Dr. Brett Ellis serves as Vice President of Community Engagement and Leadership Development for KVC Missouri and Camber Mental Health. Based at KVC Missouri’s Children’s Mental Wellness Campus in Webster Groves, he supports both organizations as a member of the executive leadership team. In this role, Brett advances community relationships, strengthens organizational leadership capacity and supports strategic growth initiatives aligned with KVC and Camber’s mission and goals.

Brett leads efforts to enhance organizational visibility and engagement, cultivate mission-driven partnerships, and develop internal leadership initiatives that foster a culture of excellence, belonging and innovation. His work focuses on aligning people, purpose and performance while strengthening leadership at every level of the organization.

With 29 years of service in the fire service, including most recently as Fire Chief for the City of Webster Groves, Brett brings deep experience from high-stress, high-impact environments. Throughout his career, he has been a passionate advocate for mental health, resilience and wellbeing, with a particular focus on behavioral health supports and leadership development within demanding professions.

Brett holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western Illinois University, a master’s degree in leadership and adolescent development from Huntington University, and a doctorate in education with a focus on transformational leadership from Concordia University. His doctoral research, published globally through ProQuest, examines firefighter behavioral health and suicide in relation to traumatic events.

In addition to his leadership role, Brett teaches at the National Fire Academy and Columbia Southern University and is a contributing author for Firehouse Magazine’s leadership segment. He serves as Board Chair for ASPEN Network Inc. and is a nationally sought-after presenter and keynote speaker, challenging leaders to lead with authenticity, courage and purpose.

Brett’s strategic, human-centered approach to leadership development and community engagement supports KVC Missouri and Camber Mental Health as they continue to expand innovative mental health services and deepen meaningful partnerships across the communities they serve.