Sante’s Leadership

Hope - Advocacy - Education - Diversity - Equity - Inclusion - Safety

Staff

Michelle Grigsby-Hackett

Chief Executive Officer

Michelle is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) with over 22 years of experience in the behavioral health industry.

Michelle completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Arizona State University and her Master of Arts Degree in Professional Counseling from Argosy University. She has devoted her career to assisting adults, children, and families experiencing challenges with mental health, substance use, and behavioral health crises.

Michelle has served several roles during her 19 years with Affiliated Santé Group, including Director of Psychiatric Recovery Services, Outpatient Behavioral Health Director, and Vice President of Crisis Response Services. Michelle is dedicated to understanding the needs of our communities, as well as developing partnerships with state and community stakeholders to meet the growing needs of individuals living with behavioral health conditions, as well as those experiencing crises. In her role as Chief Executive Officer, Michelle is responsible for the strategic direction of the organization, as well as leading the operational responsibilities for Santé. As a service provider and organizational manager for five entities, Michelle's role is to effectively manage all service and business operations. Michelle is the first African American and woman to hold this role in the organization.

Amir Malek

Chief Operations Officer

A senior leader with over thirty years of experience, Amir has overseen the financing and modernization of multiple organizations across the East Coast, including Wordsworth Academy in Philadelphia, The Foundation Schools in Prince George’s County, and Gorfine, Schiller & Gardyn in Owing’s Mills.

Efemwonyi “Frank” Jesuorobo

Medical Director

Frank specializes in family psychiatric mental health illness, with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. He obtained his Master of Science from Walden University in 2016 and his Nurse Practitioner Diploma from Brandman University in 2020.

Vernessa Scurry

Chief of Staff

Vernessa is a Healthcare Executive with over 18 years of experience working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a bachelor’s in Psychology and obtained her Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Bowie State University with honors.

Vernessa started as an Outreach Specialist, bridging the gap between symptomatic and vulnerable individuals and the mental health and housing services they needed to stabilize. Although she was on track to become a therapist, she stood out for her people skills and maturity and was soon offered a supervisor role, making her the youngest Supervisor in the company. After 13 years, she became the Executive Director of a Crisis facility, guiding the company to quadruple its facilities throughout the State of Maryland. She has served on multiple Boards and assisted with community initiatives and volunteering opportunities such as the Point in Time Homeless Count, Soup Kitchens, Shelters, and the Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation’s Thanksgiving Giveaway.

Sam Richberg

Chief of Programs

Sam Richberg holds a Master's Degree in Professional Counseling from Trinity University. Sam is a Licensed Certified Professional Counselor (LCPC). He began his career working as a clinician with individuals struggling with severe and persistent mental illness.

Melissa Quick

Director of Corporate Compliance

Melissa received her Bachelor's Degree from Wingate University and her Master's degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Melissa continued her studies, receiving a doctorate in ministry.

She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor, a Certified Clinical Supervisor, and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor. She has been in the field of substance abuse/mental health for over 25+ years. Melissa is also a professional trainer focusing on the neurobiology of addiction, the spiritual aspects of mental health and addiction, the chemistry of PTSD, and the legal and ethical considerations surrounding addiction and mental health. Melissa is currently the Director of Corporate Compliance at The Affiliated Santé Group. She has been in the field of compliance for ten years and has helped multiple companies obtain and maintain their Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation.

Allison Paladino

Director of Baltimore County Crisis Response System

Ms. Paladino holds a graduate degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore and a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology/Psychology from Salisbury State University.

Ms. Paladino is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-C) and a Board-approved supervisor. In 2006 when Ms. Paladino became the Director, BCCRS was funded at 1.3 million dollars annually to provide Operations Center (OPS- Hotlines and Warmlines), Mobile Crisis Team (MCT), Intensive In-Home Intervention Team(IHIT), and Urgent Care Center (UCC) for the eastern part of Baltimore County. Under her direction, BCCRS has grown into a 4.5-million-dollar program extending services through all of Baltimore County and systematically increasing staffing and accessibility for these service components. As the Director of BCCRS, Ms. Paladino has exemplified expert coordination skills for the expansion of IHIT and UCC to Western Baltimore County. Ms. Paladino also was able to secure a sizable challenge grant from a local foundation to double mobile crisis services allowing BCCRS to offer all service components county-wide. Her ongoing partnership with Baltimore County Police Department also helped to implement a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) education program for Baltimore County Police Department members. Ms. Paladino has utilized her extensive knowledge of the behavioral health and crisis systems to further the capabilities of all program areas. Prior to becoming the Director, Ms. Paladino held several positions within the BCCRS, progressing from clinician to management positions. Ms. Paladino has held several positions with local behavioral health programs, including Harbel Prevention and Recover Alliance Inc. and Go-Getters.

