Leadership

Steve Gold is the Chief Executive Officer of Refresh Mental Health. Previously, Steve was a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Crestview Capital Partners LLC, which owned and operated several outpatient mental health centers. Prior to Crestview, he was a co-founder, Director and Vice President of corporate development for RiverMend Health, a multi-site national behavioral health company.

With a background in law, Steve was the General Counsel and/or consultant to many medical technology and healthcare companies originating out of University of Florida intellectual property. Prior to his business and counsel roles, he was a practicing attorney as a Deputy Solicitor General for the State of Florida and a Staff Attorney for Justice Wells at the Florida Supreme Court.

Steve earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Yale College, his Juris Doctorate and Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Florida, and his Masters of Bioethics from the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

In his personal time, Steve is an avid swimmer and enjoys spending time with his wife Katherine who is an ophthalmologist at the Mayo Clinic and their four children. In an effort to provide warriors suffering from anxiety, trauma and depression with rescued service dogs, Steve serves on the Board of Directors of the non-profit charity K9s for Warriors along with serving on the Board of Trustees for the Bolles School in Jacksonville Florida.

Kristen Scheel is the Chief Operating Officer at Refresh Mental Health. 

 

Previously, Kristen worked at RiverMend Health, a multi-site eating disorder, addiction, and behavioral health company. She started from its inception as the Director of Sales, then as National Director of Admissions and served in Operations roles to each area of the business. Additionally, Kristen worked at Universal Health Services in roles of Clinical Therapist, Admissions Counselor, Mobile Assessor, Human Resources/Insurance Contracting, UR, and National Business Development at Pride Institute and Talbott Recovery. Kristen interned on Child/Adolescent Behavioral Health unit at Fairview and served with the local Drug Courts.

 

Kristen received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Augsburg University and her Master’s in Counseling and Psychological Services from Saint Mary’s University.

 

In her personal time, Kristen enjoys family, rock climbing, board sports, yoga, running, and traveling. 

Dr. Richelson is a national thought leader and psychiatrist who serves as the Refresh’s Chief Medical Officer.  He is a recognized expert in his field of neuropsychopharmacology with a focus on mood, anxiety, and thought disorders.

Dr. Richelson received his M.D. degree at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed his residency training in psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD. He is a board-certified psychiatrist with expertise in clinical and basic neuropsychopharmacology.

Dr. Richelson spent his career at the Mayo Clinic. In 2014 he retired from Mayo Clinic’s Foundation for Medical Education and Research in Jacksonville, Florida as the Donald and Lucy Dayton Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology and in the Department of Pharmacology. Dr. Richelson has published over 200 original research articles and more than 130 review articles in basic science and in clinical medical journals. He has received numerous awards and professional recognition, including being listed in Best Doctors in America since 2003; and is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He is past president and past treasurer of the Society of Biological Psychiatry. In addition to his work as CMO at Refresh, Dr. Richelson practices clinically out of the Jacksonville Beach office of Comprehensive MedPsych Systems (CMPS).

Dr. Negrette serves as the national medical director. She comes to Refresh Mental Health with over a decade of experience working with diverse populations and settings. She is a servant leader with passion for the growth of her patients as well as colleagues. She is an experienced educator and mentor and has led numerous interdisciplinary teams in settings such as acute care, outpatient practices and previously was a medical director for a residential and partial hospital program for the treatment of eating disorders. She is also the founder of Tulaya Wellness, an outpatient practice that exemplifies humanistic and individualized psychiatric care.

Dr. Negrette attended medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin as well as completed her post graduate training through the Medical College of Wisconsin Psychiatry Program.

Dr. Negrette is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as well as by the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine, and the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Negrette specializes in adult psychiatry with passion for LGBTQIA populations. In addition to her work as medical director, she continues to engage clinically out of our Wisconsin offices.

Jeffrey Scales is the Chief Accounting Officer at Refresh Mental Health.  Previously Jeff worked in the healthcare industry as Director of Finance with Family Care Partners of Northeast Florida, a large primary care group with a focus on risk contracting.  Jeff’s also has previous work experience as a Certified Public Accountant as a partner with Masters, Smith & Wisby, PA providing both audit and tax services to closely held private companies and non-profit entities.

Jeff holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both Accounting and Finance from the Florida State University.  In his personal time Jeff enjoys water sports and spending time with his family.  Jeff also serves as treasurer for the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity Housing Corporation and is the former Chairman of the Child Guidance Center Board of Directors.

Marta Sullivan is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Refresh Mental Health.

Prior to joining Refresh, Marta established and led the Human Resources Department for Florida & Fusion Autism Center from its inception in 2015 until it was acquired in 2020 by BlueSprig Pediatrics, Inc.  Florida & Fusion Autism Center and BlueSprig Pediatrics provide Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for children and adults on the autism spectrum.  Marta’s career in Human Resources spans over twenty five years and includes leadership roles in the healthcare arena, as well as high tech and manufacturing.

Marta received a Bachelor of Science in Business and Education from Quincy University in Quincy, IL.

In her personal time, Marta enjoyed hiking, traveling and spending time with her husband and five grown children.

Jennifer is originally from Palos Verdes, California. As Vice President of Revenue Cycle Management, Jennifer Shepard has led Multiple Healthcare organizations through every stage of The Billing Process from Acquisitions, Mergers and Internal Transitions.  Prior to Joining Refresh Jennifer has held positions of management in Healthcare for over 25 years.  She was accountable for leading, managing, and directing the revenue cycle operations by providing quality billing and collections services, as well as, accurate, timely and efficient billing, collections, and administrative processes.  She was responsible for strategic planning, goal setting, monitoring/measuring work performance, fiscal/budgetary management, operations/workflow management, human resource management, project management, risk management, continuous quality improvement, information management, on-going communication, and customer service within the revenue cycle operations. She has successfully led numerous Clinical teams to achieve Medical necessity documentation improvement.  Jennifer specializes in Professional and Facility claims billing.  She also adheres to all Federal, state and local guidelines.  She quarterly reviews Local Coverage Determinations with all major health insurance payers.  Jennifer has worked previously for such fine Establishments to include but not limited to Nalle Clinic, IMG Academies, Coastal Orthopedics and Professional Healthcare of Pinellas.  She also has worked with a variety of EHR/EMR systems such as Medisoft McKesson, NextGen and Eclinical.  She is familiar navigating with the following Clearinghouses: Eclaims, Ability, Trizetto, Emdeon and Navicure.  Jennifer is a part of CMPS/Refresh Executive leadership Team and is a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Certified Professional Coder CPC, and holds her Associates Degree in Science.  She is also an active Member of Meridian College’s Advisory Board for Medical Assisting, Billing/Coding and Ultrasound.  Jennifer serves as the Vice President to Mid Gulf Coast the local Chapter of American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

We are pleased to announce that Suzanne Hyde has joined the organization as Vice President of Managed Care.    Suzanne has over 25 years of experience in managed care from both the payer and provider perspective.

Most recently Suzanne was the Senior National Director of Provider Enrollment/Credentialing and Provider Services for Unified Women’s Healthcare, prior to that she was the  Corporate Vice President of Managed Care for Promise Healthcare.

Steve Schoenly is the Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer for Refresh Mental Health, based in Jacksonville, Florida.

Previously, Steve was the Assistant Vice President of Compliance for the University of Miami Health System. In this role, he managed all aspects of the health system compliance program for the university’s three hospitals and 1,500 physicians. Prior to that he was Senior Vice President of Compliance for Healogics, the nation’s leading wound care management company, providing wound care and consulting services to 600 hospitals across the United States.

