2022 MHNE Leadership Awards Reception – Mental Health News Education

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Proceeds from this event will go towards expanding and developing the nonprofit educational mission of Autism Spectrum News and Behavioral Health News. With these publications, Mental Health News Education aims to reduce stigma, promote awareness and disseminate evidence-based education and information that serves to improve the lives of individuals living with mental illness, substance use disorders, and autism spectrum disorders and support their families and the provider communities that serves them.

For questions and details, contact David Minot, Executive Director, at (978) 733-4481 or dminot@mhnews.org

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Meet Our 2022 Honorees!

As CEO, Tyler oversees Foothold Technology‘s long-term strategic direction, short term execution of that long-term strategy, and continued growth. He works closely with the leaders of Foothold’s Customer Experience, Sales & Marketing, and Product & Engineering teams to ensure that Foothold customers and Foothold employees are successful and happy. He is particularly passionate about translating lofty goals into tangible action, unlocking the full potential of teams, and having fun along the way. Tyler joined Foothold as Chief of Staff in November of 2018 and wore many hats across multiple functions before becoming CEO at the beginning of 2020. As CEO, Tyler has reorganized Foothold’s organizational structure and leadership team, updated Foothold’s vision and core values, and led the acquisition of a complementary software company serving the New York Health Home program, called Foothold Care Management. He has also signed the 1% Pledge, which commits Foothold to donating 1% of its profits back to the community each year, and has established Foothold as a Certified Public Benefit Corporation (B Corp). In addition to serving as the CEO of Foothold Technology, Tyler also serves as the Group CEO of Radicle Health, a group of mission critical human services software companies, of which Foothold is a part. Radicle Health’s companies operate independently from one another, but opportunistically collaborate where it makes sense to do so. Prior to joining Foothold, Tyler worked on the Investing team at Alpine Investors, where he evaluated businesses across hundreds of sectors, with a heavy focus on software and healthcare. Tyler graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton University, where he majored in Operations Research and was a member of the Varsity Lightweight Rowing Team.

Alexa Santoro serves as an Account Executive leading a team of Service Professionals at Lamb Insurance Services. Alexa brings 13 years of insurance experience having worked as service professional at All Risk Insurance before joining Lamb in 2016. While at All Risk, Alexa was tasked with maintaining client relationships for over 100 accounts in a vast range of industries but social service organizations have always been near and dear to her heart. It is for this exact reason that she leaped at the opportunity to work with Lamb in March of 2016. Over the last 6 years, Alexa has developed by serving Lamb’s internal and external clients in many roles including Account Manager, Service Operations Consultant, and now Account Executive. She strives to offer a customer-centric experience by delivering internal and external client service effectively and efficiently. Internally, she acts as a resource supporting the Client Service Team to help achieve its goals and develop processes to ease operations by developing workflows, training materials, and client deliverable templates. Externally, Alexa manages a robust book of business valued at over seven million dollars in revenue comprised of large, complex accounts, two of which are the Top 5 in the agency. She regularly provides consultation and technical advice on insurance and risk management issues. Alexa prides herself in her breadth of knowledge as it relates to New York State Workers Compensation and has advocated for a number of clients to ensure their classification codes and experience modifications are properly assigned to reduce their overall cost of insurance. Alexa has a BA/MA degree in Physics from Hunter College – The City University of New York and maintains a Certified Insurance Counselor “CIC” designation from the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research. She is also a proud member of the Associate Board of WellLife Network.

Steve Miccio is Chief Executive Officer of People USA. Inspired and driven by his personal lived experience, Steve has spent over two decades creating, providing, and promoting innovative crisis response services and systems-level improvements – across the United States and internationally – that raise the bar on customer service, person-centered communication, trauma-informed care, empathy, and positive expectations for people’s recovery & wellness outcomes. Steve’s unique models and approaches significantly reduce hospital utilization, incarceration rates, and overall healthcare spending. Steve’s professional highlights since joining People USA in 1999 include the following:

