NNews October 2024

37 October 2024 (continued on page 38) (continued from page 36) Kristine Pendy, LCSW Vice President of Business Development Vantage Health System Anthony DiFabio, PsyD President and Chief Executive Officer Acenda Integrated Health ANTHONYDIFABIOHAS SERVEDON the NJAMHAA Board since FY2010. He was Vice Chair in FY2016 and FY2017 and Chair in FY2018 and FY2019. Anthony started his career at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, where he ran a mobile response program. At the time, he also did screening and private counseling. Then, he joined Robins’ Nest as Deputy Director and he became CEO a year later. KRISTINE PENDYWAS FIRST ELECTED to the NJAMHAA Board in FY2022 and co-chairs the Hospital Community Integration Council. She has more than 35 years of experience in both community and inpatient mental health care. Prior to joining Vantage Health System as Vice President of Business Development, Kristine served as Chief Clinical Officer at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center and previously served as Senior Vice President at CarePlus New Jersey. Kristine is also a licensing supervisor, school intern supervisor, and a Crisis Intervention Training graduate and instructor. “I’m absolutely humbled to be a longstanding member of the board. As I’ve gotten older and wiser, my awareness and appreciation of the importance of NJAMHAA has only grown,” Anthony said. “I truly believe that being a board member should be understood and perceived not only as a privilege, but as a burden. The programs and services that our members provide are more important than ever and NJAMHAA is instrumental in supporting and advancing a strong and impactful behavioral health sector. Reading a board email or sitting in a meeting should never be just either of those things. It’s all about supporting the membership and community. It’s a truly awesome responsibility,” he stated “Being in a leadership position at an organization and having the opportunity to collaborate with folks throughout the state in similar types of positions allows for a level of expertise and like thinking for tackling challenges throughout the state,” Kristine said. “I remember a consultant saying the higher you go up the ladder, the lonelier you get, that there’s less opportunity to be candid about challenges. Having connection to a leadership team allows for collaboration and a comfort level to understand and address difficult issues.” In July 2019, Anthony orchestrated the merger of Robins’ Nest, Cape Counseling Services andNewPoint Behavioral Health Care to formAcenda. Anthony serves on several other boards, including Children’s Home Society of America and the New Jersey Alliance for Children, Youth and Families,. He alsowas appointed to the Commissioner of Health’s Integrated Health Advisory Panel andmany other county and regional committees and boards. At the national level, Anthony is an activemember of Mental Health Corporations of America and the Child Welfare League of America. Anthony received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology fromLoyola College of Maryland, Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology fromFarleighDickinson University and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology fromVanderbilt University.