Driving Value In A Budget Sensitive Environment
Deanne Cornette, MHA, GPC
Summit Chair & Senior Associate,
OPEN MINDS
As federal health and human services policies continue to shift—and states recalibrate funding in response—counties are experiencing the impact in real time. With expanding responsibility for safety-net populations and increasing pressure to demonstrate outcomes, government leaders are being asked to deliver more value, more coordination, and more measurable impact—while safeguarding taxpayer dollars and stretching every available resource. This moment calls for bold strategy and practical solutions.
Join us for the inaugural Government Health & Human Services Executive Summit, sponsored by Bamboo Health. This exclusive gathering is designed for forward-thinking government leaders ready to move beyond incremental change and drive meaningful system transformation. Engage with peers from across the country, examine proven models and candid lessons learned, and explore innovative cross-agency partnerships that are redefining how counties serve high-need populations.
You will leave with actionable insights on what is delivering results, where common pitfalls persist, and how to seize emerging opportunities to strengthen health and human service systems across government. If you are navigating rising demand, constrained resources, and heightened accountability, this Summit will equip you with the strategies and connections to lead with confidence in a rapidly evolving landscape.
2026 Summit Agenda
The National Market Trends Driving Changes In Government Health & Human Service Management
Join us as we kick off the day by diving into the national policy, funding, and market forces reshaping county health and human services systems. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how federal shifts, state funding recalibration, value-based expectations, and rising demand are redefining county accountability and performance expectations. Hear why counties are not simply administrators of programs, but integrators of care and stewards of measurable outcomes in a resource-constrained environment.
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.
State Leaders Driving Behavioral Health Innovation: A Panel Discussion
As behavioral health systems face rising demand, workforce shortages, and evolving payer and regulatory expectations, state leaders are playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of care delivery. This session brings together a panel of state leaders to share how they are advancing behavioral health transformation through strategic funding, policy reform, cross-agency collaboration, and data-driven initiatives.
Health care executives will gain insight into emerging state priorities, innovative programs, and scalable models that are improving access, quality, and outcomes across mental health, substance use, and integrated care settings. The discussion will highlight practical implications for providers, including opportunities to align organizational strategy with state initiatives, leverage public funding, and prepare for what’s next in behavioral health policy and system design. Leave with a clearer understanding of how state-level innovation is reshaping the behavioral health landscape – and how executive leaders can partner effectively with states to drive sustainable, mission-aligned growth.
Nora K. Bock, MS, LPC
Nora Bock serves as the Director of the Division of Behavioral Health at the Missouri Department of Mental Health. She is a recognized behavioral health leader focused on strengthening public mental health systems through cross sector partnerships. Her work spans community-based prevention, treatment, and recovery services, as well as forensic services, hospital oversight, and innovative public-private collaborations that increase access and improve outcomes across complex public behavioral health environments.
Nick Boukas, MPA
Nick Boukas is the Director of Behavioral Health Services at the New Mexico Health Care Authority. Mr. Boukas has served in various roles in public service for city, county, regional and state government agencies and national organizations working with the CDC and other Federal agencies on policy and programs. He has been an invited speaker to national and regional conferences speaking on various topics ranging from workforce development to
community engagement. Prior to his appointment in 2023, Mr. Boukas worked at the New Mexico Department of Health. His focus has been to strengthen the behavioral health system to make New Mexico a healthier place. He has a Masters Degree in Public Administration and lives in Santa Fe with his wife and dogs.
Moving Government Health & Human Service Contracting To Performance-Based Models
During this session we’ll examine real-world examples of counties transitioning from volume-based or compliance-driven contracting to performance-based models tied to outcomes and value. Attendees will take away the financial, operational, and political implications of this shift, including procurement alignment, provider readiness, and performance metrics, and discover a roadmap for aligning contracts, data systems, and oversight processes to support measurable impact while safeguarding public funds.
Jin Lee Palen, MPH
Jin Lee (Jinny) Palen is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs (MACMHP) and Convergence Integrated Care, a clinically integrated network of community mental health centers across Minnesota. Her background includes public health research and analysis, community engagement, legislative advocacy, government relations, public policy, and community leadership. Prior to her role with MACMHP, Jinny was with the Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers (MNACHC) Public Policy Staff. Jinny stays active in her local neighborhood community clinic and the AAPI community. Jinny worked for the Minnesota Department of Health in the Health Economics Program, Tobacco Prevention and Control, and the Legislative Affairs Office. Jinny was a Legislative Policy Fellow of the Partners for the Americas Policy Exchange Fellowship in 2014. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, MN, and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Minnesota.
