BOARD PRESIDENT

Savanah Hicks is a dedicated mental health advocate, social work professional, wife and mother of two who brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. She holds two bachelor’s degrees and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at Louisiana State University, further expanding her clinical knowledge and leadership capacity in the mental health field. Her experience includes community outreach, mental health education, program development, and resource coordination for individuals and families, working closely with diverse populations to increase access to services, reduce stigma, and build systems that address real community needs. Balancing higher education, professional leadership, and motherhood has shaped her into a resilient, organized, and compassionate leader who is passionate about strengthening families, empowering individuals, and helping organizations create meaningful, sustainable impact.

BOARD VICE PRESIDENT

After serving more than six years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force as a Russian Linguist, Paul used the GI Bill to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, graduating as class valedictorian with individualized majors in Human Resources and Community Services. He briefly attended seminary before deciding against a career in ministry, then entered the corporate sector as an operations supervisor for the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies in San Francisco, California, and White Plains, New York. Following his father’s terminal cancer diagnosis, Paul returned home to support his family, later working briefly as a mortgage banker before relocating to Raton, New Mexico, where he became deeply involved in nonprofit and community development work. He served on the founding Board of Raton MainStreet and co-founded and led the Greater Raton Economic Development Corporation for nine years, and currently serves as co-founder and President of the Raton Community Development Collaborative, while also helping establish several other organizations, including the North East Economic Development Organization. A recovering alcoholic with over 40 years of sobriety and someone who has engaged in ongoing mental health treatment since his father’s illness, Paul draws on his lived experience to support underserved populations, bringing expertise in nonprofit governance, strategic planning, group facilitation, conflict resolution, and public speaking.

BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Abdul Majid Khan, a second-generation psychiatrist born and raised in Southeast Louisiana, is a highly respected leader in the field of psychiatry. He completed his training at LSU Health Sciences Center, Ochsner Medical Center, and the historic Charity Hospital prior to Hurricane Katrina, later serving as Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at LSU. Over his career, Dr. Khan has held numerous leadership roles as Medical Director and consultant for hospitals, schools, and corporations. He currently serves as the Medical Director of Elemental Health in Baton Rouge, which he founded in 2023, providing intensive outpatient care and medication management for high-functioning individuals. In addition, he leads Regions Behavioral Hospital and his private practice, Khan Psychiatry, while also serving as Supervising Consultant Psychiatrist at LSU’s Student Health Center. Recognized for his expertise, Dr. Khan has been selected as the official psychiatrist for the NFL Players Association in Southeast Louisiana and for LSU’s Student Health Center, and is an active member of both the Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association. Known for blending clinical excellence with empathy, he provides holistic care for conditions ranging from ADHD and anxiety to mood and eating disorders. Married with three children, Dr. Khan continues his family’s legacy of compassionate mental health care while making a lasting impact in his community.

BOARD MEMBER

Rico Williams is a passionate tech entrepreneur and innovator with a strong foundation in computer science and a deep commitment to transforming mental healthcare. After earning his B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Oregon, he refined his technical expertise at Microsoft, where he contributed to high-impact projects in Windows Shared Controls and Settings using C++ and C#. Today, he serves as the founder and CEO of Ayuda Software, a pioneering company focused on democratizing data accessibility by leveraging sensitive and obscure data to power services that benefit the public. A key initiative under Ayuda, Sayin is at the forefront of revolutionizing mental health and substance abuse care, using advancements in application security, scalability, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to simplify the process of finding appropriate care. Rico’s work reflects the culmination of his technical knowledge, entrepreneurial drive, and lifelong dedication to improving mental health outcomes for individuals and underserved communities.

BOARD MEMBER

John Liebenau is a seasoned technology leader and the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Sayin, where he drives innovation in software development and enterprise architecture. With extensive experience managing software development departments of over 100 professionals, he has overseen budgeting, hiring, and performance evaluations while delivering complex, multi-tier systems that automate and optimize mission-critical business processes. John's leadership has consistently led to increased efficiency and reduced operational costs. He has successfully built and scaled multiple development teams and played a pivotal role in developing architecture programs for major financial services companies, focusing on strategic planning, governance, and technology evolution. An expert in Java and .NET platforms, John excels in architecture, design, and implementation, and brings deep expertise in quality assurance, with a strong emphasis on automated testing and continuous delivery.

BOARD MEMBER

Chris Whittaker is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel with 26 years of distinguished military service and extensive executive leadership experience in operations, logistics, emergency management, and leader development. He holds a BA in History from the Virginia Military Institute, an MA in Management from American Military University, is a Certified Public Manager through Texas State University, an ICMA–Certified Manager, and a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, with additional FEMA and scuba certifications. His military career included combat and contingency tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Kuwait, as well as 14 years of international service in Germany, Italy, and Romania. Following his military retirement, Chris has served as City Manager in Rockdale, Angleton, and currently Magnolia, Texas, where his accomplishments include staff development, leadership training, critical infrastructure improvement, and strengthening emergency management capabilities. Known for his hands-on, community-focused leadership style, he prioritizes being present with employees and residents, and he is a past Lions Club member and a Rotarian of 10 years.

BOARD MEMBER

Lenita H. Wiley, MSW is a seasoned social worker with over 25 years of experience in community-based behavioral health services. Her career spans direct mental health care, call center behavioral health operations, and work within managed care organizations. Lenita brings deep expertise in behavioral health compliance, systems coordination, and community-centered care, with a strong focus on improving access, quality, and continuity of services. Her work is grounded in a commitment to supporting individuals and communities through effective, coordinated, and compassionate behavioral health solutions.

BOARD MEMBER

Carlos Ramirez’s professional journey reflects more than three decades of unwavering commitment to helping others and advancing patient and client satisfaction. Holding a Master’s degree in Public Health from Florida International University, he has strengthened his business acumen and leadership capabilities while driving meaningful impact across the healthcare organizations he has served. His career is marked by expertise in business development, strategic reorganization, and building strong alliances among hospitals, managed care plans, and multi-specialty physician groups. Known for his decisive yet collaborative leadership style, Carlos fosters accountability, transparency, and innovation, and he excels at cultivating trusted relationships with physicians, payers, executives, and external stakeholders to align strategy with evolving healthcare, regulatory, and market demands. He brings thoughtful governance, strategic insight, and operational expertise to boards focused on performance, stewardship, and sustainable growth, supported by deep experience in physician workforce strategy, contract negotiations, and aligning provider incentives with organizational goals. His understanding of healthcare financing, reimbursement models, budgeting, and forecasting further strengthens his ability to oversee financial sustainability and long-term value creation. Beyond his professional achievements, Carlos is dedicated to community service through his parish and the Miami Rescue Mission, where he volunteers during graduations, holidays, and food drives.

BOARD MEMBER

João Chagas is a Brazilian-American compliance and human resources executive with more than 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. He currently serves as Chief Compliance Officer and Director of Human Resources at a private real estate investment firm registered with the SEC, where he oversees the organization’s compliance program and leads its people strategy. His responsibilities include regulatory oversight, risk assessments, policy development, internal controls, and investor onboarding, as well as talent acquisition, employee engagement, and cultivating a strong organizational culture. Previously, João held senior compliance roles supporting SEC-registered advisors and global investment firms across both the United States and Brazil, with a focus on regulatory advisory, developing scalable compliance frameworks, and enhancing governance structures in line with evolving regulations. Fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, he brings a global, multicultural perspective to his work. João holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP) and is known for combining strong regulatory expertise with a people-centered leadership style.