The behavioral health and mental health sector continues to see key leadership changes, reflecting a broader effort to enhance services and improve organizational outcomes. Recent appointments across multiple organizations signal a focus on strategic growth, operational efficiency, and increased expertise in areas such as substance use disorder treatment, autism support, and policy advocacy.
Promises Behavioral Health Appoints Interim CEO
Nashville-based Promises Behavioral Health has announced that Rob Waggener, the company’s chairman, will serve as interim CEO while the organization searches for a permanent replacement. Promises operates 10 facilities across Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Tennessee.
Waggener succeeds Kirk Kureska, who has departed to pursue other opportunities. During his tenure, Waggener will maintain his role as chairman, providing continuity of leadership while the organization evaluates long-term strategic options. Promises has stated that a nationwide search for a permanent CEO is underway.
Promises Behavioral Health focuses on both mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, making leadership stability critical for continuing care and organizational growth.
Children’s Harbor Names New CEO
Children’s Harbor, located in Alexander City, Alabama, has selected Cathryn Outzen as its new CEO. Children’s Harbor provides specialized support and recreational services for children facing various challenges, including autism spectrum disorder.
Outzen brings extensive experience in pediatric healthcare management, having previously served as director of community relations and children’s programs at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola, Florida. She is expected to assume her new role in May.
The organization’s programs are hosted at its retreat center on Lake Martin, offering immersive care experiences. Outzen’s leadership is expected to strengthen Children’s Harbor’s operational efficiency while enhancing the quality of services for children and families.
Centerstone Appoints Director of MAT Services
Nonprofit behavioral health provider Centerstone, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, has appointed Jessica Harman as director of behavioral health nursing. Harman will oversee Centerstone’s medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs for opioid use disorder (OUD).
Harman brings a wealth of experience, including prior roles at Gateway Regional Medical Center in Illinois and St. Alexius Hospital in St. Louis. Centerstone operates more than 200 locations across Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Her leadership will be instrumental in expanding access to MAT services, ensuring compliance with clinical standards, and supporting individuals struggling with opioid use disorder through evidence-based interventions.
NABH Adds Policy and Regulatory Affairs Director
The National Association for Behavioral Healthcare (NABH) has appointed Kirsten Beronio as its new policy and regulatory affairs director. Beronio brings more than 20 years of experience in mental health policy, having served as a congressional legislative assistant and vice president for public policy and advocacy at Mental Health America.
Most recently, Beronio held the position of senior vice president for behavioral health care under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In her new role at NABH, Beronio will shape the organization’s policy agenda and advocate for behavioral health initiatives at the federal and state levels.
United Counseling Service Names Director of Mental Health
Bennington, Vermont-based United Counseling Service (UCS) has named Lori Vadakin as director of mental health and substance use services. Vadakin previously worked for UCS as an outpatient clinician and most recently served as director of trauma integration services at the Vermont Permanency Initiative Residential Treatment Center for Girls.
In her new position, Vadakin will oversee UCS’s mental health, substance use treatment, and community rehabilitation programs. UCS operates both in Bennington and Manchester, Vermont, providing comprehensive services to local communities.
Vadakin’s deep experience in trauma-informed care and clinical leadership is expected to enhance UCS’s ability to deliver evidence-based services for youth and adults alike.
Colorado Consortium Fills Strategist Position
The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse and Prevention has appointed Lindsey Sembeye as an external relations strategist. The Colorado Consortium is a collaboration of state and federal agencies working to combat the opioid epidemic across Colorado.
Sembeye previously served as executive director of the Grand Futures Prevention Coalition, which provides SUD treatment resources in northwest Colorado. She will now oversee external relations across 10 counties and work as one of four external relations strategists within the consortium, headquartered at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Denver.
Her appointment strengthens the consortium’s outreach and strategic communications efforts, supporting prevention and treatment initiatives in the region.
Sector Implications
These leadership changes reflect a broader trend in the behavioral health field: organizations are prioritizing expertise, operational leadership, and strategic policy engagement. Each new appointment brings unique skills and experiences that are expected to enhance organizational effectiveness, improve patient care, and expand access to critical services.
From Promises’ interim CEO stabilizing its multi-state SUD treatment operations to Children’s Harbor strengthening pediatric programs, these shifts illustrate the sector’s focus on continuity and growth. Meanwhile, appointments at NABH, UCS, and the Colorado Consortium highlight the importance of policy, regulatory oversight, and community-level prevention in advancing behavioral health initiatives.
Looking Forward
As these organizations integrate their new leaders, stakeholders—including patients, families, and partner agencies—can expect a renewed emphasis on quality care and innovative service delivery. The appointments signal both stability and strategic foresight, ensuring that each organization is well-positioned to meet evolving community needs.
With the ongoing challenges in mental health and substance use treatment, leadership transitions such as these are critical to sustaining high-quality services while expanding access and addressing systemic gaps in care.
Conclusion
The behavioral health industry is undergoing a period of transformation, driven by leadership changes and an increased focus on comprehensive care. From executive shifts at Promises and Children’s Harbor to policy expertise added at NABH, the sector is aligning itself to better address mental health and substance use challenges.
By appointing leaders with experience across clinical, operational, and policy domains, these organizations are setting the stage for enhanced service delivery, innovative programming, and strengthened advocacy efforts. These strategic moves will likely benefit the broader behavioral health ecosystem and the communities it serves.
A Note on Industry Impact
The appointments detailed here underscore the importance of skilled leadership in shaping behavioral health outcomes. Each new executive brings a combination of experience, vision, and operational knowledge that is crucial for guiding organizations through a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
As Promises, Children’s Harbor, Centerstone, UCS, NABH, and the Colorado Consortium move forward with these new leaders, the sector can anticipate continued growth, improved access to services, and a stronger focus on patient-centered care. These changes represent a proactive approach to meeting the rising demand for behavioral health services while positioning organizations for sustainable success.
