Meet the Team
BBS team members are curious, optimistic and determined to make a difference. We have worked at all levels of behavioral health systems and services, with a mix of masters- and doctorally-trained licensed clinicians, former treatment organization executives, state behavioral health and Medicaid officials, and association and payer leaders.
Jake Bowling, MSW
Chief Executive Officer
Jake brings over 10 years of experience designing, overseeing, and executing behavioral health strategy, policy, technical assistance, and programming/services.
As the Chief Executive Officer of BBS, Jake oversees the firm’s strategy, business development, and operations. He also supports a portfolio of consulting projects in the areas of strategic planning, service design/implementation, and payment and delivery reforms. Prior to establishing BBS in 2017, Jake served as an Assistant Vice President at the National Council for Behavioral Health (now the National Council for Mental Wellbeing), supporting its largest department responsible for technical assistance, practice improvement, and consulting, as well as the entire organization’s contracts department. He also served as key personnel on federal projects with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Health Resources and Services Administration, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Jake believes that behavioral health services should be engaging, accessible, consumer-driven, evidence-based, viewed as vital/routine to health, and completely free of all forms of discrimination toward persons with substance use and mental health issues.
Jake holds a Master in Social Work from Temple University and has participated in various leadership programs, including the National Council’s Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program and the Center for Progressive Leadership’s Young Leaders Program. He also currently serves on the National Small Business Association’s Leadership Council. He is a native West Virginian, foodie, outdoors/travel enthusiast, and avid chess and cards player.
Dane K. Ligoure, MA, MBA
Chief Operating Officer
Dane has over 20 years of experience in business operations and administration, developing, implementing, and managing organizational systems and processes, in support of organizational growth and development.
As Chief Operating Officer, Dane leads BBS's central-office operations, such as fiscal, human resources, quality and compliance, information technology and evaluation. Prior to BBS, he served as the Director of Operations at the Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC), a nonprofit healthcare consulting organization based in New York City. Prior to PCDC, Dane served as program manager for the CUNY Aviation Institute, where he played an integral role in developing the University’s first aviation studies program.
Dane holds a Master of Business Administration from Baruch College, CUNY, a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from Ball State University, as well as several certificates, including project management and the Patient-Centered Medical Home model. Dane is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, loves dogs and has 12 of them. In his retirement he plans to open a dog sanctuary.
Melissa Bailey, MA, LPC
Principal
Melissa has over 25 years of experience in mental health primarily in state government roles. She has also worked in roles related to community mental health, direct services, and mental health state associations.
Melissa provides strategic leadership support to state governments, working closely with leaders to improve the health and human services system both within the governmental structure and within the provider network. She works closely with all levels of staff to transform service delivery for mental health and substance abuse at all levels of care, from prevention through treatment. Her role also includes work on state-led federal grants and system improvement projects that include transformation activities and program design. With her clinical background and years in leadership positions, she aligns efforts and facilitates strategic change so resources are used efficiently, and better outcomes are achieved.
Prior to joining BBS, Melissa was the Director of Behavioral Health and Child Health Transformation at the Center for Health Care Strategies. The majority of her career has been in state government, most recently as the Commissioner for the Vermont Department of Mental Health. Melissa earned a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Northern Vermont University and is a licensed professional counselor in Pennsylvania. She is also the co-host of the State of Mind podcast, exploring better ways to deliver mental health and substance abuse care. Melissa lives in Philadelphia with her husband Leroy, and dogs Jerome and Sharlee. She loves to travel, eat out, and runs and bikes when the weather is right. She is on the re-entry committee for New Leash on Life which pulls dogs from high-kill shelters and works with inmates who gain job skills by training the dogs for more successful adoption.
Selina Hickman
Principal
Selina provides strategic design, development, planning, and implementation support for state agencies including agenda planning, facilitation, research, presentations and written deliverables. Her subject matter expertise includes Medicaid policy, special health needs populations, payment and delivery system reform.
Before joining BBS, Selina worked since 2007 for state agencies in Vermont and Oregon. Her notable efforts include directing Developmental Disabilities Services for the State of Vermont during the global COVID-19 pandemic; implementation of a comprehensive, statewide mental health payment reform initiative in 2019; leadership and negotiation of Vermont’s comprehensive 1115 waiver in 2016; and, working as the Director of Policy for the Vermont State Medicaid organization during implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Selina started her state Medicaid career in the State of Oregon where she focused on systems for long term services and supports and on development and implementation of Coordinated Care Organizations.
Selina holds a bachelor's degree from Portland State University, has completed courses in Public Administration from Willamette University, and is a graduate of multiple leadership academies.
