2011 Award Recipients
Dr. Donald "Jerry" Feulner Award
Leader of the Year
Mary Ruiz, MBA
President/CEO, Manatee Glens
Mary Ruiz is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Manatee Glens,
a specialty hospital and outpatient practice providing mental health and addiction services staff. Earlier in her career, Ms. Ruiz worked for both Sarasota and Manatee Counties in health and human services prior to joining Manatee Glens. She is a founding board of directors' member of Central Florida Behavioral Health Network and Florida Health Partners, a
shared ownership arrangement on medical services with Value Options and non-profit network providers.
Mary Ruiz has provided leadership to FADAA over the past 16 years; presently she serves on the Executive Committee as Vice President. She has been instrumental in promoting greater collaboration and synergy between FADAA and the Florida Council for Community Mental Health resulting in successful joint initiatives between the Associations including the FADAA/FCCMH Annual Conference.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Lucia Maxwell
Lucia Maxwell has dedicated her career to building community based healthcare systems that treat Florida's vulnerable citizens. For the past 14 years, she has served as FADAA's consultant tracking Florida's health reform and managed care initiatives. She has led the Association's efforts on integration with primary care, Medicaid, and linking with insurance plans and managed care companies. Ms. Maxwell was instrumental in developing the Medicaid County Match Certification program.
Ms. Maxwell is being honored for her lifetime of service to those in need of behavioral health services. Her work over the years has resulted in more individuals being served with higher quality services. She is known to substance abuse providers as a hard-working, extremely dedicated professional who was always there to field questions, offer guidance, provide a plan, or help link providers with other health care systems and networks.
Volunteer of the Year Award
Representative Darryl Rouson
In April 2008, Darryl Rouson's years of activism, bold leadership and community service culminated in his being elected to represent District 55 which covers portions of Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota and Hillsborough Counties. During the 2010/2011 Legislative Session, Representative Rouson was an exemplary champion in fighting to prevent cuts to substance abuse services.
Daily, Representative Rouson lives out the 12th Step carrying the message of recovery and practicing the principles of recovery. His honesty in relaying his personal struggle with substance abuse has encouraged many in treatment to cherish the reality of living a drug free life. He is always ready and willing to spread the message of recovery – whether to a group of pregnant women at the Susan B. Anthony Center, to graduates of a drug program at Lowell Correctional Institiute, at DACCO's residential treatment facility, or attendees at the recovery celebration in St. Petersburg. Over the past year, he has traveled the state as a witness to the miracle of recovery; he also took the bold step of sharing his recovery journal with key legislators. For his unceasing promotion of recovery in venues across the state – Representative Rouson is the FADAA 2011 Volunteer of the Year.
Professional of the Year Award
Connie D'Antonio, MA, CPP, ICPP, CFLE, LMHC
Program Supervisor, CASASTART
Drug Abuse Treatment Association (DATA)
Jupiter
Connie D'Antonio serves as the program supervisor for the CASASTART Program in St. Lucie and Palm Beach Counties. Ms. D'Antonio has provided excellent guidance and leadership to her staff as they have built and solidified a strong prevention partnership with the schools, youths, families, and the community. Her experience, knowledge, and leadership in the field of substance abuse prevention is felt by all and has resulted in youth and families who are now surrounded by support and the protective factors they were lacking. She is a strong, active participant in the local substance abuse coalitions, and her passion, sense of humor, and get-it-done work ethic is well respected and very appreciated by her peers. Ms. D'Antonio makes a difference!
Lynn Evans Guelzow, BS, CPP
Director of Prevention and Professional Development
Hanley Center
West Palm Beach
Lynn Evans Guelzow is a certified prevention professional who has developed and implemented prevention education for children, adolescents, parents, and older adults since 1980. Ms. Guelzow's passion for prevention began with her own children and continued to blossom into the programs she currently oversees at Hanley Center. She co-authored Bounce: Be a Resilient Child, for ages 6 to 12, and Aging to Perfection, an older adult prevention and education program designed for community implementation. She has written over $9 million of successful grants which have introduced and sustained implementation of evidence-based prevention programs throughout Florida. Ms. Guelzow is in demand as a speaker and educator and authority on prevention methodology.
Gloria Hanania, MEd, LMHC, CAP, CPP
Associate Vice President of Adult Treatment
River Region Human Services, Inc.
Jacksonville
Gloria Hanania is an LMHC and CAP and has worked in the field of addictions and mental health services since 1987 when she began her career as a counselor. She is currently the Associate Vice President at River Region Human Services, Inc. As a dedicated and professional clinician, Ms. Hanania is devoted to providing the best services to those in need. Her expertise includes her work with Medication Assisted Treatment and Co-Occurring Services. Ms. Hanania has presented at national and state conferences and believes in utilizing evidence-based practices to help improve services. She has been a champion of the NIATx "rapid change" and process improvement methods within her agency. Ms. Hanania currently serves as the chairperson for the Florida Association for Treatment of Opioid Dependence.
Joanna Johnson, MSW, CAC
Co-Owner
Avalon Treatment Centers
Tallahassee
Joanna Johnson is currently the co-owner of Avalon Treatment Centers in Tallahassee. Ms. Johnson originally owned The Recovery Center in Crawfordville before it merged with Avalon. She has been in the field of addiction for 25 years and a recovering addict for 32 years. She has been the director of treatment centers, prison modality, tribal child welfare, tribal mental health, and is currently an expert in many judicial circuits. Ms. Johnson was published for the first time in Canada in 1986 by the University of Calgary Press. Her first workbook published in 2010, Stepping on the Stones, a New Experience in Recovery, is based on a traditional recovery program.
