Speakers & Faculty

Isaac is the Chief Innovation Officer of Brett DiNovi & Associates (BDA). Isaac has been providing services in applied behavior analysis (ABA) since 1998. He has worked in executive leadership positions in the behavioral health industry since 2007 and uses the principles of organizational behavior management (OBM) to guide the support and growth of organizations. Over the last 18 years, Isaac has led ABA departments, started companies, and has grown organizations over 500% while earning awards for quality of service and employee satisfaction. In addition to Isaac’s primary role at BDA, he is a keynote speaker for state and national conferences as well as has co-authored articles and chapters, most recently in the textbook on Multiculturalism in Applied Behavior Analysis. Isaac is the co-founder of the Latino Association for Behavior Analysis (LABA) as well as a mentorship program called Mentorologist, which has a dedicated Youtube channel that bears the same name. Finally, Isaac is currently a doctoral student in Human Performance Improvement at Capella University.

Marjorie Bessel, M.D. is the chief clinical officer at Banner Health. Dr. Bessel began her journey with Banner 12 years ago, and has served in progressive physician leadership positions. She initially served as chief medical officer for several hospitals, then moved into the Arizona Division chief medical officer role, before accepting vice president roles for Continuum Management and Clinical Integration. She most recently served as vice president/chief medical officer for Community Delivery.

Her clinical background is as a hospitalist and she maintains board certification and active staff privileges. She is also passionate around empowerment of patients through transparency of individual’s clinical information. Dr. Bessel earned a B.S. in biology, magna cum laude, from Syracuse University and she attended Rush Medical College in Chicago, Illinois, where she was presented with the James B. Herrick award for most outstanding performance in internal medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Rush- Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago and was honored by continuing for an additional year in the capacity as Chief Resident.

Ashley Brewer, MPH, LSW, CHPI, is a licensed social worker and public health professional based in Urbana, Ohio. With degrees from Wilmington College and Kent State University, Ashley has spent 15+ years improving behavioral health outcomes for at-risk populations in rural Ohio. She developed and managed the Integrated Behavioral Health Program at Community Health and Wellness Partners, a Federally Qualified Health Center, and now serves as Safety Compliance Manager, focusing on quality, safety, process improvement, and regulatory compliance. Outside of work, Ashley enjoys traveling, reading, volunteering, and spending time with her husband and their dog Mo.

Kari Evans is a results-oriented monitoring, evaluation, and research expert with over 15 years of experience generating data-driven insights to enhance domestic and international community development programs. She specializes in approaches that center local voices and shared ownership, ensuring that evidence generation is grounded in community priorities and leads to meaningful, actionable change.

Kari is skilled in designing and implementing participatory monitoring and evaluation frameworks that combine qualitative and quantitative approaches to capture the depth of lived experience. She brings a human perspective to data and insights, using interviews, focus groups, participatory mapping, and other qualitative methods to center the stories behind the numbers. Her work emphasizes co-creation with stakeholders, integrating community knowledge with rigorous research design to enhance program effectiveness, equity, and sustainability.

Her technical expertise spans public health, governance and human rights, water and sanitation, and gender and social inclusion. She holds a master’s degree from The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, where she focused on gender and development in the Middle East, and a bachelor’s degree with distinction in Foreign Affairs and a minor in Middle East Studies from the University of Virginia.

Terri Gowey is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Licensed Behavior Analyst, and Chief Operating Officer at Chileda Institute, Inc. in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Terri obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and Master of Science in Psychology degree from Kaplan University. Terri has been with Chileda for 25 years and in her role as COO has been influential in expanding services to meet the needs of more families and children in Wisconsin communities.  She has many years of experience supporting individuals with Autism, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and challenging behaviors using Trauma-Informed Behavioral Interventions.   

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.

Rene Hurtado was born and raised in El Paso and has over 25 years of experience in healthcare operations and public policy.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Mr. Hurtado has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors of healthcare delivery systems along the U.S.-Mexico border.  He has designed communication initiatives in different areas of public health to include trauma & crisis communications, children’s outreach and poison control centers.  He has also led marketing and public affairs initiatives for one of the largest hospital systems in El Paso, where he designed multi-media communications initiatives for various healthcare product lines including pediatrics, kidney transplant and oncology.  In the area of public policy and government relations, he served as Director of Public Affairs for Spectrum Communications where he advocated for effective telecommunications legislation.

