Executive programming, industry sponsors and the inaugural Kipu Cup golf tournament close a first gathering of behavioral health leaders
MIAMI, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kipu Health announced today that bestselling author and cultural strategist Frankie Russo and acclaimed artist and recovery advocate Adam David (winner of The Voice) will headline Elevate 2026, the company’s annual customer conference April 22-24 in Carlsbad, California.
Elevate 2026 will bring together more than 300 behavioral health leaders, operators and administrators for three days of strategy, innovation and connection, all designed to advance care delivery in the AI era. Attendees will also get an overview of Kipu’s latest innovations, including Kipu Helixthe company’s AI-native intelligent operating system designed to help providers streamline clinical documentation, strengthen compliance workflows, and scale operations more efficiently while returning valuable time to patient care.
Inspiring voices: recovery, leadership and transformation
Frankie Russo, bestselling author of The art of why and a nationally recognized voice in leadership, innovation and cultural transformation, will deliver a keynote address inviting attendees to rethink how they build organizations that evolve with purpose in the age of AI. Building on his “Generation AI” talk, Russo will explore how leaders can harness emerging technologies to amplify human creativity, unlock new levels of productivity, and build cultures that embrace innovation rather than resist it. His talk will focus on aligning mission, technology and leadership to drive sustainable growth in today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
Adam Davidan acclaimed artist whose personal journey through addiction and recovery has resonated with audiences across the country, will showcase his musical talents at Elevate 2026. His performance will bring an inspiring, recovery-centered moment to the conference experience, reinforcing the mission that unites every organization participating in Elevate: advancing recovery and restoring lives.
Together, their presentations bring both heart and strategy to Elevate 2026, strengthening recovery-centered care while enabling leaders to thrive operationally.
Five executive sessions designed for action
In addition to the keynote presentations, Elevate 2026 will feature five executive master sessions led by top behavioral health leaders and innovators. These closed sessions are designed to move beyond theory and into applied strategy, addressing the following areas:
- Growth Operating System: Scale your business and integrate M&A with the right technology stack (panelists: Marco Merida, President, Guardian Recovery; Glenn Hadley, CGO, California Healing Centers)
- AI Strategies for Clinical Productivity, Operational Efficiency, and Treatment Outcomes (panelists: Cara Bishop, vice president of clinical services at Banyan Treatment Centers; Katherine Nisbet, clinical director, New Freedom; Nick Stavros, CEO, Community Medical Services)
- Executive Gateway Strategies and KPIs for Admissions, Referral Growth and Alumni Management (panelists: Robert Harrison, executive advisor for innovation, Recovery Unplugged; Jonathan Gross, CEO, California Healing Centers)
- Operational Excellence Means Profit: The CEO’s Guide to High-Performance RCM (panelists: Drew Laboon, chief operating officer, Pathways Recovery Centers; Tracy Rogers, executive director, Sanford Behavioral Health)
- Upcoming Regulatory Changes: Practical Steps for Tracking Legislation and Compliance (panelist: Maeve O’Neill, MEd, LPC-S, CHC, CDTLF, Circa Behavioral Healthcare Solutions)
“Each of these speakers are senior executives from leading treatment organizations and industry innovators who are actively implementing these strategies within their own operations,” said Carina Edwards, CEO of Kipu Health. “Participants will gain candid insight into what works, measurable results achieved, and practical steps to implement immediately.”
The conference also includes a dedicated administrative track focused on workflow optimization and hands-on learning.
Elevating the Behavioral Healthcare Business Mission
Elevate 2026 continues Kipu’s commitment to supporting behavioral health leaders as they navigate AI adoption, workforce challenges, regulatory complexity and growth strategy, while keeping recovery at the center of care.
“At Elevate, we invest in the dynamic leaders who are driving today’s growing behavioral health industry,” Edwards said. “Frankie Russo will challenge us to think more broadly about how we lead and evolve with purpose. And Adam David’s performance is a meaningful reminder of the importance of this work. Alongside our leadership sessions, participants will leave with tangible strategies to immediately strengthen their organization.
Backed by leading corporate partners
Elevate 2026 is made possible with the support of Kipu’s trusted technology and services partners, whose sponsorship highlights the collaborative ecosystem shaping the future of behavioral healthcare.
More than 10 behavioral health technology and services partners will participate, providing participants with direct access to solutions spanning revenue cycle management, compliance, analytics, patient engagement and operational support. These partners play a critical role in helping providers manage complexity while scaling responsibly.
The first Kipu Cup: golf, networking and community
Elevate 2026 will kick off with the first annual Kipu Cup golf tournament, taking place on Wednesday, April 22 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the famous Omni La Costa North course in Carlsbad, California.
Located in one of Southern California’s most iconic golf destinations, the Kipu Cup provides executives with a relaxed, high-value networking experience before the conference begins. Attendees will enjoy a morning of golf, food and great prizes. One group, of course, will walk away with the bragging rights of being the first Kipu Cup champions.
Foursomes are limited and demand is expected to be high.
Registrations are now open. To learn more about the agenda, speakers, sponsors and the Kipu Cup, visit: www.kipuevents.com
About Kipu Health
Kipu, the leader in behavioral health technology, manages more than 5 million care episodes per year across 6,000 facilities and 150,000 users. Built as the industry’s first intelligent operating system and powered by Kipu Helix, Kipu supports its customers throughout the patient journey, from intake to treatment, tracking, billing and regulatory compliance. Kipu is dedicated to improving care and outcomes for countless people. www.kipuhealth.com
Contact:
Jay Staunton
781.790.6023
SOURCE Kipu Health
