Anchorage, Alaska (June 20, 2024) – Steve Williams, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, has announced he will depart the Trust on July 5, 2024. Williams has served as the Trust’s CEO since January 2022 and has been with the Trust since 2005.
“On behalf of the board, I’d like to thank Steve for his almost 20 years of service to the Trust and his strong commitment to Trust beneficiaries across Alaska,” said Anita Halterman, Board Chair. “In his time with the organization, Steve contributed to many Trust initiatives that will have lasting impacts on how our system of care supports Alaskans with developmental disabilities and behavioral health conditions and their families, including recent efforts to improve behavioral health crisis response.”
“It’s been an honor to work for the Trust, and I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to champion innovative improvements to services and supports for Trust beneficiaries, and to increase awareness of the intersections of behavioral health conditions and the criminal justice system, the importance of community-based services to serve beneficiaries in the lease restrictive setting, and the prevalence and impacts of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in our state,” shared Steve Williams. “I know that Trust’s committed staff and board will continue to support positive system change and efforts to improve beneficiary outcomes.”
The board of trustees has named Allison Biastock, Chief Communications Officer, to serve as acting CEO following Williams’ departure until a replacement is selected. Biastock has been with the Trust and a part of its leadership team since 2018 and has experience serving in management positions in both state government and the private sector.
The board of trustees is beginning the process of recruiting a new CEO and anticipates making a hire later this year.