Agenda At-A-Glance

Tuesday, August 11

• 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

  • Registration
    Registration

• 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

  • Lunch On Your Own
    Networking

• 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm

  • Optimizing Health Plan Contracting: The 2026 OPEN MINDS Executive Seminar On Building Referrals, Revenue & Margins
    Executive Seminar
    • Rick Gutierrez, Ph.D., BCBA, Senior Associate, OPEN MINDS
  • Portfolio Management To Optimize Organizational Performance: The 2026 OPEN MINDS Executive Seminar On How To Optimize, Retire & Build A Service Line Portfolio For The Future
    Executive Seminar
    • Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM, Senior Associate, OPEN MINDS

• 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

  • Grand Opening Of The Exhibit Hall
    Networking

Wednesday, August 12

• 7:30 am – 8:30 am

  • Executive Breakfast & Registration
    Networking

• 8:30 am – 9:30 am

  • Where Are We Headed? A State Of The Behavioral Health Industry With Kaiser Permanente
    Keynote
    • Dawn Gillam, LCSW, Executive Leader, Behavioral Health, Kaiser Permanente
    • James E. Tong, M.D., Assistant Regional Medical Director, Care Of Children Service Line Leader, Kaiser Permanente

• 9:45 am – 10:45 am

  • Thought Leader Discussion
    Networking
    • Dawn Gillam, LCSW, Executive Leader, Behavioral Health, Kaiser Permanente
    • James E. Tong, M.D., Assistant Regional Medical Director, Care Of Children Service Line Leader, Kaiser Permanente

• 9:45 am – 11:15 am

  • Perfecting Patient Engagement & Experience From Beginning To End
    Core Session
    • J.J. Johnston, Ed.D., BCBA, Vice President, Experience & Service Excellence, Easterseals Southern California
    • Rene Hurtado, MBA, Chief Of Staff, Emergence Health Network
  • Integrating Technology, Housing, & Health To Support Independent Aging
    Aging Services & Supports Summit
    • Stephen Samuels, Vice President, Innovation & Impact Investing, Volunteers Of America
    • Kari Evans, Senior Evaluation Manager, Institute For Public Health Innovation
    • Charlotte Yeh, M.D., FACEP, Former Chief Medical Officer, AARP

• 9:45 am – 5:30 pm

  • The 2026 OPEN MINDS Digital Therapeutics Expo
    Agenda Coming Soon!

• 11:30 am – 12:45 pm

  • Private Equity Unpacked: Balancing Innovation, Profit & Mission: A Panel Discussion
    Core Session
    • Michael Zhe, BCBA, Chief Executive Officer, Alora Behavioral Health
    • Rob Haput, MS, BCBA, Executive Vice President, LEARN Behavioral
    • Neil Hattangadi, M.D., Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Cortica Care
  • Breaking The Silence: Addressing Mental Health & Social Isolation In Older Adults
    Aging Services & Supports Summit
    • Scott Kaiser, M.D., Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Determined Health, Geriatrician & Adjunct Professor, USC Leonard Davis School Of Gerontology
    • Kristen Brooks, M.D., Department Of Psychiatry, Kaiser Permanente, San Rafael
  • Financial Leadership In Uncertain Times
    Breakout Session
    • Paul Duck, Chief Strategy Officer, OPEN MINDS

• 12:45 pm – 2:15 pm

  • Lunch On Your Own
    Networking

• 1:45 pm – 2:15 pm

  • Apple-A-Day Giveaway
    Networking

• 2:15 pm – 3:45 pm

  • Integrated Supports For Dual-Diagnosis: The Convergence Of Mental Health & I/DD Services
    Core Session
    • Angela Yen, MA, BCBA, Regional Vice President, Consultation Services, Easterseals Southern California
    • Terri Gowey, MS, BCBA, LBA, Chief Operating Officer, Chileda Institute
    • Valerie Wilmink, MS, BCBA, LBA, Shine Clinical Supervisor, Chileda Institute
    • Kate Lopas, MS, BCBA, Vice President Of Residential Services, Chileda Institute
  • An Update On Innovative New Payer Programs
    Breakout Session
    • James Giammarco, Chief Financial Officer – Medicaid Programs, UPMC Insurance Services Division
  • State & Local Strategies For The Next Decade: Building Age-Ready Systems Of Care
    Aging Services & Supports Summit

• 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

  • Safety As Strategy: Reducing Risk For Patients & Staff
    Core Session
    • Ashley Brewer, Safety Compliance Manager, Community Health & Wellness Partners
  • Aging In Place: Care Models That Are Improving Outcomes
    Aging Services & Supports Summit
    • Jessica Santos, MS, BSN, RN, CWOCN, Director Of Patient Care Services, National Home Health Services

• 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

  • Executive Networking Reception
    Networking

Thursday, August 13

• 7:30 am – 8:30 am

  • Executive Breakfast
    Networking

• 8:30 am – 9:30 am

  • Combining Smart Data & Collaboration For Better Performance With Banner Health
    Keynote
    • Marjorie Bessel, M.D., Executive Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer, Banner Health

• 9:45 am – 10:45 am

  • Thought Leader Discussion
    Thought Leader Discussion
    • Marjorie Bessel, M.D., Executive Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer, Banner Health

• 9:45 am – 11:00 am

  • From Assessment To Treatment: What AI Brings To Today’s Clinicians
    Core Session
    • Correnda Perkins, Chief Program Officer, Hillsides

• 11:15 am – 12:30 pm

  • Driving Outcomes For High-Needs Youth: Innovations In Foster Care Services
    Core Session
    • Jane Wintz, LAPSW, Chief Executive Officer, Omni Family Of Services
    • Patricia Cavanaugh, Ed.D., Chief Clinical Officer, Health Connect America
  • Building High-Performing Teams Through Effective Clinical Supervision
    Core Session
    • Isaac L. Bermudez, MS, BCBA, IBA, LBA-TX, Chief Innovation Officer, Brett DiNovi & Associates, LLC

• 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm

  • Lunch On Your Own
    Networking

• 1:45 pm – 2:00 pm

  • Raffle Prize Drawing
    Networking

• 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

  • CFO Consortium Session
    CFO Consortium
  • From Reactive To Strategic: Building A Coherent Technology Roadmap For Behavioral Health
    Breakout Session
    • Michael Allen, Executive Vice President, OPEN MINDS
    • Sharon Hicks, MSW, MBA, Senior Associate, OPEN MINDS

• 3:10 pm – 3:40 pm

  • Building Momentum That Lasts: Leadership & Operational Strategies To Advance Better Care
    Closing Keynote
    • Monica E. Oss, Chief Executive Officer, OPEN MINDS