CARF - Key Persons
Brian J. Boon - CEO, Chairman, President
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Chairman of the Board
- President
Brian J. Boon, Ph.D. became President/CEO of CARF International and began expanding accreditation activities into more countries and new human service fields. He also introduced the balance scorecard to monitor CARF's growth and customer satisfaction.
Brian J. Boon, PhD, president/CEO, joined CARF in 2001 after serving as an at-large trustee on the CARF Board of Trustees between 1998 and 2000. Prior to joining CARF, he was a CARF surveyor for six years and participated in many CARF advisory committees and leadership panels dating back to 1990. Brian holds a doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Alberta and was formerly a practicing/registered psychologist. He also held many progressive leadership positions with the Alberta Workers' Compensation Board, culminating as the vice president of claims and healthcare services. Brian's broad professional experiences as a payer, provider, and regulator have contributed to his "systems solution" leadership approach-an orientation well suited in his role at CARF in working with the many key stakeholders to advance quality for persons served in the global health and human service industry.
Job Titles:
- Secretary of Health, Education
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Managing Director of the Employment
- New Managing Director
- Role of Managing Director of Employment and Community Services
Chasity Chamberlin, managing director of the Employment and Community Services accreditation area, brings 20 years of experience to her role having worked as a provider, administrator, and executive director for residential, employment, and community integration organizations. She served on a county board and oversaw funding for individuals receiving services. She was also a CARF surveyor for seven years.
Job Titles:
- Chief
- General Counsel
- Officer
Darren M. Lehrfeld, JD, chief accreditation officer and general counsel, provides direct executive leadership over all accreditation operations, legal affairs, public policy and compliance matters. Prior to joining CARF in 2003, Darren was the sole shareholder of a professional corporation that provided business and legal counsel to CARF and other international, national, regional, and local organizations in healthcare and other industries. He earned his juris doctor and business administration degree from the University of Arizona and is an active member of the State Bar of Arizona and Pima County Bar Association.
Di Shen, PhD, chief research and quality improvement officer, spearheads accreditation research and quality improvement efforts, performance indicator and outcomes management, and has oversight responsibility for internal performance improvement systems and research data infrastructure for CARF since 1997. He oversees the uSPEQ stakeholder feedback surveys, including instrument design, development, benchmark analysis, and comparison. Dr. Shen has published and presented at numerous national and international conferences and workshops in his areas of expertise. He has served on several U.S. and Canadian national committees on measurement methodology and performance indicators. His doctoral degree in psychology is from the University of Arizona.
Don E. Galvin, Ph.D. became CARF's second President/CEO. During his tenure, he expanded into areas not traditionally identified with rehabilitation, including Adult Day Services and Assisted Living; placed a strong emphasis on outcomes measurement and management; and contracted with major federal agencies.
CARF President/CEO Don H. Galvin, Ph.D. retired. Don was a tireless champion of independent living and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, providing congressional testimony and presenting at conferences in the U.S. and around the world.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Managing Director of the Behavioral Health
- New Managing Director
Emily Hosea has experience in a variety of settings that focused on substance use disorders, mental health, and crisis intervention.
Emily Hosea, managing director of the Behavioral Health and Opioid Treatment Programs accreditation areas, joined CARF in 2012. She was the administrator for opioid treatment programs and a resource specialist in the behavioral health customer service unit. Prior to joining CARF, Emily's career was in direct service and utilization management in a variety of settings that focused on substance use disorders, mental health, and crisis intervention. She has a master's degree in education from Northern Arizona University and undergraduate degrees in psychology and sociology from the University of Arizona.
Areas of Expertise
Substance Use Disorders
Emily Hosea is new managing director for CARF Behavioral Health and Opioid Treatment Programs
Emily Hosea has assumed the role of managing director of behavioral health and opioid treatment programs for CARF International as of July 1, 2023. This position supports CARF's expanding accreditation business under the direction of Senior Managing Director of Behavioral Health Michael Johnson. "Over her 11 years with CARF as a behavioral health resource specialist and the past couple of years as the Opioid Treatment Program administrator, Ms. Hosea has demonstrated her ability to rise to each challenge," said Johnson. "CARF is excited to have her as the new managing director for BH-OTP, and her experience with our vast and complex industry will be an asset."
Heather S. Romo, CPA, chief financial officer, joined CARF in 2018 as accounting manager and was promoted to controller before her most recent appointment. She provides executive leadership over the finance, information technology infrastructure, facilities management, and travel departments. Heather is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Phoenix. She has extensive expertise in government accounting, financial budgeting, auditing, and strategic planning.
U.S. President James Carter recognized CARF for its significant efforts to upgrade the delivery of rehabilitation services to the nation's citizens with disabilities.
Jodi M. Dedrick, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, chief human resources officer, leads the organization's human resources, learning and development, accreditation education, and event management functions. Prior to joining CARF in 2011, Jodi served in various corporate leadership and field operations roles with the world's largest private sector employer. Jodi is a certified human resources professional, a Six Sigma Black Belt, and holds a master's degree in human resources management. She currently serves on the board of directors for a state-level association of employment compliance practitioners.
