Acute care services play an important role in the continuum of health care services – treating and stabilizing individuals experiencing brief but severe episodes of illness. But the financial challenges of these services have become challenging, as evidenced by the daily announcement of acute care provider bankruptcies and consolidations. The challenges are many – worker shortages, rising costs for pharmaceuticals and supplies, payer driven reduced payer stays, and stagnant reimbursement rates. Future financial sustainability requires an understanding of market drivers and strategies to reengineer the business model. This session will focus on:
Matt joined Cenikor Foundation in 2002 as Business Manager and has been promoted several times after years of dedication and involvement. Matt is currently the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Cenikor and has more than 15 years of financial and not-for-profit management experience. Matt graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelors in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Accounting and he received his CPA licensure in August of 2016.
Greg P. Santilli, CPA, CIA, was appointed Chief Financial Officer in February 2021 and is responsible for all finances of Hillsides and its affiliate Bienvenidos. Prior to this role, Greg was the Director of Accounting and Financial Reporting for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and before that, he was the Chief Financial Officer for New Horizons: Serving Individuals with Special Needs.
Greg brings to Hillsides extensive for-profit and nonprofit experience across multiple industries. This experience includes financial reporting and analysis, financial planning, budgeting and forecasting, internal auditing, treasury management, and staff member participation in nonprofit finance, development, strategic planning, facilities, and risk management committees.
After losing his only sibling brother to suicide in 2005, Greg became a staunch mental health advocate. He is an Advisory Board Member for Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services’ Survivor After Suicide (SAS) Program, is a trained co-facilitator for the SAS program, and attends monthly SAS drop-in meetings to provide newer survivors of suicide loss with a sense of hope and purpose. Greg’s mental health and suicide prevention commitment includes congressional advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. while he was a board member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Greg has a strong commitment to community service, which includes being a former member of the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocesan Finance Council and former Finance Council Chair at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church in Santa Clarita for eight years where he led a capital campaign that resulted in the construction of the second-largest Catholic church in the Los Angeles Archdiocese; and former Treasurer and Board Member of the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry for four years.
Greg holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Option in Accounting from California State University, Northridge, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in California. He also holds a Certified Internal Auditor designation. In 2017 he was recognized with the CFO of the Year designation by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal.
Dee DeWitt has extensive experience as a consultant and corporate leader in the healthcare field. Mr. DeWitt brings over 28 years of experience in healthcare finance and operations, M&A, use of technology, strategic planning, and change management in healthcare organizations to OPEN MINDS as a Senior Associate.
Previously, Mr. DeWitt was the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Momentum For Health, a CARF-accredited non-profit behavioral health organization providing services to individuals with a diagnosed serious mental illness (SMI) and/or substance abuse disorder, in San Jose, California. During his tenure, Mr. DeWitt increased outpatient productivity by 25% and contributed to growing revenues from $55 million to a projected $71+ million for the fiscal year of 2023. Mr. DeWitt also oversaw Momentum ‘s pilot with Santa Clara County’s transition to Netsmart Provider Connect and led a successful grant award and implementation of a multi-year paid intern program in partnership with Santa Clara University, San Jose University, and Palo Alto University.
Mr. DeWitt was also the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Veridian Financial Group, a strategic consulting firm specializing in performing long-term, on-site C-level and Director roles, evaluating and implementing financial strategies, strategic operational planning, and development strategies for companies that are poised for significant growth, change, or require turnaround attention, in San Jose, California. During his time at Veridian Financial Group, Mr. DeWitt focused primarily on healthcare, finance, technology, and private equity and coordinated licensing, compliance, and external audits for 42 state licenses, including managed care organizations, managed care plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and service provider organizations.
