CEO Ben Harrington, MA Ed, has worked in non-profit health for more than 30 years, including 30 years as the CEO of the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee, which he has worked at since 1994. After 4 years in the chronic physical health arena, Ben moved to the Mental Health Association of Greater Knoxville which would later become the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee. The agency name was changed to serve persons from the Georgia to Virginia borders and all communities in between. Switching jobs helped him realize how personally connected he is to mental health issues which affect so many. His passion to intervene earlier and in more impactful ways led to the creation of three of our signature programs – the Mental Health 101 program in Fall of 2000 and the Peer Recovery Call Center in 2013 and the Treatment Access Bank in 2022. Ben is married to Norma Harrington. They have two sons Donovan and Jackson and two “fur babies” Baxter Bugtussell (a Jack Russell) and Lady Violet (a Goldendoodle). He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Heidelberg University and a Master of Arts Degree in Education Counseling & Guidance from Bowling Green State University.
Accounting Director Jill Schmudde is a Knoxville native who graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she earned her Bachelor’s in Accounting. Jill loves numbers and is able to support our organization with her keen attention to detail. She and her husband, Andrew, have three adult sons, Spencer, John and Paul and three rescue dogs, Lucy, Violet and Peppie – whom she enjoys hanging out with during her free time. Active in her church, she shares her talents in the finance and children department.
Senior Director of Education and Outreach Caitlin Ensley is responsible for the 16-county East Tennessee region including Knoxville. She has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Social Work with concentrations in child welfare and organizational leadership. Caitlin has worked for MHAET since 2014. Her favorite parts of the job are educating youth, decreasing the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and practicing self care. She is also passionate about creating a workplace environment focused on wellness. She lives in Knoxville with her partner, Spencer, their two sons Oliver and Elliott, and their two kittens Luna and Matilda, and dog, Jackson.
Northeast Regional Coordinator Casey Caudill is responsible for the 8 counties in the Northeast. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Civic Innovation and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion, both from Emory & Henry College. She enjoys promoting self care, educating youth, and making connections within the Northeast TN community. She lives in Mount Carmel, TN with her husband, Jake. Her hobbies include hiking, camping, kayaking, playing board games, and traveling to new places.
Southeast Regional Coordinator Sarah Miranda is responsible for the 10 counties in the Southeast region of Tennessee. She has Bachelors Degrees in Global Development Studies and Psychology from Mercer University. Sarah’s passionate about working at MHAET because she wants to promote and educate on the importance of mental health and early intervention. Sarah most enjoys building a strong community network, and hearing the stories from students that she gets to teach. She lives in Chattanooga with her husband, Nate, and their two dogs, Brodie and Bella. Sarah practices self-care daily through fitness and quality time spent outdoors with her family.
Screening Program Director Meredith H., MPH obtained a Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience with minors in chemistry and forensic science from the UAB. Following that, she attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville to earn her Master’s in public health with a concentration in community health education. Meredith feels driven to expand the screening program into more parts of the community and continue to reduce stigma surrounding mental health by continuing to be an advocate for mental health care access for all. In her free time, Meredith enjoys reading, traveling, and trying new restaurants around Knoxville.
Treatment Access Bank Director Rose Patterson, MSSW attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she completed a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s of Social Work with a concentration in organizational leadership. Rose is passionate about increasing access to mental health care, decreasing stigma associated with seeking treatment, building relationships with and between community members, and learning as much as she can. Rose enjoys watching movies, going to concerts, walking her dog Lily, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Finance Assistant Harriet Greer grew up in Johnson City, TN. Later, she would move on to study and graduate with a Bachelor’s in Finance from East Tennessee State University. She has been married to her husband, Billy, for 27 years and have two daughters – Jessi and Jackie. Harriet enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling and enjoying all the outdoor activities!
