About MHACBO, est. 1977
The Mental Health and Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (formerly ACCBO) was founded in 1977 with the mission of certifying behavioral health professionals through competency-based evaluation of education, experience, and exams. The Board utilizes autonomous professional psychometric examinations through CES (Comprehensive Examination Services), NAADAC (National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors) and the IC&RC (International Certification Reciprocity Consortium). The primary purpose of certification is an assurance that behavioral health workers have met minimum standards of competence, are ethically accountable to the general public at-large, and have contemporary knowledge evidenced through continuing education.
Debra Buffalo Boy Bigelow,
CADC II
Representing Marion County and Correctional Institutions
Debra is Director of Multicultural Consultants, contracted to manage an array of behavioral health service programs within the Oregon Department of Corrections.
Julia Mines,
M.S., MSW, CADC III, PRC
Representing Multnomah County
Julia is Executive Director of the Miracles Club of Portland, Oregon's only African American Community Recovery Center
Tony Vezina, BSW, PRC
Representing Multnomah & Washington Counties
Tony is the Executive Director of The 4th Dimension Recovery Center.
Michelle Brandsma,
Ph.D ABD, CADC III
Representing Eastern Oregon
Dr. Brandsma is the SUD Service Manager for GOBHI, a coordinated care organization managing most of eastern Oregon.
Bob Forsyth,
CADC II, CGAC II, NCGC II
Representing Baker County
Bob has been a board member since April 2015 and is a committed member of the recovery community with 17 plus years of recovery. Bob is a Clinical Director with New Directions NW in Baker City.
Jose Garcia,
CADC II, CGAC I
Representing Umatilla County
Joes is the Director of New Horizons, a bilingual outpatient program in Hermiston, Oregon.
Mark Lewinsohn, Ph.D.
Representing Northwest Oregon
In his role as Vice-President of Clinical Services at Lifeworks NW, Dr. Lewinsohn manages services delivered throughout northwest Oregon. Dr. Lewinsohn also serves on the Board of Directors for Clackamas County NAMI.
Tanya Pritt, CADC II
Representing Linn-Benton Counties
A board member since 2005, Tanya has been serving in the field of addictions for over 30 years. Tanya is the Clinical Director of YES House and Milestones Residential Treatment in Corvallis.
Ricardo Verdeguez,
CADC II, CRM, QMHA I
Representing the tricounties.
Ricardo Verdeguez has years of experience as a leader in Oregon Peer Services. Ricardo developed and delivered Oregon's first Spanish language 40-hour peer training program, and has been its lead trainer for 6 years. Ricardo is currently the program manager of peer & recovery center services at the NW Instituto Latino.
Beau Rappaport, B.A., PSS
Representing the entire State
Beau is the Statewide Peer Delivered Service Coordinator for the Oregon Health Authority.
Keith Walker, CADC II, CGAC II
Representing Umatilla & Tillamook Counties
Voted into the board in October 2010, serving as Vice President 2015-2017, Keith is the Clinical Supervisor for the Powerhouse residential addiction treatment program in Umatilla County.
Amy Ashton Williams, LCSW, CADC II
Representing NE Oregon
Amy serves as the Director of OWHN
Mark Davis,CADC II,QMHA I
Representing Polk County
A board member since October 2009, and elected as President in June 2018, Mark Davis is a Lead Addictions Counselor at Polk County Behavioral Health.
Mitch Doig,CADC II
Representing the entire State
A board member since April 2023, Mitch has been serving the community since 2009 in a variety of roles throughout the BH field ranging from direct service to senior leadership. He now works at the Northwest Addiction Technology transfer center as a trainer and consultant to improve the adoption of evidenced based practices throughout Oregon and Idaho.
Van Burnham, B.Accy, CRM
Director of Administration, Finance & Technology
A staff member since 2009, Van graduated with a CPA eligible 5-year Bachelors degree in Accounting from The University of Mississippi. Van is a person in long term recovery from addiction. Van is Oregon's national representative on the Finance Committee of the IC&RC (International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium) and serves on the Board of Directors for the IC&RC.
