Owen T. Nichols, Psy.D., MBA

President/CEO, Northern Kentucky Mental Health/Mental Retardation Regional Board, Inc.

Dr. Owen Nichols is a Fellow in the American Academy of Clinical Psychology, Fellow in the Academy of Medical Psychology, and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Division of Independent Practice. He served as the 2010 President of the Board of Directors of the American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy. He holds the distinguished honor of serving on the Advisory Board of the Neuroscience Education Institute. He is Past-Chair for the Kentucky Board of Examiners in Psychology.

He is the President and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Mental Health--Mental Retardation Regional Board (dba NorthKey Community Care). He also serves as an intermittent surveyor in the Behavioral Health Care Accreditation Program with the Joint Commission providing accreditation reviews and consultation nationally. He has previously served as the Associate Executive Director and Clinical Director of Western State Hospital in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

Dr. Nichols is also currently serving as the President and Board Chair of the Kentucky Association of Regional Mental Health and Mental Retardation Programs, Inc. (KARP), which represents the Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

David Ptaszek, LCSW

CEO, Pennyroyal Center, Hopkinsville, Kentucky

David Ptaszek has served as the Executive Director of the Pennyroyal Center since January 2002. Pennyroyal provides a full continuum of services for persons affected by mental illness, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities and serves eight counties in western Kentucky. From 1978 until 2001, Ptaszek was president and CEO of Bridgeway (formerly Spoon River Center), providing a full array of services in substance abuse, mental health, and developmental disabilities to 27 counties in western Illinois and eastern Iowa. During his tenure at Bridgeway, Ptaszek supervised the development of over 120 units of community housing for persons with disabilities. He also served on the Blue Ribbon Committee appointed by Governor Jim Thompson to recommend low-income housing alternatives for the homeless.

Dale Shreve

Dale E. Shreve is the President and CEO of Mental Health Corporations of America (MHCA). MHCA, headquartered in Tallahassee Florida, is a business association of select providers of behavioral healthcare services from over 30 states. MHCA’s mission is to strengthen members' competitive position, enhance their leadership capabilities and facilitate their strategic networking opportunities. Prior to joining MHCA Shreve served 14 years as the CEO of Harbor, an outpatient health care provider in the Toledo Ohio area employing over 400 professionals and providing a continuum of services integrated with its core behavioral healthcare expertise with both youth and adults. Dale received his Master’s degree from The University of Michigan and his Bachelor’s from Michigan State University. Dale and his wife Wendy have 2 children and 4 (adorable) grandkids.

Dr. Margarita Labarta, CEO

Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.
4300 SW 13th Stareet, Gainesville, FL

Margarita Labarta, Ph.D. is currently President and Chief Executive Officer for Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, which provides comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment, supportive vocational and housing services, and child welfare services in 11 rural, North Florida counties. Labarta has been at Meridian since 1983, directing, in turn, its rural clinics, Children’s Department, and Acute Care Services prior to becoming CEO. In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Labarta has provided many hours of clinical and evaluation services within the family law arena. She has also provided clinical and management training to staff and other professionals.

Labarta has considerable involvement in professional organizations and community partnerships. She is currently Chair for the Florida Council for Community Mental Health, and ac active member of Mental Health Corporations of America and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. She has served as Chairperson of the Steering Committee for the Child Advocacy Center and served on its Board, served on the advisory board for the Juvenile Assessment Center, and is a current board member for the Guardian ad Litem Foundation. She has been involved in local efforts related to end homelessness and diverting those with a mental illness from the criminal justice system. She is also active in Rotary.

She has a Bachelors in Psychology and Mathematics from Barry University and a Masters and Ph.D. in Clinical and Community Psychology from the University of Maryland awarded. She has courtesy appointments at the University of Florida in both the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology.

Catherine Ryder

Catherine Ryder serves as the Executive Director for Tri-County Mental Health Services (TCMHS) where she has been employed for 20 years. She previously served as Director of Clinical Services and during that time focused on developing models of care that align well with the principles of healthcare reform. She is passionate about ensuring access to appropriate levels of care, bending the cost curve and reducing the stigma associated with behavioral health services.

Catherine is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a MS in Counselor Education, a Nationally Certified Counselor, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. She has completed the certificate program in Primary Care Behavioral Health out of UMass and has recently graduated from the Hanley Leadership Development program for healthcare leaders in Maine.

Ronald K. Zimmet, J.D.

Ronald K. Zimmet has been a trial lawyer since 1975. He maintains an active litigation practice and provides risk management consulting services to community mental health centers nationwide.

Mr. Zimmet helped organize and for over 20 years has served as general counsel to the Mental Health Risk Retention Group, Inc. an insurance company providing professional and general liability and directors and officers insurance to community mental health centers. He is the featured speaker in risk management audio and video presentations presented by the Risk Retention Group for many years. These presentations address, among other things, risk management for sexual misconduct, suicide malpractice, violent patients, medication errors and employment related claims. Mr. Zimmet has lectured on risk management at many National Council and Mental Health Corporations of America meetings.

Mr. Zimmet has been published in Behavioral Healthcare Magazine and has also been published by the Florida Bar Journal. He was president of the board of directors of a community mental health center in Daytona Beach and has served on the board of a substance abuse facility in Daytona.

You may contact Mr. Zimmet at his office in Daytona Beach at 386-255-4020 or by e-mail at rzimmet@att.net.

Greg Disy

Gregory P. Disy serves as Aroostook Mental Health Services, Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer where he ensures the achievement of the organization’s service mission in conformance with AMHC’s vision, values, and policies established by the Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team. Mr. Disy is an independently licensed clinical social worker in the State of Maine and received his Masters in Social Work from the University of Maine at Orono (UMO). He is an active member of the Maine Association of Mental Health Services (MAMHS) and is serving as its current Treasurer. Mr. Disy is an active member and current Treasurer of Integrated Service Solutions of Maine and serves as the organization’s lead to their Information Technology Collaborative. Additionally, Mr. Disy is the organization’s representative to the Mental Health Corporation of America (MHCA). He is also a member of a Peer Collaboration Team comprised of him and three other CEO colleagues from across the country. He serves as a member of the State of Maine’s Juvenile Justice Implementation Council. Mr. Disy has been employed by Aroostook Mental Health Services, Inc. since 1980 and prior to assuming his position as CEO in 2009, he was the organization’s Chief Operations Officer.

Roger Teese

Teese Consulting LLC
488 Guinea Rd.
Charlotte, VT 05445

Phone: 802-425-4659
Fax: 802-425-7747
Cell: 802-310-0145
E-mail: teese@gmavt.net

Profile:
46 years experience property/casualty experience
35 years agency experience
30 years Managing General Underwriting/Program Management experience
27 years captive insurance company management experience
27 years Authorized Captive Manager in VT until 2009
6 years claims adjusting BI PD, Trial Management 3 years
Licensed in 50 states until 2009, now licensed in VT
Licensed Surplus Lines Broker in 26 states until 2009

Senior Positions:
President, CEO, Principal, Smith Bell & Thompson Insurance. Burlington, VT
President, CEO, Principal, SBT Captive Management Co., Burlington, VT
Founding President and Chairman of the Vermont Captive Insurance Association (VCIA)
President Managing Agency Group, Hartford, CT, Syracuse, NY
Trial Adjuster with authority, New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co

Professional Experience:
Smith Bell and Thompson (1973-2008)
SBT Captive Management Company (1982-2008)
Managing Agency Group (2005- 2008)
Presently (HRH acquired by Willis in 2008 – severed)

Professional Memberships:
Current: CIC, VCIA honorary member
Former: RIMS, PLUS, VIAA