Keynote Speaker

Mohini Venkatesh, MPH, joined the National Council in 2007, serving in numerous positions leading quality improvement, workforce, consulting, and business development initiatives before assuming her newly established role as chief of staff within the Office of the CEO in October 2022. A connector of people, ideas, and initiatives, she works closely with the CEO, board of directors, and other leadership in navigating the National Council’s growth and internal changes to better position its impact against its mission and strategic goals.

By building connections with the National Council’s membership over several years, she has seen the impact of those working to improve mental wellbeing and the escalating challenges they face, such as workforce shortages and social determinants impacting access to care. Inspired by the resolve of others to do good, she strives for the National Council — alongside its members — to positively influence the lives of people in the U.S. with mental health and substance use challenges to ensure access to care when and where they need it. She believes in the organization’s vision for the future and using every means possible — policy, training and education; a vast and diverse network; and more — to develop greater understanding of the challenges surrounding mental health and substance use treatment and promote solutions of impact.

Venkatesh’s career has also included work at a hospital-based psychiatric unit, several social service nonprofit organizations, and a state association advocating for community mental health and substance use services. She received her master’s degree in public health from Yale University and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Mohini Venkatesh’s Role at the 2025 Yellowstone Conference

As keynote speaker, Mohini Venkatesh will headline the 2025 Yellowstone Conference with the theme Stronger Together: Building Strategic Partnerships for Lasting Impact, highlighting how cross-sector collaboration fuels sustainable change.

More About the Yellowstone Conference

Visit our Yellowstone Conference event page to learn more and register.

Panelist | Bridging Sectors, Building Futures

Kirsten Smith is Bloom Consulting, LLC’s principal. She has over 13 years of experience working with state and local clients on a wide range of projects. Kirsten is a project manager, researcher, facilitator, writer, and evaluator. She enjoys and has deep experience working with diverse clients and topics.

Kirsten is trained as a facilitator and strategic planner using methods developed by the Institute of Cultural Affairs. She is also a certified Project Management Professional through the Project Management Institute. She holds a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs and a Master of Arts in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

Kirsten is also an active community member, volunteering as a:

• Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in the Child Protective Services system
• Fundraiser, instructor, and previous board member for the Montana Ballet Company

Kirsten Smith’s Role at the 2025 Yellowstone Conference

At the 2025 Yellowstone Conference, Kirsten Smith will join the Bridging Sectors, Building Futures panel, where she’ll share her expertise in public-private partnerships for sustainable change.

More About the Yellowstone Conference

Visit our Yellowstone Conference event page to learn more and register.

Panelist | Bridging Sectors, Building Futures

Meghan Peel is currently the Interim Division Administrator of the Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Division at the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). Meghan has also served as the Deputy Division Administrator of BHDD and Director of the Children’s Mental Health Bureau within DPHHS.

Prior to joining DPHHS, she managed the CHIP program and was part of the implementation and operations team for Medicaid Expansion. During her tenure with the department, she has focused on working closely with providers and stakeholders to evaluate and improve services within the continuum of care.

Additionally, Meghan holds a degree in Business Accounting and worked in both public and private accounting for seven years prior to joining DPHHS.

Meghan Peel’s Role at the 2025 Yellowstone Conference

At the 2025 Yellowstone Conference, Meghan Peel will join the Bridging Sectors, Building Futures panel, where she’ll share her expertise in public-private partnerships for sustainable change.

More About the Yellowstone Conference

Visit our Yellowstone Conference event page to learn more and register.

Panelist | Bridging Sectors, Building Futures

Matt Bugni joined AWARE in January of 2011, performing various leadership and business development roles prior to becoming AWARE’s Chief Executive Officer in November of 2018.

He pursued his undergraduate education at St. John’s University in Minnesota before returning to Montana. Prior to his time at AWARE, Matt worked as a direct support professional for a psychiatric hospital; he also performed budgeting and finance roles for the State of Montana in the Governor’s Budget Office and Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Matt is a passionate advocate for community-based disability services. Matt and his wife, Katy, have four adult sons of whom they are immensely proud. Matt and Katy’s family has diverse ethnicities and disabilities which drives their passions to be constant learners and active participants in our communities.

Matt is a Montana native. He enjoys daily hikes with his wife, hunting, mountain biking, listening to and playing music, and traveling around the world.

Matt Bugni’s Role at the 2025 Yellowstone Conference

At the 2025 Yellowstone Conference, Matt Bugni will join the Bridging Sectors, Building Futures panel, where he’ll share his expertise in public-private partnerships for sustainable change.

More About the Yellowstone Conference

Visit our Yellowstone Conference event page to learn more and register.

Panelist | Bridging Sectors, Building Futures

Erika Purington is a dynamic leader, coach, and changemaker whose career spans nonprofit leadership, executive coaching, and community transformation. Based in Billings, she currently serves as CEO of Allies in Aging: Senior Services, Lifelong Support, where she led the bold merger of two senior service agencies into a unified, future-focused organization.

With a master’s in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from Montana State University Billings, Erika has held executive roles across youth, family, and senior service organizations—including Tumbleweed, STEP, and Girl Scouts of Montana & Wyoming. She also founded SheLeads and EW Coaching & Consulting, helping leaders and teams thrive.

