* Indicates An OPEN MINDS Leadership & Management Certificate Program Course
Registration
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Lunch On Your Own
Try Sign Of The Buck, The Garryowen Irish Pub, or The Gettysburger Company, three of Gettysburg’s favorite local restaurants!
Transforming Your Leaders Into A High-Performing Team: The 2025 OPEN MINDS Seminar On Improved Leadership Competencies & Engagement
In today’s complex behavioral health care landscape, the performance of your leadership team directly influences every aspect of organizational success, from clinical outcomes to financial sustainability. This interactive, three-hour executive seminar is designed to equip behavioral health leaders with the tools, insights, and strategies needed to cultivate a truly high-performing team.
Through a focused exploration of leadership competencies, team dynamics, and engagement practices, participants will learn how to identify skill gaps, foster accountability, build trust, and align leadership behaviors with organizational goals. Case examples, peer discussions, and real-world scenarios will bring theory into action, offering practical approaches for driving performance, resilience, and innovation across your leadership ranks. Whether you’re structuring a team, navigating change, or simply aiming to elevate your leadership culture, this seminar will provide the frameworks and actionable strategies to transform your leaders into a unified, high impact force.
Stuart Buttlaire, Ph.D., MBA
Stuart Buttlaire brings over 35 years of clinical, management, and leadership experience to OPEN MINDS as an Advisory Board Member. Dr. Buttlaire has experience in both the public and private sectors of healthcare providing leadership and direction in healthcare delivery.
In addition to his work with OPEN MINDS, Dr. Buttlaire is 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 is also 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 is a regional leader in the development of Best Practices at Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Buttlaire has 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 is a medical/psychiatric unit to treat those members with both medical and psychiatric co-morbidities and the other, a free-standing psychiatric health facility.
Additionally, Dr. Buttlaire often provides expertise and consultation on state and federal legislation and its impact on behavioral health within Kaiser Permanente, the State of California, and nationally. Dr. Buttlaire is currently the Board President of the Institute for Behavioral Health Improvement. He was selected to the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board for Western Section after serving as AHA’s Chair of Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse section. He is currently on the Board of Directors of NAMI California, and the California Hospital Association’s Advisory Board of Behavioral Health.
Dr. Buttlaire is a graduate from the University of California, Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business with a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Health Care Management, Finance, and Marketing. Dr. Buttlaire also graduated from the California Institute of Integral Studies with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Additionally, Dr. Buttlaire holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from California State University, Humboldt, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political Science from the University of Colorado.
Christy Dye, MPH
Christy Dye is a data-focused healthcare executive who brings over 30 years of experience supporting provider organizations, state agencies, and communities in achieving their business, operational, and quality goals in health and human services to OPEN MINDS as a Senior Associate. Christy’s career has included working as a state Medicaid leader, a national expert in substance abuse treatment systems, health information exchange and interoperability, and as chief executive for Arizona’s leading integrated primary/behavioral healthcare provider.
Prior to OPEN MINDS, Ms. Dye served as Chief Business Development Officer for Health Current, (division of Contexture), Arizona’s statewide health information exchange (HIE). While there, Ms. Dye developed provider education and training programs in using clinical and administrative data to improve patient outcomes and manage value-based reimbursement contracts. She led the Health Current HIE research data initiative in partnership with Arizona State University and also served as co-principal investigator for a National Institute of Mental Health project at ASU focused on information sharing for behavioral health populations.
Ms. Dye is the former Chief Executive Officer for Partners in Recovery (now Copa Health), an Arizona agency serving more than 10,000 adults with serious mental illness. At Partners she created a network of fully integrated behavioral and primary care clinics for SMI adults, and launched the company’s population health, value-based and complex care programs, including Arizona’s only Medical Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team.
Prior to PIR, she served as Division Chief for Clinical and Recovery Services and Arizona’s state substance abuse director at the Arizona Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health. As a state official, she served on a team charged with the re-design of Medicaid behavioral health benefits in Arizona and oversaw the expansion of the state’s contracted managed care system to a more recovery focused model, including expansion of peer-delivered mental health, addiction, and consumer-operated services.
Ms. Dye graduated from the University of Arizona with a Master’s in Public Health Administration. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is an active member of the Community Advisory Board for Health Informatics at ASU’s College of Health Solutions.
Bringing The Future Into Focus: The 2025 OPEN MINDS Seminar On Strategic Planning Best Practices For A Turbulent Market
In the current health and human service market, executives face uncertainty. This leads many executive teams to avoid or reluctantly initiate significant strategic initiatives requiring long-term commitments. Unfortunately, “waiting for the dust to settle” isn’t a wise management choice. Regardless of what lies ahead in the market, strategic planning is essential to ensure continued success. A successful strategic planning process will provide your organization with a roadmap for developing plans in uncertain times, implementing them, and evaluating their success. In this crucial seminar, Senior Associates will discuss OPEN MINDS’ three-phase approach to strategy development, including:
- The OPEN MINDS best practice approach to building a strategic plan
- Guide to strategy implementation planning
- An in-depth review of how to manage strategy implementation for success
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM
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.