Gretchen Rovira, MHS
Seeking Safety Facilitator, WRAP Facilitator
Primary Therapist
Miami Behavioral Health Center
Miami
Gretchen Rovira works as a primary therapist at Casa Nueva Vida - Miami Behavioral Health Center, a residential treatment program for substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. Ms. Rovira does not conform herself with standards and routine; she knows there is a lot of room for improvement in the treatment and delivery of services for addiction and co-occurring disorders. She never backs down from a challenge and is always motivated to lend a helping hand and advocate for her clients. Ms. Rovira's current work and professional goals are dedicated to and aimed toward the development of this field including ideas for the utilization of technology to enhance psychoeducational sessions and the delivery of services.
Catherine Wilson, MS, LMHC
Specialized Training in Trauma Assessment
Assistant Director, Children's Outpatient Services
Manatee Glens
Bradenton
Cathy Wilson is Assistant Director of Manatee Glens children's outpatient
services and rape crisis. Ms. Wilson joined Manatee Glens in 2006, as the clinical supervisor of rape crisis services and in 2007 was promoted to the manager of rape crisis and prevention services. In 2010, she took the position as the assistant director. She has worked with children and adolescents for 17 years. Ms. Wilson has specialized training in trauma assessment and treatment as well as crisis intervention. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from the University of Florida and a master's degree in mental health counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She is a licensed mental health counselor.
2011 Award Nominees
The Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association would like to give
special recognition to the following 2011 Awards of Excellence nominees:
John Barnes
Katie Brown-Bonafilia
Howard Coleman, Jr.
Lori Costantino-Brown
Richard Davila
Jolene de la Gardelle
Todd Dixon
Christina Gaudiana
Thomas Griffin
Babette Hankey
Doug Leonardo
Don Maines
Lisa McElhaney
Rachel Moff
Christine Neuenfeldt
Janina Salisbury
Gregory Smith
Larry Thompson
Mary Lynn Ulrey
Call for Awards Nominations
The Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association designed the annual Awards of Excellence to reward people for their dedication and professionalism in the field of substance abuse, treatment and prevention. Each year FADAA requests nominations of peers deserving of special recognition. Anyone in the industry can nominate a candidate for the awards, and individuals are welcome to nominate themselves.
Three categories of awards recognize the various roles critical to effective delivery of substance abuse services. The categories are leadership, professional and volunteer.
Dr. Donald "Jerry" Feulner Award
Leader of the Year
The Bill Snyder Memorial Award exemplifies the best in alcohol and other drug abuse prevention and treatment agency management. This administrator also contributes to voluntary organizations, serves FADAA and participates in civic and community affairs.
Criteria:
- Employed as chief executive or second in command at a FADAA member agency at the time of nomination
- Employed full-time in present position for at least two years
- Demonstrated innovative and creative approaches to substance abuse programming to best meet the needs of the local community
- Demonstrated an active role in benefiting the community where residing
- Demonstrated the cost-effective use of agency resources
- Demonstrated exemplary management skills
- Served FADAA as a board member or a committee member
Professional of the Year
The Professional of the Year Award identifies individuals whose special efforts merit recognition by their peers. Awards are given to one notable professional in each of the six (6) FADAA regions. This individual demonstrates superlative ability in the field of alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention services.
Criteria:
- Employed by a FADAA member agency or has been an individual member for the past twelve (12) months
- Provided direct service to clients
- Specialized in, but not limited to, counseling, nursing/medical, prevention, intake, treatment alternatives to street crime/criminal justice, Employee Assistance Program, community education and outreach
- Demonstrated excellence, achievement, endurance, dedication and creativity in service to clients and community
Volunteer of the Year
The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual who has taken an active role in benefiting alcohol and other drug abuse services, either at the state or local level. This award recognizes the service of volunteers to member agencies or to the association.
Criteria:
- Assumed a leadership role benefiting substance abuse services
- Served in a volunteer capacity for a member agency of the association for at least one year
- Demonstrated a commitment to raise awareness of substance abuse problems
- Participated in activities that have a statewide impact either directly or through raising awareness
- Demonstrated an active role in benefiting the agency and the community
- Committed the time and skills necessary to maintain an effective relationship with the agency
Nominee Acknowledgements
- Announcement in the Insider and inTouch electronic newsletters
- Listing on the FADAA website
- Recognition at the Annual Conference
Award Winner Recognition
- Plaque presentation at the Annual Conference
- Complimentary registration for the Annual Conference
- One-year FADAA individual membership
- Announcement in the Insider and inTouch electronic newsletters
- Listing on the FADAA website
Judging
Nominees are judged on the quality and relevance of their work as depicted in their nomination. Award recipients are selected by a committee appointed by the President of FADAA. Committee members are regarded as experts in the field of alcohol and other drug abuse.
Nominations
To nominate an individual for an award, the following information must be provided: (Note: Every question may be not be required. Refer back to the criteria in each award category in responding to applicable questions.)
- Nominee name, title, agency affiliation, complete agency street address, phone number, email address and county.
- Nominee's area of specialty (i.e. treatment planning, residential substance abuse treatment, women's residential addiction program, prevention, etc.).
- Award nominee is being suggested for (i.e. Leadership, Professional or Volunteer of the Year).
- Name of individual submitting nomination, title, agency affiliation, complete agency address, phone number, and email address.
- Briefly summarize the individual's involvement and commitment to the field of substance abuse.
- What has this individual done to improve his or her agency and/or the community?
- What are the individual's related awards, certifications and accomplishments in the field of substance abuse?
- What is the extent of this individual's service to the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association? Include committees and offices held.
- Two (2) letters of recommendation
- A recent electronic photograph of the individual *
* May be submitted at a later date
