24/7 Mental Health Crisis Hotline

1 (800) 633-5686

Meet Our Executives

We deliver life-changing mental health and developmental disabilities services to those who need them most.

Our Executives

Eight professionals bring their knowledge and expertise in
their particular field of operations to serve as the Senior
Leadership Team.

Shena Ureste

Chief Executive Officer

Prior to coming to becoming the CEO in May 2024, Mrs. Ureste served as the Director of Behavioral Healthcare Services...
Read Bio
George Patterson, M.A., L.P.C.

Chief Executive Officer

Since 2003, Shena Ureste has been responsible for the management of Texana’s Behavioral Healthcare Services Division, including its outpatient clinics, crisis services, pharmacy, and consumer benefits department. Her previous experience includes service as the Chief Financial Officer for DeTar Regional Healthcare System in Victoria, Texas, and Victoria Regional Medical Center, also in Victoria. Ms. Ureste holds a B.B.A. in accounting from Texas A & M University.

Hide Bio

No headshot placeholder pic

Amanda Darr, M.B.A.

Chief Financial Officer

As Texana’s CFO, Mrs. Darr is responsible for the overall financial management of the center...
Read Bio
Amanda Darr, M.B.A.

Chief Financial Officer

As Texana’s CFO, Mrs. Darr is responsible for the overall financial management of the center, including the direction and management of the accounting, reimbursement and purchasing departments. Additionally, she oversees the center’s information-services initiatives. Amanda, who holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Dallas and an M.B.A. from the University of Houston, has served as CFO since 1988.

Hide Bio

Executive: Kevin Barker, Director of Intellectual & Developmental Provider Services

Kevin Barker

Director of Intellectual & Developmental Provider Services

Kevin Barker oversees Behavior Support, Day Habilitation, Nursing, Residential...
Read Bio
Kevin Barker
Director of Intellectual & Developmental Provider Services

Kevin Barker oversees Behavior Support, Day Habilitation, Nursing, Residential, Supported Employment, and Vocational services for our six county region. Kevin joined Texana in 2005 and has over 25 years of experience in serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi. Prior to joining Texana he was the manager of Home and Community-Based Services for MHMR of Nueces County.

Hide Bio

Executive: Kate Johnson-Patagoc, Director of Specialized Services

Kate Johnson-Patagoc

Director of Specialized Services

Kate Johnson-Patagoc is the Director of Specialized Services. She has been with...
Read Bio
Kate Johnson-Patagoc
Director of Specialized Services

Kate Johnson-Patagoc is the Director of Specialized Services. She has been with Texana since June 2009. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over 25 years experience working with persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities or brain injury. She obtained her B.S. from North Dakota State University and her M.S. in Behavior Analysis and Therapy from Southern Illinois University. She has worked as a Behavior Analyst in Illinois, Tennessee, and Kentucky, where she directed a behavior analysis treatment program for children with intellectual disabilities from 1997-2009. Kate has published research articles in Behavior Modification, Behavior Therapy, and The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation.

Hide Bio

Board: Toi Blakley Harris, M.D., Fort Bend County

Toi Blakley Harris, M.D.

Fort Bend County

Toi Blakley Harris, M.D., is the Associate Provost of Institutional Diversity, Inclusion and Equity & Student and Trainee Services, and a...
Read Bio
Toi Blakley Harris, M.D.
Fort Bend County

Toi Blakley Harris, M.D., is the Associate Provost of Institutional Diversity, Inclusion and Equity & Student and Trainee Services, and a Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Pediatrics and Family and Community Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Harris worked previously at Texana Center where she was also part of the Medical Executive Committee. Currently, she oversees Baylor’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, as well as student and trainee services. Over the course of Dr. Harris’ twenty year career, she has led various initiatives to promote professional development, workforce diversity and wellness for medical students, residents, fellows and faculty within health science institutions. In addition to her clinical areas of expertise, she has developed curricula and published in the areas of social determinants of health, equity, and wellness. Dr. Harris is the PI/program director of Baylor’s Center of Excellence in Health Equity, Training and Research (COE). The COE’s aims are to promote diversity in medicine by focusing on programs aimed to increase the number of diverse and highly qualified medical professionals ready to introduce effective and innovative approaches to reduce or eliminate health disparities. In addition, Dr. Harris is a former Association of American Medical Colleges’ (AAMC) Advancing Holistic Review (AHR) Admissions Workshop facilitator. Currently, she is Chair of an AAMC subcommittee within the AHR Advisory Committee focused on holistic review of faculty recruitment and selection and is Chair-Elect of the AAMC’s Group on Women in Medicine and Science.

Hide Bio

Board: Sarah Hudgins, Wharton County

Sarah Hudgins

Wharton County

Sarah Hudgins works for Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realtors in Houston, Texas and has been a Realtor Associate since
Read Bio
Sarah Hudgins
Wharton County

Sarah Hudgins works for Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realtors in Houston, Texas and has been a Realtor Associate since 1998. Sarah currently serves as a Board Member and Vice President of the ESD#3, a taxing entity, in Wharton County; Director and past President of the ARC of Wharton; Member and past Vice President of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 226; Member and current Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution Comfort Wood Chapter; Wharton County Location Leader for Wreaths Across America; Board Member of the Wharton Cemetery Association; Member of the Wharton County Historical Commission and longtime Advocate for Wharton County Veterans. Sarah has been appointed by Governor Rick Perry as an Admiral in the Texas Navy, received the honor from the State of Texas DAR as Citizen of the Year and worked to have four State Bills in the Texas Legislation made into law, naming four Memorial Highways in Wharton County for three Medal of Honor recipients and one fallen Peace Officer. A 6th Generation Texan and family member of the J.D. Hudgins Ranch, Sarah currently resides in Wharton with her husband, Domingo Montalvo, Jr., a Hazmat Firefighter for the City of Houston and former Mayor of Wharton.

