Agenda for 2027 Clearwater Beach, FL

 12:00 - 1:30 pm EST (UTC-5)

 Orientation Lunch for New & Prospective mhca Member CEOs (by invitation only)
 Sponsored by:  INCITE Consulting Solutions

 1:30 - 4:30 pm EST (UTC-5)

 Leadership Incubator
 Sponsored by: Psyrin

Leadership Incubator: Leading Yourself First

Facilitators: April Rhodes MBA LAMFT, and Jess Peters FNP-BC, Founders/Principals of The Stile Group 

Strong teams start with leaders who understand the impact they have on others. In this interactive session, emerging CEOs and their team members will explore how behavioral preferences, communication styles, and leadership brand shape influence and team alignment. Using DISC insights, emotional intelligence, and appreciative inquiry, participants will consider how to turn differences into productive collaboration and support clinical innovation. The session is designed for CEOs attending with colleagues as well as those attending on their own.

 5:00 - 6:30 pm EST (UTC-5)

 Welcome Reception
 Sponsored by:  MHRRG & Negley Associates   

All attendees and their travel companions are invited to join us for drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

 7:30 - 8:30 am EST (UTC-5)

 Welcome & Annual Meeting

Welcome & Annual Meeting

Presenters: 

• Kiara Kuenzler PsyD LP, President & CEO, of mhca
• C.J. Davis PsyD, mhca Chair, and CEO of Brightli
• Steven Sheets LPC, mhca Vice Chair, and President & CEO of Southwest Behavioral & Health Services
• Tom Sebastian MS MPA, mhca Treasurer, and President & CEO of Compass Health
• Deb Flores LSW MPA, mhca Secretary, and CEO of Zepf Center

Our Board of Directors will provide an annual report to the membership and recognize outstanding members for their contributions to mhca’s success.

 Morning Break
 Sponsored by:  Greenspace Health

 10:30 - Noon EST (UTC-5)

 General Session (Open to Current and Prospective mhca Members & Top Tier Sponsors only)

Transforming Lives: The Heart and Soul of Health Care

Presenter: Allison Massari, Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur, Burn Survivor, and Visual Artist

Drawing on her extraordinary journey as a burn survivor, acclaimed speaker Allison Massari reveals the profound impact healthcare leaders and teams have on the lives of those they serve. Through powerful storytelling and practical insights, she demonstrates how compassion, excellence, and leadership work together to transform patient experiences. Attendees
will leave inspired, energized, and equipped with actionable strategies for navigating change, overcoming adversity, and reconnecting with the purpose behind their work.

 Noon - 1:30 pm EST (UTC-5)

 Grab Lunch with a Few of Your mhca Peers

 Noon - 1:30 pm EST (UTC-5)

 Orientation Lunch for New & Prospective mhca Member CEOs (by invitation only)
 Sponsored by:  INCITE Consulting Solutions

 WED Leadership Lunch (Open to Current and Prospective mhca Members only, and seating is limited.)
 Sponsorship Available!

Be the One: Lead Boldly. Care Fiercely. Shine Defiantly.

Presenter: Allison Massari, Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur, Burn Survivor, and Visual Artist

In this small group session over lunch, dive in with Keynote Speaker Allison Massari to learn to see life and work from a completely new and vibrant lens. When leaders are stretched thin, they don’t need to be told to keep going; they need to see exactly how. Hall of Fame Speaker, lifetime entrepreneur, burn survivor, and celebrated artist, Allison Massari provides
powerful answers to successfully navigate change, develop innovative thinking and grow an empowered sense of purpose and personal command.

  NOTE:   Open to Current and Prospective mhca Members only, and seating is limited. Please pre-register by RSVP'ing here:

• Register / RSVP - Coming Soon!

 1:30 - 2:30 pm EST (UTC-5)

 Breakout Session 1

Smarter Systems, Stronger Care: Advancing Clinical Excellence

1. Robotic Automation to Support Human Connection
   Presenters: Deb Flores LSW MPA, CEO of Zepf Center, and Sam Wilson, CEO, of Opio Connect
   Could automation could free healthcare professionals to spend more time with patients? Discover how Zepf Center implemented ZING, a robotic methadone dose-assembly system, to reduce administrative burden and give nurses more time for direct patient care. Presenters will share practical lessons in evaluating the investment, engaging staff, and redesigning
   workflows to improve efficiency, security, and patient care—demonstrating how technology can strengthen, rather than replace, the human connection at the heart of healthcare.
   
