Executive Team

Brenda Grealish joined the Commission as executive director in April 2025.

With more than 25 years of service in California state government, Grealish most recently served as Executive Officer for the Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health. Her previous leadership roles include Chief of the Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Division and Acting Deputy Director of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services at the California Department of Health Care Services.

Grealish also held leadership positions at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where she was appointed Deputy Director in 2012.

Sandra joined the Commission in 2024 and is a passionate advocate for improving behavioral health for the people of California. Sandra joined the Commission after nearly a decade as executive director of a California State University auxiliary non-profit where she provided direct services and support to the students of Sacramento State. Immediately prior, Sandra served as assistant secretary at the California Health and Human Services Agency where she worked as liaison to the Commission and various other Agency Departments. Sandra also brings experience from Capitol Hill, having served as senior counsel to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and several years as a commercial litigator at a large law firm. Sandra earned her law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law and her Master’s in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Norma Pate joined the Commission in 2010. After the Commission separated from the Department of Mental Health in 2012, Norma established the agency’s Human Resources, contracting, procurement, and budgeting divisions. Since then, Norma has focused on programs aimed at improving the wellbeing of children, increasing access to crisis services, and addressing disparities.

Before joining the Commission, Norma held leadership positions with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations’ Division of Addiction and Recovery Services, the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, and the Victim Compensation and Government Claim Board.

Kendra joined the Commission in 2023 and is committed to leveraging her expertise in policy development and community engagement to elevate and advance the Commission's mission to ensure everyone who needs behavioral health care has access to and receives effective and culturally competent care. Kendra also oversees the Commission’s advocacy contracts, planning and implementation of Commission meetings, and communications team. Prior to joining the Commission, Kendra spent 12 years at the Department of Insurance as Deputy Legislative Director where she focused her efforts on developing and implementing policies that strengthened consumer protections, regulated insurance markets, and ensured fair and transparent insurance practices. Her legislative accomplishments include expanding consumer protection laws to assist wildfire survivors, ensure community and public safety, and protect vulnerable communities. Kendra also previously worked at the California Air Resources Board where she assisted in developing and advocating for policy recommendations aimed at promoting and protecting the public health and ecological resources of California through effective reduction of air pollutants. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in agricultural business from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo.