2026 Awards of Excellence Winners
At Peace River Center, we are proud to recognize the outstanding individuals who exemplify our mission through their unwavering dedication, empathy, and commitment to excellence. These team members consistently go above and beyond to support our clients, colleagues, and community. We are honored to celebrate this year’s Annual Award recipients and invite you to join us in expressing sincere gratitude for their remarkable contributions.
Support Staff of the Year (Non-Clinical) Award Winner: Kenneth Smith, Facilities Manager, Bartow
According to the nomination submitted by Jessica Lawson: What sets Ken apart is that he operates in one consistent mode: show up, work hard, and lend a hand wherever it’s needed. He is steady, reliable, and unassuming in his approach, but his impact is felt across the organization. He is widely regarded as easy and pleasant to work with, and departments across the organization know they can depend on him without hesitation. Whether it’s troubleshooting facility issues, handling “crisis” facilities moments, or simply making sure something gets done right the first time, Ken consistently steps in with a “no job too big or too small” mindset. What makes him exceptional is not just what he does, but the fact that he does it every time he is needed—without prompting, without hesitation, and without fail. That level of reliability and willingness to serve others is what truly sets him apart in his role.
Clinician of the Year (Adult) Award Winner: Kathryn DiMeglio, Recovery Services Specialist
According to the nomination submitted by Rick Goeking: As part of the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services team, Katie is invaluable. Always willing to adapt to the needs of the team, whether filling in for absences, assisting in resolving problems, or supporting last minute changes, Katie’s commitment to team success is undeniable. Individually, Katie is focused on continuously learning and developing best practices in her clinical interactions with clients. She promotes and encourages their sense of independence and responsibility in their recovery and always emphasizes their use of their strengths and learned skills to cope with their situation. Going beyond the walls of Gateway, Katie does not hesitate to communicate with other Peace River Center departments and other service providers, contributing to the continuity of services that aid in clients’ community integration while contributing to Peace River Center’s image as a community-conscious and person-centered organization.
Clinician of the Year (Youth) Award Winner: Nicolai Weiss, Children’s Outpatient Therapist
According to the nomination submitted by Ashley Chapman: Nicolai has been an incredible support in helping train new therapists on our team. He consistently takes the time to debrief after sessions, ensuring newer staff members not only understand what occurred during the session, but also recognize the subtle clinical details that can easily be overlooked. He is thoughtful and intentional in helping them understand the therapeutic modalities and interventions being utilized, which strengthens both their clinical confidence and overall effectiveness. His patience, willingness to teach, and investment in developing others greatly contributes to the growth and qualify of our team.
Victim Advocate of the Year Award Winner: Harielle Saintil, Outreach Advocate, Rape Recovery Program
According to the nomination submitted by Brianne Vallenari: Harielle improves client experiences by being a positive, welcoming and kind first point of contact for survivors. Studies have shown conclusively that a first contact who believes a survivor and treats them with understanding is the number one factor for whether or not that client will seek more assistance – her approach quite literally informs the future of our clients, and there is no better example to follow on this than hers.
Medical Professional of the Year Award Winner: Patricia Clark, CAT Team/OnTrack APRN – Psychiatric
According to the nomination submitted by Tiffani Fritzsche: While Patti is a true force and can handle the most challenging clients with ease, she is also incredibly nurturing and supportive to staff and interns. She has created a plant oasis in her office and has become an anchor on the team. She has approached client sessions in an unconventional way, sometimes separating her client appointments and seeing her clients and their parents separately in order to give the clients and caregivers a chance to provide updates separately when discrepancies and communication barriers are observed. This creates a more therapeutic opportunity for connection and valuable information gathering.
Patti was submitted to the Florida Behavioral Health Association, in which she was selected and honored as 2026 Medical Professional of the Year at the annual Florida Behavioral Health Conference.
Supervisor/Administrator of the Year Award Winner: Nicole Peters, Director of Quality Improvement & Assurance
According to the nomination submitted by Candace Barnes: Nicole is deeply committed to quality in every aspect of her work. Nicole plays close attention to detail and understands that excellence is built through consistency and accuracy. This commitment not only improves outcomes but also sets a high standard for everyone else. Nicole’s approach to quality improvement has consistently garnered special mention during Joint Commission and Managing Entity audits. Patient safety is always at the forefront of Nicole’s priorities. Nicole actively champions patient safety initiatives and continually looks for ways to improve processes, reduce risks, and enhance the quality of care provided by the organization. Nicole’s leadership in this area reflects a genuine commitment to the well-being of those we serve.