MHNE 2023 Leadership Awards Reception Details
Make a DonationView Photos from the 2023 Event
Purpose: To celebrate and bring awareness to exceptional leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of individuals and their families in the autism and behavioral health communities.
Expected Attendance: 125 – 150 guests
Typical Guests: CEOs, Executive Directors, and Program Directors of hospitals, health plans, treatment providers, community support programs; political figures; family members; and individuals/consumers
Event Format: Networking wine bar reception with live jazz music and buffet followed by Awards Presentation Program. All seating is assigned and tables of 10 are reserved
Virtual Event Journal: Color ads are purchased in celebration of the honorees by Board Members, family members, colleagues, and event sponsors
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.
View the Complete History of MHNE Event Honorees Since 2013
For questions and details, contact David Minot, Executive Director, at (978) 733-4481 or dminot@mhnews.org.
2023 Event Sponsors
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BRONZE
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PREMIER
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For questions and details, contact David Minot, Executive Director, at (978) 733-4481 or dminot@mhnews.org.
Meet Our 2023 Honorees!
Director of Training
Coordinated Behavioral Care
Self-Advocacy Award
Emily Grossman, MA, CPRP, NYCPS-P, has worked in mental health for over a decade, beginning on the “front lines” as a peer specialist in community mental health in NJ. After several years, she transitioned to doing mental health provider training and systems change work at large organizations such as The Jewish Board, Columbia’s Center for Practice Innovations, and the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS). In 2018, she was the winner of the National Council for Behavioral Health’s prestigious “Peer Specialist of the Year” Award. Currently, Emily is the Director of the Training Institute at Coordinated Behavioral Care and has a small private peer specialist practice. Emily frequently speaks nationally about mental health recovery. She holds a Master’s in Education from Columbia University.
Chief Innovation Officer
NY Alliance for Inclusion & Innovation
Autism Advocacy Award
Ann M. Hardiman is the Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) for the NY Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation. In this role she works closely with collaborators leading the way to new ideas to promote innovation, influence system design, strengthen the person first culture, and grow successful workforce initiatives. From 1995 to 2018, Ann led the New York State Association of Community and Residential Agencies (NYSACRA) as its Executive Director and was integral in the association’s merger that formed the NY Alliance. Ann’s professional career has centered on impacting critical issues in the field of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In 2011, she was appointed to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities where she served for three years. Ann is an Advisor to the Self Advocacy Association of NYS (SANYS) Board of Directors. In 2020, She received the honor of being recognized as an Essential Change Agent by the National Historic Recognition Project: 2000-2020. Ann holds a Master’s degree in Community Psychology.
Irfan Hasan (Accepting)
Deputy Vice President for Grants
Excellence in Philanthropy Award
A public charity, The New York Community Trust is a grantmaking foundation dedicated to improving the lives of residents of New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. We bring together individuals, families, foundations, and businesses to build a better community and support nonprofits that make a difference. We apply knowledge, creativity, and resources to the most challenging issues in an effort to ensure meaningful opportunities and a better quality of life for all New Yorkers, today and tomorrow.
Irfan Hasan directs The New York Community Trust’s Healthy Lives grant program with oversight for health, behavioral health, and biomedical research grants. He also is responsible for $10 million in donor-designated grants for nonprofits nationwide. He co-chaired the human services grantmaking committee of The Trust’s $110 million multi-funder NYC COVID-19 Response and Impact Fund to respond to the pandemic. He also developed emergency grants in response to Hurricane Sandy, the economic downturn of 2008/2009, and the September 11th Fund’s $75 million health and mental health program. Before The Trust, he led vocational programming at Greater Boston Rehabilitation Services (now part of Viability) to help people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.
Irfan serves on the boards of Grantmakers in Health and Philanthropy New York; co-chair of the American Public Health Association’s Public Health Funder Network; a member of Philanthropy New York’s Health Working Group; a member of the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership-North American Region; and an elected fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine. Previously, Irfan has served as a Mayoral appointee to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Community Service Board; a member (and board chair) of the Disability Funders Network, a board member of BoardStrong, and co-chair of the United States Student Selection Committee for the United World Colleges.
Irfan earned a Master’s in Public Administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a Bachelor’s in Sociology from Northeastern University.
Senior Deputy Commissioner
New York State Office of Mental Health
Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Robert W. Myers has worked in behavioral health for 50 years, 39 years with the New York State Office of Mental Health and prior to that with the Division of Mental Health in New Jersey. He is currently Senior Deputy Commissioner and Director, Division of Community Program Management and Managed Care. This entails Program Planning, Implementation and oversight of the Adult and Children’s Community Mental Health System, Managed Care and Licensing.
Other positions held within NYS OMH include Housing Director, Director of Rehabilitation Services, Director of Field Office Operations. While working at Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center he served as Director for Community Services and Quality. In New Jersey he served as a Regional Director for Mental Health and as Adult Services Director and initially as a Case Manager. He has a co-authored several peer reviewed articles on Mental Health Program Development. Dr. Myers holds a PhD., MSW and BA in Psychology from Rutgers University.
Rachel A. Fernbach, Esq, Deputy Director and Assistant
General Counsel, New York State Psychiatric Association
Vice-Chair
Yvette Brissett-André, MPA, Executive Director and CEO
Unique People Services
Secretary
Peter D. Beitchman, DSW, LMSW, Principal
Behavioral Health Consultation
Treasurer
Keri Primack, CFP, Managing Director, SVP, Senior Client Advisor
Quent Capital, LLC
Members of The Board
Anita Appel, LCSW, Senior Health Care Consultant
Sachs Policy Group
Mary Brite, LCSW, CASAC, Chief Compliance Officer
Outreach
Constance Y. Brown-Bellamy, MPA, President and Co-Founder
Advantage Mosaic Group
Jonathan P. Edwards, PhD, LCSW, ACSW, Program Consultant
NY City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Ann-Marie K. Foster, MPA, FACHE, President and CEO
Phoenix Houses of New York/Long Island
Debbie Pantin, MSW, MS-HCM, President and CEO
Outreach
Barry B. Perlman, MD, Past President
New York State Psychiatric Association
Jorge R. Petit, MD, President & CEO
Services for the UnderServed
Joshua Rubin, MPP, Principal
Health Management Associates
Jarod Stern, Senior Managing Director
Savills
Kimberly Williams, MSSW, President and CEO
Vibrant Emotional Health
Founding Chairman
Alan B. Siskind, PhD, LCSW
Executive Staff
Ira H. Minot, LMSW, Founder and Publisher, Behavioral Health News
David Minot, Executive Director and Publisher, Autism Spectrum News