PROVIDENCE, R.I. Governor Raimondo has picked Maria Montanaro, the one-time CEO of the Thundermist Health Center, to head the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH).

Montanaro is leaving her post as the chief executive officer of Magellan Behavioral Care of Iowa, and will be joining BHDDH starting on February 2, according to the governors office.

During her time with Magellan, she managed more than $330 million in Medicaid services for 450,000 recipients for the state of Iowa.

Montanaro has a track record of successfully leading innovation and transformation, according to the governors office.

Prior to leaving Rhode Island for Iowa in 2012, the statement said, she worked as a senior adviser for integrated health management services at Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Rhode Island. She was also the chief executive officer of Thundermist Health Center from 1997 to 2011.

Montanaros appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. She is stepping into a role previously held by Craig Stenning, who left after being notified by Raimondo he would not be reappointed.

Rebecca Boss will continue to serve as acting director of BHDDH until February 2.

Montanaro is a first cousin of former AFL-CIO leader Frank Montanaro, according to House spokesman Larry Berman. And she's a second cousin of the former state legislator of the same name who currently runs the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Legislative Service, according to Berman.

Montanaro has a masters degree in social work from the University of Illinois and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

On Twitter: @kathyprojo

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Raimondo picks ex-Thundermist chief to head behavioral healthcare, hospitals department