Full Agenda & Schedule Of Events
* Indicates An OPEN MINDS Leadership & Management Certificate Program Course
Registration & Breakfast
Grab your badge, some breakfast and coffee, and get registered for the week ahead!
How To Develop A Strategic Plan: The 2024 OPEN MINDS Executive Seminar On Best Practices In Strategy, Portfolio Management & Scenario-Based Planning
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.
Carol Clayton, Ph.D.
Dr. Carol Clayton is a licensed, psychologist with 30 years of health care experience in the public and private sector, including non-profit and private practice work. Prior to joining OPEN MINDS as a Senior Consultant, she retired as the Translational Neuroscientist for Relias, where she specialized in health care solutions targeting workforce development and population health outcome improvement. Before joining Relias, Dr. Clayton was the CEO of Care Management Technologies, a health IT data analytics company. She also served as the Executive Director of the NC Council of Community Programs from 2000-2006. The NC Council is the predecessor organization to i2i.
Lunch On Your Own
Try Food 101, The Garryowen Irish Pub, or The Gettysburger Company, three of Gettysburg’s favorite local restaurants!
Building A Digital Transformation Roadmap – Aligning Technology, Team, & Processes For Superior Consumer Experience & Engagement: The 2024 OPEN MINDS Seminar
Much focus has been on digital strategies for health and human service organizations. A post-pandemic strategy involves a multi-pronged technology-driven approach that leads to streamlining processes and higher performance. While the pandemic experience accelerated the use of technology to support consumer access, using a technology strategy to assure business success goes beyond a consumer digital interface. This seminar will focus on the eight dimensions of digital transformation and provide a road map for executive teams to integrate and incorporate their entire organization. Attendees will gain insights into a digital-first approach focused on consumer experience, organizational efficiency, resiliency, growth, and sustainability. Key objectives include:
- A road map for digital-first evolution and what it means to be a digital-first organization
- The eight dimensions of a digital-first framework for quality and performance
- Critical organizational competencies needed for leading-edge technology transformation
Carol Clayton, Ph.D.
Dr. Carol Clayton is a licensed, psychologist with 30 years of health care experience in the public and private sector, including non-profit and private practice work. Prior to joining OPEN MINDS as a Senior Consultant, she retired as the Translational Neuroscientist for Relias, where she specialized in health care solutions targeting workforce development and population health outcome improvement. Before joining Relias, Dr. Clayton was the CEO of Care Management Technologies, a health IT data analytics company. She also served as the Executive Director of the NC Council of Community Programs from 2000-2006. The NC Council is the predecessor organization to i2i.
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.
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’oeurvres!
The Women Of Gettysburg: Morning 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 even at times, disguising themselves as soldiers.
Refresh your body and mind on Wednesday and join us for this morning walk through the historic streets of Gettysburg to walk 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.
*Space for this experience is limited; you must pre-register to attend this walk. If you would like to register or need more information, please contact Erin Deppen at edeppen@openminds.com.
*Walking shoes are recommended.
Breakfast & Registration
If you haven’t registered yet, check in with us at the registration desk and then enjoy breakfast and coffee before the morning’s keynote presentation.
Navigating Uncertainty: What History Can Teach Us About Modern Leadership
Step back in time and explore leadership through the eyes of two prominent historical leaders: General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Abraham Lincoln in this one-of-a-kind session designed specifically for health and human services executives.
This informative and inspiring keynote presentation will examine the parallels between historical leadership and the challenges faced by modern executives today, aiding today’s organizational leaders in overcoming adversity and fully embracing their own unique leadership potential. Attendees will gain raw insight for navigating the industry landscape, one that is rich with both uncertainty and possibility.
Jeff McCausland, Ph.D.
