Burrell Behavioral Health names Mat Gass as its new CEO

SPRINGFIELD — For just the third time since its founding, Burrell Behavioral Health has a new chief executive officer. Mat Gass will be just the third CEO since Burrell Behavioral Health was founded in 1977.

Burrell Behavioral Health employs more than 1,800 people in the Springfield metro area and 2,056 employees across the state. It is part of Brightli, Inc., a parent organization with more than 6,000 team members.

"This is the most humbling experience I could ever imagine, to join an organization as a social worker almost 15 years ago with the belief that community should be at the core of everything we do to leading that organization into the future,” Gass said. “The foundation work of a Certified Behavioral Health Organization is meeting individuals where they are serving them with the highest quality care. Whether we are working with a therapy client in a small town or innovating at the state and national level, our commitment to community and quality care drives everything that we do.”  

Gass holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Missouri Valley College and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Missouri. The native of Omaha, Arkansas has been in the behavioral health care field for 25 years and spent the last 15 of those years at Burrell.

Gass became president of Burrell Behavioral Health’s Central Region in 2019. He will continue leading Burrell Behavioral Health, Preferred Family Healthcare and Clarity Healthcare team members working in what is now Brightli’s North Central Region, which spans 38 counties in Missouri and Illinois.

Brightli CEO C.J. Davis has embraced many executive titles, including Burrell Behavioral Health CEO, while remaining engaged across all subsidiary members. Davis will continue to lead Brightli and focus on driving strategy, growth and innovation across all of its system members. Gass’ promotion and Davis’ elevated focus are signs of growth and strength for both Brightli and Burrell.

“Our services are more in demand today than they have ever been before,” Davis said. “The strength of this team at Brightli is found in the relationships we build in every community we serve. Each day, we continue to choose hope, we choose people and we choose each other.”

Davis said Gass is the right leader at a great time for Burrell Behavioral Health.

“Mat Gass has an astounding ability to make every member of the team feel seen, heard and valued,” Davis said. “As we continue to strengthen our organization and offer more health care services in more communities, we need clear direction and compassionate leadership.”

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) provide vital services in cities of all sizes across the United States. For Gass, making sure CMHCs carry on with their mission of providing access to quality health care for all who need it is a lifelong labor of love.

"The work that occurs at Burrell Behavioral Health is much more than the services we provide. It's about relationships and expertise that allow people — when they're ready — to find recovery,” Gass said. “There's nothing like helping someone who believes their life is limited to reach their potential, and our team members make this happen every day."  

About Burrell Behavioral Health: Burrell Behavioral Health serves 18 Missouri counties and provides behavioral health, substance-use treatment, case management, crisis, developmental disability and employment services. Burrell Behavioral Health is a subsidiary of Brightli, Inc. Learn more at burrellcenter.com.

About Brightli: Brightli, Inc.’s subsidiaries include Burrell Behavioral Health, Preferred Family Healthcare, Places for People, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, Adult & Child Health, Firefly Supported Living & Employment Services, and Clarity Healthcare. While these organizations operate independently and are governed by separate boards of directors, Brightli’s parent-company model allows them to collaborate, share resources and system supports, increase team member recruiting and retention efforts, increase access to specialized care, and meet the growing demand for behavioral and addiction recovery care. Learn more at livebrightli.org.

Contact: Rance Burger, Director of Media Relations, rance.burger@burrellcenter.com