The Voice of Hope with Dr. Ken Huey
Join Dr. Ken Huey on The Voice of Hope, where real stories and expert insights meet to inspire healing and transformation. With decades of experience in behavioral health and trauma therapy, Dr. Huey draws from his personal journey and professional expertise to offer practical advice for families, adoptees, and anyone seeking growth. Discover strategies to navigate trauma, build stronger relationships, and embrace hope in every episode. Tune in for thoughtful conversations that uplift and empower.
The Voice of Hope with Dr. Ken Huey
Gary Garth – Founder & CEO, elev8.io
In this episode of The Voice of Hope, Dr. Ken Huey sits down with Gary Garth, serial entrepreneur and Founder & CEO of elev8.io, to discuss scaling behavioral health and addiction treatment centers. With 25+ years of experience building high-growth companies and author of Zero to 100 Million Sales Blueprint, Gary shares practical strategies to help treatment operators increase admissions, improve patient outcomes, and create sustainable revenue growth.
From creating an admissions playbook to leveraging data and technology, Gary dives deep into the systems, structures, and mindset shifts that make behavioral health centers thrive. He also shares personal insights on why purpose-driven entrepreneurship in this space matters, lessons from multiple business exits, and the common mistakes operators make that can limit impact and profitability.
If you’re a clinician, executive, or stakeholder in behavioral health, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you scale smarter and reach more people in need.
00:00:00 – 00:00:28
Ken Huey: Welcome to the Voice of Hope, where bold leaders and healers share how they're building hope. Not just talking about it. I'm Dr. Ken Huey. Let's meet the change makers transforming lives from the therapy room to the boardroom. Today's guest is Gary Garth, a serial entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of elev8.io.
00:00:28 – 00:00:50
Ken Huey: He helps behavioral health and addiction treatment centers scale with stronger marketing, smarter admissions processes, and more predictable revenue. With 25+ years of experience building high-growth companies, and as the author of the best-selling Zero to 100 Million Sales Blueprint, Gary brings a practical, mission-driven approach to helping treatment providers reach more people and expand their impact.
00:00:50 – 00:00:55
Ken Huey: Gary, really glad to have you. Thank you.
Gary Garth: Thank you so much for having me.
00:00:55 – 00:01:08
Ken Huey: You scaled companies across call centers, media networks, digital agencies. What drew you specifically to behavioral health at this stage in your career?
Gary Garth: It was a personal pivot. Running my previous companies, I realized I wanted to make a meaningful difference. Two of my best friends struggled with addictions and mental health, and I saw a real opportunity to help people in need. That insight led to founding elev8.io in late 2020.
00:02:46 – 00:02:53
Ken Huey: A little more deeply—what’s your why?
00:02:53 – 00:03:45
Gary Garth: My purpose is to connect treatment facilities with the tens of millions of people suffering from behavioral health challenges. I see the impact we make every day and think about how it could have helped my friends or their families avoid unnecessary suffering. That gives me the edge to keep pushing for scalable impact.
00:03:45 – 00:03:54
Ken Huey: Gary, you talk about having a Northstar of creating scalable impact. What does that look like in behavioral health care?
00:03:55 – 00:04:55
Gary Garth: Focus is key. Identify your target audience, double down on marketing and narrative for that audience, and maintain high client and patient satisfaction. Avoid distractions and shiny objects; scalability comes from a structured, consistent approach.
00:04:55 – 00:06:00
Ken Huey: Your value proposition is unlocking 2–10x revenue opportunities. What’s the biggest growth lever most centers overlook?
Gary Garth: First, get the right reporting and performance attribution. Understand what drives traffic, leads, and conversions. Most centers fail to connect their CRM, lead tracking, and call systems. Without that, you can’t optimize acquisition or reduce wasted ad spend.
00:06:00 – 00:08:02
Ken Huey: Admissions teams often struggle. What changes can transform admissions performance almost overnight?
Gary Garth: Build an admissions playbook with clear guidelines, rebuttals, process instructions, and CRM navigation. Many facilities rely on passionate alumni, but without structured training and automation, patient follow-up suffers. A strong playbook ensures consistent outcomes.
00:08:02 – 00:09:56
Ken Huey: Should facilities hire someone in-house or go outside for full admissions and marketing support?
Gary Garth: There’s no silver bullet. Operators should oversee the business side while leveraging agencies or consultants for CRM setup, call handling, and marketing systems. It takes a blend of internal oversight and external expertise to create a fully functioning patient acquisition engine.
00:09:56 – 00:12:14
Ken Huey: You’ve built and exited multiple companies. What’s a key lesson learned?
Gary Garth: Always start with the end in mind. Know your goals—expansion, exit, or lifestyle business—and design your strategy around sustainability, patient outcomes, and valuation. Consider strategic buyers, market conditions, and how your business can scale efficiently.
00:12:14 – 00:12:49
Ken Huey: In your book, Zero to 100 Million Sales Blueprint, what principle do you return to most often?
Gary Garth: “In God we trust; everybody else brings data.” Use data to guide decisions. This principle applies to marketing, sales, and operations—it’s critical for measurable, predictable growth.
00:12:49 – 00:13:07
Ken Huey: Thanks for joining us on The Voice of Hope. If you were inspired, share the light. Remember, hope’s not just a feeling—it’s a force.
