Speakers & Faculty

Jeremy Aho, Sr. Manager of Talent and Learning, is a workplace learning professional and performance innovator for Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health. A pioneer of eLearning at the organization, his background in psychology and Human Resources Management plus skill with technology, training, and user experience design has contributed to solutions that support organizational learning, talent development, and improved performance.

Heather Alder is the Senior Vice President of Payer Partnerships at Talkspace, where she leads efforts to deliver accessible, high-quality mental health care through innovative partnerships with health plans nationwide. With deep experience across the behavioral health landscape—from supporting clients through EAPs to building national networks for commercial and Medicare members—Heather has spent her career advancing mental health access and value. Prior to Talkspace, she managed behavioral health contracting at a regional Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. Her work is grounded in a commitment to collaboration, member-centricity, and equitable access to care.

Maegan Bowman brings more than 20 years of healthcare experience to her role leading Oceans’ expansion efforts through the integration of new facilities. An experienced strategy and financial leader, Maegan drives Oceans’ business and operational outcomes by ensuring new facilities launch effectively and integrate smoothly into the company’s network.

Prior to joining Oceans in 2020, Maegan spent more than a decade at LifeCare Hospitals where she served as senior vice president of strategy and financial operations. A certified public accountant, Maegan holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a member of the board of directors of the Myhre Syndrome Foundation.

Harry Bruell, CEO/President, has led PathPoint since 2017 and has been a leader in the nonprofit sector for more than 30 years. PathPoint supports people flourish by partnering with children, adults, and families to find hope and empowerment, build life skills, access systems of support, and develop meaningful relationships. PathPoint’s 500 employees support 3,750 people through employment, residential, community integration, and counseling services in five southern and central California counties. Harry’s dedication to PathPoint’s mission comes from a deep personal understanding of some of the challenges faced by individuals supported by PathPoint and their families. He serves as the Vice-Chair for Policy and Board Member for the California Behavioral Health Association, as the Policy Chair and Board Member of the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder, and as a Board Member of California ASPE.  Harry is the previous Treasurer of the California Disability Services Association and serves on several workgroups and committees of the California Department of Developmental Services. Harry is also an active member of the Los Angeles Coalition of Service Providers and the Lanterman Coalition. Prior to joining PathPoint, Harry served for 26 years in the conservation corps field, including 13 years as President and CEO of Conservation Legacy, a national agency based in Colorado. During the Obama Administration, the Secretary of the Interior appointed Harry as chair of a federal advisory committee to grow the corps movement. He graduated with honors from Rice University.

Corina Casco is an accomplished leader in the non-profit sector with over two decades of expertise in clinical and program development. She excels in cultivating teams into strong leaders, securing expansive funding, and pioneering innovative service delivery. As the Chief Program Officer, she is responsible for the leadership, oversight, and financial management of the organization’s programs. She spearheads the agency’s TIROC (Trauma Informed Resilience Oriented Care) movement and co-leads the DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) Movement. She is a licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California.

Denny joined Justice in Aging in 2014 and is responsible for leading and developing Justice in Aging’s Strategic Initiative on Advancing Equity. Denny and his team work across all program areas to ensure that Justice in Aging’s advocacy eliminates barriers and inequities for older adults experiencing systemic discrimination.

The son of working-class Chinese immigrant parents, Denny has worked significantly on non-discrimination in health care, language access, and issues of aging and equity for low-income older adults and brings these experiences to his advocacy. He is affiliate faculty for the Shriver Center on Poverty Law and was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to serve on California’s Civil Rights Council. Denny is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine School of Law. He received his BA from the University of Michigan.

Denny is based in Sacramento, California. He is a public radio junkie and in his spare time enjoys going to restaurants in search of the next hidden gem.

State Bar Admission: California

Dr. Chaudhry is the Chief Executive Officer of Solace Behavioral Health. With over 20 years of experience, he is expanding the footprint of Solace Behavioral Health to several centers in multiple counties, as well as expanding their scope of services through integrating care with lifestyle modifications and chronic disease management to improve outcomes. Dr. Chaudhry received his Doctor of Psychiatric Medicine from the University of Miami School of Medicine, and has clinical expertise in the inpatient, outpatient, and forensic settings.

Dr. Clark Harvey received a B.A. in psychology from Cal Poly Pomona, an M.S. in community counseling, and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

While pursuing her Ph.D., she was licensed as a Professional Counselor and practiced in community and hospital settings in Wisconsin for 5 years. She completed a pre-doctoral internship at USC’s Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and a post-doctoral fellowship at UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Clark Harvey was a Social Justice Fellow at the Center for Policy Analysis, where she researched the mental health provisions of the Affordable Care Act. She was a Science and Technology Fellow at the California Senate, where she worked as a fellow and then Principal Consultant in the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development (BPED) Committee. She served as the Chief Consultant to the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions before transitioning to the California Behavioral Health Association, where she served as the Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs before her appointment to CEO. She also serves as the Executive Director of the California Access Coalition.

Dr. Clark Harvey was appointed by the California Lieutenant Governor to the CIRM Board and is an appointee to SAMHSA’s Advisory Committee for Women’s Services. She is a Board member of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and the California Association of Nonprofits, and is a past Board member of the American Psychological Association, the Association of Black Psychologists, the First 5 California Advisory Committee, the Sacramento Children’s Coalition, and the Sacramento County Public Health Advisory Committee. She is an alumna of the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program and an American Leadership Forum fellow.

