Kathy A. Carter served as the president/CEO of the Missouri Coalition of Community Mental Health Centers (MCCMHC) for 26 years until her retirement in December 2005. She also served as director of public affairs for the Missouri Association for Mental Health and president of the Jasper County Mental Health Association in Carthage. An active volunteer on behalf of people with mental illness, Carter is the recipient of numerous honors, including state and national Mental Health Volunteer of the Year, as well as Lifetime Achievement Awards from various advocacy and service organizations. She is also currently serving as a member of the Missouri Mental Health Commission.
Anne DeatonDr. Anne Deaton’s background relates to persons coping with physical, mental, and cognitive limitations; it includes service as Director of the Division for Developmental Disabilities (2000-2004), Deputy Director of the Missouri Division of Aging; faculty in Human Development and Family Studies at MU; and Assistant Director of the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech. Anne advocates on behalf of Autism services, student mental health, early childhood education, and women’s leadership. Anne enjoys adjunct faculty status in the Sinclair School of Nursing, the College of Education and the College of Human Environmental Sciences at MU. Ladell FlowersLadell has more than 38 years of faith-based counseling, correctional counseling, and administration experience. He is the Executive Director of Dismas House of Kansas City, Inc. where he has provided oversight to its residential and outpatient programs since 1977. Ladell currently chairs the Missouri State Advisory Council for Substance Abuse for the Missouri Department of Mental Health. In addition, he chairs the Kansas City Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery Support Coalition. Ladell has also served on other boards and committees to aid his community. J. Michael KellerMike Keller is Executive Director of Independence Center, a leading Clubhouse model program for adults with mental illness, serving more than 240 members each day. He has twenty years experience at non-profit management and leadership, having previously served for ten years as President of St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, and three as Vice President – Marketing of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association. Carolyn Davis NewportCarolyn Davis Newport is a former member and chair of the Missouri Mental Health Commission. She has been a tireless advocate for persons with Developmental Disabilities and was an organizer of advocacy movements in Southwest Missouri and one of the founders of the ARC of the Ozarks. Charlie ShieldsCharlie Shields is Chief Operating Officer of Truman Medical Center (TMC) Lakewood. He joined TMC after serving 20 years in the Missouri General Assembly. In 2009, he was unanimously elected by his senate colleagues to the highest senate leadership position, President Pro-Tem. Charlie served in this position until January 2011, when term limits prevented him from running for re-election. Prior to TMC Lakewood, Charlie spent more than 17 years with Heartland Health in St. Joseph, Missouri where he served in a variety of leadership roles, including Chief Communications/Marketing Officer. Stacy WellingStacy started out her career after college in the radio industry where she was the Promotions Director for a seven station radio group in the Jefferson City-Columbia market. In 2003, Stacy moved to Rockford, IL where she worked as the Marketing Director for Illinois Largest Music Festival outside Chicago. Stacy relocated to Jefferson City to join her family business, Whaleys Pharmacy, in 2005 where she is now the President and part-owner of the company. Stacy is responsible for marketing, public relations, recruiting, training, human resources and the day-to-day operations of the company. Stacy has served on the Jefferson City Area YMCA Board for the past 6 years and served as Chairman in 2011. She was the 2012 American Heart Association Heart Ball Chair helping to raise over $150,000 for heart research and education. Stacy is also a member of the Circle of Red and serves on committees for March of Dimes, Heart Walk and many other organizations. Philip WillcoxonPhilip Willcoxon is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Ozark Center in Joplin. Philip joined the Freeman Health System full time in 1992. He has served as the Freeman Neosho Hospital Administrator, Freeman Neosho Chief Executive Officer and Freeman Senior Vice President of Administration. Philip was elected to the Joplin Public Schools Board of Education in 2008 and re-elected in 2011. Additionally, Philip serves the community through leadership roles on the boards of the Ozark Center and Community Bank & Trust. He previously served on boards of Freeman Neosho Hospital and Freeman Surgical Center. He also holds a diplomat status in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Debra WalkerDebra Walker is with the Office of Public Affairs at the Department of Mental Health (DMH). She is the DMH Liaison to the Missouri Mental Health Foundation and serves on the board as an ex-officio member. Her previous work experience includes Broadcasting, Public Relations, Media and Communications, Marketing and Event Planning. Patty HenryPatty Henry is the Executive Director of the Missouri Mental Health Foundation. Patty worked for the State of Missouri for 31 years before her retirement in 2007. During her tenure with the State, she worked for the Missouri Department of Mental Health for 28 years serving as the Deputy Director of Administration, Department Budget Director and budget analyst. Upon retirement from the State of Missouri, Patty held the positions of Business Manager for the Missouri Institute of Mental Health and as a Disease Management Coordinator with APS Healthcare.