Mike Schwend, M.A., M.B.A.
CEO and President
When Schwend began his tenure, Preferred Family Healthcare operated only one adult alcohol and drug abuse residential program, with 13 employees and an annual budget under $200,000. Today, Preferred Family Healthcare offers a wide array of services in numerous locations in Missouri and Kansas, employs over 700 individuals, and operates an annual budget of $40 million.
Schwend's vision and commitment to mental health and substance abuse services in Missouri is outstanding. He has served on the Missouri Alcohol and Drug Abuse State Advisory Council, the Missouri Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Providers, the Truman State University Board of Governors, and several local committees and boards. Schwend also received a Governor's appointment to a Purchasing Review Committee to evaluate the purchase of services by the Department of Mental Health, and serves on the Kansas Association of Addiction Professional Board of Directors. He is the founder of a Kirksville K-LIFE chapter, an inter-denominational youth ministry serving more than 200 children and adolescents. Michael is married to Mary Jo and they have 10 children.
Matt Strate, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Matt joined our organization in 2007 and is responsible for all financial and accounting functions. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with degrees in Accounting and Computer Science. He began his career at Ernst & Young, currently one of the four largest accounting firms in the world, and along with a partner, owned and ran his own CPA firm for about nine years. His career then moved to the healthcare environment where he spent over six years as the Controller for a $220 million organization with 30 operating units.
Matt is hoping his knowledge and experience in healthcare operations will help our organization to grow and move forward in a more streamlined and efficient manner. Matt is active in his Church, the Cub Scouts and in coaching his sons sports teams. He is married to Janet and has three sons, Colin, Benjamin, and Nicholas.
Ann Hutton
Chief Operating Officer
Ann Hutton has more than twenty five years of experience in the substance abuse and mental health service fields. Ms. Hutton began her career in 1985 as a therapist for adult and adolescent consumers in a private chemical dependency hospital. Since then she has held several management positions including; Treatment Coordinator, Clinical Supervisor, Chief Management Officer and Senior Vice President of Treatment Services.
Ms. Hutton has been involved in numerous acquisitions and mergers since joining Preferred Family Healthcare in 1992 and she has played an instrumental role in the process of Preferred Family Healthcare emerging as the largest adolescent substance abuse provider in the State of Missouri. Ms. Hutton is a member of the Missouri Coalition of Community Mental Health Centers as well as the Missouri Adolescent Addiction Professionals, where she served as both Vice President and President of the organization. She resides in Kirksville with her husband Geoff and children Rachel, Becca and Jacob.
Chris Snyder, CSACII
Senior Analytic Officer
Chris has more than twenty years of experience in adult substance abuse treatment programming. Snyder started out as an outpatient substance abuse counselor for PFH in 1984 and has also served PFH as an Outpatient Coordinator, Program Director, Chief Management Officer, Senior Vice President, and Program Executive. During this time, he has assisted with the development of many new programs as well as the growth and enhancement of existing services throughout the state. He directed the conversion of adult substance abuse services in Kirksville to CSTAR programming in 1992 and the establishment of adult substance abuse services in over a dozen locations, including residential services in Trenton and Jefferson City. He facilitated the merger and acquisition of two adult substance abuse programs in the St. Louis area.
In addition, Snyder was involved in the establishment of adolescent substance abuse treatment services in Kirksville and Trenton and CPRC services in Kirksville. Today, Snyder provides assistance to the Senior Executive Team and possesses particular expertise in the development of business proformas. His interest and expertise in substance abuse treatment is reflected in his past participation in the Regional Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and his involvement in committees appointed by the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse to improve or develop programming.
Paula Brawner, M.Ed.
Senior Vice President of Treatment Services
Paula began her career with Preferred Family Healthcare in 1992 and held several positions including Community Support Worker, Community Support Worker Supervisor, Utilization Review Coordinator, and Program Director. Paula was promoted to Vice President of Adolescent Services Central and Eastern Region in 2005. This region includes Kirksville, Hannibal, Jefferson City, and St. Charles, MO. In February, 2010 Paula was promoted to Senior Vice President of Treatment Services and oversees the Central and Western region.
Paula is a Recognized Substance Abuse Professional, a Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional and has a Master's Degree in Education. Paula resides in Kirksville with her husband Kevin and they have four children, Scott, Thomas, Rachel, and Ashley.
Jim Wallis, B.S., M.A.
Senior Vice President of Business Development and Public Affairs
Jim began his employment with Preferred Family Healthcare in December of 2004 as Program Director for the St. Charles adolescent residential program. In May of 2006, Jim was promoted to Vice President of Eastern Adolescent Services. In May of 2010, Jim was promoted to Senior Vice President of Treatment Services overseeing adolescent and adult programming in the Eastern and Central regions of Missouri.
