405 Capitol Street, Suite 900, Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 343-0728 | Fax: (304) 343-0760
405 Capitol Street, Suite 900, Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 343-0728 | Fax: (304) 343-0760
Christina Mullins is the Deputy Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder. Previously, she served as the Commissioner for the Bureau for Behavioral Health, Director of the Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health and has worked in a variety of maternal and child health programs. In her 23-year tenure with the Department of Health and Human Resources, she has worked to establish West Virginia’s youth anti-tobacco campaign, collaborated with a multitude of partners to launch a surveillance system for neonatal abstinence syndrome, and co-authored the 2016 West Virginia Overdose Fatality Analysis. Christina was honored with the Maternal Child Health Bureau Director’s Award in October 2018 for her national contributions to the health of infants, mothers, children and children with special health care needs.
Senator Mike Maroney, M.D., holds a degree in chemistry from West Virginia University and received his degree in medicine from Marshall University School of Medicine.[1]
Senator Maroney Represents the 2nd District in Marshall County, West Virginia. His professional experience includes practicing radiology at Radiology Associates Inc. in New Martinsville, West Virginia, and serving as the chairman of radiology at Reynolds Memorial Hospital and Wetzel County Hospital
Clay Marsh, MD, is the Chancellor and Executive Dean of West Virginia University Health Sciences. Within the academic health sciences center, he leads five schools including dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and public health – and numerous allied health programs and clinical operations around the state.
A national leader in academic and personalized medicine and in pulmonary and critical care medicine, Dr. Marsh has concentrated his efforts in determining how to help individuals stay healthy and how to create ecosystems to make this easier.
As West Virginia University’s chief health officer, Clay is focused on finding statewide solutions for health and well-being, while addressing the most vexing health challenges in West Virginia and throughout the world.
He serves as the state’s lead representative and spokesperson, both nationally and internationally, in the areas of health, health education and academic medicine. In response to West Virginia’s health challenges, Gov. Jim Justice appointed Clay as COVID-19 czar in March 2020 and as an advisor to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources in December 2022.
Clay is a two-time graduate of West Virginia University, earning an undergraduate degree in biology in 1981 and a medical degree in 1985. Following medical school, Clay completed residency training in internal medicine; a research fellowship in pulmonary and critical care; a chief resident appointment in internal medicine; a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine; and an extension research fellowship in pulmonary and critical care – all at Ohio State University.
John Solomon is a licensed Professional Counselor and the Chief Executive Officer of the Alaska Behavioral Health Association. He entered the field flying by bush plane into remote villages in the Northwest Arctic, living and working with Alaska Native populations. Before his time as a clinician, he was better known as the lead singer of the nationally acclaimed rock band Communist Daughter, where he was frequently interviewed about his support for mental health and recovery in the creative fields. He is an outspoken advocate for lived experience in healthcare as he himself is in long term recovery from methamphetamine and alcohol use, and he often calls on his experience as a person living with bipolar disorder to inform his positions on health care. His passion for access to care and equity in health policy drive him to advocate for significant system change to bring the concept of behavioral health into the whole person continuum of care.
Senator Ryan Weld (Brooke County) is an accomplished leader with an impressive track record of service to his state and country. As the Majority Whip in the West Virginia State Senate, he skillfully manages legislative priorities and effectively advances the state’s interests. In addition, Ryan’s extensive experience as Chair of the Military Committee and Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee reflects his exceptional ability to handle complex policy issues.
Ryan has served in the West Virginia Legislature since 2014. However, Ryan’s commitment to public service began in 2005, when he commissioned into the Air Force Reserve, where he spent several years serving on active duty in the U.S. Intelligence Community. In 2010 and 2011, he served as the Staff Intelligence Officer to the Provincial Reconstruction Team in the Zabul Province of southeastern Afghanistan. Prior to his time overseas, he served as the Executive Officer to the Director of Congressional Affairs of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Reyna Taylor brings extensive experience with federal public policy initiatives to protect access and affordability to her role as Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing where she leads public policy and government affairs activities, supervises legislative matters and guides overall public policy strategy. With nearly two decades of specialty pharmaceutical and medical device experience, Ms. Taylor has a wide range of knowledge on public policy issues, including Medicare, Medicaid and commercial management of managed care organizations, hospitals, pharmacies and mental health centers. She holds a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from Bates College and earned a Master of Science in biotechnology and Master of Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University.