Julia Meashey, MA, senior business development specialist of the Aging Services accreditation area, joined CARF in 2015. She has experience working in aging services advocacy, program management and grant administration focused on ensuring quality health care for older adults and their families. Prior to CARF, she served as director of operations for the Hartford Change AGEnts Initiative and managed the National Center on Gerontological Social Work Excellence. Julia began her career as a local long-term care ombudsman in North Carolina before moving to Washington, D.C. to work for the National Ombudsman Resource Center. She has a master of arts in gerontology from Appalachian State University, and bachelor of science in psychology from Guilford College.
Mary E. Switzer, former Commissioner of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare (later renamed Health and Human Services), was instrumental in establishing a grant from the department's Vocational Rehabilitation Administration to establish standards for the rehabilitation field.
Michael J. Connolly, D.O., joins CARF as its first Chief Medical Officer to provide medical leadership across all accreditation areas.
Michael J. Connolly, DO, chief medical and quality officer, provides medical leadership across CARF's accreditation areas and oversite of quality standards, partnerships, and analytics area. An awarded clinician with more than 30 years' experience in health and human services, Michael has a long history of developing and improving patient care models, and optimizing clinical and financial outcomes in value-based care models. Michael received his doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, New York, and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Yale University and a Geriatric Medicine fellowship at Stony Brook University.
Job Titles:
- Senior Managing Director of Behavioral Health
Job Titles:
- Chief Accreditation Advisor
Penny creates systems promoting a stronger vision and commitment to the quality of services in enhancing the lives of persons served.
Penny Gagnon, M.A., serves as the CARF Canada Chief Accreditation Advisor. With over two decades of executive leadership experience, she specializes in health and human services organizations, focusing on developing organizational excellence, strategic planning, person-centered philosophies, stakeholder relations, quality assurance, and performance-based environments. Her guiding principles include creating inspiration and fostering commitment through the development of learning organizations, collaborative and ethical practices, evidence-based methods, and continuous quality improvement.
Prior to joining CARF Canada, Gagnon was a CARF surveyor and served on multiple boards of directors for child development and other health and human services in Canada. She has also taught in the business management program at Northern Lights College and Royal Roads University in the Master of Arts program. She completed her undergraduate work in First Nations studies and graduate work in leadership and training.
Areas of Expertise
Quality Assurance
Penny Gagnon, MA, CARF Canada chief accreditation advisor since 2017, has more than 20 years of executive leadership experience specializing in nonprofit, and health and human services organizations, and expertise in the development of person- and family-centered practices and quality frameworks for organizations across Canada. Penny's depth of experience in operationalizing administrative and care standards within organizations continues with CARF as she is involved in a wide array of international standards-development processes and committees representing Canadian interests, trends, and legislation. She is highly motivated in collaborating with others to create systems that promote a stronger vision for and commitment to the quality of services in enhancing the lives of persons served.
U.S. President Ronald Reagan congratulated CARF on its 15 years of service and leadership in improving services for citizens with disabilities and recognized CARF as a national example of the private sector meeting public needs.
U.S. President Ronald Reagan wrote for the 20 th anniversary, "The Commission has established a tradition of excellence in monitoring agencies and organizations nationwide which serve people with physical and developmental disabilities."
Shanna Lawson, MPA, account manager, is directly responsible for account services operations across all customer service units. Before joining CARF in 2008, Shanna's professional experience spanned quality improvement management in health and human services, accreditation readiness, and direct service provision. She earned a master's degree in public administration from Upper Iowa University.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of Medical Rehabilitation and Aging Services
- Managing Director of the Medical Rehabilitation
Terrence Carolan has more than 20 years of experience as a provider, educator, and administrator in the medical rehabilitation field.
Terry Carolan brings more than two decades of field experience to medical rehabilitation managing director role
Terrence Carolan, MSPT, MBA, managing director of the Medical Rehabilitation and Aging Services accreditation areas, has more than 20 years of experience as a provider, administrator, and educator in the human services field. Prior to joining CARF in 2021, he worked in clinical and administrative leadership positions within Select Medical and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. Terrence was a CARF surveyor for 10 years. He holds a master's degree in business administration at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a master-of-science degree in physical therapy from Simmons University in Boston, and did his undergraduate work in biology at The College of New Jersey.
Job Titles:
- in 2021 As a Resource Specialist
- New Managing Director
- Role of Managing Director of Child and Youth Services
Lindberg joined CARF in 2021 as a resource specialist and was promoted to managing director of child and youth services in August 2024. She has more than 13 years' experience as a licensed professional counselor in Arizona in the mental health and child welfare fields.
Theresa Lindberg is new managing director for CARF Child and Youth Services
Theresa Lindberg, MSC, LPC, managing director Child & Youth Services, joined CARF in 2021 as a resource specialist and was promoted to managing director in August 2024. She has more than 13 years' experience as a licensed professional counselor in the mental health and child welfare fields and has had multiple roles supporting community mental health services and partnerships for children, youth, young adults, and families in Southern Arizona. Theresa holds two master of science degrees in counseling/community counseling and organizational management, both from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor's degree in arts and family studies from the University of Arizona.