Dr. Kristi McKinney, QMHP-R, CADC III
Director of Addiction & Mental Health Credentialing, Testing & Compliance
Kristi joined MHACBO in 2018 and has worked as both an addictions counselor and clinical supervisor for the prior six years. Prior to joining the addictions field, Kristi worked as an accountant for 15 years. In June of 2018, she obtained her masters degree in criminal justice and in 2023 earned her Doctorate in Education. Kristi also serves as Board Treasurer for the 4th Dimension Recovery Center
Madora Kanhalikham, QMHA II, CADC-R
Certification Specailist
A staff member since 2023, Madora graduated with a post-baccalaureate in Psychology from Portland State University. Madora volunteered working with the vulnerable population of Portland for 20 years, served as an intern counselor and teacher for children, worked as a medical social worker with geriatric patients, and was a residential treatment home administrator for 5 years.
Eric Martin, CADC III, CRM II, CPS
Director of Policy and Legislation
A board member and staff member since 1988, Eric is the Executive Director Emeritus of MHACBO (ACCBO) and a person in long term recovery from mental health & addiction. Eric currently serves as a policy advisor and legislative liaison for MHACBO. Eric was an adjunct faculty member with the University of Oregon for 20 years and is a faculty mentor with Portland State University. Eric is Director of the MetroPlus Association of Addiction Peer Professionals, and is a board member/consultant with the NW Instituto Latino de Adicciones, the Miracles Club, Voices of Problem Gambling Recovery, OR-Recovers, and the 4th Dimension Youth Recovery Center.
Armando Perez, MPA, CADC III
Workforce Development Coordinator
Armando has been a staff member with MHACBO since 2024 and has over 25 years of experience in the field of behavioral health. He holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a graduate degree in public administration. Armando has over 10 years’ experience working with populations of individuals struggling with substance use disorders and has been a certified alcohol and drug counselor since 2020. He works diligently to help people create success in their lives and reach their personal goals.
Meisha Robinson
Auditing Manager
Meisha joined MHACBO in 2023, but began working in credentialing on a national level in 2019. Meisha specializes in examinations and compliance, and works closely with our mental health exams.
Stephannie Sloane, CADC II, QMHA-II
Associate Director of Testing
Stephannie joined MHACBO in 2022 and has worked as an intern counselor, SUD counselor, Clinical Supervisor & Program Director in the addictions field, all since 2016. Stephannie earned her Associates Degree in Mental Health & Human Services in 2017. She works hard to fight the current opioid epidemic as a member of the Need 4 Narcan board where she also provides training and support to our direct community, offering tools and resources to increase awareness and reduce stigma.
Karen Willock, CADC II
Senior Ethics Investigator
Karen has been a staff member with MHACBO since 2016. Karen is a person in long term recovery from addiction. Karen has been an licensed nurse, addiction counselor, supervisor and clinical director with various Oregon & Washington addiction treatment programs for the past 35 years. Karen brings a wealth of clinical, administrative, supervisory, medical and legal experience to her position as a Senior Ethics Investigator.
Lana Winnie, LPC, CADC III, MAC, CRC, NCC
Exam Preparation Instructor
Lana has extensive experience in mental health and substance use dirorder services. Lana provides exam preparation courses for QMHA and QMHPs.
Hubert Mathews, CRM, CADC-I, QMHA-I
On Call Ethics Investigator
Hubert is a supervisor with Central City Concern and an on-call Ethics Investigator with MHACBO. With over 11 years of experience in behavioral health Mr. Mathews brings diverse experience in both behavioral health and recovery support services.
Jose Garcia, B.A., CADC II, QMHA-I, CRM
Ethics Investigator & Spanish Language Certification Specailist
Jose has over 20 years of experience in behavioral health. Mr. Garcia is the Past-President of the NW Instituto Latino, and works as a MHACBO Ethics Investigator and Spanish Language Certification Specialist.