   
2. Systems-Based Care for Serious Mental Illness: A Chronic Care Model Approach
   Presenters: Robert Ryan PhD, CEO, and Shannon Hannon MBA FACHE FACMPE, COO, of Bowen Health
   Serious mental illness is a chronic condition, yet care is often delivered through systems designed to respond to acute episodes and crises. This session explores how Bowen Health uses the Chronic Care Model to support a more proactive, coordinated, and outcomes-focused approach to SMI care. Through practical examples, participants will learn how interdisciplinary teams, population health strategies, measurement-based care, patient self-management, and stronger care transitions can improve engagement, continuity, and long-term clinical and functional outcomes.
   

 1:30 - 2:30 pm EST (UTC-5)

 Breakout Session 2

TBD

Presenter: NextGen Healthcare

 Afternoon Break
 Sponsorship Available!

 3:00 - 4:30 pm EST (UTC-5)

 Breakout Session 3

Future-Ready by Design: Scaling Innovation Without Losing Local Connection

Presenters: Joe S. Martz MBA, CEO, and Jennifer N. Riha BASc MAC, Chief Strategy Officer, of Merakey USA; Patrick R. Maynard PhD, President & CEO, of Boundless; and Stacy A. DiStefano MC, Founder & CEO, of Consulting for Human Services

Growth can create scale, but scale alone does not create innovation or improve care. Discover how Merakey USA and Boundless are building a national affiliate model designed to strengthen clinical excellence, accelerate organizational innovation, and expand shared capabilities while preserving local leadership, community connection, and the qualities that
make human services effective. Through an executive case study, panel discussion, and interactive boardroom simulation, participants will explore how organizational design can help human services leaders prepare for the future.

 Mid-Way Mingle Reception
 Sponsored by:  Genoa Healthcare

All attendees and their travel companions are invited to join us for drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

 7:30 - 8:30 am EST (UTC-5) 

 Registration & Continental Breakfast
 Sponsorship Available!

 General Session
 Sponsored by:  Martyn Family Foundation

SUPERCREATIVITY: Accelerating Innovation In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence

Presenter: James Taylor

Business is changing at the speed of light. Exponential technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics are creating new disruptive business models almost overnight. In this new world, one where McKinsey & Co predict that 45 percent of jobs will be automated over the next 20 years, there is one distinctly human competitive advantage you and your people must leverage – your creativity. In this entertaining and highly visual one-of-a-kind keynote, James Taylor takes the audience on a journey to discover the backstage secrets of the world’s most creative individuals and innovative organizations.

 10:00 - 10:30 am EST (UTC-5)

 Morning Break
 Sponsorship Available!

 General Session
 Sponsored by:  Martyn Family Foundation

A Strategic Plan for America’s Behavioral Health System from the Ground Up

Presenters:  Gina B. Lasky PhD MAPL, Managing Director - Behavioral Health, and Joshua Rubin MPP, VP - Client Solutions, of Health Management Associates

What would America’s community behavioral health system look like if we could redesign it from the ground up? Join HMA’s Gina Lasky and Josh Rubin for an interactive, forward-thinking discussion that moves beyond today’s challenges to envision a stronger, more sustainable system. Together, mhca members will explore the clinical, financial, operational, and policy realities shaping behavioral healthcare and identify bold, practical strategies for building a system that better serves our communities.

 Noon - 1:30 pm EST (UTC-5)

 Grab Lunch with a Few of Your mhca Peers

 1:30 - 3:00 pm EST (UTC-5)

 Breakout Session 1

Unlock Your Creative Potential

Presenter: James Taylor

This immersive, hands-on workshop introduces a five-step process for strengthening creative thinking, generating fresh ideas, and turning them into practical solutions. Participants will gain tools to unlock their own creative potential, inspire innovative thinking within their teams, and build a workplace culture where new ideas thrive.

 1:30 - 3:00 pm EST (UTC-5)

 Breakout Session 2

Excellence Under Pressure: Balancing Access, Quality, Workforce, and Innovation

Presenters:  TBD

Behavioral health leaders are navigating growing demand, workforce constraints, financial pressure, and rapidly evolving technology - often while being asked to improve access and outcomes simultaneously. In this candid panel conversation, CEOs and clinical executives will explore the tensions inherent in leading through this complexity: increasing efficiency without overburdening staff, embracing innovation while preserving human connection, standardizing care while respecting clinical judgment, and moving quickly while maintaining quality and appropriate ethical guardrails. The panel will be followed by a facilitated Member Leadership Exchange, inviting participants to examine these tensions within their own organizations, share insights with peers, and identify practical leadership responses.

 3:30 - 5:00 pm EST (UTC-5)

 Free Time

 3:30 - 5:00 pm EST (UTC-5)

 mhca Board of Directors Meeting
 Chair:  C.J. Davis PsyD

 5:00 - 6:30 pm EST (UTC-5)

 Elite Event
 Sponsored by:  NextGen Healthcare

Cap off the week with an unforgettable experience. This is your chance to connect and unwind with fellow leaders over food, cocktails/mocktails, and some surprise entertainment!