OUR TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Joshua Aranda
Chairman
Joshua is the CEO and Co-Founder of Mission Matters Group. He combines strategy, technology, and a deep appreciation for the human element in his work. His mission is to understand and harness the passion of people and power of systems to co-build healthy and high impact workplaces. Joshua lives in Colorado with his wife Laura and their growing family.
Jason Henderson
Vice-Chairman
Jason, a Principal at Edward Jones, has a history of community volunteerism and knows the value of connecting personal purpose to organizational mission. “My father has paranoid schizophrenia and I have witnessed firsthand the impact mental health has on society, both in education and other opportunities.” For Jason, being a Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri board member is an important part of supporting people impacted by mental illness connect to opportunity.
Sierra Thompson
Development Chair
Sierra is the Vice President of Business Development at Evntiv, a distinguished event design and production agency nestled in the heart of downtown St. Louis. Renowned for her unparalleled expertise in fostering meaningful relationships, Sierra's role encompasses the development of large-scale conceptual event designs tailored for both corporate giants and nonprofit organizations. Acknowledged as one of St. Louis Business Journal’s 100 St. Louisians to Know to Succeed and featured in The Who’s Who in America, Sierra's accolades illuminate her professional prowess. However, her most cherished honor lies in her role on the board of Mental Health America, where she serves as the Chair of the Ring Out Hope Gala. Sierra's commitment to social impact extends beyond the business realm. Her passion-driven nature has propelled her to write and successfully pass a bill in Vermont. Furthermore, she has founded more than four nonprofits nationwide, each dedicated to supporting diverse passion projects centered around mental health, suicide awareness, and female empowerment.
Tracy Beckette
Treasurer/Finance Committee Chair
Tracy retired after a 45-year career in banking. He most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at Heartland Bank. He served in the U.S. Army, both active duty and the Army National Guard, from 1971 to 2005, retiring with the rank of Brigadier General. Tracy serves in a number of volunteer leadership roles, both military and civic. Military affiliations include the National and Missouri National Guard Associations, Army Engineer Association, American Legion Post #4 and many others. He is a member of the Mid-County YMCA Board of Managers, the Saint Louis University Service Leadership Program Advisory Board, Saint Louis Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Missouri Athletic Club.
Adam Tenzer
Governance Chair
Adam is Senior Vice President of Employee Digital Experience for MasterCard Operations and Technology. Prior to joining MasterCard in 2006, he was an associate economist at Welch Consulting and a research associate at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, D.C.
DIRECTORS
Lori Dowd
Lori, Founder and Executive Producer of StoryTrack, has long seen the connection between mental wellness and personal development. She is passionate about helping young people and families understand that while mental health concerns can be daunting, seeking and receiving help is a sign of strength. “Lack of access to mental health services is a serious public health problem. Studies report that untreated depression and anxiety in teens can have negative effects past adolescence. Let’s help our young people grow into strong, resilient people no matter what life deals out!” Lori is a founder of Midwest Moon Mindfulness Community and has served on the board of SSM Hospice. She has also volunteered with Alzheimer’s Association, Public Relations Society of America, Nicaragua Partnership Community, and Second Presbyterian Church in St. Louis.
Sara Marler
Sara is a dynamic attorney with a comprehensive background in both litigation & alternative dispute resolution. Sara’s extensive experience in family law has armed her with the expertise needed to curate a healthy, holistic take on a truly challenging corner of law. Sara’s dedication to improving family law has led her to develop her St. Louis-based, trauma-informed practice. As the Managing Partner of Marler Law Partners, she’s implemented new strategies for high-conflict custody cases, utilizing her skills in de-escalation, trauma awareness, and family systems training. Sara lives in Webster Groves with her wife, 3 children and pseudo-therapy dog who refuses to learn the “snuggle” command – Marley Marler.
Katrina S. McDonald Fuller, MSW, LCSW
Katrina is Chief of Public Affairs at Compass Health Network. Previously she was Senior Vice President of Community-Based Behavioral Health, overseeing both adult and children’s services throughout Crider Health Center’s four-county service area. Prior to her current role, she served as Crider’s Director, then Vice President of Children and Family Services.