Kerry D. King, PsyD, MBA
Principal
Kerry is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with two decades of experience working with individuals, families and organizations. She has provided consultancy services to schools, global and domestic civil service organizations, as well as a variety of stakeholders in the behavioral health and education sectors. Her work has spanned the United States and many countries in the Caribbean.
Immediately prior to joining BBS, Kerry served as the Senior Vice President of Clinical Services for a national behavioral health care provider. Throughout her career she has held a variety of clinical and leadership roles, including directing ambulatory and residential behavioral health agencies. She has owned and operated a psychology group practice and a retail entity which supplied educationally stimulating toys and games to families and schools. Her specialties include the treatment of individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, trauma informed care, child and adolescent development, clinical program development/deployment and implementation of clinical best practices within systems of care.
Kerry holds Doctor of Clinical Psychology and Master of Business Administration (Healthcare Management) degrees from Widener University in Pennsylvania. She also completed undergraduate studies in Specific Learning Disability Education, Elementary Education and Psychology at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio.
Laura Line, MS
Principal
As a builder and a strategist, Laura supports stronger health, behavioral health, and safety net services for people with complex needs. Laura has a passion for improving health equity and integrating health and behavioral healthcare. She provides strategic leadership and support as part of BBS’s behavioral health team and leads the BBS Align team to facilitate sustained collaborations, including mergers and alliances among nonprofits.
Before joining BBS, Laura held leadership roles in nonprofits, supporting effective community-based healthcare delivery and assisting local, regional, and national clients on a wide range of strategic projects and initiatives. She has helped federally-qualified health centers and social service organizations by running initiatives and securing funding for quality improvement, integrated behavioral health, public health initiatives, and youth development.
Laura holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from the New School in New York City and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in her home state.
Rachael Matulis, MPH
Principal
Rachael oversees and advises projects related to innovative payment and delivery system reforms in behavioral health. Her work includes the development of briefs, webinars, and technical assistance tools designed to help improve care for individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders. She brings expertise on the design and implementation of value-based payment programs; assessment of behavioral health system needs and gaps; and the integration of behavioral health and oral health.
Prior to her role at BBS, Rachael was Associate Director of Payment Reform at the Center for Health Care Strategies, where she oversaw projects designed to advance value-based payment programs in Medicaid. Prior to that, she managed the development of evaluation and outcomes reports for Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania. Previously, she conducted health policy research for the U.S. Congress with the U.S. Government Accountability Office, and also served as an AmeriCorps member at Soundview Community Health Center in the Bronx, where she worked toward reducing disparities in health care.
Rachael holds a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health and a bachelor’s degree in health science education from the University of Florida. Rachael lives in Ponte Vedra, Florida with her husband and two kids. She is enrolled in a two-year mindfulness meditation teacher certification program, and enjoys yoga, volleyball, cooking, and working toward a zero waste lifestyle.
Ann Ritter, JD, MPH
Principal
Ann supports and advises state agencies and nonprofit organizations on program planning, design, and implementation. She is an expert grant writer who has secured millions of dollars in government, corporate and foundation funding. Ann also conducts landscape assessments, environmental scans, and qualitative research to inform and advise organizational strategy and operations.
Ann has over 15 years of experience working with nonprofits in roles related to program development, fundraising, grants management, research, and health policy. Prior to joining BBS, Ann served as a Program Officer for the Burke Foundation, where she managed a signature statewide initiative focused on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Previously, Ann served in staff roles with the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium and Susan G. Komen Philadelphia. Ann has researched and contributed to numerous published articles, book chapters, issue briefs and reports on topics related to public health, the healthcare workforce, and health policy.
Ann graduated with distinction from Yale University. She earned her law degree from Temple University, and her master’s degree in public health from George Washington University. She is a member of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. Ann enjoys running, traveling, and eating all kinds of good food.
Wyatt Schroeder, MBA
Principal
Wyatt has worked on the issues of homelessness and affordable housing for over 13 years, stemming from a fervent belief that everyone deserves a safe, stable, and affordable home. He has served roles from executive nonprofit leadership to grassroots organizer to local government official.
Prior to joining BBS, Wyatt was the Director of Community Partnerships for the City of Boise, guiding all social service partnerships for City Hall. He has served a number of roles in his work on housing equity, including Executive Director of CATCH, Idaho’s largest supportive housing agency and Senior Manager at Agnew::Beck Consulting, serving communities in Idaho and Alaska by designing and managing public-private partnerships that led to the development of affordable housing and increased housing outcomes for marginalized populations.