Prior to being employed at Preferred Family Jim worked 15 years with at-risk Adolescents as a Juvenile Officer in Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles Counties. He further was employed with the Missouri Division of Youth Services as a Service Coordinator and Facility Manager.
Jim received his B.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri - St. Louis in 1992, and his M.A. in Professional Counseling from Lindenwood University in 2002. Jim presently resides in Troy, Missouri with his wife, Julie and five children. Ben, Will, Grace, Jack, and Max.
Pam Leyhe, MSW
Senior Vice President of Business Development
Pamela Leyhe has more than 25 years' experience in health care policy, operations, revenue maximization and government affairs. In 2010 Pamela became the Senior Vice President for Business Development for Preferred Family Health Care, focusing on long term sustainable growth. Prior to this, Pamela was the Director of Medicaid and Housing and provided consultation to the three Divisions comprising the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
Her role with the Department involved the conversion of state only funded programs to Medicaid, identification of funding streams for community based services and other federal reimbursement initiatives. She was the Deputy Director for the Missouri Mo HealthNet Program, Department of Social Services, then known as the Division of Medical Services. As Deputy Director, Pamela was responsible for the implementation and operation of the state Medicaid managed care program for more than half of the state's Medicaid population. Other work included operational oversight of the Medicaid program for 58 mandatory and optional services including home and community based waivers. She was appointed to two State Technical Advisory groups which provided national guidance regarding state Medicaid Managed Care and Third Party Liability Programs in Washington, D.C.
She is a recipient of the Missouri Governor's Award for Quality and Productivity which recognizes service excellence and rewards innovation in government.
Cori Putz,
Senior Vice President of Treatment Services
Cori began working in the field of substance abuse in 1992. She started in the field working with adolescents in a community based setting and has since gained experience in working with adults in corrections as well as community based treatment. She has held several positions including Rehabilitation Technician, Counselor, Clinical Supervisor, Assistant Director, and Regional Business Office Coordinator.
Cori has been with Preferred Family Healthcare since 2005. She is responsible for one residential site and two outpatient sites in St. Louis as well as the Jefferson City Program and San Antonio . Cori received her Bachelor of Science degree from Central Missouri State University in 1991 and obtained her MBA from Fontbonne University in 2003. She is also a Certified Advanced Substance Abuse Counselor II in the State of Missouri .
Lesa McCartney, MSN, RN, HRM
Vice President of Performance Improvement
Lesa is responsible for providing oversight of QI/risk management, infection control, medication management and nursing activities in the organization. She also participates on several drug court teams and provides internal evaluation functions.
McCartney began her tenure at PFH as a consultant in 1998 and assumed a full-time position in 1999. She is active in the Kirksville community, serving on the Adair County Mental Health Board, Truman State University Nursing Advisory Committee, local board member for Sigma Theta Tau National Nursing Honor Society, and is a member of the Kirksville Rotary. Lesa is married to Jack and has 2 children.
Jamie Campbell, Vice President of Operations
Jamie began her career at Preferred Family Healthcare in 1989 and has held several positions within the company including Administrative Assistant, Medical Records Coordinator, Bookkeeping, Maintenance Supervisor, and Operations Director.
Jamie was promoted to Vice President of Operations in 2001. She is responsible for the oversight of facilities management, new development projects, vehicle fleet management, property insurance, purchasing and food service.
Terry Kennard, B.S
Vice President of Information Technology
Terry began working in the computer science field in 1989 as a software engineer. For Eight years he developed and maintained billing and ancillary software for twenty-two Durable Medical Equipment stores.
On May of 1997 Terry accepted a newly created position at Preferred Family Healthcare as the Information Systems Administrator to develop billing software and maintain current network and PC systems. Preferred Family Healthcare currently maintains several extensive web applications and more than 400 network devices over an integrated Wide Area Network.
Terry received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman University, in 1989.
Robin Darr, CPA
Vice President of Fiscal Services
Robin began her employment with PFH in 2003. She provides oversight of the general ledger function of the entire company including Accounts Payable, Grant Reporting and financial statement generation.
Robin is a graduate of Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University) with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She is a licensed CPA and a member of the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Robin resides in Kirksville with her husband Bruce and their sons Kyle and Clay.
Stacey Hudson, M.B.A.
Vice President of Human Resources
Stacey leads a cohesive, collaborative team of HR professionals dedicated to creating partnerships by supporting all programs and departments. This team is responsible for the daily operations of Human Resources including Payroll, Benefits, Training, Recruiting, Employee Relations and human resources development. The team provides consulting in human resources matters regarding staffing, organizational effectiveness, training & development, compensation, polices, benefits, and related practices to supervisors and managers in all of Preferred Family Healthcare's locations.