First in the United States to embed peers in a hospital psych. ER, blazing the way for a best and evidence-based practice standard today.
Created the Rose House model of peer-operated crisis respites / home-like alternatives to hospital psych. ERs & inpatient units; first peer-run hospital diversion houses in New York.
Helped open 39 peer-operated crisis respites using the Rose House model across the United States and Europe.
Developed OMH White Paper, “Infusing Recovery-Based Principles into Mental Health Services” with input from over 40,000 New Yorkers.
Created the Dutchess County Stabilization Center; first peer-run crisis stabilization center in the world; first crisis stabilization center in the Northeastern United States.
Created the Transitional Care Wellness Team model, a unique hybrid of transitional care management and wellness coaching.
Created the Westchester Forensic Mobile Crisis & Response Team; first peer-run criminal justice-focused mobile team in the United States.
Engaged in community-wide systems transformation – across sectors – in multiple counties throughout New York’s Hudson Valley region.
Developed unique training programs – for hospitals, local government units, and behavioral health organizations across the U.S. – to help them build tomorrow’s behavioral health workforce and culture.
Organized and provided Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trainings to hundreds of law enforcement throughout New York.

Steve is active with the following groups: Chair of the National Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (PRA); Former Board member of CIT International; Subject matter expert for the Re-entry Policy Academy headed by the SAMHSA GAINS Center and Policy Research Associates; Member of the International Crisis Now coalition; Member of the Crisis Residential Association; Member of New York State Suicide Prevention Council; Board member of 2-1-1 policy board of Hudson Valley; Executive member of the Dutchess County Criminal Justice Council (DCCJC); Chair of the Diversion Committee (DCCJC); Member of the Dutchess County Police Reform and Modernization Collaborative; Advisory Board member of the Northeast Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center.

**Gary Mayerson, Esq.**
Founder
Mayerson & Associates
*Autism Advocacy Award*

Gary Mayerson is the founder of Mayerson & Associates, the first law firm in the nation dedicated to the representation of individuals diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Gary has represented and helped more than 1,200 families in 35 states and is responsible for a number of precedent-setting federal court decisions. He has written two books, Autism’s Declaration of Independence (2020) and How To Compromise With Your School District Without Compromising Your Child (2004) and most recently wrote the “transition” chapter for Dr. Fred Volkmar’s latest book, The Handbook of Autism and The Law (2021). Gary sits on several boards and is the Board Chair of JobPath NYC, a not-for-profit that secures and sustains employment opportunities for individuals with autism and other challenges.

**Christopher Duffley**
Musician and Motivational Speaker
*Beacon of Hope Award*

Christopher Duffley was handed a microphone at 4 years old and sang, leaving everyone in the room in tears. Although categorized as “significantly delayed” in speech, social interaction, and cognitive ability, he began to sing and in doing so started a journey that has inspired audiences throughout the world. By 10, he sang the national anthem at Fenway Park and became a YouTube sensation by 11, when a recording of “Open the Eyes of My Heart” at a state-wide church event was posted on YouTube. Christopher unknowingly began to inspire millions of people from all walks of life. In each song and speech, Chris has spent his life teaching us we are unlimited in ability and faith in each other…we just need a little reminding. When he was born, Christopher weighed 1 lb 12 oz, due to drug exposure. After five months in the NICU, he was placed in foster care. His biological aunt located him, brought him to NH and later adopted him into her family of 6. A new life lay ahead and his challenges of total blindness and severe delays would influence his future. How we approach a challenge determines its outcome. Taught that his disabilities were just an inconvenience and focusing on what he could do, victories were won. And despite a diagnosis of autism at the age of 5, his boundless personality and gift of music emerged, creating light in the lives of others. Now, Christopher continues to tour the nation speaking, singing, and creating podcasts. He has been nationally recognized and featured on major news outlets. It is estimated that over 65 million people have collectively viewed the famous “Open the Eyes” video. Sometimes we lose sight of our potential and the potential of those around us. Christopher, now 21 years old, removes the limitation blinders of his audiences through story, laughter, and song. He teaches us, through his own life experiences, what it means to be unlimited. Earlier this year he launched Unlimited Hope Radio, an internet radio station that will streams music and content that encourages people in their faith. For more information about Christopher, visit christopherduffley.com, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. You can hear his music on all major streaming services.