Meet our Board of Directors
pmhca board of directors consists of 19 members10 Regional |
|
A Message From Our Board President
|  |
 |
Dr. Malcom Buress First Vice President At-Large Director Dr. Malcolm Burgess grew up in the UK. He has a degree in Chemistry and a Doctorate in Biochemistry and Physiology from London and Bath Universities respectively. He worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry for 45 years, moving to the USA in 1991 and has lived mostly in Pennsylvania since then. His work took him all over the world where he learned to harness cultural diversity and build effective multi-cultural teams. His global experiences (including a two year spell living in Hong Kong) give him a unique perspective on managing cultural differences. This, coupled with his life experiences (being bullied at school and having an autistic nephew) has given him a deep-seated motivation to prevent others going through similar developmental ordeals. Dr. Burgess is married and has four children who all graduated from Central Bucks School District. He is retired and is spending his time trying to make things better for those who need help. Over the last ten years, in addition to serving on the PMHCA board, he has served on the Bucks County MH/DP Advisory Board, the board of The Peace Center as well as the Buckingham Township Environmental Advisory Commission. |
|
 |
Chelsey McElwee Second Vice President Region 2 Chelsey McElwee is a Certified Peer Specialist and the CPS Program Supervisor at CenClear, where she has worked since 2014. Her career began in group homes supporting individuals with IDD, but she found her calling in peer support after a friend introduced her to the field. Since then, she has advanced from Field Supervisor to leading the CPS program. Chelsey first connected with PMHCA through a pilot training with Tristan and Kathy, later being “nominated for the PMHCA regional thing, and then voted as the second vice president.” She is currently completing her Master’s in Psychology with plans to become an LPC. Outside of work, Chelsey enjoys family life, supporting her kids’ activities, tending to her many plants, and spending time with her two dogs, Agustus and Beatrice. |
|
|
Katherine "Katy" Morton Secretary Region 5 Katy Morton is the Director of Advocacy at PMHCC-FTAC in Philadelphia. She was previously the Director of Forensic System Solutions at PMHCC-FTAC and transitioned to the Director of Advocacy role in May of 2025. She attended Temple University where she earned her BSW, with a focus on Macro Social Work and Policy/Advocacy and earned her MSW from West Chester University with a more clinical focus. She has worked as a social worker for the last decade in a variety of focus areas such as Legislative and Policy Advocacy, Family and Youth-Based Therapeutic Services, and Case Management. She feels it is incredibly important to bring folks from all walks of life together to advocate and improve systems utilizing their unique experiences and knowledge. In her current role, Katy leads various groups and initiatives focused around improving the Behavioral Health Systems for individuals, families, and providers. Katy served as the Chair of the NASW-PA Legislative Committee in 2025 and co-leads the Philadelphia Behavioral Health and Advocacy Taskforce (PBHAT) in collaboration with NAMI Philadelphia. |
|
 |
Treasurer to be named |
Regional Directors
| John Stuart Region 1 John Stuart is married to his wife, Joanne, and together they share their home with their beloved Boxer, Emma-Lee. As someone with long-term lived experience in the mental health system, John works hard to ensure his wellness journey does not limit his ability to live fully—though he acknowledges that some days are more challenging than others. Before beginning his career with the State, John spent many years in the construction trades. He also worked alongside his father in their family’s lumber and logging business for a decade. Today, John is committed to building his future in the mental health field. He has found a strong sense of connection within the PMHCA community and is grateful for the opportunity to contribute his skills, experience, and perspective in service to others. |
Justin Cravener Region 3 Bio coming soon. |
Marc Persson Region 4 Marc has been a Swarthmore, Pennsylvania resident for 20 years. Born and raised in Delaware County, he is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College (B.A.) and Northeast College of Health Sciences (D.C). Professionally, he has owned and managed several health care businesses and served as an adjunct professor at Neumann University. He also holds a Pennsylvania license as a Certified Peer Specialist.
His passion is helping out those in need and people of all abilities. This has led him to serve on several board and leadership roles including New Avenue Foundation. Since 2022, he has served as the Treasurer for the Delaware County Community Support Programs (CSP). Next, after a year serving as Advocacy Chair in 2023, he was elected as Co-chair for Southeast Regional CSP and has served in that capacity for the past 2 years. Since 2024, he has served as a the Region 4 representative and board member for the Pennsylvania commonwealth wide PMHCA (Pennsylvania Mental Health Coalition Alliance). In 2025, he commenced an assignment on the advisory board for Chimes Holcomb in Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic region. Finally, in 2026, he has been serving as an instructor for the Peer to Peer class for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Main Line and National.
