Leadership team

President and Chairman of the Board of Universal MH/DD/SAS. Alicia obtained her B.S. and M.A. in Education from Appalachian State University. Alicia has served as the Business Partner for Valmead Elementary School, worked extensively with local athletic booster clubs and PTAs and has been involved with various civic organizations. Currently involved with the daily operations of Universal, Alicia has seen the transformation of the company since Universal's inception in 2003. Alicia says, "I feel Universal is the best in the field, because of the kind of people we hire and the management that we have put in place." 

Chief Executive Officer of Universal MH/DD/SAS.  Brook serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Universal MH/DD/SAS. He holds undergraduate degrees in Human Services and Criminology and completed his M.B.A. with a focus on Health Care Management from Saint Leo University. As a qualified developmental disability professional and a qualified mental health professional, he brings over thirty years of diverse experience in the Human Service field. Brook is also a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He is dedicated to ensuring that Universal MH/DD/SUS maintains its commitment to delivering quality services in a dynamic environment.

Chief Financial Officer for Universal MH/DD/SAS. Jennifer graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Health Care Management. She has held various positions in accounting for human service agencies over the past 20 years. She also has assisted these companies through a myriad of industry changes which directly impacted billing and payroll procedures. Jennifer has been involved in several necessary accounting system adjustments to keep up with the constant flux of these changes. 

Early Intervention Director for Universal Mental Health Services.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Child Development from Appalachian State University.  Amber has worked with children and their families for over fifteen years.  Amber also currently serves as the Chair of the Burke County Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC) and is a member of surrounding county LICCs.  Amber enjoys spending her time with her husband and two daughters, Joleigh and Layla.

Information Technology Director for Universal Mental Health Services.  Sabin has over 25 years of experience in the IT
field, with 13 of those years in
the IDD/MH/SAS field.
CEO Brook Phillips says “Sabin
brings a vast amount of IT
experience to Universal. We are
fortunate to have someone of
his caliber and I feel confident in
his abilities to steer our
Information Technologies
Department into the future.” 

Human Resources Director for Universal Mental Health Services. She has many years experience working with office support, accounting, and clinical supervisors. She is dedicated to creating a cohesive thread between clinical practice and employee recruitment, retention, and engagement. Ingrid is dedicated to ensuring that all offices are operating efficiently and in accordance to Human Resources Regulations, Company Policy, and CARF Standards.

Continuous Quality Improvement Director for Universal Mental Health Services. With over 35 years of experience in the state, county and private sectors of the mental health field, Tracy is highly regarded for her knowledge of the quality improvement arena. Tracy is responsible for accreditation, endorsements, audits and other quality improvement strategies. She is actively involved in the Quality Council for local MCOs, a faithful volunteer with North Carolina Special Olympics, and heavily involved with homelessness awareness. With Tracy at the helm of the Continuous Quality Improvement Department, Universal is sure to provide quality services. 

Administrative Director for Universal Mental Health Services. She joined Universal in 2008 as the Office Assistant for the Raleigh office. Zsa Zsa has a BS degree in Computer Information Systems and over 10 years of experience in the field of office administration. Zsa Zsa has a wealth of knowledge in the areas of office management, audits and accreditation reviews and processes, and ensuring all agency files are maintained based on agency requirements. Zsa Zsa has a lifelong desire to help others and provide the training and supports needed to help them shine. 

Clinical Director for Universal Mental Health Services. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work from Western Carolina University and the University of South Carolina. Patra is a licensed clinical social worker. She has work experience with Hospice, juvenile justice, and therapeutic foster care. For many years, she has worked with individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental illnesses. Patra's goal is to continue relationships in NC to foster growth while providing excellent professional person served services. 

Central Regional Director for Universal Mental Health Services. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master’s in Social Work from Western New Mexico University along with a graduate certificate in rural social work services. Garry has worked with various populations within the behavioral health field since 2000. Garry is actively involved in provider councils and community boards for local MCOs in his region. Garry is also heavily involved in community service organization within his home town of Burlington, NC. Garry’s goal is to continue to provide the best possible supports to families and persons we help to support.