Executive Leadership
Our executive leadership team guides BHG’s national strategy, growth and vision. With decades of experience across healthcare, behavioral health, addiction medicine and systems improvement, they are responsible for expanding access, driving innovation and strengthening outcomes across our national network.
BHG’s leaders ensure that every decision supports our purpose—restoring lives, stabilizing communities and delivering reliable, evidence-based care. They oversee strategic operations, regulatory compliance, program development and partnerships with health systems, justice organizations and community agencies.
Executive priorities include:
Advancing evidence-based treatment nationwide
Expanding access through operational excellence
Supporting innovation in clinical models and patient care pathways
Strengthening quality and safety across all treatment centers
Collaborating with partners who share our mission
Tony Kilgore
Chief Executive Officer
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Tony Kilgore is a seasoned healthcare leader with over 25 years of experience guiding multi-site healthcare service organizations through rapid growth, operational transformation and culture-building. As CEO of BHG, Tony is focused on advancing the company’s mission to deliver high-quality, evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders while strengthening the foundation for long-term, sustainable growth.
Tony’s leadership spans four CEO roles across diverse sectors of healthcare. Most recently, he led Synapse Health, where he built a disruptive, tech-enabled model in the Home Medical Equipment space. Prior to that, he served as CEO of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), leading nationwide service expansion and modernizing the company’s operational and cultural infrastructure to better serve children and adolescents with autism.
Throughout his career, Tony has been deeply committed to building high-performing teams, developing leaders and ensuring that organizational growth goes hand-in-hand with delivering exceptional care. He believes the most successful healthcare organizations are grounded in empathy, accountability and mission alignment—principles that shape his approach at BHG.
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Julie Koenig
Chief Operating Officer
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Julie Koenig has a 35+ year healthcare career with nursing at the foundation, as well as 27 years focusing on building, growing and mobilizing great clinical and operational teams to support alternate site healthcare organizations, such as Home Health and Home Infusion.
Julie’s career has been focused on driving two main priorities: providing access to great medical care in our country and the development of engaged, trusting and high-performance operations and clinical teams. Julie has dedicated her career to supporting and developing the front-line teams, who she believes is the epicenter of any great organization.
Prior to joining BHG, Julie held multiple leadership positions with Option Care Health, a national alternate site infusion provider. Her most recent role was Senior Vice President for Operations for Option Care Health, where she was part of a dynamic team responsible for advancing the Infusion industry and driving access to alternate site infusion for patients across the US.
Option Care grew to be one of the largest Home Infusion providers and is now recognized as a leader in this space, with over 100 locations committed to the best outcomes for both acutely and chronically ill patients receiving infusion therapy in an alternate setting.
Julie’s passion for making a difference with those suffering from addiction, driving access to care and utilizing her experience to enhance and scale an organization’s operations and clinical teams is what brought her to BHG. BHG’s holistic approach to addiction treatment includes appropriate service delivery for co-occurring mental health disorders and is a mutually shared philosophy.
Julie brings years of clinical and operational leadership and is excited to watch this phenomenal company continue to grow their footprint by expanding services across the country to support the recovery needs of those suffering with addiction, their families and their communities.
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James Hopwood
Chief Financial Officer
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James Hopwood has more than 30 years of experience in financial and executive positions, specializing in the healthcare industry. His broad expertise includes long-term and short-term acute care and behavioral health hospitals, post-acute and outpatient care settings, medical billing and collection operations, physician practices, surgery centers and pharmaceutical distribution.
Prior to joining the BHG team, James was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Adeptus Health and Chief Financial Officer of Promise Healthcare Group. Before his time at Promise, he was a Managing Director at Focus Management Group, providing turnaround and restructuring expertise to numerous clients in healthcare and other industries. Before accepting his first Chief Financial Officer role early in his career at Wickes, Inc., James was an analyst at Goldman & Sachs Co.
James earned a Bachelor of Finance degree from Western Illinois University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, both with honors.
