The dynamics of accelerated change in the market have created new performance challenges for health and human services organizations. This seminar will focus on the latest performance landscape and critical domains for measuring and managing business and clinical effectiveness. Health and human services organizations have unique and evolving competition in the market—from new digital-first applications demonstrating speedy access, engagement, and satisfaction with consumers to industry disrupters such as retail health clinics providing convenient access to care right where individuals shop. Showing value through data is a must have in this competitive environment, and the ability to demonstrate value through data means that organizations must also use data to drive performance improvement—clinically and administratively. In addition, leaders within organizations are challenged to make rapid course corrections, and having immediate access to the correct data has become critical to organizational success. Key objectives for this seminar will include the following:

Raymond “Ray” Wolfe, J.D. brings over 40 years of experience in the health and human services sector to the OPEN MINDS team. Mr. Wolfe currently serves as a Senior Associate, a position in which he utilizes his expertise to successfully lead varying projects for OPEN MINDS. His areas of expertise include financial analysis and management, mergers and acquisitions, performance improvement, and strategic planning.
Before joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Wolfe served in a 22 year tenure with Pittsburgh Mercy Health System in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most recently, Mr. Wolfe served as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) where he was responsible for oversight of all system operations, strategic planning, and performance management. Under his direction Pittsburgh Mercy achieved over $850K in value-based reimbursement contract quality bonus awards, integrated three organizations through merger/acquisition, and adopted a new performance management program for managers.
Before acting as Pittsburgh Mercy’s COO, Mr. Wolfe served as the organization’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and was responsible for the development of internal costing methodologies, contract rate negotiations, and financial forecasting activities. In addition, he coordinated an integrated care program with local partner hospitals to develop a series of diversion and respite programs, as well as, specialized primary care, integrated care management and high utilizer teams, while maintaining 15 straight years profitability.
Mr. Wolfe was promoted to CFO after serving as the Director of Fiscal and Information Security/Compliance for the health system. In this role, he was responsible for managing the transition of service contracts from fee-for-service (FFS), leading all compliance activities, and implementing a next generation electronic health record (EHR) system.
Prior to his time at Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, Mr. Wolfe served as Chief Fiscal Officer with the Summit Center for Human Development in Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he was responsible for reporting and budgeting functions and preparing Summit Center’s programs for FFS billing.
Previously, Mr. Wolfe served in billing and collections for two Pennsylvania-based hospitals. First, as an Accounts Receivables Manager for Brownsville General Hospital in Brownsville, PA, where he managed the accounting and billing system transition systems. Later as a Patient Account Manager for St. Francis Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA, where he improved collections to hit 95% rate through the implementation of new billing software and department reorganization.
Prior to working in the health and human services market, Mr. Wolfe spent five years practicing as a Lawyer with at Law Offices of Arch A. Moore in Moundsville, WV. In this role he provided general legal practice, created and established bylaws for multiple corporation, and handled West Virginia licensing of first vision insurance plan.
Mr. Wolfe earned his Juris Doctor from the West Virginia University School of Law in Morgantown, WV and his Bachelor’s degree with a focus in Political Science and Sociology from West Liberty University, in Wheeling, WV, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Joe Naughton-Travers, EdM has more than 30 years of experience in the health and human service field. During his tenure as a 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. 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.
With increased attention to value-based care, improved outcomes, and the metrics that define them, it is key that providers build services around their community’s unique array of health-related social needs (HRSN). These may include housing instability, food insecurity, employment, personal safety, lack of transportation, etc.
Equally as important is for provider executives to have a thorough understanding of what kind of payment models can be leveraged to support those services. In this plenary session, hear from a diverse group of payers on innovative models for payment and contracting that providers can leverage to support unconventional lines of service delivery to address HRSN and community health outcomes on a broad scale.

