FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 20, 2005

Media Contact:
Rhonda Carpenter
Corporate Communications Specialist
727-461-1236, ext. 336
rhondac@eckerd.org

The leaders-in-training completed a yearlong course that the organization sponsored during four two-day sessions. Subjects included financial and business acumen, human resource issues, and marketing, advertising and fund development basics, as well as visits to EYA programs, representing four models.

President and CEO Karen V. Waddell honored the participants June 9, during the organization’s Board Development Conference June 8-10.

“These directors and managers are caring, talented people who give their time and heart to help ensure children and young people have a second chance in life,” Waddell said. “I truly value and appreciate these extraordinary human beings for the work they do every day for kids.”   

The members of the inaugural Leadership EYA class included:

• Brian Gray, director, E-Ku-Sumee, Candor, N.C.;
• Bruce Predmore, director, E-Ma Chamee, Milton, Fla.;
• Carolyn Chance, director, Hi-Five Pinellas, Clearwater, Fla.;
• Dave Lemmerman, regional operations director, N. Fla./Ga.;
• Drew Friesen, director, E-Ma-Laku, Suches, Ga.;
• Francene Hazel, admissions director, Clearwater, Fla.;
• Henry Gunn, regional director, agency relations, Newport, N.C.;
• Jim Morris, director, clinical services, Clearwater, Fla.;
• John Oliver, area director, Transition to Independence, Clearwater, Fla.;
• Karla Kiburz, director, E-Toh-Kalu, Hendersonville, N.C.;
• Keith Cartwright, director, E-Ma-Henwu, Newport, N.C.;
• Kiera DesChamps, director, Eckerd Treatment Program for Girls, Vernon, Fla.;
• Larry Baxter, area director, Hi-Five, Cocoa, Fla.;
• Mark Jordan, area director, ReEntry, Ocala, Fla.;
• Mike Strauch, regional operations director, New England, St. Johnsbury, Vt.;
• Nancy Brielmaier, accounting manager, Clearwater, Fla.;
• Nancy Gervin, senior manager, Palm Beach ReEntry, North Palm Beach, Fla.;
• Randy Phillips, director, E-Kel-Etu, Silver Springs, Fla.;
• Richard Wentworth, director, E-Sun-Alee, Deerlodge, Tenn.;
• Rick Boschwitz, director, E-Hun-Tee, Exeter, R.I.;
• Rick Hargraves, human resources manager, Eckerd Youth Development Center, Okeechobee, Fla.;
• Rusty Barnes, regional director, western N.C. & Tenn.; and
• Teresa Barron-Gornto, senior manager, St. Lucie ReEntry, Ft. Pierce, Fla.

About Eckerd Youth Alternatives
Eckerd Youth Alternatives is a private non-profit organization that serves more than 9,900 at-risk and troubled youth each year. Since 1968, more than 63,000 young people have been helped through a range of residential and community-based Eckerd youth programs: outdoor therapeutic treatment programs, juvenile justice programs, follow-up ReEntry programs and Hi-Five early intervention and prevention services. Headquartered in Clearwater, Fla., Eckerd Youth Alternatives provides youth programs in eight states: Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio, Vermont, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. For more information, call 727-461-2990 or visit our Web site at www.eckerd.org.