Denise has recently been elevated to the role of President and CEO after serving as the Chief Operations Officer. She holds a master's degree in Social Work and a bachelor's degree in Human Services. Additionally, Denise is a Certified SUD Counselor, specializing in co-occurring disorders. With over 31 years of experience in the human service field, Denise has consistently showcased her leadership abilities. During her tenure as the Chief Operations Officer, she adeptly translated company strategies into daily operations to meet objectives. She set comprehensive goals for performance and growth, collaborating closely with Divisional Directors, CFO, and the previous CEO to craft treatment strategies, annual budgets, and monthly productivity goals. Denise played a pivotal role in launching several BHS projects, notably the United States Probation Offender UA testing program and the Vocational Training Program. The latter initiative is particularly notable for providing on-the-job training to participants, equipping them with skills vital for securing permanent employment. Beyond her professional commitments, Denise serves as a Board Member of a non-profit organization and generously volunteers in various community-based activities.
Andrea Jones obtained her MBA from Johns Hopkins University and as a BA in Economics from The College of William & Mary. Ms. Jones is an accounting and finance professional with over 35 years of experience in leading teams, creating, and integrating procedural improvements, automating and enhancing workflow processes. Ms. Jones has experiences in training and mentoring staff in processing monthly, quarterly, and year-end fiscal period closes in accordance with US GAAP. She has been responsible for the forecasting, budgeting, executive presentations, providing ad hoc reports and analyses to senior management staff as needed including explaining actual to budget variances. Her experience includes executive positions in domestic and international global fortune 100 and 500 Companies. Ms. Jones has been instrumental in helping organizations obtain accreditations such as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation.
CADC II, BSBA, is the Director of Family Health Services for BHS. Mr. Ballue had been the Executive Director of The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of the South Bay (NCADD/South Bay) from May 2008 to July 2011 when NCADD/South Bay merged with Behavioral Health Services. BHS maintained the affiliation with NCADD Inc. where Mr. Ballue serves on the Board of Directors and represents that entity to the American Society of Addiction Medicine Board.
Mr. Ballue served from 2011 to 2015 as the Chief Strategy Officer for the combined agencies. In 2015 Mr. Ballue transitioned to Director of Family Health Services to administer BHS’ Primary Care Clinic, whose development he had been project lead on and which attained Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) status that year. Leading up to his career with BHS, Mr. Ballue worked as a community group facilitator, Lead Counselor, Case Manager, Intake Counselor, Community Outreach Coordinator, and Program Director in a variety of settings ranging from hospital-based to residential, outpatient, and both adolescent and adult. He has worked as a consultant to middle schools and high schools in the South Bay Community, where he has provided alcohol and drug counseling services, prevention services, peer counseling training, and referral services. In addition to maintaining his alcohol and drug counselor certification, Mr. Ballue obtained a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in 1999.
Eric Bowen is the esteemed Director of the Information Technology department at Behavioral Health Services, where he's been a technological cornerstone since joining as a Network Administrator II in 2005. With over 25 years in the IT field, Eric's leadership is vital in overseeing the complex communication and IT operations that support over 300 staff and the communities they serve. His expertise ensures the agency stays at the cutting edge of security and efficiency in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Educated in Southern California, Eric boasts an Associate of Science degree from West Los Angeles College, a Bachelor of Science from Cal-State Los Angeles University, and a Master’s of Business from National University, supplemented by multiple Microsoft and technical certifications.
Health Center Administrator Miguel Gutierrez has nearly 30 years of experience in various aspects of the health care industry, gaining a great deal of knowledge of clinic management, budgeting, oversight of state and federal programs, and strategic planning. Miguel studied Business Administration at CSU Dominguez Hills, and spent over 20 years in various hospital positions, including Director of Pharmacy Operations, Chief Operating Officer, and Senior Administrator, before launching his own Health Care Management and Consulting firm.
Miguel joined BHS as a consultant in 2015 to assist with the launch of its first Primary Care Health Center. In the years since, Miguel has overseen the expansion of medical care to 8 locations in the BHS Health Center Network.
is the Divisional Director for the Inland/Metro/East service area of Behavioral Health Services, Inc. She has been a progressive service provider for Alcohol and Drug Treatment and Prevention services since 1990. In the course of her career she has moved from administrative support to direct services and is currently in executive management. Celia has proven to be a skilled executive, visionary, strategic thinker and planner. She is a native of Los Angeles and is an advocate for culturally sensitive, competent and relevant treatment and prevention services for substance abusers. She is also vested in education and support services for individuals and communities directly and indirectly impacted by substance abuse and misuse as well as for persons with co-morbid diseases. Celia has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and has been a certified addiction specialist since 2005.