Wyatt is proud to have been a key leader in the development of Our Path Home, the public-private partnership in Ada County, Idaho dedicated to ending homelessness. This leadership led to the creation of the state’s first coordinated entry system on homelessness; developing New Path Community Housing, the state’s first Housing First-based supportive housing building; and launching the Campaign to End Family Homelessness, a five-year strategy to bring aggressive philanthropy and innovative service design to achieve functional zero.
Wyatt holds a Master of Business Administration from Villanova University and a Bachelor of Arts from Allegheny College. He received a professional certificate on Real Estate Development from Fordham University. You can find him living in Philadelphia, watching baseball or sneaking into the Wissahickon for the afternoon or on his stoop with a guitar in his hand.
Rachael Faulkner, MSW
Senior Consultant
Rachael brings over 15 years of public policy experience, advancing state-level legislative, regulatory, and policy initiatives in behavioral health, health occupations, disabilities, and education.
As a Senior Consultant at BBS, Rachael provides strategic support to government agencies to enhance behavioral health systems of care, including strategic planning, project management, and interagency initiatives. Prior to joining BBS, Rachael served as the Director of Research and Policy Development at Public Policy Partners in Maryland, where she expanded the scope of practice and reimbursement for health professionals and significantly increased state-funding for school health services after 20-plus years of flat funding. Rachael has also served as the Director of Government Affairs and Communications at the Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration, where she managed the development of statutory and regulatory rules for the creation of the agency and integration of mental health and substance use disorder service. Rachael also served as the Director of Interagency Affairs at Maryland’s Department of Disabilities. In 2020, the Maryland Daily Record named Rachael among their annual VIP List - Very Important Professionals Successful by 40 for her advocacy in promoting school health services as part of the state’s education reform efforts.
Rachael holds a Master in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, with a specialization in Social Action and Community Development. Rachael lives in Annapolis, Maryland with her husband and two children. She enjoys traveling, boating, and gardening.
Sophie Lamarche, MPH
Senior Consultant
Sophie is a Senior Consultant with over five years of diverse experience in the healthcare space. She has provided consulting services to a variety of private and nonprofit health organizations, including strategic planning, operational improvement, and project management.
Starting her career as an EMT in Seattle, Sophie was inspired to drive upstream change in the healthcare system and maintains a steadfast motivation to address the social determinants of health. She has also served as a lead care coordinator for a large primary care clinic, where she navigated crisis response planning during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Prior to joining BBS, Sophie worked as a consultant for a global business and technology consultancy, focusing on project and change management for healthcare clients.
Sophie earned a Master's in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Gonzaga University in her home state of Washington. In her free time, Sophie loves to run, ski, cook, and watch sports.
KC Wu, MPH
Senior Consultant
KC is a public health professional and project manager with five years of experience in the behavioral health field. Her work includes the development of written deliverables, trainings, national webinars, and other technical assistance tools to support state, local, and community-based stakeholders to improve access to quality care for people who use drugs.
Prior to joining BBS, KC served in numerous roles at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, most recently as a Director of Practice Improvement and Consulting. She oversaw CDC and SAMHSA-funded technical assistance projects to increase access to medications for opioid use disorder in CCBHCs and across the criminal justice continuum, enhance overdose prevention and harm reduction strategies within health departments and community-based organizations, implement trauma-informed, recovery-oriented systems of care in local communities, and expand education on recovery housing policy and implementation strategies.
KC graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master of Public Health from George Washington University. She lives in Washington, DC and enjoys eating out, going to concerts, and cat-sitting for friends.
Katrina Guinan
Human Resources Payroll and Benefits Administrator
As the Human Resources Payroll and Benefits Administrator, Katrina is responsible for the successful management of payroll, health benefits and 401K administration at BBS. She brings over 15 years of experience providing high-level administrative and operational support in the behavioral health space, including at the Vermont Department of Mental Health.
Katrina holds a Bachelor's Degree in Legal Studies from Champlain College. Prior to coming to BBS, Katrina worked as a Mental Health Law paralegal for the state of Vermont, where she currently lives with her husband and two children.
Blake Bowling
Operations Consultant
Blake oversees all back-end business operations for BBS. He brings over 10 years of experience in the business arena, including working for Fortune 500 companies in logistics and operations. He is a data/business analyst with skills in Python, Tableau, SQL, and Excel. He uses these tools to develop insights to inform internal business decision-making and to assist clients when making complex business decisions.
In addition to his work with BBS, Blake is currently employed as a Master Data Analyst at Campbell Soup Company. Blake lives in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania with his wife Kathleen and is a dedicated Philly sports fan that enjoys chess, and a good documentary.