By: Brayden Ransom, MHC’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator
MHC is pleased to announce that President and CEO, Luis B. Pérez has been recognized as a 2022 C-Suite Award honoree by the Hartford Business Journal (HBJ).HBJ’s 2022 C-suite Awards recognize top executives who have made significant contributions to their companies over the last year. Luis and other honorees have been identified as leaders who stood out for their commitment to excellence and guiding their companies through extremely difficult conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Luis’ broad background includes age-specific clinical and cultural competencies for working with child, adolescent, and adult populations and their families. With leadership positions both in the private and public sectors, Luis has a proven track record in behavioral health outcomes-based management, strategic planning, network development, public policy, budgeting, grant writing and fundraising.
“Luis consistently goes above and beyond in his role as President and CEO as well as in the communities we serve,” said Scott Brabant, Board Chair of Mental Health Connecticut. “His passion for collaborating across health care stakeholders to improve the health and well-being of diverse communities and his demonstrated ability to reinvent more sustainable and affordable offerings will help drive Mental Health Connecticut’s next stage of growth.”
Since joining MHC in 2013, Luis has led a transformation of MHC that has included an investment in reliable systems and structures that have allowed the organization to deepen its impact, improve outcomes, and support innovation. MHC continues to lead the state on public policy initiatives that elevate the importance of community-based care that supports health and wellness as a goal for everyone and reduces the long-term reliance on state-funding.
“I am grateful to receive this highly respected award from the Hartford Business Journal,” said Luis B. Perez. “My focus is on accelerating our growth and continuing to drive operational excellence while helping people get the care, they need to live a better life. I feel fortunate to be part of such an incredible team of caring and compassionate people with the same goal.”
Six years ago, Luis identified the importance of investing in an Electronic Health Record (EHR). Investing in an EHR has put MHC ahead of the curve in the mental health field and has allowed MHC to ensure quality improvement and resource allocation are top priorities for the agency. In 2019, Luis and his public policy team created the CT Parity Coalition, bringing together 25+ groups from across the state (and others from across the country) to lead the charge on improving laws that ensure behavioral health is covered by private insurance at the same level as other health conditions. This investment in the Coalition paid off as the parity bill passed unanimously during the 2019 legislative session.
When Luis joined the organization, MHC was operating at about 95% state funded. Today,
MHC is closer to 88%, and have successfully created more diversified funding streams and increased our opportunities for more sustainable funding. MHC’s corporate partnerships have increased by 40%, we have launched innovative programs that are being purchased by other agencies and national organizations, and our community-based funding and individual giving grows by at least 9% each year. Under Luis’ leadership, MHC has expanded its staffing resources in our service areas and has established itself as a primary advisor for state agency teams.
During the height of the pandemic, MHC was awarded a Platinum level rating (the highest offered) for Mental Health America’s Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health. The Bell Seal is a first-of-its-kind workplace mental health certification that recognizes employers who strive to create mentally healthy workplaces for their employees.
A dynamic leader and advocate, Luis continues to empower growth of the community through his involvement with organizations and nonprofits. Luis has served on over 20 boards, task forces, and committees over his career. Notable positions include; current Board Chair for the CT Community Nonprofit Alliance (“the Alliance”), board member and Corporator for the American School for the Deaf, part of The New England Advisory Team (NEAT), comprised of key stakeholders from across the region to help identify priority need areas and guide the training of The New England Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC). He also recently served on the board of Mental Health America (MHA) and continues to serve on the Affiliate Relations committee and as Vice Chair of MHA’s Anti-Racism, Equity, and Social Justice Committee.
Read more about Luis’ experience and leadership at Mental Health Connecticut here.
See the full list of C-Suite Award honorees here.
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