Leadership Team

Meet the people leading Mental Health Center of Denver into our bright, innovative future.

Leadership Team

Meet the people leading Mental Health Center of Denver into our bright, innovative future.

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Carl Clark, MD
President & Chief Executive Officer
After joining the Mental Health Center of Denver in 1989, Dr. Clark became the Medical Director in 1991 and then the Chief Executive Officer in 2000, and in 2014, he also became the president.

As President and CEO, Dr. Clark is the visionary leader for the entire Mental Health Center of Denver organization. He reports directly to the board of directors and is responsible for all day-to-day operations of the organization, directs the implementation of programs and activities approved by the board, and proposes, prepares and presents specific programs and activities to the board that will further the organization’s purposes. Additionally, Dr. Clark inspires the organization to pursue its goal of being the Center of Excellence in recovery-focused care with the best mental health services in the country.

Top 5 Strengths: Maximizer, Self-Assurance, Individualization, Ideation, Learner

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Dawn Davenport, PhD
Vice President, Child & Family Services
Dawn has worked for the Mental Health Center of Denver for over a decade, and in her new role, she oversees Child & Family Services. She reports to Chief Operating Officer Kristi Mock, LCSW, and is located at Dahlia Campus for Health & Well-Being.

Child & Family Services has been the focus of Dawn’s work during her time at the Mental Health Center of Denver. She has held the role of psychologist, program manager for home-based services and, most recently, the director of clinical services.

“I’m passionate and motivated to provide children and families with the best services we possibly can as an organization,” she said. “We have incredibly talented and committed staff with the ability to provide excellent care across the life span.”

Dawn enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, ages 8 and 9, who are both involved in sports. "We enjoy spending time traveling, playing games and being outdoors." She also enjoys listening to music, cooking, dancing and participating in obstacle course races.

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Heidi Eastman, LCSW, CPRP
Vice President, Rehabilitation Services
Heidi Eastman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience in mental health and recovery services. She is the Vice President of Rehabilitation Services at the Mental Health Center of Denver, overseeing programs such as 2Succeed in Education and Employment.

Heidi and her spouse moved to Denver in early 2017. Heidi knew she wanted to work at the Mental Health Center of Denver due to the excellent reputation it has in the Psychiatric Rehabilitation field. She earned a position as an Employment Specialist at 2Succeed in March 2017, with the hopes that it would be the start of a long career at the Mental Health Center of Denver.

She became a Project Coordinator in November 2017 for the Denver’s Road to Work Program, while also earning certification as a Mental Health First Aid Instructor. In January 2019 she became the Director of Rehabilitation Services. Over the past year Heidi has been learning, collaborating and growing in preparation for becoming the Vice President of Rehabilitation Services.

She says, “I am extremely grateful for all of the support that I have received over the past year to help me transition into the Vice President role. I have learned so much from the Rehabilitation Management team, Rehabilitation staff members, other Program Directors/ managers, Executive Management and from the people we serve. I look forward to continuing to help people reach their full potential and to providing people with extraordinary experiences.”

Top 5 Strengths:Adaptability, Connectedness, Ideation, Positivity, Arranger

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Jay Flynn, JD
Vice President, Adult Recovery Services
Jay Flynn oversees the Mental Health Center of Denver’s services delivered to over 7,000 people at a time. His responsibility spans access to services, outpatient and case management services at the Recovery Center and outpatient services at Wellshire Behavioral Services, as well as an array of residential and housing services and the Walk-in Center.

During his tenure with the Mental Health Center of Denver, Flynn has served as the Director of Adult services and the Deputy Director before that. In his current capacity, Mr. Flynn oversees services provided to adults by multiple assertive community treatment and intensive case management teams, multiple outpatient teams, grant programs, residential facilities and a walk-in crisis center staffed by over 400 professionals. Mr. Flynn has had a key role in the development and implementation of the Mental Health Center of Denver's five criminal justice teams. Mr. Flynn has also had an integral role in the development and implementation of criminal justice services and integrated co-occurring treatment services at the organizataion. Mr. Flynn is a member of the Denver Community Corrections Board and of the Governor’s Council on Community Corrections.

Top 5 Strengths: Intellection, Learner, Maximizer, Strategic and Ideation

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Kristi Mock, MSW, LCSW
Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Kristi Mock has transitioned to the recently created position of Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Previously, she served as the Vice President of Adult Recovery Services as well as in a variety of roles during her tenure with Mental Health Center of Denver.

In her position, she oversees internal operations freeing up the CEO to focus on external responsibilities in today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment. Kristi is a strong collaborator and uses her strengths to prioritize processes and execute overarching strategic vision needed to keep Mental Health Center of Denver moving forward. She counts it a privilege to have served in the Denver Community for over 30 years.

Top 5 Strengths: Achiever, Arranger, Belief, Activator, Strategic

"I feel strongly about the importance of legacy...positively impacting the Denver Community by helping persons experiencing mental illness have rich and meaningful lives."

