Interim, Inc. named Dr. Rhiyan Quiton as its new Executive Director, succeeding Barbara Mitchell, who retired after 44 years at Interim.
Dr. Quiton was most recently a Behavioral Health Services Manager II for Monterey County Behavioral Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau, which he joined in 2017.
Mitchell has been with Interim for 44 years, 39 years as Interim’s Executive Director, and will continue to provide consulting to Interim to ensure a smooth transition. Dr. Quiton (also known as “Dr.Q”) assumed the ED position in early February.
Dr. Quiton is a licensed psychologist and has over 20 years’ experience in the behavioral health field. He has worked as a manager in the public behavioral health systems in both Kern and Monterey counties. Dr. Q has led collaborative efforts that helped to improve the criminal justice and behavioral health systems in both counties. He has extensive experience providing direct service, supervision, training, and administrative management in various public, and private settings.
“I will continue to consult to the agency to assist with the transition,” said Mitchell “I think that this will be an exciting new chapter for Interim and hope that all of our employees will support Rhiyan in this new endeavor.”
Under Mitchell’s leadership, Interim, Inc. has become the preeminent housing and services provider for adults living with mental illness in Monterey County. The agency offers a wide array of supportive services and operates the largest housing program in Monterey County serving this population. Interim’s Barbara Mitchell Housing, Healing and Hope Fund is named after its longtime Executive Director, and will help fund essential client needs and quality of life throughout the year.
“I collaborated with a multitude of professional and dedicated Interim, Inc. staff members for the past five-plus years in my former role as Behavioral Health Services Manager II for Monterey County Behavioral Health (MCBH) and my experience with them was always positive and productive,” says Dr. Q . “Compassion, health equity, and providing support to community members so they can flourish and sustain a meaningful and productive life are front and center with Interim, Inc. I deeply share in these core values, and it is an honor and privilege to work alongside the Board of Directors, the leadership team, the wonderful and passionate workforce, and members of the community in the capacity of Executive Director for Interim, Inc.”
Dr. Quiton earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2002 from the University of California, Santa Cruz, his doctorate degree in psychology in 2006 from California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University in Fresno, and became a licensed psychologist in 2010.
He has worked with individuals challenged by mental illness, substance use, and/or physical health problems across the lifespan, many of whom battled with trauma and who have struggled with meeting their basic daily needs. He also has vast experience providing direct service, supervision, training, and administrative management in various public and private settings and extensive experience networking, partnering, and interfacing with a host of agencies, disciplines, and stakeholders.
His experience in a leadership role began in 2006 as a supervisor working with incarcerated youth and as a manager/administrator working with the adult population for about eight years across two county mental health agencies.
Before joining the Monterey County Behavioral Health Department in 2017, Dr. Quiton was a Behavioral Health & Recovery System Administrator with the Kern County Mental Health Department in Bakersfield, from 2014 to 2017.