Yvonne Copeland is the inaugural Director for the newly established Division of Child and Family Well-Being (DCFW) at the NC Department of Health and Human Services, which brings together health, behavioral health, early childhood development, and nutrition programs that support children and families using a whole-person approach to care. Yvonne provides strategic direction and oversight for 1000+ employees in the operation of federal and state programs within DCFW’s portfolio including Whole Child Health, Early Intervention, Community Nutrition Services (WIC and CACFP), and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). She is driven to ensure all children have the opportunity to thrive in safe, stable, and nurturing families, schools, and communities.
Yvonne’s 30 years of executive leadership, health policy, system design and implementation, change management, and operations in public sector health and human services have given her a unique understanding of the complexity of systems and the impact of practical solutions. Yvonne served as Senior Vice President of Operations for a multi-state Quality Improvement Organization, where she led all federal and state service lines (population health, external quality review, utilization management, and program integrity). As the former Vice President of Community Operations for a behavioral health managed care organization Yvonne increased provider capacity using innovative payment models, increased access to timely care, and amplified the member voice. Yvonne holds an MBA from Meredith College and a BA from Rutgers University and has two amazing adult children, a loving daughter and son-in-law, and a grand-dog that bring her joy.

Cindy Ehlers, MS, LCMHC, serves as the Chief Operations Officer for Trillium Health Resources. She is focused on improving access to health and affordability through emerging analytics and innovative solutions. She leads several major components of Trillium, overseeing the strategy and innovation for Trillium along with member services, care management, network operations, and innovative development. Trillium Health Resources is a leader in innovation for behavioral health and IDD and the life-long support needed by these populations in NC.
Cindy is a champion for the implementation of evidence based practices. Cindy has developed a robust department within Trillium focused on approaches that address opportunities for health and health disparity throughout eastern NC. She has worked as a public servant for the past 32 years. Cindy has developed many programs and services in behavioral health and intellectual and developmental disabilities across more than half of North Carolina, overcoming rural barriers and many health disparities to meet the service needs of the BH-IDD population.
Cindy offers a unique perspective in her role as an Executive in the NC system, as she is both a parent and professional. Cindy has six children- several who have special needs; she was a therapeutic foster parent and is an adoptive parent. Cindy understands the system from the perspective of the MCO, from the inside out, and as a parent of children with special healthcare needs from the outside in. Her lived experience is unique to find in healthcare at this level in an organization. Trillium is the only health plan in the state with a parent who has been a foster parent and adoptive parent and is the parent of children with IDD on the Executive team of the organization.

Stephanie Franklin, MPS, is the Director of Insights & Business Intelligence for Humana, Inc., a leading, national health care company that offers a wide range of insurance products and health and wellness services that incorporate an integrated approach to lifelong well-being. Humana has a vision of influencing and enabling an equitable healthcare ecosystem so that every person has a fair, just and dignified opportunity to reach their full health potential. Stephanie leads the Insights and Business Intelligence team within Humana’s Health Equity and Social Impact organization, whose objectives are to leverage data analytics and visualization to bring to light those social risk factors and non-medical needs that prevent members and patients from achieving their best health and to build enterprise capacity for disparities-focused reporting, analytics and strategy development.
Stephanie is a published researcher and speaker on the topics of social determinants of health and health equity. She is passionate about helping teams and organizations translate research and analytics into policy and practice to create a healthier, more equitable society. She has worked across sectors – public, private, and non-profit – where she has developed an understanding of barriers and facilitators to implementation of evidence-based practices.
Stephanie joined Humana in 2014. Previous roles included leading clinical programs aimed at preventing and delaying progression of chronic disease. Prior to joining Humana, Stephanie was the Senior Legislative Aide for a Member of Congress. Stephanie has a Master of Professional Studies in Political Management from The George Washington University and a B.A. from Centre College. She lives in Louisville, KY with her husband and two sons.