He currently serves as Chief of Staff for Emergence Health Network, the designated mental health authority for El Paso County responsible for designing and maintaining the public mental health/developmental disability service delivery system for the region to include crisis services and suicide prevention.   He oversees community affairs, human resources, training & education, and government relations.

Mr. Hurtado also works and has held leadership positions with various community agencies.  He has served as chair of the public relations committee for the Paso Del Norte Health Foundation and chair of the government relations division for the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce.  He also volunteered with Leadership El Paso, Creative Kids and various community agencies.  Mr. Hurtado is a graduate of the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund Leadership Program, Leadership El Paso and the El Paso Creative Cities Leadership Group.    

Recently Mr. Hurtado was appointed to One Fund El Paso, which provided guidance and resources for victims of the El Paso August 3^rd 2019 Walmart Shooting and has advocated for increased access to mental health services as a result of this tragic mass shooting. 

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.

Stephen Samuels is Vice President of Innovation & Impact Investing at the national office of Volunteers of America (VOA), one of the nation’s largest and most experienced nonprofit providers of housing, health, and human services. In this role, he leads market-driven growth and multi-sector partnerships to expand VOA’s housing and value-based health initiatives.

Stephen also directs VOA’s Futures Fund, an impact investing subsidiary, which has deployed more than $3 million in catalytic capital to advance innovation and entrepreneurship both within the organization and among early-stage founders across the country. Under his leadership, VOA tests and pilots emerging technology solutions that improve the quality of life for clients nationwide. Some of the most successful have been in the areas of financial security, agetech, workforce development and maternal health.

Most recently, Stephen oversaw the research and publication of Residents First: Technology for Connection and Healthy Living in Affordable Senior Housing—a study which provides a people-centered roadmap for effective technology and health integration in older adult resident communities.

Before joining VOA, Stephen served as Executive Director of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) in Greater Kansas City, one of the country’s leading community development financial institutions. He recently served on the national Advisory Research Council for Catalyzing Community Investment for Health Equity, a collaboration of the Build Healthy Places Network and the Association for Community Affiliated Plans; and is an Advisory Board member for CareAxis, a new service coordination platform for housing operators.

Stephen holds degrees in Urban Planning and Business Real Estate from the University of Cincinnati. Although his office is in Alexandria, VA, he works remotely from his home in Sacramento, CA.

Jane Wintz, CEO of Omni Family of Services, has spent her entire career in the child welfare industry working to improve outcomes for youth and families.

Prior to joining the Omni Family in 2017 as Omni Visions’ President & CEO, she served in numerous roles at Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY) including Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer. (Omni Visions is now known as Omni Family of Services.)

A leader with over 25 years of non-profit experience, Jane has worked in 15 States where she has implemented Treatment Foster Care, Family Preservation, Residential and Congregate Care, and Education service delivery models.

Prior to her time with SAFY, Jane worked with Pressley Ridge for over 12 years in Cincinnati, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She currently serves as a Board member for Family Focused Treatment Association (FFTA).

She holds a Bachelor of Science in social work from St. Louis University and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Cincinnati.

Dr. Yeh is a passionate advocate for healthcare transformation and healthy aging.  Her career has spanned the industry: providers, payers, tech companies, nonprofits, and the government. Roles have included Chief Medical Officer, AARP Services Inc.; Regional Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and emergency department chief.

Dr. Yeh received an MD from Northwestern University Medical School. She has extensive board experience and has garnered many honors for her work.

Angela Yen is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Registered Psychological Associate with over 18 years of experience supporting individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions across the lifespan. She holds a master’s degree in special education with a specialization in autism spectrum disorders and is currently completing her doctorate in psychology.

Angela’s career spans a rich continuum, from classroom teacher and wraparound counselor servicing inner-city youth, to building and leading ABA teams, to directly consultation and crisis services. Her practice integrates positive psychology and the biopsychosocial model, with a focus on strengths-based, whole-person care across complex service systems. 

At Easterseals Southern California, Angela leads the Consultation Services Department, overseeing Enhanced Care Management and START Crisis Support Services. She has cultivated partnerships with the Autism Society, NAMI, local law enforcement, and the Department of Mental Health. Her research interests center on system-informed positive psychology, the integration of PERMA+ frameworks into clinical and organizational practices, and organization behavior management. Angela is passionate about advancing innovative, people-centered models of service delivery that embed well-being science into the future of care. 

