Meet Our CBHC Staff and Board of Directors
CBHC Staff
Kara L. Johnson-Hufford, MPA
Phone: 720-573-9367
Email: kjohnson-hufford@cbhc.org
Kara L. Johnson-Hufford, MPA is the Chief Executive Officer of CBHC. She brings with her 20+ years successful experience providing management and leadership in the administration of health and human services programs. Before joining the organization in the spring of 2023, she served as the Deputy Executive Director of the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). In that capacity, she directly oversaw and led several branches that were responsible for the regulatory oversight and support of Colorado's expansive healthcare system.
Kara worked with the State of Colorado for nearly 13 years, the last 9 being with CDPHE, serving within a variety of roles across the behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disabilities and overall healthcare industries. Additional experiences include serving as an ex-officio member of the Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee (BHE-IAC) and the CDPHE representative on the Governor-appointed Mental Health Advisory Board within the Colorado Department of Human Services.
Kara is deeply invested in people, productive working relationships and processes that positively impact Colorado's behavioral healthcare system. She has had an opportunity to influence and inform those processes from a state level these last number of years and she is eager to do so now by returning to her roots on the provider, person-centered care side.
Kara obtained her Master in Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver in 2015, specializing in health systems, management, policy and law. She brings numerous years of successful experience within the health and human services field, ranging from direct service provision, mental health/psychiatric supports, quality and case management to regulatory oversight and survey processes and procedures. Outside of work, Kara can be found with her spouse and their cattle dog out hiking Colorado's trails or gallivanting the globe.
Frank Cornelia, MS, LPC
Phone: 720-573-9371
Email: fcornelia@cbhc.org
Frank Cornelia, MS, LPC is the Deputy Executive Director for CBHC. Before joining the organization in 2012, he was a direct care professional with years of experience providing services to diverse client populations. In his role with CBHC, he reports directly to the CEO and is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with a variety of community and government stakeholders.
He also helps set the strategic vision for the organization. Frank provides leadership to CBHC's advocacy team and leads the development of CBHC's yearly policy platform. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in health and human development from Montana State University. He and his wife Jenny live in Minnesota with their two children, Madeline and Max, and their dog, Gopher.
Edie Sonn, MPP
Phone: 720-573-9368
Email: esonn@cbhc.org
Working alongside deputy director Frank Cornelia, Edie is responsible for deepening CBHC's relationships at both the local and state levels. In addition to representing the organization with key stakeholder groups and at the Colorado General Assembly, she will be assisting members with their own outreach and engagement strategies.
Edie is deeply familiar with CMHCs and their issues. She served as a board member of WellPower (formerly Mental Health Center of Denver) for much of the last 20 years, and was actively involved in the development of Colorado's integrated care SIM plan through her professional work at the Center for Improving Value in Health Care.
Sonn holds a master's degree in public policy from Duke University and is a bachelor of arts graduate and a Boettcher Scholar from Colorado College. She was named a 2018-2019 Governor's Fellow by Governor John Hickenlooper. In 2017, she was named the "Outstanding Woman in Business: Communications/Media" by the Denver Business Journal. A Denver native, Sonn is a die-hard Avalanche and Rockies fan, and begins every baseball season convinced that this is the year the Rockies will finally have reliable pitching.
Edie comes to CBHC after 8 years as the Vice President of Public Affairs at Pinnacol Assurance, overseeing government relations, corporate social responsibility, community engagement and communications for Colorado's state-chartered workers' compensation carrier. Previously, she served as the vice president of strategic initiatives for the Center for Improving Value in Health Care; and as a public affairs and public relations consultant, developing legislative, communications and community outreach strategies for a wide range of insurance, healthcare and nonprofit clients.
Brittany Langevin, CHES
Phone: 720-573-9366
Email: blangevin@cbhc.org
Brittany Langevin is the Administrative Director for the CBHC. She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Science in Community Health. Driven by a passion for advancing health and promoting equity, she has over a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership. Prior to joining CBHC, Brittany played a pivotal role as Program Director at the Colorado Melanoma Foundation, where she expanded free skin cancer screening events to 10 states and directly impacted over 7,000 individuals. Her strategic partnership cultivation and fundraising efforts were instrumental in driving nationwide program growth, emphasizing health equity and community engagement.
In her current role as Administrative Director, she collaborates closely with the CEO and Deputy Executive Director to lead organizational strategies and policies. She manages CBHC's administrative operations, fosters a positive organizational culture, and enhances member relations through direct liaison and management of monthly meetings. Brittany oversees the planning and execution of key events such as the CBHC Annual Conference and various member-focused gatherings. She also plays a crucial role in HR initiatives, including recruitment and staff onboarding, while ensuring adherence to organizational policies and supporting committee activities.
Betsy Molgano
Phone: 720-573-3585
Email: bmolgano@cbhc.org
Betsy Molgano is the Program Director of Mental Health First Aid Colorado and Policy Analyst for CBHC. She graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a BA in Political Science and a minor in Philosophy. Prior to joining CBHC, she worked for the Aurora Public Defender's Office as an AmeriCorps Vista and later joined the CBHC team as an intern. Her work with the Public Defender's Office drove her to pursue work serving indigent people with behavioral and mental health needs.
In her current role, she works with a statewide network of MHFA coordinators and instructors to support the delivery of the Mental Health First Aid educational training by providing grant funding to cover the cost of materials and instructor's time. She is a certified Adult and Youth MHFA instructor, and enjoys co-instructing local classes with instructors from the Community Mental Health Centers. Ms. Molgano also provides policy support through research preparation and data analysis.
Veronica Bell, MPPA
Phone: 720-783-2080
Email: vbell@cbhc.org
Veronica Bell, MPPA is a Public Policy Specialist at CBHC. Drawing on her experience in the education and nonprofit sectors, Veronica is deeply committed to using advocacy as a tool for positive community transformation. Her passion for public policy and equity was ignited during her fellowship with Teach Plus Colorado. There, Veronica successfully championed legislation to create supportive learning environments for K-12 students, prioritizing school safety, accountability, transparency, and positive school climates.
Veronica holds a Master's in Public Policy and Administration from Colorado State University, where she gained valuable experience and insights as an executive intern for the Governor's Office of Policy & Research. Her commitment to social justice and community advocacy is evident in her volunteer roles on the board of a political action organization and the advisory board for the Young Invincibles.
At CBHC, Veronica collaborates closely with Edie and Frank to complete policy analysis, stakeholder outreach, legislative monitoring, as well as broad public policy work.
CBHC Board Officers
Colorado Behavioral Health Council (CBHC) is a non-profit entity consisting of member organizations. Our members guide our principles and our advocacy.
The CBHC Board of Directors is elected on an annual basis.
President
Dante Gonzales
Centennial Mental Health CenterPresident-Elect
Kimberly Collins
North Range Behavioral HealthPast President
Secretary
Victoria Romero
San Luis Valley Behavioral Health GroupTreasurer
Kelly Phillips-Henry
Aurora Mental Health & RecoveryEx-Officio Member
Jason Chippeaux
Health SolutionsEx-Officio Member
Mandy Kaisner
Solvista Health