2022 Presentations

Dee Werline has dedicated her more than 30-year career to behavioral healthcare, as well as intellectual and developmental disabilities services.  Her wide-ranging experience includes both outpatient and inpatient behavioral health, community-based and facility-based IDD services and leadership roles both within state government and community mental health offers a unique range of knowledge and perspective.  Currently, Ms. Werline is the President and CEO of New Vista of the Bluegrass, a comprehensive community behavioral health provider that has been enriching the lives of central Kentuckians for nearly 55 years. 

Prior to assuming the leadership role at New Vista, Ms. Werline most recently served as the Deputy Commissioner for Kentucky’s Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Morehead State University, and is a Licensed Psychological Practitioner.

Dee DeWitt began his tenure with Momentum for Health in April 2020. Prior to joining Momentum, Dee served as Chief Financial Officer for a Virginia-based Home Healthcare and Hospice for-profit organization operating in three states and the District of Columbia. He brings over 35 years’ experience in finance, strategic planning & development, M&A, and leading long-term growth. Dee’s experience also includes for-profit assisted living and long-term care operating in 28 states, and helped to found Community Partners, a non-profit Regional Behavioral Healthcare Authority MCO/provider operating within the Arizona cost containment healthcare system. He received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from the University of Louisville and served as an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of Louisville and University of Kentucky. He is a published author who focuses on developing infrastructure, managing growth and positive change where operations and finance intersect.

Kevin D. Arnold, PhD, ABPP is the founder and now Senior Executive Director at The Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy (CCBT) in Columbus, Ohio, a part of Refresh Mental Health and OPTUM. He directs multiple locations in central and southwestern Ohio. CCBT happily joined the Refresh Mental Health (a part of OPTUM) team in June 2021, fostering expanded growth, quality, and patient access in mental health services. Dr. Arnold’s role in payer-provider partnerships includes:

• Integrated Behavioral Health in the American Psychological Association’s Division 42 and Practice Organization as a volunteer leader
• Created a 40+ PCP-Behavioral Health integration program
• Collaboration with payers such as OPTUM and Anthem on integrated care and value-based contracting and the use of HEDIS measures
• Speaker and consultant on behavioral health innovation and practice management
• Integrated behavioral health through primary care partnering

He was the President of the Society of Psychologists in Private Practice (APA Division 42), the Ohio Psychological Association, the Council of Specialties in Professional Psychology, the American Board of Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology, and the Ohio Board of Psychology. He is a psychologist, Board Certified in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology.

Mr. Mihalacki began his career as a US Army officer, later transitioning into healthcare management in 2010 as a civilian fiscal operations supervisor at a Veterans hospital.  Since then, he has worked in a variety of financial and analytical roles at both Aetna, and now Magellan Health where he focuses on medical economics and value-based strategies for behavioral health providers.

Mr. Mihalacki holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.  His professional certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP^®), Professional, Academy for Healthcare Management, and Six Sigma Green Belt.  He currently resides in Cranberry Township, PA with his wife Shannon and 4 children. 

Healthcare executive with over twenty years experience in the health care industry including non-profit, government and private insurance with ten years progressively higher level experience in provider networks in behavioral health arena.

Ms. Charlene Dimas-Peinado, President and CEO of Wellnest, a $32 million nationally recognized trauma informed behavioral health and housing organization in Los Angeles. Throughout her career, Ms. Dimas-Peinado has been inspired by the communities and people she serves. “Every child and family have a story and their stories have meaning and like a ripple of water…they affect our community,” she has said. “Our objective is to make a positive impact on those we serve — one that improves a life, one that improves our community.” She combines the big-picture strategic perspective of a hands-on executive and the insights of an experienced licensed psychotherapist in her quest to help children, young adults and families lead emotionally healthy lives.

Ms. Dimas-Peinado is a seasoned and visionary executive with 30 years of experience in behavioral health and non-profit organizations. She is the first Latina President & CEO of Wellnest since its founding in l924 and provides the overall leadership and strategic direction for the organization as it approaches 100 years of community service. Acting as the organization’s fiduciary leader, translating Wellnest’s mission and vision, she ensures that the organization is financially, politically and operationally strong, provides best-in-class behavioral health and housing services while addressing the changing needs of communities served. She has extensive experience obtaining and providing direct oversight to multi-million-dollar (county, state and federal) contracts targeting mental health and housing services with expertise in non-profit governance, audit and compliance, and regulatory matters. Additionally, she has spearheaded multiple fundraising and capital campaigns raising millions of dollars, forging new partnerships, and leveraging the impact of donations from donors to provide critically needed services in underserved communities.