Monica Dedhia, LCSW, is a seasoned mental health leader with over 15 years of experience advancing community-based health access & engagement. As Director of Community Health at Children’s Institute, Inc., she leads initiatives that center Whole Person Care and equity-driven systems transformation. Monica has played a pivotal role in launching CalAIM initiatives, including Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports, with a focus on cross-sector collaboration and sustainable care models for historically underserved populations. Her work bridges clinical practice, community voice, and policy implementation to drive meaningful change. Monica holds a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California and is deeply committed to co-designing solutions that promote health equity and improve outcomes within communities.

Paula Digerness is an experienced healthcare executive with more than 25 years of leadership in senior living, long-term care, and healthcare operations. She currently serves as Executive Director and Nursing Home Administrator at Carlsbad by the Sea, a continuing care retirement community recognized for its 5-star Medicare rating and top-quartile satisfaction results. Paula has led multiple communities through record operational performance, innovative dementia care program design, and flawless regulatory surveys. She holds a Master’s in Long-Term Care Administration from the University of Southern California and is pursuing her Doctorate in Social Work. Known for her strategic vision, operational excellence, and commitment to staff development, Paula brings deep expertise in addressing today’s staffing and workforce challenges in healthcare.

Sara Dodge, LSW, is a dedicated professional with nearly two decades of experience in behavioral health and substance use disorder. After earning her Bachelor’s degree from West Chester University in 2005 and her Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006, Sara began her career in aging and adult community services assisting older adults with home care. She then began her tenure at Eagleville Hospital, where she has served for 19 years.

Starting in geriatric psychiatry and co-occurring substance use disorder treatment, Sara’s role evolved to Program Manager in 2013, overseeing adult drug and alcohol programs and co-occurring disorders. Her extensive experience spans the entire continuum of care at Eagleville, giving her a unique perspective on the changing landscape of behavioral health.

Sara has witnessed and adapted to the rising prevalence of co-occurring disorders and serious mental illness, as well as the shift towards an integrated behavioral health model. Her work addresses the complex interplay between substance use disorders, mental health, and social determinants of health.

Currently residing in Chester County with her partner and daughter, Sara remains committed to improving patient outcomes and advancing the field of behavioral health treatment.

Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg represents a diverse population of just under 400,000 residents in District 4, which includes the unincorporated community of Burbank, much of West San Jose, and the cities of Campbell and Santa Clara.

Supervisor Ellenberg also serves as the Chair of the County’s Public Safety and Justice Committee and the Vice Chair of the Finance and Government Operations Committee.

She is the first Vice President of the California State Association of Counties and a board member of various organizations, including Joint Venture Silicon Valley and FIRST 5 Santa Clara County. 

Supervisor Ellenberg is a former attorney, educator and school board trustee. She was born in Pittsburgh, PA and is a graduate of Barnard College and Columbia University School of Law. 

Supervisor Ellenberg lives in San Jose with her husband, attorney Steve Ellenberg, and their two dogs, Lacey and Peaches. They have three young adult children: Zach (married to Ruth Ferguson), Molly and Naava.

Ryan Estes is the Chief Operating Officer of Coastal Horizons, a leader in mental health and substance use treatment, justice services, child welfare, and integrated health programming. Coastal Horizons has been a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic for three years. Ryan is charged with overseeing eighty million in programming and nearly seven hundred staff to meet the mission of healthier lives, stronger families, and safer communities. Ryan received his BA in Psychology from Wake Forest University, an MSW from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an MBA from UNC-Wilmington. Ryan has been in the behavioral health field for over twenty years as a clinician and director.  Ryan holds licenses in North Carolina as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist. Additionally, he is a Certified Clinical Supervisor with the NC Addiction Specialist Professional Practice Board.  Ryan is the former Treasurer on the National Association of Social Work board and an alum of the Annie E. Casey Foundation Child and Family Fellowship. Ryan teaches part-time for the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in the College of Health and Human Services.

Lillian Garcia, OTD, OTR/L,is a licensed occupational therapist currently serving at Masada Community Mental Health Services. She holds a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy and brings over a decade of experience as an educator with the Los Angeles Unified School District. Notably, she now serves many of the same communities in her clinical work that she supported during her years in education. Dr. Garcia’s practice is grounded in a trauma-informed, culturally relevant, client-centered, and strength-based approach.

Deeply committed to community engagement, Dr. Garcia participates in career days to inspire youth in underserved areas and remains passionate about fostering access and equity in healthcare and education. Her personal interests include cooking, fermenting, exploring the science of food, traveling, and attending summer concerts.

With over 30 years of progressive Human Resources experience in varying disciplines, Kymberly Garrett has a background using a holistic Human Resources Management style.  Kymberly supports all levels of professional development and has created cutting edge programs in Talent Acquisition, Talent & Performance Management and Executive Coaching.  Whether creating customized leadership training programs or facilitating change management initiatives – Kymberly utilizes her experiences in both Fortune 500 companies and start-ups, as well as, private and nonprofit organizations to help guide teams into becoming sustainable high-impact and high performing teams. Kymberly is certified through various Human Resources and Training organizations and also teaches Human Resources Practice.  Additionally, she serves on various Advisory Boards and is listed as a Subject Matter Expert with many labor-related governmental agencies. Kymberly, a Chicago native, has called Southern California home for the last 18 years.  She holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Nelson Gomes is a highly accomplished Healthcare IT Executive excelling in driving industry-leading results in revenue growth, profitability, and service. Nelson is a trusted thought leader with a remarkable history of leveraging technology to enhance patient care and transforming the healthcare business, along with serving as a strategic business partner with Executive Leadership teams, aligning operational initiatives with organizational objectives, and building high-performing teams while cultivating key relationships and partnerships.

