Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (February 19, 2004) – In an era of rising costs and shrinking budgets, financial management skills are increasingly important for organizational success. OPEN MINDS will be hosting its "2004 Financial Management Institute" to give executives a "crash course" on new theories, best practices, and field experience in financial management. This three-day event, chock-full of workshops and opportunities for networking, will be held March 17-19, 2004, in San Diego, California, at The Hyatt Regency Islandia.

"Experienced members of the OPEN MINDS consulting team, as well as our guest speakers, will bring a plethora of financial management information to the attendee that is directly applicable to the behavioral health and social service field," said Monica E. Oss, president of OPEN MINDS.

Several senior members of the OPEN MINDS team will be featured speakers at the institute including:

Monica E. Oss, president of OPEN MINDS, who serves as executive editor of four publications, is a featured speaker on strategy and governance issues at industry events, and has written numerous books and magazine articles on strategic management, marketing, and governance in the health and human service field.

Joseph Naughton-Travers, Ed.M., senior consultant at OPEN MINDS, who received his Masters of Education in Counseling Psychology from Boston University and has published and presented nationally on numerous topics of interest to behavioral health and social service organizations.

Jennifer Huber, senior consultant at OPEN MINDS, who has been providing financial, accounting, and operations services for over twelve years and has extensive experience in the health insurance industry with a primary focus on behavioral health. Ms. Huber earned both her bachelor's and master’s degrees in business administration from Loyola College, Baltimore, Maryland.

Norman G. Hoffmann, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Community Health, Brown University & Chief Executive Officer, Evince Clinical Assessments is an internationally recognized expert in the area of assessment and outcome evaluation. He has produced over 120 publications and is a frequent speaker and workshop leader at regional and national conferences.

The individual registration rate is $795 per person. For additional registration and agenda information visit www.openminds.com/educ/omi20040317.htm, or call toll-free 877-350-6463, or e-mail openminds@openminds.com.

OPEN MINDS is a premier management consulting firm specializing in the behavioral health and social service industry, located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The company’s core areas of expertise include analyzing and disseminating information on the business, marketing, and financial aspects of behavioral health, child welfare, senior services, and human services, and providing research and consulting services. The firm was founded in 1987 and has three service divisions - information products, executive education, and research and management consultation services.