Dr. McCausland is a retired US Army Colonel who formally served as the Dean of Academics at the US Army War College. During his time in the military he commanded a battalion in combat during the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991. He also served on the National Security Council staff in the White House during the Kosovo crisis. He currently serves as a national security consultant for CBS radio and television. He routinely does analysis for CBS on issues such as Iraq, European security, arms control, or related questions of national security policy. He is currently involved in a project for the National Nuclear Security Administration focused on nuclear weapons in South Asia and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Dr. McCausland is also the founder and CEO of Diamond6 Leadership and Strategy, LLC. Diamond6 conducts executive leadership workshops for corporate, public, and non-profit leadership teams across the United States. He recently published a new book, Battle Tested! Gettysburg Leadership Lessons for 21st Century Leaders.
Thought Leader Discussion
Join our keynote and take this time to ask your own questions and continue the conversation.
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.
Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions – A Practical Guide To Overcoming The Workforce Shortage
Explore the current and future impact of the workforce shortage and practical solutions providers are implementing to combat decreased revenues and operational limitations.
Our featured industry experts will explore proactive strategies for modern workforce challenges like the utilization of certified peers, community health workers, health coaches, and paraprofessionals and draw comparisons to help clarify the roles of each.
Plus, attendees will be exposed to “best practices” in talent management to help executives navigate the ongoing competition for skilled professionals and ensure long-term sustainability in the changing market.
- Describe the current and future ramifications of the behavioral health workforce shortage
- Understand practical solutions providers and other states are doing to combat the shortage
- Compare and contrast how certified peers, community health workers, health coaches, and other paraprofessionals are being utilized
Michelle Engel
Whitney McChane
Dr. Thomas Starling
Dr. Tom Starling is a growth-focused executive who has spent his extensive career specializing in defining vision and steering strategy for mission-driven small and mid-sized organizations. Dr. Starling has demonstrated year-after-year success in securing millions of dollars in funding and grants to drive growth, revamp programs, transform operations, and fuel long-term, positive change. Dr. Starling joins OPEN MINDS as a Senior Associate.
Previously, Dr. Starling was the Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships for Rogers Behavioral Health System, a nationally recognized nonprofit provider of highly specialized psychiatric care. In this role, Dr. Starling gave voices to 21 clinics across 10 states and drove the development of a multidisciplinary division, spanning advocacy, government relationships at a state and federal level, and behavioral health prevention and education. He identified, targeted, and secured donors, oversaw 10 staff, and controlled a $2 million budget. Dr. Starling was responsible for co-managing national sponsorship decisions and hired Public Affairs Director and Advocacy Manager to optimize organizational performance and cohesively connect messaging, media, and corporate platforms to advocacy and government relations.
Dr. Starling was also the President and Chief Operating Officer for Mental Health American (MHA) of Midsouth, a nonprofit organization that connects community members with specialized mental health and wellness resources, providing services that improve quality of life and promoting effective services where mental health needs exist. Dr. Starling used his extensive leadership and fundraising experience to define overall strategy and implement a new organizational structure for the largest affiliate in the South. He developed partnerships and managed all relations with funders, donors, and foundations, in addition to providers, hospitals, and health systems. Additionally, Dr. Starling partnered with state and federal legislatures, as well as local and city government officials supervised and supported 25 staff members and controlled the $2 million annual budget. Dr. Starling fueled revenues after creating and rolling out numerous impactful programs and outlined continuing education opportunities and expanded the suicide prevention program by 10 states. Dr. Starling was also nominated to serve on the National MHA Board of Directors and was elected Board Chair from 2018 to 2020, making it the first time in 110-year history to have the affiliate CEO serve as Board Chair.
Dr. Starling is also the former Vice President of Operations for HEOPS in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Starling led daily operations and expanded business for the start-up healthcare company. He served as ISO-9001 Quality Manager, HR Manager, Call Center Supervisor, and Chief Contract Negotiator. He was responsible for tripling staff size by opening Medicaid and Medicare networks in 12 states, making the entire network expand across 40 states in total and expanding from 1 call center to 3. Dr. Starling also became a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 listed mediator during his tenure.
