Chris Kughn, LMFT
(he/him)
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Kughn, L.M.F.T., joined Buckelew Programs in May of 2019 as Chief Executive Officer with more than 20 years of experience in the public and private nonprofit behavioral health care systems. Most recently, Chris served as Executive Director of Solano County for Caminar, Inc., where he focused on building strong partnerships with all stakeholders through transparency, trust and collaboration.
Prior to joining Caminar, Chris served as Division Director of Adult and Older Adult Services, among other management positions in behavioral health with the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services. His passion for this work began as a licensed therapist serving adults, children and families in the juvenile justice, crisis stabilization and adult homeless systems.
Chris earned a B.S. degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.A. degree in Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies.
He lives in Marin County with his wife and two children and is an avid cyclist.
Teresa Bowman
(she/her)
Director of Substance Use Services
Teresa is a native of Marin County who began her career path as a young adult, just after graduation from Tamalpais High School. She furthered her career with a degree in business from Heald’s Business College in San Francisco, and later completed U.C. Berkeley’s Alcohol and Drug Studies program to become a Certified Addiction Specialist. In 1999, Teresa co-founded the Helen Vine Recovery Center, also known as “The Vine”, and served as its Executive Director, a role she continues to hold.
As Executive Director of Helen Vine Recovery Center, Teresa was awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award in 2005. In 2011 The Vine merged with Buckelew Programs. Teresa has been instrumental in overseeing The Vine’s adoption of evidence-based treatment and, in 2020, the addition of two critically needed sober living residences.
Today, Teresa oversees Buckelew‘s Substance Use Services and remains dedicated to working with her colleagues and staff to continue expanding Buckelew’s co-occurring disorders treatment services.
Karen Frost
(she/her)
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (CFAO)
Karen Frost joined Buckelew Programs in May of 2022 as CFAO with more than 35 years of experience in nonprofit finance, grants management and facility operations. For the last seven years, she has focused on housing and homelessness issues in San Francisco. Prior to this, Karen worked with international nonprofits, directing offices from the Republic of Georgia to Indonesia. Her passion for compliance led her to teach the grant management skills needed to get USAID funds.
Following her graduation from Wittenberg University in 1984, Karen joined the accounting firm of Touch-Ross. She is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the state of California as well as a Certified Global Managerial Accountant (CGMA).
Karen lives in Santa Rosa with her husband and daughter. Together they enjoy exploring abundant outdoor activities from beaches to mountains.
Pat Gallagher
(she/her)
Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO)
Pat Gallagher joined Buckelew Programs in December 2020 as Chief Philanthropy Officer. Pat is an established development professional with a demonstrated history of working in Human Services, Community Health, and Education sectors in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her experience includes capital campaigns, major and annual gifts, grant-making, planned giving, relationship building, and events management. Her experience includes oversight of communications and marketing, volunteer services, and advocacy efforts. Pat is excited to be part of Buckelew’s team and shares their passion to support our vital mission, values, and strategic vision.
A native San Franciscan, Pat received her BA in English at Santa Clara University and Master in Nonprofit Management at University of San Francisco. When off duty, she enjoys cooking, long walks and follows, with great enjoyment, televised baking competitions.
Nori Keppel
(she/her)
Head of People
Erika Klohe, LCSW
(she/her)
Regional Director of Behavioral Health, Sonoma and Napa
Erika Klohe, a licensed Clinical Social Worker, joined Buckelew in 2022 with many years of experience working in the community providing direct services and developing partnerships throughout Sonoma County. Much of her work has focused on analysis of barriers and challenges, and has supported the establishment of shared practices that increase access to care. Erika is a strong advocate for culturally diverse, recovery-orientated, trauma-informed and humanistic services.
She has many years of experience working with our community’s most vulnerable including: Native and Latinx populations, individuals experiencing homelessness, seniors, LGBTQI, those involved in the criminal justice system, transitional and underserved youth and their families. Erika earned a degree in psychology from Sonoma State University and received a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from CSU-Long Beach. Erika enjoys hiking, dancing, creating art and spending time with her family and friends. She is dedicated to serving and increasing the health and wellbeing for all.
Connie Mann, LMFT
(she/her)
Regional Director of Behavioral Health, Marin County and Suicide Prevention Hotline
Connie Mann is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist that joined Buckelew Programs in 2003 with most recent transition to the Senior Management Team in 2021. As Behavioral Health Regional Director, she brings over 16 years of experience in nonprofit work, contract management, residential and supportive housing, trauma informed care, crisis management, adult and family homelessness, peer specialist, and managed care.
Connie earned her master’s degree from Sonoma State University in 2008 specializing in sexual trauma, domestic violence, PTSD, individual, couple, and family therapies, and multicultural counseling. Connie also holds a graduate level certification in Eastern, Western, and Indigenous Psychology, WRAP trainer, and Triple P parent education. She currently lives in Petaluma with her 2 daughters and is an avid hiker, jogger, and advocate for environmental causes impacting our planet.
Alex Tolkach
(he/him)
Director of Operations and Administration
Alex Tolkach joined Buckelew Programs in October 2016 after spending over 15 years in the field of operations management working for environmental conservation organizations. Alex has a wealth of experience in the development of business processes and systems as well as project, compliance and people management. Alex oversees agency infrastructure that includes leased/owned facilities, information technology, fixed assets & equipment, and contract management, as well as the implementation of workflow/process improvements.
Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Sonoma State University, with an emphasis in Organizational Development. He is passionate about conservation, and has an acute interest in the impact that the environment has on the health of the individual.
Lilian Uwuseba, PhD MSPH, MPA, CHES
(she/her)
Director of Quality and Compliance
Lilian holds both a doctorate and master’s degree in public health from Walden University Minnesota and a master’s degree in public administration from Keller Graduate School of Management of Devry University. Lilian also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and is a Certified Health Education Specialist.
Lilian has directed mental health and substance use disorder programs, adult day health and senior centers for over 12 years. She was a director for mental health services/methadone for Westside Community Services, DAAC, Epiphany Center and Conard House. Lilian was also a director for the City of Oakland Senior Center and recently, health program manager for the City and County of San Francisco COVID-19 Command Center-Community/Population Branch. Lilian is a consultant in health education, promotion, and prevention.
Lilian is the author of “Memoirs of a Treatment Center-Balcony Cove part I and II” as well as a research study available entitled “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of African American Women Towards Breast Cancer Screening”.
Lilian and her husband, a physician, have four children. In her leisure time, Lilian likes to listen to good music, dance and loves meeting people from varied cultures.