Ms. Dimas-Peinado has a Master of Leadership from USC and a Master of Social Work from CSULB and serves on multiple boards: Trustee, Los Angeles Co. Natural History Museum; Board of Directors, Quality Comp; Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce; Quality Comp; Rotary LA5; and City Club LA. Ms. Dimas-Peinado and her husband of 32 years are proud parents of their two adult children.

Stacey R. Roth was appointed Chief Executive Officer in July 2020. Prior to this role, Stacey served as executive vice president and chief operating officer where she oversaw Hillsides' behavioral health division; campus-based services, including Hillsides Education Center; community-based outpatient services, which includes all Family Resource Center programs; foster care and adoptions; new funding and program opportunities; Trauma-Informed Care; and transition-aged youth services.

Stacey, a licensed clinical social worker, has been a part of Hillsides since 1996. Stacey was a therapist in Tradewinds cottage for seven years before moving to the Family Resource Centers. As coordinator at of the school-based mental health program at San Rafael Elementary, Stacey oversaw the counseling and support services for students and their families.

Dr. Perez brings over 23 years of professional experience to her work at Hillsides, having served as Chief Administrative Officer & Compliance Officer at Hathaway Sycamores, Chief Program Officer at Five Acres, and Corporate Director at Pacific Clinics. Dr. Perez brings experience in serving multiple counties throughout California. She has been responsible for the development and oversight of an array of clinical programming in the specialized areas of prevention and early intervention, birth to five, and transition age youth, populations. Dr. Perez also brings business acumen to her role having led research, training, finance, quality management, contracts, and compliance departments. Dr. Perez is trained as a Early Child Development Specialist at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Early Childhood Center. Dr. Perez has served as co-chair of the L.A. County Department of Mental Health Advisory Committee for ten years, and as County-Wide Delegate for two years. She has also served as Board Member of California Mental Health Advocates for Children and Youth, and held various committee positions as part of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services.

Pamela Mattel, LCSW, is a highly qualified senior leader with 38 years of nonprofit experience, 15 years in executive positions advancing high quality whole healthcare integration and innovation in behavioral healthcare, primary healthcare, and housing. Ms. Mattel’s leadership and management has consistently delivered on the promise of quality integrated care, multiplying reach, and ensuring financial sustainability.

Ms. Mattel is continually reimagining health care and social services by actively supporting collaboration, incorporating design approaches, leveraging key performance indicators for value based projects and measuring overall impact. She has consistently secured innovative models and programs for complex organizations inclusive of certified community behavioral health clinics, care transitions, technology enabled care, and opioid collective impact responses. She has been an active participant in the New York State Medicaid Redesign including DSRIP, numerous health related board memberships, and regional efforts.  

Ms. Mattel’s mission to inspire and empower change in pursuit of equitable whole person care has been her north star. She graduated from Columbia University with a Master’s Degree in Social Work and holds certificates in several post-graduate programs.

Susan Harris, MA has more than 30 years of healthcare experience and is a leader in healthcare administration and management with extensive experience in leading all aspects of operations including contract management, contract implementation and compliance oversight. Key drivers of successful implementation are high quality, regulatory compliance and cost effectiveness.

Ms. Harris is currently the Director of Payer Contracting at Centria Healthcare. Centria is one of the country’s largest providers of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) services for families with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Ms. Harris joined Centria because she is passionate about Centria’s mission to help children with autism develop, pursue, and achieve their goals.  Her goal is to help ensure every child has access to services where they live.

Prior to her role at Centria, Ms. Harris served in various roles in her 10 year tenure at Magellan Health.   Most recently she served as Director of Central Production Services at Magellan Health. As part of this role, Ms. Harris collaborated with internal and external stakeholders to implement a fulfillment vendor outsourcing 90% of member and provider compliance correspondence resulting in a reduction in turn-around time from 5+ days to 24 hours. Ms. Harris also helped build and implement a national provider contract template and implemented a vendor application which enabled electronic contracting and execution – eliminating the need for a file room.

Ms. Harris has a Masters Degree in Health Services Administration from Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri. 

Healthcare executive with over twenty years experience in the health care industry including non-profit, government and private insurance with ten years progressively higher level experience in provider networks in behavioral health arena.