Dr. Starling graduated with honors from Tennessee State University with his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Administration. He also holds a Master of Arts in Medical Ethics from Vanderbilt University, a Master’s Degree in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Baylor University. Additionally, he obtained a Medical Gerontology Certification from Meharry Medical College and a Business Leadership Certification from the Vanderbilt University Owen School of Business.
A Click & A Hard Place – Three Areas Of Liability For Your Risk Management Audit
Today’s employers are between a click and a hard place. From intellectual property rights on social media, the rise of digital communications, and advanced technology in day-to-day operations, especially when concerning client information (ambient dictation and online session transcripts), executives must carefully navigate potential areas of liability and regularly conduct risk management audits to ensure compliance.
In this session, our industry experts will help you navigate three common areas of liability and offer strategies for developing a comprehensive risk management audit that protects organizational and client interests.
Key takeaways from this session include:
- Strategies to fortify your HR policies for the workforce future
- Key considerations for crafting an Iron-Clad Social Media Policy
- Learn how to assess the compliance of Clients’ Confidential Information and Records amidst increased use of technology
The Eisenhower Leadership Perspective: Eisenhower Farm Tour
During his wartime and presidential leadership, General Dwight D. Eisenhower (as he preferred to be known in his post-presidency) believed that trust was a critical leadership attribute, especially in turbulent times. Coming up in the military, Ike’s leadership style differed from those before him. He possessed a steady, calming way of looking at the critical issues. He dedicated himself to a cause higher than himself. Eisenhower did not abide by publicity-seeking but believed in accountability and being humble in his authority to make consequential decisions.
Ike considered himself a team player, bringing others along to address that cause. Eisenhower’s leadership approach involved the importance of the study, contingency planning, and being surrounded by diverse opinions. He believed that wisdom does not reside solely in one man’s mind. Eisenhower also incorporated stress management into his day-to-day to stay outwardly calm and exercise optimism. He believed that optimism starts from the top and works its way down. He believed in the importance of morale and making winners out of everyone. Join OPEN MINDS on this one-of-a-kind tour of the Eisenhower farm and learn more about General Eisenhower, his legacy, and his family.
Ken Carr
Ken Carr brings over 20 years of finance, technology, data analysis and reporting experience in the health and human service field to OPEN MINDS. He currently ia a Senior Associate with the OPEN MINDS consulting practice. In this role, he served as a subject matter expert in the OPEN MINDS consulting practice where he has led numerous engagements in strategic planning, merger and acquisition prospecting, business process improvement, financial analysis of service lines, and technology selection.
Before joining the OPEN MINDS team, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of The Centers, a community mental health center in Ocala, Florida. In this position, Mr. Carr led a realignment of the organization’s financial management functions. This included revenue cycle management, EHR bill implementation and reporting, cash management enhancement, and strategic financial analysis.
Prior to his role at The Centers, Mr. Carr served as Chief Financial Officer of Guild Incorporated, an organization providing residential and community based mental health services in St. Paul, Minnesota. As CFO, Mr. Carr led the financial, billing, IT, quality, informatics, compliance, and facilities activities. During his tenure at Guild Incorporated, Mr. Carr used his expertise in change management and business process improvement to lead the EHR implementation team, align service data reporting and financial performance, and lead the financial and data capture activities for new service initiatives.
Mr. Carr has also held the positions of Administrative Director and Finance Director at the St. Paul National Testing Laboratory, a biomedical testing facility of the American Red Cross. In those positions he oversaw activities to enhance inventory management, align financial results to industry standards, and improve financial and facilities performance through problem analysis and quality management initiatives. He also was involved in directing human resource functions during laboratory closing near the end of his tenure.
Mr. Carr earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota, and a Master of Divinity Degree from Sioux Falls Seminary. He maintains an active CPA license with the State of South Dakota.
Building A Data-Driven Workforce Strategy
In this session, learn how your organization can leverage the power of data and analytics to create a practical workforce playbook aligned with overarching organizational goals.
