Phillip Franks is the Chief Executive Officer of Be Well OC.

Franks brings to Be Well OC more than 25 years of experience in healthcare and military leadership. He most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer of OC Specialty Health & Hospitals, where he led two simultaneous new hospital projects through a complex and challenging process of planning, construction, and operation. Under his leadership, both Anaheim Community Hospital, a 98-bed General Acute Care Hospital and Outpatient Surgery Center, and Aliso Ridge Behavioral Health, a 119-bed Acute Psychiatric Hospital in Aliso Viejo, opened their doors in service to the community in 2022.

Prior to his work in Orange County, Franks served as COO of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, the second largest municipal health system in the nation. He began his career with 18 dedicated years of service in the United States Army where he rose to Chief Administrative Officer – 40th Infantry Division. He retired from military service in 2015.

Franks holds an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle, and an undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of San Francisco. He is a resident of Huntington Beach.

Desiree Thomas is the Chief Operating Officer of Be Well OC.

Desiree has more than two decades of healthcare leadership experience spanning several prominent organizations across Southern California. She most recently served as Executive Director of Emergency Department, Critical Care and Behavioral Health Services for Providence St. Joseph Hospital Orange. In this position, she had oversight for more than 550 full time employees and 141 beds, including 53 ED beds with 90,000 annual patient visits.

Her responsibilities included not only fiscal management and programmatic growth for her units but also developing and maintaining physician alignment for local and regional initiatives such as clinical performance improvement and contract management.

After beginning her nursing career as a critical care nurse at LAC+USC Medical Center, Desiree spent 14 years rising through the nursing ranks at MemorialCare Health System. During her tenure, she served in several key roles including Director of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Services as well as System Director of COVID-19 Surge Planning in the initial months of the 2020 pandemic. She was also tapped to lead as Interim Vice President of Critical Care Services at Phoenix Children’s Hospital for one year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Desiree holds a Master of Science degree in Nursing from Mount St. Mary’s University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Biola University, and will complete the Executive Master of Business Administration program at University of California Irvine in June 2024. She has received several nursing and leadership accolades during her career is a member of several industry organizations including the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), and Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL).

Rachel Tillman is the Director of Human Resources for Be Well OC.

Valerie Fryer, MBA has served as Mind OC’s Director of Finance from the organization’s founding to the present.  Ms. Fryer has been a Principal at Miles Away Consulting since 2019. Valerie has more than 18 years of finance experience working with nonprofits & 10 years with corporate finance.

During her career, she has led all facets of operational & finance management including accounting, financials, budgets, information technology, human resources administration and audits.  At OneOC, Valerie led the Business Services Dept for 12 years which was responsible for the OneOC financials, over 100 community initiative oversight & financials, 30 nonprofit accounting / bookkeeping clients and 20 corporate foundation financials.

She is well versed in all levels of government contracts and financial audits.  Previously, she was the Controller for Olive Crest which provided services to care for abused and neglected children in 3 states that included mental health services, prevention, foster/adoption, and education (schools) programs.  Ms. Fryer holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration.

Victor Jordan is the Chief Financial Officer of Be Well OC.

More than 20 years’ experience as a healthcare executive with progressive responsibility for regional and market operations, financial services and strategy for non-profit, faith-based integrated healthcare delivery systems, for-profit healthcare organizations and community hospitals. Expertise includes streamlining operations and improving financial performance, forging partnerships and joint ventures, acquisitions and integration as well as  clinical care improvement work and service line development initiatives. Possesses a strong background in developing and mentoring emerging leaders, building collaboration among teams and initiating strategies to respond to market and business changes.

Kathryn Hamel, Ph.D., is the Vice-President of Mobile Operations at Be Well OC.

She previously worked as a Chief Executive Officer for a mental health nonprofit dedicated to providing education, information, and services to traumatized persons.

Before transitioning into nonprofit leadership, she worked in higher education and later as the Senior Vice-President of Human Resources and Organizational Development for a private, accredited international university.

She also served her community for nearly 25 years as a law-enforcement professional for two mid-sized municipal police departments and retired as a police lieutenant in 2019.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Dr. Hamel is the 2023 recipient of the Advocate of the Year award from the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce and the 2022 recipient of the Mental Health Association of Orange County’s Professional of the Year.