The $50B Opportunity Requiring Stronger Rural Partnerships
The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) presents a $50 billion opportunity to strengthen rural health care nationwide. With nearly one in four rural adults experiencing a behavioral health condition annually, often alongside chronic physical conditions, limited rural systems are challenged to quickly scale to address higher utilization and higher costs. Success will depend on seamless behavioral health integration, real-time coordination, and measurable outcomes. This session explores how states can align partners, convene strong provider coalitions, and leverage existing networks to expand access and improve outcomes for individuals in need. With Bamboo Health’s implementation-ready infrastructure and expansive network already improving over 3 billion care events each year, attendees will gain credible insight on how to leverage responsive, AI-powered, and human-supported solutions that enable real-time visibility, accelerate impact, and sustain rural health transformation.
Lori Szczygiel
Lori Szczygiel is a mission-driven healthcare executive with more than 35 years of leadership experience across behavioral health, managed care, and public sector programs. She is the Founder and CEO of LBS Public Sector Strategies, where she partners with organizations to improve clinical outcomes, optimize financial performance, and design innovative solutions across complex healthcare systems.
Prior to founding her firm, Lori served as Regional Vice President of National Accounts at Carelon Behavioral Health, where she oversaw large-scale government and commercial contracts, including the nation’s largest Employee Assistance Program serving active military populations. She held full P&L accountability for a portfolio exceeding $400 million and led more than 700 employees nationwide. Her leadership was marked by strong operational performance, high client satisfaction, and top-tier Net Promoter Scores across her division.
Previously, Lori was President of the Connecticut Market at Carelon (formerly Beacon Health Options), where she drove 40% revenue growth while building a high-performing, mission-focused leadership team. Under her direction, the organization earned multiple Top Workplace recognitions, reflecting her deep commitment to culture, talent development, and organizational excellence. She also played a critical role in fostering strategic partnerships with legislators, advocacy organizations, providers, and managed care stakeholders. She is widely recognized for her expertise in Medicaid, child welfare systems, recovery-oriented care, and public sector program design.
Lori began her career in clinical and leadership roles in Massachusetts and holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology.
A respected industry leader, Lori is known for aligning strategy with execution, building high-impact teams, and advancing solutions that improve both system performance and individual outcomes.
John Khoury
John Khoury has a multifaceted 30+ year background as a population health expert, health system and payer operator and strategist and clinical pharmacist. John also has extensive strategic advisory experience collaborating with boards and C-Suite executives in their quest to enable optimized healthcare outcomes. In his current role, John drives strategic direction for BambooHealth’s purpose-built products and solutions that drive optimal management of high-risk/high-cost populations, with an emphasis on Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder populations. These technology-first clinical and operational solutions enable the delivery of optimized administrative, clinical and business processes that drive enhanced outcomes in both today’s fee-for-service world, while also enabling care delivery outcomes in a value-based environment. Prior to BambooHealth, John spent 15 years with Lumeris, in various clinical, operational and business development and leadership roles and before that, spent 15 years at BJC Healthcare, in various roles. He has a Doctorate degree in Pharmacy from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis.
Scaling Coordinated Care Models For Safety Net Services For High-Needs Population
During this session, panelists will focus on what it truly takes to scale coordinated care beyond pilot programs. Attendees will explore leadership lessons, funding strategies, technology infrastructure, and cross-sector partnerships required to support high-need populations, particularly those interacting with multiple systems. Leave this session with clarity on the enabling conditions for sustainable scale, common pitfalls in multi-system coordination, and how counties can position themselves as accountable hubs for whole-person, safety-net care.
Jonah C. Cunningham, MPP
Jonah C. Cunningham currently serves as President and CEO of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD). In this role he proactively advocates for national policies that recognize and support the critical role counties play in caring for people affected by mental illness, addiction, and developmental disabilities. In this capacity he also serves as Executive Director of the National Association for Rural Mental Health.
Prior to joining NACBHDD, Jonah worked at Trust for America’s Health, a public health think tank, where he focused extensively on ways to reduce mortality from substance misuse and suicide. Additionally, he worked as a congressional staffer for several years in the office of Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (CA) where he helped to reestablish the Congressional Mental Health Caucus and created a Suicide Prevention Task Force within the Caucus.
Jonah C. Cunningham has received numerous awards and recognition for his commitment to the field of behavioral health and those served by the nation’s behavioral health system. Jonah has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Utah and a Master of Public Policy from The George Washington University. In his free time, he enjoys learning how to cook and is an avid Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.
Wayne Lindstrom, Ph.D.
With over 50 years of experience in the behavioral health field, Wayne Lindstrom brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role. He served five years with the New Mexico Department of Human Services and was appointed as CEO of the Behavioral Health Collaborative.
In 2014, he was recruited by the state to assist with the aftereffects of the 2013 behavioral health shakeup and played a key role in restoring the credibility of the behavioral health system for the state of New Mexico.
Most recently, Wayne Lindstrom served as the vice president of business development and consulting for RI International, a 33-year-old nonprofit headquartered in Phoenix. RI International is recognized as a pioneer in the development of the behavioral health peer support specialist workforce.
Lindstrom holds a doctorate in applied social sciences/addictions from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University. He also earned a master’s degree in community organization from the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Bowling Green State University.