With nearly 20 years of legal experience, and more than a decade of political and non-profit public service, Whitney Westerfield has a new chapter ahead.
LifeSkills, Inc., President & CEO Joe Dan Beavers announced Friday that the former state senator will become the organization’s next director of legal & government affairs.
Beavers noted that during his 12 years as chairman of the Kentucky Senate Judiciary Committee, Westerfield earned statewide and national distinction as a “transformative leader” for the Commonwealth — specifically as someone focused on data-driven criminal justice reform, behavioral health policy and community services.
Beavers also noted that Westerfield’s appointment represents a “significant strategic addition” to their leadership team, and that his “exceptional understanding” of Kentucky’s legislative and regulatory landscape, combined with his proven ability to build consensus on complex issues, will be “invaluable” as they continue to grow services and impacts across western Kentucky.
Among his responsibilities, Westerfield will be a key member of the LifeSkills leadership team, while overseeing legal affairs and government relations initiatives. He will manage relationships with Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, provide guidance on internal legal matters, and ensure organizational compliance across company operations.
In a written statement, Westerfield called his time in the legislature “an honor of a lifetime, and that he’s looking forward to working as part of the exceptional LifeSkills team, in order to expand access to
care, strengthen partnerships, and ensure that every Kentuckian in the service area has the resources they need to thrive.
Prior to his legislative service, Westerfield maintained a successful private law practice serving clients across western Kentucky, and worked as an assistant Commonwealth’s attorney. He holds a Juris Doctor from Southern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Kentucky.
He has been a member of both the Kentucky and Tennessee Bar Associations since 2006 and 2012, respectively, and as a dedicated family man, Westerfield resides in Christian County with his wife Amanda and their five children: Hadley (10), Hayes (7), and newborn triplets Rhodes, Oliver, and
Riley.
LifeSkills, Inc., is considered a leading Community Mental Health Center serving 18 counties in Kentucky, and after merging with the Pennyroyal Center in 2020 now generates more than $110 million annually.