Marc is married to Emily and they have two children, Chris and Kate. |
| Jamie Bush Region 6 Bio coming soon. |
David Laughead Region 7 David Laughead is a mental health advocate dedicated to improving access to care, reducing stigma, and strengthening behavioral health services across Pennsylvania. Inspired by the mental health challenges experienced by loved ones, he began his advocacy work in 2023 and has since connected individuals with resources while advancing meaningful systems change. David is an active member of the Delaware County Community Support Program (CSP) and serves as co-chair on the Advocacy Committee for the Southeast CSP Region. There, he collaborates with consumers, providers, and community leaders to improve behavioral health services and promote recovery-oriented care. As the Founder of ZenCare Express, David has organized mental health fairs throughout Pennsylvania, bringing together providers, advocates, officials, and local mental health organizations to increase awareness and expand access to resources. He also worked with the Pennsylvania Governor's Office to support the proclamation recognizing May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month in the Commonwealth. David believes collaboration is the foundation of meaningful change and is passionate about building partnerships that empower individuals, strengthen communities, and ensure everyone has access to the support they need. |
Loran Kundra, JD, MSS, LSW, CPS Region 8 Loran Kundra is a certified peer specialist and licensed social worker. She completed her Certified Peer Specialist training in Chester County in 2010 and received her Master's Degree in Social Services from Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research in 2009. She also received a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School in 1992. Loran has been working in behavioral health for close to 30 years as a researcher in peer support services and as an administrator for peer-run organizations. Her previous positions include Behavioral Health Consultant for Community Behavioral Health in Philadelphia, Research Associate at the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion for Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities and Dissemination Coordinator for the National Mental Health Consumers Self-Help Clearinghouse at Mental Health Partnerships. Currently, she is serving on the Chester County CSP Planning Committee and regularly participates in the Southeast Region CSP and Delaware County CSP. |
| Cheryl Adams Region 9 Cheryl Adams is a devoted mother, wife, Family Peer Support Specialist, coach, and mental health advocate with more than 30 years of combined professional and lived experience navigating child and family-serving systems. Grounded in her own and her child’s mental health journeys, she uses her experiential expertise to elevate family and youth voice, advance trauma-informed approaches, and strengthen collaboration across systems. As the founder of A.D.A.M.S. Consulting LLC and creator of The Metamorphosis Movement™, she supports individuals, families, and youth through education, peer support, and meaningful system transformation. |
Kate Fox, DrPH, MPH Region 10 Dr. Fox is a public health-trained mental health policy leader with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of public health, behavioral health policy, and systems change. Currently serving as the Director of Mental Health Policy at Children First, Kate leads a statewide coalition of over 100 members working to advance equitable access to mental health care across Pennsylvania. Her career has spanned government, nonprofit, and academic settings, including nearly a decade with Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, where she shaped population-level health programming, suicide prevention initiatives, and public health policy.
Kate’s doctoral dissertation, Care not Control: Toward Mental Health Justice in the United States, reflects her deep commitment to reimagining mental health systems through the lens of justice and equity. Central to her work is the belief that those impacted by the system are its most vital experts. Kate intentionally centers lived expertise in policy and program development, ensuring that the voices of people with direct experience drive the solutions. Her approach draws equally from academic research and community knowledge, recognizing lived experience as an invaluable evidence base for policy change.
Of all the roles Kate holds, none is more impactful than being a mom. Outside of her professional career, she works tirelessly to raise two powerful young daughters who will become the next generation of social justice co-conspirators. Kate believes that parenting is inherently a form of activism, and there has been no greater joy in her life. |
At-Large Directors
| Maun Flanagan At-Large Director Bio coming soon. |
Jason Rilogio At-Large Director Jason Rilogio is the Executive Director of FAVOR Laurel Highlands Recovery Community Organization and a passionate advocate for mental health and substance use recovery. With 16+ years of long-term recovery himself, Jason brings unparalleled expertise as a Certified Peer Specialist and Certified Recovery Specialist. His professional credentials are further enhanced with specialized certifications in Forensic Peer Support, Trauma-Informed Peer Support, Peer Support in Crisis Services, and Supporting Veterans & Their Families. Jason’s leadership extends far beyond his organization. As the Regional Delegate for the Cambria County Community Support Program, Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Planning Council, and Council member of the Cambria County Drug and Alcohol Program, he spearheads transformative advocacy efforts that drive systemic change. His past role as President of the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers’ Association (PMHCA) highlights his dedication to statewide initiatives supporting individuals navigating mental health and substance use challenges. Before starting FAVOR Laurel Highlands, Jason contributed to recovery initiatives as a Recovery Navigator for the Cambria County office of Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania and through his contract work with the Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition. He also served as an appointed Commissioner on Governor Wolf’s Behavioral Health Commission. Jason’s mission is clear: to empower individuals, families, and communities to embrace recovery, challenge stigma, and create systems of care that prioritize dignity, equity, and hope. His unwavering dedication and breadth of experience make him a beacon of inspiration in the substance use and mental health recovery fields. |
Shirley Ruth French At-Large Director Bio coming soon. |
|
Michael Harper At-Large Director Bio coming soon. |
YMPA Advisory Councilors
|
Kai Green YMPA Advisory Council Co-Chair Kai Green is a 16-year-old sophomore at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School and a co-chair for Youth MOVE PA. A member of his school’s student council and youth ambassador program, Kai is an advocate for youth leadership and mental health. He hopes to pursue a career in musical theatre and inspire other transgender youth to follow their dreams. He frequently performs in theaters throughout Western PA and Mahoning County, Ohio. Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community pushes Kai to continue advocating for his peers and elevating the voices of those who may be otherwise afraid to speak out. |
Ella Schimizzi YMPA Advisory Council Co-Chair Bio coming soon. |