Leadership

Jayne Van Bramer is a transformational leader in behavioral health with more than 30 years of executive experience across public, nonprofit, and for-profit healthcare systems. She currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sweetser, a Maine-based behavioral health organization, where she leads strategic, financial, and operational performance for a $60 million enterprise serving diverse populations across the state.

Throughout her career, Jayne has built a reputation for leading complex organizations through periods of significant change by stabilizing finances, strengthening culture, and improving both clinical and operational outcomes. At Sweetser, she has led a comprehensive organizational transformation, enhancing efficiency, rebuilding governance partnerships, and positioning the organization for long-term sustainability while elevating its presence at both the community and state levels.

Previously, Jayne served as Chief Executive Officer of Oakwood Springs Behavioral Health Hospital in Oklahoma City, where she successfully led a financial and operational turnaround. Under her leadership, the hospital exceeded EBITDA targets by more than 70 percent, reduced staff turnover, strengthened clinical and leadership teams, and improved patient access and outcomes. She also expanded academic partnerships to support workforce development and introduced innovative payer engagement strategies.

Jayne also served as Chief Executive Officer of Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital in Pennsylvania, where she led the successful launch of a joint-venture psychiatric hospital in partnership with Penn Medicine/Lancaster General Hospital and Universal Health Services. She established the organization’s mission, vision, and values, obtained Joint Commission accreditation and state licensure, built high-performing teams, and achieved strong patient satisfaction and quality outcomes, including the elimination of seclusion and mechanical restraints through trauma-informed care.

Earlier in her career, Jayne held executive leadership roles within the New York State Office of Mental Health, one of the largest public mental health systems in the United States. As Senior Associate Commissioner for State Operations, she oversaw services for more than 25,000 individuals and a workforce exceeding 10,000 employees. She led system-wide transformation initiatives focused on community-based care, improved access, and recovery-oriented service delivery, while driving measurable improvements in quality, safety, and cost efficiency. During this period, she also served as the primary investigator for a successful SAMHSA grant titled “Positive Alternatives to Restraint and Seclusion”.

Jayne began her career in quality and risk management, where she played a key role in modernizing statewide oversight systems, including the development of a comprehensive incident reporting platform and the implementation of proactive risk management strategies. 

She holds a Master of Arts in Applied Research and Evaluation from Hofstra University, a Master of Arts in Psychology from SUNY Oswego, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from SUNY Binghamton.

John McAnuff is our Chief Financial Officer and joined Sweetser in 2022. For nearly two decades John was a senior member of the management team at Spurwink, serving as CFO and Treasurer since 2007. He is a strategic and experienced leader with strong financial and operational skills. He has extensive experience with internal controls, Not-For-Profit Management, GAAP, risk management and financial analysis and reporting. A graduate of Boston University and the University of Southern Maine, John is respected by colleagues and industry leaders, and enjoys working with clinicians and educators. He is a strategic thinker and has identified unique business opportunities in the behavioral health industry while adapting to constant change. John enjoys helping people grow and develop their talents. He is a realist and uses data as evidence to gauge if something worked and to make recommendations for process improvement. John is optimistic about the human race and uses perspective and creativity to identify solutions. He is a runner, history lover – especially Roman, and amateur chef. Family time and hanging out with his kids are a priority.

Joanne Grant is the Chief Growth Officer, joining Sweetser after holding both administrative and clinical leadership positions in Maine for over 20 years. Joanne began her clinical journey serving youth in a treatment program at the Maine Youth Center and grew into various leadership positions, including the Director of Residential Services. She has had a private practice as well. Most recently, Joanne served as the Director of Substance Use Treatment Program Operations for Maine Behavioral Health, overseeing administrative and clinical operations. She has an undergraduate degree in rehabilitation services with a specialty in substance use counseling from UMF and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from USM. Joanne also has specialized training in clinical supervision and has several certifications in Evidenced Based Practice including: 7 Challenges, Aggression Replacement Training, Moral Reconation Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. She is a member of the board of professional counselors for the State of Maine. Joanne enjoys hiking, camping, and pickle ball. She has two daughters—both in college studying nursing—so she now spends most of her time with her German Shepherd dogs, Charlie and Grayson.