Steve received his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Master’s degree in Accountancy from the University of Mississippi. He is Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC), Certified in Healthcare Privacy Compliance (CHPC), a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).

In his personal time, Steve enjoys spending time with his family. He is a passionate fan of science fiction and biking and is active in several professional organizations.

Dr. Stephenson serves at Compliance Officer of Comprehensive Med-Psych Systems (CMPS).  He has helped CMPS over the years implement and expand its healthcare compliance program.  He is the primary contact to help other Refresh companies implement and advance their healthcare compliance programs in addition to his role as the Compliance Officer of CMPS.

Sandy Acevedo Millington has been practicing law in Jacksonville since 2014. She has been in litigation for the majority if her career as a practicing attorney, including but not limited to highly contested hearing, trials, meditations and more. Prior to Sandy’s litigation focus she worked in real estate transactional law.

Sandy obtained her Juris Doctorate from Florida Coastal school of Law and her Bachelors in Political Science from Florida International University.

In her spare time she is the Committee Chair of the Hispanic and Latino interest Committee with the Jacksonville Bar Association and volunteers with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. Sandy also enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach and traveling.

Mahmoud Okasha MD DPM MRCPsych DLFAPA is a board-certified psychiatrist who did his first residency in London UK at the Westminster medical school. Where he acquired his Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatry, he subsequently did a second residency at Yale Medical School Department of Psychiatry. Where he is currently an Associate Clinical Professor teaching residents and medical students. Dr. Okasha joined Refresh as a full time child and adult psychiatrist after its acquisition of Comprehensive Psychiatric Care, a multidisciplinary group practice with multiple Connecticut locations founded by Dr. Okasha. Dr. Okasha has been involved in organized medicine during his professional career and as such he has been previously past president of the medical staff at W W Backus hospital. Past chairman of the department of psychiatry, past president of the New London County Medical Association. Past member of the board of directors and chairman of the mental health liaison committee of MDHEALTH PLAN act physician-owned HMO. Past speaker of the house of delegates and secretary of the Connecticut State Medical Society. Co-owned and directed a psychiatric Partial Hospital Program. Clinically Dr. Okasha specializes in the treatment of Anxiety disorders and specially Treatment-Resistant Depression. When the FDA approved the first TMS device to treat TRD Dr. Okasha was the first private practitioner to acquire the Neurostar TMS device to treat depressed patients in 2009. Because of his interest in TMS, he was a founding member of the Clinical TMS Society and is serving as a BOD member, past secretary; past Chair of the insurance committee, and present co-chair of the Legal Business and Ethical committee society. Dr. Okasha has always been interested in clinical research in psychiatry and has been the Principal Investigator for over 85 clinical research studies since 2000. Dr. Okasha has lectured extensively focusing on the treatment of TRD and the use of TMS. He also is the author of several publications.

Dr. Shakir is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is a Diplomate and Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, an honor he received in May 2018 during that APA Annual Meeting. He is trained in medicine, neurology, and psychiatry. He was also awarded the Lifetime achievement award” by the Iraqi Medical Sciences Association(IMSA-USA) in 2018. This was a group he co-founded in 1998 that included around 200 members who graduated from Iraqi medical schools. Dr. Shakir finished medical school in Baghdad, Iraq, with the highest distinction being the first graduate in his class (as well as the highest graduation average in the history of the medicine school) obtaining the highest honors in different fields of medicine. He also did part of his medical training at the London University in London, England. After finishing his medical training, he did a rotating internship in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Neurobehavioral Medicine. Then he did one year of Chief Residency in Neurology at Baghdad City, teaching hospital. His U.S. training has been at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute for two years and subsequently Stanford University Medical Center where he did his last year of residency and another extra year as Departmental Chief Resident and also acting Chief of the Outpatient Services in Psychiatry. Dr. Shakir has been an educator all of his life including since finishing his residency he has been on the clinical faculty at Stanford University School of Medicine where he served starting as a Clinical Instructor to most recently he has been with the rank of Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Emeritus of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Dr. Shakir is a clinical expert leader in the field of TMS and is responsible for the growth and the clinical best practices at all TMS sites for Refresh Mental Health. He was the founding member of the clinical TMS society, as well as president of the California TMS Society. It was an integrated practice in the San Francisco Bay Area (Silicon Valley TMS) that has grown to 5 locations and has been recognized as an international Center of excellence in 2013.

Anya Perea serves as the Vice President of Integrations for Refresh Mental Health.

Anya’s professional experience includes serving as Head of School for a private Middle & High School in Los Angeles, Senior Therapist for an NPS Middle & High School, and served on the leadership teams for clinical treatment programs.  She held the role of National Director of Admissions for RiverMend Health which exposed her to best practices related to multi state behavioral health operational considerations.  Her longstanding professional relationships supported her consulting appointments with many therapeutic practices. She is passionate about identifying clinical savvy experts and strategically developing them to operate at the highest level of their capacity. Anya has a unique blend of Clinical, Admissions, Business Development, Operations, Leadership, Strategic, and Start-up experience.

Anya earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Monmouth University where she ran Cross Country and launched her clinical career at the local hospital, Monmouth Medical Center.

In her personal time, Anya enjoys spending time with her family, especially her son Luca who is her greatest joy.  Hiking local trails with her dog Otis, spinning, and you can always find a great book on her nightstand.

Brad is the Director of Service Line Expansion & De Novo Growth at Refresh Mental Health.

Education: Bachelors in Political Economics from Florida State University and completed an Executive Business Leadership program from the University of North Carolina Business School

Work Experience: 13 years in Sales, Marketing, Business Development, Real Estate, and Process Improvement. Before RMH, I was the VP of Sales and Marketing for Seminole Gulf Railway and Bay Colony Corporation.

Personal Info: From Jacksonville, FL – enjoy golf, fishing and board sports

Kenneth McKenzie is the VP of Strategy and Analytics at Refresh Mental Health.

Previously, Kenneth launched or helped launch practices at two different consulting firms, PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Embark LLC. Most recently, at Embark, Kenneth launched the Finance Transformation practice that focused on helping mid-market companies improve via technology, process improvements, and employee training. At PwC, Kenneth helped train the US advisor practice in advanced analytic tools (Alteryx, Tableau, MS power tools, Python, etc.). This initiative led to the creation of the data analytics practice, a new service offering for PwC, which focused on answering business problems using data analytics.

Kenneth graduated with a Master’s degree in Accounting (MAcc) and a minor in Information Systems from the Marriott School of Business (Brigham Young University) and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University).

In his personal time, Kenneth loves spending time with his wife and three boys. He loves everything outdoors (hiking/backpacking, survival camping, building/structural engineering, rugby, board sports, cycling, etc.) and some nerd stuff (chess and coding). He launched a 501(c)(3) charity that focuses on economically stable programs that serve less fortunate individuals during his MBA.

Theresa “Tammy” Gaser, MSSA, LISW-S, LCSW has been practicing in the field of clinical social work treating children, adolescents, adults and families since 2003. She specialized in trauma, family and marriage counseling. In 2011, she founded Trinity Family Counseling and a few years later The Restore Foundation, a non-profit that provides education about the impact of trauma on individuals and families, providing education to agencies and individuals seeking professional assistance. She served as Clinical Director of CCBT of Columbus and as a presenter for Heisel and Associates. Most recently Theresa was program manager at the Gulf Coast Veterans Healthcare System and continues to provide educational training and CEUs to multiple disciplines.