In this presentation, we will explore the transformative journey of a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive services, including integrated primary care, dental, mental health services, psychiatry, autism services, speech therapy, and programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The nonprofit successfully dismantled the silos that once separated these vital services and created a collaborative environment where each department works together to enhance consumer outcomes. These efforts showcase not only improved quality of care but also fostered a more cohesive and consumer-centered approach, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the communities served. Learn how, through this process, they improved the efficiency of care delivery and empowered consumers by offering more integrated and personalized care options.
The presentation will guide the audience through three key learning objectives:
Jennifer Riha is the Chief Strategy Officer of I Am Boundless, based in Worthington, Ohio. Jennifer is a long-time health and human services executive with experience leading clinical treatment and recovery services, intellectual and developmental disability and autism support services, technology and innovation, and business operations. As a mother of a neurodiverse son and experienced leader in the field, Jennifer is passionate about leading organizations to implement sound business practices, evidence-based care and treatment, and demonstrate the value of the services provided. Jennifer has built her career leading teams toward growth, improvement, and innovation including roles as the VP of Operations, VP of Strategic Business Development, Chief Administrative Officer, and VP of Performance Improvement and Service Delivery in organizations across Ohio.
Jennifer is a frequent speaker across the country on key issues in the health and human services sector and is a strong advocate for parity, recognition, and elevation of the importance of the work provided by the IDD and behavioral health sectors. In addition to her role with I Am Boundless, she also serves as a Technical Assistance provider and Behavioral Health Consultant for providers and peer-led organizations across the country. She serves on many state and national taskforces and workgroups as part of her advocacy, including the Alternative Payment Models workgroup led by ANCOR focused on innovation in the provision of care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Katie Babcock is the Director of Healthcare Operations at I Am Boundless – Ohio’s largest not-for-profit provider of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and/or behavioral health challenges. She oversees primary care, dental, psychiatry, and speech services in outpatient settings– as well as nursing services in 22 Intermediate Care Facilities across the state. She has spearheaded the development of a dental program, integrated behavioral health into primary care, optimized psychiatry services, and is focused on building an innovative and collaborative culture across teams. Prior to this, she served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives at an FQHC, overseeing strategic planning and the Project Management Office. Katie holds a Master’s Degree in Health Administration from the University of South Carolina and a B.A. in Psychology from Ohio State University. She holds a PMP certification, bringing a strong background in project management and strategic growth. She is passionate about enhancing integrated services and fostering data-driven improvements in healthcare.
Change management is no longer a static, structured process—because the need to change is no longer driven by a singular event. Instead, market changes are overlapping—simultaneous and synergistic. The key to change management is clearly communicating future vision, developing and monitoring the metrics of strategy success, and creating an iterative process that shifts with the market metrics.
Hear from Grafton Integrated Health Network, a 66-year-old non-profit service provider specializing in services for high acuity children and adults with I/DD and Autism. They will share their transformative journey of redefining their company culture and the strategic path they’ve taken to ensure the new way of working is embraced, adopted, and sustained over time.
Subsequently, learn from Gaudenzia, one of the largest non-profit substance use and co-occurring disorders treatment providers in the northeast United States. They have gone through extensive organizational change over the last five years and are embracing performance management through organizational change and co-creating a vision for the future that provides treatment to diverse communities.
Attendees will explore strategies for:

Dr. McKernan started working at Gaudenzia in 2019 and is responsible for overseeing all program operations of Gaudenzia as well as compliance and quality improvement.
Prior to joining Gaudenzia, she was Chief Operating Officer at a nationwide human services agency, where she spent 23 years providing services to disadvantaged individuals, including the homeless population, people with developmental disabilities, veterans dealing with substance use disorders or mental illness, and individuals transitioning from the criminal justice system to community life.
Dr. McKernan has worked as a social worker since 1990. She was president of the New Jersey Reentry Coalition where she served in leadership positions for over 15 years. In 2014, she was appointed to the New Jersey Board of Social Work Examiners.
Dr. McKernan received her B.A. from Trenton State College. In addition, she earned her Master of Social Work and Doctor of Social Work from Rutgers University.