Michael Zhe is the CEO of Alora Behavioral Health and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with 18 years of experience in the ABA industry. He began his career as a Behavior Technician and has held senior clinical and operational leadership roles, including Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Michael brings a unique perspective shaped by experience as a clinician, healthcare operator, and parent of a child who has received services.

Stuart Buttlaire brings over 35 years of executive, clinical, and policy experience to OPEN MINDS. Dr. Buttlaire has experience in both the public and private sectors of healthcare providing leadership and direction in healthcare delivery. His career has focused on advancing integrated behavioral health and addiction medicine through strategic innovation, system redesign, quality improvement, and sustainable policy reform.

Previously, Dr. Buttlaire was the Regional Director of Behavioral Health and Addiction Medicine for Kaiser Permanente. In this role, Dr. oversaw a $200 million portfolio serving 4.6 million members across 23 emergency departments and 33 medical centers. He led development and operations across inpatient, ambulatory, emergency, call center, and contracted community services, supporting more than 2,500 mental health and substance use disorder providers. His leadership resulted in significant system transformation grounded in person-centered, measurement-based, and integrated care models. Dr. Buttlaire was also the lead Mental Health Representative for State Program Initiatives, including Medicaid (Medi-Cal) and Medicare. He pioneered the design and implementation of two psychiatric inpatient units, including a nationally recognized medical/psychiatric unit for individuals with complex co-morbidities. Additional innovations include integrated urgent services for youth and adults, intensive outpatient programs, multi-family group treatments for severe psychiatric conditions, and a mobile app for eating disorders that earned Kaiser’s Innovation Award.

Dr. Buttlaire is a widely respected advisor on behavioral health policy, legislation, and regulatory strategy. He has worked closely with state and federal agencies on issues of parity enforcement, financing reform, Medicaid redesign, and systems integration. He currently serves as Board President of the Institute for Behavioral Health Improvement, is a Board Member of NAMI California, and sits on the California Hospital Association Behavioral Health Advisory Board. He previously chaired the Behavioral Health Section of the American Hospital Association and was appointed to the AHA Regional Policy Board for the Western U.S.

As a frequent speaker and author, Dr. Buttlaire has published articles and research papers on behavioral health integration, suicide prevention, financing, and policy reform. His work continues to shape strategic direction for public and private behavioral health systems across the country.

Dr. Buttlaire holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, an MBA with a concentration in Health Care Management and Finance from UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business, a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Humboldt State, and a B.A. in Psychology and Political Science from the University of Colorado.

Rick Gutierrez, Ph.D. 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.

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.

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.

He 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.  

Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM, Senior Associate, has more than 30 years of experience in the health and human service field. In this tenure as senior associate with OPEN MINDS since 1998, he has served as lead of dozens of client initiatives, served as editor of OPEN MINDS publications, and is the author of many groundbreaking articles and presentations.

Mr. Naughton-Travers brings to OPEN MINDS a broad range of experiences in private and public sector delivery of behavioral health and social services. He started his career as a behavioral health clinician, working in both child welfare and community mental health clinic settings. Subsequently, Mr. Naughton-Travers held a senior business operations management position for a psychiatric hospital system and its community mental health clinics.  Later, he was vice president of a firm specializing in information systems and billing and receivables management for community-based mental health programs.

Since joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Naughton-Travers has developed business solutions for provider and professional organizations, state and county government, technology companies, and venture capital firms. His primary areas of expertise include strategic planning and metrics-based management, electronic health record (EHR) and technology selection and implementation, operations improvement, and corporate compliance. For the past decade, over half his consulting practice has focused on aiding organizations in technology selection and implementation, including all aspects of strategic technology planning, functional specifications development, request for proposal development, vendor selection, and contracting.

He has written numerous articles, including “Winning the Human Resource Wars: Tried, True and New Strategies for Behavioral Health and Social Service Organizations,” “Five Pillars of Management Competency,” “Data Driven Decision Making: Moving to an Organizational Measurement Culture,” “Survival of the Smartest: What is Your Organization’s Information Literacy IQ?,” and “Strategic Human Resource Management: Aligning Compensation with Employee Performance and Organizational Strategy.” Mr. Naughton-Travers is also a nationally recognized speaker, having conducted hundreds of executive and professional executive training events around the nation.

Mr. Naughton-Travers received his Bachelor’s degree from Miami University of Ohio and his Masters’ of Education in Counseling Psychology from Boston University.

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.