About Us
Our mission is to engage, restore, and empower individuals in our community to reach their fullest potential.
The vision of Peace River Center is to be a center of excellence for building emotional wellness.
CORE VALUES
Integrity Can be trusted by other team members to consistently communicate truthfully and honestly and to act in accordance with the best interests of the persons served, the team, and Peace River Center.
Accountability Can be depended upon to accept responsibility for actions and decisions and to follow through. Readily admits mistakes and initiates steps to remedy them.
Team Focus Joins with colleagues to advance the interest of PRC customers, team members, and other stakeholders. Is a responsible and caring partner and can be counted upon to help.
Respect Believes in the intrinsic worth of all people and works to create a culture of inclusion built on trust, empathy and the philosophy of Recovery. Values and treats others with dignity.
Excellence Maintains an optimistic and proactive attitude to ensure that products and services surpass expectations. Tries to do his/her best at all times and continually looks for innovative ways to do it even better.
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individuals each year.With 27 locations, 30 programs and accreditation from The Joint Commission and licensed by ACHA and DCF, Peace River Center is one of the largest behavioral health agencies in Florida.
We offer an array of services with 30 programs, which include:
Our Story
Peace River Center was founded in the late 1940s in response to the community’s concern for the emotional and psychological well-being of children. Over time, Peace River Center gradually expanded their services to include adults. A significant growth period for the Center came after the 1973 passing of the Baker Act, which is Florida’s Mental Health Act, enabling them to establish a community mental health center as an alternative to treatment at the State Hospital. In the late 1970s Peace River Center opened the first of two domestic violence shelters, and in 2013 we added a primary care Wellness Clinic. Our Lakeland Crisis Campus opened in January 2018.
Our Team
Executive Team
Bill Gardam
Chief Executive Officer
BGardam@peacerivercenter.org
Carol Gilmore
Director of Human Resources
CGilmore@peacerivercenter.org
Bennie Allred
Chief Operating Officer
BAllred@peacerivercenter.org
Ileana Kniss
Director of Development & Community Relations
IKniss@peacerivercenter.org
David J. Tournade
Chief Financial Officer
DTournade@peacerivercenter.org
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board assists PRC with fundraising ideas, planning special events and increasing community awareness about the services we offer to Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties. The Advisory Board's main goal is to increase community involvement in the mission and vision of Peace River Center.
Kelly Aiken
Nancy Cattarius
Dave Dalton
Hollis Hooks
Suzette Jones
Molly McHugh
Carol Pickard
Melissa B. Putnam
Sandra G. Sheets
Sheila Smith
Robert H. Tate
Debbie Watkins
Steve Barger
Denise Crenshaw
Katie Daughtrey
Ansley Martin Frese
Maggie Mariucci
Michael J. McLeod, Ed.D.
Donald M. Pickard
Kevin Roberts
David Shepp
Mary Stiles
Renee Tomkow
Sharon Casey
Rooster Curry
Rita Hafferly
Dorothy C. Jenkins
Joy Jackson Martin
Carolyn P. Nance
Abel A. Putnam
Sara Roberts
Ihla Sloman
Bevin Strickland
Kim Vallejo
Board of Directors
Peter Golotko, CPA/PFS, MBA
Chair
Al Dorsett
Past Chair
Michael Micallef
Treasurer
Major Paul Baggett
Secretary
David S. Bergdoll, Esquire
Robert S. Bodolay, RHU
Cheryl R. Dee, Ph.D.
Clarence B. Grier, Sr.
Stanley B. Reed
Sozon Vatikiotis
Deborah Petrovich Weber, CPA
Edward G. Weed
Capital Campaign Committee
Denise Crenshaw
Chair
Kathy Haley
Hollis Hooks
Barbara Lineberger
Deborah Petrovich Weber
Margaret Parry
Campaign Coordinator
Adriana Hall
Sheriff Grady Judd
Seth McKeel
Edgar G. Weed
Bill Gardam
Cheif Executive Officer
Barbara Hoffman
Mary Kay Langford
Ihla Sloman
Junior Advisory Board
Jillian Schiller
Chair
Mark Motsch
Vice Chair
Ariel Vugman
Secretary
Nathan Calzat
Education Subcommittee Chair
Adeline Vilberg
Recruitment Subcommittee Chair
Natalie Volpe
Special Projects Subcommittee Chair
Jack Aranda
Nicole Chambless
Ben Chase
Adrianna Claypool
Isabella Crowell
Cecelia de Zayas
Anna Esterline
Taylor Henley
Trent Henley
Logan Hopper
Elizabeth Lovely
Francheska Martinez
Olivia Maskas
Monica Moskal
Haley Rizzo
Ben Schiller
Erin Simon
Camryn Sunailitus
Dezerae Teets
Anna Terlep
Carina Torre
Demi Uiterwyk
Matthew Werd
Claire Whitney
More Information
PRC will never deny services to anyone based on their inability to pay. PRC will provide discounts to patients based on family size and income.