Healthcare innovation is Neil’s driving passion. Drawing on his training as a physician and scientist, Neil has spent his career leading, advising, and investing in the medical and biotech industries. His experience spans established, market-leading corporations to groundbreaking, early-stage start-ups. Neil holds degrees from Duke University, Harvard Medical School, and Oxford University, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar.

Denise Hennessey is an accomplished healthcare executive with extensive experience leading clinical operations and human resources across diverse healthcare settings, including behavioral health, acute care, and specialty services. With a background in both nursing and organizational development, she brings a unique ability to align clinical strategy with workforce priorities to improve outcomes, strengthen culture, and drive performance.

Her leadership portfolio includes implementing innovative care models, guiding cultural transformation initiatives, and successfully managing union negotiations and workforce restructuring. Denise is known for her transparent, collaborative approach and for building high-performing teams grounded in accountability, safety, and compassion.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and has completed MBA-level coursework in healthcare leadership. Denise is passionate about advancing safe, inclusive, and sustainable healthcare systems through people-focused strategy and data-informed decision-making.

Lezlie Hicks is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator and healthcare executive with over a decade of leadership in skilled nursing and senior care operations. She currently serves as Manager of Aging in Place programs at Foothill AIDS Project, where she designs and implements innovative initiatives that empower older adults to remain safely and independently in their homes. Lezlie is recognized for blending strategic vision with compassionate leadership to enhance care delivery, streamline operations, and build community partnerships.

Throughout her career, Lezlie has led large-scale teams, navigated regulatory challenges, and pioneered specialized care programs—including fall risk prevention, on-site dialysis, and short-term rehabilitation units. Her expertise spans across Medicare/managed care optimization, workforce development, and crisis response, including effective COVID-19 containment strategies.

A champion for aging with dignity, Lezlie brings a passionate voice to conversations about equity, accessibility, and the future of elder care in community-based settings.

Jennifer Hinkel has been a dedicated leader in the Behavioral Health field for over two decades. She first served as the COO of Recovery Innovations for 11 years, where she collaborated with Dr. Bill Anthony at Boston University to study the effectiveness of Peer Support Services in reducing recidivism after inpatient stays. Currently, she is the Vice President at Telecare Corporation, where she is committed to delivering best-in-class recovery services to over 80 communities across six states. Jennifer is deeply passionate about making life better every day in every way for customers, clients, and colleagues.

Melisa Hinojosa is a healthcare leader with expertise in data-driven engagement, omnichannel strategy and operational transformation. She currently leads Patient Experience for a national primary care organization, where she drives Net Promoter Score, service recovery, and digital engagement initiatives. With a background in technology, storytelling, and innovation, Melisa is passionate about using research and human insight to design better care experiences.

Dr. Matthew Holder is recognized as an international leader in the care of individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).

Dr. Holder began working on what would result in Developmental Medicine becoming a recognized medical expertise soon after starting his career. In 2002, he took over the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD).  Since then the AADMD has set the curriculum and standards that guide medical students, residents and fellowship-level physicians to better treat and understand patients with IDD.  Medical schools and residency programs around the world have implemented curriculum changes based on the work done by Dr. Holder and the AADMD.

In 2005 Dr. Holder became Global Medical Advisor for the Special Olympics. Dr. Holder has trained thousands of healthcare providers in addressing the health needs of athletes with IDD. He also assists the American Medical Association and the American Dental Association in developing and passing resolutions that improve the lives and healthcare of IDD patients.

Dr. Holder, alongside colleague Dr. Henry Hood, designed and developed a unique, interdisciplinary patient care and teaching model that meets the health needs of adults with IDD living in the community – the first of its kind in the nation. Today the Lee Specialty Clinic exists as a testament their shared vision.

Dr. Holder is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

Tess currently serves as the Chief Clinical Officer for Vivant Behavioral Healthcare. During her two decades of behavioral healthcare experience, Tess has experience in direct care, clinical operations, and executive leadership across community-based and inpatient settings. In her role overseeing Vivant’s clinical service models, Tess is driven to create trauma-informed, accountable, and inclusive behavioral health services through the implementation of research-supported clinical and patient safety best practices.

Tess has obtained her Doctorate of Philosophy in Education and is a licensed clinician in Iowa and Arizona. In addition, Tess is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), a trained trainer for Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), and an advocate and member with the National Association for Behavioral Healthcare (NABH).

Michael is a seasoned executive with 17+ years of experience in people management, technology, technology services, and consulting. Michael has been with Medicus IT for 10+ years and has helped Medicus IT to become one of the top healthcare-focused managed services providers in the US. Before joining Medicus IT, Mike led IT operations for AirWatch. Mike previously served as a Technology Consultant for Fortune 100 company MassMutual Financial Group, part of a nationwide team testing, deploying, and supporting new technologies.

Michael obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Business Administration in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix.

When Mike is not with his Medicus IT family, he is an avid traveler and enjoys boating and scuba diving.

