The Azark Foundation was selected to participate in the 2025 READY Nonprofits cohort. READY Nonprofits is an initiative providing training and funding access to help participants build capacity in their nonprofit organizations. You can learn more about the ARC initiative at their media release.
Azark and other participating groups will receive technical assistance during the summer of 2025. Following this technical support, Azark will be guided through a non-competitive application for funding support to build internal capacity.
Dr. Andrew "Andy" Kitzmiller brings over two decades of expertise in behavioral health to his multi-faceted career as a Licensed Professional Counselor, clinical supervisor, executive, consultant, trainer, and scholar. Based in Tennessee and licensed as a counselor and supervisor in both Virginia and Tennessee, Andy holds a B.S. in Psychology and an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy, further augmenting his credentials with Graduate Certificates in Business Administration from East Tennessee State University and Integrated Care Management from UMass Chan Medical School.
Andy earned a Doctorate in Behavioral Health from Freed-Hardeman University in December 2023, with his terminal research focusing on authentic leadership development within the behavioral health field. He has a passion and dedication for helping clients, supervisees, and employees reach their personal and professional goals. As an Approved Clinical Supervisor, he has mentored new generations of therapists, underscoring his commitment to elevating the quality of mental health services in the communities he serves.
As a lifelong learner, Andy has a passion for new experiences and a never-ending desire to expand his knowledge base to make him a more effective leader and practitioner. He has an extensive background in various evidence-based therapeutic modalities, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, and neurofeedback, among others.
Andy has more than a decade of executive leadership experience in statewide behavioral health organizations in multiple states and is currently serving as the National Service Category Lead for a large company’s integrative, value-based population health programs throughout the country. He has extensive training in Lean process improvement and other change management strategies. His leadership approach is driven by his enthusiasm for helping clients, employees, and teams reach their full potential.
A respected consultant and trainer, Andy's influence extends to training sessions for veterans, first responders, and community members, addressing a spectrum of mental health issues. In 2024, he trained 20% of the counselors of the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs Vet Centers throughout the country. He has also served as an Advisory Panel member for Shenandoah University’s Transformative Leadership Program.
Andy's long-standing experience, multi-state licensure, and educational accomplishments position him as an influential leader and a sought-after expert in behavioral health. His commitment to continuous education and quality improvement sets a high standard for professional excellence in integrative health care.