Explore strategies for tracking essential workforce recruitment, retention, and performance analytics. Plus, the interplay of performance-based compensation is complementary to advancing workforce’s overall strategy.
Whether you’re aiming to optimize recruitment, enhance retention, or elevate performance, this session equips executive leaders with the tools needed to formulate a metrics-driven workforce strategy that drives and supports organization growth and revenue goals.
Key takeaways include:
- Explore strategies for tracking key workforce metrics and internal workforce recruitment, retention, and performance trends
- Learn how to use workforce data to create a practical, metrics-driven workforce playbook aligned with overall organizational goals
- Understand how to use compensation to complement overall organizational strategy
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.
Budgeting For Value-Based Contracts & Alternative Payment Methods
With flat fee-for-service rates and increased staffing costs, margin compression is a significant sustainability challenge for provider organizations. One strategy for increasing revenue is to implement value-based contracting and alternative payment methods.
The implementation of alternative payment methods requires redesigning the business model – identifying new evidence-based practices and other expenses to achieve outcomes, realigning incentives around outcomes instead of productivity, and linking revenue to new contractual requirements.
This session will:
- Identify the advantages and challenges of implementing alternative payment methods;
- Demonstrate examples of how to develop alternative payment methods;
- Recommended metrics to manage the risk associated with value-based revenue.
Lunch On Your Own
Enjoy one of the many local restaurants and take a stroll in historical downtown Gettysburg!
Creating Your High-Performance Leadership Team
In this session, our industry experts will dive into the intricacies of leadership culture and team building to address two crucial questions: How do you know if you have the right leadership team? If not, what strategies can be used for team alignment?
Attendees will gain valuable insights into the essential skillsets and personalities needed to foster a resilient and effective leadership team and explore the dynamics in fostering a team of diverse perspectives, from agreement to constructive disagreement.
During this session, attendees will:
- Explore a variety of different team dynamics, their challenges, and their functionalities
- Gain strategies for realigning leadership teams and fostering a productive team culture
- Hear solutions to overcoming common leadership team challenges, plus new approaches for building resilience and adaptability
Lauren Sclesky
Lauren Sclesky has led the transformational growth of the VersiCare Group for the past two decades. The group provides home and community-based support for over 7,000 people with intellectual and development disabilities (I/DD) across North America. Her vision has fueled the group’s transformational growth, propelling its 2023 revenues to $70 million, while always keeping quality of care first.
At VersiCare Group, Lauren champions the improvement of community-based care services, rallying the group’s nine home-and-community care brands around the shared purpose of ‘Helping People Succeed’. She works directly with organizational leaders to help them strategically guide operations and foster excellence to deliver long-term success. The group’s services span from Michigan to Florida, helping more than 1,500 individuals to reach their full potential.
VersiCare Group’s commitment to excellence is evident: 16 consecutive years as a ‘Best and Brightest’ Metro Detroit company, and eight accolades as a ‘Best Place to Work’. Beyond VersiCare, Lauren is also a passionate advocate for change. She collaborates with regional state departments of health and human services, local legislators, provider coalitions, and advocacy groups to deliver successful programs and outcomes.
In addition to her role as CEO at VersiCare Group, Lauren sits on the board of Macomb County Provider Alliance (MCPA).
Dr. Thomas Starling
Dr. Tom Starling is a growth-focused executive who has spent his extensive career specializing in defining vision and steering strategy for mission-driven small and mid-sized organizations. Dr. Starling has demonstrated year-after-year success in securing millions of dollars in funding and grants to drive growth, revamp programs, transform operations, and fuel long-term, positive change. Dr. Starling joins OPEN MINDS as a Senior Associate.