Scott A. Kaiser, MD, is the CEO of Determined Health, a company he co-founded with a vision for a new approach to community care—one that starts with human connection, first. Kaiser is a board-certified family physician and geriatrician with executive leadership experience focused on the improvement of aging services, geriatric care, and population health. Engaged in clinical care, teaching, community outreach, advocacy, and research, Kaiser is the Director of Geriatric Cognitive Health at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, an adjunct faculty member of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, and serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations. He is determined to solve healthcare’s greatest challenges and create healthy communities that support us all in living well and aging well.

Kaiser completed his undergraduate studies at Vassar College with a degree in Science, Technology, and Society, and received his medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He went on to train within the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency, the Harvard Geriatric Medicine Fellowship, and the UCLA Health Services Research Fellowship.

Dr. Todd Kasdan currently serves as the BH (Behavioral Health) Quality Senior Medical Director for Aetna/CVS Health. He is Board Certified in Psychiatry as well as Addiction Medicine.

Prior to joining Aetna/CVS Health, Todd held Medical Directorship positions at several health plan competitors of Aetna where he was responsible for various administrative medicine activities including UM (Utilization Management), QM (Quality Management), credentialing, collaborating with sales teams on RFPs (Request for proposals), along with assisting SIU (Special Investigation Unit) teams as a clinical SME (Subject matter expert).  Dr. Kasdan has experience serving as an NCQA (National Committee for Quality Assurance) health plan physician surveyor and has sat on the NCQA ROC (Review Oversight Committee).  Prior to entering medical management, Kasdan worked over a decade plus in direct patient care treating the gamut of BH conditions in a variety of levels of care (outpatient to inpatient and all the BH levels in between such as IOP {Intensive outpatient program}, PHP {Partial hospital program}, RTC {Residential treatment center},…).

Dr. Kasdan received his undergraduate degree in Physiology from Michigan State University, earned his MD from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, and completed his residency at Loyola University Medical Center.

Ross Lallian joined the California Department of Aging (CDA) in December 2022 as Chief of Research in the Division of Policy, Research, and Equity. In this position, Ross plays a critical role in advancing the Master Plan for Aging, including leading the California Aging and Disability Research Partnership, the Data Dashboard for Aging, and many other efforts. Prior to joining CDA, he was the Health Workforce Development Research and Evaluation Chief at the Department of Health Care Access and Information where he led research to understand health workforce disparities, health equity issues, and health workforce data needs. Ross has also conducted pension related research, including understanding how pensions impact state and local economies. Ross holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and a Master of Science degree in accounting from California State University, Sacramento.

Aubree Lovelace is a Division Chief of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health directing multiple programs in the Department’s Countywide Engagement Division. Leading the Homeless Outreach Mobile Engagement (HOME), Emergency Centralized Response Center, Skid Row Concierge, Women’s Community Reentry, and Men’s Community Reentry Programs, she ensures effective and assertive field-based services are delivered to the marginalized and underserved populations of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness with severe mental illness as well as formerly incarcerated people experiencing mental illness. In her former role as Program Manager of HOME, she led the transformation of that program from homeless outreach as usual into a full-service street psychiatry program implementing innovative interventions including Outpatient Conservatorship, relentless follow up, and hands-on intervention to effect involuntary hospitalization without the involvement of law enforcement. A Marriage and Family Therapist by training, Aubree’s time in now spent primarily in meetings with politicians and fellow bureaucrats to develop and coordinate services to the people of Los Angeles. She is happiest when those meetings are rescheduled and she can get out on the streets of Skid Row and involved in the services her programs deliver.

Dan Mansfield is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Program Manager of the LACDMH Homeless Outreach & Mobile Engagement (HOME) Program, a street psychiatry program serving people experiencing unsheltered homelessness and severe mental illness. Prior to managing HOME, Dan worked as a supervisor in the program and developed the Hands-On Intervention model HOME now uses to initiate involuntary treatment safely and effectively without the involvement of law enforcement. Prior to joining HOME, Dan worked as a clinician in the SMART and CAMP programs in the LAPD Mental Evaluation Unit and taught components of the LAPD Mental Health Intervention Training for officers. Dan has worked on FSPs, ACT Teams, and other intensive levels of the outpatient mental health system in New York, Massachusetts, and California. 

Melissa M. Matos, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist with focused expertise in rehabilitation and health psychology, and specialized training across medical and psychiatric settings, including the VA healthcare system. She currently serves as Director of Therapy Programs at Brightside Health, where she collaborates on clinical quality initiatives, supervises clinically diverse teams, and advances inclusive, equitable care. Her work is informed by lived experience and driven by a commitment to health equity, identity-affirming care, and reimagining service delivery through non-traditional models.

Zachary (Zack) Myers is Corporate Vice President, National General Manager. In his role, he oversees growth and performance of SCAN’s Medicare Advantage plans across California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, and New Mexico, as well as Embrace, SCAN’s Institutional Special Needs Plan (I-SNP), with a focus on expansion, member experience, and ensuring operational excellence in each market.

With an extensive background in Medicare Advantage operations, market expansion, and health plan strategy, Zack has spent his career leading innovative Medicare Advantage and healthcare technology companies to improve care for seniors.

