Connee Meschini
President 
Connee.Meschini@mc708.org
Committees: Executive/Personnel – Chair
Term: (01/18/05) 01/01/22 – 12/31/25

Connee Meschini worked in the schools for over 15 years as a Student Assistance Counselor. Currently Connee is working for The Unscripted School of Healing providing group and individual sessions on grief, substance abuse, and codependency, etc. Connee will provide services on a sliding pay scale. She holds a Master’s Degree. Connee holds a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification and has a 30-year history of working in nonprofits and Education. Currently, she is a member of the Rotary Club of Crystal Lake Dawnbreakers Rotary and has been a Rotarian for over 20 years. She serves on the executive committee of the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition and serves as a Stephens Ministry within her church, Since 2005, her desire to help those less fortunate, provide needed services for citizens, and act in the best interest of County taxpayers has led her to serve on the Mental Health Board. Connee grew up in McHenry County and resides in Crystal Lake.

Mike Baber
Vice President
MBaber@mc708.org
Committees: By-Laws – Chair; Building and Grounds; Executive/Personnel
Term: 01/01/21 – 12/31/24

Mike Baber runs a private mental health practice. Having been in the mental health field for over 30 years, he has worked in McHenry County at Youth Service Bureau, Family Service, and the Crisis Line. He was Director of Forest Hospital’s emergency services response team and Crisis Line, Director of social services for Vernon Hills Village and Police Department, and Northfield Police Department. Mike has a Doctorate (MA and BA) in Psychology and a CADC. He is a member of the American Associations of Suicidology and its Illinois Chapter. He has earned the McHenry County Juvenile Officers Award for service to children and 8 Golden awards from United Way. Mike has provided expert witness on domestic violence and mental health issues, performed specialty crisis work for law enforcement, and also provides therapy for police, firemen, and military. He is a former member of Illinois Police Social Workers. Mike serves on the Mental Health Board to ensure that the most vulnerable have access to quality services and he strives to support the agencies in McHenry County. Mike has lived in Marengo for 30 years with his wife and daughters.

Paula Yensen
Secretary & County Board Liaison
PYensen@mc708.org
Committees:Finance and Audit; Ethics and Compliance; Building and Grounds; Executive/Personnel
Term: 02/21/17 – 12/01/24

Paula Yensen is a Lake in the Hills resident and has served as a McHenry County Board member since 2008. She holds a Ph.D. in Education from Michigan State University. She has worked as Executive Director of the United Way of Central Kane County and an Adjunct Faculty member at Harper College. Paula has served as County Board Liaison to the Mental Health Board since 2017. She is active on the Executive Board and Board of Directors of Age Guide, Chair of Senior Services Grant Commission, Vice-Chair of McHenry County’s Public Health and Community Services, a board member of the Rotary Club of Lake in the Hills, and on the Woodstock Age-Friendly Steering Committee. Paula’s passion behind her service with the Mental Health Board is to help make the not-for-profit sector as effective as possible, especially in underserved communities.

Ray Lapinas
Treasurer
RLapinas@mc708.org
Committees: Finance and Audit – Chair; Executive/Personnel
Term: 01/01/22 – 12/31/25

Ray Lapinas has spent the last 30 years working in various finance-related functions for major corporations in the Chicago area. His subject matter expertise in risk management, operational financial controls, and financial statement/budgeting are widely recognized. He holds an MBA degree from the University of Rochester in Corporate Accounting & Computer Information Systems. As a resident of Lake in the Hills since the fall of 1993, Ray has utilized his financial management skills to support various community based non-profit organizations regarding mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse. He has previously served on the Mental Health Board from 2014 – 2018 and had chaired the Ethics & Compliance Committee, By-laws Committee, and served as a member of other committees. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in the fall of 2017, Ray serves as a board member and Secretary of the NeuroBalance Center, NFP, in Barrington, Illinois where he actively advocates for individuals with chronic progressive disorders, autoimmune diseases, and neuromuscular conditions.