Kristie Worster is the Chief Program Officer, joining Sweetser after holding both administrative and clinical leadership positions in Maine. She was an outpatient therapist for several years in York County prior to becoming a Regional Director in the Mid-Coast region, where she managed outpatient, community-based, crisis and residential services. More recently Kristie implemented clinical programs for a large health system.  She has an undergraduate degree in English and a master’s degree in social work, both from The University of New England. Kristie also has specialized training in clinical supervision and has several certifications in Evidenced Based Practices, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, MATCH-ADTC, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies. She has a Certificate as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from Acuity Institute and has experience with leading employee engagement projects. Kristie loves the simple things like spending summers outside discovering new parts of New England and Maine with her family.

Holly Hall is the Chief Human Resources Officer and has been with Sweetser since 2011. Holly provides administrative leadership and oversight of the Human Resources functions within the organization, ensuring that the policies, standards, and services are consistent with the organization’s mission, vision, and values. She started her career in behavioral healthcare in 1997 when she worked at Spring Harbor Hospital & Maine Mental Health Partners, before beginning her career in Human Resources in 2007 when she was promoted to HR Manager. Holly graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a B.A. in Social Sciences. She earned her Professional Human Resources (PHR) Certification in 2011 and her SHRM-Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification in 2015.  She also completed the Project Management and Human Resources Certificate programs at the University of Southern Maine. Holly is an active member of the Human Resources Association of Southern Maine (HRASM) and Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Justin Chenette serves as Sweetser’s Chief Communications Officer, leading all external and internal communications, public relations, business development, government affairs, and advancement initiatives. He joined Sweetser in 2022 as Communications Director and quickly advanced to Senior Director of Public Relations & Advancement before joining the C-suite. Justin is a seasoned strategic communicator with a diverse background in journalism, marketing, government, and nonprofit leadership. At Sweetser, he is responsible for strengthening the organization’s public image and visibility while broadening program outreach through multimedia storytelling, advertising, branding, and cross-platform messaging. He leads annual philanthropic cultivation, including donor engagement, corporate sponsorships, grant writing, and event planning. Additionally, Justin serves as Sweetser’s primary media spokesperson and helps coordinate government affairs, community engagement, and business development strategies. Before Sweetser, Justin’s career started in journalism, including hosting a statewide TV show in high school and working in TV news during college. He then shifted into strategic communications consulting, digital advertising, and marketing while also founding a scholarship foundation. His varied experience includes serving at all levels of government: municipal, county, state, and federal, as a four-term lawmaker, State Board of Education member, congressional intern, and County Commissioner. He is currently a state appointee on Maine’s Right to Know Advisory Committee. Justin’s achievements have been widely recognized, including being named to The Advocate magazine’s 40 Under 40 list of top leaders nationally, Mainebiz’s 40 Under 40 list, and receiving the Volunteer Service Award from two U.S. Presidents. He holds a Post-Baccalaureate Degree in Public Administration from the University of Maine at Augusta, a B.S. in Broadcast News from Vermont State University-Lyndon, and an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government (as a Bohnett Leaders Fellow). Justin was honored with Lyndon’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2019 and UMA’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2025. Beyond his professional endeavors, Justin is a published author of ‘The Great Whoopie Pie Debate: A Kids’ Guide to the Maine Legislature’ and has been a newspaper columnist for over a decade.

Mike Andrick joined Sweetser as the Senior Director of Adult Crisis & Residential Services in 2024. In this role, he oversees mobile crisis services, adult crisis stabilization units, crisis aftercare programs, OPTIONS, and adult PNMI. He is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and has presented at numerous professional conferences during his career. Prior to joining Sweetser, he served as Director of Outreach & DMH MATCH Services at Pine Street Inn. Mike holds a master’s degree in counseling and education from the University of Maine, Orono.

Wendy Anders, LCSW, is the Senior Director of Community-based Services, including School-based Outpatient Therapy, Primary Care Integration, Behavioral Health Homes, Adult Community Integration and Assertive Community Integration Services. She has been with Sweetser since 1991. Prior to joining Sweetser, Wendy worked at multiple social service organizations in New Hampshire, New York and Maine. She has experience working in substance use disorder recovery programs, group homes, emergency shelters and helping open a large adolescent independent living program. Improving access to services for adults, children and families has been her primary passion, as well as advocating for whole person healthcare in which both emotional and physical care is considered. Wendy graduated with her B.S. in Social Work and Counseling from Franklin Pierce College and later went on to earn her Master’s in Social Work from the University of New England. 