At SCAN, Zack previously served as Vice President of Strategy and CEO of Welcome Health, SCAN’s medical group dedicated to providing best-in-class primary care to older adults using a geriatric-focused approach. During his time at Welcome Health, he played a pivotal role in shaping early strategy, growth modeling, and clinical operations while securing $14 million in seed funding.

He also held a leadership role at CareMore Health and served as the CEO of Annie Health, where he developed novel AI-enabled software to improve the quality of end-of-life care.

Zack holds two B.A. degrees in Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences and Economics from Northwestern University.

Dr. Erin O’Callaghan is a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of clinical experience providing evidence-based care to children, adolescents, and adults. Her areas of expertise include depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, and the intersection of mental and physical health. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. O’Callaghan has held leadership roles in digital mental health and has spent the past four years overseeing therapy programs at Brightside Health, where she contributes to the design, implementation, and scaling of high-quality virtual care. Prior to her work in digital health, Dr. O’Callaghan spent a decade as a professor and director of an APA-accredited doctoral program, where she led curriculum development and supervised training clinics in psychological assessment and therapy. Her career reflects a deep commitment to advancing clinical excellence through education, program development, and accessible mental healthcare.

Dr. Rab is an Associate Medical Director for Field-Based Services at the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) and serves as the North County Supervising Psychiatrist for the Homeless Outreach & Mobile Engagement (HOME) Team Program. He completed his medical school education at USC and then trained at the UCLA-Olive View Psychiatry Residency Program where he also served as Chief Resident of Education in his final year. Currently he is double board-certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. Dr. Rab began his street psychiatry career in 2019 when he became the first full-time street psychiatrist for DMH. Dr. Rab’s pioneering work on HOME Team, laid the foundation for the program’s current clinical infrastructure and ecosystem of care. In addition to his clinical duties at DMH, Dr. Rab is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA. In this academic capacity, he has developed street psychiatry rotations for several residency programs in Los Angeles to train the future generation of street psychiatrists.

Adrian is the Channel Partnerships Manager at Greenspace Health, where he partners with EHR providers to support their customers’ adoption of Measurement-Based Care. Prior to joining Greenspace, Adrian spent 7 years in healthcare software at PointClickCare, where he helped North America’s largest skilled nursing facility operators make strategic technology investments to enhance their clinical, financial, and operational workflows. He’s passionate about technology’s ability to improve mental healthcare for those who need it most. 

Carly Roman-Woo, PhD, joined Archstone Foundation as a Program Officer in 2023. As a 2020-2021 intern at the Foundation, Dr. Roman-Woo worked closely with grantees, grant applicants, and program staff to promote new funding opportunities, disseminate communication materials, and implement special projects, such as Catchafire’s skills-based volunteering platform. In her role as a Program Officer, Carly leads work within the Foundation’s equitable, coordinated care portfolio, with a focus on advancing equity in aging through the organization’s JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) principles. She supports grantees and partners in strengthening care systems for older adults and caregivers, with an emphasis on technology, strategic collaboration, and care coordination across health and social services. She also manages the Catchafire partnership and helps guide the Foundation’s capacity building program, supporting organizations to enhance their effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

Dr. Roman-Woo received her PhD from the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology in 2021 and her BA in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016. Her doctoral research, supported by the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship, focused on understanding intergenerational connections and how they benefit older adults. With a background in positive psychology, Dr. Roman-Woo aims to illuminate positive aspects of aging and the ways older adults can meaningfully contribute to others, a concept known as generativity. She is committed to bridging the gaps between research and practice to facilitate development and implementation of evidence-based programs benefiting older adults and those who support them.

Dr. Roman-Woo is a leader in intergenerational programming as a three-time chapter founder and current Advisory Council member of GlamourGals, a national nonprofit organization in which students provide free makeovers and manicures to senior living residents. Prior to joining Archstone Foundation, Dr. Roman-Woo served as Innovation Manager at the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF), where she developed partnerships and managed programs to support the health and well-being of entertainment industry members. In this role, she collaborated with partners to implement and evaluate innovative programs, including Senior Planet’s licensing program to provide technology classes for older adults, and Passing The Torch, MPTF’s intergenerational career mentorship program to increase diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry.

After serving in the Marine Corps as a Logistics Officer, Cole was eager to serve in a new way. Cole lost his Grandfather to Parkinson’s Disease in 2022, and saw that many burdens quickly shifted to his grandma’s shoulders – many of these same burdens centered around technology. Cole became enthused with the idea of supporting older adults through technology education and has never looked back. Cole is a lifelong learner and volunteer with the VA, which has shaped his perspective on Digital Health and patient education related to veterans.

With more than 30 years of experience building and managing healthcare data and software businesses, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Josh Schoeller leads Qualifacts with a track record of transformative growth, innovation, and market leadership. Prior to Qualifacts, he held executive roles at Elsevier, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Enclarity, and FICO, consistently driving the development and success of groundbreaking healthcare solutions.

Michael E. Smith, MD, DLFAPA, CHCQM, is the Chief Medical Officer of Trillium Health Resources, the local governmental agency that manages mental health, substance use, and intellectual/developmental disability services in a 46-county area in eastern and central North Carolina.  We are responsible for managing state and federally funded services for people who receive Medicaid, are uninsured or cannot afford services.

Dr. Smith completed his residency in psychiatry and his child and adolescent psychiatric fellowship at East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine. He was in private practice in Greenville, NC, for 20 years, practicing in adult, adolescent, and child psychiatry. His practice was a multidisciplinary practice including psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy, marriage and family therapy, and developmental pediatrics. Dr. Smith also consulted at multiple public mental health agencies over the years.

