Katie Rouse (she/her) is the Executive Director of On Our Own of Maryland, a statewide, peer-run behavioral health education and advocacy nonprofit which promotes equality, justice, autonomy, and choice about life decisions for individuals with mental health and substance use needs. She identifies as a person with lived experience in behavioral health recovery, and participates in a range of committees, councils, and coalitions in Maryland's behavioral health community. With two decades of experience in nonprofit operations, Katie has worked across a variety of missions (behavioral health, learning disabilities support, sports-based youth development, public arts, outcome measurement), has served on advisory boards for volunteer, nonprofit, business, and governmental entities, and is a Maryland Nonprofits Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant.

Tory has been with Partnership Development Group since 2008, initially serving in a forensic clinical role prior to transitioning to executive leadership. Tory holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Social Work, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with Honors, from Goucher College. Tory is passionate about the Behavioral Health field and has previously provided services in both inpatient and outpatient behavioral health settings, as well as served as adjunct faculty for psychology courses. In addition to compliance and leadership, she provides supervision to students and graduate-level clinicians and hopes to shape the future professionals in this field.

Robert Basler serves as the Associate Vice President at Arrow Child & Family Ministries, where he leads Residential, Foster Care, and Community Services across Maryland. A graduate of Loyola University Maryland and the University of Maryland School of Social Work, Rob is dedicated to creating innovative solutions to support families and improve child-serving systems. Beyond his role at Arrow, he contributes to his community by serving on a board focused on children’s services in his hometown. 

Kristy E. Blalock serves as Senior Vice President of Operations at Pyramid Healthcare, Inc. and is an accomplished behavioral health executive with more than 20 years of experience in clinical operations, strategic growth, and program development. She has extensive expertise in expanding access to substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health (MH) services, including for high-need and justice-involved populations. She has led initiatives in integrated care, reentry services, and continuum-of-care models that improve outcomes for underserved communities. Kristy is also recognized for building high-performing, client-centered programs and brings significant board leadership experience, including service with the Maryland Addiction Directors Council, Community Behavioral Health of Maryland, Recovery Anne Arundel, and as a Commissioner on the Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention.

Jon D'Souza serves as CEO of Maryland Wellness, a multi-site behavioral health organization delivering outpatient mental health, psychiatric, substance use disorder, and community-based services at eleven sites across Maryland. Before moving into this role, he served as Chief Medical Officer at hospitals in Baltimore and rural Virginia, building a track record in clinical quality, patient safety, and operational turnaround. Jon is a licensed and board-certified physician with over fifteen years of clinical practice experience in emergency departments in four states; he is currently clinically active as a Medication Assisted Treatment physician with Maryland Wellness.

Michelle Grigsby-Hackett, LCPC, CPRP is a visionary leader with over 25 years of experience transforming the nonprofit behavioral health sector. As CEO of The Affiliated Santé Group, a major nonprofit behavioral health and crisis organization in Maryland and North Carolina, she has driven strategic growth, expanding access to crisis and mental health services while achieving sustained revenue growth and organizational excellence. Michelle blends clinical expertise with innovative business development, executive coaching, and workforce empowerment. An international speaker and thought leader, she empowers organizations to scale impact, influences policy, and advances equity in mental wellness. Michelle’s leadership continues to inspire change, foster resilience, and create lasting solutions for communities in need.

Jesse Guercio serves as Vice President of Behavioral Health and Enterprise Strategy at Humanim. Throughout his 25-year career, he has led initiatives spanning behavioral health operations, data analytics, quality improvement, and organizational strategy. Jesse is dedicated to improving behavioral health services through innovation, collaboration, and strong public policy.

Kim Morrill, LCSW-C, is the Chief Executive Officer of Aspire Wellness Center and a licensed clinical social worker with nearly three decades of experience in behavioral health, child welfare, and nonprofit leadership. Throughout her career, she has been committed to improving access to quality mental health services through innovative program development, strong community partnerships, and collaborative leadership. Kim oversees Aspire's clinical and operational programs while mentoring clinicians and advancing evidence-based practices that strengthen the behavioral health system. She is passionate about supporting individuals, families, and communities through accessible, compassionate care and is honored to serve on the Community Behavioral Health Board, working alongside fellow leaders to advance behavioral health services across Maryland.

Candace Vanderwater has served as President and CEO of VOA Chesapeake & Carolinas (VOACC) since 2025, leading a $60M organization with approximately 900 employees serving nearly 14,000 individuals across Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the Carolinas. Since joining VOACC in 2011, she has advanced through multiple leadership roles, including Director of I/DD Services, Vice President of Strategy and Organizational Development, Chief Operating Officer, and Executive Vice President/COO. Under her leadership, VOACC has expanded evidence-based services, strengthened its clinical workforce, earned multiple national accreditations, and launched innovative programs such as medical respite care, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) and Family Focused Recovery services. Vanderwater holds master's degrees from both Indiana University and the University of Notre Dame, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and is commissioned minister with Volunteers of America.

Angel Wallace serves as the Chief Operating Officer for a prominent community-based outpatient mental health organization that serves both District of Columbia and Prince George's County, MD. Wallace is a champion for mental health awareness; effectively, participating in community outreach events to educate the public about the importance of mental health care, and engaging with key stakeholders to support programs and policies that prioritize mental health funding and resources.

Kim Wireman, LCSW-C, LCADC,  joined Powell Recovery Center, Inc. in 2003 as a clinical social worker. Since joining Powell she has served as Clinical Director, Senior Vice President, Head of Clinical Operations and (since 2013) has served as its President/CEO of Powell. Under Ms. Wireman’s management Powell has expanded client treatment services offering more intensive treatment including residential treatment. Powell also obtained an Outpatient Mental Health Clinic license in the State of Maryland, significantly expanding Dual Recovery services at Powell.  Ms. Wireman has led the growth in services and expansion of staff including an experienced senior management team to provide professional management and oversight as Powell continues to grow to meet public behavioral health treatment for men and women in need in the Baltimore area. Kim obtained a BA degree from University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 1993 and an MSW from University of Maryland at Baltimore in 2001.