By Staff Writer
Behavioral Health News, Summer 2019
Debbie Pantin, David Minot, Dr. Peter Provet, Joyce Wale, Steve Coe, Daniel Etra, Eran Rosenthal, Ira Minot
It was a night to remember for everyone who attended the 2019 Leadership Awards Reception at the NYU Kimmel Center in New York City on May 22nd. Mental Health News Education, Inc. (MHNE), publisher of Behavioral Health News and Autism Spectrum News, celebrated its 20th Anniversary with leaders and supporters from the behavioral health and autism communities.
Honored at this year’s reception were: Steve Coe, CEO of Community Access, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award; Daniel Etra, CEO, and Eran Rosenthal, President and COO of Rethink Autism, received a Leadership Award; Peter Provet, Ph.D., President and CEO of Odyssey House, received a Community Service Award; and Joyce Wale, Regional Executive Director of United Healthcare, received a Corporate Leadership Award.
Debbie Pantin, MSW, President and CEO of Outreach and MHNE Board Chair, opened the evening’s program stating, “As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of MHNE, we are so proud to be honoring such a distinguished group of leaders from the behavioral health and autism communities.” Prior to the award presentations, Ira Minot, LMSW, Founder and Executive Director of MHNE and Publisher of Behavioral Health News, told a heartfelt story of his recovery from depression, entitled, “The Handshake of Hope.” His son David Minot, BA, Associate Director of MHNE, and Publisher of Autism Spectrum News, spoke of the organization’s vision for the future which will be greatly enhanced by MHNE’s launch of a more sophisticated internet and social media presence.
MHNE Vice-Chair, Rachel Fernbach, Esq., Deputy Director and Assistant General Counsel of the New York State Psychiatric Association and MHNE Board Secretary and 2019 Leadership Award Reception Event Chair, Yvette BrissettAndré, MPA, Executive Director and CEO of Unique People Services, stated, “We both want to thank our many 2019 event sponsors and guests for their outstanding support of our 20th Anniversary event. Thanks to their efforts, we raised over $100,000 which will go directly to expanding MHNE’s educational mission.”