Theresa’s love for teaching began in Cleveland, Ohio where she taught high school history. Her passion for teaching and working in the field of mental health led her to developing educational programs, continuing education, and becoming an author. She is a sought after public speaker in the mental health field as well the community. Theresa has provided CEU education, motivational speaking and presented to all grade levels on emotional regulation, trauma, suicide, personality disorder, high risk ethics, and supervision to name a few. She also speaks to local organization and churches regarding the impact of trauma and the power of healing.

Theresa earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Cleveland State University, a teaching certificate from Notre Dame College and her Master Degree in Social Service Administration from Case Western Reserve University. She is also the author of Ice Cream Cone Feelings, There’s A Squirrel in My Tummy and co-author of 3 Key Parenting Tips when children See Horrific Events on TV. Theresa proudly served in the United States Air Force and was Airman of the Quarter and received the John Levitow award for Leadership.

Kandi has over 20 years of experience in healthcare from both the payer and provider perspective. She has her Bachelor’s degree from Daniel Webster College in Organizational Management and is a Certified Medical Practice Executive.

Kandi has been passionate about compliance within healthcare and has overseen URAC accreditations for Utilization Management and Case Management. She recently joins the team coming from Aetna where she worked on the National Compliance team and oversaw 800+ delegated groups for compliance with NCQA, state and federal requirements.

Kandi enjoys traveling, scuba diving, time with family and friends, and loves dogs.

Brad Sims comes to Refresh Mental Health with over 20 years of Human Resources experience.  Brad has worked in several industries, from Healthcare, Financial Services, Professional Services to Oil and Gas.  Brad worked with ADP TotalSource PEO for five years, before transitioning to Cancer Treatment Centers of America.  From there, Brad worked with Glory Global Solutions for eight years where he was the Human Resources Business Partner for the Service Division which included supporting employees in six countries.  After Glory, Brad worked with Petronas, an International Oil and Gas provider from Malaysia, supporting employees in US, Mexico and Canada.  From Petronas Brad worked with Pinnacle Dermatology where he assisted in the rapid growth of eight offices to 25 in a year and a half.  In addition, Brad was responsible for building the HR Operations from the ground up.

Brad received his bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement from Western Illinois University.  Upon graduating Brad worked as an Operations Manager for a contract security services company, prior to changing his career into Human Resources.

In his spare time Brad has runs half marathons, officiates his two sons swim meets and enjoying time with his two dogs: Ghost and Parker.

Amanda Valencic is a Regional Human Resources Business Partner at Refresh Mental Health.

Amanda’s career in Human Resources spans over several years and includes generalist and management roles for rapidly growing organizations with multi-system integrations. Prior to working at Refresh, Amanda worked in the healthcare, legal and hospitality industries.
She earned her Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida and in 2020 received her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification.

In her personal time, Amanda enjoys traveling, exercising, and fostering for her local Humane Society.

Tonica Lowe-Miller is a Regional Human Resources Business Partner at Refresh Mental Health.

Tonica earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Temple University and is in process of obtaining her MBA. Tonica comes to us from Springfield Psychological, one of our largest centers in the East Region.  She worked very closely with the leadership, as the HR Generalist, providing support with employee relations, full cycle recruiting, benefits, policy and procedure management, HRIS support and supporting the center’s efforts of continuing to have the work environment being one that is psychologically healthy. Prior to Springfield, Tonica worked at Rosewood Gardens (formerly A Presby’s Inspired Life Community) where she was the HR Director for nearly 6 years. At Rosewood, Tonica was responsible for full cycle recruiting, employee relation, benefits administration, training on HR policies and procedures and partnering with each member of the leadership team to maintain direct insight into any changes or needs of each department. Prior to this role, Tonica held several progressive HR roles with COMHAR, INC, a community based Mental Health center, in Philadelphia for over 15 years. In her last role as Assistant Director of HR, Tonica was responsible for supervision of recruiters, benefits & administrative staff. She worked directly with each recruiter to help attract, qualify & hire optimal candidates for any one of COMHAR’s 60+ programs, and worked directly with supervisors to effectively fill the vacancies in each program. Tonica also provided training on HR policy & procedures, and assisted with employee relations matters, including but not limited to employee evaluations, disciplinary action, unemployment, EEOC & worker’s compensation hearings, direct contact with legal, state, federal & local representatives from the Unemployment, EEOC & worker’s comp arenas.

In her spare time, Tonica loves spending time with her family and traveling to the beautiful island of Jamaica, as often as possible.

Alexis is a Florida Native whom graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources Management & minor in Hospitality. Alexis brings 6 years of experience in Human Resources while holding her SHRM-CP certification from the Society of Human Resource Management. Prior to Refresh, Alexis worked within Recruiting at ADP and then transitioned into the Healthcare industry serving as an HR Generalist with Florida Autism Center LLC. Alexis enjoys game nights, spending time with family and friends and watching her 1 year old daughter grow and complete milestones.

My name is Serena Walker and I started working at Refresh Mental Health on March 21, 2022.  I am the new Regional Human Resources Business Partner, reporting to Marta Sullivan.

I started my professional career over 20 years ago working for the private sector in the oil and gas and energy industry. During my career, I have managed projects on both a domestic and global scale. My progressive body of work include executive level management, strategic program management, training/employee development, resource and forecasting, organizational development, and employee relations to name a few. I regularly attend national training sessions, seminars, and take continued education courses to stay abreast with the ever-changing laws and policies in the world today. I often approach things with a hands-on execution plan to combine decisiveness and strong business acumen for the organizations.

In my spare time I love to volunteer, teach dance classes, play sports and spend time with my family.

As the corporate H.R. Operations Specialist, Jake provides much needed support to all our centers and corporate leaders. Jake is a bilingual graduate of the UW system with 3+ years of experience and previously worked at a local gym alongside personal trainers and physical therapists.

In his spare time, Jake likes to hang out with his friends and family.

Bio Coming Soon

Abigail Craven has been working with Refresh Mental Health (RMH) since December 2021. She recently graduated from The University of Georgia (UGA) with a Bachelor’s in Health Promotion. Her time at UGA allowed her to gain a better appreciation for targeting the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of “well-being” to ensure that all individuals can reach their happiest and healthiest potential. She is currently the Lead Talent Sourcing Specialist within the Sourcing Department at RMH, and she absolutely loves what she does. She gets the privilege of working “behind the scenes” to assist in recruiting the most ideal mental health professionals whom she thinks would make a positive impact in the lives of those who may be struggling, mentally. She is so thankful for a career that gives her the opportunity to indirectly make a positive difference in the lives of others. During her free time, she loves hanging out with her family/friends, planning her wedding (October 22, 2022 – woohoo!), spoiling her nephew and nieces, baking, going on long walks, playing her puppies, flying in airplanes with her fiancé, watching some Georgia football, traveling, and the list goes on! She looks forward to all that is ahead with Refresh Mental Health.

Maya Rookard- McPherson is a new Talent Sourcing Specialist, in the state of Georgia, with over 15 years of experience in clinical mental health. After spending nearly a decade working in clinical services as a clinical director and clinician, Maya believes that what truly drives compliance, stratification, program efficacy, and program diversity & growth—are the people. Also a Full-Time Professor of Psychology with Fort Valley State University, Maya works to add to the field daily through the newest generation of upcoming professionals. Maya has worked successfully in multiple areas to include government, research, state corrections, behavioral health, and acute care. In addition to her extensive clinical and public relations experience, Maya holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Public Relations, Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology & Theory, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Psychology. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and romance comedy movies on a comfy couch with a big bowl of popcorn.