Previously, Dr. Starling was the Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships for Rogers Behavioral Health System, a nationally recognized nonprofit provider of highly specialized psychiatric care. In this role, Dr. Starling gave voices to 21 clinics across 10 states and drove the development of a multidisciplinary division, spanning advocacy, government relationships at a state and federal level, and behavioral health prevention and education. He identified, targeted, and secured donors, oversaw 10 staff, and controlled a $2 million budget. Dr. Starling was responsible for co-managing national sponsorship decisions and hired Public Affairs Director and Advocacy Manager to optimize organizational performance and cohesively connect messaging, media, and corporate platforms to advocacy and government relations.
Dr. Starling was also the President and Chief Operating Officer for Mental Health American (MHA) of Midsouth, a nonprofit organization that connects community members with specialized mental health and wellness resources, providing services that improve quality of life and promoting effective services where mental health needs exist. Dr. Starling used his extensive leadership and fundraising experience to define overall strategy and implement a new organizational structure for the largest affiliate in the South. He developed partnerships and managed all relations with funders, donors, and foundations, in addition to providers, hospitals, and health systems. Additionally, Dr. Starling partnered with state and federal legislatures, as well as local and city government officials supervised and supported 25 staff members and controlled the $2 million annual budget. Dr. Starling fueled revenues after creating and rolling out numerous impactful programs and outlined continuing education opportunities and expanded the suicide prevention program by 10 states. Dr. Starling was also nominated to serve on the National MHA Board of Directors and was elected Board Chair from 2018 to 2020, making it the first time in 110-year history to have the affiliate CEO serve as Board Chair.
Dr. Starling is also the former Vice President of Operations for HEOPS in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Starling led daily operations and expanded business for the start-up healthcare company. He served as ISO-9001 Quality Manager, HR Manager, Call Center Supervisor, and Chief Contract Negotiator. He was responsible for tripling staff size by opening Medicaid and Medicare networks in 12 states, making the entire network expand across 40 states in total and expanding from 1 call center to 3. Dr. Starling also became a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 listed mediator during his tenure.
Dr. Starling graduated with honors from Tennessee State University with his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Administration. He also holds a Master of Arts in Medical Ethics from Vanderbilt University, a Master’s Degree in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Baylor University. Additionally, he obtained a Medical Gerontology Certification from Meharry Medical College and a Business Leadership Certification from the Vanderbilt University Owen School of Business.
Women In Leadership Panel
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 different challenges and 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
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.
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.
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, will proceed to the Presbyterian Church, and finally will finish in the Gettysburg National Cemetery where the address was given. 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.
*Space for this experience is limited; you must pre-register to attend this tour. If you would like to register or need more information, please contact Erin Deppen at edeppen@openminds.com.
*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”.
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.
Health Care Workers Are Struggling With Their Own Well-Being: What We Can Do To Help Them
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.
Parting Ways With Tradition – Embracing Strategic Change & Crafting a Future-Ready Identity
There are many emotional and strategic complexities inherent in parting with traditions and founding initiatives.
In this session, gain insight on navigating change, embracing innovation, and ensuring program alignment with the evolving needs of your organization’s mission and long-term strategic goals.
- Understand how to recognize when change is necessary using financial and market-based assessments
- Explore the pivotal role of Social Determinants of Health and other data in gauging program effectiveness and identifying community needs that necessitate innovative solutions
- Gain insights into balancing the commitment to mission-driven goals with the need for adaptability, ensuring that your organization remains resilient and responsive
Hattie Tracy
Hattie Tracy is the President and CEO of Coleman Health Services, headquartered in Kent, Ohio. She assumed that role on August 7, 2021 after previously serving Coleman as the Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations. Tracy has a long and successful history in the behavioral health field. She brings over 20 years of behavioral health and human services experience, with over 10 years in executive team roles. She previously served in senior roles with Child Guidance and Family Solutions and in the BeST Center, a Coordinating Center of Excellence in the Department of Psychiatry at NEOMED where she helped lead the FIRST Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis program. She also had a private practice as an outpatient therapist, was an adjunct faculty member at the University of Akron and served on the Board of Goodwill Industries in Akron. She has a Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from Kent State University and a Master of Social Work from The Ohio State University. She is a licensed social worker in the state of Ohio, and resides in Kent with her husband, Joe, and two young daughters. “I entered this field because I wanted to make a difference for the people we serve,” Tracy said. “Leading Coleman is the best way I can think of to have that positive impact. I am so excited to work with the Board, the senior leadership team and all of our 900 employees to put those we serve right in the middle of Coleman’s core values. ”Tracy was chosen from more than 100 applicants in a National Search. Coleman Health Services was founded in Kent, Ohio in 1978. It offers comprehensive behavioral health, residential, employment, and supportive services. It earned the 2021 Gold Seal of Transparency from Guidestar, the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. Earlier this year, Coleman earned the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) designation from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), one of 11 such designees in the state. This designation will allow Coleman to provide fully integrated health services across six Ohio counties. Tracy has been leading that effort.
