Jean Yang, MBA
As President & Chief Executive Officer of Vinfen, Jean Yang is responsible for the organization’s overall strategic direction, ensuring that it aligns with Vinfen’s core mission and is successfully delivered through rigorous operation, strong workforce development, market-leading innovation, and extensive collaboration with stakeholders across the health and human services sector.
Ms. Yang brings 20 years of healthcare experience spanning across payer, provider, and government entities to her role as Vinfen’s leader. Prior to joining Vinfen in 2022, she spent five years as President of Public Plans at Point32Health, where she led the company’s division that provided health insurance to over 500,000 Medicaid and other low-income members. Ms. Yang’s professional experience also includes serving as the Executive Director of Boston Children’s Hospital’s Integrated Care Organization (CHICO) from 2015 to 2017 and leading the Massachusetts Health Connector Authority from 2010 to 2015, during which time she led the complex effort to implement the Affordable Care Act throughout the Commonwealth.
Ms. Yang is a first-generation immigrant from China. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Peking University of China, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School. An active leader in health care policy, Ms. Yang has served on numerous Boards of healthcare organizations, including the Health Policy Commission, Group Insurance Commission, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, and Massachusetts Health Quality Partners.
Jeanne Russo, MA
Jeanne Russo, Vinfen’s Chief Operating Officer, has over 30 years of experience in the behavioral health field, and has been with Vinfen since 2004. In July of 2019, she moved into the position of Senior Vice President of Community-Based Mental Health at Vinfen, and in 2022, Ms. Russo was promoted to her current role as Vinfen’s COO. During her tenure with the organization, Ms. Russo has provided leadership to the staff and programs of our DMH-funded community-based services in Northeast Massachusetts, and developed and designed community-based services that support adults with mental health conditions living and working in their communities.
Prior to joining Vinfen, Ms. Russo spent much of her career focused on providing services to people from underserved communities. She spent 10 years in the communities of Chelsea, Revere, East Boston, Winthrop, and Boston developing specialized outpatient, day treatment, and outreach support to primarily Hispanic communities. Ms. Russo provided operational oversight to a community-based mental health provider located in Chelsea, as well as directly overseeing the Southeast Asian American Team, a collaboration between multiple service providers that worked with Chinese, Cambodian, and Vietnamese immigrants.
Ms. Russo received her master’s degree in counseling from Assumption College. She has played a key role on a number of committees dedicated to critical human service initiatives, including the Stakeholder Advisory Committee that informed the development of the community mental health system Adult Community Clinical Services (ACCS).
Kim Shellenberger, MBA
Kim Shellenberger is Vinfen’s Chief Strategy Officer and, in this role, she utilizes her 25+ years of experience in program development, health improvement, and care system integration for underserved populations to lead Vinfen’s ongoing strategy development, planning work, and new service expansion.
Prior to joining Vinfen, Ms. Shellenberger worked for the Medicaid-Medicare health plan and health care delivery network Commonwealth Care Alliance , leading the development and implementation of its One Care program. She began her career in healthcare policy and advocacy , working at the national organization Community Catalyst . Her first job was working as a community organizer at the health policy and advocacy organization Health Care For All.
Ms. Shellenberger holds a bachelor’s degree from Earlham College and a master’s degree in business administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management. Working with a Northeastern University team, she has consulted in the areas of population health and health and human services integration, and she is the co-author of case studies of cross-sector, health improvement efforts addressing social determinants of health. Ms. Shellenberger currently serves on the Board of Directors of Health Care For All.
Annette Kovamees
Annette Kovamees is Vinfen’s Interim Chief Financial Officer, and oversees the areas of revenue cycle, controllership, procurement, accounts payable, and payroll. She joined Vinfen in August of 2022.
Ms. Kovamees’ 25+ years of professional experience includes leadership roles in accounting and finance within different industries such as software, managed care, healthcare & health insurance, internet retail, and commercial property management. Prior to joining Vinfen, she was the Controller for Beacon Health Strategies (now Beacon Health Options) and the Vice President of Financial Operations at Commonwealth Care Alliance. Ms. Kovamees has a proven track record of continuously improving and streamlining financial and accounting operations through process review and implementation of new systems and procedures.