Hide Bio

John Robson

John Robson

Fort Bend County

John Robson is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and Nationally Certified Addictions Counselor...
Read Bio
John Robson
Fort Bend County

John Robson is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and Nationally Certified Addictions Counselor with thirty years of experience. John has been a part of the team at Fort Bend Regional Council on Substance Abuse (FBRC) since 1990. He has served the citizens of Fort Bend County in that capacity for twenty-seven years and is currently the Chief Operating Officer. His role at FBRC has allowed him to help shape substance abuse and mental health policy and services in Fort Bend County during a time of exponential county growth. In addition to his duties at FBRC, he has served on the Board of Directors for Achieve Fort Bend, the Advisory Board for Fort Bend Child Advocates and is a past President of Exchange Club of Sugar Land. He and his wife Kathy live in Richmond, Texas, have three children, six grandchildren and are active members of River Pointe Church in Richmond, Texas

Hide Bio

Shah Asim A 2019

Dr. Asim Shah

Fort Bend County

Asim Shah is a resident of Fort Bend County. He holds the Barbara & Corbin J. Robertson Jr. Chair in Psychiatry,...
Read Bio
Dr. Asim Shah
Fort Bend County

Asim Shah is a resident of Fort Bend County. He holds the Barbara & Corbin J. Robertson Jr. Chair in Psychiatry, is the Executive Vice Chair and Professor of Psychiatry, Family and Community Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, and is the Chief of Psychiatry as well as the Chief of the Division of Community Psychiatry & Director of Mood Disorder Research Program both at Ben Taub Hospital/Harris Health System. He is also the Director of Community Behavioral Health program at Harris Health, which is an integrated care program. Dr. Shah has received two Fulbright and Jaworski Awards, one for “Teaching and Evaluation” in 2012, and another for “Educational Leadership” in 2014. He further received “Rising Star Clinician Award” from Baylor in 2014 and was named by Houstonia magazine in their Top Doctors list for Houston in 2013, 2014 and 2015, 2017. He has also received Castle Connolly’s Top Doctor Award for 2017, 2018 & 2019 and the Children Mental Health Champion Award from Mental Health America in 2018. Dr. Shah has done numerous media presentations to National and International Radio/TV/Newspapers and has widely presented both nationally and internationally and has over 100 published papers. He is currently a Board Member and Vice Chair for Mental Health America Greater Houston (which merged with Fort Bend County just recently). His passion is mental health for all, especially for uninsured and underinsured.

Hide Bio

Dennis Young

Pastor Dennis W. Young

Fort Bend County

Pastor Dennis W. Young has served as pastor of Missouri City Baptist Church (MCBC) for the past 18 years....
Read Bio
Pastor Dennis W. Young
Fort Bend County

Pastor Dennis W. Young has served as pastor of Missouri City Baptist Church (MCBC) for the past 18 years. He received a BA degree from Brooklyn College, NY, and MA and Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) degrees from the Houston Graduate School of Theology, TX. Dr. Young has taken several mission trips to: Jamaica, St. Eustatius, St. Martin, South America and Nigeria. He served as President of the Board of Directors for Worldconnex in 2005-2006, Second Vice President of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in 2003-2004, and as President of the African American Fellowship of Texas in 2001-2003. In addition to his pastoral duties, he is currently a member of the Leadership Council for the Union Baptist Association and a member of he Bond Advisory Committee for Fort Bend Independent School District. Pastor Young continues to be active in local, state and international groups to plan and implement programs to address the spiritual, physical and social needs of people.

Hide Bio

Sheriff Skipper Osborne

Sheriff Skipper Osborne

Ex-Officio

Skipper Osborne is a native Texan, born and raised in Matagorda County. He served in the United States Marine Corps...
Read Bio
Sheriff Skipper Osborne
Ex-Officio

Skipper Osborne is a native Texan, born and raised in Matagorda County. He served in the United States Marine Corps and had a tour of duty in VietNam, where he was wounded in 1967. In the early 1970’s, Osborne was a vice president at City State Bank in Palacios. In 1975, he left banking to become a rice farmer. Skipper has been in law enforcement for 23 years, serving as the Matagorda County Sheriff since 2012. He has been married to his high school sweetheart for 51 years. They have two children and seven grandchildren.

Hide Bio

Board: Lieutenant Jerome Ellis, Ex-Officio

Lieutenant Jerome Ellis

Ex-Officio

Jerome Ellis II, is a committed husband, father, and law enforcement officer with 22 years...
Read Bio
Lieutenant Jerome Ellis
Ex-Officio

Jerome Ellis II, is a committed husband, father, and law enforcement officer with 22 years of experience. As a graduate of the 268th Recruit Class of the Dallas Police Academy, Jerome was awarded the Esprit de Corps Award and has shared a feeling of pride, fellowship, and common loyalty to three Policing Agencies over his tenure as a Police Officer. During his 18 year journey at Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, Jerome Ellis served in 4 different Divisions. Early lessons learned with his start in corrections led to his interest and success in specialized policing strategies. Ellis served as a Juvenile Outreach Deputy, with an emphasis in Truancy Abatement, for 10 years. He was certified as an Advanced School Resource Officer and assisted in bring prevention programs to over 70,000 students in Fort Bend County. In 2015, Ellis was promoted to Patrol Sergeant, transferred to the FBCSO Crisis Intervention Team in 2017 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2021. His professional trainings include Trauma-Informed Criminal Justice Responses, Mental Health Peace Officer Certification, Basic Hostage Negotiation, Mounted Patrol, and a myriad of teachings that contributed to his Master Peace Officer Licensure Proficiency.

Hide Bio