She is pursuing a second Master’s Degree in Psychology with a completion date in 2024.  In addition, Dr. Hamel holds two professional certifications in trauma and resilience (Level 1 and Level 2) from Florida State University, a Doctoral Degree in Organizational Leadership & Criminal Justice from Capella University, a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Chapman University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocational Education and Occupational Studies from California State University, Long Beach.

Jessica Foat is the Director of Mobile Operations at Be Well OC. Jessica is a dedicated professional with a passion for enhancing community well-being. She earned her Master of Education in Curriculum & Instructional Design from California Southern University with honors, and she holds a Graduate Certificate in Health Care and Psychology from the same institution.

Jessica’s commitment to trauma-informed care is evident through her professional certifications in Trauma & Resilience and Social-Emotional Education & Interventions from Florida State University. Her dedication and accomplishments have earned her recognition as a 40 Under 40 honoree by the Greater Irvine Chamber.

Jessica is a dynamic leader who serves as the Chair of the Women Veteran Working Group at the Orange County Veteran & Military Family Collaborative, bringing her own experience as an Army Veteran with the rank of Sergeant. In addition, she plays a vital role as a Leadership Committee Member in the Orange County Health Care Agency’s Community Suicide Prevention Coalition.

With core competencies in executive leadership, strategic planning, community relations, program development, non-profit management, public speaking, outreach, project management, instructional design, and organizational development, Jessica Foat brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role at Be Well OC. Her collaborative approach and dedication to improving the well-being of individuals and communities make her a valuable asset in the field of mental health and trauma-informed care.

Rosie Zoll has served as MindOC’s Director of Planning since January 2020.  Ms. Zoll is an experienced professional in the healthcare planning & design industry, with demonstrated success through the entire project lifecycle, from strategic space planning, design development, operational workflows, training, building activation, and stabilization.

She has over a decade of experience working in healthcare planning & development, most recently working as the Director of Transition Strategy for the new $2Billion Stanford Hospital.  Prior to that project, she led all aspects of Facility Planning for the Hoag Health System in both Newport Beach and Irvine, CA.

Ms. Zoll is passionate about creating environments that truly support, nurture and inspire the people who inhabit them. Ms. Zoll holds a Masters of Science in Human-Environment Relations with a Minor in Healthcare Administration. 

Nicole Ramirez, MBA MA is a Director of Quality Improvement and Network Development with over two decades of successful experience in program planning and implementation. Ms. Ramirez specializes in standing up new programs in the Behavioral Healthcare sector and has a wealth of program management experience on the public and managed care front, most recently serving in the non-profit capacity. Ms. Ramirez began her healthcare career in the children’s behavioral health clinic and administration offices for the Orange County Health Care Agency. Advancing through the agency, she served in lead roles within quality improvement and training fields, planning and implementation of the Orange County MHSA programs beginning with CSS through implementation of the Innovation department.

After completing her Master’s in Clinical Psychology and providing clinical intern services in the Children’s, TAY, and Crisis fields, she stepped into the managed care world where she held a successful Behavioral Health Management position for OC’s COHS plan. During her tenure, Ms. Ramirez completed her Master’s in Healthcare Management while leading the implementation and oversight of the behavioral health portion of Orange County’s Cal Medi-Connect program. During her career in Managed Care, she provided program management and oversight of the CMC plan, provided onboarding training to new hires to the company, responded to policy changes and requests, assisted with Board requests, held a lead role in the planning and implementation of transition from a delegated behavioral health model, served lead in Behavioral Health NCQA response and Audits, maintaining 4 stars on the BH side for the COHS plan and lead quality improvement groups. Most recently, as a Director of QI and Network Development, Nicole manages the Behavioral Health System Transformation project for Mind OC.

Lance Lindgren is the Manager of the Westminster Mobile Response Team.

Lance is a psychology graduate from Cal State University Fullerton with over 30 years of experience in the mental health field. He began his career working with children, adolescents, and adults at College Hospital in Cerritos, where he worked in a locked facility and a Partial Hospitalization Program. During this time, he also taught children and adolescents at the hospital.