In addition, Mr. DeWitt served as Chief Financial Officer and a Consultant in Strategic Planning and Finance for Home Recovery – Home Aid, Inc., a private equity-backed, for-profit company that provides personal care and skilled care in 35 locations and in-home care throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. During his time there, Mr. DeWitt was a member of the company’s executive management team, audit team, and License & Compliance team. Mr. DeWitt also served as Chief Financial Officer of Professional Healthcare Resources, Inc., a for-profit holding company comprised of 5 home health companies, 4 hospice companies, and 2 private duty/personal care companies. Mr. DeWitt has also been the Chief Financial and Technology Officer for The Filson, a nationally renowned non-profit archive and research institute, and Director of Strategic Development for Signature Healthcare, LLC, a national private equity-backed for-profit, long-term care company operating over 180 facilities, with 18,000 employees, and over $1 billion in revenues.
Mr. DeWitt also held the positions of Deputy Director of Behavioral Health at the County of Ventura, CA Behavioral Health Services Department, and Director of Finance and Management Services of the Southeastern Arizona Behavioral Health Services (SEABHS), a joint commissioned accredited non-profit.
Mr. DeWitt graduated from the University of Louisville, Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and a Master’s in Political Science with a concentration in Economics and Public Policy.
Whole-person care is the future of specialty health care – and provides better services for less cost. However, there are many models for integrating primary care into behavioral health and I/DD support services. Each model has a different impact on an organization, from governance to staffing to revenue model. The questions to be considered by each CFO are, “What model fits best for our organization?”, and “How does that model ensure future market relevance and sustainability?” This session will feature speakers who implemented primary care in their organizations, including those who have successfully gained FQHC status.
Jose F. Garcia, MBA, CHCQM, brings over 30 years of experience in Health and Human services. A unique background as a former medical doctor (D. Med.), with an MBA, he has held a variety of supervisory and management positions at Citrus Health Network Inc., culminating in his current role of Chief Financial Officer.
In his role as Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Garcia has played a pivotal role alongside the CEO and COO in guiding the organization through the ever-evolving healthcare landscape. His knowledge of programs and services leads to thorough analysis of the financial position of each line of service which brings about recommendations and strategies which are instrumental in successfully navigating the challenges and opportunities for the company.
Prior to being the Chief Financial Officer Mr. Garcia served as Contract and Grants Administrator for Citrus Health Network Inc. In this role Mr. Garcia was responsible for overseeing the entire process of grants management, budget preparation and financial reporting on a large scale. This experience has equipped him with a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in financial planning and compliance.
Due to Mr. Garcias work experience providing direct services, he has been invited to present at national conferences, including The Innovation Forum in Atlanta, where he presented on Citrus Health Network’s initiatives on “Working to End Homelessness and Hunger” as well as Flexible Resources Data Driving Solutions conference in Atlanta.
Mr. Garcia is a Certified Health Care Quality Manager by the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians (ABQAURP). This certification underscores his commitment to ensuring the highest standard of quality and efficiency in healthcare delivery. Mr. Garcia has also completed the Leadership Institute with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) gaining the necessary skills and knowledge to lead the organization in delivering high quality healthcare services and financial management.
Ken Carr brings more than 20 years of finance, technology, data analysis, and reporting experience in the health and human services field to OPEN MINDS. He currently is a Senior Associate with the OPEN MINDS consulting practice. In this role, he has served as a subject matter expert leading numerous engagements in strategic planning, merger and acquisition prospecting, business process improvement, financial analysis of service lines, and technology selection.
Before joining the OPEN MINDS team, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of The Centers, a community mental health center in Ocala, Florida. In this position, Mr. Carr led a realignment of the organization’s financial management functions. This included revenue cycle management, EHR bill implementation and reporting, cash management enhancement, and strategic financial analysis.
Prior to his role at The Centers, Mr. Carr served as Chief Financial Officer of Guild Incorporated, an organization providing residential and community based mental health services in St. Paul, Minnesota. As CFO, Mr. Carr led the financial, billing, IT, quality, informatics, compliance, and facilities activities. During his tenure at Guild Incorporated, Mr. Carr used his expertise in change management and business process improvement to lead the EHR implementation team, align service data reporting and financial performance, and lead the financial and data capture activities for new service initiatives.
