EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

As the first Executive Director of the Behavioral Health Contractors’ Association (BHCA), Elisa Koff-Ginsborg (she/her) leverages her national policy and local organizing experience, extensive professional training and deep passion to create a strong safety net to support people affected by mental illness and substance use so that they have the same opportunities to fully participate in life as others in our community.  With more than 25 years of non-profit and government experience that encompass policy analysis, advocacy, organizing, nonprofit management and direct service as a social worker, Elisa works collaboratively with nonprofit and government leaders.

Previously, Elisa served as Interim Director of the Interfaith Council on Economics and Justice and Associate Director of Community Education at Working Partnerships USA. She has a BA from Syracuse University, an MA from the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers University and an MSW from Catholic University of America.

She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Community Housing Developers, Willow Glen Performing Arts Boosters, Willow Glen Community Extended Day Enrichment Program and the Willow Glen Elementary PTA, as auditor of the Willow Glen Middle School PTA, on the Valley Health Plan Advisory Board and as chair of the City of San Jose Parks and Recreation Commission. 

POLICY ANALYST

Lisa Willmes, MPA (she/her) is a policy analyst and organizational systems leader specializing in creating inclusive, collaborative, and effective project and change management implementation across systems and sectors. Her most recent work is focused on solutions to advance workforce development pathways within the behavioral health field. Lisa's framework facilitates the multidisciplinary development of a sustainable pipeline that connects potential candidates to meaningful experiential learning and professional development. 

POLICY ASSISTANT 

Krystle Shield (she/her) has nearly two decades of experience working in healthcare, getting her start in skilled nursing and assisted living communities. Krystle was born and raised in the South Bay Area, California. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Women’s Studies from San Jose State University. Krystle is passionate about holistic living and wellness. She has practiced yoga for over twenty years and earned her yoga teaching certification in 2021. Krystle enjoys travel, warm climates, photography and dance. 

President 

Steve Eckert, LCSW, is the Alum Rock Counseling Center Chief Executive Officer. Steve has served on the ARCC Board since his hire as ARCC CEO in 2017. Steve has served as CEO at two previous nonprofits (Buckelew Programs and East Bay Agency for Children), and currently serves on the board of the California Coast Music Camp.  Steve has a Master’s degree in Social Work from San Francisco State University and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Lynchburg College.  

Vice President 

Anna Fernandez, Director of Behavioral Health at Hope Services Inc. (San Jose, CA) is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the State of California. She holds a BA in Religious Science from the Pontificia Università Lateranense (Rome, Italy) and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University. She has 22 years of experience in the field of public mental health.

Anna manages and supervises the operations of outpatient services that serve clients with intellectual disabilities and mental illness. She has been giving talks on the treatment of mental illness in individuals with intellectual disability at national and international conferences in Canada, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg and USA.

Treasurer 

Miguel Valencia, PhD was 13 years old when he arrived from Mexico to live in the Bay Area with his uncle and aunt, and it has been his home ever since. He is a licensed psychologist and focused his doctoral dissertation on treatment duration and outcomes of Mexican American populations’ mental health. He contributes to behavioral health professional journals and his active participation in County planning efforts adds to the growing professional knowledge base of minority behavioral health challenges and successes.  

Today, as Director of the Behavioral Health Services Division of Gardner Health Services, he leads a team of 190+ behavioral health professionals and support staff. Gardner’s continuum of care behavioral health services encompass mental health and substance use disorder prevention and treatment program that are innovative, culturally compatible and linguistically proficient. Almost 75% of the Gardner Behavioral Health Services staff are bilingual and bicultural. Together the Gardner Health Services organization serve over 50,000 Santa Clara County residents, primarily of diverse minority ethnicities and with very low household incomes. Dr. Valencia has been a member of the BHCA for 35 years and previously served as the organization’s President.

Immediate Past President 

David K. Mineta is President and CEO of Momentum for Health.  He was appointed to the position in August 2015. From 2010 to 2015, Mr. Mineta served as a Presidential appointee in the position of Deputy Director of Demand Reduction for the Office of National Drug Control Policy for the White House Drug Policy Office.

In 1996, he worked with Asian American Recovery Services and was named Deputy Director in 2007. He served twice as board president for the Jefferson Union High School District Board of Trustees. Mineta received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Social Work from San Jose State University.

Committee Member

Erin O’Brien, LCSW, President & CEO of Community Solutions, has dedicated the past 20 years to creating positive and lasting changes in the human services arena in Santa Clara County and beyond. She is a passionate and tireless champion for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault, as well as children, families and individuals who face mental health and substance abuse challenges.

Erin is an active member of the Santa Clara County Human Trafficking Coalition, the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking, the Intimate Partner Violence Task Force, the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies, the Re-Entry Network,  and the Jail Diversion and Behavioral Health Sub-Committee, acting as a voice for the children, families and adults they serve. 

Committee Member

As the Bay Area Executive Director for Uplift Family Services, Don Taylor oversees the operations of services in Santa Clara and neighboring counties. Don joined Uplift Family Services in 1998 as a Family Specialist in Wraparound and began his leadership in clinical management in 2002.

Don has been in the mental health field since 1993, and prior to Uplift Family Services, he worked in residential, school, and community settings in Chicago and Rhode Island. Don is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and is involved in numerous advocacy and leadership groups on behalf of the region’s most vulnerable.

Committee Member

Razelle Buenavista is the Managing Director for Asian American Recovery Services, a program of HealthRIGHT 360, where she oversees operations for the Santa Clara County and Alameda County regions. Razelle is an active member of the BHCA of Santa Clara County, the Behavioral Health Collaborative of Alameda County, Silicon Valley Council for Non-Profits Policy Team, San Jose City College ADS Advisory Committee, LEAD Filipino Board of Directors, and has dedicated countless hours to volunteering at several Bay Area programs. 

Razelle attended San Jose State University and College of San Mateo in which she studied Dance, Social Work and Addiction Studies.  For over two decades, Razelle has served the Asian American, Pacific Islander and Latinx communities as a social worker and youth advocate.

Committee Member

Drishti Verma joined Caminar’s Family and Children Services of Silicon Valley (FCS) division Substance Use Treatment Services in 2012. Drishti brings over 15 years of experience in Substance Use programs, which offer a full continuum of outpatient services. Drishti has achieved her Master’s in counseling psychology from University of Notre Dame, Perth, Australia and is certified as a Licensed Advanced Alcohol Drug Counselor (LAADC). As Executive Director, she is a strategic visionary, fostering collaboration across the Substance Use Treatment Services, and ensuring the delivery of comprehensive and effective services. Drishti’s leadership has made a significant impact on clients and communities served by Caminar, resulting in improved outcomes, and expanded services.  

Committee Member

Gary L. Montrezza, MA, has 27 years of senior leadership experience innovating programs to meet a multitude of social challenges. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Pathway Society, Inc. As the former COO for Hospice of the Valley, and past Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Clara County,

Prior to his tenure at BBBS, Gary created the first curriculum-integrated school mentoring program for at-risk youth in San Jose. He is a graduate of the City of Santa Clara’s Leadership 2000 Program; past Chairman of the BBBS State Association; a former appointee of First Lady Sharon Davis to the Governor’s Mentoring Partnership Steering Committee, and was an early and long-standing member of the San Jose Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force.