Stephanie joined Grafton in September 2022 as Chief Human Resources Officer, where she leads the HR function across the organization, shaping strategy and driving impactful change.
Before joining Grafton, she served as HR Director at Bon Secours Mercy Health, where she spearheaded HR strategic partnerships, workforce planning, organizational design, and employee experience initiatives across multiple locations. Stephanie’s expertise spans across various HR disciplines, including, total rewards, change management, HR analytics, and HRIS, with a focus on creating innovative, results-driven solutions.
Stephanie holds a B.S. in Business Management and International Business from Old Dominion University, where her academic journey took her abroad as a foreign exchange student in South Korea and China. She also earned an M.S. in Human Resources from the University of Richmond.
Based in Richmond, VA, Stephanie is passionate about travel, DIY home projects, and reading, and she thrives on learning new things in both her professional and personal life.
Patient safety is a top priority for health care providers, and advances in technology are making it easier to assess and monitor safety risks every day.
Join us to hear from Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, one of the nation’s largest specialty mental health and I/DD providers, for the story of how they took a technology solution that was first created for the corrections environment and modified it for children and adolescents in their care to minimize and prevent incidents that occur overnight.
Then, hear from The Arc of the Ozarks, a leader in service delivery for people with disabilities in Missouri, and how their own staff use remote monitoring technology to improve patient safety, contact emergency medical teams, respond to patient requests and even thwart potential crimes.
Attendees will leave with:

As vice president of information resources, Tom Shurer, M.A., M.S., is responsible for Devereux’s information technology (IT) function, including maintaining the organization’s IT infrastructure and applications and implementing future strategies to enable innovation.
Shurer joined Devereux in 1984 as a speech language pathologist at Devereux Pennsylvania’s Leo Kanner Center and health services units. During his tenure at Devereux, Shurer has held various management and administrative positions, including residential program supervisor, director of quality improvement/regulatory affairs, program director – information resources, director of clinical technologies, and national director of information resources. He has served in his current role since 2013.
Before joining Devereux, Shurer was a speech language pathologist at Elwyn, a human services organization serving individuals with disabilities.
Shurer has earned the following degrees: a Bachelor of Science in communications disorders from Pennsylvania State University; a Master of Arts in speech language pathology from George Washington University; and a Master of Science in information science from Pennsylvania State University. He has presented on a variety of topics, including clinical technology best practices, business continuity, technology planning, data analysis and reporting, and system implementation strategies during national/regional conferences.
He is a former board member of the Arc of Chester County.

As vice president of risk and safety, Philip A. Putnam, M.S, J.D, CPPShas over 26 years of risk and safety leadership expertise in the behavioral healthcare field. Philip has provided risk and safety expertise to all levels of staff including frontline direct care staff, clinical, medical/nursing as well as executive leadership.
Philip has experience with both creating new risk and safety programs where one did not previously exist as well as experience with revising and modifying existing programs to meet the changing risk and safety environment. This includes the development of risk and incident reporting systems, systems to ensure regulatory and accreditation compliance as well as system to reduce overall operational risk to an organization.
Philip has earned the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in speech pathology and a Master of Science in healthcare administration from the University of Central Florida; and a Juris Doctor (cum laude) from the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law. He holds a certificate in Quality and Safety as well as a Certificate in Patient Safety from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. In addition, for over 20 years, Philip was an adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida’s School of Global Health Management and Informatics.

Carla is a National Operations Systems Manager at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, where she leads technological initiatives to enhance operational efficiency that aligns with strategic goals. With over seven years of experience in healthcare, she has successfully managed projects that drive organizational change, including a national IT implementation across six operational programs.
A Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Carla holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management from Towson University. She combines her healthcare expertise with a passion for creating systems that empower teams and improve outcomes.
Before her current role at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, Carla served as a National Project Management Specialist and an Executive Assistant. Earlier in her career, she supported multiple healthcare initiatives at MedStar Health in Marketing and Communications.
With a passion for innovation and a commitment to excellence, Carla strives to drive impactful change in her professional role and is dedicated to sharing insights and fostering collaboration that will contribute to the future of operational and program risk management technology within the behavioral healthcare industry.

