EMCEE

Woodard is the North Carolina State Senator representing District 22: Durham County. Before joining the General Assembly in 2013, Senator Woodard served on the Durham City Council for seven years. Senator Woodard currently serves on the Health Care, Finance, Budget, Transportation, Agriculture & Environment, Rules, and Nominations committees.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Kinsley serves as North Carolina’s Secretary of Health & Human Services, overseeing a department with over 18,000 staff and a $38 billion budget. With experience centered on health policy and operations, Kinsley worked on digital healthcare transformation, national education and labor policies, and served as COO and CFO of the U.S. Treasury.

OJ VIP SPEAKER

Kelly currently serves as the Director of the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental
Disabilities and Substance Use Services (DMHDDSUS), with responsibility and oversight of the public community-based mental health, intellectual and other developmental disabilities, substance use, and traumatic brain injury system in North Carolina.

OJ VIP SPEAKER

Denby-Brinson has served as dean of UNC School of Social Work since August 2021 and is the incoming president of the Society for Social Work and Research. Her academic career to date spans nearly
three decades, including leadership roles at The Ohio State University and Arizona State University. She also
held academic, research, and administrative roles at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where she served for nearly 20 years. She began her career at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

SPEAKER

Price earned her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Tufts University with a major in urban affairs, and she
earned a Master’s of Regional Planning degree from Cornell University with concentrations in city development planning as well as environmental planning and design. She also studied at Colgate-Rochester Divinity School in the Master of Arts program.

SPEAKER

Scott is the executive director of student services for Cumberland County Schools in Fayetteville, North
Carolina. She is also an at-large board member for the North Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. She has 25 years of experience in public education and as an adjunct professor of Social Work. Dr. Scott is a proud alumna of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, and UNC-Chapel Hill.

SPEAKER

Batch has continuously served as an advocate for families and small businesses. She currently serves on the Commerce, Pensions, Retirement, Aging, Education Appropriations, Legislative Ethics, and Flood Resiliency committees. She has advocated for several common-sense reforms, including paid family leave, affordable childcare, and mental health access.

SPEAKER

Lainer is a Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received his undergraduate degrees and a master’s in social work from UNC Chapel Hill and a PhD in Social Work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. At UNC, he is the Principal Investigator for Behavioral Health Springboard and the Director for Behavioral Health Services and Systems Research at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services research. His research focuses on developing, evaluating, and scaling-up evidence-based prevention programs and policies in child welfare, behavioral health, and early childhood systems.

SPEAKER

Graven has a passion for advocating for inclusion and empowerment. As the Executive Director of the Arc of Wilson County, she is leading the charge to ensure a brighter future for individuals with IDD. When she’s not fighting for change, you can find her enjoying precious moments with her three incredible kids. Keri offers a unique perspective in her role as the Executive Director of the Arc of Wilson County, as she is both an advocate for individuals and a mother of an individual with special needs. Her lived experience as a mother of an individual with autism serves in helping her advocate and understand the system from the perspective of the parents of children with special healthcare needs

SPEAKER

Cunningham  ​represents the 106​th ​District in the North Carolina  State House of Representatives. Before being elected to the North Carolina General  Assembly in 2012, Carla was working as a Hospice Nurse and fulfilling her appointment  to the North Carolina Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and  Substance Abuse Services. An active civic and community leader, she is a recognized  national advocate for women and children, Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities,  and Substance Abuse, and Healthcare.

SPEAKER

Lambeth has served North Carolina citizens through membership on various State and community Boards. He is currently a member of three vital Boards: myFUTURENC; Affordable Care Act Study Committee; and, Mental Health Committee. Membership on past boards include: Child Fatality Task Force, Trellis, State Health Coordinating Council and the March of Dimes.

SPEAKER

Sasser is a Chairman of the Health Committee, as the only pharmacist in the 180 member legislature. He has worked to get Step Therapy and the Pharmacy Benefit Management bills passed. He graduated from Pharmacy School at UNC Chapel Hill in 1973 and has been a pharmacist for 45 years, owning independent pharmacies for the last 35 years.

SPEAKER

Armstrong serves as Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Victor has previously served as Chief Diversity Officer with Recovery Innovations International, and Chief Health Equity Officer for North Carolina DHHS. Victor has also served as developmental Director of the NC Division of Mental Health, was Victor NC state government roles, his Prior to. Substance Abuse Services and Disabilities, Encased in Charlotte, Vice President of Behavioral Health with Atrium Health.

LIVED EXPERIENCE SPEAKER

McCutcheon is a member of NAMI NW Piedmont. She graduated with a BA degree in Communication/ Public Relations from UNC Greensboro. Jesslyn works full time as a Corporate Buyer and actively advocates for mental health. Jesslyn was diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder 24 years ago. Her ministry Fighting Goliath supports those and their families who live with mental illness. Jesslyn is a Certified National Helpline Specialist, a Peer-To-Peer Mentor, and actively speaks out for mental health through NAMI IOOV (In Our Own Voice) and NAMI FaithNet presentations. Jesslyn is a member of First Baptist Church King, sings on the praise team and is involved with the Stokes County Women’s Jail ministry.

SPEAKER

Burgin is the North Carolina State Senator representing District 12: Harnett, Johnston and Lee counties. Before joining the General Assembly in 2019, Senator Burgin served two terms as a Harnett County Commissioner with three years as Chairman. In his professional life, Senator Burgin is President / Owner of C&D Insurance and Insurance Network Group, Chairman of the Board of New Horizon Insurance Group and President of B.C. Property Inc. He is also a partner of John Hiester Automotive, which owns Chevrolet and Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealerships. He was born in Knoxville Tennessee, attended The University of Tennessee Knoxville and graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

SPEAKER

Adcock served 4 terms in the NC House before joining the state Senate in 2023 as the first nurse ever elected to that Chamber. She is known as a commonsense legislator who works effectively with members of both parties. Prior to serving in the NC General Assembly, Gale served on the Cary Town Council from 2007-2014, including 3 years as mayor pro tem.