Ms. Kovamees has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and strategic management from Lund University in Sweden.
Jon Burt
Jon Burt is Vinfen’s Chief Information and Technology Officer and oversees all facets of the organization’s Information Technology (IT) Department, including strategic planning, IT operations, project management, vendor management, customer service, database management, management of Vinfen’s electronic health record platforms, and report design/development. Mr. Burt joined Vinfen in March 2014 as the Director of Information Technology, was promoted to Vice President of Information Technology in October 2014, and then to CIO in 2017.
Mr. Burt’s experience in the IT field runs the gamut from individual contribution and contract technical work through higher-level supervisory jobs. His employer experience spans multiple industries , including financial consulting, software development, security systems manufacturing, and healthcare. Prior to Vinfen, he was employed at Vision Government Solutions Inc. , where he served as both the Director of Business Operations and the Customer Support Manager—responsible for oversight of the Providence, RI business operations, company-wide external customer support, and internal IT functions.
Mr. Burt holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Connecticut College. Prior to entering the IT industry, Mr. Burt worked for several years in the United States Merchant Marines as a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Deck Officer, working aboard sailing ships, managing deck operations, teaching marine education, and working with nonprofit organizations serving youth at risk and adjudicated youth.
Lurleen Gannon, Esq.
Lurleen Gannon serves as Chief Legal Officer for Vinfen Corporation and its affiliated entities. In her role , she manages all of Vinfen’s legal services, including contracts, litigation, employment law counseling, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and risk management. Ms. Gannon also oversees corporate compliance for the organization.
Prior to joining Vinfen, Ms. Gannon served as First Deputy General Counsel for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, where she advised MBTA and MassDOT senior leadership on a wide range of legal and business matters. Before the MBTA, Ms. Gannon was in private practice as a commercial litigator for many years at Conn Kavanaugh in Boston.
Ms. Gannon received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada in 1999 , and a Juris Doctorate from Boston College Law School in 2002. She currently serves as chair of the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts (WBA) In-House Counsel Committee and is also a member of the WBA’s Awards & Recognition Committee. She also is a past President and Executive Board Member of the WBA, a past Board Member of the Boston College Law School Alumni Association, a past Board Member of Young Audiences of Massachusetts, and is also a frequent speaker on topics of interest to in-house counsel and other healthcare providers.
Peggy Johnson, MD
Dr. Peggy Johnson is Vinfen’s Chief Medical Officer, and leads the organization’s clinical strategy development and execution, ensuring that Vinfen’s community-based mental health and disability programs are positioned to deliver high-quality, clinically-focused, and person-centered services.
Dr. Johnson has an extensive background in caring for individuals with chronic mental health conditions, in both clinical and operational settings. Before joining Vinfen, she served as Vice President and Chief of Psychiatry for Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA), where she was instrumental in driving strategic initiatives to better support individuals with mental health conditions. Prior to her work at Commonwealth Care Alliance, she spent several years serving as Vice President of Psychiatric Services at Boston Medical Center, the largest safety net institution in New England. Dr. Johnson began her career as a public sector psychiatrist with a focus on those with chronic and persistent mental health conditions.
Dr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston and an MD from Baylor College of Medicine. She trained in general adult psychiatry at Harvard Medical School’s Cambridge Hospital Psychiatry Residency Program. Dr. Johnson has received numerous awards and honors – including the Marie Feltin Award, the NAMI Exemplary Psychiatrist Award, and the Massachusetts Psychiatrist Society’s Outstanding Psychiatrist Award – and has served as a lecturer at a number of institutions.
Ivette Arias, MHRM
Ivette Arias is Vinfen’s Chief People Officer, responsible for leading the organization’s human resources department. In this role, she oversees all aspects of HR management, training and compliance for the organization, while continually expanding upon the department’s robust engagement, recognition, wellness, and DEI functions for Vinfen employees.
Ms. Arias is a seasoned human resources professional, with extensive expertise in directing complex HR functions for healthcare and social services organizations. She comes to Vinfen from the Pine Street Inn in Boston, where she spent just over two years as Vice President of Human Capital for the well-known provider of homelessness services. Prior to that, Ms. Arias held high-level HR positions with organizations including the Codman Square Health Center, the Lynn Community Health Center, and Commonwealth Care Alliance.
