Esther Pla, RN, BC
Chief Executive Officer
216-831-6466 ext. 253
Esther has 34 years of mental health experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings and has provided services to adolescents, adults and older adults. Her management responsibilities have increased over the years. Her past experiences as Director of Nursing, Director of Clinical Services, and Assistant Administrator where at Windsor Hospital and more recently Director of Nursing/PI, Chief Operating Officer and now Chief Executive Officer at Connections: Health.Wellness.Advocacy. She has a strong commitment to the care of individuals with mental illness, advocates for them and continuously strives for excellence in the work she does.
Esther is a graduate of St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing and completed the Work- Life Program at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland. She has recently completed the Mental Health Executive Leadership Program at Weatherhead School of Management.
Mark Johnson MSSA, LISW-S
Chief Operating Officer
216-831-6466 ext 429
Mark Johnson received his Master of Science in Social Administration degree from Case Western Reserve University’s Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences. He has worked in both residential and outpatient community behavioral health settings. His areas of experience include counseling adults, children, adolescents and their families, sex offender treatment, sexual abuse treatment and clinical supervision. He has presented seminars and workshops throughout Ohio on a variety of topics. Serving in many capacities with Connections: Health∙Wellness∙Advocacy since 2001, he is currently the Chief Operating Officer.
Jim Nagle
Chief Financial Officer
216-831-6466 ext 240
James B. Nagle is the Chief Financial Officer for Connections Health∙Wellness∙Advocacy. Mr. Nagle received both his M.B.A. and B.B.A. in Accounting at Cleveland State University. Prior to joining Connections, he was the Vice President for Administration at Spectrum of Supportive Services. In Mr. Nagle’s 30+ year career in healthcare, he has been instrumental in accomplishing financial turnarounds for a number of non-profit agencies that resulted in substantial growth and economic stability. He has served on several non-profit boards and participated in numerous system-wide initiatives for behavioral health in Cuyahoga County.
Gretchen Gardner, MD
Medical Director
216-831-6466 ext 508
Dr. Gardner is the Medical Director of Connections Health∙Wellness∙Advocacy.
Dr. Gardner attended William Smith College in Geneva, New York and graduated
with a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Music. She then attended Bryn
Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and the College of Wooster in Wooster,
Ohio for her Post-baccalaureate Premedical Sciences. She received her M.D.
from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in May of 1991.
Prior to coming to Connections, Dr. Gardner was a resident Physician at
University Hospitals of Cleveland in the Department of Psychiatry. She has
also worked as a Research Assistant to Dr. Claude Hinton, a Geneticist.
Pamela Holmes, BS
Operation-Business Director
216-831-6466 ext. 246
Pamela L. Holmes is currently the Operation Business Director for Connections Health•Wellness• Advocacy. She is responsible for the transportation program, monitoring the Central Pharmacy, and all purchasing for all of Connections’ sites. Pamela started working with Connections twenty one years ago in the payroll department. She has since held positions in accounts payable, data entry, auditing, and as Site Coordinator. Pamela has been a Boy Scout Leader for 15 years, is on the Wieder Silver Manor Board, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. She is a member of Wilberforce University Alumni, where she obtained her BS in Accounting.
Randy Bradford
I.T. Director
216-831-6466 ext. 221
Randy Bradford serves as the Information Technology Director for Connections. He has been working in the Computer and Software Development field for over twenty years. During this time, he has held a number of positions working as an software developer, an information systems manager, a consultant, a network/system engineer and a Production Manager. Randy has held positions with Plastipak Packaging, ATS and Midwest Computer Solutions. He was recently owner and head of Bradford Consulting LLC that serviced multiple non-profits in the area (Aids Taskforce, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center and Spectrum of Supportive Services to name a few) He brings his depth of experience, technical skills and management capabilities to his current position where he supports the administration, management operations and clinical staff.
