Designed by
Comm.InkSenior Vice President, Programs & Services
"I believe in human resilience, thriving communities, and systems transformation. I am committed to creating a more just world."
Marion “Mimi” Scotchmer brings heart and vision to her role as Senior Vice President of Programs & Services at Community Connections. She oversees the agency’s full continuum of care—behavioral health, housing, and community support—ensuring that every program reflects the belief that people can heal, grow, and thrive when given the right support.
For more than 15 years, Mimi has led with a steady mix of compassion and innovation. She is known for building strong teams, championing new approaches, and strengthening services that meet people where they are. She continues to guide Community Connections’ Clinical Housing Department, a $10 million portfolio of supportive housing programs dedicated to ending homelessness, fostering stability, and opening the door to brighter futures.
A Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Mimi has spent her career walking alongside people in recovery and transformation. Before joining Community Connections, she worked in social science and educational research, grounding her leadership in evidence and curiosity. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Socio-Cultural Anthropology and Asian Studies from the University of Virginia.
Associate Vice President, Continuous Quality Improvement
Loretta Rodts leads Continuous Quality Improvement at Community Connections, guiding the agency’s CQI program and overseeing the Medical Records Department. With more than 15 years of experience in behavioral health, she brings a strong commitment to integrated care, performance improvement, and data-driven strategies that strengthen outcomes for clients and communities.
Since joining Community Connections in 2012, Loretta has served in a variety of roles—including Trauma Clinician, Grants Evaluation Coordinator, Quality Improvement Manager, and Director—gaining a deep understanding of both frontline services and system-level change. For nearly a decade, she has played a central role in advancing the agency’s quality initiatives, using data in meaningful ways to improve care, enhance efficiency, and support staff in delivering the highest standards of service.
Beyond her work at Community Connections, Loretta contributes her expertise at the system level as a member of the CRISP DC Clinical and Population Health Analytics Steering Committees. She earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW).
Senior Director of Talent Management
Lisette Sanchez leads Talent Management at Community Connections, where she oversees employee relations, recruitment and retention, benefits, compensation, credentialing, and training. In this role, she ensures that every staff member feels supported, valued, and empowered to do their best work in service of the community.
With more than 20 years of human resources experience, Lisette brings deep expertise in organizational development and strategic planning. She has spent the past 14 years in leadership roles at federally qualified health centers, community organizations, and nonprofits, and previously served as Chief Operating Officer of a growing health center in Dallas, Texas. Across her career, she has been recognized for fostering positive workplace cultures, strengthening employee engagement, and guiding organizations through growth and change.
Lisette holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Finance and Marketing from the University of Miami and an MBA from George Washington University. She is also credentialed as a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SCP) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Bilingual and mission-driven, she is dedicated to aligning organizational practices with values of equity, opportunity, and care.
Senior Advisor to the CEO
"I believe in honoring the past while helping to shape a stronger future."
Joseph “Joe” Cullinan serves as Senior Advisor to the CEO at Community Connections, supporting the President & CEO during leadership transitions and providing historical perspective on the agency’s growth and evolution. In this role, Joe continues to strengthen the organization by offering guidance on long-standing practices, while also ensuring smooth continuity as the agency moves forward.
In addition to advising the CEO, Joe oversees the Information Technology department, supports the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, and provides assistance to the medical billing team. His work ensures that the agency’s core systems run efficiently and effectively, empowering staff to focus on delivering the highest quality of care.
Joe’s career at Community Connections began in 2000, and over the years he has held roles as case manager, clinical supervisor, M.I.S. Manager, psychiatric clinic program manager, and Director of Operations. His unique path also includes earlier careers in retail management, high school teaching, and chaplaincy training after theological studies at the Washington Theological Union. Together, these experiences ground his leadership in both practicality and purpose.
President & Chief Executive Officer
Damien Cabezas leads Community Connections with a clear vision: that every person deserves access to care, housing, and opportunities to thrive. As President & CEO, he guides the agency’s full range of behavioral health, housing, and integrated care programs, ensuring they reflect the mission of healing, stability, and justice for all.
With more than 20 years of leadership in healthcare and behavioral health, Damien is known for strengthening organizations and expanding access to underserved communities. Before joining Community Connections, he served as CEO of Horizon Behavioral Health in Virginia and President of Mercy Care in Atlanta, and held senior roles at community-based organizations in New York, California, and Massachusetts. Across each role, his focus has remained the same: removing barriers and building stronger, healthier communities.
Damien’s leadership has been recognized through appointments to national and state advisory groups, including the Virginia Latino Advisory Commission, the National Quality Forum’s CMS Health Equity Advisory Group, and the Massachusetts 988 Commission. He holds a Master of Public Health in Policy and Management from New York Medical College and a Master of Social Work from Fordham University.
Vice President of Finance
Ron is a proven healthcare finance executive with significant financial and operational experience within single and multi-facility provider and payer organizations.
Ron has over 35+ years of experience as a healthcare finance leader managing accounting operations, reporting financial results, overseeing year-end audits, supervising treasury operations, revenue cycle management, overseeing regulatory reporting, improving internal control systems, financial planning, developing teams, and maintaining or upgrading financial systems within urban acute care, academic medical, safety-net, pediatric and not-for-profit health systems. His previously served roles include Director of Financial Operations, Corporate Controller, Vice President of Provider Services and Contracting, Vice President of Accounting and Corporate Controller, Interim CFO and most recently Senior Vice President of Financial Operations and Chief Accounting Officer with The MetroHealth System in Cleveland, OH.
Ron uses his expertise to help healthcare organizations improve performance and maximize value in financial operations. He enjoys developing high-performance accounting teams and volunteers his time with organizations that support and serve the working poor of Washington, DC and within the local community.
Ron received his Bachelor of Science degree in Internal Audit/Accounting from George Washington University/BFU (Washington, DC). He is an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in the State of Maryland and holds memberships with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants.
