State Panelists

Roger Meyer

Co-Owner of Mighty Consulting, has worked alongside large systems, small non-profits and public-private partnerships for over 20 years to improve Minnesota's mental health and substance use crisis systems. He is currently the Project Director for the East Metro Crisis Alliance, the North and South Metro Round Tables, and the Clarity Project in St. Louis County, where he facilitates and manages efforts to improve individual recovery outcomes and systems effectiveness. He co-owns Mighty Consulting with Melissa Martinez-Sones where they provide Project Management, Collaborative Support, Interim Executive Director and Strategic Planning services to Minnesota's non-profit sector. When he's not working, he's probably out riding his bicycle.

Rick Lee, PhD, LP

The Executive Director of Central Minnesota Mental Health Center (CMMHC). Conferred his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Bowling Green State University in 1988, Dr. Lee has provided clinical services in a variety of settings over his career. While taking on administrative roles over the past 24 years, he continued clinical practice until becoming CMMHCs Executive Director in February 2016, and still occasionally provides clinical supervision.

CMMHC is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic with clinics in St. Cloud, Waite Park, Buffalo, Monticello, and Elk River, and provides a broad array of services to people of all ages including outpatient mental and chemical health, psychiatry, rehabilitative, crisis and residential services to approximately 10,000 customers each year.

Sergeant Tad Hoeschen

A Police Officer for 23 years, Sergeant Hoeschen has been with the St. Cloud Police Department since 2000. He holds a bachelor’s degree from South Dakota State University in Communication Studies and has an MA in Criminal Justice Leadership from Concordia University, St. Paul. During his law enforcement career, Sergeant Hoeschen has worked in patrol, been a field training officer, firearms instructor, defensive tactics instructor, police chaplain liaison, investigator, school resource officer, and member of the St. Cloud SWAT team. From 2008-2016, Sergeant Hoeschen was the lead firearms instructor for the police skills program held at St. Cloud State University every summer training criminal justice graduates in the use of firearms as well as deadly force training. He is currently a Community Engagement Supervisor overseeing the department’s Community Crime Impact Team, Mental Health Co-Responder, Housing and Redevelopment Authority Officer, as well as Crime Prevention which all focus on a proactive policing model. Sergeant Hoeschen also serves on the advisory board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN and was an original member of Inside Out Connections which focuses on providing resources to families and children affected by incarceration.

Margaret Vimont, LCSW

Serves as the Vice President of Strategy and Service Development for Nexus Family Healing where she leads efforts to expand services to meet the evolving needs of youth and families in multiple states. Margaret’s career has focused on the full spectrum of child and family services as a therapist and administrator as well as public advocacy on behalf of children’s services at the state and national level. She has a social work degree from the University of Pennsylvania and has a special interest in addressing issues of violence both in her work as a social worker and as a self defense instructor.

Shannon Link, MSW, LICSW

Shannon completed her master’s of social work degree from the University of North Dakota. She is a licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. Shannon has worked in the St. Cloud and surrounding communities for nearly 10 years, providing community based mental health services to individuals with SPMI diagnosis. She has provided ARMHS, ACT, case management and psychotherapy services, leading her to her current role with CMMHC, Director of Crisis Services. Shannon’s areas of expertise include; schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, major depression, borderline personality disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Through her work and experience she has developed strong skills related to motivational interviewing, CBT, illness management and recovery as well as diagnostic assessments. Shannon has a special interest in advocacy efforts. In her free time, Shannon enjoys spending time with her family and dogs as well as traveling, reading and living an active lifestyle.

Melanie Warm-Taylor, MSW, LICSW

She has developed and managed the Mental Health Crisis Program for Carver and McLeod Counties for 25 years. She manages the 24/7 telephone crisis response, mobile mental health crisis response, mobile stabilization and crisis Healthcare Navigation services. Melanie has been instrumental in the development and supervises the Carver County 911 Dispatch co-located telephone response services and the Mental Health Therapy Co-responder with the Carver County Sheriff’s Office and Chaska Police Departments. She also manages the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline call response services for 20 Counties in the state of MN and is active in the implementation planning of 988.