Sara Howe is CEO of Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC). Before joining APNC, she held leadership roles at Third Horizon, the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA), and the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health (IABH).

As CEO of IABH for nearly 20 years, Sara transformed the organization into a leading force in behavioral health advocacy and provider support. She expanded IABH’s mission and membership, strengthened its influence across Illinois, and positioned the association as a key voice in behavioral health policy, driving system-wide improvements in substance use and mental health services. As Executive Vice President of IPHCA, she expanded the association’s annual conference, introduced new revenue streams, and implemented innovative strategies to support and engage members throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most recently, as Senior Director at Third Horizon, a national advisory firm specializing in integrated health and social systems, Sara led key initiatives to advance behavioral health services. She conducted a statewide evaluation of Indiana’s Mobile Integrated Response System (MIRS) for SUD services, authored a report on national population health trends, and facilitated strategic planning for multiple behavioral health organizations. She also provided expert guidance and authored a successful statewide application that helped a mental health provider secure a new service license.

Sara’s passion for health promotion began in youth addiction prevention programs and has only deepened over time. As a breast cancer survivor, she remains committed to improving healthcare access and outcomes.

Sara holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in health promotion from Purdue University, along with an MBA from Purdue’s Daniels School of Business. She previously served on the board of directors for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, where she also chaired the public policy committee.