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Bob Ferguson
Founder, Jaywalker Lodge
(renominated candidate)
Bob Ferguson is the founder of Jaywalker Lodge and served for over 10 years in senior management and business development positions at three of the premier residential programs in the addiction treatment field. Bob continues to serve on the Board of Directors for multiple organizations in the Roaring Fork River Valley. Bob lives with his wife in Snowmass Village, Colorado. Above all, Bob is most grateful for his own recovery from addiction which began in February 1992 at a wonderful four-month residential treatment program… one that would later serve as the inspiration for Jaywalker Lodge. Ferguson currently serves as Past Chair of the Board of Directors for NAATP.
Jim Geckler
President, Onsite
(renominated candidate)
Jim Geckler is an industry veteran who brings an impressive background to the Onsite team as our Chief Operating Officer with over 25 years of success in the management and growth of treatment organizations. Most recently, he served as CEO of Harmony Foundation in Colorado.
Over his impressive career, Jim has served as the Director of Patient, Alumni, and Community Relations at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Executive Director/COO of Assistance in Recovery, and VP of Business Operations for Addiction Intervention Services. He has a track record of leading with heart and is admired within the space for his character, integrity, and ability to produce results by prioritizing quality services and team culture.
Heather Hayes
Founder and CEO, Heather R. Hayes & Associates
(new candidate, Supporter Member Seat)
Heather Hayes is the founder and CEO of Heather R. Hayes & Associates, Inc. She is a Master’s level Licensed Counselor in the State of Georgia, Board Registered Interventionist (CIP) and Certified ARISE Interventionist. Ms. Hayes earned her B.A. from Emory University and her M.Ed. from Antioch University in Counseling Psychology. A veteran of the behavioral health field, Heather has over 35 years of experience in treating clients with complex mental health issues and the full spectrum of addictive disorders. She has also worked with clients of all ages and specializes in the treatment of adolescents/young adults, trauma, behavioral issues and eating disorders.
Joel Johnson
President & Chief Executive Officer, TASC
(renominated candidate)
TASC President and CEO Joel K. Johnson is an advocate for individuals and communities that are dealing with trauma, substance use disorders, mental health challenges, family disconnection, and social, racial, and economic injustice. From the front lines of clinical care to nonprofit executive leadership, he has maintained a steady focus on ensuring health, dignity, and opportunity for all. With a multifaceted approach of program services, public policy, and community partnerships, Joel leads TASC’s efforts to address the everyday realities and structural barriers that impede people’s opportunities to thrive. A nationally respected expert in behavioral health, Joel was elected in 2021 to the board of directors of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), and appointed to the City of Chicago Board of Health, a nine-member body that advises the mayor on public health matters. He also was named to the Cook County Equity Fund Taskforce, which advises the county board president's administration on strategic investments to address historical disparities and disinvestment in Black and Latinx communities.
Pete Kerns
CEO, Serenity Lane
(new candidate, term 2023, 2024, 2025)
In 2019, Pete Kerns was named president and chief executive officer of Serenity Lane. Pete brings 36-years of service with the Eugene Police Department and experience as the Chief of Staff for St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County. He is also the son of Serenity Lane’s co-founder, Dr. Tom Kerns. Pete served 36 years with the Eugene Police Department, including nine years as chief before stepping down in 2017. Pete succeeded Mike Dyer, Serenity Lane’s president and CEO, from 2013 to 2019. In this role, Pete brings a deep connection to, and understanding of the community that Serenity Lane serves. Part of Pete’s vision includes updating Serenity Lane’s longterm strategic plan, with a focus on providing more access to services. Kerns’ father, Dr. Thomas Kerns, a Eugene family physician, and Sam Graves, with the assistance of financial donors, founded Serenity Lane in 1973 as a private, nonprofit treatment center for alcoholism and drug abuse.
Carl Kester
President & Chief Executive Officer, Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers
(renominated candidate)
Carl Kester is the CEO of Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers. Carl has been with Lakeside-Milam since 1993 and is the majority owner of the organization. Carl is the son of Charles Kester, one of our organization’s founding members. Carl has served as President since the year 2000 and added the responsibilities of CEO in 2012. Carl is active with the Washington State Association of Addiction Providers (AAP) and a member of the Board of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP). A lifetime resident of the greater Seattle area, Carl is a graduate of the University of Washington and lives with his wife and two children.
Scott Munson
Executive Director, Sundown M Ranch
(renominated candidate)
Scott Munson is the Executive Director of Sundown M Ranch in Yakima WA. Scott has over 39 years’ experience in substance use disorder services as both a clinician and an administrator. In addition to his work at Sundown, Scott serves on numerous local, state and national boards and commissions. He is a past president the Board of Directors of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) and is the current Chair of the NAATP Ethics Committee and is the immediate past president of the Washington State SUD providers association, The Addiction Treatment Programs of Washington State (AAP).
Jaime Vinck
President, Meadows Behavioral Health
(renominated candidate)
Jaime Vinck, President of Meadows Behavioral Health (MBH) oversees and supports all operations for the behavioral healthcare leader. A seasoned professional brings 20+ years of clinical and leadership experience gained from top roles at some of the best behavioral health providers in the country. Jaime comes to MBH after serving as CEO of CPF Recovery Ways, where she provided leadership for the company’s operations in Utah, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and Texas. She was also previously part of Acadia Healthcare, serving as CEO of The Sierra Tucson Group and Chief Clinical Officer/Chief Operations Officer, demonstrating her strength in clinical leadership, program development, and treatment operations. An industry advocate, Vinck serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for NAATP.
Wayne Young
CEO, The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD
(new candidate)
Wayne Young is the Chief Executive Officer of The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority for Harris County, Texas. As the CEO of one of the largest behavioral health organizations in the nation, Wayne is passionate about the planning and delivery of large-scale behavioral health and intellectual and developmental disabilities services to a population who rely upon safety net systems of care. Wayne previously served as the chair of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Behavioral Health Advisory Council and was recently appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas and Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas to the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health. Wayne was honored to have received the Charley H. Shannon Advocate for Justice Award from NAMI Texas in 2019, as well as to have been named by Modern Healthcare as one of the “Top 25 Innovators” in 2019 and 2021 for his work providing a healthcare-centered approach to law enforcement calls associated with mental health concerns.
