Connee Meschini
President
CMeschini@mc708.org
Committees: Finance and Audit, Building and Grounds
Term: 01/01/21 – 12/31/25

Connee Meschini worked in the schools for over 15 years as a Student Assistance Counselor. Currently Connee is working for The Unscripted School of Healing providing group and individual sessions on grief, substance abuse, and codependency, etc. Connee will provide services on a sliding pay scale. She holds a Master’s Degree. Connee holds a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification and has a 30-year history of working in nonprofits and Education. Currently, she is a member of the Rotary Club of Crystal Lake Dawnbreakers Rotary and has been a Rotarian for over 20 years. She serves on the executive committee of the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition and serves as a Stephens Ministry within her church, Since 2005, her desire to help those less fortunate, provide needed services for citizens, and act in the best interest of County taxpayers has led her to serve on the Mental Health Board. Connee grew up in McHenry County and resides in Crystal Lake.

Ray Lapinas
Vice President
RLapinas@mc708.org
Committees: By-Laws | Chair, Finance and Audit, Building and Grounds
Term: 01/01/22 – 12/31/25

Raymond is the Executive Director at fitMS NeuroBalance Center NFP. Until joining the management team in September 2023, he was a member of our Board of Directors and held the role of Board Secretary since 2018. This experience, coupled with 30 years of finance related work for major corporations in the Chicagoland area, offers expertise in risk management, operational financial controls and financial statement/budgeting that are widely recognized. He actively advocates for individuals with chronic progressive disorders, autoimmune diseases, and neuromuscular conditions. In the fall of 2017 Raymond was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and prior to being elected as a board member, became involved with NeuroBalance Center as a client, participating in the inaugural boxing classes for Parkinson’s. Raymond has been quoted as saying – “The atmosphere of camaraderie, the quality and attention of the staff, coupled with the outstanding availability of unique equipment provides participants the best opportunity towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle while facing the challenges present by their medical diagnosis.”

Raymond is an appointed board member of the McHenry County Mental Health Board in Illinois and currently holds the role of Vice President. During previous terms, he has held the role of Board Treasurer, Chaired the Ethics & Compliance Committee, By-laws Committee, and served as a member on several other committees. He is also a member of the Lithuanian Americans and Allies for Democracy (LAAD), a national political action committee (PAC), and serves as Treasurer. The organization’s vision is to engage with American citizens, particularly the broader Lithuanian community in the United States, to build an activist organization that seeks to strengthen and protect democracy, promote equality, and social and economic justice through political and civic action.

Vacant
Board Member

Committees:
Term: 01/01/23 – 12/31/26

 

Carolyn Schofield
Assistant Treasurer
CDSchofield@mc708.org
Committees: Finance and Audit, Ethics and Compliance, Building and Grounds
Term: 08/15/2023 – 12/31/2028

Carolyn Schofield has over 20 years of experience on elected and appointed boards, including two terms on the McHenry County Board and one term on the Crystal Lake City Council. Carolyn has been an active member of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency Planning (CMAP) Board for over ten years, playing a role in the creation of On to 2050 and the Plan of Action for Regional Transit.

Prior to finding the career balance between public servant and motherhood, Carolyn was a Fire Protection Loss Control Engineer for highly protected risks and a Product Liability Specialist. A proud graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Engineering, Carolyn is currently the Legislative Director for an Illinois State Senator.

Amy Rath
Secretary
ARath@mc708.org
Committees: Ethics and Compliance | Chair, By-Laws
Term: 01/01/23 – 12/31/26

Amy Rath and her family have resided in Crystal Lake since 2020. She and her husband are proud parents of three daughters, and previously served as a foster family for nearly 8 years. As a parent, Amy understands first-hand the need for appropriate mental health resources to support our youth. Additionally, as a child, Amy witnessed the impact addiction can have on a family, including leading to generational trauma and ongoing struggles with mental wellness. Amy’s service on the Mental Health Board stems from a passion to help the community understand how to locate available resources, and to ensure McHenry County residents have access to life-changing care.

Christina Bruhn
Member
CBruhn@mc708.org
Committees: Finance and Audit, Building and Grounds
Term: 01/01/23 – 12/31/26

Christina Bruhn is employed as an Associate Professor at Aurora University’s George Williams School of Social Work. She holds PhD and MSW degrees in Social Work as well as a certificate in Educational Research Methodology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Chris’s social services work includes 15 years’ experience in service of individuals with intellectual disabilities and / or chronic mental illness. In addition, Chris has worked for 25 years as a social service program evaluator, both as a Research Specialist with the Children and Family Research Center and as a private consultant. Chris’s areas of focus with regard to program evaluation include child welfare, K-12 education, higher education, and law enforcement. Chris serves on the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership. Her interest in contributing to the work of the Mental Health Board stems from a desire to ensure that services are delivered an in effective and efficient manner and that local service gaps are addressed.

Adam Carson
Member
ACarson@mc708.org
Committees: Building and Grounds | Chair, By-Laws
Term: 01/01/21 – 12/31/28

Adam Carson has been in law enforcement as a police officer with the Lake in the Hills Police Department since October 2002. He was promoted to the rank of Patrol Sergeant in 2019 and became a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Instructor in 2013. Adam is one of three DRE’s in McHenry County and is currently one of 12 senior Instructors in the State. The intense DRE program has increased Adam’s ability to determine if a person is impaired or there is a medical condition as well as the person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. He teaches officers and citizens throughout Illinois. Adam attended St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Criminal Justice and Sociology. He is actively involved in community safety presentations for teens, women, and seniors. Since 2016, Adam has represented the Lake in the Hills Police Department at the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition. He has first-hand experience in dealing with people with substance use and abuse problems and mental health and wants to ensure services are available for any resident of McHenry County.

Linda Hoch
Member
LHoch@mc708.org
Committees: Ethics and Compliance, By-Laws
Term: 01/01/2025 – 12/31/2028

Linda Hoch is a retired registered nurse with 40 years of experience that included general nursing, critical care, emergency room, flight nursing, management and outpatient rehabilitation.  She has her BSN and maintained multiple certifications while working.  In these roles, she provided direct care to people under extreme stress, those struggling with mental health issues, problems with substance abuse/addiction, and those with physical and developmental disabilities.  Linda also provided education to fellow professionals and in the community.  She applied to serve on the Mental Health Board because of her desire for people to obtain optimal health and thrive and because she wants McHenry County to continue to effectively meet the needs of our residents with compassion and excellence.

John Reinert
County Board Liaison
JReinert@mc708.org
Committees: Ethics and Compliance, By-Laws
Term: 01/01/2025 – 01/12/2026