Diana grew up in New York and now resides in a small town in Tennessee. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, taking her dog on walks, bowling, reading, traveling, and fishing on her boat. She has been with Refresh for five months and was hired as a Talent Solutions Specialist and was recently promoted to Talent Solutions Manager for the South Central Team. She holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology specializing in Child and Adolescent Development as well as an ABA certification. She has been working in the Mental Health space as either someone in the front lines or as a recruiter for the last 12 years. What she loves most about being on the hiring side of things, is the ability to have a hand in hiring people who will be changing so many lives along the way.

Jaime Torres is a Talent Solutions Specialist for the Midwest Region. Jaime has her Master’s in Human Resources Management with a specialization in Healthcare Administration and has a background in counseling from when she worked in a detoxification unit for a handful of years in Colorado, and then in a drug and alcohol outpatient clinic. Jaime then transitioned into the HR field after she found that she loved helping those that help others. In her downtime, Jaime loves to go out fishing on her boat with her fiancé and host game nights with friends.

Lauren is an Indiana University Aluma, graduating in 2018 with a BS in Healthcare Administration and a BS in Business Management. Lauren discovered her passion for mental and behavioral health and wanted to contribute to the mental health field from a clinical approach. A Chicago native, she is currently a full-time graduate student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where she will be receiving her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology in May 2022. Lauren plans to continue her education at The Chicago School and will be enrolling in the Business Psychology PhD program in the Fall of 2023. Lauren plans to sit for LMFT licensure and provide clinical services part-time and continue to recruit amazing clinicians full-time with Refresh. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her friends, family, and dogs!

William is a Talent Solutions Specialist at Refresh Mental Health. William’s background stems from having more than 10 years in the human services industry working in various healthcare settings that include multiple Outpatient Substance Abuse and Mental Health Clinics, multiple Dental private practices, a Federally Qualified Health Center, and a Psychiatric Hospital. His educational background includes graduating from the University of Maryland College Park with a bachelor’s in Family Science and graduating from The Johns Hopkins University School of Education with a master’s in clinical mental health counseling. Recruiting became a huge passion of William after spending time working in various administrative, operational, and clinical roles within the field of mental health. William was born in Los Angeles, California, but spent most of his teenage years in South Florida before moving to Maryland.

In his free time, William enjoy spending time outdoors, trying new restaurants, watching sports (Lakers, UCLA Bruins, Los Angeles Chargers), and spending time with his family.

Dan brings 28 years of experience helping businesses and organizations explore new ways to share their story. In his role as Chief Marketing Officer, Dan is responsible for the day to day focus on growing awareness to each and every office held by Refresh Mental Health, actively leading digital project management services, and providing conceptual solutions. Dan helped integrate technology and digital storytelling into physical visitor spaces for the Bahamian Government, Web.com, Verizon, BP-Oil and BD-Biosciences. Dan has also worked with highly acclaimed global advertising agencies where he planned and managed the marketing efforts for international brands.

Dan earned his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Miami. During time when Dan isn’t thinking of marketing you can find him enjoying the beach or being outdoors at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Joyce Marter has been a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor since 1998, providing therapy for individuals, couples and families dealing with issues related to mental health, addiction, relationships, and personal and professional development. Marter is the Founder of Urban Balance, a counseling practice she started in 2004 and grew to over 100 therapists working from nine locations during her 13-year tenure as CEO. She has been awarded Distinguished Alumni of the Year (2008) by The Family Institute at Northwestern University and was selected by Crain’s Chicago Business for the “40 Under 40” List of 2010.

Marter is currently the Chief Brand Ambassador; providing marketing consulting to the centers and representing Refresh through board work, writing and public speaking. She is the Chair of the Midwest Region of the American Counseling Association, a Past-President of the Illinois Counseling Association, and a two-term Past-President of the Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association.

With a passion for applying psychology to business, Marter is a public speaker for corporations, universities and counseling organizations and is a member of the National Speakers Association. She is a blogger for PsychCentral and The Huffington Post and currently has a book in development. Marter is routinely consulted as a psychological expert in the media and has been featured in such outlets as The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, CNN and MTV.

Ian McPhee has worked to assist those in gaining access to care for their eating disorder for over the last two years.  Previously, he was Director of Regional Outreach for a treatment provider with multiple locations across the nation.

Ian has worked in healthcare for over the last decade as a licensed professional in emergency medical services and cardiothoracic anesthesia technology. His clinical background, combined with his passion for advocacy, has equipped him to speak with clinicians and to provide education & awareness to the identification and treatment of eating disorders.

Ian resides in Milwaukee, WI. In his personal time, Ian enjoys family, nature and traveling.

Mary is the Digital Marketing Manager at Refresh Mental Health.

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Mary moved to St. Augustine, Florida in 2007 to attend Flagler College, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design, with a minor in Advertising. Upon graduating in 2011, Mary moved to Jacksonville, Florida in order to begin her creative career in graphic and web design. With over ten years of professional experience, Mary remains passionate in the field of digital and print media, as well as keeping up with the ever changing world of design.

In her free time, Mary donates her creativity and freelances for dachshund rescue groups throughout the state of Florida. She also thoroughly enjoys traveling the world, attending rock concerts, and spending time with her family, boyfriend, and longhaired dachshund, Harrison. Mary has a life-long mission to pet and learn the name of every single dog she meets.

Jon is the Creative Manager at Refresh Mental Health

Jon graduated from Jacksonville University with a Bachelor of Computer Arts degree in Computer Animation. He’s worked in the digital art field for over 10 years, specializing in extensive photo manipulation.

In his personal time he enjoys family, martial arts, and is a passionate tabletop RPG enthusiast.

Amanda is the Social Media Marketing Specialist at Refresh Mental Health.

Born in New York and raised in the beautiful state of New Jersey, Amanda ventured down to the Sunshine State back in 2009. After several years in The Villages area, Amanda set out to obtain her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from The University of Florida. With a profound background in social media, marketing, communications and public relations, Amanda is excited to continue her professional career at Refresh. A dedicated sports fan, you can catch Amanda cheering on the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Gators and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

When she’s not watching sports, whether on TV or in-person, Amanda is catching up on her favorite shows on Hulu, enjoying her favorite meal of the day – brunch, spending time with friends and taking on new adventures.

Jasmine is the Google Ads/PPC Specialist at Refresh Mental Health.

Originally from Kentucky, Jasmine moved with her family to Jacksonville, Florida in 2009 where they were stationed. After completing high school, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, with a emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing. Upon graduating from Jacksonville University in 2019, Jasmine shifted her communication talents to begin her creative career in Marketing and Advertising. After several years in the product marketing and advertising world, Jasmine set out to obtain her Masters of Arts degree in Psychology from Touro University Worldwide. With a profound background in digital marketing, communications and social media, Jasmine is excited to continue her professional career at Refresh. A dedicated food enthusiast, you can catch Jasmine trying out all the Gluten Free restaurants around town.

When she’s not checking out menus, whether online or in-person, Jasmine is catching up on her favorite mental health practice of meditation, enjoying her gluten free snacks, or spending time with family and friends.

Gowri Muthumalai is the Chief Information Officer for Refresh Mental Health. In this role, Gowri is responsible for end-to-end Information Technology, Cyber Security, Digital Solutions, and Support. He is a seasoned leader with over twenty years of IT Strategy, digital transformation, and management consulting experience.

Previously, he was Vice President of the Solution Design Office at Community Health Systems in Nashville, TN, responsible for consumer engagement technologies, Interoperability, Big Data analytics, application development, integration, and HIE (Health Information Exchange). Prior to that role, he worked for Tenet Hospital and multiple “Big 5” consulting firms, including Price Waterhouse & Coopers and Deloitte. Gowri holds a master’s degree in Physics from Madurai Kamaraj University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Georgia (UGA).

