MHNE 2025 Leadership Awards Reception Details
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 – 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
NYU Kimmel Center – Rosenthal Pavilion, 10th Floor
60 Washington Square South, NYC
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 behavioral health and autism communities.
Attendance: 100 – 150 guests
Typical Guests: Attendees include influential leaders and decision-makers from prominent healthcare providers, behavioral health and autism treatment and support agencies, nonprofit community organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies. Individuals with
lived experience and their family members also attend.
Event Format: The event begins with a networking reception featuring live jazz music and a buffet, followed by the Awards Presentation Program. All seating is assigned and tables of 10 are reserved.
Virtual Event Journal: Color advertisements are purchased in celebration of the honorees by Board Members, family members, colleagues, and event sponsors.
Proceeds From This Event will help expand and develop the educational mission of Mental Health News Education (MHNE). Through our publications Autism Spectrum News and Behavioral Health News, MHNE is dedicated to reducing stigma, raising awareness, and providing trusted, evidence-based information to improve the lives of individuals living with mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and autism while also supporting their families and the professionals who serve them.
A Look Back at Last Year’s Event:
MHNE Event Honorees Since 2013:
For more information, contact David Minot, Executive Director, at (978) 733-4481 or dminot@mhnews.org.
2025 Event Sponsors
PLATINUM
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For more information, contact David Minot, Executive Director, at (978) 733-4481 or dminot@mhnews.org.
Meet Our 2025 Honorees!
Executive Director
New York State Council for
Community Behavioral Healthcare
Behavioral Health Advocacy Award
Lauri Cole, MSW, is the Executive Director of the New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, New York’s oldest integrated behavioral health membership association, representing the interests of 165 community-based mental health and substance use disorder agencies across New York. An accomplished advocate and lobbyist, Lauri has led numerous cross-sector advocacy campaigns, resulting in the enactment of new state laws and significant policy reforms that have expanded access to community-based care for tens of thousands of New Yorkers, while strengthening the viability of the agencies that serve them.
Lauri’s accomplishments include securing two insurance rate mandates for mental health and substance use disorder agencies to ensure providers receive adequate reimbursement for services. She also successfully compelled state leaders to enforce a Managed Care Organization (MCO) contract provision that has returned hundreds of millions of dollars to OASAS and OMH, allowing the funds to be repurposed for significant rate increases for providers across the behavioral health continuum of care.
In 2020, Lauri was the recipient of the National Council’s prestigious Individual Advocacy Leadership Award. Before representing providers, she worked in community-based agencies in the Capital District. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the State University of New York at Albany. Prior to joining the New York State Council, Lauri represented 100 nonprofit homeless shelter providers in New York City.
Partner
Ropes & Gray, LLP
Health Care Innovation
and Leadership Award
Brett Friedman is a health care partner who advises clients at the forefront of the health care industry in areas such as government insurance programs, digital health, accountable care and value-based payments, and regulatory compliance. A former leader of one of the largest Medicaid programs in the country, Brett provides valuable insight and solutions to health care companies and investors navigating complex transactional, regulatory, enforcement and policy matters. Clients rely on Brett not only for his unique experience running a large governmental insurance program, but also his strategic insights into health care investments and deep regulatory knowledge.
Over the course of his career, Brett has held top positions at the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), including Director of Strategic Initiatives and Special Medicaid Counsel, and most recently, Deputy Commissioner and State Medicaid Director. While at NYSDOH, Brett oversaw all aspects of New York State’s expansive Medicaid program, which provides health coverage to more than 7.4 million New Yorkers and has an annual operating budget of over $90 billion. He led many innovative efforts during his tenure, including in the areas of Medicaid 1115 research and demonstration waiver programs, value-based care programs, managed care reform, social care integration strategies, and support for investor-backed companies looking to innovate in the governmental payer space.
Brett also has extensive private sector experience. He was a partner at Ropes & Gray, LLP, before joining NYSDOH, as well as co-head of the firm’s digital health initiative. At the firm, Brett advises payers and providers on the transition to accountable care and value-based payment, and assists investors with a range of transactional needs. Additionally, he counsels clients facing government investigations, audits and self-disclosures, as well as violations of health care fraud and abuse laws.
Brett values pro bono service and has handled many healthcare pro bono matters, including spearheading the legal analysis that was instrumental to the establishment of the first overdose prevention centers in the United States and developing a first-in-the-nation, outcomes-based contract for Medicaid funding of children’s legal advocacy services that remediate a client’s underlying health care issues.