Mr. Carr has also held the positions of Administrative Director and Finance Director at the St. Paul National Testing Laboratory, a biomedical testing facility of the American Red Cross. In those positions he oversaw activities to enhance inventory management, align financial results to industry standards, and improve financial and facilities performance through problem analysis and quality management initiatives. He also was involved in directing human resource functions during laboratory closing near the end of his tenure.
Mr. Carr earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota and a Master of Divinity Degree from Sioux Falls Seminary. He maintains an active CPA license with the State of South Dakota.
Providing a continuum of care requires dynamic, multi-dimensional solutions. And while many behavioral health organizations have invested in various software solutions to support their operational needs, technology silos consistently cloud organizational visibility. With multiple disconnected systems, we can easily lose site of the big picture, to the detriment of our bottom line. Join us for a lunch and learn to discover solutions for combining impactful data points to produce organization-wide reporting and build a financially sustainable future. In this session, we’ll discuss:
MJ Craig serves as the General Manager of DATIS e3, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the platform. With her deep understanding of product dynamics and a keen ability to translate complex customer needs into actionable strategies, MJ is dedicated to positioning DATIS e3 as the premier HCM & Payroll solution specifically designed for behavioral health organizations.
With over a decade of experience at DATIS and ContinuumCloud, MJ has been instrumental in the platform’s growth and success. Her innovative approach and forward-thinking vision have played an essential part in driving product enhancements that evolve the platform and support behavioral health leaders in achieving their mission. Under her leadership, DATIS e3 is not only advancing as a top-tier solution but also setting new standards for excellence in the industry.
Dr. Carol Clayton is a licensed, psychologist with 30 years of health care experience in the public and private sector, including non-profit and private practice work. Prior to joining OPEN MINDS as a Senior Consultant, she retired as the Translational Neuroscientist for Relias, where she specialized in health care solutions targeting workforce development and population health outcome improvement. Before joining Relias, Dr. Clayton was the CEO of Care Management Technologies, a health IT data analytics company. She also served as the Executive Director of the NC Council of Community Programs from 2000-2006. The NC Council is the predecessor organization to i2i.
Consumer preference is clearly to receive services in the home, and the pandemic along with technological innovation has accelerated the ability to deliver those services. How does an organization create new services, or reengineer current services to be delivered in the home? What service delivery model, revenue model and technology will ensure success? This session will assist the CFO in analyzing home-based services opportunities, create a business model, and help drive the service development process.
Lisa Chrisitan brings more than 25 years of professional and nonprofit leadership experience to her role. She is currentIy the Senior Director of the BehavioraI HeaIth Division at CathoIic Charities of Santa Ciara County. Lisa’s most recent position was Chief Development Officer for the Community Housing Partnership in San Francisco. Her career highlights include 20 years working in operations and management for YMCA organizations in four U.S. cities, including as President and CEO of the YMCA in Middletown, New Jersey. Since 2011, Lisa has consulted with a wide range of nonprofit organizations—including serving in interim C-suite roles— providing them with expertise and leadership in strategic planning, and workforce and organizational development.
Jodie joined Mainstay as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 2017. As CFO, Jodie is tasked with implementing the infrastructure and systems needed to support Mainstay’s mission, operations (including facilities, fleet, and information technology), financial objectives, and strategic initiatives. In 2023, Jodie became the CEO of enTRUST Services LLC, a subsidiary of Mainstay that provides comprehensive financial services that enrich the lives of people with disabilities.
Jodie has more than 25 years of accounting experience, with 17 years in a leadership capacity with nonprofit human services organizations. Jodie is passionate about the work as the mom of a son with an intellectual disability. She is an advocate and strong supporter in the disability community.
Jodie received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) in accounting and a Master of Science degree in accounting from Robert Morris University in Moon Township, PA.
Dee DeWitt has extensive experience as a consultant and corporate leader in the healthcare field. Mr. DeWitt brings over 28 years of experience in healthcare finance and operations, M&A, use of technology, strategic planning, and change management in healthcare organizations to OPEN MINDS as a Senior Associate.
