Michelle Nunemaker

Executive Leader with 20+ years of experience leading complex behavioral health, human services, and public-sector systems through growth, transformation, and service delivery improvement. Proven expertise managing multi-program operations, multimillion-dollar budgets and grant portfolios, statewide crisis systems, and cross-sector community partnerships. Recognized for building high-performing teams, navigating regulatory landscapes, and driving strategic execution into measurable operational outcomes.

Regional Vice President, Behavioral Health at Lutheran Family Services (2025-01 – Present)

• Provide executive oversight for regional behavioral health operations spanning clinical, crisis, community-based, and access services.
• Direct organizational readiness and operational alignment for certification as one of Nebraska's initial Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC).
• Establish regional operating frameworks to optimize productivity, workforce capacity, service quality, risk management, and financial performance.
• Coach and mentor senior directors through structured accountability, succession planning, and executive leadership development.
• Partner with executive leadership to align multi-stream funding, grants, contracts, and staffing models with long-term strategic goals.
• Restructured cross-functional credentialing and onboarding processes, expanding clinical capacity and safeguarding organizational revenue.

988 State Administrator / Youth & Crisis Systems Administrator at State of Nebraska (2021-01 – 2025-01)

• Provided statewide executive leadership for crisis response systems, youth behavioral health, and family support initiatives.
• Directed Nebraska's statewide rollout and integration of the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline across state, regional, and community entities.
• Managed a $13M portfolio of federal, state, and grant-funded behavioral health initiatives, ensuring fiscal compliance and reporting integrity.
• Cultivated strategic alliances across state agencies, regional authorities, judicial systems, educational institutions, and community providers.
• Co-led statewide justice and behavioral health initiatives, representing state leadership in regional and national forums.

Program Specialist, Division of Children & Family Services at Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services (2015-01 – 2018-01)

• Oversee statewide workforce development, training infrastructure, contract management, and quality improvement for child welfare systems.
• Redesigned statewide onboarding for 75–100 new professionals annually, yielding a 24% increase in completion and a 35% improvement in retention.
• Administered statewide contracts and program evaluations to maintain strict regulatory compliance and service effectiveness.

Progressive leadership and operational roles at Various Organizations (2015-01)

Progressive leadership and operational roles across child welfare, crisis response, intake/investigations, court coordination, and community-based services in Nebraska and Colorado.

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (Concentration in Spanish) – University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Graduate Coursework in Social Work – University of Nebraska–Omaha

Leadership Development in Leadership Institute – Mid-America ATTC