Clay is currently the Vice President of Program Services for The Arc of the Ozarks, a nonprofit agency that provides support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through Medicaid, insurance, and government contracts. The Arc’s main program buildings are located in Springfield and Kansas City, Missouri, with multiple divisions across the state. The organization serves over 350 individuals in residential support and another 3000 individuals in community-based support, counseling, therapies, and employment services. The Arc employs 1800 staff members across its program services, including Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), therapists and a medical service line.
Before joining The Arc of the Ozarks, Clay served as an Executive Director for a Senate Bill 40 Board, a local government entity providing services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He has also held various leadership positions in state and county agencies and boards, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to this field.
In addition to his professional roles, Clay is a parent of two children, one of whom has a developmental disability, giving him a personal connection to his work. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Columbia College and a master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Missouri.
Clay is also actively involved in the community, serving as an officer on the Board of Directors for the Missouri Mental Health Foundation.
On a personal note, Clay has been married for many years to his wife Jamie and enjoys spending time with their French bulldog, Trudy. He is also a seasoned musician and singer, playing guitar in a band, showcasing his passion for music alongside his dedication to his professional and personal commitments.
With increased attention to value-based and integrated care, many organizations are striving to embrace a “No Wrong Door” approach, designed to bridge the gap between behavioral health, physical health, and health-related social needs. This approach ensures seamless access to care, allowing individuals to seek assistance through multiple entry points without encountering barriers or delays. It emphasizes continuity of care, addressing fragmentation and gaps commonly seen in traditional health care systems.
Hear how Trillium Health Resources’s new model, the Healing Place of New Hanover County, helps restore consumers with substance use disorders to a healthy lifestyle through a variety of services, such as non-medical detoxification, residential alcohol and drug services, and transitional living.
During this session, attendees will:

Christie earned two master’s degrees from East Carolina University, one in Rehabilitation Counseling and one in Substance Abuse and Clinical Counseling. She has worked in the private sector and Managed Care setting during her 18 years in the field as a direct support professional, licensed clinician, educator and project manager and as a senior leader. Christie has managed projects related to Assistive Technology and implementation of Evidence Based Practices. Christie currently oversees member and provider teams in operations at Trillium Health Resources.

Essential ingredients for successful whole person care include technical savvy, compassionate clinicians, a strong team-based approach, and financial models that make it all sustainable. Denova Collaborative Care, one of Arizona’s largest integrated outpatient providers, is changing the conversation on whole person care with its “integrated collaborative healthcare” approach that delivers all the essentials and more. Denova’s model combines holistic team-based care and delivery of primary, behavioral health, and social treatments with medical case management and patient progress tracking. This winning combination is expanding Denova’s reach into new markets and attracting value-based payer partnerships from around Arizona and across the country.
Key takeaways from this session include:

As the CEO of Denova Collaborative Health, Graham spearheads the strategic vision and operational success of the company. With a direct supervisory role over key executives, Graham’s leadership extends across various departments. Before taking on the role of CEO, he was an integral team member as Denova’s CFO, bringing extensive experience from a 15-year tenure at Deloitte & Touche. His expertise in audit engagements and financial strategy in diverse sectors like Technology and Healthcare helped bolster Denova’s growth. Graham’s academic achievements include a BS and a Master of Accountancy from Brigham Young University, and a CPA certification. Outside work, Graham dedicates time to mentoring youth at his church and enjoys family time with his wife and four children.

Dr. George Orras, the Chief Clinical Officer at Denova, has been pivotal in revolutionizing Arizona’s behavioral health sector. His role at Denova encompasses strategy formulation, innovation, and enhancing patient care. Dr. Orras’s professional career includes being a co-founder and CEO at Windstone Behavioral Health/Windstone Health Services, alongside his academic contributions as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Southern California. He brings a rich background in managing behavioral healthcare, clinical operations, and strategic expansion. His prior roles include executive positions at various healthcare organizations, highlighting his versatility as a clinician and leader.

