Jan 13, 2025
The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) welcomes three new members to our National Board of Directors: Heather Hayes, Pete Kerns, and Wayne Young. These executives were identified for board service based on their demonstrated records of leadership in the addiction treatment field. They were then elected to the board by the NAATP membership at large.
"For five decades the National Association has been stewarded by treatment leaders who volunteer their time, talent, and resources for the welfare of our association and the field at large,” said NAATP CEO Marvin Ventrell. “These professionals have always placed saving lives and the greater good of the profession above self-interest, and our new members have pledged to do the same as they follow that honorable tradition.”
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.
Pete Kerns, President and Chief Executive Officer of Serenity Lane. Pete brings a deep connection to and understanding of the community that Serenity Lane serves. Pete’s vision includes updating Serenity Lane’s long term strategic plan, with a focus on providing more access to services. Pete served 36 years with the Eugene Police Department, including nine years as chief before stepping down in 2017. 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.
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.
These new board members join the NAATP Board of Directors comprised of 25 individuals who serve in executive-level leadership of entities that provide either direct Substance Use Disorder (SUD) service (Provider Members) or support such services (Supporter Members). Each individual and organization has demonstrated a commitment to the greater good of the addiction treatment community, the patients we serve, and the NAATP Mission to provide leadership, advocacy, training, and member support services to ensure the availability and highest quality of addiction treatment. Candidates are considered for board service based on education, training, experience, expertise, and demonstrated commitment to the NAATP Mission and Values. The NAATP Board is the governing body of the association providing oversight and vision for NAATP’s professional staff.
Welcome Back Re-elected Returning Board Members:
- Bob Ferguson, Jaywalker Lodge & Alpha Behavioral Health
- Jim Geckler, Onsite
- Joel Johnson, TASC
- Carl Kester, Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers
- Scott Munson, Sundown M Ranch
- Jaime Vinck, Meadows Behavioral Healthcare