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F. Dwight Mussleman
Chief Development Officer
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Dwight Mussleman brings 26 years of healthcare business development expertise to Behavioral Health Group. As Chief Development Officer, Dwight is responsible for establishing and fostering key external relationships to successfully enter new markets and expand the company’s presence nationwide via treatment center acquisition, new site development and real estate. In addition to overseeing acquisitions, he has provided leadership for BHG’s many infrastructure improvement projects.
Before joining BHG, Dwight served as Vice President of Business Development with Alliance Oncology, where he led the oncology division’s strategy of acquiring community cancer centers and partnering with hospital-based cancer centers. Prior to his position with Alliance, Dwight led all the business development activities for Global Physics Solutions (including sales strategy, mergers and acquisitions and product offerings) as Vice President of Business Development. Prior to Global Physics, Dwight spent 14+ years with US Oncology in various roles, including Vice President of Physician Development, where he established the internal physician recruiting department and led in market acquisitions.
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Benjamin Nordstrom, MD, PhD
Chief Medical Officer
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Dr. Benjamin Nordstrom is a Board-Certified Addiction Psychiatrist. Prior to coming to BHG, he was on the faculty of the medical schools of Dartmouth College and the University of Pennsylvania, where he led addiction treatment services and taught at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate level.
Dr. Nordstrom was previously the Chief Clinical Officer and later the CEO of Phoenix House, a national provider of addiction treatment services. He served on the ASAM committee that generated National Practice Guidelines for the use of medications in the treatment of opioid use disorder and was a co-leader of the quality improvement learning collaboratives as part of the state of Vermont’s Hub and Spoke initiative. In addition, Dr. Nordstrom has deployed twice as a psychiatrist with the Army Reserves.
He received his medical degree from Dartmouth, his PhD in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania and completed his psychiatry and addiction psychiatry training at Columbia University Medical Center and the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
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Kamala Greene Genece, PhD
Chief Clinical Officer
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Dr. Kamala Greene Génecé is a New York state licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience in addiction treatment and cognitive-behavioral therapy for co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from Boston University and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Boston Veterans Administration Medical Center, with post-doctoral work at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.
Dr. Génecé has extensive experience teaching and supervising graduate students, psychiatry residents and Addiction Fellows in disseminating cognitive-behavioral treatments. She has also conducted specialized training in motivational interviewing and family therapy techniques.
Before joining BHG, Dr. Génecé was a Principal Consultant at Health Management Associates where she provided clinical and administrative support to behavioral health agencies. She helped implement evidence-based practices, assessed substance abuse treatment system capacity and developed strategic plans for program improvement.
Dr. Génecé served as Vice President of System Innovation & Quality at the Partnership to End Addiction, Chief Clinical Officer of Phoenix Houses NY/LI, Deputy Director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Montefiore Medical Center. At Montefiore, she was the Chair of the Quality Committee and provided administrative and clinical leadership to over 200 staff members, serving 3000 OTP patients annually. Additionally, she was the Administrative Director of Addiction Treatments at Bronx Lebanon Health Center, overseeing multiple levels of care.
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Kasie Plekkenpol
Chief Transformation Officer
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Kasie Plekkenpol serves as Chief Transformation Officer at Behavioral Health Group (BHG), where she leads enterprise-wide initiatives to strengthen organizational structure, systems and processes in support of BHG’s strategic goals. In this role, Kasie is responsible for building and overseeing the Transformation Office, applying best-in-class methodologies to drive continuous improvement, scalability and long-term growth across the organization.
Kasie brings extensive experience across both provider and payor environments, with a proven track record of adapting business models to evolving healthcare markets. Prior to joining BHG, she spent more than 10 years at Optum, where she held multiple senior leadership roles with increasing scope and responsibility. Her experience includes serving as Senior Vice President of Infusion Sales and Growth for Optum Rx and Senior Vice President of Practice Operations for Optum Health. Earlier in her career, Kasie held leadership roles at UnitedHealth Group and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.
Kasie has a Bachelor of Science in Management and Marketing from Drake University and an MBA from Bellevue University.