Tom Petrizzo is the Chief Executive Officer of Tri-County Mental Health Services in Kansas City. Tom has held that position since January 2014. Tri-County has been a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) demonstration site since 2017, and the safety net behavioral health provider for all the north Kansas City metro communities – collectively called the Northland since 1973. Last year, Tri-County served over 9,000 people (adults and children) in the three counties (Platte, Clay and Ray) that comprise the Northland.
Prior to his position at Tri-County, Tom was the CEO of the Ozark Guidance Center in Springdale, Arkansas. Tom served in that role from November 2007 until December 2013. Tom began his career as an attorney in Houston, TX, his hometown. He has a B.S. in Economics from Georgetown University, a J.D. from the University of Texas Law School, and a MSW (Masters of Social Work) from the University of Houston. Tom has worked in non-profit behavioral health management since 1992.
Julie Hiett has 25 years of experience in mental health, social services, population health and care coordination. She began her career as a Crisis Case Manager for a county CMHC and was a School Social Worker prior to moving out of direct care and into Healthcare IT.
Julie has been at Netsmart for over 10 years, working with clients across the country at the provider, county and state level, providing expertise on behavioral health, care coordination and population health solutions. Her main focus is assisting providers to consume and action client data across the healthcare continuum, utilizing data from disparate systems to improve clinical outcomes and lower the cost of care. She has partnered with agencies in many different environments, including several statewide implementations, county partner collaborations, health homes, CCBHCs, justice involved/re-entry programs and has experience in multiple payor models, including IPA/ACO models.
Julie has a bachelor’s degree in Family Studies &; Human Services from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in Social Work from Wichita State University.
Tara Crawford is the Director of Health Information for the Missouri Behavioral Health Council. She is from the rural town of Auxvasse, Missouri. She earned a master’s in psychology from the University of Central Missouri and has had a strong interest in data since college. Tara’s career in behavioral health started as a community support specialist with a community mental health center in Mexico, Missouri, and outreached individuals in the community about behavioral health services available. Tara gained valuable experience in the field the field working for the Missouri Department of Mental Health, focusing on integrated care programs (Behavioral Healthcare Homes and Disease Management Outreach) and programs assisting justice-involved clients. In 2017, Tara joined the Missouri Behavioral Health Council to help develop and manage the data collection, reporting, and technology initiatives for our behavioral health network, including CCBHCs. Tara oversees all aspects of the fun technology, data, and quality improvement projects.
Carolyn Canini, MSW, LCSW has dedicated her career to improving services for underserved populations across the lifespan through program and policy development, evaluation, technical assistance, and collaborative work. As the first Director of Behavioral Health Programs for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, she promotes educational initiatives to strengthen the state’s behavioral health workforce and supports colleges and universities in addressing student mental health.
Carolyn’s prior work and interests include:
Kym Laube is the Executive Director of Human Understanding Growth Services, Inc., HUGS, Inc., located in Westhampton Beach, NY. In this position she brings over 33 years of substance misuse prevention knowledge and expertise. Since she took the role of Executive Director in 2002, she has been leading the organization to provide a full array of multidimensional prevention services and recovery supports, all while ensuring she is advocating for the field all along the continuum of care. Kym is a national trainer and speaker, working with notable leaders in prevention including CADCA, various state associations and corporate businesses.
Having participated in the HUGS, Inc. Teen Institute program in 1986 as a high school student, Kym understands firsthand, the profound impact, lifelong influence and workforce development the Teen Institute program provides to young people. From student leader to Executive Director in 2002, Kym’s mission has been to empower others to seek their full potential and become agents of change in the world. Kym offers dynamic, passionate and interactive keynotes, trainings and workshops for large and small groups with an uncanny ability to talk with and not at people. Annually, Kym presents to over 25,000 individuals, young and old across our great country.
Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Adam J. Falcone is a partner in the national health law practice group of Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP where he counsels a diverse spectrum of community-based organizations that render primary and behavioral healthcare services. Mr. Falcone counsels clients on a wide range of health law issues, with a focus on fraud and abuse, reimbursement and payment, and antitrust and competition matters.
Mr. Falcone began his legal career in Washington, D.C. as a trial attorney in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. As a member of the Health Care Task Force, he led and participated in civil antitrust investigations and litigation of anticompetitive activity among health care providers. Mr. Falcone received his undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and his law and public health degrees from Boston University.
Dr. Charlene Bennett has an extensive background in the field. She is the Co- Founder and CEO of IAG. Among the many programs that she created, she is most proud of the establishment, over 23 years ago, of homes customized for four people, or fewer, that have complex needs. Dr. Bennett created 24-hour community integrative living arrangements for people with an intellectual disability and secondary mental health diagnosis that were discharged out of psychiatric hospitals, state institutions, crisis stabilization homes, out of state placements, jails, and other emergency situations. These supports and services are provided in over 25 counties in Illinois and in the District of Columbia.
She also created a program with the State of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to service and support Illinois’ most complex youth 18 and older In the community. These youth have severe trauma histories and significant mental health disabilities. Additionally, under Dr. Bennett’s leadership IAG operates four crisis stabilization homes for the State of Illinois.
Dr. Bennett also fought the discriminatory ordinances that were in violation of the ADA and the Fair Housing Act against people with disabilities that were living in the community. A Federal lawsuit was filed and joined by the United States Department of Justice. The case was won and provided new case law prohibiting discriminatory local ordinances.
Bob Hansen retired in October of 2020 after a 45-year career in behavioral health in WV. His last full-time position was the Director of the Office of Drug Control Policy for the State, a position he held for 22 months. During his tenure there he led the creation of the Governor’s Council 2020-2022 WV Substance Use Response Plan. During his long career Hansen has had the opportunity of being the Executive Director of several organizations in the State. He also has had the fortune of helping to create new initiatives that have had a positive impact on people’s lives. Today Hansen is the part time Special Assistant for IDD Services for the Bureau of Behavioral Health. He also serves as a volunteer and as a Board member for several non-profits in the State and in the Huntington area.
Amy Ingles has served the West Virginia I/DD community for the past 25 years in various capacities from Case Management to CEO, with various I/DD provider agencies. She is a proud graduate of Marshall University, receiving her BA in Communication Disorders in 1998. In March 2006, Amy and her husband, Jack, opened Starlight Behavioral Health Services, providing I/DD Home and Community Based Waiver, Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse and I/DD Crisis Residential Services in the Huntington area. In 2017, Starlight welcomed ncgCare, Inc. as a corporate partner. ncgCare, Inc. provides a broad array of behavioral health services via seven partners across five states in over 60 locations. Amy continued with ncgCare, currently serving as the WV Director. She is passionate about consumer rights and living a meaningful life.
She enjoys reading mystery novels, traveling, interior design and spending time with her husband, four children, five grandchildren and dogs Wrigley, Bruno, Louis and Lafayette.
Dr. Lesley Cottrell is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the West Virginia University School of Medicine. She received her doctoral degree in developmental psychology from West Virginia University and her master’s degree in child clinical psychology from Marshall University. She is also the Director of the Center of Excellence in Disabilities (WVU CED). Her work has focused on child and adolescent decision making and family factors that influence those decisions. She is a federally funded researcher in areas of care coordination, rural health service delivery, and family-centered services.
Jake Bowling, MSW, brings more than 10 years of experience designing, overseeing, and executing behavioral health strategy, policy, technical assistance, and programming/services.
As the Chief Executive Officer of Bowling Business Strategies, Jake oversees the firm’s strategy, business development, and operations. He also supports a portfolio of consulting projects in the areas of strategic planning, service design/implementation, and payment and delivery reforms. Prior to establishing BBS in 2017, Jake served as an Assistant Vice President at the National Council for Behavioral Health (now the National Council for Mental Wellbeing), supporting its largest department responsible for technical assistance, practice improvement, and consulting, as well as the entire organization’s contracts department. He also served as key personnel on federal projects with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Health Resources and Services Administration, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Jake believes that behavioral health services should be engaging, accessible, consumer-driven, evidence-based, viewed as vital/routine to health, and completely free of all forms of discrimination toward persons with substance use and mental health issues.
