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.
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 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.
Chad Cotter
Chad Cotter is Vinfen’s Chief People Officer, responsible for leading the organization’s human resources department in its support and development of the Vinfen workforce. In this role, he oversees all aspects of HR service delivery, including recruitment, HR management and operations, benefits, training, and compliance, while also executing strategies in employee engagement, recognition, wellness, belonging, and development.
Mr. Cotter brings diverse and expansive human resources leadership experience to Vinfen, with seasoned expertise in leading teams within academic healthcare and research organizations. He joined Vinfen in May of 2024, after previously working at The Jackson Laboratory with locations in Maine, Connecticut, California, and Japan. Prior to this, Mr. Cotter worked within Boston’s healthcare community, holding HR leadership roles at Boston Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital.
Mr. Cotter holds a bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy from Boston College.
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.
Daniel Joo
Dan Joo is Vinfen’s Chief Analytics & Performance Officer responsible for the organization’s analytics and performance management strategy, measurement infrastructure, and ensuring processes around data-driven decision making and business execution. Mr. Joo joined the organization in December of 2024.
Mr. Joo brings extensive experience in health care analytics and thought leadership in data-driven performance management. He comes from Community Care Cooperative (C3), where he most recently served as the Vice President of Corporate Strategy & ACO Contracting. His roles prior to C3 include Upham’s Community Care and the Center for Health Information and Analysis.
Mr. Joo holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Rutgers University and a master’s in public health from Boston University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance.
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.
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).
David Brown
David Brown is Vinfen’s Vice President of Communications & Development, and in that role leads Vinfen’s efforts to increase our presence in the community and develop new partnerships with private funders. Prior to joining Vinfen, Mr. Brown served as the Executive Director of the Cam Neely Foundation.
A familiar face to many in the Boston area as a meteorologist, anchor, and reporter for WCVB-TV and recognized as a passionate community service spokesperson, Mr. Brown followed up a 27-year career in broadcasting by pivoting full-time to non-profit work. He has served as Chief Advancement Officer for organizations including the Massachusetts Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired and MAB Adult Disability Services, and has been an active volunteer supporter of non-profits as an auctioneer; a Boston Marathon runner for Boston Medical Center, Community Services, and the Forsyth Institute; and a bicyclist for the Harbor to the Bay AIDS ride.
Mr. Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and English from Indiana University, and a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from Mississippi State University. He serves on the board of directors for The Speakeasy Stage Company and the Massachusetts Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
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.
Sandy Schultz, LICSW
Sandy Schultz serves as Vinfen’s Vice President of Specialized Services, bringing over 25 years of dedicated experience supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. Sandy’s journey with Vinfen began as a cooperative education student from Northeastern University. Over the years, she has steadily advanced through various managerial roles, showcasing her commitment and leadership.
In her current role, Sandy oversees Vinfen’s Brain Injury Division and plays a pivotal role in developing and supporting individualized living arrangements and traditional residential homes within the Developmental Services Division. Her efforts have been instrumental in expanding Vinfen’s Brain Injury Division, which now encompasses multiple residential homes, specialized services, and the Vinfen Brain Injury Community Center.
Sandy holds a bachelor’s degree in human services from Northeastern University and a master’s degree in social work from Salem State University. She is also a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), affirming her expertise and dedication to the field.
Hanh Tran
Hanh Tran is Vinfen’s Vice President of Talent Acquisition and Community Engagement. In this role, Hanh leads Vinfen’s recruitment strategies and other talent building efforts. Hanh’s teams grow and sustain critical relationships that will guarantee a pipeline of candidates and open development opportunities for current Vinfen employees.
Hanh previously worked at Boston Medical Center, where she was the Director of Talent Acquisition, leading recruitment strategies throughout many programs within BMC. With a prior background in case management, advocacy, and crisis intervention, Hanh is uniquely positioned to effectively bridge the gap between human services and organizational development, ensuring optimal outcomes for both employees and the populations we serve.
Hanh holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Regis College, where she built a strong foundation in helping individuals and communities navigate complex challenges. She has progressed her career since starting as a Youth Counselor at Boston Asian Youth Essential Services, then as a case manager at Bridge Over Troubled Waters. Additionally, Hanh served in key leadership roles at CVS, overseeing a district with 21 front stores and pharmacies.
