Dr. Ron Manderscheid
Ron Manderscheid, PhD, has a life-long commitment to social good and social justice. This is reflected through a career that spans national work with the Congress and Administration, federal agencies, NGOs, and university teaching. Currently with Capstone Solutions Consulting Group, Ron is engaged in national advocacy, training, and consulting to reduce disparities and promote equity. The Transformativa Elders Project is privileged to share this dialogue with Ron and our host, transformative, MA, LADAC, Chairperson of the Via Family of Companies.
Writings
John Tadich
John Tadich, MBA, joins host Jim Clarkson, Chairperson of the Via Family of Companies for a dialogue about his career in the healthcare insurance industry, including suggestions for how change can occur to improve lives of patients, including those with behavioral health disorders.
Writings
Sam Donaldson, PhD
Sam is a seasoned leader in clinical behavioral health and behavioral managed care, celebrated for his innovative strategies and transformative leadership across the healthcare industry. Is the former President & CEO of Cenpatico Behavioral Health. Currently at the helm of Donaldson Health Care Consulting, LLC, he provides expert guidance to organizations seeking to enhance clinical operations and drive integrated behavioral health solutions. As a gay man, Sam has navigated the hallways of corporate America to become one of our foremost leaders. Sam lives with his husband in Pittsburgh, PA.
Jim grew up in a town in Texas where being gay led to threats, violence, social, and actual physical banishment. In leading organizations across his 40 year career – from emergency shelters to executive leadership across the county – Jim has creatively and intentionally “Lived Way Out” and learned to create environments where people, especially LGBTQI+ people could find, identify, own, express and radiate their own goodness, compassionate power and authentic selves, taking their rightful place among leading healers, advocates, clinicians, peers, and administrators to help shape what is spirited, beautiful, and expansive in behavioral health. Jim is the Chairperson of the Via Family of Companies, living with his husband Tommy in Rockport, TX, and Angel Fire, NM.
Leonard Kincaid
Leonard Kincaid is the co-founder and executive director of the Houston Recovery Center. His experience in the field of addiction and mental health spans more than 30 years. Leonard’s diverse background of clinical work and program administration has been a tremendous value to the center. Educated in Texas and Mississippi, Mr. Kincaid has an MBA, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor.
Writings
Joan Erney, JD
Joan Erney, JD, is a distinguished leader in behavioral health. She retired in 2019 as the CEO at Community Behavioral Health, Philadelphia’s administrative management organization for the HealthChoices behavioral health Medicaid program. Prior to that Joan worked as the Deputy Secretary of the Office of Mental Health and Substance Use Services in Pennsylvania, and held senior leadership roles at SAMHSA and Community Care Behavioral Health. Joan currently serves in consulting roles and is the Mayor of New Cumberland, PA.
In her state role, Joan closed three state hospitals, expanded the Health Choices behavioral health system statewide, created a criminal justice initiative, saw the development and impact of peer services, created a robust advisory structure, and made numerous policy and program changes to enhance services for children and their families.
An Elders Dialogue With Clarence Jordan, MBA
A former Naval officer, Clarence Jordan, MBA, has decades of experience in behavioral health, with more than 20 years’ experience in managed care. He was responsible for various initiatives to operationalize the organization’s commitment to recovery-based principles in the delivery of behavioral health services. He is best recognized as a subject matter expert in Peer Services and Peer Program development. Clarence is the recipient of numerous national awards honoring his work as a Peer and contributions to the field, including as part of the team that developed the national guidance for the certification of Peer Specialists.
Christian de la Huerta
Christian de la Huerta is a sought-after spiritual teacher and transformation coach with over 30 years of experience. He has traveled the world leading retreats that blend psychological insight with spiritual practice, helping individuals and couples break through old patterns and build authentic, loving relationships. An award-winning author, Christian’s first book Coming Out Spiritually was named by Publishers Weekly as one of the year’s top 10 religion books. His acclaimed Awakening the Soul of Power, earned multiple awards and was praised by Gloria Estefan as “a balm for the soul.” In his new book Conscious Love: Transforming Our Relationship to Relationships, Christian invites readers to reimagine love as a path of personal and spiritual growth.