Zack Kavanaugh
Zack is an Account Supervisor at FleishmanHillard. With expertise in communications, strategy development, and branding, his passion for volunteerism stems from his desire to tell a new story around mental health in St. Louis. “The pandemic helped spotlight the importance of mental health and open conversations around the topic. I want to help MHA-EM harness this momentum by telling and amplifying a compelling story around mental health and continuing to drive significant change in the communities we serve.”
Dan Lester
As the Vice President of Field Culture and Inclusion, Dan Lester leads the strategic integration of inclusion education and training throughout the Clayco Enterprise. Dan is nationally recognized as a thought leader and innovator in the operationalization of inclusion and psychological safety in the construction industry. He has been recognized as a top one hundred Human Resources Influencer. Dan is a Certified Coach in the 4-Stages of Psychological Safety, Certified Construction Suicide Prevention Trainer and Mental Health First Aider. Dan is a high-energy, professional speaker, delivering presentations nationally and internationally. Using storytelling, he engages audiences with humor and practicality. Over the last twelve years, Dan has helped organizations and their people successfully find solutions to culture, equity, and inclusion barriers; and identify opportunities for growth in their space. He is mindful of how imperative it is for organizations to have a psychologically safe culture with inclusive teams to make a business thrive.
Liz Vestal
Liz is the Senior Program Manager at Washington University St. Louis School of Public Health. They currently manage the RADxSSD, AmeriCorps, and UNICEF projects and also supports the Safe Return to Schools project. They are passionate about using data for the public good and about engaging the public and nonprofit sectors. They have experience with survey design, data analysis, facilitation, and strategic planning while working alongside partners in Michigan, California, and Missouri. With a curiosity for quality improvement and a deep commitment to equitable collaboration, Liz is emboldened to work alongside organizations to maximize their impact.
Nathaniel S. Walsh, Esq.
Nat is Co-Founder of St. Louis Title, LLC. In 2004, he co-founded McGowan & Walsh, LLC, an historic renovation company focused on contributing to the revitalization of downtown St. Louis and Kansas City. Nat served as the Chairman of WestBridge Bank from 2007 to 2011. He serves on the Board of Habitat for Humanity-St. Louis, the Board of Governors of The Missouri Athletic Club (MAC), the MAC’s Charitable Society for Children and has served on the Board of Trustees at Rohan Woods School in St. Louis.
Jeff Wiktorski
Jeff is a Sr. Vice-President, Commercial Sales Manager at Fifth Third Bank, responsible for leading a team of commercial relationship managers for the Missouri Region. Jeff has 30+ years in corporate banking working exclusively for Fortune 500 companies. Prior his role with Fifth Third Bank, he worked with GE Capital and Chase Bank. In addition to his role with MHA, he serves on the Executive Board of Make-A-Wish/Walk for Wishes and MS Leaders Challenge Advisory Council. He has also been active with Operation Food Search, the American Heart Association, Ronald McDonald House, Covenant House, Junior Achievement and leading Fifth Third Bank’s United Way campaign.
Kelly Wooldridge, MPT, FACHE
Kelly is the Director of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, leading a team of over 100 healthcare professionals across multiple locations. A pediatric physical therapist by background, her nearly three-decade career has been dedicated to children’s health and empowering families to help their children to reach their full potential. Beyond her professional role, Kelly is a passionate advocate for children’s mental and physical health. She is a founding member and serves as Treasurer for ASPIRE, a national nonprofit organization supporting individuals and families affected by PANS/PANDAS and related encephalopathies. Kelly holds a Master of Physical Therapy and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from St. Louis University, with a minor in Psychology. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of the American Physical Therapy Association. Residing in O’Fallon, Missouri, Kelly and her husband have three amazing young adult children and three rescue dogs. Kelly enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, hiking, strength training, and pickleball.
Brian Zellers
Biran is the Director of Operations at Genoa Healthcare. He is responsible for overseeing 22 pharmacy sites throughout Missouri that specialize in mental health and substance use disorder. "I am very excited to become a member of the Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri Board to help bring awareness and eliminate the stigma of mental health issues. I am proud and honored to have this opportunity to further serve the mental health community."