Workforce Solutions Jam | Resilience in Action: Strategies for the Behavioral Health Workforce

A seasoned behavioral health leader with more than 25 years of government healthcare experience, Angela Bergefurd has a comprehensive understanding of state policy, program development, and strategic implementation.

Before joining HMA, she served the state of Ohio for nearly three decades, devoting her time and expertise to developing behavioral health and Medicaid policy, building and implementing programs, and designing benefits, financing, and reimbursement.

Most recently, she served as the deputy director of behavioral health policy with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, where she collaborated with other state agencies and offices to support and strengthen regulations, programs, and policies to improve care and programs. Previously, she worked as assistant director of community programs and services, assistant deputy director for policy, and behavioral healthcare systems policy advisor and chief.

This vast state-level experience provided her with a comprehensive understanding of state and federal funding sources and mechanisms, service reimbursement, and program financing methodologies, as well as an ability to engage a variety of stakeholders.

Ms. Bergefurd earned a master’s degree in public administration – health services management and policy and a bachelor’s degree in social and behavioral sciences from Ohio State University.

Dr. Genene Duran grew up in northeast Denver in the Montbello community and is an alumna of Montbello High School. She holds a Doctorate in Human Services, Master’s in Healthcare Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. In addition, she is also a certified Mediator and has certifications in Public Relations and Public Health. Dr. Duran has subject matter expertise in the fields of healthcare policy, managing federally qualified health centers, human services, community outreach and engagement, health systems change and cultural competence in health care which includes social determinants of health, health disparities and health equity. Dr. Duran is an international speaker and is an Affiliate Professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences at Metropolitan State University working with the Masters of Social Work students to complete their final Capstone thesis projects. In addition, she is the Founder/CEO of her own nonprofit organization Ducks in a Row Human Services Inc. From 2021-2023, Dr. Duran simultaneously served as the Chair of the Board of the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, the Advisory Board Chair for the City and County of Denver’s Agency on Human Rights and Community Partnerships and as the Co-Chair for the City and County of Denver’s African American Commission. She still serves on the Board of the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment as well as the City and County of Denver’s African American Commission. In addition, she serves on the Colorado Advisory Panel of Local Board of Health Members. Over the past six years she has held memberships on the Family Advisory Council for Every Child Pediatrics, the Board of Directors for Womxn’s March Denver, the Doctoral Advisory Board for the University of Arizona Global campus, as a Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Denver Moves Everyone Steering Committee Advisory Board member, and as the National Association for Career and Technical Education Region Representative. In her spare time she is a mentor to a young lady in her community. Although she has accomplished a great deal, she remains most proud of her new granddaughter who was born on Christmas day, 2024, 22-year-old son and 21 year old daughter, who both graduated from Colorado State University in May 2024, and 18-year-old daughter who is in her second year at the Community College of Aurora. Dr. Duran’s greatest passions include providing a voice for underserved communities and affecting positive change through leadership, strategic planning, relationship building, effective change management, conflict management, advocacy, social justice, and organizational training.

Marisol Solarte-Erlacher, M.A., LPC is a nationally recognized trauma and resilience consultant, speaker, and leadership coach. With over 20 years of experience in mental health and organizational development, she helps leaders and teams manage stress, reduce burnout, and build psychologically safe workplaces. She is the founder of the Resilient Leadership Institute™, a certification program that equips leaders with trauma-informed, equity-centered strategies to foster sustainable and thriving organizational cultures. Marisol is also the host of the award-nominated Resilience and Resistance podcast, highlighting the stories of successful BIPOC women leaders. 

Nikki Tierney, JD, MS, LPC, LCADA has a law degree and a Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Addiction Studies. Nikki is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor and has been in sustained remission from opioid use disorder for 15 years. She is also a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and a Certified Recovery Support Practitioner. Currently, Nikki works at CPC Integrated Care and operates her private practice, Hope-Fullness Counseling, Prevention, and Education. Additionally, she serves as a policy analyst with the National Center for Advocacy and Recovery, where she continues to push for systemic change in mental health and substance use treatment.