President/CEO, Gateway Community Services
Mission
To provide a full continuum of care that delivers effective treatment and habilitation services to aid in the recovery of individuals suffering from alcoholism, substance abuse and related mental health problems.
Serving Jacksonville.
For more than 33 years.
Those served
The Northeast Florida area. We currently serve more than 7,500 clients each year. We provide services to adults and adolescents, pregnant and postpartum women, veterans and people from all walks of life battling with the disease of addiction. Gateway is here for individuals reaching out for help. We remain committed to the mission of supplying support and guidance where we are needed.
Biggest challenge
The biggest challenge of being CEO is the enormity of the responsibility of all funding and processes to employ staff to provide services for clients; not losing touch with line staff who do the bulk of the work ... remembering always to hear their voices
The biggest challenge we currently are facing is the Florida Senate Budget Committee has released a budget proposal that would drastically cut adult substance abuse funding. The total cut to adult substance abuse proposed by the Senate is $31,347,336, an 85 percent cut of adult substance abuse general revenue funding.
More than 37,270 adults would lose access to substance abuse disorder treatment, along with other effects, and more than 2,250 community jobs would be lost.
Biggest satisfaction
Witnessing individuals attain a clean and sober lifestyle in a recovery-based philosophy (AA, NA, support services)
Hometown
Hollywood, Calif.
First experience with community service
I joined Gateway in 1997 as program administrator at TPC Village and have held various positions, including senior vice president of research before being named CEO. I have more than 29 years of experience in the assessment and treatment of chemically dependent and dually diagnosed individuals.
Your job before Gateway Community Services
My first experience in my field was with chronic schizophrenics as a case manager of social skills activities. Then I was hired as a therapist for Colorado West Mental Health Center in Vail, Colo., in 1983 and was there 12 years and became program administrator before moving to Jacksonville
Upcoming events
Birdies for Charity and planned events to raise funding for the renovation of the only publicly funded detox, construction of a child development center and our serenity garden projects. Dates and times to be announced.
Contact information
www.gatewaycommunity.com