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Russell Goin
Chief People Officer
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Russell Goin has 20+ years of progressive Human Resources experience and an extensive background in Human Capital and Talent Management. As the Chief People Officer, he is focused on ensuring BHG has the human capital to achieve business objectives by acquiring, rewarding, engaging and developing exceptional talent. Russell is proud to take part in such purposeful work focused on restoring lives and strengthening communities through real, life-changing recovery. This work is done through advancing a culture and values that include Hope, Respect and Caring.
Russell possesses experience in a variety of industries, strategic planning, transformation, driving cultural change and mergers and acquisitions at both public and private companies. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Texas Tech University, an MBA from The University of Texas at Dallas and enjoys serving the community through non-profit boards.
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Jaimee McGuire
VP of Compliance, Chief Compliance Officer, Privacy Officer
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Jaimee McGuire has more than 35 years of experience in the medical field, specifically as a registered nurse and family nurse practitioner. Jaimee is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner and obtained her Master of Science in Nursing from Missouri State University in 2009 and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Chatham University in 2010. As the Chief Compliance Officer for Behavioral Health Group, Jaimee works closely with all functional areas of the organization to ensure all team members function within the guiding laws and regulations, allowing for the provision of safe and effective patient care. Jaimee is Certified in Healthcare Compliance through the Healthcare Compliance Association.
Jaimee has been with Behavioral Health Group since 2012 and has held various roles within the organization prior to becoming the Chief Compliance Officer, including Nurse Practitioner, Program Director and Director of Regulatory and Clinical Affairs. In addition to her role as Chief Compliance Officer, Jaimee also serves as the organization’s Privacy Officer and holds certification as a Privacy and Security Expert.
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Marlin Martin, CHC, MSW, LCSW, ICSW, CHPSE
Sr. Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
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Marlin Martin serves as the Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Behavioral Health Group (BHG), where he has been a cornerstone of the organization for over a decade. His expertise and dedication to regulatory excellence has played a pivotal role in shaping BHG’s success and ensuring its growth and compliance.
An esteemed alumnus of Missouri State University, Marlin’s academic background provided a solid foundation for his career in behavioral health. In addition, Marlin holds a Certification in Healthcare Compliance and is a proud HIPPA Privacy and Security Expert. His adept knowledge of legal and clinical frameworks has consistently reinforced the organization’s commitment to delivering superior care.
Marlin is responsible for overseeing all operations to meet the rigorous standards set by referral, state and local authorities, while also ensuring the highest quality of clinical practices. His extensive knowledge and strategic oversight have been imperative in maintaining the credibility and continued success of BHG. His leadership ensures that the organization not only meets but exceeds compliance requirements, benefiting patients and communities.
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Charles Panicker
Chief Revenue Officer
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As Chief Revenue Officer for BHG, Charles Panicker has responsibility over the revenue cycle functions of BHG’s Opioid Treatment Centers and OBOT clinics. Charles brings nearly 20 years of experience in revenue cycle operations, healthcare informatics, managed care, patient access services, healthcare finance, EMR systems and Mu0026A. Charles holds degrees in Finance from Baylor University and Southern Methodist University. Prior to joining BHG, Charles has held senior leadership roles in Revenue Cycle and Finance capacities with Meridian Medical Management (CareCloud), NorthStar Anesthesia, Parkland Hospital and Zotec Partners.
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Paul Di Vincenzo
Chief Technology Officer
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Paul Di Vincenzo brings over 25 years of leadership, strategy and transformation in IT. As the CTO, Paul is responsible for all technology, data, security and support of BHG’s information systems. Prior to BHG, Paul spent most of his career in the behavioral health sector in NYC and a short time in the education sector in Texas. He has implemented and managed several EHR systems, digitization of organizations and led the implementation of HIPAA Security and HITECH programs.
Paul holds a BS in Business Administration from the University at Buffalo and an MBA in Quantitative Analysis/Computer Information Systems from St. John’s University.
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John Whisler
Vice President, Finance
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John Whisler brings more than 25 years of Accounting and Finance expertise to BHG. As Vice President of Finance, John is responsible for all aspects of financial reporting, treasury management, debt compliance and external financial audits. He also provides strategic guidance across multiple corporate functions, including budgeting and forecasting, integration of acquisitions and business insurance. Prior to joining BHG, John held various leadership positions at companies in the manufacturing, consumer products and oil and gas industries. He began his career at Ernst & Young in its assurance and advisory practice. John is a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the State of Texas.
