2026 Business Leaders of the Year: C.J. Davis

C.J. Davis is CEO of a behavioral health organization that seems to grow by the day.

Springfield-based Brightli Inc. in November 2025 completed its merger with Nashville, Tennessee-based Centerstone, with the latter organization selected as the surviving name of the combined entity. Davis was formerly CEO of Brightli, the operator of Burrell Behavioral Health and others.

This year, Davis became CEO, succeeding former Centerstone CEO David Guth Jr.

Over 30-plus years in behavioral health, Davis has served as a “psychologist, business leader and innovator,” he says.

“The achievement I am most proud of is helping build and lead the largest nonprofit behavioral health organization in the United States while never losing sight of our mission to improve the lives of the individuals and communities we serve,” Davis says. “During my tenure, our organization expanded from a regional provider into a multistate enterprise serving hundreds of thousands of people annually across numerous states.

“We became the first nonprofit behavioral health organization in our sector to surpass $1 billion in annual revenue, demonstrating that mission-driven organizations can achieve extraordinary scale, sustainability and impact.”

Davis says he’s most proud of the individuals who make growth and financial performance possible.

“Throughout my career, I have focused on identifying, developing and empowering talented leaders,” Davis says. “Building high-performing teams, creating opportunities for emerging leaders and fostering a culture of accountability, innovation and collaboration have been among my most rewarding accomplishments. Many leaders who have grown within our organization now hold influential positions throughout the behavioral health industry.”

Davis says Centerstone works to meet behavioral healthcare demand through strategic partnerships, value-based initiatives, integrated care models and operational innovation.

“We have demonstrated that organizations can simultaneously expand impact, improve performance and better serve individuals facing mental health and substance-use challenges. These efforts have helped shape the future of behavioral healthcare while we remain committed to serving those who need us most,” Davis says. “I am proud of Brightli and now Centerstone’s ambition to revolutionize mental health care for the better of our clients and our communities.”

Over the past decade, Davis has helped complete 10 affiliations and mergers.

He doesn’t do it alone. Davis says he works with healthcare providers, business leaders, policymakers, education institutions and community organizations to tackle issues that no single institution could handle alone.

“I am also passionate about mentoring future leaders,” Davis says. “Whether through formal leadership development programs, executive mentoring, speaking engagements or professional involvement, I actively invest in helping others develop the skills and confidence needed to lead effectively.”