Jordan acts as the National Admissions & Referral Manager at Refresh Mental Health.

Jordan is a seasoned admissions and outreach professional with over 4 years of experience in the eating disorders field. Having previously worked with supporting clients daily, she brings both clinical and marketing knowledge to Refresh to help connect our alumni and professionals. She strives to deliver the most inclusive and culturally competent support to each client and their advocates.

Jordan lives in Milwaukee, WI with her husband and her dog named Wilson.

Stephen is a native of Jacksonville, Florida, where he joined Refresh Mental Health as an IT Associate. He went to college at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast/Telecommunication and Mass Media.

Prior to Refresh Mental Health, Stephen helped deliver Broadcast Production and Networking for sporting events such as U.S. Open Tennis, Australian Open Tennis, The Masters, U.S. Open Golf, and CrossFit Games. Stephen is happy to tackle any level of technical challenges and thoroughly enjoys sharing a smile along the way. He also enjoys playing golf and fishing around Northeast Florida, woodworking, and experimenting with cooking.

Johnathan is the IT Specialist at Refresh Mental Health.

Johnathan is a Jacksonville native, military veteran and Full Sail Graduate with expertise in technology, audio and music. He has developed many technical skills over the years through his time in the Navy as an IT, his experiences during his time in school and at his previous job at UNF as an IT Technician. Johnathan is always learning and developing new skills.

On his spare time, he enjoys making music, playing basketball and spending as much time as he can with family and in nature.

Melissa is the IT Support Analyst at Refresh Mental Health.

Melissa comes to Refresh from Hawaii where she worked as a System Operations Manager for 5 IT locations on the 4 major islands. Melissa graduated with a degree in Creative Advertising from Barry University and worked as the Creative Director and Talent Manager for several musical artists before transitioning into the IT Field. In 2010 she created her own Creative Agency, Casually Spontaneous to pursue her passion for creative design and consulting. This took her to the island of Maui where she developed a strong passion for IT while working as the Creative Director for a local IT company. With an array of experience, Melissa brings a personable and creative problem-solving talent to the Refresh Team.

In her spare time Melissa is known for finding ways to make people laugh, including random accents when you least expect it.  She enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family as often as she can.

Max is originally from New York City and moved to Jacksonville, FL in 2010 shortly after earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design at SUNY Oneonta. He has over ten years of experience providing user-captivating solutions in graphic and digital design for a wide range of businesses. When not designing or learning new tricks of the trade, you can find him engaging in a host of outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking.

Sarah obtained her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Georgia Southern University. While at Georgia Southern University, Sarah was the acting Vice President of the Georgia Southern Equestrian Team for two years. Following graduation, she went on to work at Willingway Hospital in Statesboro, a residential substance abuse treatment center on their inpatient unit as a Counselor’s Aide. After moving to the Atlanta area in 2015, she began working at RiverMend Health Centers. She spent 3 and a half years managing the office for their PHP and IOP centers in Marietta, GA where she was involved with operations, utilization review, E.H.R. reporting, monthly Continuous Quality Improvement tracking, JCAHO accreditation renewals, and more.  

In her free time Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dogs, and staying active. 

Leah Oakley is the Controller at Refresh Mental Health. Previously Leah worked in Public Accounting with an emphasis in Tax & Advisory Services.

Leah holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Athens State University and a Masters of Science in Accounting from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University.

In her personal time, Leah enjoys spending time with her wife and two children.

Richie Matteson is the Finance Manager at Refresh Mental Health. Previously, Richie was an Audit Manager at RSM US LLP specializing in Financial Institutions.

Richie is a Certified Public Accountant who holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Florida State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Florida.

In his personal time, Richie enjoys golfing and fishing.

Kathryn is originally from Charleston, SC. She graduated from West Ashley High School in 2008 and moved to Jacksonville, FL in 2009. Kathryn has been working as an accounting specialist since 2010. She currently lives in Jacksonville with her husband and their two children.

Maria Fereira is currently holding the role of Accounting Clerk at Refresh Mental Health. She is originally from Venezuela where she received a B.S degree in Accounting from the University of Zulia (LUZ). She began her career as Senior Accounting with a recognized Accounting firm where she held several positions that allowed her to increase her knowledge in different areas and businesses such as Oil & Gas, manufacturing, exploration, production, transportation, and marketing of coal. Through the years, Maria has worked for Carbozulia (Largest Coal company in eastern Venezuela) as Administration Manager, Camsa Group (Part of Wood Group) as Accounting Manager, and Angels Group (Large commercial company in Venezuela with Headquarter in the USA) as Accounting Manager, this last role and her dedication and good execution allowed her to continue working in their office located in Miami, Florida. Recently Ms. Fereira and her husband decided to move to Jacksonville and she became part of the Refresh Mental Health team. Her recent stay in Jacksonville has added new adventures and challenges to her extensive path.

Bio Coming Soon

Bio Coming Soon

Bio Coming Soon

Bio Coming Soon

Will serves as the Chief Development Officer for Refresh Mental Health. His responsibilities include sourcing, assessing, and executing strategic transactions and partnerships to support the long-term growth objectives of Refresh Mental Health.

Will has worked in various M&A and advisory capacities for both public and private companies in the healthcare industry. Previously, Will worked for Harbor View Advisors, a middle-market investment bank, where he valued companies, performed transaction diligence and engaged in corporate development initiatives on behalf of its clients. Prior to Harbor View, Will worked for Deutsche Bank, where he advised on risk management solutions for Fortune 500 healthcare and technology corporations.

Will received a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a dual concentration in Finance and Operations and Information Management from the University of Pennsylvania – Wharton Business School. During his studies, Will developed an interest in human behavior through his psychology and behavioral economics classes.

In his spare time, Will enjoys mentoring and holds leadership roles with his high school and university alumni organizations. Will is also an accomplished endurance athlete, having competed in events such as the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii and the Boston Marathon.

Zach Winter is the Vice President of Development for Refresh Mental Health. His responsibilities include sourcing, assessing, and executing strategic transactions and partnerships to support the long-term growth objectives of Refresh Mental Health.

Zach has experience in various underwriting and analyst roles at Commerce Bank, a regional bank with $25B in assets. There he evaluated potential real estate and commercial customers through cash flow and repayment analysis. He later served as a Portfolio Manager, responsible for enhancing customer relations, underwriting new credit, and growing the portfolio.

Zach graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. During his time at Kansas State, he also played on the Men’s Basketball Team.

In his personal time, Zach enjoys playing basketball, working out and going to yoga classes with his wife. Zach and Meg welcomed their first child in November 2020.

Tim serves as Vice President of Development for Refresh Mental Health.  His responsibilities include sourcing, assessing, and executing strategic transactions and partnerships to support the long-term growth objectives of Refresh Mental Health.

Tim began his career as an analyst at Raymond James in its Financial Institutions Investment Banking group.  There he worked on public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and valuation assignments for banks and thrifts, insurance and reinsurance companies, brokerage firms, closed-end mutual funds and financial technology companies.  He later served as Finance Manager and Marketing Director for Tillman-Hartley LLC, a boutique investment advisory/family office specializing in multigenerational wealth.

Tim graduated from Harvard University with an A.B. degree in English and American Literature and Language and was also a member of the Varsity Golf Team.  Tim has also earned a Higher Diploma in Music Performance from the Institute of Contemporary Music (London, UK), a Masters in International Business from The University of Florida, and a Masters in Mass Communications (Public Relations) from The University of Florida.

In his spare time, Tim enjoys creative writing, golf, guitar and gravel cycling.