Thoughtleader Networking Reception
End your day by unwinding with your peers, colleagues, thought leaders, and vendors. Join us at the Gettysburg Hotel and enjoy a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres!
Gettysburg Pub Tour
Enjoy a taste of Gettysburg’s favorite brews. Meet us outside of the entrance of the Gettysburg Hotel and walk with your peers through the historic streets of downtown Gettysburg. Along the way, the tour will stop at three iconic locations:
- Reid’s Orchard & Winery Tasting Room at the Cider House – Where history meets tradition, enjoy a wide selection of locally crafted ciders or wind down with a glass of wine like their signature Chardonnay crafted in Pennsylvania oak barrels.
- Ploughman’s Tap Room – Known for their crisp and delicious ciders, crafted from five generations of locally grown apples.
- Garryowen Irish Pub – Experience one of Gettysburg locals favorite place, with an extensive selection and over 120 Irish whiskeys.
Erin Deppen
Executive Breakfast & Registration
If you haven’t registered yet, check in with us at the registration desk and then enjoy breakfast!
The Power Of Collaboration & Strategic Partnerships In Today’s Evolving Market: The UPMC Approach
In this keynote session, Dr. Matthew Hurford, President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Care Behavioral Health, and Vice President of Behavioral Health at UPMC Insurances Services, will discuss how strategic alliances and integrated care models are key to driving better outcomes, improving efficiency, and addressing the complexities of health care delivery in times of change. Dedicated to health equity and quality improvement, UPMC and the Community Care Behavioral Health Organization are paving the way with their Quality Improvement Program to facilitate close coordination with providers, members and other stakeholders. Hear valuable insights into how UPMC’s unique partnerships are reshaping the future of behavioral health and creating new opportunities for growth and patient-centered care.
Thought Leader Discussion
Employee Engagement & Retention Starts With Leadership: The Jay Nolan Community Services Case Study
In this current chaotic business environment where providers struggle to recruit and hire top talent, employee engagement and retention are more critical than ever. The more an organization’s employees feel invested in, valued, listened to, and appreciated, the greater the buy-in, commitment, and longevity organizations see from their most valuable resource – their staff.
This is “mission critical” for leadership teams and not something that can be delegated to HR or committees as a project. When the senior leadership team of an organization takes accountability for creating an environment that people want to work in, not only will it relieve some pressure on recruiting, but the organization will also deliver higher quality services and perform better financially.
Hear from Jay Nolan Community Services, a provider for fifty years with over 700 staff and supporting over 550 individuals with autism and developmental disabilities, as they discuss their approach to making employee engagement and retention a core part of the organization’s culture and “DNA” (Develop, Nurture, Appreciate).
Edward R. Amey, MS
Throughout his career, Edward has worked with children, teens, individuals, and families from various walks of life; as a coach, crisis counselor, social worker, therapist, teacher, adoption services supervisor, and program director. He has been a member of several boards, as well as serving as the Executive Director of The Concordia Schools – Los Angeles, the Managing Director for The Institute for the Redesign of Learning, and now as the CEO of the Jay Nolan Family of Companies.
Edward has led multiple organizations to financial prosperity, through digital and cultural change, by focusing on the greatest assets they have, the people they support, and the people providing that support. He is committed to helping the leaders in our communities and companies to drive lasting positive change through innovation that keeps people at the center.
Having been in executive leadership roles for nonprofits for over 20 years; Edward believes one of the fundamental ways to strengthen our communities is through purposeful efforts to provide opportunities for every member to contribute. By providing safe, challenging, and diverse venues in which to grow, develop, and contribute we create communities that are whole and healthy.
World War II American Experience Museum
Gettysburg, PA is best known for its pivotal role in the Civil War, but it also holds a surprising and significant connection to World War II. From serving as the site of a secret Navy map-making office to hosting a German POW camp on the grounds of Gettysburg National Military Park and a secret psychological warfare training camp, the town once again became a backdrop of a global conflict.
A trip to the World War II American Experience Museum brings these hidden stories to life, showcasing how leadership under pressure, through intelligence, adaptability, and moral courage, shaped wartime efforts at home and abroad. Through immersive exhibits, restored military vehicles, and personal stories, the museum highlights the critical decisions and bold actions that defined a generation of leaders.
A bus will take attendees to and back from the museum and will meet at the entrance of the Gettysburg Hotel.
An Update On Innovative New Programs: Health Plan Panel
Join our payer panel to hear the latest in innovative programs that top health plan industries are implementing today. This series will feature different payers from across the nation at each 2025 event.
The Women Of Gettysburg: Walking Tour
The women of Gettysburg are a lesser discussed but integral part of the Civil War battle, serving as nurses, burying the dead, and sometimes disguising themselves as soldiers.