SPEAKER

Reeder is an emergency physician, educator, lifelong Republican, and conservative, running for re-election to the North Carolina House of Representatives in Pitt County District 9. His dedication to serving and helping others has led him to bring his problem-solving abilities to support the citizens of Pitt County and North Carolina. Dr. Reeder earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University before moving to North Carolina in 1998. While working full time for East Carolina University and the Brody School of Medicine, Dr. Reeder obtained his master’s degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

EMCEE

Woodard is the North Carolina State Senator representing District 22: Durham County. Before joining the General Assembly in 2013, Senator Woodard served on the Durham City Council for seven years. Senator Woodard currently serves on the Health Care, Finance, Budget, Transportation, Agriculture & Environment, Rules, and Nominations committees.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Kinsley serves as North Carolina’s Secretary of Health & Human Services, overseeing a department with over 18,000 staff and a $38 billion budget. With experience centered on health policy and operations, Kinsley worked on digital healthcare transformation, national education and labor policies, and served as COO and CFO of the U.S. Treasury.

SPEAKER

Dr. Nora Dennis is a board-certified psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist and Lead Medical Director for Behavioral Health at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, where she is responsible for leading strategic and operational excellence for the behavioral health team with a focus on value-based care and alternative payment models.

SPEAKER

Dr. J. Nathan Copeland is an Assistant Professor in the Duke Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and an attending child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development. He completed medical school at University of Tennessee and both his general adult psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at University of North Carolina.

LIVED EXPERIENCE SPEAKER

Ehlers serves as the Chief Operations Officer for- Trillium Health Resources. She is focused on improving access to health and affordability through emerging analytics and innovative solutions. She leads several major components of Trillium overseeing the strategy and innovation for Trillium along with member and network operations. Trillium Health Resources, is a leader in innovation for behavioral health and IDD and the life long supports needed by these populations in NC.

SPEAKER

Batch has continuously served as an advocate for families and small businesses. She currently serves on the Commerce, Pensions, Retirement, Aging, Education Appropriations, Legislative Ethics, and Flood Resiliency committees. She has advocated for several common-sense reforms, including paid family leave, affordable childcare, and mental health access.

SPEAKER

Meyer has served in the North Carolina House of Representatives since 2013. He represents House District 50, serving constituents in portions of Orange and Caswell Counties. Meyer has worked across party lines as the founding Co-Chair of two bipartisan, bicameral legislative caucuses, the Early Childhood Caucus and the Life Sciences Caucus. He also served as Co-Chair of the House Democratic Freshman Caucus during the 2015 and 2016 sessions and joined the Intellectual and Developmental Disability Caucus during the 2017 session. His current legislative committee assignments include Alcoholic Beverage Control, Appropriations, Education (K-12), Homeland Security, Military & Veteran Affairs, and Regulatory Reform.

MODERATOR

Hoban is the founder and editor of NC Health News, as well as being the state government reporter. Hoban has been a registered nurse since 1992, but transitioned to journalism after earning degrees in public health policy and journalism. She's reported on science, health, policy and research in NC since 2005.

SPEAKER

Meltzer-Brody is the Assad Meymandi Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also directs the UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders. As Chair, Dr. Meltzer-Brody directs one of the largest public university departments of psychiatry in the United States and collaborates with UNC Health and the state of North Carolina on broad based initiatives to improve mental health.

SPEAKER

Hall is Medical Director for the University of North Carolina’s Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health and Director of Clinical Informatics for UNC’s Department of Psychiatry. Prior to joining UNC in 2015, Dr. Hall worked in other community mental health settings in North Carolina for 12 years as part of Assertive Community Treatment teams in both urban and rural communities.

LIVED EXPERIENCE SPEAKER

Sharkey has been in recovery for nearly half of his life. Early childhood trauma and mental health challenges led Jonah to substance use and an early bottom led him to sobriety at 17. After 13 years of sobriety, chronic pain and related depression and anxiety led to a costly relapse. Since 2012 Jonah has focused on sustainable recovery, training and working as a Peer Support Specialist, while learning to manage his chronic pain and mental health challenges. These combined efforts have enabled Jonah to achieve his lifetime goal of completing both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Instructional Design.

SPEAKER

Burgin is the North Carolina State Senator representing District 12: Harnett, Johnston and Lee counties. Before joining the General Assembly in 2019, Senator Burgin served two terms as a Harnett County Commissioner with three years as Chairman. In his professional life, Senator Burgin is President / Owner of C&D Insurance and Insurance Network Group, Chairman of the Board of New Horizon Insurance Group and President of B.C. Property Inc. He is also a partner of John Hiester Automotive, which owns Chevrolet and Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealerships. He was born in Knoxville Tennessee, attended The University of Tennessee Knoxville and graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

SPEAKER

Cunningham represents the 106​th ​District in the North Carolina  State House of Representatives. Before being elected to the North Carolina General  Assembly in 2012, Carla was working as a Hospice Nurse and fulfilling her appointment  to the North Carolina Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and  Substance Abuse Services. An active civic and community leader, she is a recognized  national advocate for women and children, Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities,  and Substance Abuse, and Healthcare.

SPEAKER

Sasser is a Chairman of the Health Committee, as the only pharmacist in the 180 member legislature. He has worked to get Step Therapy and the Pharmacy Benefit Management bills passed. He graduated from Pharmacy School at UNC Chapel Hill in 1973 and has been a pharmacist for 45 years, owning independent pharmacies for the last 35 years.