WQIO Ohio's Super Station
Newark, OH — The MHR Board is pleased to announce that Rob Montagnese,
President and CEO of Licking Memorial Health Systems, will once again serve as the
PAC Chair for Licking County in support of the 2025 mental health and recovery levy
renewal campaign.
Rob previously led the successful 2015 campaign and brings decades of trusted
leadership, financial expertise, and community service to the effort. As the head of one
of Licking County’s largest employers, with more than 2,600 employees, Rob has spent
his career championing access to high-quality, community-based healthcare and
services.
Under Rob’s leadership, LMHS expanded critical infrastructure including the John &
Mary Alford Pavilion, multiple Urgent Care locations, and the adoption of advanced
technology systems like Epic and the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. His
background in both healthcare and finance—as a certified public accountant and a
healthcare executive—gives him unique insight into the importance of local, sustainable
funding for behavioral health care.
“Rob is a visionary leader whose service-minded approach resonates across every
corner of Licking County,” said Kathryn Spergel, Executive Director of the MHR Board.
“His commitment to wellness and his ability to unite people behind a shared goal make
him the perfect advocate for this levy renewal.”
Rob’s community engagement extends far beyond the hospital walls. He serves or has
served on over a dozen boards, including Central Ohio Technical College, The Works,
The Salvation Army, GROW Licking County, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters
Foundation. His efforts have been recognized with numerous awards, including the
John W. Alford Memorial Award, the Bravo Award from Newark Rotary, and the Stephen
F. Loebs Outstanding Leadership Award from The Ohio State University.
The MHR Board levy ensures access to a continuum of care for mental health and
substance use needs, including prevention, treatment, and recovery services. These
services are made possible by local funding, and ninety-one cents of every dollar spent
goes directly to service delivery.
The levy is a renewal, not a tax increase, and helps fund critical services like 211 crisis
hotline, school-based prevention, addiction recovery, urgent care access, and support
for individuals and families throughout Licking County.
“I’m proud to stand behind this campaign,” said Montagnese. “Because when we invest
in mental health and recovery, we build a stronger, safer, and healthier Licking County.”
In 2024 alone, levy-funded services touched the lives of more than 24,000 residents
across Licking and Knox Counties. Of those, 10,168 were children and youth—receiving
the care, guidance, and early intervention they needed to thrive. More than 14,000
individuals benefited from prevention programs, while 3,841 accessed vital treatment
services for mental health and substance use. Crisis support remains a cornerstone of
the system: 5,245 people reached out to the Pathways 211 Crisis Call Center, and
3,756 received immediate assistance from Behavioral Healthcare Partners’ 24-hour
Crisis Intervention Services. These numbers represent real people—neighbors, families,
and friends—whose lives were directly supported by this local levy.
For more information about the levy and how you can support mental health and
recovery services in our community, please visit mhrlk.org/vote-yes. There, you can
learn about the impact of your vote, request a yard sign, and explore local resources.
You can also stay informed and help spread the word by following us on social media:
@mhrlkco.
This is not a new tax. It’s a renewal of our shared commitment to a healthier, safer
community.
Vote YES. Renew Hope. Renew Support.
PHOTO FROM LICKING MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEMS WEBSITE