Refresh your body and mind on Wednesday, and join us for this afternoon walk through the historic streets of Gettysburg in the footsteps of women who served critical roles during the battle. Take a step back in time and hear the stories of their heroism, struggles, and even death.
This walk will meet at the entrance of the Gettysburg Hotel.
*Walking shoes are recommended.
Patty Hawthorn
Patty loves storytelling. She has been a guide since 2013. Before becoming a tour guide, she was a substitute teacher for K-6 in one of the local school districts. But that did not prepare her for being a tour guide.
After attending multiple tours and doing a huge amount of reading, she was ready. And she loved it from the very beginning.
Patty is certified by the “Be a Better Guide Academy” in their tour program.
Patty’s mission is to share, educate, and inspire by sharing stories of the history of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Using The Latest Tech Trends In Your Workforce Strategic Plan
In today’s rapidly evolving health care landscape, staying ahead requires more than just clinical excellence — it demands a forward-thinking workforce strategy powered by the latest technological innovations. This presentation explores how emerging health care tech trends, such as AI-driven staffing analytics, telehealth integration, automation in administrative workflows, and digital health tools, can be leveraged to optimize workforce planning and performance. Executives will gain insights into aligning tech advancements with strategic goals, improving staff engagement, reducing burnout, and enhancing patient outcomes. Discover practical approaches to integrating technology into workforce development and position your organization for long-term agility and success.
Lunch On Your Own
Try Sign Of The Buck, The Garryowen Irish Pub, or The Gettysburger Company, three of Gettysburg’s favorite local restaurants!
Women In Health Care Leadership: An Interactive Discussion On Fostering Career Growth, Overcoming Barriers & Empowering Women Leaders
As organizational culture continues to change and evolve, organizations must learn to appreciate the different strengths and perspectives women bring to leadership roles. Women in leadership often face challenges differently than their male counterparts. To build strong leadership, organizations need to recognize the differences women bring and determine how they can foster female career growth and support in leadership positions. The panel, comprised of dynamic women in leadership roles, will lead a discussion on facing challenges, overcoming barriers, and empowering women executives in the workplace by sharing their leadership stories and lessons learned. After this forum, attendees should be able to:
- Identify different strengths and perspectives women bring to leadership
- Identify opportunities within your organization to encourage female career growth in leadership roles
- Strategize on how to best support leadership development for women within your organization for sustainable change
Diane Gould, LICSW
Diane Gould joined Advocates in 1985 and was appointed President and CEO in 2013. In a career at Advocates spanning over forty years, she has held many clinical and leadership roles and directed a range of clinical, residential, and support services promoting empowerment, inclusion, and health equity. Diane is also the President and CEO of Family Continuity Program, as of January 1, 2023.
Central to Diane’s approach to leadership is a commitment to collaboration. At Advocates, Diane emphasizes partnership with employees, funders, and individuals who receive services as an essential way to advance the agency’s mission.
In the broader community Diane is an active board member of the Massachusetts Providers Council, Association of Behavioral Healthcare, and several other industry advocacy organizations. Throughout her career, Diane has worked to build diverse, inclusive community coalitions that address behavioral health and social service needs. Diane’s several community recognitions include the 2011 Deborah Blumer Community Health Leader Award from the MetroWest Health Foundation, the 2015 MassPRA Public Advocacy Award, and The Providers’ Council’s 2020 CEO Award and 2022 Chair’s Award. Diane’s leadership has resulted in Advocates being selected one of the Top 100 Women Led Businesses, and Top 100 Places to Work in Massachusetts by the Boston Globe.
Diane holds a Master of Social Work degree from Simmons College, and the values of the social work profession continue to inform her vision and leadership. Previously, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts with a concentration in English and Women’s Studies.
Rochelle Head-Dunham, M.D., DFAPA, FASAM
Dr. Head-Dunham’s academic and administrative leadership has fostered noteworthy advances in the fields of addiction and mental health. She has served as a subject matter expert on various national and state platforms informing best practices for the field of behavioral health. Her clinical accolades include Clinical Faculty of the Year for the 2021 academic year at LSU School of Medicine. In 2019 she was the recipient of the Nyswander/Dole Award from the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, INC. (AATOD). Her clinical acumen coupled with her transformative leadership style has shaped an administrative career that fosters enduring changes for systems, organizations and individual levels of performance. Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham is a New Orleans native who currently serves as the Executive Director and Medical Director for Metropolitan Human Services District (MHSD), a state local governing entity tasked with service delivery for indigent and Medicaid ensured persons living with mental illness, substance use disorders and intellectual/developmental disabilities, residing in New Orleans and neighboring parishes.
