Welcome to the Helios Recovery Holonic Hive
A Consulting Ecosystem for a Changing World
Holonic Hive is a collective of consultants, trainers, and technical assistance providers working at the intersection of behavioral health, recovery, systems change, and equity-focused innovation. We exist to help organizations, agencies, and communities achieve transformative, sustainable impact—together.
Whether you’re seeking policy guidance, strategic training, peer-led programming support, or culturally responsive solutions, the Hive offers access to a network of national and internationally recognized experts with decades of lived and professional experience.
The term holonic comes from the word holon—a concept that describes something that is both a whole on its own and a part of a larger system. That’s how we work: each consultant in the Hive operates independently, while also contributing to a collaborative, values-driven network that shares opportunities, resources, and collective wisdom.
Join the Hive
Are you a consultant, trainer, or TA provider committed to equity, systems transformation, and people-first solutions?
Holonic Hive is growing, and we’re inviting values-aligned professionals to join the network. For more info, contact Jesse Heffernan at: jheffernan@heliosrecovery.com
Carly Blemmel
Carly Blemmel is a Licensed Professional Counselor and member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, with over 15 years of experience in Tribal behavioral health and community-based care. Her work focuses on substance use recovery, youth services, and integrating behavioral health into primary care and women’s health, all grounded in culturally responsive approaches. Carly is a strong advocate for using culture as prevention and has led multiple initiatives to promote Indigenous wellness, including organizing a 550-mile run honoring the Trail of Tears. She holds a Master’s in Counseling from East Central University and is pursuing a Doctorate in Behavioral Health at Arizona State University.
Subject Matter Expertise:
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Tribal Behavioral Health
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Tribal health and policy
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Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care
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Culture as Prevention
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Integrated behavioral health in Women's Health
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Integrating Culture into Healthcare and Behavioral Health
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Community-Based Healthcare Approaches
Kris Engdall
Kris Engdall specializes in public health, mental health, substance abuse and healthcare operations, with a strong focus on Service Members, Veterans, and their families, as well as rural health, peer support, and tribal communities. With extensive experience in crisis response, telehealth expansion, and healthcare program development, Kris helps organizations improve service delivery, navigate complex healthcare systems, and implement sustainable solutions. As a veteran, Kris brings a deep understanding of military and veteran healthcare, mental health services, and benefit systems, offering strategic guidance to enhance support for those who have served while addressing broader public health challenges.
Subject Matter Expertise:
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Public Health & Healthcare Systems
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Mental Health & Substance Abuse
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IHealthcare Technology & Operations
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Tribal & Rural Healthcare
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Military & Veteran Healthcare
Julie Erickson (she/her)
Julie developed a keen interest in improving healthcare systems and services while completing her thesis on the Paraguayan health governance structures she encountered while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer there from 2008 to 2011. Since returning to the US and earning her graduate certificate in nonprofit organization management, the majority of Julie's career has been focused on supporting, streamlining, and expanding behavioral health education and peer support services In nonprofit, for-profit, and governmental settings.
Subject Matter Expertise:
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Peer training and support
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Volunteer management and training
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Public health education
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Storytelling for advocacy and stigma reduction
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Online learning development and delivery
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Project management
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Process development
Scott Gangon
Scott is an award-winning, nationally recognized Certified Prevention Specialist with a 20-year career in the fields of addiction prevention and behavioral health. Most recently, he was the SAMHSA Regional Director for New England. Scott has worked at all levels of prevention, from coordinating evidence-based programs, running a county-wide prevention coalition, to directing a statewide behavioral health training and technical assistance non-profit. In addition to his expertise in prevention science, Scott is a national expert and trainer in cannabis policy and prevention. Scott lives in Maine with his wife and three children.
Subject Matter Expertise:
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Prevention Science
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Prevention Implementation
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Strategic Prevention Framework
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Cannabis Policy & Prevention
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Leadership Development
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Prevention & Behavioral Health Workforce Development
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Training and Technical Assistance Design and Delivery
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Conference Management & Logistics
Kristen Harper (she/her)
Kristen Harper, M.Ed., is a national leader in behavioral health and recovery policy with over 18 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, systems reform, and sustainable funding strategies. She has held key roles at SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery, the Association of Recovery Schools, and Recovery Communities of North Carolina and has led major grant-funded initiatives across higher education and state systems. Kristen is widely recognized for amplifying lived experience in policy and advancing recovery-oriented, harm–reduction–aligned solutions.
Subject Matter Expertise:
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Recovery Support Systems & Policy
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Executive Coaching & Strategic Planning
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Nonprofit Leadership & Financial Strategy
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Collegiate & Youth Recovery
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Harm Reduction & Lived Experience Integration
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Federal & State Grant Development & Management
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Organizational Development & Systems Innovation
Dr. Michael King
Dr. Michael King is a social worker and epidemiologist with over 22 years of experience at the intersection of behavioral and public health. He most recently served as SAMHSA Regional Director for Region 4, and previously supported national public health capacity at the CDC as faculty for the Epidemic Intelligence Service. A retired U.S. Public Health Service Officer (O-6), Dr. King led one of five national Mental Health Response Teams, with expertise in disaster mental health, chronic disease surveillance, and crisis response for underserved communities. He brings a systems-level lens to complex public health challenges, with a deep commitment to equity and impact.
Subject Matter Expertise:
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Disaster Behavioral Health
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Applied Public Health Research and Evaluation
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Organizational Assessment, Training, and Leadership Development
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Strategic Planning and Capacity Building
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Community Health Policy and System Development
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Lynda Zeller
Lynda Zeller is a nationally recognized leader in behavioral health policy and systems transformation with over three decades of experience across government, nonprofit, and community-based sectors. She most recently served as the SAMHSA Regional Director for Region 5, following her role as Senior Fellow at the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, and prior to that, served eight years as Michigan’s Behavioral Health Commissioner and two years overseeing health services for the state’s prison system. Lynda brings deep expertise in integrated care, behavioral health justice reform, and large-scale policy implementation—including work across local, state, and national funding streams such as Medicaid, Medicare, and public/private grants.
Subject Matter Expertise:
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Behavioral Health Policy & System Design
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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Services
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Correctional Health & Justice-Involved Populations
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Indigent Health Access & Safety Net Innovation
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State-Level Administration & Cross-System Integration