Candace Clevenger is a seasoned financial executive with over three decades of experience in the behavioral health sector. She began her career as a Cost Accountant and Assistant Professor of Accounting before joining Heritage Behavioral Health Center, where she progressed from Accounting Manager to CFO and ultimately CEO over a 32-year tenure. Under her leadership, Heritage Behavioral Health Center grew from a $3 million organization with cash flow issues to a financially solvent $20 million entity. Candace's expertise spans corporate financial planning, strategic initiative development, and grant management, complemented by her active involvement in numerous community and professional mental health and healthcare provision boards.

Specialties:

• Financial Leadership & Strategy 

• Healthcare Administration and Policy

• Community & Organizational Development

Henrietta Croswell is a strategic leader with deep expertise in health equity data strategy, specializing in developing and implementing data-driven approaches to address disparities in healthcare. With a strong background in program development, grant administration, and cross-functional team leadership, she has a proven track record of designing and executing initiatives that enhance data collection, analysis, and reporting on population health metrics and indicators. Henrietta has successfully secured and managed significant grant funding, including CDC projects, focusing on meeting and exceeding program goals and deliverables. She is committed to leveraging data to inform policies, improve service delivery, and foster an inclusive healthcare system.

Specialties:

• Health Equity & Population Health Management

• Program Development, Implementation, and Funding

• Workforce Training and Organizational Development

Dr. Tim Dittmer, an economist and two-tour veteran of the Iraq War, leads data analytic teams and provides expert guidance on quantitative evaluation and research projects in behavioral health services. He has conducted numerous policy-informing studies on behavioral health systems and quantified behavioral health needs and capacity across the country. He previously held the role of Economics Department Chair at Central Washington University and currently serves as Chief Economist at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. 

Specialties:

• Research Methods

• Behavioral Health Workforce 

• Veterans Services

Joy Doll is the Program Director for Creighton University's Health Informatics Program, where she develops innovative curriculums for healthcare transformation. She also owns and operates Hello Better Healthcare, LLC, a consulting firm aiding organizations in merging healthcare and social care. Her clientele ranges from startups to federal partnerships. Previously, she worked at a health information exchange, fostering cross-sector collaborations for a social health ecosystem. Joy pioneered the first integrated healthcare and social care EHR in Nebraska. An accomplished author and speaker, she has over 50 publications and delivered a 2018 TedX Talk. She holds a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Creighton University and completed a mini-MBA in 2022 as a recipient of the CommonSpirit Equity Impact Scholarship.

Specialties

• Social Care

• Informatics

• Health Information Technology 

hellobetterhealthcare.wordpress.com

Chris Hoffman is a seasoned behavioral health professional with over 35 years of experience in executive leadership, program development, and clinical roles. As the former Executive Director of Pathways Behavioral Services, he demonstrated expertise in human resources, fiscal management, and public relations while overseeing the entire organization. Chris has a strong background in treating individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, having served as a Dual Diagnosis Services Coordinator and a member of an assertive community treatment team. He has been actively involved in professional organizations, including holding leadership positions in the Iowa Behavioral Health Association and serving as the president of the Iowa Behavioral Health Network, where he has played a key role in shaping state policies and preparing organizations for value-based contracting.

Specialties:

• Behavioral Health Leadership & Administration

• Comprehensive Behavioral Health Treatment

• Behavioral Health Policy & Crisis Response

Sara Howe is a strategic and innovative executive leader with over 20 years of experience in public administration, non-profit management, and business development. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina and the former CEO of the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health, she has a proven track record of driving membership growth, securing significant funding, and advocating for critical legislation in the behavioral health sector. Sara is known for her ability to build performance-driven teams, foster winning organizational cultures, and successfully transition between non-profit and for-profit sectors. With her extensive experience in project management, strategic planning, and organizational development, Sara is poised to bring her talents and expertise to high-level public administration and healthcare consulting roles.

Specialties:

• Executive Leadership and Management

• Organizational Development & Growth

• Communication and Advocacy

Diana L. Knaebe has over 35 years of experience leading non-profit and governmental behavioral healthcare environments. She recently served as President of Memorial Behavioral Health and System Administrator of Behavioral Health at Memorial Health System. Previously, she was the Director of the Illinois Division of Mental Health and President/CEO of Heritage Behavioral Health Center in Decatur, IL. Diana is known for being a sound manager, innovative leader, and courageous change agent. She is a strong communicator who works cooperatively with various stakeholders to find common ground and reach consensus. Diana leverages her expertise in servant leadership, strategic organizational development, and systems thinking to provide vision and leadership for comprehensive, effective systems.