Greg Alexander
Member
GAlexander@mc708.org
Committees: Ethics and Compliance – Chair; By-Laws
Term: 01/01/21 – 12/31/24

Greg Alexander has been a Crystal Lake resident since June of 1998; he retired from full-time work in 2017 and now operates a small solo training and consulting practice. His interest in mental health issues stems from a family history of depression and autism and the loss of his son to suicide shortly after his retirement. Greg’s volunteer work has included workdays at Home of the Sparrow and Habitat for Humanity. He is a recent addition to the Rotary Club of Crystal Lake Dawnbreakers. He and his wife have 4 surviving children and 10 grandchildren.

Christina Bruhn
Member
CBruhn@mc708.org
Committees: Ethics and Compliance; Buildings and Grounds
Term: 01/01/23 – 12/31/26

Christina Bruhn is employed as an Associate Professor at Aurora University’s George Williams School of Social Work. She holds PhD and MSW degrees in Social Work as well as a certificate in Educational Research Methodology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Chris’s social services work includes 15 years’ experience in service of individuals with intellectual disabilities and / or chronic mental illness. In addition, Chris has worked for 25 years as a social service program evaluator, both as a Research Specialist with the Children and Family Research Center and as a private consultant. Chris’s areas of focus with regard to program evaluation include child welfare, K-12 education, higher education, and law enforcement. Chris serves on the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership. Her interest in contributing to the work of the Mental Health Board stems from a desire to ensure that services are delivered an in effective and efficient manner and that local service gaps are addressed.

Adam Carson
Member
ACarson@mc708.org
Committees:Buildings and Grounds – Chair; By-Laws
Term: 01/01/21 – 12/31/24

Adam Carson has been in law enforcement as a police officer with the Lake in the Hills Police Department since October 2002. He was promoted to the rank of Patrol Sergeant in 2019 and became a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Instructor in 2013. Adam is one of three DRE’s in McHenry County and is currently one of 12 senior Instructors in the State. The intense DRE program has increased Adam’s ability to determine if a person is impaired or there is a medical condition as well as the person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. He teaches officers and citizens throughout Illinois. Adam attended St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Criminal Justice and Sociology. He is actively involved in community safety presentations for teens, women, and seniors. Since 2016, Adam has represented the Lake in the Hills Police Department at the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition. He has first-hand experience in dealing with people with substance use and abuse problems and mental health and wants to ensure services are available for any resident of McHenry County.

Lindsay Keisman
Member
LKeisman@mc708.org 
Committees:  Finance and Audit; Ethics and Compliance
Term: 01/01/23 – 12/31/26

Lindsay Keisman was born and raised in Woodstock and lives there with her husband and three children. With a passion for her community, Lindsay believes that volunteering to make a difference for our community members to have meaningful access to great programs and excellent care is a true honor. Lindsay is the owner of a multi-location mental health practice and has a double master’s in counseling and organizational psychology, with experience providing team development and executive coaching. Additionally, she operates a consulting business focused on helping new leaders become excellent leaders. Before launching her group practice, Lindsay worked in hospital settings, case management, and employee assistance programs with a blend of clinical, consulting, and leadership roles.

Amy Rath
Member
ARath@mc708.org
Committees: Finance and Audit; By-Laws
Term: 01/01/23 – 12/31/26

Amy Rath and her family have resided in Crystal Lake since 2020. She and her husband are proud parents of three daughters, and previously served as a foster family for nearly 8 years. As a parent, Amy understands first-hand the need for appropriate mental health resources to support our youth. Additionally, as a child, Amy witnessed the impact addiction can have on a family, including leading to generational trauma and ongoing struggles with mental wellness. Amy’s service on the Mental Health Board stems from a passion to help the community understand how to locate available resources, and to ensure McHenry County residents have access to life-changing care.