Peter Kinder, Lieutenant Governor
Peter D. Kinder was elected Missouri's 46th Lieutenant Governor on November 2, 2004. As Lieutenant Governor, Kinder serves as the official Senior Advocate for Missouri. While in the Missouri Senate, he sponsored and passed the Elderly Protection Act in 2003, which increased the penalties for elder abuse crimes. In his current capacity, Lieutenant Governor Kinder continues to work to protect Missouri's most vulnerable citizens. Lieutenant Governor Kinder was appointed as a co-chair of the Missouri Mental Health Task Force by Governor Matt Blunt on June 15, 2006.

Ron Dittemore, Ed.D., Interim Director
Department of Mental Health
Ron Dittemore is the interim director for the Missouri Department of Mental Health. He was appointed to that position by the Mental Health Commission, effective July 1, 2006, replacing Dorn Schuffman who retired as director. The Department of Mental Health serves more than 170,000 Missourians each year impacted by mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse. Dittemore worked 33 years for the Department of Mental Health, retiring in 1999 as the Superintendent of Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center in St. Joseph. He was appointed to the Mental Health Commission in June 2005 by Governor Matt Blunt. He resigned from the commission to serve as interim director for the department.

Julie M. Eckstein, Director
Department of Health and Senior Services
Julie Eckstein was appointed by Governor Matt Blunt to serve as Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services on February 15, 2005. As director, Ms. Eckstein oversees an agency that is responsible for the state's public health activities, including disease prevention, bioterrorism and other emergency health threats, promoting healthy behaviors and preventing chronic diseases, environmental health and infant and children's health. She also oversees programs that provide protection and services for older Missourians, as well as programs that protect the public by licensing and inspecting hospitals, child-care facilities and long-term care facilities.

Mark James, Director
Department of Public Safety
Mark James comes to the position of Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety with over 28 years of experience in protecting Missourians. For nine years James worked with the Missouri State Highway Patrol before starting a 19-year tenure with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). James was the special agent in charge of the ATF Bureau for the Kansas City Division, which encompassed a four-state area. Responsible for many safety initiatives and intelligence efforts, James has protected Missourians by enlisting the help of police departments throughout Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. Unafraid to review and rebuild existing departmental infrastructure, James has been responsible for overhauling ATF's intelligence function and designing the MSHP's first criminal intelligence unit. James received a bachelor of science in criminal justice and administration from Central Missouri State University and a master of science in strategic intelligence from the Joint Military Intelligence College of the Department of Defense.

Gary Sherman, Director
Department of Social Services
Gary Sherman was appointed in March 2005 by Governor Matt Blunt to serve as director of the Missouri Department of Social Services, the agency responsible for coordinating programs that provide public assistance to ensure the health and safety of children, help parents and caregivers provide nuturing homes, and aid people in need of financial assistance reach their highest level of social and economic self-sufficiency. Before returning to Missouri, Sherman served as the chairman of the Department of Criminal Justice with the University of Wyoming. Prior to joining the university staff, he served as the director for the Wyoming Department of Family Services. A native of Rolla, Missouri, he worked as the director of the Missouri Division of Aging from 1985 to 1988. Prior to that appointment, he served as the director of the Missouri Division of Youth Services from 1983 to 1985. He also held other management positions in that division dating back to 1974.

Natalie Woods, President
Nevada Habilitation Center Family Support Association
Mrs. Woods is the legal guardian for her younger sister who has mental retardation, cerebral palsy, behavioral disorders, and numerous complex medical conditions. Mrs. Woods has been a proactive mental health advocate for the past several years, specifically for those with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Mrs. Woods works closely with many families and individuals across Missouri, and is dedicated to advocating on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities who are unable to represent themselves.

Wendy Buehler, President
Life Skills, St. Louis
A graduate of Fontbonne College, Ms. Buehler began her career as special education teacher, and joined Life Skills in 1981, working directly with people with disabilities. Ms. Buehler has held numerous positions with Life Skills over the past 25 years and was named President of the organization in 1997. Life Skills was established in 1964 and serves more than 1400 people across four counties and employs nearly 600 staff. Life Skills is known for quality and innovative services and helps people with disabilities to live on their own and to find and keep meaningful jobs. Ms. Buehler is the past president of the Missouri Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, and is a 2003 graduate of the Leadership St. Louis program. Ms. Buehler resides in St. Louis.

Terry Mackey, President
Arthur Center, Mexico
Terry Mackey is president of Arthur Center, a community mental health center located in Mexico, Mo., that provides psychiatric services to persons in Audrain, Callaway, Montgomery, Pike, Ralls, and Monroe counties. Mackey is a parent of three sons with developmental disabilities and serves as Chairperson of the Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities. He and his wife, Cindy, have been married 29 years and are both Licensed Clinical Social Workers. His education includes a B.S. in Business Administration from Columbia College and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Missouri-Columbia. In addition, he serves as Secretary/Treasurer of Missouri Coalition of Community Mental Health Centers and is a board member of United Credit Union in Mexico, MO.