Angela Roumain is the Vice President of Medical Operations at Denova Collaborative Health. Angela specializes in integrating clinical expertise with operational leadership to improve care quality and outcomes. A passionate educator and advocate, they have spearheaded initiatives in perinatal mental health, health equity, and preventive care programming. Recognized for their innovative approaches to healthcare delivery, Angela is committed to fostering collaboration and advancing patient-centered care. They hold a Bachelor’s in Nursing from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Arizona.
Medicaid programs serving individuals with complex needs have largely remained as fee-for-service arrangements, accounting for nearly 50% of spending. As a result, the coordination of care has been significantly fragmented, placing these individuals at increased risk of experiencing a crisis or institutionalization. (CareSource, 2021)
In this session, hear from Dr. Tracey Green, Vice President of Clinical Innovation and Product at CareSource, as she shares an inside look into CareSource’s innovative complex managed care model, which is focused on four key foundational elements – member voice and choice, medical and non-medical services, caregiver support, and quality improvement.

Dr. Tracey Green joined CareSource in April of 2023 as Vice President, Clinical Innovation and Product. Dr. Green works closely with subject matter experts across the enterprise to help us design and deliver on product development solutions and industry best practices. Dr. Green came from Molina, serving as a Chief Medicaid Officer (CMO) and has held other nationwide Medicaid managed care leadership roles in population health, trauma transformation and health equity. Dr. Green also served as the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services CMO and Division of Public and Behavioral Health State Health Officer in addition to working as a Family Practice Physician.
Treating individuals with mental health and co-occurring health conditions and social needs is proving to be a great market opportunity. But while providing comprehensive care that addresses physical, mental, and social well-being is the ultimate goal of more provider organizations, this is extremely difficult without mastering two components—feedback-informed care and patient-centered outcomes.
In patient-centered care, a consumer’s specific health needs and outcomes drive health care decisions and quality metrics. In feedback-informed care, the relationship between the consumer and clinical professional is leveraged to promote communication and allow the provider organization to know what consumers both need and want. Numerous studies have highlighted the positive impact of this consumer feedback on clinical outcomes.
During this one-hour live presentation, Stuart Buttlaire, Ph.D., Regional Director of Behavioral Health and Addiction Medicine at Kaiser Permanente, will discuss the underlying principles and framework supporting this methodology and provide insights into enhancing your organization’s practices for optimal results.
Executive attendees of this session will learn:

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.

Leveraging the right data is critical for financial leaders to be able to extract actionable insights, drive innovation, and revolutionize revenue operations. Join ContinuumCloud for an exploration of key metrics and data points every CFO needs to support long-term financial sustainability in their organizations.
Key areas of focus include:
Led by General Managers of Welligent and DATIS, Heather Prather and MJ Craig, this session will highlight how to unify data from multiple systems to increase productivity, improve outcomes, and secure your organization’s financial future in an increasingly competitive industry.

Gwen Koenig brings 30 years of social work clinical and administrative experience as the Chief Of Strategic Growth for the Omni Family of Services, a national leader of child and family services in behavioral health, child welfare, and juvenile justice. Throughout her career, Gwen has led foster care, family preservation, and community mental health organizations. In 2016, Gwen transitioned from operations to business development and innovation in the human services space. She has represented companies throughout fifteen states and has been responsible for business procurement, strategic planning, grants management, staff development, and technology innovation in this role. Since 2016, Gwen has been an adjunct faculty at the Colorado State University School of Social Work, teaching courses in macro social work and nonprofit management. From 2021 to 2023, Gwen co-founded SigBee, a technology platform to improve workforce retention in human services.
Gwen holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Cincinnati. Gwen has presented at numerous national and international conferences, including a key presentation at the National Association of Child Care Workers in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. She has served on various boards and committees with the Family Focused Treatment Association and the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, among other trade organizations. Gwen resides in Fort Collins, CO where she enjoys the beautiful outdoors with her three sons, volunteers in her community, and keeps active with her rescue animals.

