Daniel Malone is the Executive Director of DESC, a nonprofit organization in Seattle providing survival and crisis services, behavioral healthcare, and permanent supportive housing. Daniel has been at DESC since 1989, serving as Executive Director since 2015. A major emphasis of Daniel's work has been designing, implementing, and evaluating programs for adults experiencing chronic homelessness and living with complicated behavioral health disabilities and other conditions. He has provided technical assistance and presentations to groups around the US and Canada and is co-convener of the national Housing First Partners Conference. Daniel holds an undergraduate degree from Boston College and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Washington.

J Helms (they/them) has worked for Pathways Vermont since 2019. They began as a Service Coordinator on one of Pathways’ Housing First ACT teams, supporting service participants with experiences related to anxiety, sadness, extreme states, self-harm, suicide, and trauma. J is currently Pathways Vermont’s Director of Training & Advocacy, developing and facilitating various trainings for Pathways Vermont’s Training Institute and Vermont’s Peer Workforce Development Initiative, including Intentional Peer Support, Harm Reduction, Relationship-First Practice, and Conversations About Suicide.

Monica Johnson, M.A., LPC is the Director of the 988 & Behavioral Health Crisis Coordinating Office. Ms. Johnson has worked in the behavioral health field for 26 years and most recently served as the Interim Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). Prior to this role she served as the Division Director for the Division of Behavioral Health for eight years, the Community Mental Health Director for three years, and the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Director for one year. Ms. Johnson’s key responsibilities during her tenure with DBHDD included leading a team of Executive Directors for the offices of Adult Mental Health, Addictive Diseases, Children, Young Adults & Families, Deaf Services, Recovery, Prevention & Federal Grants & Culture Competency, Field Operations & Crisis Coordination. Functions included managing an extensive budget of over $600 million dollars, development of the strategic plans for all community behavioral health programs, the development and oversight of policies and behavioral health practices, program development, and workforce development. Ms. Johnson is a seasoned executive leader with a proven track record of success. Over the last couple of decades Ms. Johnson has led the formation of high-profile change initiatives, chaired collaborations, and served as a board member for a variety of governing boards. Ms. Johnson has worked in community behavioral health in a variety of clinical, management and leadership roles, including program development and implementation of federally funded initiatives. Ms. Johnson has overseen and successfully implemented several programs funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, and Department of Education. Ms. Johnson earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology (minor in Communications) from Kennesaw State University and a graduate degree in Professional Counseling/Psychology at Argosy University. Ms. Johnson is a proud Alumnus of the Georgetown University Leadership Academy and a recipient of the Intensive Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Schizophrenia Certification at the Aaron T. Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy in Philadelphia.

Alexander Ferguson (he/him/his) is originally from Phoenix, Arizona. He has worked in Vermont’s peer support and community-based services for ten years. Previously he was Team Lead for Pathways Vermont Community Center & Pathways Vermont’s Support Line. Alexander facilitates a weekly BIPOC affinity space & Hearing Voices support group. He is currently Pathways Vermont’s Training Coordinator, developing and facilitating various trainings for Pathways Vermont’s Training Institute and Vermont’s Peer Workforce Development Initiative, including Intentional Peer Support, Harm Reduction, Relationship-First Approach to Extreme States, and Decolonizing Conversations About Death and Suicide.

April Gerard, BSN, RN, PMH-BC, MHP, is the Nurse Manager of Outpatient Programs at DESC, practicing psychiatric nursing for the past 12 years. April was responsible for the development and implementation of DESC’s Opioid Treatment Network Program. She continues to work on the high-level functioning of the program, guiding current operations and future directions.