Before social work, Kristen graduated with a Bachelors in English and French Literature and was a writer, musician, and house painter. She always loved a story and believed in the power of people. In 2014, she earned her MSW from the University of New England and began working with adolescents and families within a residential substance use treatment setting for seven years.  There she developed a passion for clinical work with youth and families, access to substance use treatment, and community outreach and education. Kristen also became interested in systems that support mental health services and service providers, including the culture within agencies. She looks forward to being able to bring those interests into the position of Director of Community Based-Services.

Lynn Leland is the Executive Administrative Assistant to the President & CEO, Chief Program Officer, Medical Director, and also supports several program directors and senior directors, as needed. She has been with Sweetser since 1997. Lynn is responsible for a wide-range of administrative functions in both an executive support and office assistant capacity requiring the highest levels of professionalism, accountability, and confidentiality. Lynn serves as the administrative liaison for Sweetser’s Board of Directors and related committees. Prior to this role, Lynn served as a Collections Specialist in the Patient Accounts Department, where she was responsible for the setup and ongoing maintenance of the billing side of Sweetser’s electronic health record.

Joey Rossignol joined Sweetser in 2022 as the Clinical Director for the Certified Clinical Behavioral Health Center, overseeing the clinical operations and community support services in Brunswick. He has extensive experience with nonprofit residential program leadership, management of a team of outreach clinicians, day program, risk management and contract monitoring/reporting to state agencies. Prior to joining Sweetser, Joey worked as a clinical supervisor for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health where he oversaw contract monitoring for several community support services (liaison for contracted non-profit vendors, clubhouse services, and jail diversion clinicians), supervised case management staff, monitored movement for community reentry from State Inpatient Facilities and Incarcerated/Forensic involved individuals. Joey earned a Master’s in Mental Health and Addiction Counseling through Cambridge College, and is currently licensed in LMHC-MA and LCPC-ME. In his free time, Joey enjoys traveling and photography.

Elise Chase is the Director of Crisis Services and has been with Sweetser since 2019. In this role, she oversees mobile crisis intervention, crisis triage, and the OPTIONS program. Elise has extensive experience within Sweetser, having worked in various programs including residential services, crisis stabilization units, and mobile crisis intervention. Prior to her current role, she served as the Clinical Supervisor for Mobile Crisis in Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford counties. She is an LMSW-cc, CCS (Certified Clinical Supervisor), and has her MHRT-csp certifications. Elise earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern Maine. A local to Maine, she is dedicated to serving her community and is passionate about delivering essential services throughout the state. Outside of work, Elise enjoys traveling and spending time with family.

Rose Giacchino is the Director of Finance and joined Sweetser in February 2022. She is responsible for the financial management of the organization through the delivery of accurate and timely financial information. Rose oversees the budget process, financial analysis, financial contract compliance, accounts payable, payroll, general ledger maintenance and month end close. She is also responsible for policies and procedures that provide for effective internal controls. Rose has her CPA license and CGMA certification, and is a longstanding member of the AICPA. Born and raised in Maine, she ventured west to beautiful Colorado for college, but eventually family and the ocean called her back. Rose has loved accounting since high school, gaining experience in public accounting, private business, business ownership and tax preparation. She has served on small non-profit boards over the years, and has donated time and energy towards those causes.

Jodie Hansen is the Development Director and has been with Sweetser since 1992. She spearheads comprehensive fundraising strategies to support the organization’s mission, cultivating major donors, securing grants, organizing events, and managing corporate partnerships. Jodie is passionate about connecting donors with opportunities to make a difference in mental health. Jodie started her career at Sweetser, working with youth in our residential program and within the Sweetser Training Institute. She earned a B.A from the University of Southern Maine, where she studied Sociology. Jodie resides in Saco with her husband and two sheepadoodles.

