Leadership

Steve Miccio

Chief Executive Officer

People USA’s Chief Executive Officer is a pioneer, visionary, and expert in the field of mental health, substance use, criminal justice, and crisis response. Inspired and driven by his personal lived experience, Steve has spent over two decades creating, providing, and advocating for innovative behavioral health services that transform systems of care across the United States and internationally. He is proud to promote services that are trauma-informed and person-centered with positive expectations for recovery and wellness outcomes. Steve shares his expertise through delivering keynotes, participating on panels, and publishing articles. Steve’s unique models and approaches significantly reduce hospital utilization, incarceration rates, and overall healthcare spending. Because of this success, People USA’s program models have been studied and replicated across the United States and Europe. Steve earned his BA in psychology from SUNY Plattsburgh.

Some of Steve’s innovative programs include:  

• the Rose House model of peer-operated crisis respites 
• the first peer-run Crisis Stabilization Center in the world 
• the first in the United States to embed peers in a hospital psych. ER. 
• the first peer-run criminal justice-focused mobile team in the United States

Steve is active with the following groups:  

• Chair of the National Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (PRA) 
• Former Board member of CIT International
• Board member of 2-1-1 policy board in Hudson Valley 
• Subject matter expert for the Re-entry Policy Academy headed by the SAMHSA GAINS Center and Policy Research Associates; Member of the International Crisis Now coalition 
• Member of the Crisis Residential Association 
• Member of the International Crisis Now coalition 
• Member of New York State Suicide Prevention Council 
• Executive member of the Dutchess County Criminal Justice Council (DCCJC) 
• Chair of the Dutchess County Criminal Justice Council Diversion Committee (DCCJC) 
• Member of the Dutchess County Police Reform and Modernization Collaborative 
• Advisory Board member of the Northeast Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center 
• Curriculum writer for the New York State Academy of Peer Services 

Publications: 

• Developed OMH White Paper, “Infusing Recovery-Based Principles into Mental Health Services”(2004) with input from over 40,000 New Yorkers. 
• Chapter Author, History of the Consumer Movement in the USA; Community Mental Health Challenges for the 21st Century, Routledge Publishing (2006) 
• Author, Hospital Diversion Services: A manual in the Development of a Respite/Diversion Service in Your Area, OptumHealth | Optimizing Health and Well-Being | www.optumhealth.com/publicsector (2011) 
• Contributor to SAMHSA National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care, 2020 

Awards: 

• New York Association Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) Marty Smith Memorial Award (2) 
• New York State Assembly Certificate of Merit 
• Member of Congress Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition 
• Harry Hall Memorial Award by the Mental Health Association in Ulster County, Inc. 
• Senator Greg Ball Certificate of Merit 
• Dutchess County Employer of the Year Award 
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention- In grateful recognition of his leadership and his vision for suicide prevention 
• Mental Health News Education – Behavioral Health Advocacy Award 

Steve lives in the Village of New Paltz and originally from Fishkill, NY. He enjoys drumming, fishing, gardening, hiking, rocket building, and spending time with his family, including his two amazing daughters, and his partner Renée.

Kim Wing, LCSW

Chief Operating Officer

Kim Wing is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked with not-for-profit organizations in New York State and New York City for over a decade. She received her Master’s in Social Work from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Prior to coming to People USA, she worked for Goddard Riverside Community Center as the Associate Executive Director of Permanent and Transitional Housing Social Services. Kimberly has experience working with severe and persistent mental illness, chronic homelessness, chemical dependence, co-occurring disorders, domestic violence, and the aging population. She has focused her leadership around building teams that provide the highest quality services. Kimberly is recognized as a leader in the field of supportive housing and mental health social services. Kimberly has collaborated with The Corporation for Supportive Housing and has presented on a panel for a regional forum discussing Innovations for Vulnerable Seniors in Supportive Housing, participated in a whitepaper to Review the MRT Senior Supportive Housing Pilot Program, and assisted in the development of creating best practices/core competencies for working with elderly in supportive housing. She has presented on a webinar on Healthy Aging in Community, has presented on “Social Determinants of Health and Housing” at the Annual Housing and Special Needs Population Conference in Niagara Falls, and recently her work “Using Data in Clinical Practice” was presented at the annual Association for Community Living conference. Kimberly grew up in Beacon, New York, and enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, and listening to music.

Himali (Gandhi) Pandya, MPA

Chief Strategy & Development Officer

Himali (Gandhi) Pandya has spent her career in mission-driven organizations that serve the most vulnerable in our community. She is a passionate leader who is energized by maximizing impact through thoughtful, intentional, strategic growth. In her free time, you can find Himali cooking spicy Indian food in her kitchen, hiking the trails of the Hudson Valley, or traveling abroad with her husband.

Ben Groff

Chief Human Resources Officer

Ben Groff, MA, PHR is responsible for employee relations, employment law compliance, talent management, compensation & benefits, recruitment, and retention. Ben has been with People USA since 2020. He looks forward to making People USA the preferred behavioral health employer in New York State. Ben was drawn to People USA because he wants to be a part of an organization that helps people to live their best lives possible. He has always wanted his professional life to be a positive force in the community. Ben is married with three children, and lives in Monroe, NY; he is originally from Western NY, but has lived in the Hudson Valley Region for over 20 years. He enjoys the outdoors, spending time with his family, and following sports.

Maria Kavouras

Assistant Executive Director of Operations

Maria Kavouras, MA, MBA is responsible for Operations, IT, Facilities, Equipment, Fleet, and Capital Projects. Maria has been with People USA since 2018. Maria started as a Supportive Housing Coordinator, and worked her way up. She has been instrumental in improving agency operations, both through the implementation of new technologies, and through improved workflows at our crisis residences. Maria believes in empowering people to take charge of their own mental health or addiction recoveries, and in helping people to overcome the stigmas associated with behavioral health. Maria is also a proud United States Marine Corps. Veteran. She lives in Ulster County, where she grew up, with her daughter. She enjoys traveling, hiking, and reading, as well as advocating always for those in need.