Steve Wigginton
Executive Networking Reception At The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center
Sponsored By: 
The Gettysburg Museum and Visitor’s Center is home to thousands of Civil War artifacts and relics from the Battle of Gettysburg. Institute attendees will have private, after-hours access to all areas of the museum, including the book store/gift shop. Also view the famous Gettysburg Cyclorama. Paul Philippoteaux’s 1883 cyclorama painting of the Battle of Gettysburg 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.
Executive Breakfast
If you haven’t registered yet, check in with us at the registration desk and then enjoy a light breakfast and coffee before the morning’s keynote presentation.
Leading Clinical Teams Through Challenging Times: The Carelon Perspective
James A. Polo, M.D. MBA
Jim has more than 30 years of healthcare experience in the commercial and military arenas. Prior to joining the team, James served as the Executive Medical Director for Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. There he worked with clinical and business partners to facilitate the optimization of a comprehensive provider network that was member-centric and cost-effective.
Jim proudly served in the United States Army. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Psychology from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Jim also received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado and his Doctor of Medicine from the Uniformed Services University.
Thought Leader Discussion
Join our keynote and take this time to ask your own questions and continue the conversation.
James A. Polo, M.D. MBA
Jim has more than 30 years of healthcare experience in the commercial and military arenas. Prior to joining the team, James served as the Executive Medical Director for Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. There he worked with clinical and business partners to facilitate the optimization of a comprehensive provider network that was member-centric and cost-effective.
Jim proudly served in the United States Army. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Psychology from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Jim also received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado and his Doctor of Medicine from the Uniformed Services University.
Briefing & Discussion: Results Of The 2024 OPEN MINDS Executive Compensation & Retention Survey
The question of executive compensation is an essential topic for boards and organizations who want to retain current executives and ensure a smooth succession when the time comes. The 2024 OPEN MINDS Executive Compensation & Retention Survey provides the data and trends to help develop a compensation and retention plan in tune with the current market. Join this interactive discussion and hear survey results on:
- The types of cash compensation incentives for Chief Executive Officers—behavioral health, child and family services, long-term services and supports and intellectual and developmental disabilities, and primary care—by organizational revenue
- Trends in executive cash compensation by market—behavioral health, child and family services, long-term services and supports and intellectual and developmental disabilities, and primary care—by organizational revenue and by executive level
- Trends in the number of executives who plan to leave their organization next year and why they plan to leave their organization. Data is broken down by market, revenue, and executive level
- Trends in whether executives believe they can be replaced at the same pay. Data is broken down by market, revenue, and executive level
Carol Clayton, Ph.D.
Dr. Carol Clayton is a licensed, psychologist with 30 years of health care experience in the public and private sector, including non-profit and private practice work. Prior to joining OPEN MINDS as a Senior Consultant, she retired as the Translational Neuroscientist for Relias, where she specialized in health care solutions targeting workforce development and population health outcome improvement. Before joining Relias, Dr. Clayton was the CEO of Care Management Technologies, a health IT data analytics company. She also served as the Executive Director of the NC Council of Community Programs from 2000-2006. The NC Council is the predecessor organization to i2i.