Robena Spangler
Kimberly Bond, MS, LMFT
Kimberly Bond, MS, LMFT, brings over thirty years of experience providing behavioral health treatment in the public and community settings to the OPEN MINDS team. She currently serves as the Executive Vice President, Payer/Provider Market. In this role, Ms. Bond provides executive oversight and leadership to all Provider and Payer client engagements for OPEN MINDS.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Ms. Bond served concurrently as a Program Coordinator III and Clinical Manager of Adult Services and a Program Coordinator II and Clinical Manager of Recovery Services for the Ozark Guidance Center. In these roles, Ms. Bond was responsible for the administrative and clinical oversight of the adult outpatient and adult intensive mental health services on the Springdale Campus as well as the adult recovery/co-occurring services, including domestic violence and anger management treatment.
Prior to joining the Ozark Guidance Center, Ms. Bond served as the Executive Vice President of Center Point, Inc, a large substance abuse provider agency in California. In this role, Ms. Bond was responsible for the clinical and administrative supervision of all community-based programs as well as the women and children residential programs. In addition, Ms. Bond also managed budgets, interacted with funding agencies, and built positive relationships with all stakeholders. Ms. Bond was also in charge of proposal and grant writing, staff management, and training, facilities’ licensing and certifications renewals. Additionally, she prepared and submitted monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports to various funders.
Previously, Ms. Bond served as the President and CEO of Mental Health Systems, Inc. Ms. Bond was very instrumental in growing the agency from $12M in annual revenue to over $100M and becoming one of the largest providers of behavioral health services in California. In this role, Bond was responsible for the strategic, clinical, financial, and administrative health of the agency, including direct supervision of Senior Executive Staff. In addition, Bond ensured contract compliance of the agency’s 125 different contracts across federal and state agencies and eight counties.
Ms. Bond received her Bachelors Degree in Psychology, with Honors, and her Masters in Counseling Education from San Diego State University. She is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in both California and Arkansas.
Building An Agile Team For Hybrid Workforces
The shift to hybrid work models is transforming the health care workforce — but success requires more than just flexible schedules. It demands agile teams built for adaptability, collaboration, and resilience. This session will guide executives through strategies to design and support high-performing hybrid teams that can thrive across clinical, administrative, and remote environments. Learn how to foster a culture of agility, leverage digital collaboration tools, redefine team roles, and implement management practices that support both in-person and virtual staff. Gain insights into real-world examples from organizations leading the way in hybrid workforce innovation, and walk away with practical approaches to drive engagement, accountability, and operational excellence.
Leadership Management Certificate Program Networking Session—The Wendy Allen Art Gallery Experience
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to visit the art gallery of Wendy Allen, a Gettysburg-based artist who has dedicated her career to capturing the face and ideals of Abraham Lincoln in more than 500 portraits. This inspiring networking event is for members of the Leadership & Management Certificate Program and has limited availability. Attendees will meet at the Gettysburg Hotel and walk to the art gallery on Baltimore Street.
To register for this event, please contact Erin Deppen at edeppen@openminds.com and reserve your spot.
Following In Lincoln’s Footsteps: A Leadership Walking Tour
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, left a lasting impact on the town of Gettysburg, even though he was only here for 24 hours.
Join OPEN MINDS and Larry Korczyk, licensed battlefield tour guide, as we follow in President Lincoln’s footsteps and walk the very same path that led to the President’s delivery of the Gettysburg Address in the National Cemetery. The walking tour will start at the Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad Station behind the Gettysburg Hotel, will continue to the David Wills House, where Lincoln stayed overnight, and will proceed to the Presbyterian Church. Come away inspired by a national leader who spoke only 272 words that will be remembered for centuries to come. This experience will begin and end with a classroom session to discuss Lincoln’s leadership style and what we can learn from him in today’s tumultuous times.
*Appropriate walking shoes will be needed for this tour.
Lawrence “Larry” Korczyk
Larry Korczyk has been a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park for 10 years. He passed the National Park Service licensed guide exam in March of 2013. Prior to this, he worked for 30+ years in the logistics industry as a manager at two large distribution centers. However, always having a love of history, particularly on the American Civil War, he joined a Civil War Round Table in his native state of New Jersery, became an active Civil War reenactor for the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry, and dreamed, after his first visit to Gettysburg in 1990, to become a Licensed Battlefield Guide. Today, he lives in Gettysburg, has conducted hundreds of tours on the battlefield, is a regular speaker at Civil War Round Tables, and has co-authored a book titled “Top Ten at Gettysburg”.
The CEO Succession Planning Panel: Industry Insights
In an era of accelerating change and increasing leadership turnover, health care organizations must be more intentional than ever about CEO succession planning. This expert panel brings together seasoned executives, all current or former CEOs, to share candid insights and proven strategies for navigating the complexities of CEO transition. From identifying and developing internal talent to managing unexpected departures and aligning with board expectations, this session will provide actionable guidance grounded in real-world experience. Whether your organization is preparing for a near-term transition or building a long-term leadership pipeline, join us for this conversation designed to equip CEOs and senior executives with the tools to ensure leadership continuity and organizational resilience.
