SERVING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY SINCE 1968
The Administrative Leadership Team offers a wealth of expertise and commitment to Gilead’s mission with most having been with Gilead for over 10 years. A real sense of stability, family, and teamwork is created for both clients and staff.
You may contact any member of Gilead’s administrative leadership team via phone or email on our may Contact Us page.
Dan is proud to be a living example of Gilead’s broad opportunities for advancement. He began his career at Gilead as a per-diem employee in 2001, was then promoted to a variety of clinical and administrative roles, and took on the role of Chief Executive Officer in December 2013.
Dan is passionate about serving the needs of individuals with severe psychiatric disabilities. He has committed his career to making sure that their voices are heard, and that they are empowered to reach for their dreams. Dan has experienced firsthand the powerful process by which Gilead adds value to both the individuals who are receiving services and to those who live and work within the communities where Gilead operates. Social justice, human rights, compassion and quality care are important values that Dan stresses to all Gilead employees. He continues to fight for these values despite the daily challenges.
Throughout his career, Dan has also remained active at his local church and has devoted his time to the middle school youth program. For Dan, faith and human services go hand in hand. Spending family time with his wife and two daughters, keeping up with the local sports teams, participating in local road races, kayaking and bass fishing on local ponds are what gives Dan joy outside of Gilead.
Beginning at Gilead in 2002 as a Program Director Justin has enjoyed the opportunity to develop creative interventions, inspire staff, and help them grow to be effective and compassionate leaders and caregivers. With over thirty years serving youth and adults in residential, outpatient, partial hospital, mental health and substance abuse treatment, Justin has a unique approach and deep commitment to recovery and well being that is grounded in fostering the individual’s innate ability for healing through facilitating a deeper sense of self and connection to others.
With a B.A. in Religious Studies from Yale University, his work at Gilead feels like a vocational direction with a slice of spirituality. Justin brings a wealth of healing experiences to his current position as Chief Operating Officer, including an 18-month journey to Japan to study martial and healing arts, and becoming certified in Rubenfeld Synergy Method (an alternative healing modality that integrates touch and talk therapies).
Meaningful relationships are very important to Justin, which has led him to meet with a group of 7 male friends for the over 20 years to explore the depth of relationships and personal growth. Justin has a love of family, food, cooking, swimming, sailing, and acting. Before grilling vegetables seasoned from his garden, he and his dog Chloe can be seen walking at the nearby lake.
In 2018 Lucy became Gilead’s Chief Development Officer. She joined the Gilead Team as the Director of Development and Public Education in 2005. Lucy had heard about Gilead for years from her father who was very committed to our mission to improve the lives of individuals living with mental illness.
Before earning her MPH from Columbia University, Lucy worked in the nonprofit sector as a mental health worker, a clinical case manager, the director of a family shelter and transitional living program and the director of marketing and community relations for a nonprofit affordable housing developer.
Lucy’s love of people, parties, dance and music came together when she produced and managed, Midnight on Main, a New Year’s Eve celebration for the city of Middletown in 2011 and 2012. Her personal involvement and commitment to community development efforts are demonstrated by her involvement on several nonprofit boards and her United States Peace Corps Volunteer work in Togo, West Africa.
Wendi is one of our administrative leaders with two start dates at Gilead! Wendi first joined Gilead in 1998 as a rehab counselor. During Wendi’s first span of time at Gilead, she was a program manager at the rehab center, an administrative case manager, an assistant director, a program director, and a senior director of residential programs. Wendi briefly left in 2016 to join Gilead’s affiliate organization, Oak Hill, but returned to Gilead in 2022 as a Clinical Department Director. In her current role, Wendi provides clinical and administrative oversight of Gilead’s supervised apartment programs. She enjoys working with folks who are dedicated and supportive of each other and the work they do to support clients through Gilead’s mission and recovery core principles.
In her free time, Wendi enjoys camping, hiking, and playing volleyball and pickleball. She can usually be found on a sideline of a field or in the stands of a gym cheering on her kids.
Shannon joined Gilead in 2007 as the Program Manager of the ACT team. From there, she advanced to an Assistant Director role and eventually became the Director of Supervised Apartment programs. In 2022, she became the Clinical Department Director for community programs. For Shannon, Gilead is like a second family. She enjoys working with a dedicated group of people who are united by their passion for helping people in their recovery.
In her free time, Shannon enjoys going to water parks with her family, watching her children play sports, and travelling.
Diane started working at Gilead in 2011 as a per diem employee and is now the Clinical Department Director for Residential and Supported Apartment Programs. Since starting at Gilead, Diane has been an intern, case manager, program manager, and program director. In her current role, Diane provides clinical oversight to group homes and Supported Apartment Programs, and fosters relationships with community providers to help clients reach their individualized goals while living in the community. Being surrounded by compassionate individuals who value Gilead’s clients is the number one reason Diane has enjoyed working at Gilead for so long.
