INSIDE AMHCA
AMHCA Awards Honor High Achievement by Members , Chapters
“ We have a phenomenal group of colleagues we work with across the country . We have stellar practitioners , therapists , and clinical mental health providers ,” said AMHCA President & Interim CEO / ED Beverly Smith , PhD , LPC , NCC , CCMHC , ACS , NCSC , CFT , HS-BCP , BCC , MAC , CPCS , BC-TMH , CCTP , BCPCC .
“ We have outstanding chapters doing excellent work throughout the country . And so we thank all of the participants — all of the members and state chapters — for all of your work ,” she said .
Dr . Smith recognized winners of 2021 AMHCA awards on Nov . 4 during AMHCA ’ s Fall Summit at a virtual awards ceremony . Watch the half-hour awards ceremony on YouTube at shorturl . at / elzK7 .
• Legislator of the Year : Rep . Dave Belton ( R – GA ), for sponsoring the professional Counseling Compact in Georgia
• Outstanding Chapter of the Year : LPCA of Georgia , which was instrumental in the passage of the first Counseling Compact in the U . S .
• Public and Community Service : Diana Anzaldua , LCSW , TCYT , president and founder of Contigo Wellness , which helped more than 70,000 families during COVID-19 receive goods and services
• Researcher of the Year : Claudia Calder-Marshall , PhD , LPC , who studies the missing components in multicultural competency and training among counselor trainers .
• Emerging Professional of the Year : Eve Rogerson , former chair of AMHCA ’ s Graduate Students and Emerging Professionals Committee
• Counselor Educator of the Year : Michelle Crossley , PhD , who helps her grad students at Rhode Island
College be successful
• Past-President Award : Angele Moss-Baker , LPC , LMFT , MAC , DCMHS-COD , AMHCA ’ s 44 th president , 2020 – 2021 . She is recognized for her service and her notable election as AMHCA ’ s first African American president .
• Outstanding Contributor to The Advocate Magazine : Joel E . Miller , who served tirelessly , not only in his contributions to the Advocate , but as executive director / CEO of AMHCA for the past eight years
• President ’ s Award : Brandon Johnson , a public health advisor with SAMHSA , who gave the keynote address at AMHCA ’ s Fall Summit in November
• Clinical Mental Health Counselor of the Year : Keith Klostermann , PhD , who said , “ I know there are a lot of incredibly talented counselors out there doing phenomenal work . So to receive this award is truly humbling , and I ’ m honored .”
AMHCA Members Who Earned Certification Credentials in 2020 – 2021
Clinical Mental Health Specialist in Forensic Evaluation
Aaron Norton ( Florida ) G . Michael Pilcher ( Florida )
Clinical Mental Health Specialist in Trauma Counseling
Courtney Boddie ( Illinois )
Diplomate in Advanced Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practice
Christopher Griffith ( Kentucky ) Andrew Mendonsa ( California ) Brent Moore ( Missouri )
Fellow in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Education and Research
Ellen Behrens ( Utah ) Michelle Flaum ( Ohio )
Mark Gerig ( Indiana ) James Greenstone ( Texas ) Justin Lauka ( Maryland )
Clinical Mental Health Counselor Licensed for Independent Practice
Jerolynn Bell-Scaggs ( Wisconsin ) Matthew Berry ( Kentucky ) John Brennenstuhl ( Massachusetts ) Michael Cammarata ( New York ) Lisa Celentano ( Washington ) Julio Cruz-Rodriguez ( Puerto Rico ) Tina Gray-Siebers ( Wisconsin ) Brandon Hayes ( Massachusetts ) Jennifer Roby ( Texas ) Dawn Schneir ( Ohio ) Sarah Schwerdel ( Massachusetts ) Barton Shulman ( California )
Initially Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
Istvan Feldman ( Washington )
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Student
Ruthie Bantel ( Arizona ) Carolay Ceballos ( New York ) Sabrina Clark ( New Jersey ) Stephen Doran ( Texas ) Jennifer Dzielak ( Florida ) Amie Finkbiner ( Michigan ) Jean Fisher ( North Carolina ) Scott Fleming ( Florida ) Kory Floyd ( Arizona ) Piper Harris ( Georgia ) Caitlyn Hilland ( Virginia ) Brandon Johnson ( New Jersey ) Milagros Jordan-Albano ( Colorado ) Sylvia Martinez Ruiz ( Texas ) Joshua Manney ( California ) Guillermo Palomino ( Arizona ) Dane Ray ( District of Columbia ) LaToya Shepard ( Florida ) Charles Stoddard ( Pennsylvania ) Laura Teeple ( Maryland ) Grisell Vazquez ( Florida ) Morgan Vierik ( Michigan )
The 7Advocate The Advocate Magazine Magazine Fall 2021 Fall 2021 American American Mental Health Mental Counselors Health Counselors Association Association ( AMHCA () AMHCA www ) . amhca www . org . amhca . org 7