James H. Stewart
James (Jamie) was appointed CEO in June 2016. He joined Grafton in August 2008 as Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Vice-President. As a successful financial and administrative leader he has over twenty years’ progressive experience in a healthcare environment.
Rochelle Head-Dunham, M.D., DFAPA, FASAM
Dr. Head-Dunham’s academic and administrative leadership has fostered noteworthy advances in the fields of addiction and mental health. She has served as a subject matter expert on various national and state platforms informing best practices for the field of behavioral health. Her clinical accolades include Clinical Faculty of the Year for the 2021 academic year at LSU School of Medicine. In 2019 she was the recipient of the Nyswander/Dole Award from the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, INC. (AATOD). Her clinical acumen coupled with her transformative leadership style has shaped an administrative career that fosters enduring changes for systems, organizations and individual levels of performance. Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham is a New Orleans native who currently serves as the Executive Director and Medical Director for Metropolitan Human Services District (MHSD), a state local governing entity tasked with service delivery for indigent and Medicaid ensured persons living with mental illness, substance use disorders and intellectual/developmental disabilities, residing in New Orleans and neighboring parishes.
Executive Networking Reception At The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center
Sponsored By: 
Enjoy this unique networking reception at The Gettysburg Museum and Visitor’s Center – home to thousands of Civil War artifacts and relics from the Battle of Gettysburg. Institute attendees will have private, after-hours access to all museum areas, including the bookstore/gift shop. Also, view the famous Gettysburg Cyclorama, painted by Paul Philippoteaux’s in 1883, and depicting the Battle of Gettysburg. This historical piece of artwork is among the last surviving cycloramas in the United States. Cocktails, other refreshments, and food will be available!
A shuttle bus from the Gettysburg Hotel will transport attendees to and from the Visitor Center from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Attendees may also drive themselves to the reception—stop by the Registration Desk for driving and parking directions. (1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, PA 17325)
Executive Breakfast
Start your day off right with a hot breakfast, served in the exhibit hall. Take this time to speak with our great exhibitors and talk to peers about what you’ve heard this week!
The HR Platform Functional Checklist: How To Buy The Right HR System For Your Organization
Selecting the right HR platform is critical to driving organizational efficiency and employee engagement. This case study presentation will explore how an organization has successfully navigated the process of choosing the right HR system. Through real-world examples, attendees will be guided through a functional checklist that helped this organization successfully navigate the process of choosing the right HR system. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the key factors to consider when purchasing an HR system, including scalability, integration, and functionality across recruitment, performance management, payroll, and compliance.
Key Takeaways:
- A functional checklist to help evaluate critical HR system features and capabilities
- Practical tips for assessing integration and scalability to ensure long-term success
The LifeSkills Approach To Government Relations
As the landscape of behavioral health service delivery continues to evolve, we must recognize the critical role of government and legislative bodies in shaping the future of care. Hear from LifeSkills, a non-profit corporation located in Kentucky that provides mental health, addiction and I/DD services, on how they created a new role focused on government relations. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how legislative action, funding, and policy reforms are pivotal in driving systemic change to meet the growing needs of individuals and communities, and what they can do to get involved when critical decisions are made.
Join this session to learn the important lessons of not only what to do, but also what not to do, when advocating with policymakers.
Joe Dan Beavers, CPA, MHA
Joe Dan Beavers is the President/CEO of LifeSkills, Inc. a community mental health center based in Bowling Green, Kentucky. With over 25 years in healthcare, his work focuses on expanding access to mental health, addiction treatment, and developmental disability services in rural communities.
LifeSkills was founded in 1966 and serves over 26,000 individuals each year through mental health, substance use disorder and intellectual and developmental disabilities programs. In January of 2020 LifeSkills and the Pennyroyal Center merged, creating one of Kentucky’s largest community mental health centers.
Later that year, LifeSkills also helped lead the formation of the Community Health Network of Kentucky (CHN). CHN includes LifeSkills, Pennyroyal Center and three additional community mental health centers in Kentucky. Together CHN supports over 64,000 individuals annually through 55 programs across rural Kentucky.
Joe Dan has a BS in Accounting from Western Kentucky University, a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Kentucky and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Whitney H. Westerfield
Whitney Westerfield serves as the Director of Legal and Governmental Affairs for LifeSkills, Inc., one of Kentucky’s largest behavioral health providers covering 18 counties across South Central and Western Kentucky. Prior to joining LifeSkills, Whitney represented the 3rd Kentucky Senate District from 2013 through 2024, and served as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee for all three terms in office. Senator Westerfield also served as a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Agriculture, Families and Children, Natural Resources and Energy, the Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee, and the Juvenile Justice Oversight Council. Additionally, he helped create and was an inaugural a member of the Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity. His award winning legislative record includes Kentucky’s most comprehensive overhaul to its juvenile justice system in decades, amending Kentucky’s Constitution to include rights for crime victims, and a pilot program funded with opioid settlement funds to intervene in criminal cases shortly after booking to pair offenders with behavioral health services.
