The H Group, SIRSS merge, create one of largest employers in Southern Ill. | Business

(KFVS) - Southern Illinois Regional Social Services and The H Group have announced plans for their new behavioral healthcare agency after voting last January to merge.

Serving mostly Franklin, Jackson and Williamson Counties, The H Group will, as of the July 1 merger, will employ over 550 staff members, making it one of the top 15 employers in Southern Illinois and the larges provider of behavioral healthcare services.

"Our new and stronger agency will provide this region with a wider continuum of services as well as significant opportunities that the previous agencies could not accomplish on their own," said John G. Markley, CEO of The H Group. "Combining our resources will mean greater service coordination, opportunities to be a regional healthcare partner and create greater economies of scale, which will reduce the cost of providing these services."

The Board of Directors for both groups elected a charter Board of Directors for the new merged agency. The Board of Directors for The H Group, as of July 1, will include:

• Bill Alexander - West Frankfort
• Bob Barnett - Marion
• Bonnie Brackett - Carbondale
• Michelle Hamilton - Carterville
• Julie Johnson - Marion
• Chris Julian-Fralish - Carbondale
• Kim Kaytor - West Frankfort
• David Melby - Creal Springs
• John Pohlmann - Carbondale
• Dave Severin - Benton
• Scott Snavely - Carbondale
• Carol Zwick - Herrin

"We are privileged to have such leadership and expertise among our new Board of Directors," said Karen Freitag, current director of SIRSS and The H Group's Chief Administrative Officer as of July 1. "With a depth of experience and broad representation across our primary service areas, this Board has the vision and talent needed to launch and lead our new agency."

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