Previously, Mr. DeWitt was the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Momentum For Health, a CARF-accredited non-profit behavioral health organization providing services to individuals with a diagnosed serious mental illness (SMI) and/or substance abuse disorder, in San Jose, California. During his tenure, Mr. DeWitt increased outpatient productivity by 25% and contributed to growing revenues from $55 million to a projected $71+ million for the fiscal year of 2023. Mr. DeWitt also oversaw Momentum ‘s pilot with Santa Clara County’s transition to Netsmart Provider Connect and led a successful grant award and implementation of a multi-year paid intern program in partnership with Santa Clara University, San Jose University, and Palo Alto University.
Mr. DeWitt was also the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Veridian Financial Group, a strategic consulting firm specializing in performing long-term, on-site C-level and Director roles, evaluating and implementing financial strategies, strategic operational planning, and development strategies for companies that are poised for significant growth, change, or require turnaround attention, in San Jose, California. During his time at Veridian Financial Group, Mr. DeWitt focused primarily on healthcare, finance, technology, and private equity and coordinated licensing, compliance, and external audits for 42 state licenses, including managed care organizations, managed care plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and service provider organizations.
In addition, Mr. DeWitt served as Chief Financial Officer and a Consultant in Strategic Planning and Finance for Home Recovery – Home Aid, Inc., a private equity-backed, for-profit company that provides personal care and skilled care in 35 locations and in-home care throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. During his time there, Mr. DeWitt was a member of the company’s executive management team, audit team, and License & Compliance team. Mr. DeWitt also served as Chief Financial Officer of Professional Healthcare Resources, Inc., a for-profit holding company comprised of 5 home health companies, 4 hospice companies, and 2 private duty/personal care companies. Mr. DeWitt has also been the Chief Financial and Technology Officer for The Filson, a nationally renowned non-profit archive and research institute, and Director of Strategic Development for Signature Healthcare, LLC, a national private equity-backed for-profit, long-term care company operating over 180 facilities, with 18,000 employees, and over $1 billion in revenues.
Mr. DeWitt also held the positions of Deputy Director of Behavioral Health at the County of Ventura, CA Behavioral Health Services Department, and Director of Finance and Management Services of the Southeastern Arizona Behavioral Health Services (SEABHS), a joint commissioned accredited non-profit.
Mr. DeWitt graduated from the University of Louisville, Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and a Master’s in Political Science with a concentration in Economics and Public Policy.
The non-profit organizational structure has been the prominent approach to delivering specialty health care services. However a number of factors have created financial challenges for non-profit CFOs – stagnant rates, new competition from for-profit provider organizations, workforce challenges and the increased need for technology and infrastructure funding. The session will highlight the opportunities that can be leveraged with a non-profit structure, and how to address increasing competition and funding challenges. Attendees will learn:
Born and raised in Italy, Dr. Simona Cataldo is an experienced executive with a multicultural background and the ability to drive change and lead execution in fast-paced environments. She has over 20 years of clinical and administrative experience in the non-profit industry, both in mental health and traditional healthcare.
Dr. Cataldo describes herself as a mom, a wife, a leader, and a traveler. She is committed to her own lifelong development as a leader and believes that good leaders are first good humans. Her goal is to be a positive influence in the world by being an authentic and compassionate leader and teaching others what she has learned in her own journey of serving and developing people and organizations.
Dr. Cataldo currently serves as Chief Executive Officer for Victor, a partnership of two non-profit organizations offering specialty mental health services in community-based settings, residential treatment, and foster care and adoption services throughout California. Victor has a consolidated budget of over $100 M.
Ed Hackett is an accomplished nonprofit executive known for his collaborative approach and track record of success. With a strong background in finance and operations, he has consistently made valuable contributions to organizations by leveraging his for-profit experience. Ed is driven by a deep sense of mission to help clients and staff achieve their full potential.