Jake holds a Master in Social Work from Temple University and has participated in various leadership programs, including the National Council’s Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program and the Center for Progressive Leadership’s Young Leaders Program. He also currently serves on the National Small Business Association’s Leadership Council.
Kerry King, Principal, Bowling Business Strategies, is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with two decades of experience working with individuals, families and organizations. She has provided consultancy services to schools, global and domestic civil service organizations, as well as a variety of stakeholders in the behavioral health and education sectors. Her work has spanned the United States and many countries in the Caribbean.
Immediately prior to joining BBS, Kerry served as the Senior Vice President of Clinical Services for a national behavioral health care provider. Throughout her career she has held a variety of clinical and leadership roles, including directing ambulatory and residential behavioral health agencies. She has owned and operated a psychology group practice and a retail entity which supplied educationally stimulating toys and games to families and schools. Her specialties include the treatment of individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, trauma informed care, child and adolescent development, clinical program development/deployment and implementation of clinical best practices within systems of care.
Kerry holds Doctor of Clinical Psychology and Master of Business Administration (Healthcare Management) degrees from Widener University in Pennsylvania. She also completed undergraduate studies in Specific Learning Disability Education, Elementary Education and Psychology at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio
Laura Line, MS, Principal at Bowling Business Strategies, is a builder and strategist with 30 years experience working in the nonprofit and philanthropy sectors. She brings experience holding leadership roles in organizations, where she advised senior leadership, led quality improvement efforts, and developed and ran initiatives, partnerships and operations. Laura has a passion for improving behavioral health care delivery.
At BBS, Laura has assisted local, regional and national clients on a range of strategic projects and initiatives. She facilitates learning networks for providers delivering care to people with complex needs, has coached providers on data-driven decision-making, and developed new programs for quality improvement, integrated behavioral health, and public health initiatives.
Antoinette Bond is Co-founder & Chief Operations Officer for the Bond Group, and CEO of iTeam Consulting Group. Partnered with her husband and business partner Walter Bond – a Hall of Fame motivational speaker, Antoinette runs the operations, builds the companies from behind the scenes and oversees customer service. Plus, she provides one-on-one coaching to help clients take their skills to the next level for greater success. Antoinette is an entrepreneur and certified business coach with over 20 years of experience helping entrepreneurs, executives, managers and other professionals reach their goals. She learned the power of entrepreneurship early in life while watching her family develop its own real estate development businesses in Miami, Florida.
Antoinette graduated from Howard University in 1992 with a degree in Public Relations Management and enjoyed a successful sales career, working for Dr. Pepper and Glaxo Smith Kline. She then parlayed this experience and her entrepreneurial skills to own and operate a Gymboree franchise for over 5 years in Minneapolis, MN, and build the Bond Group–a nationally recognized corporate training and development company headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida – from the ground up. Today she serves clients worldwide. As a detail-oriented specialist in bringing ideas from the drawing board to reality, Antoinette helps corporate clients improve their team performance. And she works with individuals, coaching them to become peak performers.
Cammie Chapman graduated from WVU College of Law in 2000. She is the Deputy Secretary of Children and Adult Services for the Department of Health and Human Resources. Previously, she served as the Associate General Counsel for DHHR. Prior to moving to Charleston in 2016, she was a member of the law firm of Davis & Chapman located in Summersville. This practice included child welfare law, primarily as a Guardian ad litem, real estate and corporate law.
After years of experience in marketing, communications and public relations, Lake has gained a true appreciation for effective messaging and thoughtful branding. He has worked with a wide variety of clients in a wide variety of industries – from healthcare to manufacturing, energy, tourism, non-profits, and in the arts. Lake is well-versed in creative development such as video and podcast content, media relations, digital and traditional marketing, and content and brand strategy.
When Lake is away from the office, he enjoys playing guitar, the outdoors, all things Marshall Thundering Herd athletics, and most importantly, spending time with his wife Nicole, daughter Maren, and their goofy labrador Moose.
