service line in order to recruit and retain the best talent for Clarvida. Her past roles in leadership positions with franchise brands like International Dairy Queen and H&R Block have informed her ability to manage and unify marketing operations effectively.
The Innovation Success Factor In A Chaotic Market
Monica E. Oss
Monica E. Oss, M.S. is the founder of OPEN MINDS and serves as its chief executive officer, executive editor of its publications and websites, and executive lead of its consulting engagements. For the past three decades, Ms. Oss has led the OPEN MINDS team and its research on health and human service market trends and its national consulting practice. She is well known for her numerous books and articles focused on the strategic and marketing implications of the evolving health and human service field – and its focus on the verticals of the field serving consumers with chronic conditions and complex support needs.
Ms. Oss has extensive experience in developing and implementing growth strategies for a wide array of organizations in the field. She has expertise in industry trend analysis, reimbursement and rate setting, and creating actionable plans for market success. In her role, she has led numerous engagements with state Medicaid plans, county governments, private insurers, and health plans, service provider organizations, technology vendors, neurotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations, and investment banking firms – with a focus on the implications of financing changes on delivery system design.
Prior to founding OPEN MINDS, Ms. Oss served as an executive with a nationally managed behavioral health organization, responsible for market development, actuarial analysis, and capitation-based rate setting. She also held a position as vice president of the U.S. risk management and underwriting division of an international insurance company.
Ms. Oss has been the keynote speaker at the conferences of dozens of national associations and has been published in a wide range of professional journals and trade publications. She has provided Congressional and state legislative testimony on issues as diverse as the financial impact of parity and payer medication access policies.
Ms. Oss has led a range of industry research and consultation initiatives, serving as principal investigator on research projects that include the examination of national managed care enrollment and service patterns, development of provider rate structures for government entities, creation of return-on-investment models for technology investments; design of performance-based compensation models within public and private health plans; and analysis of the economic impact of changes in benefit design, adoption of evidence-based practices, and new technologies.