In July of 2013 Dr. Smith joined East Carolina Behavioral Health as the Chief Medical Officer. This position is charged with providing psychiatric and medical oversight to the various clinical and quality management departments within the agency, as well as representing the agency to various external stakeholders, including CCNC. In July of 2015 ECBH and Coastal Care consolidated to form Trillium Health Resources. Trillium Health Resources further expanded to 46 of the 100 NC counties in January of 2023. Under North Carolina’s Medicaid Transformation Plan, Trillium began providing coverage in the Fall of 2023 to include physical health benefits, pharmacy benefits, vision benefits, and long-term services and supports.

Jon St. Pierre is the Executive Director of Brighter Transition Youth Treatment Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Jon began his career in 1999 as a residential direct care staff and has dedicated over two decades of service to youth behavioral health treatment. During his tenure, Jon has held multiple leadership roles, demonstrating a deep commitment to the development and well-being of young people as well as a passion for staff development. Jon has been the Executive Director at Brighter Transition Youth Treatment Center since 2013 and previously served as the Vice President for the South Dakota Association of Youth Care Providers.

Throughout his career, Jon has specialized in creating safe, therapeutic environments for at-risk youth. He is a certified instructor in both Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) techniques and Ukeru Systems, equipping staff with trauma-informed, non-coercive intervention strategies. In addition, Jon has led Brighter Transition Youth Treatment Center through the multi-year process of achieving Sanctuary Model™ certification.

Scott Tarde is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, as well as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Administrator. Scott has been the CEO of the George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers, Inc.® since 2015 and prior to that, he served as a volunteer member of the Glenner Centers’ Board of Directors (2013-2015).

Scott has an extensive operational background in multi-site management of skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities.

The original Town Square®, immersive reminiscence therapy design concept for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and GLENNERCARE™, the virtual support service for individuals with ADRD, are both the innovations of Scott J. Tarde, L.N.H.A.

Scott is a past President of the San Diego Health Care Association, past Vice-Chair for Region V of the California Association of Health Facilities and Vice-Chair of the San Diego Senior Alliance. Scott graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Psychology.

Don Taylor is the CEO of Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County. A dedicated community leader with over 32 years of experience—Taylor brings along commitment to social justice with a focus on holistic services to individuals and families.

Taylor has devoted his career to faith-based and community organizations. Most recently, as Regional Executive Director at Pacific Clinics, he led initiatives that doubled services in behavioral health, social services, and juvenile probation.

Don also serves as the president of Charities Housing board, providing high-quality, affordable housing for low income residents.

Dr. Crystal Taylor-Dietz is the national director of behavioral health services at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health and is a licensed psychologist in Maryland and the District of Columbia. At Devereux, she supports clinical teams with implementation of their trauma-informed framework (D-PBIS), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and other clinical needs. In addition, she has been the project owner for a number of national clinical initiatives within the organization. She has over 18 years of mental health experience working with children and adults in community-based, residential, and outpatient services, including holding a number of leadership, management and supervisory roles. Dr. TD is a member of the supervising faculty at The George Washington University Professional Psychology Program and was previously a teaching faculty member in the Child and Adolescent Training Program at the Washington School of Psychiatry. Her research/teaching and clinical interests have included issues related to mental health/wellness, mindfulness, race/ethnicity, and trauma-informed care.

Shannan Taylor, MA, LMFT, is the Regional Director of Operations at Telecare Corporation, with 18 years of leadership experience spanning the full continuum of behavioral health services, including acute, subacute, and community-based FSPs. Shannan has played a key role in leading Telecare’s Northern California expansion of Kaiser’s ICT programs. She is also known for her significant contribution in creating a Tiered System of Care within FSP/ACT Teams to allow for customization and recovery graduation out of a program and into natural supports.

Heidi TenPas, OTD, OTR/L, DIR-Expert, IFECMHS (she/her) is the Director of Occupational Therapy at Masada Community Mental Health Services. As an occupational therapist and leader in the field of community mental health, Dr. TenPas promotes recovery and wellbeing for all ages and abilities using a trauma-responsive, relationship-based, and diversity-affirming approach. Her commitment to health equity is aligned with Masada’s mission to provide highest-quality care to those most in need. With experience as a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) fellow and endorsed as an Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist, Dr. TenPas applies a developmentally informed and neurobiologically grounded model of mental health across the lifespan. In addition to her role at Masada, Dr. TenPas was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for the Association for Training on Trauma and Attachment in Children (ATTACh) and serves as an Expert Training Leader for the International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL). 

Yagnesh Vadgama has been with Magellan for more than seven years, in managed care for eight years, and was a clinician in the field of Behavior Analysis for 11 years prior. Yagnesh has 20 years of experience in ABA, starting off by working directly with individuals on the autism spectrum to directing programs in homes, schools, and community-based settings.

Currently, as the Vice President of Autism for Magellan, Yagnesh oversees both the autism and ABA products for Magellan nationally. His team of BCBAs and licensed clinicians provide a unique experience in ABA UM as they all have a similar experience to Yagnesh with real-world experience. Yagnesh also engages in the innovation and decision-making process for ABA both at Magellan and nationally, with participation in workgroups such as ICHOM, speaking at conferences and universities, and developing outcome measures for the field of ABA.

