Board of Directors

Stephen Fedele is an educator, mentor, entrepreneur, and community leader with nearly 19 years of experience in education and over 15 years in coaching and youth development. Before entering the field of education, he successfully owned and operated businesses for approximately 18 years, honing strong leadership and organizational skills. Throughout his career, Stephen has dedicated himself to helping young people overcome challenges, build confidence, and achieve their goals. He has served as a science teacher and currently works with students in an independent study setting, providing essential community support for youth facing barriers to graduation and academic success. As President of the Awakened Hearts Foundation Board of Directors, Stephen is passionate about empowering individuals and families through education, mentorship, and recovery support, including access to vital behavioral health services and mental health resources. His commitment to service and positive change helps guide the Foundation's mission of creating hope, resilience, and opportunity for those we serve.

Mallory Griffith-Wells is a dedicated community leader with deep roots in Coalinga and a passion for serving individuals and families throughout her community and surrounding areas. With extensive experience in public agency management, she has developed strong expertise in board governance, policy development, strategic planning, budget preparation, financial oversight, and community support. In addition to her public service background, Mallory brings valuable experience from the medical field, where she strengthened her skills in communication, problem-solving, and working with diverse populations. Her professional experience has equipped her with a unique understanding of both organizational leadership and the importance of serving community needs, particularly in providing access to vital behavioral health services and mental health resources. As Treasurer of the Awakened Hearts Foundation Board of Directors, Mallory is committed to ensuring responsible financial stewardship while supporting the Foundation's mission of expanding access to resources, education, recovery support, and wellness services. She is passionate about building strong partnerships and helping create lasting positive change for individuals and families throughout the community.

Katie Winther is a dedicated advocate for helping others and strengthening communities through compassion, service, and connection. As secretary of Awakened Hearts Foundation, she brings valuable organizational skills, attention to detail, and a passion for supporting initiatives that improve access to mental health resources and behavioral health services for individuals and families. Katie is committed to the Foundation's mission of expanding community support, recovery support, wellness services, and community programs. She believes that every person deserves the opportunity to heal, grow, and thrive regardless of their circumstances. Through her involvement with Awakened Hearts Foundation, Katie helps support the organization's efforts to create positive change, foster resilience, and build stronger communities throughout the Central Valley and beyond.

Angela McMahon, Ed.D., serves on the Board of Directors and provides strategic guidance in behavioral health licensing, accreditation, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement. Dr. McMahon is a nationally recognized behavioral health licensing and accreditation consultant with more than a decade of experience supporting substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health organizations throughout California and the United States.

Her expertise includes California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) behavioral health certification, California Department of Social Services (DSS) residential licensure, and The Joint Commission (TJC) accreditation. Throughout her career, Dr. McMahon has successfully guided approximately 100 behavioral health organizations through the licensing and accreditation process, assisting programs from initial concept and organizational development through full operational implementation and regulatory compliance.

As a member of the Board of Directors, Dr. McMahon will provide strategic oversight and guidance to support the Foundation's organizational development, regulatory readiness, quality assurance, and continuous quality improvement efforts. She will play a key role in preparing Awakened Hearts Foundation for DHCS behavioral health certification and The Joint Commission accreditation, while helping establish policies, procedures, compliance systems, and operational standards that promote clinical excellence, organizational accountability, and long-term sustainability.

Her expertise in behavioral health regulations, licensing, accreditation, and quality management will strengthen the Foundation's ability to build a compliant, high-performing organization capable of delivering safe, effective, and evidence-based behavioral health services to underserved rural communities.

Brian Donegan brings more than 15 years of experience in behavioral health, addiction recovery, chronic pain recovery, program development, and healthcare operations. Having personally overcome many of the challenges he now helps others navigate, Brian is passionate about improving treatment outcomes while maintaining the highest ethical standards in the behavioral health field.

Since becoming a Drug and Alcohol Counselor in 2010, Brian has held leadership positions in treatment programs throughout California, including roles in admissions, marketing, operations, and executive leadership. He has worked extensively with addiction, mental health, and chronic pain populations and has contributed to public awareness efforts through nationally recognized television programs focused on treatment and recovery.

Brian is the founder of Chronic Pain Anonymous in San Diego and is a Certified Complicated Pain Recovery Coach. He has served as a nonprofit board member, treatment executive, consultant, and innovator in addiction recovery services. As an inventor and consultant specializing in NAD therapies and recovery-focused healthcare solutions, Brian continues to advocate for ethical, evidence-informed approaches that improve outcomes for individuals and families seeking healing and recovery.

Brian's dedication to service, innovation, and quality care supports the mission of Awakened Hearts Foundation as it works to expand access to behavioral health, recovery, and wellness services throughout California.

Dale White, MBA, CADC-CAS, brings more than 35 years of healthcare leadership and over 24 years of specialized experience in substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health administration, program development, and clinical operations. Throughout his career, he has successfully developed, licensed, and managed behavioral health organizations while helping expand access to evidence-based treatment and recovery services throughout California. 

As the founder and Executive Director of multiple treatment organizations, Dale has extensive expertise in DHCS licensing and certification, Medi-Cal implementation, program design, clinical operations, policy development, quality improvement, and organizational leadership. He has also secured millions of dollars in public funding, developed sustainable treatment models, and guided organizations through regulatory compliance and operational growth. 

In addition to his executive leadership, Dale has served as an educator, instructor, and presenter for colleges, professional organizations, and counselor certification programs, mentoring future behavioral health professionals while advancing best practices in addiction treatment and recovery services. His work in outcomes measurement, research, workforce development, and evidence-based programming continues to strengthen behavioral health systems across the region. 

Dale has agreed to support Awakened Hearts Foundation by sharing his knowledge and experience in behavioral health, substance use disorder services, program development, research, licensing, and organizational growth. His appointment and official role with the Foundation are pending final review and approval by the Board of Directors.mpact.