Awards

national council of mental wellbeing presents an award for excellence
national council of mental wellbeing presents an award for excellence
national council of mental wellbeing presents an award for excellence

Each year at NatCon, our annual conference, we celebrate select individuals and organizations for their commitment to excellence in mental health and substance use treatment and care. Learn more about the game-changers, innovators and thought leaders we’ve recognized over the years!

2024 Awards of Excellence Winners

Lifetime Achievement Award

Peer Specialist of the Year Award

  • Brendan Reilly
    New York State Certified Peer Specialist, Access: Supports for Living
  • Herman Russell
    Peer Support Specialist, Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center

National Council Legacy Award

2023 Awards of Excellence Winners
  • Lifetime Achievement Award:
    • Jeffrey Reynolds, PhD
      President and CEO, Family and Children’s Association
    • Juanita Price, MEd
      CEO, Hillcrest Children & Family Center
  • Peer Specialist of the Year Award:
    • Deborah Carlson, CPRS, CCHW
      Coordinator of Peer Services and Peer Support Supervisor, Newport Mental Health Center
    • Michael Hovey, CRM
      Patient Care Supervisor, Fora Health Treatment & Recovery
2022 Awards of Excellence Winners
  • Lifetime Achievement Award:
    • David J. Woodlock
      Vice Chair of the Board, The Coalition for Behavioral Health
    • John F. Kelly, PhD
      Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
  • Peer Specialist of the Year Award:
    • Kathy Raney, CRSS
      Care Access Coordinator, Centerstone of Illinois
    • Tina Simpson, CPS
      Peer Specialist Supervisor, Spindletop Center
  • Behavioral Health Leadership Award: Vibrant Emotional Health
2021 Awards of Excellence Winners
  • Lifetime Achievement Award:
    • Susan Blue
      President and CEO, Community Services Group
    • Ric Doucet
      CEO, Community Reach Center
    • Dr. Ron Manderscheid
      President and CEO, NACBHDD
  • Peer Specialist of the Year Award:
    • Lisa Fuller, CRS
      Peer Counselor, Berks Counseling Center
    • Bonnie Gilmore
      Recovery Coach, Rosecrance Health Network
    • Lisa St. George, MSW, CPRP, CPSS
      Vice President of Peer Support and Empowerment, RI International
  • Innovation at Work Award:
    • The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD
    • Mind Springs Health
2020 Awards of Excellence Winners
  • Lifetime Achievement Award:
    • Amy Anderson-Winchell, LCSW
      Former President, Access: Supports for Living, Inc.
    • Joseph A. Masciandaro
      President & CEO, Care Plus NJ, Inc.
    • Karl Wilson
      Founding CEO, Crider Health Center
  • Peer Specialist of the Year Award:
    • Janet Paleo
      Director of Recovery-based Services, Texas Council of Community Centers
    • Jeff Avery
      Peer Support Specialist, Johnson County Mental Health Center
  • Innovation at Work Award:
    • Bernalillo County Department of Behavioral Health Services
    • Northwestern Mental Health Center
2019 Awards of Excellence Winners
  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Linda Rosenberg
    Executive Director of External Relations, Columbia University (Department of Psychiatry)
  • Excellence in Philanthropy Award: Alexa Eggleston
    Board Chair, Young People in Recovery
  • Distinguished Service Award: The Honorable Patrick Kennedy
    Co-founder, One Mind for Research
  • Doc of the Year Award: Lloyd Sederer, MD
    Adjunct Professor, Columbia University School of Public Health
  • Excellence in Addictions Treatment Award: The Howard Center
  • Excellence in Advocacy – Individual Achievement Award: Marie Williams
    Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
  • Excellence in Advocacy – Organizational Achievement Award: Mental Health Association in NY State
  • Excellence in Advocacy by an Elected Official Award: Rep. Sara Feigenholtz
    Illinois House of Representatives, 12th District
  • Excellence in Behavioral Health Care Management Award: Ozark Center
  • Excellence in Mental Health First Aid Community Impact Award: Health360
  • Excellence in Technology Award: IMPOWER
  • Excellence in Whole Person Care Award: Tropical Texas Behavioral Health
  • Peer Support Worker of the Year Award: Trish Bleth
    Peer Support Specialist, Terros Health
  • Visionary Leadership Award:
    • David Evans
      CEO, Integral Care
    • Louis M. Dekmar
      Chief, LaGrange Police Department and LPD
    • Michael Hogan, PhD
      Founder, Hogan Health Solutions, LLC
    • Mark P. Fontaine, FADAA
      Staff Consultant, Florida Behavioral Health Association
    • Emily Jenkins, J.D.
      President and CEO, Arizona Council of Human Service Providers

Are you making a mark through leadership or lived experience?

We’re celebrating behavioral health care excellence at NatCon25 from May 5-7 in Philadelphia! We will be accepting Awards of Excellence nominations in early August. Sign up for our newsletters to receive Awards of Excellence announcements and conference updates!

Sign Up Today!