Press Release - Kuenzler Will Lead mhca into Its Next Chapter

Dale E. Shreve
President & CEO 

Board of Directors

Kelly Phillips-Henry PsyD MBA
Chair

James H . Stewart II
Treasurer & Past Chair

C .J . Davis
Secretary

Jeremy Blair MBA

Jodi Daly PhD

Deb Flores LSW MPA

Dennis L . Regnier MA

April Rhodes MBA LAMFT

Tom Sebastian MS MPA

Steven Sheets LPC

Susan L. Stubbs MSW

Melanie Taylor MS MPA

Tallahassee, Florida – The Board of Directors of Mental Health Corporations of America (mhca) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Kiara Kuenzler as the next President & CEO, effective July 1, 2025. This announcement comes after a thorough search process that began with an mhca member visioning  session in February and resulted in over 300 applications from qualified candidates nationwide. Kuenzler was selected as the ideal candidate to guide the  association forward.

“We are excited to welcome Kiara as our new President & CEO,” said Kelly Phillips- Henry, Chair of the mhca Board of Directors. “Her longstanding  commitment to the mission of mhca, combined with her proven leadership in behavioral health, makes her uniquely qualified to continue our work and drive  positive change within the sector.”

Kuenzler has been an active member of mhca for over eight years, contributing significantly to the organization through conference presentations, serving  on the Board of Directors, and hosting prospective members. Her deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the behavioral health  community will help shape the future of mhca and strengthen the association’s support for its members across the country.

“Throughout my career, my focus has always been on nurturing growth and human potential,” said Kuenzler. “I am honored to step into this role and  channel my passion for behavioral health into creating an environment where mhca members can continue to thrive in their critical work. I look forward to  building a culture of belonging and engagement that fosters innovation and growth within both individuals and systems.”

Kuenzler’s vision for mhca includes a commitment to making the association an inspiring place where individuals are motivated to work together, share ideas, and tackle the behavioral health challenges facing the nation.

Current President & CEO, Dale Shreve, expressed his confidence in Kuenzler’s leadership: “Kiara has proven herself to be a strategic and effective leader who genuinely cares about advancing the field of behavioral health. I am certain that under her leadership, mhca will continue to excel and grow.”

Kuenzler will begin transitioning from her current role as President & CEO of the Jefferson Center for Mental Health in Colorado in the coming months.

The mhca Board of Directors looks forward to the exciting future ahead under Kiara Kuenzler’s leadership and is confident that her vision will take the  organization to new heights.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Kiara Kuenzler, please contact mhca’s Director of Communications & Membership Lonnie Parizek at
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About mhca

Mental Health Corporations of America (mhca) is a national association of innovative, entrepreneurial behavioral healthcare organizations focused on the  development of C-Suite executives. Our efforts equip and empower behavioral health leaders to rise to the challenges presented by a transforming healthcare  delivery system. We value excellence, collaboration and innovation and actively seek out organizations and leaders exemplifying these characteristics for  potential membership.