Rafael Vaquerano is the President and CEO of Gardner Health Services located in San Jose, CA. Rafael holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and a Masters of Public Health degree from the University of New England.

Rafael is responsible for the management and performance of Gardner Health Services, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), serving the underserved and under-represented communities in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Gardner Health Services has 11 locations, and two mobile units providing Primary Care, Specialty Behavioral Health, and ancillary services.

Rafael has worked in the healthcare industry for over 18 years, of which has served in a leadership capacity for 12 years. Prior to joining Gardner Health Services, Rafael served as the Vice President of Practice Development and Innovation at John Muir Health. Rafael has also held a variety of roles which include Director of FQHC at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, System Director Patient Access and Revenue Operations at Alameda Health System, and Clinics Manager at San Mateo Medical Center.

Rafael has wide-ranging experience in healthcare administration, continuous process improvement, strategy-growth and development. Rafael is a firm believer in servant and facilitative leadership, and enjoys creating a community of problem solvers while developing future leaders in achieving organizational objectives.

Since 2014, Mark Wickham has led Youth and Family Advocates, Inc. (YFA) with a passion for service, building community partnerships, and creating resources to support children and families across YFA’s seven-county service area.

With nearly three decades of executive leadership experience in the social services sector, Mark has dedicated his career to strengthening communities and improving the lives of children and families. His experience includes serving as CEO of Catholic Family Center; President & CEO of Lakeview Community Resources, Inc.; and Administrator of Outpatient & Inpatient Services for Finger Lakes Health System.

Mark holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Accounting/Health Administration from The College of Saint Rose, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology and Special Education from Marist University. He also holds a Certificate in Alcohol and Substance Abuse Studies from Rutgers University.

In an ever-evolving landscape shaped by local, regional, state, and national developments, Mark places a strong emphasis on building and maintaining strategic relationships with local partners and legislators to advocate for meaningful, community-centered progress. These partnerships help ensure that YFA not only adapts effectively to ongoing changes but also does so in a way that supports and enhances the lives of children and families.

Driven by a deep passion for our community that shines through in all he does; Mark provides statewide leadership to improve child welfare systems for the children and families served by YFA. He is the Chair of Florida Coalition for Children’s (FCC) Provider Counsel, serves on the Pasco County Continuum of Care’s Executive Board and Kids Central, Inc.’s Board of Directors, is a New Port Richey Rotarian, and an active volunteer with the Big Brother and Big Sister Program. 

In addition to his experience in social services, Mark has been involved in multiple housing projects in both New York and Florida. His passion for affordable housing is now helping to expand resources in Pasco County through the planned development of Speer II, which will provide 50 newly constructed units of affordable housing to serve up to 110 families, children, and youth aging out of foster care.

Debbie Witchey began her tenure as the President and CEO of the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW) in 2024. ABHW member companies provide coverage to over 200 million people in both the public and private sectors to treat mental health, substance use disorders, and other behaviors that impact health and wellness. 

Previously, Debbie served for more than 20 years as the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of the Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC), an alliance of leading health industry CEOs representing all sectors of health care. She also built an award-winning community health program for a hospital system in Charleston, SC and served as deputy assistant secretary at the US Treasury Department in both a Republican and Democrat administration.

Debbie has a master’s in health administration from the Medical University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Duke University.

Michael Allen brings over 30 years of experience in the non-profit behavioral healthcare industry to the OPEN MINDS team. He currently serves as an Executive Vice President in our consulting practice, where he provides executive oversight and leadership to provider and payer client engagements for OPEN MINDS.

Mr. Allen was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of SummitStone Health Partners, the largest non-profit behavioral health service provider in Larimer County, CO. In this role Mr. Allen was responsible for the planning deployment, communication and accomplishment of SummitStone Health Partners’ overarching corporate strategy. He managed a budget of $80Million and was responsible for more than 750 full time employees and over 12,000 clients annually.

Prior to SummitStone Health Partners, Mr. Allen served as the Vice President of Managed Care & Operations at AspenPointe (now Diversus Health). At AspenPointe he developed and managed a system of accountability for monitoring and evaluating provider performance in seven Colorado counties. He was also responsible for the quality management oversight of all business lines, as well as managing a substance abuse treatment contract with the Colorado Division of Behavioral Health and a child welfare services agreement with El Paso County Department of Human Services.
Previously, Mr. Allen was the Director of Clinical Care for Connect Care, (rebranded as AspenPointe in 2010). In this position Mr. Allen provided supervision to the clinical staff, as well as developing clinical guidelines and services. He was also the project director for the 4th Judicial District Family Reunification Grant and he oversaw care coordination and voucher management functions for Colorado Access to Recovery Grant.

Before Connect Care, Mr. Allen was the Director of Child Welfare Services for Signal Behavioral Health Network, a non-profit that has been managing and expanding substance use prevention, treatment and recovery services in northeast Colorado for over 25 years. Mr. Allen managed a network of Substance Use Disorder treatment providers, programs and services across 35 Colorado counties.

Mr. Allen earned a Bachelor of Arts in Design/Psychology from Brigham Young University, a Masters in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University, and a Masters in Business Administration from Colorado State University. He is a Licensed Social Worker and a Certified Addictions Specialist in Colorado.

