Meet the Team

Hannah McDonald has worked in the prevention field for 15 years and since 2017 she has served as the Executive Director of Partnership Carson City, a prevention coalition serving Carson City. In this role she coalesces key stakeholders and community partners to implement strategies to combat and delay the onset of substance use and strengthen mental wellness. Hannah, one of the first in Nevada to become a CPS through the NCB, is a board member on the Nevada certification board, and is a member of the Nevada Statewide Coalition Partnership serving as the Secretary. She has provided an abundance of professional trainings, presented at local, state and national conferences, and is most often a guest speaker for college students at Western Nevada College, the University of Nevada Reno social work and nursing programs and serves as a leader for those job shadowing in their doctoral programs. Hannah is dedicated to creating a community that is healthy, educated and resilient. She recognizes that it all starts with prevention. Hannah and her husband Travis own a local business that was established by her father in 1982. She is raising her three boys in Carson where her roots run deep and while she is partial to the capital city she believes that Nevada has what it takes to be a strong state.

Mark Funkhouser has over 30 years working in the field in various capacities: nationally providing technical assistance and training to courts and communities in child welfare and juvenile justice; over two decades in juvenile and adult criminal justice and community corrections in Indiana that included major grant projects and programs as well as working with individuals and families in the community. Mark’s most recent experience is working in behavioral health coordination in rural and frontier communities in mental health, addiction, and substance use-misuse including opioids. Mark has worked with several local, state, and national entities including training, non-profits, and serving on boards. Mark has degrees in education and business and is certified as a yoga instructor, community health worker, and peer recovery specialist and trainer. He also has previous executive experience working in a mental health peer recovery center working with participants and staff doing case management, supervision, and training with peers and staff. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, practicing yoga, reading, men’s work, and just doing nothing. Mark and his wife, Lauren, have been in Reno since 2018.

Ayla Babakitis is the Coalition Manager at PACT Coalition for Safe and Drug-Free Communities where she is a Certified Prevention Specialist and has worked within the behavioral health field for 5 years. Part of her grant work is facilitating the growth and reach of Certified Prevention Specialists in the state and ensuring evidenced based programs and practices take place in communities. Ayla currently works within the prevention sector with a focus on reducing substance misuse in Clark County. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and as a trainer includes certification in Mental Health First Aid and Adverse Childhood Experiences/Trauma Informed Care. She is passionate about increasing the accessibility of resources and knowledge surrounding wellness.

A proud Las Vegas native, Alisa is a seasoned Public Health professional with over 12 years of experience dedicated to advancing health equity and addressing disparities in underserved communities. In 2018, she founded Minority Health Consultants, a boutique public health, social impact and wellness firm. Alisa is a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) and Instructor for eight years, teaching at both the College of Southern Nevada and the Nevada CHW Association (NVCHWA). Her passion for community-driven public health is reflected in her active leadership and commitment on the numerous local & national boards, coalitions, and committees she’s apart of. She has served on the Governing Board of the Nevada Certification Board for four years, where she has been a vocal advocate for the recognition and advancement of CHWs. Still active on the board, she is now part of the Executive Committee as the Treasurer. Alisa is also a dedicated member of the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW) Policy Committee for 4 years where she assists with national policy efforts for CHWs Her career has consistently emphasized the importance of education, advocacy, access, and policy in achieving lasting public health outcomes. This dedication earned her the opportunity to host and co-host two public health radio shows sponsored by the Southern Nevada Health District. Believing firmly that public health must be shaped by the people it serves, Alisa is driven by the principle that true progress begins by involving the “community” in every aspect of this work.

Anas is a passionate medical professional with experience in overseeing clinical trials, ensuring compliance with study protocols, and safeguarding patient safety. He possesses strong knowledge in medical surveillance, data interpretation and therapeutic areas and has demonstrated ability to impact patient outcomes by identifying trends, addressing issues promptly and providing expert advice to clinical teams. Anas has a variety medical experience and expanded medical knowledge and has worked in different medical fields including patient care setting, healthcare management, and medical research.