Stacey graduated with her BSBA, majoring in Human Resources, from Central Missouri State University in 2001 and her MBA from Williams Woods University in 2010. In 2011 she earned her Senior Professional Human Resources Certification. Her career in Human Resources began at a local company of over 200 employees where she was the Human Resources Administrator.
Stacey's education and work experience brought her to Preferred Family Healthcare in 2004 as the Director of Human Resources. In April 2006, she accepted the position of Vice President of Human Resources.
Andrew B. Greening, MSW, LCSW, RTC
Vice President of Behavioral Health
Andy is responsible for the operation of Preferred Family's three CPRCs in Hannibal, KV, and Trenton , as well as its RCF/Dual Program located in KV and its many Prevention Programs serving many individuals and families throughout Northern Missouri.
Andy has been with Preferred Family Healthcare since 2006 but his roots begin as the first medical social worker in the two Hannibal Hospitals where he eventually became the CEO of St Elizabeth's hospital. As CEO Andy lead the consolidation effort of the two existing hospitals into what is today Hannibal Regional Hospital. Andy has also managed an inpatient psychiatric hospital unit, was Clinical Director at an adolescent treatment facility, and was Mental Health Chief in a women's maximum security prison. Andy has served on the Alumni Board of Culver-Stockton College, the Allocation Committee of the Hannibal United Way, and has been involved in the development of many programs in the Hannibal Area.
Andy is married to Carol and they have 4 children and 4 grandchildren.
Karah Waddle, M.B.A
Vice President of Prevention and Wellness
Karah began her career with Preferred Family Healthcare in July 2003 and since that time has served in a number of roles within the agency. Currently, as the Vice President of Prevention and Wellness, Karah provides executive oversight of the many prevention and wellness programs in Missouri and Kansas. While leading these efforts, Karah is also responsible for growth and expansion of the department's programming through grant and contract procurement.
Karah received her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science from Truman State University in 2003, Masters in Business Administration from William Woods in 2009, and is a Missouri Substance Abuse Prevention Associate.
Karah is married to Josh and they have two children, Cole and Kendrick.
Nancy Atwater
Vice President of Western Region
Nancy began her career with Preferred Family Healthcare in August 2011 as Program Director for the Liberty adult outpatient program, St. Joseph and Lee's Summit's adolescent outpatient programs and the Intensive In home Services programs. In December 2011 she was promoted to her current position as Vice President for the Western Region. Nancy oversees adolescent outpatient programs in Kansas City, St. Joseph and Lee's Summit, adolescent residential program in Kansas City, adult outpatient program in Liberty and the IIS program.
She began her career in not profit multi-site management in 1992 focusing on program growth and development, grant writing, staff development and fiscal management.
Nancy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Kansas State University in 1990 and obtained her M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Kansas State University in 2005.
Bryan Quick
Vice President of Clinical Services Eastern Region
Bryan Quick has worked in the field of alcohol and other drug treatment and prevention for more than 18 years in both for-profit and non-profit sectors, working with both adolescent and adult populations. Bryan started with Preferred Family Healthcare in 2000 serving in several different roles, currently, as the Eastern Region Clinical Vice President. Oversight includes adolescent outpatient programming in St Louis County, Lincoln County and Franklin County, and outpatient and residential treatment in St Louis City and St Charles County.
Bryan received his Bachelor in Business Administration from Lindenwood University and is a Certified Reciprocal Alcohol and Drug Counselor since 1996.
Bryan is married to Irene and they have two children, Madison and Ethan.
Dulcinea Rakestraw
Vice President of Treatment Services
Dulcinea joined the Preferred Family Healthcare team in December 2011. She is currently the Vice President of Treatment Services, Kansas and oversees all of our Kansas programs which include numerous substance abuse treatment programs, Regional Prevention Centers, and Youth Residential Centers.
Before joining PFH, Dulcinea worked in child welfare, adolescent treatment, and has several years of experience monitoring and managing substance abuse treatment programs.
Dulcinea graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelors Degree in Social Welfare and received an Addiction Counseling Certificate from Washburn University. She is a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker and Addiction Counselor.
Dulcinea is married to Dallas and they have two children, Thatcher and Brynn.
Elphanie Swift
Vice President of Clinical Services Eastern Region
Elphanie (Sissy) Swift has worked in the field of substance abuse since 1989 when she started her career as a counselor. Since 1991 she has held management and supervisory positions. Sissy has had management responsibilities for a host of housing, substance abuse and other social service programs.
In September 2008 Sissy accepted the position of Program Director for Preferred Family Healthcare and has held the positions of Program Director for the Broadway Adult program and St. Charles Adolescent program. She is currently the Vice President of Clinical Services in the Eastern Region.
Sissy holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. She is married and has two children Malcolm and Dwayne.
Kathy Hoppe
Vice President of Treatment Services Central Region
Bio and picture coming soon.