Ed holds an MBA from Brigham Young University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Connecticut. His academic achievements include memberships in the prestigious Beta Gamma Sigma and Golden Key National Honor Societies. Ed has passed the CPA exam and is an associate member of the CT Society of Certified Public Accountants.
As Chief Financial Officer for Victor, Ed brings his expertise in finance, information technology, and facilities to help Victor serve our clients. His experience enables him to drive strategic value and improve program operating margins while ensuring long-term sustainability.
In his previous role as the Chief Financial Officer of The Village for Families & Children, Inc., Ed played a pivotal role in the organization’s financial turnaround and growth. He successfully reduced budget dependence on endowment funds, implemented technology upgrades, and led significant refinancing efforts. Ed’s ability to build strong relationships with the board of directors and effectively manage the agency’s endowment and pension portfolios contributed to the overall success of the organization.
Ed Hackett’s extensive experience also includes serving as the Chief Financial Officer of Wheeler Clinic, Inc. During his tenure, he managed the financial resources of this nonprofit agency during a period of substantial growth. Ed’s efforts in implementing effective financial systems, optimizing cash flows, and reducing administrative expenses were instrumental in supporting the clinic’s expansion and improving overall efficiency.
Ken Carr brings more than 20 years of finance, technology, data analysis, and reporting experience in the health and human services field to OPEN MINDS. He currently is a Senior Associate with the OPEN MINDS consulting practice. In this role, he has served as a subject matter expert leading numerous engagements in strategic planning, merger and acquisition prospecting, business process improvement, financial analysis of service lines, and technology selection.
Before joining the OPEN MINDS team, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of The Centers, a community mental health center in Ocala, Florida. In this position, Mr. Carr led a realignment of the organization’s financial management functions. This included revenue cycle management, EHR bill implementation and reporting, cash management enhancement, and strategic financial analysis.
Prior to his role at The Centers, Mr. Carr served as Chief Financial Officer of Guild Incorporated, an organization providing residential and community based mental health services in St. Paul, Minnesota. As CFO, Mr. Carr led the financial, billing, IT, quality, informatics, compliance, and facilities activities. During his tenure at Guild Incorporated, Mr. Carr used his expertise in change management and business process improvement to lead the EHR implementation team, align service data reporting and financial performance, and lead the financial and data capture activities for new service initiatives.
Mr. Carr has also held the positions of Administrative Director and Finance Director at the St. Paul National Testing Laboratory, a biomedical testing facility of the American Red Cross. In those positions he oversaw activities to enhance inventory management, align financial results to industry standards, and improve financial and facilities performance through problem analysis and quality management initiatives. He also was involved in directing human resource functions during laboratory closing near the end of his tenure.
Mr. Carr earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota and a Master of Divinity Degree from Sioux Falls Seminary. He maintains an active CPA license with the State of South Dakota.
For-profit specialty care organizations face unique financial challenges – how to create a sustainable growth plan built on an expandable infrastructure, how to address margin compression and ensure an acceptable rate of return for investors, and how to partner with other health care organizations, referral sources and payers for sustainable revenue. While a for-profit organization has access to more capital for growth, there are more complexities and stakeholders to address. This session will discuss:
As Chief Financial Officer at Community Based Care (“CBC”), Kenneth is responsible for leading the finance organization, including financial planning & analysis, accounting, treasury management, tax and revenue cycle. Kenneth has over 18 years of experience across multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, and professional services.
Prior to joining CBC, Kenneth served as Vice President of Finance and Accounting at Gastro Health, a national, multi-site healthcare provider. Kenneth began his career with Ernst & Young in their Assurance and Mergers and Acquisitions practices. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Florida International University, a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Virginia, and is a Certified Public Accountant (Inactive) in North Carolina.
Ken Carr brings more than 20 years of finance, technology, data analysis, and reporting experience in the health and human services field to OPEN MINDS. He currently is a Senior Associate with the OPEN MINDS consulting practice. In this role, he has served as a subject matter expert leading numerous engagements in strategic planning, merger and acquisition prospecting, business process improvement, financial analysis of service lines, and technology selection.