Following his legislative service Westerfield continues to work with national advocacy organizations to advance the cause of data-informed criminal justice and behavioral health policy. You can occasionally find his writing in the editorial pages of the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Senator Westerfield received his B.S. in Communication at the University of Kentucky in 2003, and his J.D. in the spring of 2006 from Southern Illinois University School of Law. He has been an active member of the Kentucky Bar since October 2006 and the Tennessee Bar since 2012. He owns a small row crop farm in Western Kentucky with his five brothers. Whitney and his wife, Amanda, have five children, including a set of triplets, and live in Western Kentucky.
Preparing For The Unexpected: The Little Round Top Case Study & Battlefield Tour
During this session, attendees will take a bus to the Gettysburg National Military Park for a private walking tour around Little Round Top. This session will include a review of the Union Army’s defenses on day two of the battle, a discussion of the history of the battlefield site, and time for questions and discussion with our guide. The session will start with a classroom-style discussion, highlighting the leadership lessons learned from Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and applying those lessons to managing your health care team.
Colonel Chamberlain and his 20th Maine regiment’s defense of Little Round Top is perhaps one of the most famous confrontations of the Battle of Gettysburg. This session examines how he, in times of great distress, recognized the power of strategic thinking, made the necessary quick decisions, and preserved the overall goal of the Union Army. Colonel Chamberlain’s own battlefield experiences help us to realize the importance of good leadership and to examine transactional and transformational leadership styles. Little Round Top is one of two rocky hills located in the South of Gettysburg and the position of the far-left flank of the Union army during the Battle of Gettysburg. On the second day of the battle, Union troops undefended this strategic ground, leaving the Union line open to attack from Confederate forces. Colonel Chamberlain was ordered to guard this position and quickly understood the strategic significance of the small hill—meaning that his regiment must hold the Union line at all costs. In the last moments, as all seemed lost, Chamberlain ordered a bayonet charge that almost doubled back on its line, capturing over one hundred soldiers and maintaining the Union defense of the high ground of the battlefield.
Robert Prosperi
Robert H. Prosperi is one of the foremost experts on the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War. He is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a U.S. Army veteran. He served for 17 years as one of the two historians at the Gettysburg National Military Park. During this time he served as a personal tour guide and battlefield escort for numerous dignitaries and celebrities. He had the distinct privilege of providing a personal tour for Presidents Carter and Sadat and Prime Minister Begin during the Camp David Summit.
Creating A Merger Strategy For Turbulent Times: A Managing Through Chaos Roundtable Discussion
Join OPEN MINDS CEO Monica E. Oss and Chief Strategy Officer Paul Duck, for a discussion on up-to-the-minute changes shaping the health and human services landscape and the merger strategy that organizations need to prep for the post-chaos market. Mergers, acquisitions and affiliations can be a key link to remaining sustainable in uncertain times.
The current market is being shaped by many forces – from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley, from Main Street to Wall Street. Understanding how these factors will impact your communities and being prepared are critical to sustainability and growth. Join us for a lively panel discussion and leave with tools that will have you feeling confident in your plan for the future.
Monica E. Oss
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 and 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.
Paul M. Duck
Paul M. Duck brings over 30 years of experience in leadership and management focusing on managed care, health information technology organizations, strategy, business development, and market expansion, and customer experience optimization to the OPEN MINDS team.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Duck served as the Vice President, Strategy & Development at Beacon Health Options. In this role, Mr. Duck led the organization’s strategy and business development efforts – responsible for a 30% increase in net revenue and initiated over $1 billion in revenue generation. Mr. Duck was active in national behavioral health initiatives as an executive of Beacon Health Options, including participating as a speaker at national and state association meetings.
Before joining Beacon Health Options, Mr. Duck was the Vice President of Business Development at Netsmart Technologies. During his tenure, Mr. Duck was responsible for business planning, including, the oversight of strategic activities including acquisitions, development, and execution of strategic initiatives, and positioning, and sales of large strategic customers. He also led the rollout of the company’s benchmarking and data analytics product suite.
Prior to Netsmart, Mr. Duck served as the Chief Executive Officer for Coastal Orthopedics and Pain Management, a large group practice with five clinic locations and two ambulatory surgical centers. As the organization’s chief executive officer, Mr. Duck was responsible for significant positive changes in leadership and corporate culture, financial and operational performance, compliance, and governance. Mr. Duck improved net collections by over $1 million per month and grew the practice through negotiating better contract rates with payers. He also implemented an organizational rebranding initiative and launched a new marketing campaign.
Prior to Coastal Orthopedics and Pain Management, Mr. Duck served as the President and Chief Executive Officer for Florida Radiology Imaging, one of the largest outpatient diagnostic imaging service companies serving the greater Orlando market. During his tenure, Mr. Duck led the construction of three new, full modality, diagnostic imaging locations. Mr. Duck revolutionized the company’s culture by creating a highly attractive and functional work environment.