For the next 20 years, Lance worked in various roles for the County of Orange. He worked with the seriously persistently psychiatric disabilities population at the adult outpatient clinic and the Homeless Outreach Program. Lance also started the first Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) in Orange County in partnership with the Westminster Police Department. The PERT teams grew to 16 cities in Orange County under his tenure.

Later, Lance worked as an Outreach Coordinator at US Vets in Long Beach, helping unhoused veterans get transitional housing. Currently, he serves as a Manager for the Westminster Mobile Response Teams at Be Well OC. Lance has received various community awards for his work with the mentally disabilities in Orange County, including the Community Conference Compassion Award and a Proclamation from the Mayor of the City of Westminster.

David Gibson is the Manager, Laguna Beach HOPE Team at Be Well OC.

David Gibson is a highly esteemed national and state-licensed paramedic with an unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional prehospital care. With a career spanning almost a decade in emergency operations, he currently holds the pivotal position of Mobile Operations Manager at Be Well OC. In this capacity, he diligently oversees day-to-day operations and collaborates closely with first responders to ensure a seamless response to mental health crises.

David’s impressive professional journey is complemented by his academic achievements, reflecting his commitment to continuous improvement. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and is actively pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration, with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. In addition, he holds multiple associate degrees and boasts over thirty-two professional certifications and training accolades, illustrating his dedication to staying at the forefront of his field.

David’s illustrious career in emergency operations includes influential roles with the Riverside County Emergency Management Department and EMS Agency. During his tenure there, he honed his expertise in disaster response, emergency readiness, and critical investigations as an advanced regulatory investigator and emergency coordinator. One of his most significant contributions was his pivotal role in overseeing the county’s investigations team, which led to numerous high-profile state and multistate investigations that garnered national and state recognition. His leadership was instrumental in managing the multimillion-dollar project involving the IPAWS and WEA alerting systems, overseeing full-cycle procurement and implementation. Furthermore, David served as the Medical and Health Terrorism Liaison Officer for Riverside County, working closely with federal and state law enforcement partners.

A crowning achievement in David’s career was his instrumental role in helping lead the team responsible for establishing the city of Placentia’s first 911 paramedic program. This innovative program integrated law enforcement, dispatch, and fire personnel, marking the first initiative involving a private entity in Orange County’s history for ALS paramedic care.

Driven by his unwavering commitment to enhancing community health, David has achieved remarkable success in developing mobile operation programs across Orange County. His extensive skillset and outstanding record in emergency response encompass a wide range of roles, including responding to strike team deployments for wildfires and COVID-19 as a front-line paramedic. He has also provided psychological first aid for mass care and shelter operations, served as a Mental Health Resilience Officer (MHRO), Logistics and Fleet Manager, and held the critical position of Medical and Health Operations Coordinator (MHOAC) Duty Officer, fulfilling numerous essential functions in the Emergency Operations Center.

David Gibson’s innovative thinking and unwavering commitment to excellence in delivering care to all communities set him apart as a true leader in the field of emergency operations and management. His extensive experience and dedication make him a valuable asset to the communities he serves. As the Manager for the Laguna Beach HOPE Team at Be Well OC, David continues to exemplify his dedication to improving emergency response and ensuring the well-being of individuals in need.

Nathon Thompson is the Manager of Fleet and Logistics.

Nathon has built a distinguished career in logistics management, primarily within the US Navy. As a Gunner’s Mate Second Class Petty Officer, he expertly oversaw a substantial $120 million in government assets over eight years, showcasing precise organization and strategic fleet management in high-pressure environments.

Transitioning to civilian roles, Nathon’s current position at Be Well OC as Logistics Manager for Mobile Operations reflects his ongoing dedication to excellence. He leads the development of Fleet and Logistics management software platforms, demonstrating a proactive embrace of technological advancements. His responsibilities encompass meticulous procurement of mobile operations’ logistics and equipment, ensuring compliance with stringent standards while onboarding new vendors and suppliers.

Nathon’s diverse expertise, gained during his tenure as a US Air Force Contractor, solidifies his proficiency in logistics. Collaborating with industry leaders like Boeing, he managed $500 million worth of Airforce weapons and equipment, showcasing his adeptness in inventory management and coordination. His contributions extended to developing efficient procedures for the Defense Reutilization Marketing Office, emphasizing his strategic vision in creating effective frameworks.