Kimberly Holmes is the Director of Education for our Special Purpose Private School in Saco. She joined Sweetser in July 2022. Kimberly oversees all aspects of the day treatment educational program, including collaborating with school districts for students attending our school, working closely with residential programs, and supporting families and students. Kimberly earned her undergraduate degree in Special Education and Elementary Education at University of Maine at Farmington. She began her career as a Special Education Teacher and during this time she earned her Master’s in Special Education and Administration at University of Southern Maine. Kimberly brings 25 years of administrative experience to the position and is looking forward to sharing this with the Sweetser community.

Alaina Knox is the Director of Recovery Services overseeing peers who work on the Peer Support Line, in the Emergency Department, Peer Training Network and Integrated Teams. In this role, she promotes professional development and growth of Sweetser’s Peer Support Team. Alaina joined Sweetser in June 2023 as a Training Specialist, coordinating educational courses for Peer Support Specialists throughout the state. Alaina has years of experience working in behavioral health and Substance Abuse Disorder recovery programs. She has been in leadership roles at both residential and outpatient programs in Maine and Pennsylvania. In her free time, Alaina enjoys connecting with loved ones and spending time outdoors.

Allison M. Martin is the Director of Patient Accounts and has been with Sweetser since 2002. She helps sustain financial stability with the organization by supporting and directing her team to bill and capture revenue initiated by more than 16 different programs. Allison highly values the collection and maintenance of billing information, accurate and timely billing for services, and the collection of receivables, while providing the best possible customer service to clients, their families, service providers, and all funding sources. She graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington and immediately began her career in medical billing. Allison is from Maine, where she continues to live with her husband and small dog, enjoying the beaches, lighthouses, golf courses, and giving treats for ball retrieval.

Carol Mundigler joined Sweetser in the summer of 2021 as Director of Talent Acquisition & Retention, where she focuses on creating short- and long-term strategies to engage and retain Sweetser’s current employees along with attracting new talent to the organization. She graduated from the University of Puget Sound in Washington state with a BA in Business and has spent the last 11 years working in the talent acquisition space. Carol is excited to be back in Maine—where she was born and raised—with her husband, kids and a house full of animals. When she’s not working, she loves to spend time with her family, cycling at a local studio, and spending time by the water.

Jayne Pelletier, Ph.D. is the Director of Training, bringing a long history of working with adult, multi-cultural learners in a variety of settings to her role at Sweetser. Her background includes extensive involvement with institutional and programmatic accreditation, program development, evaluation, and assessment. Jayne has experience with both traditional and post-traditional learners, and has considerable experience delivering professional learning in a variety of modalities. She earned a B. S. in Environmental Conservation, an M. A. T. in English, and a Ph.D. in Education, all at the University of New Hampshire. She holds an Experienced Educator Certificate and is certified as an English teacher.  Jayne has taught both graduate and undergraduate students online and in the classroom at several institutions and has been responsible for all areas of instruction, including faculty observations, faculty development, and curricular changes. Jayne lives in Southern Maine and enjoys hiking, kayaking, and walks with her rescue shepherd, Bae.

Brandon Somes joined Sweetser in March 2024 as the Director of Quality. He is responsible for working with teams at all levels of Sweetser programs and departments to improve key client outcomes, identify opportunities for improvement, and build systems and processes that ensure safe delivery and thorough documentation of care/services. Brandon began his career in youth residential behavioral health, and has extensive experience in direct care and day school treatment programs, as well as staff training and development. He has also worked in an improvement role focused on reducing use of restraint and managing organization accreditation-related activities. Since moving to Maine in 2020, Brandon has been responsible for oversight and development of improvement programs at SMHC and InterMed. He is driven by a desire to help care teams and direct care staff improve client outcomes, while making their work easier and safer. Originally from rural Western Mass, he and his wife moved to Maine to be closer to the ocean and Portland. He has two rescue dogs and loves to hike, swim, run, bike and do pretty much anything outside.