Ms. Arias holds an associate’s degree in business administration and management from Roxbury Community College, a bachelor’s degree in public policy and community studies from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, and a master’s degree in human resources management from Emmanuel College.
Don Condie, MD
Dr. Don Condie is Vinfen’s Northeast Medical Director. In that role, he provides senior mental health and medical leadership to all Vinfen programs. This includes the development, implementation, and monitoring of medical, mental health, and clinical policies and services; quality improvement; and risk management activities. He assists in program development and in communications with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the people Vinfen serves, other care-giving institutions and professionals, and the general community as needed.
Prior to working at Vinfen, Dr. Condie practiced at Massachusetts General Hospital for 23, and spent 20 years in the Crisis Unit at Brockton Multiservice Center. He also worked for the Department of Mental Health as a Child Psychiatrist.
Dr. Condie received his medical degree from Louisiana State University Medical School in 1982. He trained in adult, child, and adolescent Forensic Psychiatry at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, and has extensive experience working with both children and adults with severe mental health conditions. Dr. Condie is a past President of the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.
Joseph F. Gomes, MA
Joseph Gomes is Vinfen’s Senior Vice President of Developmental and Brain Injury Service. Mr. Gomes has worked for Vinfen since 1983, and in that time, he has played a critical role in the evolution of Vinfen’s services, led the advance of best practices , and innovated new ways to provide high-quality care to the people we serve. H is tenure has seen him involved in all aspects of services—from operating behaviorally challenging residential programs, to overseeing day teams as the Senior Director of Service for the Metro-South cluster of residential programs and the Developmental Services Division’s day services.
Prior to joining Vinfen, he spent two years in Rhode Island working for the Judge Rotenberg Center (formerly the Behavior Research Institute), where he received extensive training in Applied Behavior Analysis.
Mr. Gomes has a master’s degree in agency counseling and educational psychology.
Elizabeth Cella, MS
Elizabeth Cella is the Senior Vice President of Community-Based Mental Health at Vinfen , and has provided leadership, clinical supervision, and program development for a wide array of services and programs at Vinfen over the past 25 years.
In her role, Ms. Cella provid es leadership and operational oversight to programs and services that support over 5000+ people in a variety of settings. During her time at Vinfen, she has developed and designed community-based services in her varied roles to provide services and supports to adults with mental health conditions to live and work in their communities. These include fidelity-based models of PACT and ACT and Individualized Placement and Support, and the fidelity-informed model of the Transition to Independence Program. Prior to being named VP, Ms. Cella served as Vinfen’s Director of Integrated Care and Innovation.
Ms. Cella earned her bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College, and a master’s degree in psychiatric rehabilitation counseling from Boston University.
Lisa Goldsmith
Lisa Goldsmith is Vinfen’s Vice President of Integrated Care. In this role, she oversees programs in care integration, including One Care Health Home, Housing Flexible Services, and Vinfen’s Behavioral Health Community Partner and Long-Term Services and Support service models. She is also responsible for the development of new services, innovative technology programs and grants, and state and federally funded research studies with a specialty focus on integrated healthcare transformation and technology to enhance service delivery.
Prior to her promotion in 2023, Ms. Goldsmith most recently served as the agency’s Director of Integrated Care. Before that, she was Director of Care Coordination for the Division, where she developed new collaborative partnerships with several Accountable Care and Managed Care plans, led the design of quality improvement initiatives, and supported the development and implementation of new care coordination programs within Vinfen.
Ms. Goldsmith holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Stonehill College, and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Framingham State University.
Rob Crane, MS
Rob Crane is the Vice President and Executive Director of Vinfen Connecticut. He oversees the entirety of Vinfen’s Connecticut program, both in day-to-day operations and in developing and implementing strategic plans for the organization.