A certified Presence-Based Leadership Coach, Erika is known for blending empathy and accountability—her “superpower”—to inspire transformation. She is a sought-after keynote speaker and facilitator, offering audiences fresh perspectives, humor, and practical tools for leading through complexity and change.

Erika Purington’s Role at the 2025 Yellowstone Conference

At the 2025 Yellowstone Conference, Erika Purington will join the Bridging Sectors, Building Futures panel, where she’ll share her expertise in public-private partnerships for sustainable change.

More About the Yellowstone Conference

Visit our Yellowstone Conference event page to learn more and register.

Panelist | Bridging Sectors, Building Futures

Sierra Riesberg has over 10 years of experience in the social services field, working in both rural and urban communities, as well as within behavioral health, intellectual/developmental, and aging populations.

She is a systems-level thinker and wants to break down barriers for anyone who needs to access services, as well as barriers for service providers to be able to deliver the services that community members need.

Additionally, she believes that complex problems cannot be solved by one person or one agency alone; unique perspectives and collaboration are key to the progression and development of our social services system.

Sierra Riesberg’s Role at the 2025 Yellowstone Conference

At the 2025 Yellowstone Conference, Sierra Riesberg will join the Bridging Sectors, Building Futures panel, where she’ll share her expertise in public-private partnerships for sustainable change.

More About the Yellowstone Conference

Visit our Yellowstone Conference event page to learn more and register.

Moderator | Bridging Sectors, Building Futures

Mike Chavers joined YBGR in August of 2016 as the Chief Executive Officer. Born and raised in Idaho, Chavers pursued his education and career in Illinois. Before moving to Montana, he worked at Indian Oaks Academy, Nexus, for 22 years. Most recently, he served as the Executive Director of the organization.

Chavers holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Olivet Nazarene University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the Moody Bible Institute. He is a fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform.

Mike is married to Michelle. They have three daughters—Caroline, Olivia, and Chloe. Besides spending time with his family, Mike enjoys fishing, the outdoors, and supporting the arts, particularly live music.

Mike Chavers’ Role at the 2025 Yellowstone Conference

At this year’s Yellowstone Conference, Mike Chavers will moderate the “Bridging Sectors, Building Futures” panel, where he’ll lead a discussion on public-private partnerships for sustainable change.

More About the Yellowstone Conference

Visit our Yellowstone Conference event page to learn more and register.

Panelist | Mission-Driven Collaboration

Sarah Music is the Director of Coordinated School Health at the Montana Office of Public Instruction. With a decade of experience in public health, her work has focused on crucial areas like mental health, suicide prevention, youth resiliency, and substance misuse.

In her current role, she advances initiatives in school safety, mental health, tobacco prevention, and high-quality afterschool programs.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, golfing, hiking, and playing board games.

Sarah Music’s Role at the 2025 Yellowstone Conference

At the 2025 Yellowstone Conference, Sarah Music will join the Mission-Driven Collaboration panel, where she’ll share her expertise in uniting youth-serving organizations for greater reach.

More About the Yellowstone Conference

Visit our Yellowstone Conference event page to learn more and register.

Panelist | Mission-Driven Collaboration

Dennis Sulser recently retired after more than four decades of service in education and healthcare. He spent 27 years as a high school teacher and administrator before moving into healthcare leadership, serving as a pediatric clinic administrator, CEO of a development office, and ultimately CEO of Youth Dynamics, where he guided the organization through its partnership with Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.

Dennis earned his undergraduate degree in education from Dickinson State University, a master’s degree in education from the University of Montana, and an Educational Doctorate from Montana State University.

In retirement, he enjoys small construction projects, riding his motorcycle, and reading. He and his wife, Valerie, are parents of three adult children: Maisie, Randi, and Sydney.

Dennis Sulser’s Role at the 2025 Yellowstone Conference

At the 2025 Yellowstone Conference, Dennis Sulser will join the Mission-Driven Collaboration panel, where he’ll share his expertise in uniting youth-serving organizations for greater reach.

More About the Yellowstone Conference

Visit our Yellowstone Conference event page to learn more and register.

Panelist | Mission-Driven Collaboration

Nina Hernandez’s background is in philanthropy, business, and program development in the nonprofit sector. She campaigned for large nonprofits in Texas and Montana, such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Dallas.

Her Montana roots brought her back to Billings after she and her husband adopted their first child. In Billings, she worked as the Executive Director for the American Heart Association, as the Development Director for Youth Dynamics, and as a consultant primarily working with nonprofit boards and executives.

She is the founding Executive Director of Friends of the Children – Eastern Montana chapter, the community’s first and only long-term, professional mentoring program for children.

Nina is an avid reader (with a degree in English from the University of North Texas) and enjoys skiing, hiking, bicycling, and front-porching with her kids, husband, and dogs.

Nina Hernandez’s Role at the 2025 Yellowstone Conference

At the 2025 Yellowstone Conference, Nina Hernandez will join the Mission-Driven Collaboration panel, where she’ll share her expertise in uniting youth-serving organizations for greater reach.

More About the Yellowstone Conference

Visit our Yellowstone Conference event page to learn more and register.