Leadership Team
Shannah Mulvihill, MA, CFRE
Executive Director/CEO
[email protected]
Shannah Mulvihill has served as the Executive Director/CEO of Mental Health Minnesota since 2015, and also serves as a Regional Policy Council Representative for Mental Health America. She has worked in the non-profit and public sectors for 20+ years in the areas of communications, development, public policy and organizational leadership. Shannah holds a Masters Degree in counseling psychology from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, and has served as a volunteer counselor for the Walk-In Counseling Clinic and Crisis Connection. She is a board member and treasurer of Wright County Community Action, as well as a member of the HLWW School Board. She is a former board chair of Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless and former disaster services volunteer and advisory committee member of the Twin Cities American Red Cross. Shannah is a Certified Fund Raising Executive, and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Bethany Gladhill
Chief Financial Officer
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Bethany Gladhill is an experienced non-profit management consultant, who has worked as the part-time Business Manager for Mental Health Minnesota since 2010. Though she is not supposed to have favorite clients, Mental Health Minnesota might actually be one, since she greatly admires the grassroots advocacy and focus on individual empowerment for mental health issues. Gladhill consults in finance, human resources, marketing, fundraising, and general management for both on-going and periodic clients, as well as providing strategic planning and evaluation services. She holds a B.A. magna cum laude from Tufts University and a Masters of Historic Preservation from Goucher College, Baltimore.
Joseph Markell
Associate Director
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Joseph Markell serves as the Associate Director for Mental Health Minnesota, a role he stepped into after joining the organization in January 2022. During his tenure, Joseph has held multiple critical positions across the agency, including Peer Support Counselor, 988 Follow-up Counselor, 988 & Warmline Supervisor, and Compliance & Training Manager.
Joseph brings over 10 years of operational leadership and project management experience from the non-profit and public sectors. His work is driven by a passion for supporting the community and a deep commitment to mental health services. Joseph holds a B.S. in Urban Studies, with honors, from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a UX Design certification from Pratt University in New York City.
Jamal Thompson
988 Lifeline Center Manager
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Jamal Thompson serves as the 988 Lifeline Center Manager for Mental Health Minnesota, a role he stepped into after joining the organization as a 988 Supervisor in July 2023. Jamal brings two decades of legal and judicial experience from New York and Minnesota, including a leadership role specializing in Ramsey County Child Protection matters. His diverse professional background spans federal and state agencies as well as the non-profit sector, driven by a lifelong family passion for advocacy. Jamal holds a B.A. in Sociology, summa cum laude, from the City University of New York School of Professional Studies.
Jessica Baumhofer
Peer Support Programs Manager
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Jessica Baumhofer has served as the Peer Support Programs Manager for Mental Health Minnesota since January 2023. Additionally, she leads collaboration efforts with the Metro Transit Police Department’s Homeless Action Team and is highly active in the organization’s community outreach—roles dedicated to making support accessible and increasing awareness of Mental Health Minnesota and available resources.
Jessica has worked in the social services and mental health field since 1999, bringing diverse experience supporting unhoused individuals, people living with HIV, individuals experiencing crisis, teen and single parents, and families navigating supervised visitation. Driven by a deeply personal connection to the mission after losing family members and close family friends to suicide, Jessica is a passionate advocate for reducing stigma and normalizing the prioritization of mental wellness. Outside of her professional role, Jessica teaches yoga, meditation, and sound bowl practices, reflecting her core belief that wellness and healing should be available to everyone.
Outreach and Communications Team
Lake Braaten
Outreach and Engagement Manager
[email protected]
Lake Braaten serves as the Outreach and Engagement Manager for Mental Health Minnesota. Over his seven-year tenure with the organization, he has grown from a Helpline intern into a core leadership role, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to the agency’s mission. Today, Lake leads community outreach, coordinates conference representation, and spearheads critical internal technology and resource initiatives. He brings a collaborative, adaptable approach to his work, readily stepping in to support the team across operational needs. Lake holds a B.S. in Biochemistry and a B.A. in Psychology, magna cum laude, from Metropolitan State University, giving him an analytical and multidisciplinary perspective on mental health advocacy.
Rebecca Ernst
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
[email protected]
Rebecca Ernst has served as the Communications and Marketing Coordinator for Mental Health Minnesota since 2024. Having previously worked on the front lines as a Peer Support Counselor for the Minnesota Warmline, Rebecca brings a deep, firsthand understanding of the community she serves. She is a passionate advocate for mental health and is dedicated to elevating the voices of those with lived experience. Rebecca holds a B.A. in Professional Journalism from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
Mental Health Minnesota is led by an engaged leadership team and board of directors. However, we also have 60+ staff members who are part of our peer support Warmline and 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline staff, outreach staff working as part of our Homeless Action Team, and dozens of volunteers each year who help connect people with the information, resources, and support they need.
Board
Patrick Rhone
President
Linda Sjoberg
Vice President
Royal Jaros
Treasurer
Mikayla Nichols
Anastasia Cyptar
Willie Garrett, Ed.D.
Trisha Stark, LP
John Moe
Ryan Rasmussen
Natalie Demos