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Amanda Karistai, MBA, LCSW-BACS
Vice President, Operations
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Amanda Karistai joined the team at BHG New Orleans Westbank in 2012. She has held several roles within the organization and now serves as Vice President of Operations. Amanda received her MSW from Tulane University and MBA from Louisiana State University and is currently a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board Approved Clinical Supervisor. Amanda is dedicated to enhanced patient care, internal leadership development and achieving operational excellence across the organization.
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Matt Broussard
Area Vice President, Operations – South Central
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Matt Broussard serves as the Area Vice President of Operations for the South Central Region at Behavioral Health Group (BHG), where he leverages his extensive expertise and leadership skills to drive excellence across operations. With a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Texas Woman’s University, Matt brings a well-rounded educational background to his role.
Matt’s thorough experience in both business administration and management allows him to integrate strategic insights with effective business practices. His dedication to patient care and operational excellence ensures that BHG continues to provide top-tier behavioral health services to those that we serve.
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Paige Hendrickson, MHA, MBA
Area Vice President, Operations – East
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Paige Hendrickson began her professional career in behavioral healthcare and has over a decade of experience in operational health care leadership, with a strong focus on addiction medicine. Her accomplished career has been focused on driving initiatives for organizational growth and standardizing operations. She holds a Master Health Administration (MHA) from Western Kentucky University.
Paige held leadership positions with several private equity-backed health care companies. She previously served as Vice President of Health Services with a private Correctional Organization, where she was responsible for promoting quality of care standards. As a member of the executive team, Paige also focused on reducing staffing turnover, improving quality scores and managing key performance indicators (KPIs).
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Damian Walker
Area Vice President, Operations – West
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Damian Walker serves as the Area Vice President of Operations for the Western Region at BHG, bringing extensive expertise in business operations and strategic leadership. With a proven track record in financial management, staffing and performance optimization, he is committed to creating a positive impact on both the organization and its patients.
Damian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies & Economics from the University of Kansas and an MBA from the University of Denver, providing him with a strong foundation for success. His leadership will drive BHG’s mission to provide exceptional, patient-centered care, helping individuals achieve sustainable recovery through operational excellence across the Western Region.
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Josh Wright
Area Vice President, Operations – Midwest
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Josh Wright serves as the Area Vice President of Operations for the Midwest Region at BHG. He brings over a decade of experience with the organization, having first joined BHG as a counselor before advancing into leadership roles. Josh’s growth within the company reflects his strong commitment to patient-centered care, team development and operational excellence.
Josh holds a degree from The University of Southern Mississippi, where he built a strong foundation and capacity for leadership. In his current role, he focuses on supporting organizational growth and ensuring consistent, high-quality care across the Midwest region. Josh is dedicated to advancing BHG’s mission and leading with compassion, collaboration and purpose.
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Clinical Leadership
Behind every treatment center is a clinical leadership team committed to delivering safe, effective and compassionate care. Our clinical leaders include board-certified addiction medicine physicians, nurses, counselors, regional directors and specialists who oversee care delivery across more than 110+ treatment centers.
They develop clinical standards, mentor multi-disciplinary teams and ensure consistency, quality and accountability across all BHG locations. Their leadership ensures that every patient receives personalized treatment rooted in science and dignity.
Our clinical leaders provide:
Best-practice clinical protocols and care standards
Medication-assisted treatment oversight and management
Continued education and professional development for staff
Quality assurance and patient safety monitoring
Guidance on complex cases and individualized recovery plans
A Shared Vision for Recovery
Leadership at BHG is united by a single mission—restore hope and create pathways to long-term stability. Whether shaping national treatment models or supporting front-line clinical teams, BHG leaders work toward the same goal: helping individuals reclaim their lives and build healthier futures for themselves and their communities.
Our leadership culture is defined by:
Compassion
Accountability
Data-driven decision-making
Patient-centered integrity
Commitment to measurable outcomes
Every leader at BHG is dedicated to elevating addiction treatment and expanding its impact nationwide.