Our staff consists of highly committed and experienced professionals who are compassionate, highly knowledgeable, and extremely dedicated to helping individuals and families who are caught in the grip of alcohol and drug addiction.
Most of our staff members are in recovery themselves, and are able to truly relate with our clients.
We have the people, the facility, and the programs to help make a profound change in the lives of addicts, alcoholics and those struggling with dual diagnosis or co-occurring issues.
Vice President of the Vince Carter Sanctaury
Toni Marie Barrett, MA, CAP
Toni Barrett completed her Masters Degree at Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts and Bachelors Degree at Keene State College of the University of New Hampshire. She is a Certified Addictions Professional (CAP) and has over 30 years of experience in working in the addictions and mental health fields.
Ms. Barrett provides oversight of all administrative and clinical operations of the Vince Carter Sanctuary. This includes integration of co-occurring disorders treatment as well as integration of research based practices as identified with our research partners, the University of Florida, McKnight Brain Institute.
Ms. Barrett has traveled extensively throughout the United States providing consultation for addiction program development, clinical programming, and quality management. She has served on a number of local and statewide planning committees related to addiction and mental health initiatives to improve the service delivery system in the State of Florida.
Medical Director
Jeremy Mirabile MD, ABAM, FAAFP
Dr. Jeremy Mirabile attended the University of Florida for his undergraduate education and graduated from their Family Medicine Residency Program in 2005. From 2005 through 2009, Dr. Mirabile worked full-time at the Halifax Dunn Health Center in Daytona Beach serving the low income, underinsured patient population of Volusia County and part-time in the Halifax Health Emergency Department. The primary health problems of the patients at the Halifax Dunn Health Clinic were substance abuse and mental health issues. These psychiatric and substance issues were combined with comorbid medical conditions in the setting of destitution. This challenging environment proved to be fertile ground for education which included teaching future physicians about addiction medicine, mental health care, and primary health care. Dr. Mirabile was clinical faculty for the Florida State University College of Medicine as a clerkship instructor for third year medical students, and was courtesy faculty for Halifax Family Medicine Residency Program in Community Medicine, and was AHEC Faculty for the University of Florida College of Medicine for first year medical students. He also served as a clinical preceptor for second year Physician Assistant students on Family Medicine rotation from University of Florida. Dr. Mirabile is a Diplomate of both the American Board of Addiction Medicine and the American Board of Family Medicine. He has been recognized as a Fellow by the American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP) and has been certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Dr. Mirabile is currently the Medical Director for the Vince Carter Sanctuary and the Deputy Medical Director of Addiction Services for Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Health Care.
Director of Nursing
Lisa Huser, RN
Lisa graduated from Jacksonville Community College with an Associates degree in Nursing. She is currently pursuing her BSN with Jacksonville University. Lisa brings 25 years of nursing experience in various settings, with the last 10 years dedicated to the mental health community. Lisa is passionate about the area of addiction medicine and is excited to be a part of the VCS team.
Lisa likes to share a quote of Abraham Lincoln; "determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way" - Lisa believes that with determination, hope, faith and supportive relationships, recovery and restoration is obtainable.
Senior Family Therapist
Lynn Blackmon, LMFT
Lynn Blackmon, a Florida Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), has more than 20 years experience working with families in community, school, and agency settings. She has a MS degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Stetson University and a BS in Family Studies from Georgia Southern University. She is also a member of AAMFT, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
Senior Clinician
Michael Malia, CAP/ICADC
Mike Malia is the primary counselor for the OP detox and pain management Right Turn program at the Vince Carter Sanctuary. He is a board certified addictions professional (CAP), and an internationally certified alcohol and drug counselor (ICADC). He has worked in the addiction field since 1988. He was the Senior Counselor for the adult Intensive Residential Treatment program for 10 years with Stewart-Marchman Center - now SMA Behavioral Healthcare. He was part of the original design team for our OP detox and pain management programs since 2001, " loving every minute of it." One of Mike's favorite quotes is from Goethe:
"And so long as you haven't experienced this: to die and so to grow, you are only a troubled guest on the dark earth."
Clinical Therapist
Anna Temple, MA, RMHCI#7189
Anna Temple, a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHCI), has more than 6 years experience working with substance abuse and mental health population in community, and agency settings. She has a Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling from Stetson University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Central Florida. She is certified in Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) and PREPARE/ENRICH Couples Testing and Counseling. She is also a member of American Counseling Association (ACA), and a member of International Association of Addiction and Offender Counselors (IAAOC)
Clinical Therapist
Sarah Logie, MS, RMHCI #7219
Sarah Logie, a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHCI), has more than 3 1/2 years experience working with a variety of substance abuse populations. She interned with and was subsequently employed for Stewart-Marchman-Act for almost 4 years in various programs. Sarah graduated with an undergrad in Social Science at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She earned her Masters in Science at Stetson University.
