OPEN MINDS Announces 2026 Strategy & Innovation Institute, To Be Held In New Orleans, Louisiana In June
New Orleans, LA (December 14, 2025) — OPEN MINDS today announced the dates and location for The 2026 OPEN MINDS Strategy & Innovation Institute: June 9-11, 2026, in lively New Orleans, Louisiana.
As the premier event for equipping executives navigating the rapidly shifting health and human services market, this 2026 Institute will bring together leaders nationwide to explore strategic, operational, and financial challenges facing organizations serving complex consumers, and turn uncertainty into strategic advantage.
“The market is shifting faster than ever, and leadership today requires equal parts courage, clarity, and creativity,” said OPEN MINDS Chief Executive Officer Monica E. Oss. “This Institute is built to help leaders reimagine what’s possible, redesign what’s not working, and build organizations ready for whatever comes next.”
The theme—Innovate Your Future For A Competitive Advantage—sets the foundation for sessions focused on anticipating market disruptions, navigating regulatory shifts, strengthening organizational positioning, and applying advanced strategic frameworks.
The institute will kick off with two in-depth executive seminars:
MA&A Strategy For A Shifting Market: The 2026 OPEN MINDS Seminar On Planning & Succeeding In Increasing Scale, led by Ray Wolfe, J.D., Senior Associate at OPEN MINDS. This seminar will provide a roadmap for building scale, selecting the right partners, and navigating the complexities of mergers, acquisitions, and affiliations.
Best Practice Marketing Planning: The 2026 OPEN MINDS Seminar On Making Your Growth Strategy A Reality, led by Emily Harris, Executive Vice President at OPEN MINDS. This seminar will guide executives of specialty provider organizations on how to craft an adaptable, data-informed marketing strategy that positions their organization’s unique value for consumers, payers, partners, and the workforce of the future.
The Wednesday morning keynote session, “The Latest Developments In Addiction Treatment Service Delivery & Best Practices: A Payer Perspective,” will feature Dr. Debra Nussbaum, Ph.D., LCSW, Senior Director of Behavioral Health Evidence Based Services and National SUD Strategy Lead at Optum. Dr. Nussbaum will provide payer insights on value-based models, network design, care coordination strategies, digital solutions, and quality measures shaping treatment for individuals with substance use disorders.
Another highlight of the week is The 2026 OPEN MINDS Autism & I/DD Executive Summit. The summit offers a full day dedicated to leadership and operational strategies for organizations serving individuals with co-occurring I/DD, mental health, and addictive disorders.
Additionally, the 2026 OPEN MINDS CFO Summit is curated to elevate the CFO as a strategic architect. This full-day program will focus on financial strategy, scenario planning, and value-based reimbursement; outlining how CFOs can drive growth through partnerships, managed care engagement, and scale strategies.
Health and human services leaders are encouraged to attend with their teams to accelerate growth, navigate disruption, and strengthen their competitive advantage—exclusively at The 2026 OPEN MINDS Strategy & Innovation Institute.
The full agenda can be found at strategy.openminds.com.
Registration is now open. Registration is included for OPEN MINDS Circle Market Intelligence Service subscribers. Non-members can register at strategy.openminds.com.
For questions about OPEN MINDS educational programs, sponsorship opportunities, or media inquiries, contact the Executive Education Events team at events@openminds.com or 717-334-1329.
Premiere Partners & Exhibitors
This program is made possible by the OPEN MINDS premier partners, Alera Health, ContinuumCloud, Core Solutions, Netsmart, Otsuka, and Qualifacts.
Featured exhibitors include Alera Health, CapGrow Partners, Grafton Integrated Health Network | Ukeru, mdhub, and Streamline.
About OPEN MINDS
OPEN MINDS is a national market intelligence, management consulting, and marketing services firm specializing exclusively in the high-needs consumer market – mental health, addiction treatment, cognitive disabilities, chronic health conditions, elder services, health-related social needs, and adjacent markets within the health and human service field. The OPEN MINDS mission is to provide payers, service provider organizations, pharmaceutical, technology, and scientific firms that serve these consumers with the market and management knowledge needed to improve their organizational efficiency and effectiveness. Learn more at openminds.com.