Leadership

Comprehend, Inc. Announces Announces Melissa Greenwell as New Chief Executive Officer   

October 12, 2022 - Melissa Greenwell has been named as chief executive officer for Comprehend Inc., replacing Joseph Gulley.

Gulley is leaving Comprehend at the end of the month and Greenwell is  expected to be on board by mid-November, a board member said.

Gulley was named CEO in September, 2021 and replaced interim CEO Don  Rogers who filled the gap after Dr. Pamela Vaught resigned in May of  that same year. He cited personal reasons for leaving, officials said.

Greenwell currently serves as director of the Ion Center in Maysville.

“I have no doubt that Melissa will utilize her years of experience at  Ion as she embarks on this journey of running a Community Mental Health  Agency,” Christy Burch, CEO of the Ion Center said. “Melissa is part of  the fiber of Ion Center and this parting has us sad but also excited  about her future impact on the community.”

After learning Gulley was leaving, the agency’s board appointed a  nominating committee and conducted a nationwide search for a new CEO,  according to Board Vice Chair Earl Bush.

“It was a pretty extensive search,” he said.

More than 150 resumes were received, Bush said, and many interviews  of prospects to fill the position conducted. In the end, Greenwell got  the call, he said.

In an email shared with the newspaper, Greenwell told her co-workers  “I am extremely proud of the work that Ion Center does for this  community. I am humbled to have been a part of the mission of the  agency, the relationships built in this community, and the expansion of  the services provided. I am incredibly grateful for the community  support that has been shown to me over the last 23 years with this  agency.”

“This work, and this agency will always hold a special place in my  heart and I will continue to support them at every opportunity. I’m  blessed to have played a small part in their long journey in this  community,” she said.

Bush said he was sorry to see Gulley, who faced a lot of issues when he came on board, leave.

“He did a good job,” Bush said.                                                                                                        

Mr. David Reed (Chair)

Mr. Earl Bush (Vice Chair)

Mr. Tracey Florer (Treasurer)

Ms. Vicki Haley-Rosser (Secretary)

Dr. Michael Berry

Mr. Dennis Brown

Ms. Rebecca Cartmell

Ms. Alice Dunlap

Ms. Debbie Emmons

Ms. Debbie Estill

Ms. Patti Insko

Mr. George Sparks

Ms. Angela Sweeney

Ms. Regina Rose

Mr. Marty Voiers

Dr. Glenn Womack

Melissa Greenwell

President/Chief Executive Officer

mgreenwell@comprehendinc.org

Rod Baker

Chief Operating Officer

rbaker@comprehendinc.org

Christal Henderson 

Chief Human Resources Officer

chenderson@comprehendinc.org

Donna Hicks

Chief Financial Officer

dhicks@comprehendinc.org

Dr. Jeff Drury 

Chief Clinical Officer - Behavioral Health

Meagan Brannon

Vice President of IDD Services

mbrannon@comprehendinc.org

Marilee Ford

Vice President of Substance Abuse

mford@comprehendinc.org

Mary McDaniel 

Vice President of Community Support

mmcdaniel@comprehendinc.org

Natalie McLeskey

Vice President of Quality Compliance

nmcleskey@comprehendinc.org

Damon Turner

Vice President of Children's Services

dturner@comprehendinc.org

Dr. Dan Cardona 

Behavioral Health Medical Director