Whole Person Care: Should I Become A FQHC Or A Look-A-like? — A Comparative Session
Are you a healthcare provider or organization interested in expanding your services to underserved communities and accessing federal funding? Join us for a comprehensive comparative session on the advantages and considerations of becoming either a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or a FQHC Lookalike. This session aims to provide an in-depth analysis of both designations, guiding you towards making an informed decision that aligns with your organization’s goals and objectives.
Attendees will:
- Differentiate between FQHCs and FQHC Lookalikes: Define and describe the key characteristics and requirements of both FQHCs and FQHC Lookalikes, emphasizing the distinctions in terms of funding, services, and operational aspects.
- Explore the eligibility criteria: Identify the specific criteria that organizations must meet to qualify as either an FQHC or an FQHC Lookalike and understand the significance of meeting these requirements.
- Compare funding opportunities: Compare and contrast the funding opportunities available to FQHCs and FQHC Lookalikes, including federal grants, cost-based reimbursement, and other financial incentives.
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.
Going Beyond The Battle: The 2024 Gettysburg Museum Tour
What happens to a place when a crisis is over? After the dust settles, leaders must learn to pivot, focusing on rebuilding communities and learning to lead in a new normal.
Experience the Beyond The Battle Museum, voted the “Best New Museum” in the country by USA TODAY 10Best readers, for eyewitness accounts and true stories of what happened before, during, and after the Civil War. The museum includes 12 interactive exhibits with real artifacts, including an original program from the Gettysburg Address. This experience will transport you to another time, where you’ll hear lessons to take back with you to the modern, post-pandemic world we’re navigating today.
*Space for this tour is limited and you must pre-register to attend this tour. If you want to register or need more information, please contact Erin Deppen at edeppen@openminds.com.
Hoping For Sunshine, Preparing For Rain – Media, PR & The Executive Leader
Effective communication is at the cornerstone of organizational success. It’s about sculpting the image of your organization to be positive, trustworthy, welcoming, and forward-thinking.
However, navigating effective external communication strategies often involves facing challenges head-on like announcing the departure of a high-level leader, appropriately addressing a crisis to maintain trust, and being candid with board members while not oversharing with employees.
In this session:
- Learn how your organization’s brand and communication style can affect your marketing efforts to both consumers and partners
- Explore how organizations have successfully navigated external media relations and PR messaging through turbulent times
- Discover strategies for facilitating effective communication and collaboration across stakeholder groups
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.
Kimberly Sanders
Kim has worked with children and adults with Autism and other developmental disabilities for nearly 20 years. During her tenure at Grafton, Kim has served as Program Supervisor, Case Manager, Adult Services Administrator, Residential Administrator and Executive Director of the Winchester facility.
Chief Executive Officer Networking Lunch
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. (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 executive leaders of OPEN MINDS member organization – created for Chief Human Resource Officers and Chief Operating Officers. The objective of this networking session is to provide opportunities for executive leaders from across the country to share solutions to the challenges in serving consumers with complex needs. Our hosts for the luncheon are Christy Dye and Tom Starling, Senior Associates at OPEN MINDS. (To register, contact Erin Deppen, Event Coordinator, at 717-334-1329 or edeppen@openminds.com.)
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.
Dr. Thomas Starling
Dr. Tom Starling is a growth-focused executive who has spent his extensive career specializing in defining vision and steering strategy for mission-driven small and mid-sized organizations. Dr. Starling has demonstrated year-after-year success in securing millions of dollars in funding and grants to drive growth, revamp programs, transform operations, and fuel long-term, positive change. Dr. Starling joins OPEN MINDS as a Senior Associate.