Mr. Duck earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Case Western Reserve University. He earned his Associate of Arts in Electronic Engineering Technology from the Electronic Technology Institute. Mr. Duck received an award by Inc Magazine for leading Florida Radiology Imaging as one of America’s fastest-growing companies. Mr. Duck recently served as a contributing author to the book The New Health Age: The Future of Health Care in America.
Chief Executive Officer Luncheon
If you’re the Chief Executive Officer or Executive Director of an OPEN MINDS member organization, join us for this private networking luncheon. This is an opportunity to share leadership experiences and solutions with your peers from across the nation. Our host for the luncheon is Monica E. Oss, Chief Executive Officer and Kim Bond, Exective Vice President. (To register, contact Erin Deppen, Event Coordinator, at 717-334-1329 or edeppen@openminds.com.)
Monica E. Oss
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 and 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.
Kimberly Bond, MS, LMFT
Kimberly Bond, MS, LMFT, brings over thirty years of experience providing behavioral health treatment in the public and community settings to the OPEN MINDS team. She currently serves as the Executive Vice President, Payer/Provider Market. In this role, Ms. Bond provides executive oversight and leadership to all Provider and Payer client engagements for OPEN MINDS.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Ms. Bond served concurrently as a Program Coordinator III and Clinical Manager of Adult Services and a Program Coordinator II and Clinical Manager of Recovery Services for the Ozark Guidance Center. In these roles, Ms. Bond was responsible for the administrative and clinical oversight of the adult outpatient and adult intensive mental health services on the Springdale Campus as well as the adult recovery/co-occurring services, including domestic violence and anger management treatment.
Prior to joining the Ozark Guidance Center, Ms. Bond served as the Executive Vice President of Center Point, Inc, a large substance abuse provider agency in California. In this role, Ms. Bond was responsible for the clinical and administrative supervision of all community-based programs as well as the women and children residential programs. In addition, Ms. Bond also managed budgets, interacted with funding agencies, and built positive relationships with all stakeholders. Ms. Bond was also in charge of proposal and grant writing, staff management, and training, facilities’ licensing and certifications renewals. Additionally, she prepared and submitted monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports to various funders.
Previously, Ms. Bond served as the President and CEO of Mental Health Systems, Inc. Ms. Bond was very instrumental in growing the agency from $12M in annual revenue to over $100M and becoming one of the largest providers of behavioral health services in California. In this role, Bond was responsible for the strategic, clinical, financial, and administrative health of the agency, including direct supervision of Senior Executive Staff. In addition, Bond ensured contract compliance of the agency’s 125 different contracts across federal and state agencies and eight counties.
Ms. Bond received her Bachelors Degree in Psychology, with Honors, and her Masters in Counseling Education from San Diego State University. She is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in both California and Arkansas.
Chief Human Resources Officer/Chief Operating Officer Networking Lunch
Join us for this private luncheon for OPEN MINDS member organization executive leaders – created for Chief Human Resource Officers and Chief Operating Officers. This networking session aims to provide opportunities for executive leaders nationwide to share solutions to the challenges of serving consumers with complex needs. The hosts for the luncheon are Sharon Hicks, Senior Associate at OPEN MINDS. (To register, contact Erin Deppen, Event Coordinator, at 717-334-1329 or edeppen@openminds.com.)
Sharon Hicks, MBA, MSW
Sharon Hicks, MBA, MSW, has more than 20 years of experience in the health and human service field. She has extensive expertise and a wide range of experience in health plan management, clinical operations management, and technology. A recognized thought leader among her peers, Ms. Hicks is a regular keynote speaker at industry conferences and association meetings, as well as an author of hundreds of articles and resources for professionals in both clinical and executive roles.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Ms. Hicks spent two decades in a number of executive positions within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) system. She served as the Chief Operating Officer for Community Care Behavioral Health, UPMC’s managed behavioral health organization responsible for $800 million in annual revenue. At Community Care, Ms. Hicks was responsible for all aspects of the organization’s operations, including fiscal, information systems, the claims processing department, and the design of clinical systems. She also managed the day-to-day operations of human resources, facilities, purchasing, and security.
Ms. Hicks also served in a variety of tech leadership roles for UPMC. In 2002, she was appointed as the Vice President of Technology Strategy for the UPMC Insurance Services Division before becoming the Chief Executive Officer of Askesis Development Group, a leading provider of electronic health record software for behavioral health and social service organizations. In this role, Ms. Hicks was responsible for the growth and profitability of the company and the direction of software development. In addition, Ms. Hicks was the President of U Squared Interactive, a UPMC-owned organization with the exclusive United States rights to Beating The Blues – the renowned computerized cognitive behavioral therapy solution for treating anxiety and depression.