is the Divisional Director for the Harbor Area Division of BHS, and Administrator of Redgate Memorial Recovery Center in Long Beach. Ms. Cargill-Fuller holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Computer Information Systems, a master’s degree in Public Administration, and is a certified CADC II though CAADAC. She has worked in the substance abuse treatment field for 27 years in both private and non-profit settings, and has been with BHS for 20 years, holding numerous positions such as Director of Community Relations and Marketing, Program Director, and Director of Housing. She has implemented numerous managed care contracts for BHS and obtained community development funding for housing for women and women with children. Ms. Cargill-Fuller is active in the community, serves on SAMHSA/CSAT’s National Recovery Month Planning Partners committee in Washington, D.C., and annually organizes numerous events in Los Angeles County for Recovery Month, including “The Los Angeles Dodgers Celebrate Recovery,” the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Proclamation for Recovery Month, and “Rally for Recovery.”
Efrain Marquez, LCSW, is the Quality Assurance Coordinator for the behavioral health programs. He holds a master’s degree in Social Work and a bachelor’s degree in Human Services. Efrain has worked in the human service field for over 22 years. He began his career providing services to unhoused families with children and managing a food pantry for the community. In his current position he reviews compliance with treatment standards and policies. He coordinates the Quarterly Peer Review and Utilization Review process along with the client Perception of Care surveys. Efrain participates in the Quality Improvement committee where he presents data findings and recommendations.
Lynne Harper, SPHR, SHRM-SCP Lynne is the Director, Human Resources. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, specializing in Human Resources Management. She is also a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources, (SPHR) and a Society for Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). Lynne has worked in leadership roles in the human resources field for over 25 years for various not-for-profit healthcare organizations in the Greater Los Angeles area.
is the Heath Center Operations Director, serving in this position at BHS since 2017. Prior to this, Mrs. Venable served as a health care operations professional for over 16 years focusing on program development and implantation including revenue cycle and contract management. Michelle Venable holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Accounting from the University of Phoenix. As the Health Center Operations Director, Mrs. Venable is responsible for directing and overseeing the management of multiple health center sites in accordance with the mission of the BHS organization. Michelle ensures health center operations meet business objectives and financial goals, in addition to being the liaison with site directors; managers, accounting, billing, and compliance teams which ensures optimal preformation with HRSA, State, County and Manage Care requirements. Michelle Venable is passionate about health care and the community; her adaptability to this fast-paced and ever-changing industry has been imperative to her success.
Raunda Jones is the Divisional Director for the South Bay and Harbor Area outpatient substance use treatment sites. Raunda holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Juris Doctorate degree from Hastings College of the Law and a Master’s in Social Work from Cal State Dominguez Hills. She is also a Certified Substance Use Disorder Counselor. Prior to her current role, Raunda managed referrals for criminal justice and other special population clients seeking substance use disorder treatment. Raunda also organized community prevention coalitions to implement prevention education and enact policy initiatives to prevent youth access to alcohol, drugs and tobacco products in the South Bay Community.
Steve has delivered mental health and substance-use disorder services for over 11 years throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. He is committed to providing evidence-based, holistic, inclusive, and effective treatment to the community, and encourages, trains, and supports BHS staff in doing the same. A native Los Angeleno, Steve graduated with his master’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine University, and is committed to giving back to the community that has given him so much.
Amanda Carnegie obtained her MA in Marriage & Family Therapy from the University of Southern California, and BA in Psychology with an emphasis in biochemistry from Reed College. Amanda Carnegie is Licensed as a Marriage & Family Therapist with the Board of Behavioral Sciences, and is additionally a CCAPP-verified Substance Use Counselor Supervisor.
Amanda has over a decade of experience providing and overseeing the provision of behavioral health services including acute mental health and substance use, community health, residential treatment, systems-impacted populations including formerly incarcerated individuals and DCFS-involved families, LGBTQ+, and Native American communities, etc. Prior to joining the BHS team, Amanda served as the dual Program Director-LPHA for the residential treatment program American Indian Changing Spirits for several years. In her tenure, Amanda supported the program in near-tripling its billing capabilities, expanding staffing capacities and retention, increasing program-community partnerships with goals of increasing client access to treatment and client connection to culturally-relevant services, establishing counseling, clinician, and peer support internship programs, developing interdepartmental training protocols, enhancing staff and client access to evidence-based treatment materials and curriculum, and overseeing program compliance with state, county, and other auditing and accreditation bodies including the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), of which Amanda is soon to become a Program Surveyor.
