Denise Pecha has joined the BHECN team as Associate Director of Network Initiatives.

In this role, Pecha will work to build and support statewide networks of providers, educators, and others; enhance the impact of BHECN’s six sites; and create a cohesive ecosystem for behavioral health workforce collaboration. Pecha, who also is a social worker and licensed behavioral health practitioner, joins BHECN after working at CityMatCH for the past 13 years, including serving as that organization’s executive director since 2023. Prior to that, Pecha served as Director of Children’s Services at Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska.

Learn more about Denise below. 

What do you find most exciting about working at BHECN?

What excites me most is the opportunity to connect people and ideas that strengthen Nebraska’s behavioral health workforce. I’m energized by the possibility of sparking innovation, building new partnerships, and helping create a stronger pipeline of providers for our state.

How do you see strong networks helping strengthen Nebraska’s behavioral health workforce?

Networks create the connections that make workforce growth possible. When educators, providers, and communities collaborate, we can align training, share resources, and problem-solve together. Just as importantly, networks provide support for providers themselves, helping them feel connected, valued, and sustained in the work.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love being a grandma and traveling. I’m also passionate about conservation and am involved in activities such as doing bumble bee surveillance and planting native gardens for pollinators. Outside of that, I enjoy competing in dog sports with our border collie and working toward my DrPH at UNMC.