Highland Rivers Behavioral Health is governed by a 18-member governing board that includes a representative from every county in the agency’s service area. They are appointed by county leadership, primarily by each county’s respective Board of Commissioners.
The board has an executive committee who are selected by board members, and two standing committees: corporate compliance and finance. Members serve three-year terms, and terms are staggered to ensure continuity of governance.
Highland Rivers Behavioral Health’s board meets every other month (six times each year). As a quasi-governmental state agency, we are subject to Open Meetings and all Governing board meetings are open to the public and announced in advance. On board meeting days, the compliance and finance committees meet at 9:30 a.m., and the full governing board meets beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Highland Rivers Behavioral Health FY2024 Governing Board
The Highland Rivers Behavioral Health governing board includes individuals who have family members with mental illness, addictive disease or developmental disabilities, as well as representatives from the judicial system, family services, private industry, law enforcement, local government. and healthcare services.
Pete Quinones
Chair
Cobb County
Mary Ghorley
Vice Chair
Piedmont Mountainside Hospital
Pickens County
Vacant
Fannin County
Steve Grimsley
Lane Bennett
Gordon County Sheriff’s Office
Thomas Brown
Whitfield County
Michael Register
Director, Cobb County Department of Public Safety
Dr. Carol Holtz
Cobb County
Jimmy Davenport
Murray County
Lori Rakes
Treasurer
Bartow County
Larry Maxey
Floyd County Board of Commissioners
Michael McElveen
Secretary
Berry College
Floyd County
Chinwe Okoronkwo
Cobb County
Leland Johnson
Gilmer County
Karen Sparks
Haralson County
Connor Hooper
Polk County
Tonya Riddick
Executive Director, FREEDOM Tax & Financial Services,
Executive Director Smile Up Charitable Foundation
Cherokee County