Gateway Foundation Appoints Dr. Maria Bruni as Chief Strategy Officer

Dr. Maria Bruni, a seasoned behavioral health expert with over 20 years of leadership experience, has been appointed as the Chief Strategy Officer at Gateway Foundation, a newly created role that will support the organization's growth, expansion, and mission to save lives through innovative treatment for substance use and mental health disorders. Dr. Bruni joins Gateway Foundation from Family Guidance Centers, Inc., where she launched groundbreaking treatment pilots, advanced health equity, and secured major grants to serve underserved communities. As Chief Strategy Officer, Dr. Bruni will lead the organization's annual strategic planning process, guide growth for expanding programs, forge new partnerships, secure critical funding, and advocate for policies that remove barriers to treatment.

Key Takeaways:

• Dr. Maria Bruni has been appointed as the Chief Strategy Officer at Gateway Foundation, bringing over 20 years of leadership experience in behavioral health policy, program development, and systems transformation.
• Dr. Bruni previously worked at Family Guidance Centers, Inc., and held leadership roles with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Illinois Department of Human Services.
• As Chief Strategy Officer, Dr. Bruni will lead the organization's annual strategic planning process, guide growth for expanding programs, forge new partnerships, secure critical funding, and advocate for policies that remove barriers to treatment.
• Dr. Bruni has a Ph.D. and M.A. in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago, with a concentration in health policy, and a B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
• She serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health and has received multiple awards for her leadership, including the IABH George Schwab Distinguished Service Award and Haymarket Center's Visionary Award.
• Gateway Foundation is a national, nonprofit organization helping people build healthier lives by reducing substance use, other addictions, and improving mental health, with a strong presence in Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas, and Wyoming.

Statistics:

• Over 20 years of leadership experience in behavioral health policy, program development, and systems transformation
• 14 years of experience in leadership roles at Family Guidance Centers, Inc., the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Illinois Department of Human Services
• 5 years of experience in launching groundbreaking treatment pilots, advancing health equity, and securing major grants to serve underserved communities
• 3 years of experience as a Board Member of the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health
• 2 years of experience as a recipient of the IABH George Schwab Distinguished Service Award and Haymarket Center's Visionary Award

Sources:

• Gateway Foundation Original Press Release, August 19
• Contify.com, 2017