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Naples, Fl – Bonnie Fredeen, David Lawrence Centers Chief Operating Officer, announced her retirement after an illustrious 24-year career with the local, award winning not-for-profit mental health and substance use treatment center. Her retirement will be effective in March 2016. A regional and national search has begun for her replacement.

Fredeen stated, “I may be planning to retire, but I will remain dedicated to furthering our mission of restoring and rebuilding lives. I look forward to assisting in the search for my successor and serving as a consultant after March to ensure a smooth leadership transition and work on special projects as needed.”

Fredeen joined David Lawrence Centers in 1992 following an early career as Vice President of Human Resources Management with Chase Manhattan Bank in New York. She joined David Lawrence Centers as Human Resources Director and was later promoted to Administrative Director and then Chief Operating Officer in 2001. As Chief Operating Officer, Fredeen has managed the Administrative and Clinical Directors of Acute Care Services, Crossroads Substance Abuse Continuum, Community Services, Outpatient and Medical Services, Information Technology, Clinical Records, Staff Development, Human Resources and Quality Assessment and Improvement.

David Lawrence Centers Chief Executive Officer Scott Burgess states, “David Lawrence Centers has been extremely blessed to have such a talented, recognized leader on our senior management team. Bonnie has an uncanny ability to utilize data and evaluate the most effective and efficient ways to operate client services. These processes and care skillfully and compassionately impact the lives of more than 50,000 people each year throughout Collier County. Her contributions to our organization will forever be remembered and appreciated. For those we serve, their families, our Board of Directors and staff, we wish Bonnie all our very best in her well-deserved retirement.”

Throughout her tenure with David Lawrence Centers, Fredeen was responsible for the development and implementation of creative and innovative programs, operational system changes and community collaborations that have greatly improved the provision of the Center’s programs and services resulting in the agency serving more clients and providing additional, greatly enhanced services with fewer resources. Among the most notable programming changes Fredeen provided leadership for were the addition of TeleHealth, TelePsychiatry and the expansion of children’s outpatient services. She was also instrumental in implementing industry best practices such as the movement to a co-occurring treatment model and the utilization of same-day, real time admission services. Lastly, she managed the collaboration with the Naples Children and Education Foundation Beautiful Mind children’s mental health initiative and the coordination of services for Collier County Public Services. Fredeen has been an essential leader not only at the David Lawrence Centers, but also throughout the region acting as a resource for other mental health and substance use facilities.

In 2011, she was named the Statewide Administrator of the Year by the Florida Council for Community Mental Health which honors a recognized leader in the field who possesses outstanding management and technical skills, displays professionalism in attitude and conduct towards colleagues, consumers, and in the community, and who has made significant contributions to their organization’s programs and services. Fredeen earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and her Associates Degree in Mathematics and Physics. She is a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resource Management. In addition, Bonnie is an active member of the Society of Human Resource Management. She is a former board member for Drug Free Collier and serves as the Chair of the Collier County Community Provider committee a group she formed more than five years ago with leaders from local mental health stakeholders.

David Lawrence Centers is the Southwest Florida-based, not-for-profit leading provider of behavioral health solutions dedicated to inspiring and creating life-changing wellness for every individual. The Center provides innovative, comprehensive inpatient, outpatient, residential and community based prevention and treatment services for the one in four local children and adults who experience mental health, emotional, psychological and substance use challenges. David Lawrence Centers has seven locations in Collier County and touches the lives of more than 50,000 people each year. For more information about David Lawrence Centers call (239) 491-7602 or visit www.DavidLawrenceCenter.org.

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