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Michael Niyompong
Vice President & Chief Engagement Officer
Michael Niyompong joined the Mental Health Center of Denver in 2018. He oversees the organization's philanthropy and fundraising; communications and marketing; external relations, community engagement and strategic partnerships; and public policy and advocacy functions. Previously, he was the chief operating officer at Clayton Early Learning, Colorado’s leading catalyst in providing access to high-quality early care and education.

Michael has served as vice president at Rebound Solutions, a socially conscious firm specializing in strategy, change management and turn-around solutions, as well as iGivefirst, Mile High United Way, Hitachi Consulting, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and National Semiconductor.

He earned his BS in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and his MBA in finance and MS in operations management from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.

Michael is a graduate of Leadership Denver Class of 2011 and in 2013 was recognized as one of Denver Business Journal’s Forty under 40. In 2016, he was selected as one of five Livingston Fellows by the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. In 2017, Michael was part of the inaugural class of the Ascend Colorado Children and Families Fellowship at the Aspen Institute.

Top 5 Strengths: Strategic, Positivity, Belief, Intellection, Futuristic

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Angela Oakley, CPA
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Angela Oakley is the Chief Financial Officer at the Mental Health Center of Denver, overseeing the organization’s accounting, finance, contracting/payer strategies, consulting services and accounts receivable functions.

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Jeannie Ritter
Mental Health Ambassador
Jeannie Ritter joined the Mental Health Center of Denver in 2012 to serve as Mental Health Ambassador and continue her advocacy efforts for mental health which she made her focus as former First Lady of Colorado (2007-2011).

Through her efforts to bring a voice to mental health, her hope is that she is helping to create a community that doesn’t avert its eyes but views mental illness with the same compassion as other ailments. She speaks publicly at hundreds of businesses, civic organizations, faith based groups, chamber meetings and community gatherings each year. Her passion for improving access to mental health supports is underscored by her belief that mental wellness is the foundation for healthier families and stronger communities.

Her work with severely emotionally disturbed children in Denver Public School lead her to champion this issue as she could see the impact mental health had on families. She has also navigated the system as a family advocate and has seen first-hand the need for greater awareness and better access to services to those in need.

Top 5 Strengths: Arranger, Activator, Woo, Developer, Positivity

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Jody Ryan, MD, FRCPSC, ASAM-Certified
Vice President & Chief Medical Officer
As Vice President & Chief Medical Officer, Jody Ryan oversees medical providers, including nursing and pharmacy and continues to have clinical time, seeing patients, as well as serving on the organization’s Executive Management team.

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Leslye Steptoe, PhD
Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusiveness
As Vice President of Diversity & Inclusiveness, Dr. Steptoe is primarily responsible for the design and implementation of an evidence-based approach to cultural competence at Mental Health Center of Denver.

Working within all levels of the organization, she develops workplace evaluation and assessment tools as well as a variety of experiential learning opportunities for staff, and is committed to building strong external networks to ensure that Mental Health Center of Denver is an engaged partner in the communities in which we live and serve.

Top 5 Strengths: Learner, Achiever, Context, Positivity, and Arranger

“Diversity, Equity & Inclusiveness at Mental Health Center of Denver is active—it’s about open communication and productive teamwork in a safe, respectful environment. Our Wellness Culture motivates each of us to build upon our individual strengths to achieve our common mission, and D&I directly supports this by framing our differences not as a shortcoming but as a key strength. The more skilled we become at leveraging the different perspectives and experiences among us, the more successful we’ll be in our workplace and community."

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Jeff Tucker, JD
Vice President, Human Resources
As Vice President of Human Resources, Jeff Tucker is responsible for all aspects of employee recruitment and retention through skill growth, career development, and building workplace connections and collaboration. We cultivate a workplace culture where everyone can bring their whole selves to work, which, in turn, drives better outcomes for the people we serve.

Jeff helps to create and maintain a forward-focused, well-being-oriented work environment with a high level of employee engagement, career growth opportunities and focus on the mission of service to others. He helps us hire employees who believe in recovery, resiliency and hope, and then helps each of them develop their skills and abilities to better serve our community.

Top 5 Strengths: Achiever, Maximizer, Individualization, Relator, Learner

"I love being part of a positive, innovative organization. Our meaningful work focuses on embracing the diverse experiences and strengths that we each bring to the table. We are creative. We build upon our successes and ask, 'What is possible, and what is next?' We also understand the importance of caring for each employee's well-being, so we can better care for our community."

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Wes Williams, PhD
Vice President & Chief Information Officer
Dr. Wes Williams joined the Mental Health Center of Denver in 2007 and now serves as vice president and chief information officer. In 2020, Wes was awarded the Colorado CIO of the Year Corporate ORBIE, honoring chief information officers who have demonstrated excellence in technology leadership.

Wes opened Mental Health Center of Denver’s Innovation Technology Lab in 2019, using human centered design to find digital health innovations to improve access, engagement, and treatment efficacy. Wes is currently serving a three-year appointment by the governor to Colorado’s eHealth Commission, representing behavioral health interests. Wes is a licensed psychologist in Colorado.

Top 5 Strengths: Ideation, Strategic, Learner, Maximizer, Futuristic

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