Mr. Crane joined Vinfen in 1992 as a relief overnight staff member at Bay View Inn, beginning an extensive career providing direct services to people experiencing homelessness and substance use challenges. In the years to follow , he steadily progressed through the organization in Massachusetts before moving to Connecticut. Mr. Crane was an essential part of the team that established Vinfen Connecticut in 2000—more than two decades later, Vinfen Connecticut is a reputable and well-respected provider of the state’s Developmental Disability Services (DDS) and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS).
Mr. Crane holds a bachelor’s degree in human services from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, and a master’s degree in nonprofit management and philanthropy from Bay Path University.
Madeline Becker, PhD
Madeline Becker, PhD, is the Senior Vice President of Quality and Analytics at Vinfen. Dr. Becker serves on the executive team and supervises the operations of the Quality and Compliance Department. She also serves as the Corporate Compliance Officer reporting directly to the Board of Directors overseeing matters related to adherence with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Dr. Becker serves as the Privacy Officer for the organization.
Dr. Becker manages current clinical information systems including development, reporting, training, and lead efforts to identify and procure additional clinical systems to support operations. She is responsible for the leadership, direction, and oversight of the Internal Audit Program helping ensure the development and implementation of the audit plan and manage the process to review research activities for appropriate use of company resources and compliance with all pertinent laws and regulations. Dr. Becker provides analytic support and thought leadership to new business efforts and represents Vinfen by leading and participating in external working groups or committees.
Dr. Becker holds a doctorate degree in Psychology from Boston University and has presented at numerous national and regional conferences and meetings.
Patricia Cooper, MBA
Pat Cooper is Vice President of Real Estate for Vinfen. In this role, she is responsible for planning and directing all property acquisition, disposition, affordable housing, leasing, construction, and facilities management activities for the organization.
Ms. Cooper brings 35 years of real estate expertise to her role at Vinfen, overseeing a portfolio of 500+ residential and commercial locations. Her experience includes leadership positions in commercial, residential, industrial, and retail property administration and management. Prior to joining Vinfen, Ms. Cooper served as Vice President at Trammell Crow Company and Senior Manager of Property Management and Leasing at Harvard University .
Ms. Cooper earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Simmons School of Management . She is a licensed Real Estate Broker and an active member in CREW Boston (Commercial Real Estate Women).
Julie Banda, MPH
Julie Banda is Vinfen’s Vice President of Communications & Development and is responsible for developing and implementing strategic marketing plans to communicate company mission, vision, goals, initiatives, and achievements; further company visibility; raise awareness; and drive fundraising. She oversees the company’s brand identity and establishes the creative and editorial strategy across Vinfen’s various communication channels, corporate events, and paid advertising.
Ms. Banda has over 25 years of marketing, brand strategy, research, program development, and management expertise in the public health sector. Prior to joining Vinfen, Ms. Banda served as Director of Brand Strategy and Research at MORE Advertising , and has held roles at precisioneffect , Health Resources in Action , and Massachusetts Institute of Technology .
Ms. Banda holds a bachelor’s degree in adult health fitness and health education from the College of Charleston, and a master’s degree of public health in social and behavioral sciences from Boston University .
Daniela Johnson, LICSW
Daniela Johnson is Executive Director of Vinfen’s Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC) and Outpatient Services and, in this role, she leads these important services that provide urgent behavioral supports to individuals in the Greater Lowell area. Ms. Johnson assumed this key position following a stint as Interim Director of Acute/Emergency Services for the CBHC, during which time she liaised with and managed the CBHC’s Mobile Crisis Teams. In addition, she and her team developed the policies, processes, and systems required to implement the CBHC’s youth and adult Community Crisis Stabilization Units.
Ms. Johnson has worked for Vinfen since July of 2012. She began in our Community Based Flexible Support program and transitioned to Adult Community Clinical Support Services, later being named Associate Director of Services for the Northeast Area. Most recently, she served as Director of Clinical Practice and Standards and Projects for the Behavioral Health and Integrated Care programs, where she provided support to staff on the front lines and in management roles.
Ms. Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and her master’s degree in social work from Boston University. She is also a 2021 graduate of the esteemed MICHL Academy sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield—a highly competitive program that admits 20 individuals across the state every 2 years to advance their leadership goals and commitment to health equity, and to contribute to expanding their organization’s vision.
