Janet Gerhard

Janet Gerhard serves as Director of Public and Community Relations for FHE Health. As our community liaison, she is a regular resource for employers in the region, educating them on their legal rights and responsibilities in relation to drugs and alcohol, addiction and mental illness in the workplace. Further afield, Ms. Gerhard is also a liaison for FHE Health: she speaks nationally on issues related to bullying and hostile work environments, stress and anxiety in the workplace, and how to handle addiction and/or behavioral health crises in the workforce.

With a background in Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services, Janet assists union members with dependencies in accessing the care they need to remain “fit for duty.” She has also served as a guest speaker for the national conferences of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, International Legislative Conference, and Communication Workers of America, among other groups.

Skilled at managing diverse cultural, ethnic, religious, and professional coalitions and fundraising activities, Janet spent part of her career coordinating advancement efforts in the interest of Christian education— and to this day she often speaks with regional faith-based communities about how to address the opioid crisis.

Prior to joining FHE Health, Ms. Gerhard dedicated her efforts to job creation and job protection in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where she reported directly to the Governor of Pennsylvania on all issues related to economic development. There Janet was instrumental in negotiating multimillion dollar packages to attract and retain new businesses. Her efforts drew praise from elected officials on both sides of the aisle.

As Director of Government Affairs for The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Gerhard lobbied in the interest of Chambers 6000 business members formulating public policy at the city, state and federal level. During her tenure at the Chamber, Ms. Gerhard was published in Business Philadelphia, a monthly business magazine in the region.

With a strong record of success in both business and public service, and as a tireless advocate for behavioral health and for working Americans, Janet is a seasoned spokesperson for FHE Health— both on the local and national stage.