Leadership

Neal Shifman, M.A.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Neal Shifman is the founder, President, and CEO of Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. He is responsible for the overall direction, vision, and management of this company of approximately 100 employees. Other responsibilities include the oversight of new business development, resource planning, strategic planning, and directing the corporate-level and Senior Management staff. His leadership style, like that of his consulting orientation and the organization that he directs, is facilitative, empowering, and strategic. His commitment to the work that he and AHP do, as well as the culture of the company, is oriented towards systems change, delivery of quality services, and improving the lives of vulnerable populations.

As a subject matter expert, he translates knowledge in behavioral health care and human services to social policy and systems change. He is a nationally and internationally known consultant and facilitator in service system redesign, with special expertise in substance abuse, mental health, criminal justice, and a variety of at-risk populations and their interface with social service systems. Mr. Shifman was an early pioneer in developing the continuum of care for substance abuse prevention and treatment. He has worked extensively with Federal and state systems on a large number of substance abuse and behavioral health projects.

Internationally, a venue for his work has been in the Caribbean. For the past twelve years he has led a number of strategic initiatives involving governments (both civil servants and political ministries), the judicial systems, nongovernment organizations, and the private sector. Examples of his work have included the design of the substance abuse delivery system in St. Maarten; the coordination, development, and implementation of a WHO-sponsored Caribbean Initiative on substance abuse; policy, facilitative and writing support for United Nations Drug Control Program’s (UNDCP) International Drug Court Project; a 3-year redesign of the criminal justice system in Bermuda known as Alternatives to Incarceration, and a similar effort in St. Maarten; and numerous strategic planning, program design, and needs assessments for nongovernmental organizations ranging from HIV/AIDS, to child and adolescent services, women and violence, substance abuse prevention and treatment, labor and training, and welfare and social services.

nshifman@ahpnet.com