Tina-Marie Brown

Director of Eastern Shore Crisis Response

Tina received her Bachelor's of Social Work from Salisbury University, her Master's of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, and has her Trauma Certification from the Justice Resource Institute of Boston.

Tina is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-C). She is a certified trainer for the Criminal Justice Academy at WorWic Community College. Much of her career has been spent working with consumers who have experienced mental illness and consumers who have experienced multiple traumas. She is experienced in program & policy development, program evaluation and management, and attended the middle management academy. As a result of her strong leadership skills, she has created a successful intern program for ESCRS and provides supervision and mentoring to MSW field students. Tina is currently the chair of the mobile crisis sub-committee for the American Association of Suicidology, a national non-profit behavioral health advocacy organization. She has also had the honor of presenting on ESCRS programs at the National Council for Behavioral Health, American Association of Suicidology, Annual CIT conference, and Maryland Rural Health Association.

Stephanie Svec

Director of Behavioral Health

Stephanie is a graduate of the University of Georgia (B.A.) and George Washington University (M.A.) and a licensed Certified Professional Counselor (LCPC).

Stephanie has worked in mental health for over 20 years beginning as an individual and group therapist with adults, adolescents, and families. In her work with Seniors’ Services, Stephanie has created the curriculum for and provided the trainings on such topics as Multi-Cultural Issues in Counseling, Provider Burnout, Emotional Effects of Downsizing, Seniors and Bullying, Social Isolation and Seniors, COVID-19, and Anxiety, Helping through Talking and Listening, Conducting Psychosocial Assessments with Seniors and Behavioral Health Challenges in the Senior Population. She is also a certified Mental Health First Aid Trainer.

Rebecca Peacock

Director of CriSyS

Tiffany Spaulding Wrona

Regional Director of Crisis Services

Tiffany Spaulding Wrona holds a graduate degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work and earned her bachelor's degree in Social Work at UMBC.

She has held a clinical social work license (LCSW-C) for many years and has extensive experience working with children, adolescents and adults in a variety of settings.

Tiffany joined Affiliated Sante Group in 2022 to create and build the Central Maryland Mobile Response Team and has experience in program start-ups and creating operational procedures. Tiffany also serves as the Director for the Carroll County Crisis Response Team. Additionally, Tiffany is a certified ASIST trainer.

Board Members

The following distinguished professionals serve on Santé’s board of directors:

Johnny Abedrabbo (Board Chair)

Mr. Abedrabbo is a management consultant and applied economist with over twenty-five years of experience in strategy development, financial analysis, risk modeling, and leading cross-functional teams to ensure success and achieve ROI goals.

Mr. Abedrabbo has conducted numerous investment and business case analyses for major clients across the US and the Middle East, including leading a risk-based investment-grade study for a billion-dollar bond issuance. Mr. Abedrabbo has a strong background in program development, quality assurance, and investment due diligence, with a track record of managing projects from initial conception, through development, to implementation, leading infrastructure economic analyses across technology, transportation, and resources sectors.

Rob Blaker (Board Secretary)

Robert Stauffer (Board Treasurer)

Dr. Heather Lewis, M.D.

Heather Lewis, MD, MPH, MS or "Doc Heather" as she is fondly called in the community, grew up in the DMV metropolitan area, closest to the National Harbor. Starting her career as a lifetime learner, she has achieved four advanced degrees from Hampton University, Indiana University, Uniformed Services University, and her most celebrated, a Medical Doctorate from The Ohio State University.

It is an honor for her to be a U.S. Department of Navy Veteran because she not only served onboard ship during combat tours at sea but also wore the Marine Corps uniform as a Medical Officer caring for Sailors & Marines around the world. She joined the Affiliated Santé Group (ASG) Board after serving as a founding board member to My Sisters Keeper Success Institute, a STEM based career development nonprofit headquartered in Temecula, California.

She has a strong passion for the healthiness of the whole human being through a holistic approach as a primary care physician in her private medical concierge commonwealth business “Doc Heather Knows.”

Patricia Manasevit

Ms. Manasevit earned her BA from Lehigh University and her JD cum laude from the Washington College of Law. She served as legal advisor to the Honorable Joel Gerber of the United States Tax Court and then joined the Office of Chief Counsel, IRS. There, she was the liaison between the Office of Chief Counsel and the Joint Committee of Taxation's Office of Senior Refund Counsel. She served on the Office of Chief Counsel's Joint National Diversity and Equal Opportunity Advisory Committee and received several technical expertise awards, three National Instructor Excellence awards, and Treasury's Leadership Legacy Honors. Currently, she serves on the Advisory Board of Natan International and the Sisterhood Board of Adas Israel.

William Neugroschel (Board Vice Chair)

Bruce Morgan Casner (Chair Emeritus)

Michelle Grigsby-Hackett (Ex-Officio)