Heath is a Senior Associate on the Business Development Team, and helps support the long-term expansion efforts of Refresh Mental Health. Her responsibilities include assisting with center recruitment, networking and increasing brand recognition, as well as sourcing and assessing leads and partnerships for potential growth.
She is a South Carolina native who studied Psychology and Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina, and held multiple leadership roles in the Iota Mu chapter of Alpha
Phi Omega, service fraternity. Heath worked as an Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapist with the South Carolina Early Autism Project, and as a Program Coordinator with the Boys and Girls Club Of America. Later, Heath developed a management career in the cosmetics industry and held forward-facing roles in the fields of juvenile justice and insurance compliance.
In her free time, Heath enjoys photography, traveling, spending time with her nephews, and supporting University of South Carolina Gamecock Athletic

Norman has an extensive background in Healthcare/Medical Sales, Healthcare Software, SaaS (Software as a Service), Medical DME, and Pharma. This skill set allows him to understand, evaluate, recommend, and facilitate growth for both vendors and end-users. Having held leadership positions that include international and national sales management, training, business analysis, and reimbursement, he regularly interacts with the C-Suite, physicians, IT, marketing, and applicable support staff.

Starting his career in Chicago, he has worked for Procter & Gamble, J&J Medical (Surgikos), and Allergan Pharmaceuticals. Moving to Atlanta, he expanded his portfolio to include Clinical Decision Support, Clinical Healthcare Systems, and Psychiatry working for both Eli Lilly and MagVenture, Inc. (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation vendor).

Norman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a minor in Chemistry from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He participated in marching band, drum and bugle corps, choir and fraternity, holding leadership positions.

He is married to Cathy (Catherine) who is an interior design consultant. In his personal time, Norman enjoys music, travel, sports (Bulls, Yankees, NY Football Giants), and serving through his faith. He is a backup pianist at church and loves to debate the topics of the day (a family trait).

Dr. Mireille Reece serves as the Vice President of Clinical Operations – West. Dr. Reece is a licensed clinical psychologist and former Executive Clinical Director of Peninsula Psychological Center in Kitsap county, Washington. She completed her graduate work in clinical psychology in Southern California at Rosemead School of Psychology. Following the completion of her graduate studies, she spent nearly 3 years working in the field of clinical neuropsychology providing both cognitive rehabilitation and neuropsychological assessment. She relocated to Washington over 11 years ago and has worked in private practice providing both psychological assessment and psychotherapy for teens and adults at Peninsula Psychological Center. She is highly invested in supporting her local community as she has provided educational talks for organizations such as Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), medical residents in Family Practice, as well as local churches on topics such as ADHD, habit formation, executive dysfunction and the integration of psychological principles and spirituality.

Having spent many years as a competitive gymnastics coach and online university instructor, Dr. Reece is passionate about teaching and training others around acquiring skills to live better lives and relationships. She is invested in educating others in understanding the relationship between the brain, behavior, mental health and wellness and interpersonal relationships/attachment. Given this, she has enjoyed opportunities to have further conversations with other professionals in the field of technology on national and international podcasts, as well as speaking at other national conferences and international companies around managing one’s mental health.

George Mouzakis is the Vice President of Operations – East for Refresh Mental Health. Mr. Mouzakis is the founder and Executive Director of Family Counseling Associates, a dynamic multidisciplinary mental health practice north of Boston. Mr Mouzakis is licensed educational psychologist and licensed independent clinical social worker. He completed his undergraduate studies in psychology at the University of Massachusetts. Mr. Mouzakis completed his graduate studies in clinical social work at Boston College, and went on to earn a postgraduate degree in educational psychology from Tufts University. Mr. Mouzakis has past research experience at the Jean Meyer Institute for Aging at Tufts University which includes investigating the impact of diet and nutrition on neuropsychological processes such as spatial memory and learning.

Mr. Mouzakis has extensive experience working with children, families, and adults in a variety of settings including psychiatric treatment facilities, emergency services, community outpatient clinics, schools, and private practice. For almost 10 years, Mr. Mouzakis trained and mentored counseling graduate students as a field supervisor for Boston College. From 1997-2002 Mr. Mouzakis served as a Christian ministry leader in Germany and Greece. During that time, he helped develop benevolent programs to support and serve individuals with physical, developmental, or cognitive disabilities.

David J. Drewek is the Vice Present of Operations – Central for Refresh Mental Health. Mr. Drewek originally joined refresh as the Executive Director of Sherman Counseling, a group of outpatient behavioral health clinics throughout central Wisconsin. David holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University and undergraduate degrees in biology, psychology, and biomedical ethics from Lawrence University.

Mr. Drewek has experience in leading various levels of mental health services, from inpatient psychiatric care to day treatment programming to traditional outpatient services. He has operated within healthcare systems and private organizations, always within a behavioral healthcare environment. David is passionate about supporting other leaders and clinical professionals in providing the very best behavioral health care possible, and serves on a local mental health community advocacy board as treasurer.

Brenda is the Vice President of Eating Disorder Operations at Refresh Mental Health as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Evolve, located in Wisconsin. As a licensed professional counselor, she brings 14 years of clinical practice serving people with anxiety, trauma and eating disorders as well as 10 years of leadership experience, guiding a team of counselors, physicians, and dietitians through the important work of treating individuals with eating disorders.

Brenda’s contribution to the eating disorder community reflects her passion for advocacy, treatment, and education.  She founded Evolve, the first eating disorder treatment center in Northeast Wisconsin, which has 5 locations and offers outpatient, intensive outpatient, and partial hospitalization. Creating and developing all the treatment programs that Evolve has to offer.  She is a member of the Emily Klopotek Angel Foundation which raises money to provide scholarships for individuals who have financial hardships and/or barriers to receiving eating disorder treatment along with holding a representative seat on REDC for Refresh Mental Health. Lastly, Brenda supervises counseling interns, counselors in training and IADEP CEDS candidates who are working towards their certification for eating disorder professional.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh counseling program, Brenda has a Masters in Counseling, a Bachelors in Psychology and is certified in EMDR, Brainspotting and is a certified Trauma Specialist and Eating Disorder Specialist-Supervisor.

Leslie R. Johnsen has been practicing in the field of clinical psychology treating children, adolescents, and adults since 1995. Ms. Johnsen has served as the Clinical Director of Perspectives of Troy Counseling Centers for 17 years, overseeing daily clinical operations at multiple sites along with supervising Masters and Doctoral level clinicians. In 1998, she founded The Adolescent EDGE Program, a successful, well-known treatment program utilizing a multi-modality approach, incorporating individual, family, group psychotherapies, and psycho education, along with medicine therapy if warranted. Thousands of adolescents and their families have found relief from their significant mental health struggles through this level of programming. She has a passion for program growth and development. In addition to adolescent programming, multiple departments and programs have been successfully launched under Ms. Johnsen’s guidance: The Children’s EDGE Program, TAG (Trauma, Addictions, and Grief Initiative), Anger and Behavioral Management Services, and Pastoral Care and Education to name just a few.

Ms. Johnsen is a recognized public speaker both within the community and the mental health field. She has trained hundreds of professionals in the treatment of self-injurious behaviors, depression, anxiety, and adolescent development.
For many years, Ms. Johnsen has been consulting with local schools, churches, public sectors, and mental health organizations on a variety of topics related to the field. She is a sought after guest on local radio, news, and other forms of media. She has published articles and enjoys providing community education.

Ms. Johnsen is a summa cum laude graduate from the University of Detroit-Mercy in the clinical psychology graduate program with a specialty in child and adolescent development. She graduated from Michigan State University with honors, majoring in psychology along with emphasis in industrial organizational technique, business marketing and management.