In her spare time, Diane enjoys spending time with her cats, quilting, or lounging somewhere near a beach.
Stephanie is the Department Director of Addiction overseeing Farrell Treatment Center. She is deeply invested in Farrell, both in its history as a place of quality and recovery and in its future as an important and essential part of Gilead’s continuum of care. Stephanie is an advocate for clients, a facilitator of Farrell and Gilead integration, a creator of new processes and policies, and a supporter of those she works with. Additionally Stephanie teaches at Central Connecticut State University.
Denise joined the Gilead team in 2016 as the Development Coordinator and was promoted to Director of Development in January 2022. In this role, she oversees fundraising activities and events, grants, community awareness and education, and marketing and branding of Gilead’s mission. Denise’s favorite part of the job is working with the many individuals who make Gilead a special place, which includes the staff, clients, board members, donors, volunteers and community members!
Denise is a long-time volunteer in her community and has served on school building committees, parent and sports organizations, and her local Youth & Family Services board. When she’s not working, her favorite thing to do is to spend time with her family and friends. Favorite past times include relaxing at the beach, watching college basketball or traveling with her husband and two 20-something-year-old “kids”.
Julia first joined Gilead in 1996, initially as the ACT Team Director, and then as the Chief Operating Officer. After nine years she left to raise a family, returning in 2022 as Business Operations Director. In her current role, Julia is involved in many different aspects of agency administration, including grant procurement, program development, CARF accreditation, hiring initiatives, and helping to oversee the implementation of the 1115 Waiver Demonstration in our substance use disorder programs. Julia’s dedication to Gilead is inspired by a desire to make a positive impact in the lives of the people Gilead serves, and the privilege of working alongside such a committed and mission driven group of leaders.
In her free time, Julia loves hanging out with her family, baking all manner of breads and desserts, crafting fiber arts of all kinds, and playing with the family’s horses on their small farm.
Joe joined the Gilead team in 2005 as our Systems Administrator. He was promoted to the role of Director of Information Technology in 2007. In this role he set up the IT department, which is now comprised of a team of four. In 2023, Joe was promoted to Senior Director of Information Technology overseeing the IT departments at both Oak Hill and Gilead
Volunteering in high-energy fundraisers, seeing clients grow and flourish, and above all, working with wonderful people who care about what they do has made this one of Joe’s most rewarding positions.
Joe is passionate about camping, hanging out with good friends and playing video games. He briefly left Gilead in 2013 but returned because he “believes in Gilead’s mission and “missed being in an environment which allows employees and clients to thrive.” Joe’s infectious laugh, which can be heard from building to building, combined with his sense of humor and IT knowledge has allowed him to bring new and innovative technology to Gilead, making our agency a leader in service delivery and quality.
Aaron joined the Gilead Team as the Director of Finance in June of 2021. In his role, he manages the financial operations for the organization, in cooperation with the Chief Financial Officer. He has spent the last decade of his career working with community-based organizations, specifically within the nonprofit sector. He enjoys working at Gilead because it provides him with the opportunity to apply his skills to an organization that gives back to the community.
When he’s not at work, Aaron loves to spend time with his wife and his son, with whom he shares a birthday!
Rob came to Gilead in 1994 thinking he would gain some hands-on experience and move on. Starting as a Program Manager, Rob found his passion in analyzing the great work done on a daily basis at Gilead. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a love for technology, Rob brings a unique set of skills to his current position as Director of Quality Assurance. During his time at Gilead, Rob created a systematic infrastructure that allows Gilead to analyze the work we do, demonstrate our successes, and examine areas that need improvement. Rob is very proud to work at Gilead, which is demonstrated by his participation in all aspects of the work. He rarely misses a Gilead event, especially if chocolate is on the menu.
He enjoys spending time with his wife and two girls. They enjoy playing board games together, travelling, and are sure to make an annual trip to Acadia National Park, one of Rob’s favorite places. Up for any challenge Rob has been seen sky diving, bungee jumping, driving a motorcycle across the United States and backpacking through Europe.
Sheryl earned her Master’s Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of New Haven. Having interned at nonprofit agencies, Gilead’s welcoming community was a natural transition for her. She joined the Human Resources team in 2011 and held several positions within the department before becoming the Director of Human Resources in 2018.
Sheryl is on the Board of Human Resources Young Professionals Group and is a member of the HRACC. She enjoys volunteering on various committees, both for Gilead and in the community. In her spare time, you will find her at a Zumba class or trying foods from different cultures.
