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!
2025 Awards of Excellence Winners
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Topher Hansen, JD
President and CEO
CenterPointe - Virna Little, PsyD, LCSW
Co-founder
Concert Health and Zero Overdose
Peer Specialist of the Year Award
- Anthony M. Kohl
Peer Coordinator
VIP Community Services - Miracle K. Akortha
Peer Specialist Supervisor
The Center for Healthcare Services
2024 Awards of Excellence Winners
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Linda Hurley, BA, MA, CAGS
President and CEO, CODAC Behavioral Health Care - Marsha Medalie, MSW
CEO, Riverside Community Care
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
- Carl Clark, MD
President and Chief Executive Officer, WellPower
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!