Nathon Thompson’s career stands as a testament to his unwavering dedication, strategic insight, and adaptability across military and civilian spheres. He consistently delivers comprehensive logistical expertise and resolute leadership, setting a high standard in optimizing logistics and implementing innovative solutions in demanding environments.

Tam Nguyen is a highly skilled professional who currently manages Be Well OC’s Garden Grove Mobile Response Team. He has a diverse background in combat medicine, diplomatic security, clinical instruction, and emergency response, which makes him a highly accomplished leader in crisis management and healthcare.

Tam’s career began in the US Army as a Combat Medic. He was deployed to Iraq and Kosovo, where he earned the Combat Medic Badge, Army Commendation Medal, and Humanitarian Service Medal. After his military service, he worked with the Department of State, where he protected the US Ambassador to Afghanistan, demonstrating his exceptional reliability and resourcefulness.

Tam transitioned to the field of education, where he served as a Clinical Instructor at the UCLA School of Medicine. He contributed to training future healthcare providers, and his expertise was invaluable. In addition, he worked as a 911 Paramedic in the City of Placentia, where his rapid response skills and medical knowledge saved lives during emergencies.

Tam is a devoted father to two children, and he finds balance in life through hobbies like driving his ’97 Mazda Miata, collecting retro toys, and bodyboarding. Based in Garden Grove, California, he continues to impact his community positively through his diverse skill set and unwavering commitment to service.

Davina Serna is the Manager of the Anaheim Mobile Response Team.

Davina is a dedicated professional with a comprehensive behavioral health and crisis intervention background driven by a commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others. Currently serving as the Anaheim Mobile Response Manager at Be Well OC. She oversees daily team operations, coordinates with local first responders, and engages in community outreach. Her role involves managing high-intensity situations alongside the police and fire departments, conducting presentations for local organizations, and fostering collaborations with social service agencies.

In previous roles, such as a Crisis Intervention Specialist in Laguna Beach, she has provided on-the-ground mental health assessments and crisis counseling. As a Clinical Associate Supervisor at Advanced Behavioral Health, she developed and implemented Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatments, collaborated with specialists, and mentored behavior therapists. Davina is committed to supporting individuals with diverse needs and has contributed to the growth and development of those under her care.

Beyond her professional endeavors, her academic journey has further enriched her skill set. Holding a master’s degree in psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (2022) and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Chapman University (2008), she deeply understands psychological principles and their practical applications. Her passion for continuous learning is reflected in her involvement in community-focused initiatives, developing and implementing learning programs, and strategic planning. With expertise in data collection, assessment, research, supervision, and a strong foundation in Applied Behavioral Analysis, she excels in behavior management, crisis intervention, harm reduction, trauma-informed care, patient-centered care, case management, and social work. Her commitment to the well-being of individuals and communities is evident in her multifaceted skill set and dedication to creating positive change.

Michael Romero began his career in 1992 working for the California Department of Mental Health. He spent the majority of my 20+ years of service as a Psychiatric Technician at Metropolitan and Patton State Hospital. During his state service, he became an Industrial Therapist and a Master Trainer of Preventive Management of Assaultive Behavior.

His last 5 years have been in the Orange County outpatient mental health space. Michael has worked Crisis Stabilization Units and Outpatient Services providing medication and treatment to clients both in house and on the streets, with mental health and substance abuse disorders.

In July of 2021, Michael joined Be Well OC to launch the first Mobile Crisis Response Team in Huntington Beach. He is honored to work with an amazing team of compassionate Crisis Intervention Specialists, 21 Hours a day, 7 Days a week.

HB Mobile Teams are proud to serve the Huntington Beach Police Department, Fire Department, Marine Safety and the City of Huntington Beach.

Certifications and licenses include Crisis Intervention Specialist II and Licensed Psychiatric Technician.

Samantha Ribaudo is the Newport Beach Mobile Response Team Manager.

Sami Ribaudo has provided crisis intervention services with the HOPE team in Newport Beach since the program began. She was promoted to Newport Beach Mobile Response Manager. Sami has training and experience with case management services for unhoused populations as well as trauma-informed advocacy services for youth in foster care.

Sami has her master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Long Beach. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in psychology. She is passionate about mental health, housing accessibility, and serving underserved populations.