Founder
Mental Health News Education
Founder’s Legacy Award
Ira H. Minot, LMSW, grew up in Harrison, New York, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Arizona, followed by a Master’s in Social Work from NYU. In his late 30s, after experiencing significant personal losses, Ira faced a decade-long struggle with severe depression that left him homeless and destitute.
At a critical crossroads, Ira underwent electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at New York Hospital in Westchester, a treatment that proved transformative in his recovery. With the support of community mental health services, he gradually rebuilt his life, emerging with a renewed sense of purpose and a vision to help others facing similar challenges.
Motivated by this mission, Ira founded Mental Health News, a newspaper designed to bring hope and education to individuals with mental illness and their families. Before the rise of the internet, Ira personally delivered free copies to hospitals, clinics, and treatment centers throughout Westchester, Manhattan, Long Island and the Hudson Valley, ensuring the information reached those who needed it most.
From these early efforts grew the award-winning organization that publishes Behavioral Health News and Autism Spectrum News. Today, these publications reach over 500,000 annual readers online, providing free access to more than 3,000 educational articles. For 25 years, these trusted resources have served as a cornerstone for education, advocacy, and awareness in the mental health and autism communities.
Reflecting on his journey, Ira shares:
“I am extremely proud of the wonderful organization I have created and deeply grateful to the friends and leaders in the mental health community who have been instrumental in our success. As I step down after 25 years, I look with pride as my son David takes the helm to lead our organization into the future.”
Looking ahead, Ira is excited about the next chapter of his life, offering his expertise, vision, and hard-earned insights to support other organizations in their missions.
Executive Vice President
Ostroff Associates
Autism Advocacy Award
Evan Sullivan joined Ostroff Associates with a wealth of legislative and political experience, spanning more than a decade at the highest echelons of State Government. With over a decade of legislative and political experience in and around New York Government, Evan has established himself as a formidable figure in the field.
Before his tenure at Ostroff Associates, Evan was pivotal in his role as the Director of Legislation and Senior Advisor to the Independent Democratic Conference in the New York State Senate Majority Coalition. Holding a critical position on the senior staff, he was instrumental in shaping, advancing, and realizing legislative, policy, and budgetary priorities.
Throughout his career, Evan has been a key figure in drafting and negotiating significant legislation and budget proposals across a broad spectrum of issues, demonstrating his versatility and expertise in legislative matters.
In a prior capacity, he played a leading role in State budget negotiations, addressing critical concerns across many issue areas including Health, Mental Hygiene, Housing, and Education. This involvement not only showcased his ability to lead but also his commitment to impactful governance.
Evan started his career in the Office of Senator David Carlucci, where he held various positions, including Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director. He also served as the Committee Director for both the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities and Social Services Committees in the Senate.
Through all his roles, Evan has cultivated a deep understanding and insight into the legislative and budget processes at both the City and State levels.
His expertise has enabled him to guide clients through these complex landscapes with efficiency and efficacy. In recognition of his significant contributions and expertise, Evan has been honored as one of Albany’s “40 Under 40 Rising Stars” by City & State Magazine and recently named to the prestigious Upstate Power 100 List.
Evan graduated from Siena College with degrees in Political Science and Economics.
Board of Directors
Chair
Rachel A. Fernbach, Esq, Executive Director and General Counsel
New York State Psychiatric Association
Vice-Chair
Yvette Brissett-André, MPA, Executive Director and CEO
Unique People Services
Secretary
Mary Brite, LCSW, CASAC, Chief Compliance Officer
Outreach
Treasurer
Keri R. Primack, CFP, Managing Director, Senior Private Client Advisor
Quent Capital, LLC
Members of The Board
Anita Appel, LCSW, Senior Health Care Consultant
Sachs Policy Group
Peter D. Beitchman, DSW, LMSW, Principal
Behavioral Health Consultation
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 House New York
Samuel Wesley Jackson, MD, Clinical Director of Psychiatry
Erie Family Health Center
Danika Mills, MSW, LCSW, MPS, LCAT, CCM, Head of Care Operations
Grayce
Debbie Pantin, MSW, MS-HCM, President and CEO
Outreach
Barry B. Perlman, MD, Past President
New York State Psychiatric Association
Jorge R. Petit, MD, Founder/CEO
Quality Healthcare Solutions, LLC
Joshua Rubin, MPP, Principal
Health Management Associates
Jarod Stern, Senior Managing Director
Savills
Kimberly Williams, MSSW, Principal
Health Management Associates
Founding Chairman
Alan B. Siskind, PhD, LCSW
Executive Staff
Ira H. Minot, LMSW, Founder
David Minot, Executive Director