Specialties

• Executive Leadership

• State-Level Policy 

• Change Management

Christy M. Power is an accomplished executive-level leader with a strong background in healthcare operations, particularly in Federally Qualified Health Centers, residential substance use treatment, and community behavioral health. With over a decade of experience, she has demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, regulatory compliance, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Christy has a proven track record of enhancing operational efficiency, quality assurance, and service delivery across multiple sites and programs. She's a licensed behavioral health clinician and a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor.

Specialties: 

• Healthcare Operations and Management

• Quality Assurance and Compliance

• Clinical Expertise and Leadership

David Pole is a Distinguished Scholar at the National Center for Interprofessional Practice & Education, with extensive experience spanning the private sector, non-profit organizations, and academic health centers. His expertise integrates community health, education, and effective teamwork across health professions. Specializing in health promotion and disease prevention, David recognizes that successful healthcare and education collaborations require intentional focus to cultivate transferable skills and behaviors. His work emphasizes the critical importance of effective teamwork, as poor collaboration is a leading factor in compromised patient care quality and safety and workforce burden in healthcare settings. 

Specialties:

•  Patient Safety and Quality Improvement (Clinical & Community)

• Interprofessional Collaboration & Effective Teamwork

• Health Promotion, Well-Being, and Flourishing

Nick Szubiak has over 20 years of experience in healthcare, spanning direct service, administration, and clinical roles. He is the Founder of NSI Strategies and an Advanced Implementation Specialist for SAMHSA's Opioid Response Network. Previously, he served as Assistant Vice-President at the National Council for Behavioral Health and Director at the SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions. Nick provides technical assistance, training, and consultation on integrated care, substance use disorders, medication-assisted treatment, measurement-based care, and implementation science. His expertise includes developing systems for trauma-informed, recovery-oriented care. Nick is renowned for his heartfelt presentations and has partnered with numerous organizations as a behavioral health subject matter expert. He holds a master's degree in Social Work from Rutgers University.

Specialties:

• Integrated Care

• Systems Change Management

• Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)

​https://www.nsistrategies.com/ 

Working at the intersection of statistics, behavioral science and community engagement, Nancy has developed, implemented, and evaluated programs covering a range of topics. She is an acclaimed scholar, speaker, and teacher and helps guide collaborative teams to maximize their innovation and impact. Her work in the area of child welfare has been funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and widely disseminated in the areas of mental health and positive parenting.  She is the founder and executive director of Support Over Silence, LLC, and a professor of public health at Saint Louis University. She serves as a senior methodology and a subject matter expert for Wellbeing in Action.

Specialities 

• Prevention Strategies 

• Research & Evaluation Methods

• Public Health Education

www.supportoversilence.com

With over 16 years of specialized experience, Virginia Westermeyer is a distinguished figure in grants management. Her expertise spans the entire grant lifecycle, from application to closeout, working with prestigious agencies like NIH, HRSA, SAMHSA, Arnold Foundation, and CDC. As a primary liaison, she ensures seamless communication on budgeting, revisions, and grant terms interpretation.  She excels in team management, fostering adherence to guidelines and accountability. Post-award, Virginia demonstrates organizational prowess in expense segregation and contractual agreements. Throughout grant periods, she vigilantly monitors spending, providing invaluable recommendations for budget revisions or discussions with funding agencies. Virginia's dedication to excellence makes her a pivotal asset in navigating and managing grants from inception to conclusion.

Specialties:

• Grant Lifecycle Management

• Budget Oversight

• Team Collaboration

Lesa has over four decades of healthcare experience spanning clinical, administrative, operational and consulting roles. As a senior leader at a national healthcare provider system and one of the largest managed care companies, she has led clinical program development, regulatory compliance, accreditation preparation, and Medicaid/Medicare managed care implementations. Lesa provides expert consultation to state, regional and local authorities on healthcare system transformation, managed care readiness, accreditation, and building partnerships to ensure consumer access. She holds doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology and Jurisprudence with a specialty in Medical Ethics.

Specialties:

• Behavioral Health Programs and Services

• Managed Care Implementations

• Quality & Network Management

• Partnerships & Ethics