Dr. Dennis Morrison is the owner of Morrison Consulting which has provided consulting services to the behavioral health information technology field since 2017. In that role, he serves as Chief Clinical Officer for Eleos Health and Chief Scientist for ContinuumCloud, providers of the Welligent EHR. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Clinical Officer for Netsmart Technologies from 2012 through 2017. From 2008-2012, he served as CEO of Centerstone Research Institute (CRI). CRI was recognized in IBM’s Smarter Planet Series and won the Best Practices Award from TDWI (Transforming Data With Intelligence) for Leading Innovations in Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing. From 1995-2008, Dr. Morrison was the CEO of one of the merger partners that created Centerstone – Center for Behavioral Health (CBH). Under his leadership, CBH won the Joint Commission of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) Ernest A. Codman Award for excellence in the use of outcomes measurement and the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Nicholas E. Davies Award for Excellence in the implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHR). CBH is still the only organization in the world to have won both awards.
Academically, Dr. Morrison holds two master’s degrees in Psychology and Exercise Physiology from Ball State University. His doctorate is in Counseling Psychology also from Ball State University. In 2022, Ball State awarded him the Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest award given to an alum. He is a prolific author, frequent presenter (including a TEDx talk), podcast host and co-inventor on a patent for a behavioral healthcare outcomes software product. He has served on numerous academic and non-profit boards and was a founder and board member for the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL) now Global Leadership Exchange. He was an officer in the United States Navy and received his Aerospace Physiologist wings training, among others, members of TOPGUN in the physiological hazards of flight and land and water survival. He is a licensed, instrument-rated private pilot and triathlete completing 19 triathlons since turning 70.

MJ Craig serves as the General Manager of DATIS e3, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the platform. With her deep understanding of product dynamics and a keen ability to translate complex customer needs into actionable strategies, MJ is dedicated to positioning DATIS e3 as the premier HCM & Payroll solution specifically designed for behavioral health organizations.
With over a decade of experience at DATIS and ContinuumCloud, MJ has been instrumental in the platform’s growth and success. Her innovative approach and forward-thinking vision have played an essential part in driving product enhancements that evolve the platform and support behavioral health leaders in achieving their mission. Under her leadership, DATIS e3 is not only advancing as a top-tier solution but also setting new standards for excellence in the industry.

The health care sector is evolving digitally, and providers are facing various internal and external threats. This underscores the need for a profound reassessment of external risks and control tactics across the organization.
Join us to hear Shura, Inc., a premier provider of support services for intellectual and developmental disabilities, discuss their cybersecurity attack, the investigation, and how they worked with cybersecurity specialists to tackle this tough issue.
Attendees will leave with:

Tarika Boyd is a seasoned leader with decades of experience at Shura Incorporated, where she has served as Executive Director and CEO since 2020, overseeing an operating budget of $13 million. Throughout her tenure, she has held key leadership roles, including Assistant to the Leadership Team, Human Resources Director, and Deputy Director of Programs under the organization’s founding CEO. Now at the helm, Tarika is committed to expanding Shura’s mission and vision, ensuring that individuals in need receive comprehensive, high-quality services.
In her role, she provides strategic oversight of all operations, supervises departmental directors, and collaborates closely with the executive leadership team and Board of Directors. Tarika’s expertise lies in coordinating service delivery systems across multiple regions in Maryland, supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), physical disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, and trauma. Under her leadership, Shura offers a broad range of services, including meaningful day programs, employment and residential services, behavioral health support, and other essential resources that empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives as active members of their communities. She is deeply committed to strengthening organizational leadership, enhancing service quality, and fostering a culture of compassion and inclusion.
Tarika holds a bachelor’s degree in counseling psychology from Coppin State University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in strategic communications from University of Maryland Global Campus.
To go the distance and stay competitive amidst changing market trends executive teams performance is key, but improving performance begins with an internal examination of programs and services, finances, technology systems, staffing, operations….and the list goes on. Balance and growth come from monitoring and managing these internal processes and identifying the need to make strategic adjustments along the way. In her closing keynote, Monica E. Oss will discuss planning not only for success and sustainability, but for performance excellence and the necessary characteristics for becoming a performance-based organization.

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.