Previously, Dr. Starling was the Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships for Rogers Behavioral Health System, a nationally recognized nonprofit provider of highly specialized psychiatric care. In this role, Dr. Starling gave voices to 21 clinics across 10 states and drove the development of a multidisciplinary division, spanning advocacy, government relationships at a state and federal level, and behavioral health prevention and education. He identified, targeted, and secured donors, oversaw 10 staff, and controlled a $2 million budget. Dr. Starling was responsible for co-managing national sponsorship decisions and hired Public Affairs Director and Advocacy Manager to optimize organizational performance and cohesively connect messaging, media, and corporate platforms to advocacy and government relations.
Dr. Starling was also the President and Chief Operating Officer for Mental Health American (MHA) of Midsouth, a nonprofit organization that connects community members with specialized mental health and wellness resources, providing services that improve quality of life and promoting effective services where mental health needs exist. Dr. Starling used his extensive leadership and fundraising experience to define overall strategy and implement a new organizational structure for the largest affiliate in the South. He developed partnerships and managed all relations with funders, donors, and foundations, in addition to providers, hospitals, and health systems. Additionally, Dr. Starling partnered with state and federal legislatures, as well as local and city government officials supervised and supported 25 staff members and controlled the $2 million annual budget. Dr. Starling fueled revenues after creating and rolling out numerous impactful programs and outlined continuing education opportunities and expanded the suicide prevention program by 10 states. Dr. Starling was also nominated to serve on the National MHA Board of Directors and was elected Board Chair from 2018 to 2020, making it the first time in 110-year history to have the affiliate CEO serve as Board Chair.
Dr. Starling is also the former Vice President of Operations for HEOPS in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Starling led daily operations and expanded business for the start-up healthcare company. He served as ISO-9001 Quality Manager, HR Manager, Call Center Supervisor, and Chief Contract Negotiator. He was responsible for tripling staff size by opening Medicaid and Medicare networks in 12 states, making the entire network expand across 40 states in total and expanding from 1 call center to 3. Dr. Starling also became a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 listed mediator during his tenure.
Dr. Starling graduated with honors from Tennessee State University with his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Administration. He also holds a Master of Arts in Medical Ethics from Vanderbilt University, a Master’s Degree in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Baylor University. Additionally, he obtained a Medical Gerontology Certification from Meharry Medical College and a Business Leadership Certification from the Vanderbilt University Owen School of Business.
Lunch On Your Own
Enjoy one of the many local restaurants and take a stroll in historical, downtown Gettysburg!
The Communications Challenge In Times 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 and 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 would reluctantly and finally agree 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.
Beyond The Blueprint – Identifying & Refining Your Optimal Organizational Structure
Leadership team structure serves as the backbone of any successful organization. For many teams, determining whether your current structure is effective and knowing when to initiate organizational changes pose significant challenges.
Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your current structure or contemplating a significant reorganization, this session will provide practical guidance to help you navigate the complexities of organizational development.
Attendees will:
- Learn strategies for assessing your operational and leadership frameworks
- Gain practical insights on when and how to implement changes for optimal organizational efficiency
- Explore the intricacies of building and evaluating the right organizational structure with real-world examples that can be applied to enhance your organization’s overall effectiveness
Christopher Keck, DBH, LPC, CPM
Dr. Christopher Keck is dedicated to improving the well-being of individuals, particularly children and youth. He has contributed for over 18 years to prevention, foster care, clinical practice, and Health System Administration, providing clinical leadership to shape policies and practices from trauma- and clinically-informed perspectives. Dr Keck believes that collaborative partnerships and proactive support to families will promote healing and connection and reduce reliance on more costly intrusive interventions.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Dr. Keck finds joy in spending time with his wife and three kids, participating in his faith community, and enjoying gardening, reading, hiking, and camping.
Harsh Trivedi, M.D., MBA
Create Your Own Silver Lining
For organizations serving consumers with complex needs, there are many challenges in the industry, but these challenges are not without opportunity. In this session, join OPEN MINDS Chief Executive Officer, Monica E. Oss as she brings the retreat to a close with a exploration of key lessons learned throughout the week. Attendees will examine market trends and strategies that can be used as leverage to create growth opportunities for their organizations.
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.