Activities Therapist
Penny Pennell
Ms. Pennell holds certification through the Equine Assisted Growth And Learning Association in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and the American Association of Christian Counselors as a paraprofessional counselor. She and her dog "Sammy" are also certified through the Delta Society as an Animal-Assisted Activities team. With over 25 years experience in the field of youth care and education, including specialized treatment of eating disorders, she's developed a love for facilitating therapeutic learning activities which are not only fun but life-changing as well.
Penny comments: ...."Using nature as our most powerful ally, we like to conduct sessions outdoors whenever possible, where reflective learning activities promote self-discovery and inner healing. Barriers to behavioral change are broken down in the context of a fun activity, which opens the door for deeper change on many levels. I love seeing our clients learn how to enhance communication, confidence, and self-esteem; enjoy newfound courage to confront & overcome fear, take risks, accept responsibility and increase peace."
Executive Chef
Brett L. Harris, CEC, CWPC, ACE
Chef Harris' extensive culinary background spans over 30 years. He was born in St Louis Missouri and began his love affair with cooking at the young age of 13. Growing up, food was an important part of his household and he was inspired by his mother's passion for cooking. Now with over 30 years experience he opened his lifelong dream, the World Grill. Prior to, Chef Harris's culinary skills have been put to the test at such fine establishments as the Marriot Hotel, the Renaissance Hotel, the Hyatt, the Hilton and the 5 Star-5 Diamond Ritz Carlton in Atlanta Georgia. Chef Harris also has an extensive country club background, including Forest Hills Country Club in St Louis and four years as banquet chef at the Epping Forest Yacht Club. In addition, he has instructed at the School of Culinary Arts in St. Augustine and First Coast Technical Institute. Chef Harris is also a big supporter of our nations Military having been a culinary instructor at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport, the Pentagon and the White House. He has been invited back the the White House this summer to be spotlighted as Guest Chef.
Chef Harris continued his education by attending seminars in Basic and Advanced Ice Carving, Hot and Cold Buffet, American Bistro and Professional Chef. He is also certified through the American Culinary Federation as Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisine, Executive Chef and Approved Certification Evaluator.
Recently Chef Harris was chosen to be a Judge along side Food Networks Iron Chef Cat Cora in the U.S. Navy's First Official Iron Chef Competition. Chef Harris also had the pleasure of hosting Iron Chef Cat Cora at the World Grill. Chef Harris also spotlights his cooking style on TV during a weekly morning show segment.
Every dish has grown out of Chef's belief that cooking is an art, come experience first hand Chef Harris's passion.
Coordinator of Intake, Intervention & Aftercare
Michael Morton
Michael Morton received an Associate Degree from Staten Island Community College and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Adelphi University. Additionally Mike studied various curricular in the field of substance abuse at Queensboro Community College, Queens College, and Molloy College all in New York.
Mike is a former Law Enforcement Officer for the New York City Department of Correction. As a Correction Officer he was selected to assist staff and appointed as Personal Assistance Officer of the maximum security unit on Riker's Island. He was eventually selected to work in the department's Employee Assistance Program, assisting staff and their dependents citywide. While working in the EAP, Mike was directly responsible for evaluating treatment resources to determine if they were appropriate for the target population. He would interview, access, motivate and refer staff or other designated personnel to inpatient and outpatient providers. Aftercare provisions were arranged by Mike upon completion of residential treatment. Retiring from the agency in 2002, Mike worked in an outpatient substance abuse treatment program as a counselor for impaired Law Enforcement Professionals and First Responders. His experience assisting individuals with substance abuse and other problems spans twenty three plus years.
Mike joined the Vince Carter Sanctuary team in spring of 2009. He facilitates intakes, arranges interventions, and establish aftercare treatment contacts and follow-up.
Marketing Director
Michael Knapp
Michael Knapp has tremendous experience as an entrepreneur in the real estate, telecommunications, and advertising industries. He studied Political Science and History at Western Michigan University, Agronomy and Golf Course Architecture at Michigan State University, and most recently, Pastoral Ministries at Trinity College of Florida.
Michael performed many duties within the golf course industry; ranging from golf course construction and being a superintendent for a number of years, to tournament organization and being a golf coach. He caddied professionally for many of the top professional golfers in the world, as well as many famous celebrities, industry executives, and government leaders. Michael worked his way through the corporate ladder of one of the world's largest satellite television providers, where he eventually served as a Regional Marketing Director.
Until being recruited to lead in the marketing efforts for the Vince Carter Sanctuary in the fall of 2008, he spearheaded the Business Development and Public Relations Departments of an international healthcare education and certification board.