Ms. Johnsen’s mission is to enhance and maximize a client’s experience within each facility she works with. She embraces advancement opportunities that organizations may make through clinical expansion, process improvement, relational marketing, and program development.

Dr. Bronson is the Vice President of Clinical Operations – Northeast and Executive Director at Family Counseling Associates, Behavioral Solutions, and Life Changes Group. She is also a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in providing treatment to children (3+), adolescents, and their families. She currently provides individual and family therapy focused on emotional, developmental, and behavioral issues including attention and executive functioning, anxiety, depression, oppositional and defiant behavior, adjustment, and social difficulties.

Dr. Bronson received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She trained in Pediatric Behavioral Medicine at The University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Miami, FL and in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA. Dr. Bronson also worked and trained at the ADHD Assessment, Consultation, & Treatment Program at the NSU Psychological Services Center.

Her past clinical roles include Director of Primary Care and working as a Primary Care Psychologist in a local pediatrician’s office providing evaluation, consultation, brief treatment, triage and referral guidance to children, adolescents, and their families, as well as an outpatient therapist providing evaluation and psychotherapy services for children, adolescents, and their families.

Dr. Bronson is the founder of the Behavioral Health/Primary Care Program at Family Counseling Associates. In this role, Dr. Bronson created partnerships with local pediatrician offices and schools to provide on site mental health care with a focus on early detection and prevention of emotional and behavioral disorders. Dr. Bronson is passionate about integrated care and continued expansion of this program in order to keep the gates of healthcare open for all patients and families.

In her personal time, Dr. Bronson enjoys spending time with her husband and two Boston Terriers (Tobin and Zakim).

Dr. Caitlin Simpson serves as the Vice President of Clinical Operations – Mid Atlantic.

Dr. Caitlin Simpson, LCSW, LCADC earned a master’s degree in Social Work from Fordham University and a Doctoral Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University. She has fifteen years of experience in the behavioral health field with a specialization in substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and trauma.

Dr. Simpson began her career as a clinician in the substance use field, and subsequently advanced to the Superior Court of New Jersey where she served as the Substance Use Evaluator for both the criminal division and drug court program.  For the past twelve years, Dr. Simpson has served in an administrative capacity within the roles of Clinical Supervisor, Program Director, Clinical Director, and most recently as the National Director of Clinical Operations with Footprints to Recovery.

Dr. Simpson has a range of experiences and passions including innovative clinical program design and implementation, clinical/facility operations, integrative and trauma-responsive care models, team and organizational leadership, clinical branding, business development, and data analytics/outcomes.  Dr. Simpson believes that care should be innovative and integrative.  She places an emphasis on cultivating a philosophy of care encompassing mindfulness, various therapeutic approaches, experiential therapy, and integrative medicine (chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga, etc.) to ensure we address all aspects of an individual; all while infusing fun, exploration, and connection to self, others and nature.

In her personal time, Dr. Simpson enjoys spending time with her two children (Bryce & Sage), her significant other, family and friends.  She enjoys snowboarding, road cycling, biking and traveling.  A new interest of bike touring and mountain touring will lead to many new adventures!  She spends her time at the Jersey Shore where she was born and raised, and her winter weekends in the mountains of Vermont.

Diane Bocking-Byrd earned her License in Professional Counseling (LPC) in the State of Oregon in 2006. She is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). She has worked, primarily, with youth and adults who are impacted by the chronic illnesses of Severe Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders in both acute care, day treatment, Emergency Rooms, mobile crisis response, outpatient settings and primary care. She ascertained the need for systemic change in health care to augment access to care and the service array adhering to principles of trauma informed and culturally and linguistically appropriate services. This led to her completion of a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 2011. She is passionate about working toward system change in order to serve communities in an equitable, cost effective, way with high quality care outcomes.

Passion drove her throughout the past decade; she implemented innovative approaches supportive of whole-person well-being through integration of behavioral health into primary care settings. In addition, she worked towards growing access to all levels of care, for all ages, in Oregon by identifying gaps in care for the requisite population needs. Diane’s innovation and community responsiveness drive ongoing system improvements and enhanced community health care outcomes.   

Dr. Steven Nakisher has successfully founded, developed and sold several companies in the private and public sector.  His experiences as a licensed psychologist, entrepreneur, advisor, consultant and mentor have contributed greatly to his success in his current roles of clinician and leader.

Dr. Nakisher is Founder of the Center for Personal Development, a thriving multidisciplinary behavioral health practice that sold to Refresh, allowing for the continued expansion and access to mental-health services in the Chicagoland area. Areas of clinical expertise include working with individuals and couples who struggle with identity, relationships, substance abuse, addictions, co-occurring diagnoses, with a specific interest in supporting the LGBTQi+ Community.

As a helping professional with business expertise, Dr. Nakisher is also founder of Chicago-based Cornerpiece Consulting, a firm specializing in the ‘people side’ of business, helping companies increase revenue by improving the company’s human capital. Services provided by Cornerpiece include coaching, leadership/talent development, conflict resolution and training, all of which are grounded in best practices in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. He also founded the Leadership Advisory Board,(LAB), an organization providing leadership development for Chief Executive Offers.   LAB’s work has been influential in many domestic and global companies across many verticals, including the food and beverage, entertainment, technology and retail industries.

In addition to his clinical and organizational work, Dr. Nakisher and his husband founded Talbott Teas, a gourmet tea company that was acquired by Jamba Juice in 2012.  

 In his current role as Vice President of Clinical Operations at Urban Balance, he is responsible for ensuring that all practice locations are optimized for performance, including people and operational processes.

 Dr. Nakisher received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and completed his doctorate degree at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He has served on the board of directors at The Chicago School Education System since 2002.

Dr. Geoffrey Kanter received his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in 1987. He became the Psychology manager of a stroke rehabilitation unit in the San Francisco area and then moved in 1991 to Sarasota to become the Director of Psychology for HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital In 1997, he created the position of Director of Psychology for Sarasota Memorial Hospital, developing a large behavioral medicine program for hospital inpatients. These services continued after he founded his company, Comprehensive MedPsych Systems in 1998, initially with a staff of 4 psychologists.

Over the next 20 years, CMPS grew to become one of the largest private multi-disciplinary behavioral medicine groups in the US with approximately 15 offices/practice locations in Florida, Indiana, and Alabama with approximately 85 clinical staff including psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, neuropsychologists psychologists, Post-doc neuropsychology residents, social workers and counselors. Dr. Kanter is a civil forensic neuropsychologist, double board-certified in adult and pediatric neuropsychology and is the Executive Director of the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology.

In March of 2018, CMPS was acquired by Refresh Mental Health, Inc. based out of Jacksonville, Florida, securing a far larger pool of financial, personnel and intellectual resources comprised of 15 mental health companies in 11 different states with over 500 clinicians. The vast majority of facilities are focused on outpatient mental health with the same vision and values as we have always promoted. Comprehensive MedPsych Systems’ name and brand will continue with Dr. Kanter at the helm of the Refresh-CMPS operations with plans for future acquisitions in Florida and the surrounding regions.

R. Trent Codd, III, Ed.S., LCMHC is the Executive Director of CBT Counseling Centers, a multi-disciplinary practice specializing in evidence-based mental health care with several locations across North Carolina.

