‘Creating better access and really getting the best talent we can’

West Central Behavioral Health interim CEO discusses workforce challenges

By PATRICK O’GRADY

Valley News Correspondent

LEBANON — His title may be preceded by interim but with the pressing challenges of increasing demand for mental health services and the struggle to hire new staff, Alexander J. “AJ” Horvath is being proactive as he guides West Central Behavioral Health during its search for a new CEO.

“Some of what we want to do is improve access,” said Horvath, who assumed the interim role of president and CEO in October. “We have a lot of innovative ways to do that. We are working diligently to be competitive in the labor market to find good talent and are looking to partner with other similar organizations in our communities of Lebanon, Claremont and Newport.

“So really it is about partnerships, creating better access and really getting the best talent we can,” Horvath said.

Horvath, of Enfield, brings a leadership background to his position that has included the interim title, outside of health care, as part of his consulting business. He also comes on board with a familiarity with West Central, having worked there in an information technology role for a couple of years in the mid 1990s. Horvath, 55, replaces Roger Osmun, who left the position in October.

With a degree in business operations, Horvath has worked as a CFO and director of operations at Clara Martin Center, the mental health center serving Vermont’s Orange County and had been in administration at Dartmouth Health since 2010, before being hired to lead West Central. Horvath will remain in the interim position until a new CEO is hired, which could be six to 12 months or longer. He is not a candidate for the permanent position.

“When you come in in an interim role, the job is different but similar in a lot of ways,” Horvath said.

Alexander J. “AJ” Horvath is the interim CEO of West Central Behavioral Health.

COURTESY PHOTOGRAPH