Champion of the Family Life Action Group (FLAG)
Ron Stark is a veteran of the Vietnam Era, the Cold War Era, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm. Mr. Stark holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Christian Heritage College, an MBA from the University of Redlands, and is a Registered Addiction Specialist. He has served veterans and their families for over 19 years beginning at Vietnam Veterans of San Diego (1994-2000) and Mental Health Systems (2000-present). His roles at MHS included Operations Manager of the MHS Alcohol and Drug Services Division, and then as an Program Manager for MHS’ Federal Probation Programs in San Diego and Imperial Counties, the Central Valley Regional Recovery Center, the San Diego countywide Courage to Call program, and Club Vet – a DOL funded Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). He was the Business Services Strategist for MHS’ San Diego Employment Solutions program developing countywide strategies to build a Local Business – MHSA Behavioral Health Services Providers Collaborative Plan to promote system change(s) and collaboration to improve employment outcomes for individuals with serious mental health disabilities and an Employment Specialist at the MHS Center Star Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program for criminal justice involved individuals with severe mental illness. Mr. Stark is currently Program Manager for the MHS North Inland Community Prevention Program (NIPCP) providing environmental alcohol and other prevention services in the San Diego County North Inland Region.
Mr. Stark is well-known and respected throughout the San Diego County and elsewhere, and has become a “go-to guy” on myriad veteran-related and other projects from inception to implementation and operation. He is the 2012-2013 San Diego County Veteran of the Year, the 2013 CA Assembly 79th District Veteran of the Year, and received the 2012 San Diego Psychological Association Local Hero Award. He is Co-Chair of the San Diego One VA Community Advocacy Board (CAB), Logistics Coordinator for the San Diego Stand Down for Homeless Veterans since 1997, a community veteran on the VA ASPIRE Center Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC), and is on the Advisory Team for the San Diego County Veteran-Family Regional Forum (Vet-Fam). He has served on the County of San Diego’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan Committee, and served as mentor and training coordinator for the San Diego County Veterans Treatment Review Calendar (Veterans Court). He actively participates in the United Veterans Council of San Diego County.