Grady Wilkinson, MSW, brings more than 35 years of experience serving community-based behavioral health systems to the OPEN MINDS team. His extensive executive expertise is focused on strategic planning, operational improvement, mergers and acquisitions, and new service line development. Mr. Wilkinson is also well known for transforming corporations through the economic and operational struggle to stabilization and success.

In his previous role as Chief Executive Officer at Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center, Mr. Wilkinson developed and implemented an aggressive strategic plan to stabilize corporate finances, re-engineer business practices, improve client care methods and increase internal and external accountability. He is also credited with leading the corporation to a higher level of visibility in advocacy at local, state and national levels. Additional accomplishments include implementation of a cost reduction program to turn around significant financial losses, streamlining and centralizing of the admission process, initiation and leadership of multiple acquisition/merger initiatives, the establishment of cross-functional staff teams to develop new treatment methods/products and led the addition of new service lines and service locations.

Prior to his role at Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center, Mr. Wilkinson was Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Behavioral Health Center, Inc. In this role, Mr. Wilkinson provided leadership for organizational turnaround and instituted participatory, team-based decision-making; developed a strong consumer service orientation and made significant improvements in the scope, quality, and quantity of services. During his tenure, Heritage was awarded the first Nicholas Davies Award for electronic records awarded to a behavioral health provider.

As Chief Executive Officer of Van Buren County Mental Health Services, Mr. Wilkinson led a turnaround that helped the corporation become an innovative provider of cost-effective, consumer-focused mental health and developmental disabilities services. Previously, Mr. Wilkinson served as Chief Executive Officer of The Center for Human Resources, Inc., where he led the crisis center through a time of turmoil to a position of financial stability and aggressive service growth.

Prior to his experience in executive leadership, Mr. Wilkinson was the Coordinator of Prevention Services for Ottawa County Community Mental Health Services, and prior, Chief of Planning & Development/Chief of Direct Services for Tuscarawas Valley Comprehensive Mental Health Services.

Mr. Wilkinson has been involved in a variety of professional organizations including extensive involvement with Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards Provider Alliance and Mental Health Corporations of America.

Mr. Wilkinson earned his Masters Degree in Social Work from Western Michigan University and his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Rider College.