Michael Wells (Left)
Michael Wells is a seasoned police detective and consultant, known for his unwavering commitment to public service, crisis intervention expertise, and law enforcement experience spanning over twenty-nine years. With extensive experience in, criminal investigations, negotiations, and crisis assessment care, Mike has demonstrated leadership, empathy, and problem-solving skills throughout his career.
As a Senior Police Detective at the Albemarle County Virginia Police Department since January 2003, Mike’s contributions have been instrumental in shaping law enforcement practices. Notably, he has spearheaded the Criminal Investigations Cyber Crime Unit since 2010, which focuses on identifying and eliminating child exploitation. He serves as the District 4 Coordinator for the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, managing training and budgetary needs for nine police agencies.
Kevin Miller (Right)
Kevin Miller brings over 23 years of seasoned expertise to the realm of law enforcement, coupled with an unwavering dedication to revolutionizing training paradigms. While his career journey has been impactful, it’s his commitment to training that truly set him apart.
As a seasoned police captain, Kevin’s has a track record of leadership and operational excellence. Serving as the Patrol Division Commander, he orchestrates the daily operations of a 100-officer strong team, driving strategic planning and resource allocation to bolster community safety.
Lori Wood (Middle)
Lori Dudley Wood, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), is an accomplished mental health advocate, leader, and consultant with an extensive track record in crisis intervention, program development, and clinical services. Her dedication to mental health awareness and community well-being has earned her many accolades throughout her impactful career.
Lori’s contributions to the field have been widely recognized, including her receipt of the John L. Snook Child Advocate Award in 2019 and the Virginia CIT Behavioral Healthcare Practitioner of the Year award in 2018. She has also been honored as the CIT International Behavioral Health Practitioner of the Year in 2017 and received the CIT Advocate Award for Mental Health Awareness in 2011.
Dr. Schrecker completed his pre-professional curriculum at the University of Tennessee and received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy. Prior to Aegis, Dr. Schrecker completed an American Society of Health System Pharmacists-accredited Post Graduate Year 1 Pharmacy Residency at Hospital Corporation of America. During his time as a pharmacy resident, Dr. Schrecker focused on both evolving as a clinical pharmacist as well as developing leadership skills within a corporate environment. He also received certifications through completion of advanced cardiac life support courses and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Teaching and Learning Program.
Morgan Blatt, MA, NCC, LPC, Certified TF-CBT and PCIT Therapist, PCIT Within Agency Trainer and ALPS, is the Director of Children Services for Prestera Center. She oversees 11 different child and adolescent programs that covers all 8 counties that Prestera serves. She also is the therapy documentation trainer and Within Agency Trainer for Parent Child Interaction Therapy for Prestera Center.
Morgan began working as a mental health therapist at Charleston Treatment Center in 2013. During her time at CTC, Morgan was the recipient of the WVAADC New Frontier Award and Counselor of the Quarter from the Appalachian Technology Assisted Recovery Innovations Program at First Choice in Charleston WV. Morgan started her career with Prestera Center for Mental Health Services in 2014. From 2014 until 2016, Morgan worked as a Clinical Therapist for school based and intensive outpatient services for children. Morgan also took on additional duties to work as a week-end therapist for crisis services. In May 2016, Morgan left Prestera Center to pursue working with adolescents in residential placement at Pressley Ridge in Ona, WV.
Bretlyn Hickman is the Evaluation Coordinator and head of Evaluation efforts for three grant funded programs at the Marshall University Research Corporation. She has worked on the front lines as a Case Manager and Care Coordinator for one of the programs she oversees data for. Bretlyn feels this gives her an inside perspective that helps with planning and processes from the ground up. She has worked in data collection and reporting since September 2020 and has expanded her experience with interpreting and reporting on data. She has thorough knowledge in managing large sets of data, staff, and multiple different systems all at once.
Allissa Stocklask has been a licensed massage therapist for 11 years and owns her practice in St. Clairsville, OH, Pure Massage Therapy. She also is a massage therapy instructor at Belmont college. Allissa loves the physical and mental benefits from massage therapy while helping others reach their personal wellness goals!