“The future cannot be predicted, but futures can be invented.” — Dennis Gabor
Jennifer Riha, BASc, MAC, Certified Futurist, currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Merakey USA. In this role, Jennifer leads Enterprise Strategic Planning, Government Relations, Public Affairs & Public Policy Advocacy, Marketing & Communications, Strategic Philanthropic Coordination, and future-focused initiatives across the organization's national footprint. She works closely with leadership teams across the organization to advance Merakey's mission, identify emerging opportunities, and position the organization as a thought leader to meet the evolving needs of individuals, families, communities, and payers in an increasingly complex healthcare and human services environment.
A nationally recognized strategist, futurist, and thought leader in health and human services, Jennifer brings more than two decades of executive leadership experience spanning intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health, autism services, integrated healthcare, organizational transformation, and innovation. Throughout her career, Jennifer has led large-scale growth initiatives, mergers and acquisitions, policy advocacy efforts, technology modernization projects, and the development of innovative service delivery models designed to improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.
Jennifer previously served as Chief Strategy Officer for Boundless, where she oversaw organizational strategy, mergers and acquisitions, government affairs, business development, innovation, research, marketing, and communications. During her tenure, she helped position Boundless as a nationally recognized leader in integrated care, technology-enabled services, strategic growth, and sector innovation.
As a Certified Futurist through the University of Houston's renowned foresight program, Jennifer is known for helping organizations anticipate emerging trends, navigate disruption, and build sustainable models for the future. Her work focuses on the intersection of healthcare, human services, technology, public policy, workforce transformation, and evolving models of care. She is a frequent national conference speaker, contributor to industry publications, and advisor on issues related to alternative payment models, integrated care, analytics, innovation, mergers and acquisitions, and the future of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs.
Jennifer served in numerous national and state leadership roles, including ANCOR's Government Relations Committee, Global Council, Alternative Payment Models Workgroup, and Grassroots Advocacy Committee. She has also contributed to multiple state and national policy initiatives focused on system redesign, care coordination, crisis services, and improving outcomes across health and human services systems.