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Mayra A. Gonzalez is a first-generation Latina dedicated to strengthening the city she calls home. With nearly a decade of experience advancing public health and equity for underserved populations, she is recognized for her ability to build trust, align stakeholders, and design outreach strategies that expand access to preventive care, behavioral health, and chronic disease management. She is passionate about connecting communities with resources and ensuring families have the tools they need to thrive. She currently serves as a Program Officer – Volunteer Coordinator at the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home through the Nevada Department of Veterans Services, where she enhances quality of life for residents by coordinating meaningful engagement opportunities and fostering partnerships that connect veterans and their families to the broader community. Her prior roles include Community Health Worker positions with the Southern Nevada Health District, Touro University Nevada, Immunize Nevada, and CareMore Health, where she developed outreach programs, built public-private partnerships, and played a key role in COVID-19 vaccination and education efforts in high-risk communities. Passionate about giving back, Mayra volunteers with the Junior League of Las Vegas, the Medical Reserve Corps through the Southern Nevada Health District, and the Public Education Foundation. She also serves on the Eluna Resource Center Advisory Committee, where she provides guidance to ensure the delivery of high-quality programs and services supporting children and families.

Jenn has spent 12 years as a birth assistant, lactation consultant, and CBE trainer in The Bradley Method and Birthing From Within, and ran LaLeche League meetings with a passion for supporting women who have become Moms. Currently, she’s a Certified Birth Doula for all birth, a Bereavement Doula helping families struggling with grief and loss, as well as an Adoption & Surrogacy Doula, a Childbirth Educator, and a Certified Lactation Educator. Jenn is a Mom Of 18 (yes – 18 kids!) parenting since 1992 and has written the blog Mom’s Running It since 2011, am a published author of a self-help memoir in 2016, and host of the Becoming Parents Podcast since May of 2017. She is a speaker and have 15+ years of experience in the foster care sector as both a parent and a trainer.

As a doula for over 13 years, Aisha strives to instill confidence in birthing families, allowing them to reduce their fears surrounding their circumstances and step into their inner strengths. When not supporting families, Aisha is an avid community volunteer, from Girl Scouts to Southern Nevada to PTA President. Aisha enjoys crafting and creating. A good laugh, a tasty meal, and excellent company are critical to Aisha’s heart. Serving on the BOD is Aisha’s passion for elevating the roles of the doula profession in Nevada.

Daniel Fred is the Director of the Nevada Recovery and Prevention (NRAP) program at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he leads a collegiate recovery community focused on belonging, growth, and purpose. With more than a decade in the recovery and wellness field, Daniel has dedicated his career to helping students and communities build lives rooted in connection, meaning, and wholeness. As someone in long-term recovery, Daniel brings both professional experience and personal understanding to his work. He believes recovery is about more than not using anymore. It is about becoming whole again, living fully, and helping others do the same. His journey fuels his passion for creating spaces where people can show up as they are and find hope through shared experience.

David’s greatest joy comes from spending time with his family, his partner of nine years, and the people who matter most to him. He also enjoys golfing, exploring the outdoors, and gaming. David’s journey began with personal experience, long-term recovery, and a deep commitment to creating real pathways to care. Over the past six years, I’ve worked as a CHW, PRSS supervisor, crisis counselor, and a substance use counselor at a behavioral health center. These roles reinforced his belief in the importance of certification, training, and professional development to ensure high-quality, culturally competent care. As a member of the board, he hopes to contribute to the development of policies and standards to ensure certified professionals are well-equipped to serve Nevadans. He believes his work with the NCB is an opportunity to help shape a workforce that is not only well-trained but also compassionate, adaptable, and committed to meeting people where they are.

Trinh Dang-Mai is a dedicated mental health advocate and certified PRSS and PRSS Supervisor committed to advancing recovery and resilience in Nevada’s behavioral health landscape. She currently serves as the Executive Director of NAMI Nevada supporting affiliate leaders, advocating for mental health policies, and providing mental health training statewide. Trinh previously served as the Executive Director of NAMI Southern Nevada, where she has led efforts to expand education, advocacy, and support programs for individuals and families affected by mental health conditions. With lived experience and a strong background in community engagement, Trinh has built bridges between providers, policymakers, and diverse communities to ensure mental health services are culturally responsive and accessible. In addition to her leadership and peer support roles, Trinh is pursuing a Master of Public Health with an emphasis in Social and Behavioral Health at UNLV. Her work reflects a deep passion for holistic healing, collaboration, and empowering individuals on their recovery journeys. Through her roles as PRSS and PRSS-S, Trinh has mentored peers, uplifted voices with lived experience, and works to strengthen Nevada’s behavioral health workforce with compassion, cultural humility, and integrity.