Trent completed his graduate work at the University of Florida and has extensive post-graduate training in several empirically-supported treatments. He is a graduate of the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation’s and the National Tourette Syndrome Association’s Tourette Syndrome Behavior Therapy Training Institutes (BTTIs). In addition, he is a Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Behavior Therapy and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Trent has authored or co-authored several peer reviewed publications and books including Teaching and Supervising Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Practice-Based Research: A Guide for Clinicians, Experiencing ACT from the Inside Out: A Self-Practice/Self-Reflection workbook for therapists and Socratic Questioning for Therapists and Counselors: Learn How to Think and Intervene like a Cognitive Behavior Therapist.

Dr. Bellwoar completed his BA at the College of the Holy Cross, and his Masters degree in Counseling Psychology, as well as his Ph.D. in School Psychology from Temple University.  In 1991 he joined a small group of psychologists at Springfield Psychological, becoming the owner within a few years. Thereafter, Springfield Psychological grew into the largest outpatient practice in Pennsylvania.  Currently as the Executive Director of Springfield Psychological and Spring Behavioral Health of New Jersey (SBHNJ), he leads a team of over 140 psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors and clinical nurse specialists. The company continues to expand throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Springfield Psychological and SBHNJ provides outpatient therapy, medication management, psychological testing, school intervention services, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) treatment.  These companies have created an innovative model of behavioral health integration. Through developing partnerships with medical institutions in PA and NJ, Springfield co-locates behavioral health clinicians in over 65 primary and specialty care practices via unique contracting arrangements.

Dr. Bellwoar has been actively involved in the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, previously serving as President and Treasurer, he currently chairs PPA’s insurance committee, while also serving on the Finance Committee.  In addition, Vince serves as the Vice Chair of Holy Child Academy’s Board of Trustees.

After a 40 years of competitive soccer, Vince now enjoys time on the golf course and traveling the world.  He is most proud of his two children who have dedicated their lives to making the world a better place.

Dr. Sharif Okasha serves as Vice President of Innovative Services – East & Assistant Director of Research for Refresh Mental Health. Prior to his role with Refresh, he worked as a clinical psychologist in a variety of capacities. Dr. Okasha has been providing psychological services for the past 15 years, working closely with children, families, and adults in order to facilitate psychological growth and emotional well-being. As a clinical researcher, Dr. Okasha has served as a sub-investigator for over 25 studies ranging from Major Depressive Disorder to Alzheimer’s Disease. Additionally, Dr. Okasha has worked in a supervisory role and as an operational manager for the last 10 years of his professional career. He has supervised clinical psychology students as well as licensed staff members, and is an active board member of the Connecticut Psychological Association.

Dr. Sharif Okasha is a graduate from the California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco where he earned his doctorate in clinical psychology. As an undergraduate, he earned a B.A. in Psychology from Boston College. He began his career in San Francisco, and returned to Connecticut to join Comprehensive Psychiatric Care in a clinical and operational capacity.

With more than 27 years of experience under his belt, Kevin Polky is amply qualified to oversee kp counseling as both founder and clinical director. He is a licensed clinical social worker, certified alcohol and drug counselor, certified school social worker, executive coach, former football and strength coach and personal trainer. Kevin has worked with individuals, families, and organizations in areas of Illinois and Wisconsin and currently works with individual clients and their families at kp counseling. He also facilitates three men’s groups, conducts workshops and seminars, and serves as a consultant to businesses, schools, and churches. In 2016, Kevin founded Shatter Our Silence a non-for-profit company to increase awareness and educate on the factors that lead to suicide in young adults.

Kevin has written or co-authored four different leadership programs: Working with Disruptive Students I and II (32 hrs.), Solution-Focused Safety Program (developing a safety culture within a manufacturing/industrial environment – 32 hrs.), Striving for Excellence (developing a culture of excellence within the industrial environment – 16 hrs.) and Impact of Young Adult Suicide and What We Can — 6 hrs.)

He volunteers at local schools and churches, teaching youth and adult classes on a variety of psycho-social-spiritual material. He is active on a variety of non-for-profits board of directors for local agencies.

Kevin’s favorite activities outside of KP counseling include spending time with family, exercising, supporting the arts, reading, and enjoying God’s presence through nature.

Troy L. Brindle, LCSW is the Vice President of Behavioral Health Integration at Refresh Mental Health.

Troy serves as the Senior Vice President/Chief Operation Officer for Access Services headquartered in Fort Washington PA. Previously, Troy was partner & Vice-President and Director for BHI/Business Development for Springfield Psychological located in Springfield PA. Troy significantly contributed to Springfield Psychological growing to the largest outpatient private practice in Pennsylvania. He received his BSW from Cairn University and his Master’s in Social Work from Rutgers University where he was inducted into the Alpha Delta Mu National Honor Society.

Troy has served on the NASW-PA board of directors since 2011 in a variety of capacities including President, and currently as Chair for the Clinical Care Committee. Troy is a founding member of the Coalition for the Commonhealth and currently serves as Chair of the Service Innovation task force. Additionally, Troy serves on the National Board of Directors for the National Association of Social Workers in Washington D.C. Troy has also served on the Access Services Board of Directors since 2017 and most recently served as Vice-Chairperson.

In 2015, Troy received the Alumni Recognition Award from Cairn University. In January of 2018, Troy was featured on the nationally televised Informed Series with Rob Lowe for his pioneering work in founding, integrating, and directing behavioral health services within over 78 primary care and medical specialty settings in southeastern PA and NJ. In May of 2018, Troy was recognized by the International Association of Healthcare Professionals for his cutting-edge work in the field of Integrated Behavioral Healthcare. In September 2019, he was the recipient of the Rehabilitation and Community Provider Association (RCPA) “Innovation Award” for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for his pioneering work and strong success in Behavioral Health Integration.

Troy enjoys spending time with his wife Suzanne and two daughters Brianna (16) Kyra (14), serving as president of the Haverford Township Softball League, coaching softball, serving in his local church/community, teaching undergraduate courses, and enjoying the outdoors.

Mark S. Gold, M.D. —-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_S._Gold

Dr. Mark S. Gold is a teacher of the year, translational researcher, author, mentor, and inventor best known for his work on the brain systems underlying the effects of opioid drugs, cocaine, depression, and eating. Gold started his academic career at Yale and has been a Department of Psychiatry Professor at USC, Tulane, and currently at Washington University in St Louis. Gold was a Professor, Eminent Scholar, Distinguished Professor, Distinguished Alumni Professor, Chairman, Emeritus Eminent Scholar during his 25 years at the University of Florida. He is an author and inventor who has published over 1000 peer-reviewed scientific articles, 20 textbooks, popular-general audience books, and physician practice guidelines. Gold has consulted to private equity for over 20 years on a variety of subjects, most often regarding addiction and psychiatric programs, practices, and hospitals. Recently, Gold has been a Consultant to Lindsay Goldberg. Gold has spent over 45 years successfully mentoring hundreds of young Psychiatrists as well as addiction program directors, researchers, teachers, and clinicians who are practicing today, leading academic and private centers. Gold has been awarded many State and National awards for research and service over his long career. He has been awarded numerous major national awards for his breakthrough research in Psychiatry including the annual Foundations Fund Prize (APA) for research in Psychiatry,  the NAATP Lifetime Achievement Award, the American Foundation for Addiction Research’s Lifetime Achievement Award,  the McGovern Award for Lifetime Achievement (ASAM-ABAM 2015) for the most important contributions to the understanding and treatment of addiction and the 2019 Pillars of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award for his research which has led to destigmatizing mental health and addictions. Gold was awarded Distinguished Alumni Awards at Yale University, U.F., and Washington University and the Wall of Fame at the U.F. College of Medicine. The annual rite of passage at the University of Florida College of Medicine was named the Mark S. Gold, MD White Coat Ceremony after Gold retired from the University.