Becca Task is the Clinical Director of Youth Services, where she provides leadership for the development, implementation, and oversight of essential programs designed to support Maine’s youth and families, including Therapeutic Intensive Homes (TIH) for treatment foster care needs and the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF). She brings more than a decade of experience working within acute, community-based, co-occurring treatment models in interdisciplinary settings. Grounded in trauma-informed and trauma-competent approaches, Becca is committed to strengthening systems of care for youth and families across Maine. Prior to joining Sweetser, Becca held a variety of clinical and leadership roles, including ACT case manager, MST therapist and supervisor, clinical intake coordinator, and substance use clinician and clinical supervisor. She also contributed to the development and facilitation of contracted service provision for several of Maine’s treatment courts and through the VA, supporting mandated clients in need of substance use treatment. Becca holds a Master’s degree in social work from the University of Maine. She has specialized training in evidence-based practices like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Multisystemic Therapy (MST), and Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), and is also trained in Restorative Justice Practices. Additionally, she holds a Certificate as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from Acuity Institute, where her work centered on improving internal referral processes between outpatient and intensive clinical services. Outside of work, she enjoys the best of the Maine outdoors—skiing, sailing, beaches, horseback riding, and mountain biking—and exploring Portland’s exceptional dining scene with family and friends.

Chad Thurlow joined Sweetser in September of 2022 as the Director of Information Technology. He had exposure to computing from an early age, but officially began his IT career in web development and design in the early days of the World Wide Web. He has since acquired a broad range of IT experience, which he brings to Sweetser. Chad graduated from the University of Maine at Orono with an A.A.S in Legal Technology. Outside of Sweetser, Chad enjoys cooking, music, family, and constantly pursuing knowledge in an always-growing list of interests.

Douglas Weaver is the Clinical Director of Adult Residential. He joined Sweetser in 2023 as the Clinical Supervisor for the Behavioral Health Home program in Brunswick. Douglas has extensive experience working with clients suffering from severe and persistent mental illness, and he has worked in the mental health field since 2010. Douglas’ background includes positions in residential treatment, daily living supports, Assertive Community Treatment, Home and Community-Based Treatment, inpatient psychiatric and detox in a hospital setting, and outpatient counseling. He earned his MSW from the University of New England in 2018, and is an LCSW and a CCS (Certified Clinical Supervisor). Douglas is an eight-year veteran of the United States Army and served in Iraq.

Robert White, Sweetser’s Director of Compliance since 2001, oversees compliance with state and federal law, and national accreditation standards applicable to all programs and operations. An experienced health care attorney, Robert also supports Sweetser and its staff on specific legal matters. Robert graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and Harvard Law School, majoring in chemistry in college and working as a computer programmer before earning his law degree. His legal practice focused chiefly on health care law and also on business, corporate and employment law with a Boston firm, in a solo practice, and with a Maine hospital.  Robert has taught health care law at a Massachusetts law school. Outside Sweetser, Robert serves on the board of a Maine non-profit community service corporation, is a trustee for a nationally registered, historic music hall in Massachusetts, and administratively directs a summertime Gilbert & Sullivan musical theater program for youth.

Bruce Norton serves as Director of Facilities at Sweetser, where he leads the organization’s statewide facilities operations, ensuring that staff and the individuals Sweetser serves have safe, functional, and welcoming environments. Since joining Sweetser in June 2022, Bruce has overseen the planning, maintenance, regulatory compliance, and management of Sweetser’s diverse portfolio of residential, educational, clinical, and administrative facilities across Maine.

Before joining Sweetser, Bruce served as Assistant Director of Facilities at Maine Veterans’ Homes, where he helped oversee facilities operations, maintenance, capital improvement projects, and regulatory compliance in support of Maine’s veteran community. The experience strengthened his expertise in complex facilities management, operational planning, and leading multidisciplinary teams.

At Sweetser, Bruce works collaboratively with staff, contractors, and community partners to support the organization’s mission by maintaining high-quality environments that promote healing, learning, and recovery. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing facility improvements, strengthening infrastructure, and supporting the organization’s continued growth across the state.

Known for his collaborative leadership style, strong work ethic, and practical approach to problem-solving, Bruce is committed to ensuring that Sweetser’s facilities support the organization’s mission of helping children, adults, and families build healthier, more resilient lives.

Karen Bate is the Director of Housing & Special Projects at Sweetser.  She comes to Sweetser with almost 30 years of experience in the mental health field. Previously, she was the Executive Director for Common Ties Mental Health Services. 

Karen has extensive experience in leadership, employee retention, program stabilization, and a wide range of executive management.  She is excited for the opportunity to bring her skill set to Sweetser.

She graduated with honors from the University of Maine with a BS degree in Mental Health and Human Services.  She also has her Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician Certification.

In her spare time, she enjoys camping, being outdoors, and her new grandson.