Dean Johnston

MALONE — Citizen Advocates has promoted a member of its leadership team to be its new CEO.

Dean Johnston, who was most recently Citizen Advocates’ chief operating officer, was unanimously selected as CEO by the agency’s board of directors at its December meeting. The board made its decision following a months-long, nationwide recruitment effort that was narrowed to a competitive pool of six highly-qualified candidates from a broad range of backgrounds.

“Following a thorough interview process, the board recognized Dean’s years of experience, his impressive understanding of services and healthcare reform, along with a deep passion for the organization among the many attributes that make him uniquely qualified to lead Citizen Advocates,” said Chuck Mason, chair of the Citizen Advocates board of directors.

Johnston succeeds Susan Delehanty, who served as CEO since 2009. She announced her retirement plan in early 2016, and left the position as CEO on Dec. 31, 2016.

“We are eternally grateful for Sue’s leadership and service at Citizen Advocates,” Mason said. “She has been instrumental in moving this organization to the next level, and since Dean was such a key part of Sue’s leadership team we expect a very smooth transition as he takes over his new duties as CEO.”

Johnston first joined Citizen Advocates in 1997 as chief financial officer, and held the position of COO since 2009. His first official day as CEO was Jan. 3.

“Throughout the region and on the state level, Citizen Advocates is known as a leading-edge organization with a solid reputation for making a positive difference in the lives of so many North Country residents,” Johnston said. “I am deeply honored to have this opportunity, and look forward to working with the skilled and caring individuals who focus daily on our mission to provide exceptional, high-quality services to the individuals and families we support.”

With administrative offices in Malone, Citizen Advocates provides developmental, behavioral health and substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services throughout Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Hamilton and St. Lawrence counties. The agency employs 725 health professionals and support staff who provide a broad range of services to 6,500 individuals on an annual basis.

The diversity of services offered by Citizen Advocates has given Johnston nearly two decades of administrative experience working with a multitude of state agencies, including the Office of Mental Health, Department of Health, Office of People with Developmental Disabilities, and Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.

During his tenure as COO, Johnston built a cohesive team of directors, clinicians and support staff who share a mission-driven approach to sound fiscal stewardship resulting in positive growth at Citizen Advocates through reinvestment in new services, training for staff and modern treatment facilities.

The positive growth includes a 126 percent increase in agency operations, and the creation of 190 new full-time jobs (from 425 to 615) since Johnston joined the leadership team.

Johnston has been a steadfast advocate for the agency’s commitment to provide quality, person-centered programs and services to those it supports by achieving accreditation through the Council on Quality and Leadership, a national organization that evaluates and identifies measurable steps to enhance quality of life and quality of services.

Johnston began his professional career as a certified public accountant with McKee & Empsall, CPAs, PC in Malone. His affiliations currently include serving as trustee on the boards of University of Vermont Health Network, Community Providers Inc. and UVMHN Alice Hyde Medical Center. He served as board chair of Alice Hyde Medical Center from 2011-2014. Johnston serves on the board of the New York State Rehabilitation Association and is a member of the NYSRA and New York State Association of Community and Residential Agencies Managed Care Council. He is also a member of the Adirondack Health Institute Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment-Performing Provider System Finance Committee. He is also a past member and president of the Malone Rotary Club and past member and assistant chief of the Malone Callfiremen.

A Malone native, Johnston resides in North Bangor with his wife Melissa and their children, Jennifer and Jacob.