Ms. Hicks started her impressive career as a psychiatric social worker and an Assistant Director of Social Work. Prior to her promotions, Ms. Hicks served as a Clinical Administrator for both Ambulatory Services and Emergency and Intake Services at the UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. In this role, Ms. Hicks managed the behavioral health division, the budgets for all departments, and implemented new software replacing paper billing for clinical services.
Ms. Hicks received both her Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Social Work degrees from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Before pursuing her graduate education, Ms. Hicks received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Point Park College, Pittsburgh, PA.
Challenge In Time Of Turbulence: The Pickett’s Charge Case Study & Battlefield Tour
This session will take a bus to the Gettysburg National Military Park, where a licensed battlefield guide will lead a tour across the field where Pickett’s Charge occurred. This session will include a review of Generals Lee and Longstreet’s relationship and decision-making styles, as well as time for questions and discussion with our guide. Attendees will start and end the session with a classroom-style discussion highlighting leadership lessons learned from Pickett’s Charge and applying those lessons to today’s health care executives.
Pickett’s Charge may be the most infamous incident at the Battle of Gettysburg. Retrace the steps of General Robert E. Lee and General James Longstreet as they made the decisions that would ultimately determine not only the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg but possibly the outcome of the Civil War.
On the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the commander of The Army of Northern Virginia, General Robert E. Lee, found himself at odds with his trusted commander, General James Longstreet. Generals Lee and Longstreet disagreed at several critical points during the Battle of Gettysburg. The most significant disagreement between the two officers came when Lee first talked to Longstreet about the planned Pickett’s Charge on the afternoon of July 3. Longstreet reluctantly agreed to Lee’s plan. This is an example of leader vs. follower command disagreement. The assault required the Confederate troops to march nearly a mile over an open field and climb several fences under open fire from the Union line. This disastrous end to the battle resulted in a fifty percent casualty rate among the Confederate troops and is seen as the decisive end to the Battle of Gettysburg and the turning point or high-water mark for the Confederacy in the Civil War.
Terry G. Fox
Terry Fox is a sixth-generation resident of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and a battlefield guide emeritus with Gettysburg National Military Park. He taught American History in the public schools for 33 years, serving as department head and as a member of the Carnegie Foundation for teaching American History. Since his retirement he has taught as an adjunct professor at Gettysburg College and at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. He has presented leadership seminars for U.S. Air Force chief master sergeants as well as employees of the U.S. Secret Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in addition to teaching in Johns Hopkins’ Police Executive Leadership program. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Shippensburg College.
Lunch On Your Own
Try Sign Of The Buck, The Garryowen Irish Pub, or The Gettysburger Company, three of Gettysburg’s favorite local restaurants!
Strategies For Strengthening & Diversifying Revenue Sources: The Monarch Case Study
As financial pressures continue to mount across the health care landscape, leading organizations must think beyond traditional funding models to remain competitive and sustainable. This executive-level session will explore proven strategies for strengthening and diversifying revenue streams through deliberate, mission-aligned expansion and service integration.
Hear from Monarch, a nonprofit behavioral health and intellectual and developmental disabilities provider serving 27,000 people in North Carolina and Rhode Island, and a team of nearly 1,600 staff members, as they discuss insights into expanding services across state lines to unlock markets and scale operations. They’ll also discuss the financial and operational benefits of building integrated provider networks.
During this session, attendees will:
- Discover practical guidance for organizations looking to evolve their business models while staying grounded in quality and whole-person care
- Explore how the addition of care coordination services and integration of primary and behavioral health or I/DD services can drive both improved outcomes and new revenue opportunities
- Identify key strategies for expanding services into new state markets while maintaining regulatory compliance and service quality
Blake Martin, MHA
Blake Martin, MHA, serves as Monarch’s President. Under the direction of Chief Executive Officer Dr. Peggy Terhune, Blake leads the organization’s strategic planning efforts, build and maintain relationships with state and national policymakers and oversee operations of key business units, enabling the company to continue as well as expand the delivery of exceptional care across all services.
As President, Blake is directly responsible for identifying and developing strategic opportunities and maintaining relationships with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, statewide local management entities and managed care organizations (LME/MCOs), social services agencies, licensing agencies and the people and families Monarch supports, among other key stakeholders.
Blake brings extensive experience in health care administration, operational oversight and fiscal management, having most recently served as Monarch’s Chief Strategy Officer, where he led the development and implementation of a new five-year strategic plan. He holds both a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree and a bachelor’s degree from Pfeiffer University. He also serves as a member of Pfeiffer University’s Board of Trustees.
Lead Like It’s 1863: Timeless Lessons For Creating Your Agile Team
In an era of unprecedented complexity, timeless leadership lessons are more relevant than ever. Join Monica Oss, Chief Executive Officer of OPEN MINDS, as she explores the leadership decisions that shaped American history—and how today’s executives can apply those insights to navigate uncertainty, build trust, and make bold decisions when the stakes are high.
Monica E. Oss
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 and 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.