Stuart Buttlaire has over 35 years of clinical, management, and leadership experience. His career includes diverse experience in both the public and private sectors of healthcare providing leadership and direction in healthcare delivery.

Dr. Buttlaire currently serves as the Regional Director of Behavioral Health and Addiction Medicine for Kaiser Permanente. In this role, Dr. Buttlaire designs and oversees a broad continuum of services and programs for both inpatient, ambulatory, and emergency settings for mental health and addiction medicine. Dr. Buttlaire previously served as the Regional Director of Inpatient Psychiatry and Continuing Care at Kaiser Permanente and the lead Mental Health Representative within Kaiser Permanente’s State Program Initiatives including Medicaid and Medicare.

Additionally, Dr. Buttlaire served as a regional leader in the development of best practices at Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Buttlaire developed and led major program redesigns including Integrated Urgent Services for adults and youth with mental health and substance use disorders, Kaiser Permanente Post-Acute Center (SNF) Behavioral Health Program, mental health and emergency room consultation and suicide prevention, multi-family groups for adults and teens in treatment of severe psychiatric conditions, and intensive outpatient treatment programs for adults and youths. Recently, Dr. Buttlaire implemented a mobile application for eating-disordered patients that won Kaiser’s Innovation Award. Dr. Buttlaire also developed and implemented two psychiatric inpatient units at Kaiser Permanente, one of them was a medical/psychiatric unit to treat those members with both medical and psychiatric co-morbidities and the other, was a free-standing psychiatric health facility.

Additionally, Dr. Buttlaire often provides expertise and consultation on state and federal legislation and its impact on behavioral health within Kaiser Permanente, the State of California, and nationally. Dr. Buttlaire is currently the Board President of the Institute for Behavioral Health Improvement. He was selected to the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board for Western Section after serving as AHA’s Chair of Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse section. He is currently on the Board of Directors of NAMI California, and the California Hospital Association’s Advisory Board of Behavioral Health.

Dr. Buttlaire is a graduate from the University of California, Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business with a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Health Care Management, Finance, and Marketing. Dr. Buttlaire also graduated from the California Institute of Integral Studies with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Additionally, Dr. Buttlaire holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from California State University, Humboldt, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political Science from the University of Colorado.

Christy Dye is a data-focused healthcare executive who brings over 30 years of experience supporting provider organizations, state agencies, and communities in achieving their business, operational, and quality goals in health and human services to OPEN MINDS as a Senior Associate. Christy’s career has included working as a state Medicaid leader, a national expert in substance abuse treatment systems, health information exchange and interoperability, and as chief executive for Arizona’s leading integrated primary/behavioral healthcare provider.

Prior to OPEN MINDS, Ms. Dye served as Chief Business Development Officer for Health Current, (division of Contexture), Arizona’s statewide health information exchange (HIE). While there, Ms. Dye developed provider education and training programs in using clinical and administrative data to improve patient outcomes and manage value-based reimbursement contracts. She led the Health Current HIE research data initiative in partnership with Arizona State University and also served as co-principal investigator for a National Institute of Mental Health project at ASU focused on information sharing for behavioral health populations.

Ms. Dye is the former Chief Executive Officer for Partners in Recovery (now Copa Health), an Arizona agency serving more than 10,000 adults with serious mental illness. At Partners she created a network of fully integrated behavioral and primary care clinics for SMI adults, and launched the company’s population health, value-based and complex care programs, including Arizona’s only Medical Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team.

Prior to PIR, she served as Division Chief for Clinical and Recovery Services and Arizona’s state substance abuse director at the Arizona Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health. As a state official, she served on a team charged with the re-design of Medicaid behavioral health benefits in Arizona and oversaw the expansion of the state’s contracted managed care system to a more recovery focused model, including expansion of peer-delivered mental health, addiction, and consumer-operated services.

Ms. Dye graduated from the University of Arizona with a Master’s in Public Health Administration. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is an active member of the Community Advisory Board for Health Informatics at ASU’s College of Health Solutions.

Margaret Mays brings over 20 years of health care industry experience to the OPEN MINDS team. Ms. Mays currently serves as a Senior Associate at OPEN MINDS. Her areas of expertise include quality program design and metrics-based programs, training development, health care processing systems, policy development, and accreditation/regulatory requirements.

Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Ms. Mays served as the Vice President of Quality Improvement at Magellan Health Services, where she provided comprehensive quality leadership, developed high-performance teams, and improved metrics. She launched the Magellan Lean Six Sigma Training Institute resulting in an ROI of $1.7 million. Ms. Mays cultivated a high-performance team of over 20 staff members and improved department productivity through mentoring and coaching.

Prior to her role at Magellan Health, Ms. Mays served as the Director of Quality Management at TLC Family Care Healthplan, a division of Amerigroup, where she successfully managed MCO NCQA accreditation and directed all HEDIS processes. Ms. Mays helped produce a 27% improvement in Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment. She also achieved 95% and above performance on state audits through a full-spectrum quality improvement program.

Previously, Ms. Mays served as the Director of Quality and Compliance at Magellan Health Services, where she managed a wide range of quality processes, developed high impact reporting, and collaborated with cross functional teams to improve data accuracy. At Magellan, Ms. Mays achieved a track record of exemplary audit scores through implementing state-of-the-art practices.

Ms. Mays received a Doctor of Health Sciences from A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona. She holds a master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of Washington. She previously earned a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Administration from the University of Alabama.

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, 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.