Before joining the OPEN MINDS team, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of The Centers, a community mental health center in Ocala, Florida. In this position, Mr. Carr led a realignment of the organization’s financial management functions. This included revenue cycle management, EHR bill implementation and reporting, cash management enhancement, and strategic financial analysis.
Prior to his role at The Centers, Mr. Carr served as Chief Financial Officer of Guild Incorporated, an organization providing residential and community based mental health services in St. Paul, Minnesota. As CFO, Mr. Carr led the financial, billing, IT, quality, informatics, compliance, and facilities activities. During his tenure at Guild Incorporated, Mr. Carr used his expertise in change management and business process improvement to lead the EHR implementation team, align service data reporting and financial performance, and lead the financial and data capture activities for new service initiatives.
Mr. Carr has also held the positions of Administrative Director and Finance Director at the St. Paul National Testing Laboratory, a biomedical testing facility of the American Red Cross. In those positions he oversaw activities to enhance inventory management, align financial results to industry standards, and improve financial and facilities performance through problem analysis and quality management initiatives. He also was involved in directing human resource functions during laboratory closing near the end of his tenure.
Mr. Carr earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota and a Master of Divinity Degree from Sioux Falls Seminary. He maintains an active CPA license with the State of South Dakota.
Dee DeWitt has extensive experience as a consultant and corporate leader in the healthcare field. Mr. DeWitt brings over 28 years of experience in healthcare finance and operations, M&A, use of technology, strategic planning, and change management in healthcare organizations to OPEN MINDS as a Senior Associate.
Previously, Mr. DeWitt was the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Momentum For Health, a CARF-accredited non-profit behavioral health organization providing services to individuals with a diagnosed serious mental illness (SMI) and/or substance abuse disorder, in San Jose, California. During his tenure, Mr. DeWitt increased outpatient productivity by 25% and contributed to growing revenues from $55 million to a projected $71+ million for the fiscal year of 2023. Mr. DeWitt also oversaw Momentum ‘s pilot with Santa Clara County’s transition to Netsmart Provider Connect and led a successful grant award and implementation of a multi-year paid intern program in partnership with Santa Clara University, San Jose University, and Palo Alto University.
Mr. DeWitt was also the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Veridian Financial Group, a strategic consulting firm specializing in performing long-term, on-site C-level and Director roles, evaluating and implementing financial strategies, strategic operational planning, and development strategies for companies that are poised for significant growth, change, or require turnaround attention, in San Jose, California. During his time at Veridian Financial Group, Mr. DeWitt focused primarily on healthcare, finance, technology, and private equity and coordinated licensing, compliance, and external audits for 42 state licenses, including managed care organizations, managed care plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and service provider organizations.
In addition, Mr. DeWitt served as Chief Financial Officer and a Consultant in Strategic Planning and Finance for Home Recovery – Home Aid, Inc., a private equity-backed, for-profit company that provides personal care and skilled care in 35 locations and in-home care throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. During his time there, Mr. DeWitt was a member of the company’s executive management team, audit team, and License & Compliance team. Mr. DeWitt also served as Chief Financial Officer of Professional Healthcare Resources, Inc., a for-profit holding company comprised of 5 home health companies, 4 hospice companies, and 2 private duty/personal care companies. Mr. DeWitt has also been the Chief Financial and Technology Officer for The Filson, a nationally renowned non-profit archive and research institute, and Director of Strategic Development for Signature Healthcare, LLC, a national private equity-backed for-profit, long-term care company operating over 180 facilities, with 18,000 employees, and over $1 billion in revenues.
Mr. DeWitt also held the positions of Deputy Director of Behavioral Health at the County of Ventura, CA Behavioral Health Services Department, and Director of Finance and Management Services of the Southeastern Arizona Behavioral Health Services (SEABHS), a joint commissioned accredited non-profit.
Mr. DeWitt graduated from the University of Louisville, Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and a Master’s in Political Science with a concentration in Economics and Public Policy.