Bridges of America Management Team

Vickie Blackwell - Human Resources Director

Vickie Blackwell started working for Bridges of America on March 26, 2002 as the Payroll Specialist. Coming on board with 22 years of Human Resources experience allowed her to be quickly promoted to the Human Resources Director. Ms. Blackwell has been published in two Human Resources magazines, has been an active member of SHRM (Society for Human Resources Management) for 11 years and is certified in conducting investigations.

Ms. Blackwell has a passion for helping people and is active in her community helping the local orphanage and those in need.

Brett D’Aoust - Clinical Quality Management Director

Brett D’Aoust has been with Bridges of America since February 2008. He began his employment as the Executive Director of The Orlando Bridge and was promoted to Clinical Quality Management Director for Bridges of America in April 2010 overseeing all Clinical Programs throughout the organization. Mr. D’Aoust previously worked at Bay Correctional Facility, Panama City, Florida in the following roles: Chief of Unit Management, Program Manager and Public Information Officer. He was a key person in the development of programming for inmates to include substance abuse treatment, vocational programs, and canine training programs. Mr. D’Aoust began his corrections career at Gadsden Correctional Women’s Facility, Quincy, Florida in 1999 as an Addictions Treatment Unit Counselor. He was promoted to Addictions Treatment Clinical Supervisor in September, 1999, Mental Health Specialist in January, 2000, and to Addictions Treatment Manager in July 2001.

Mr. D'Aoust has a B.S. and Masters of Social Work from Florida State University, and is a Florida Certified Addictions Professional. Mr. D’Aoust began his career in substance abuse treatment and mental health in 1995 working with adolescent boys and girls in West Palm Beach, Florida.

James Garcia - MIS Director

James has been involved in healthcare information technology for over 25 years and has 10 years of outpatient practice management consulting experience. He has worked with major providers such as Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and Vista Community Clinics of San Diego County, CA. During his career he’s repeatedly found himself assisting employees and colleagues to face their addiction issues and enter into treatment programs. When a friend working at Bridges brought him in to help with some computer problems in August 2002, he began to see it as an opportunity to play a contributing role in addiction treatment. By November he had became a full time member of the Bridges management team and served as President of the Quality Management Team since the Spring of 2003.

Benjamin D. Thomas - Grant Writer

Benjamin Thomas has dedicated his career to helping individuals discover and capitalize on their personal strengths. Hailed as a creative thinker by former employers such as Marriott, MCI, Amtrak, and George Washington University, he worked as a career counselor where he helped countless clients improve their lives and work through career transition without losing what was most important in them. A speaker at SHRM, the Washington Post Career Forum and numerous HR events, he has effectively argued that people are dramatically more effective, fulfilled and successful when they are able to focus on the best of themselves.

In his nearly two decades as an adjunct professor and grant coordinator in Washington D.C. Ben has had a successful career helping small businesses find resources to continue developing new products and services. His early research on counselor education laid the foundation for studies using empirical data to challenge preconceptions about achievement about minority children.

A former member of the Montgomery County Maryland Advisory Committee on Leadership and Management, Ben Thomas earned his doctorate from George Washington University in 1979 in Educational Psychology and a Masters degree from Bowling Green State University in College Administration.

David H. Green - Director, The Auburndale Bridge

David H. Green has over 20 years of service in the substance abuse field and has done extensive training in the Therapeutic Community Modality. He has managed treatment facilities for the Bridge in St. Petersburg and has worked in many different areas of treatment over the years. His motto is to help clients stay on time, on task and on target, as they seek the changes in beliefs and behaviors that will help them become productive members of society once again. He believes in the client ability to achieve great things with guidance and direction.

Mr. Green holds a B.S. in Human Services and a M.S. in Organizational Management and Leadership from Springfield College and a Master of Human Services from Lincoln University. He is a Certified Addiction Professional in Florida, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor in New Jersey and Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.

He feels honored to have the opportunity to lead the Auburndale Bridge and its staff to new and exciting areas of gender relevant treatment.

Karen Neis - Director, The Orlando Bridge

Karen Neis has 21 years of experience in the field of substance abuse, criminal justice, and mental health. She has worked as a counselor in various levels of care including chemical and alcohol detoxification, out-patient services, MICA (mentally ill, chemically addicted) day treatment services, TASC (treatment alternatives to street crimes), residential treatment, and intake substance abuse placement services. She has also had the experience of establishing and facilitating women-specific substance abuse groups, delivered prevention services to youths in foster care settings, and has taught addiction education courses geared toward certification in the State of New York.

Karen began working at Bridges of America as the Clinical Director of The Sanford Bridge upon moving to Florida in 2005. A year later, she was promoted to the Executive Director of that facility. Ms. Neis remained in this position for approximately 3 1/2 years up to the date the center was down-sized due to The Department of Corrections financial cuts. Bridges of America offered her a position within the Quality Management Department where she stayed for a few short months and then moved back into programming as the Assistant Facility Clinical Director of The Orlando Bridge Transition Re-entry Center in August 2009. In April 2010 Karen accepted the position of Executive Director of The Orlando Bridge. She looks forward to many more exciting and fulfilling years with Bridges of America.

Angela D. Ashley - Director, The Bradenton Bridge TC/Work Release

Angela D. Ashley is the Facility Director of the Bradenton Bridge. Angela came to Bridges Of America in September 2005 after retiring from the Florida Department of Corrections where she spent 23 years. Although she has worked in all areas of secure facilities, her passion has always remained with community facilities and especially for female offenders. Over the years Ms. Ashley was invited to speak at conferences (ACA and National Institute of Justice) regarding effective programs at this level. This experience has been vital to the development of the Bradenton Bridge.

Under Ms. Ashley’s direction the Bradenton Bridge has achieved several distinctions including a full-fledged International Toastmaster’s chapter (Toastmasters in Transition) as well as an annual reunion event where alumni return to share their testimonies as well as recommit to their recovery.

Mrs. Ashley’s core belief is that by assisting the clients who come to Bradenton Bridge to become strong confident women we will have a generational impact. These women will return to their families and their children will reap the benefits.

Cecilia I. Denmark - Director, The Broward County Bridge (Pompano Transition Center) TC/Work Release

Cecilia I. Denmark is an experienced correctional manager with 29 years in the Criminal Justice system and 5years in the field of Substance Abuse/Re-entry initiatives. She is currently the Facility Director of Pompano Transition Center, a collaborative partnership between the Florida Department of Corrections and Bridges of America, Inc. to provide substance abuse treatment and programming in a work release environment. She served as a Correctional Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Major, Classification Officer and Assistant Warden with the Florida Department of Corrections. Mrs. Denmark is responsible for operational, programmatic, and licensure standards at the Pompano Transitional center. She is a certified Correctional and Probation Officer and has been certified by Florida State University as a Public Manager. Additionally, she holds a Masters Degree from the University of Phoenix in Administration of Justice and Security and a Bachelors Degree from Barry University where she is now an adjunct professor. Mrs. Denmark has participated in training and leadership development for more than 20 years and is a member of various corrections, criminal justice, substance abuse and community organizations including serving as a mentor for the Broward County Big Brother/Big Sister program. It is her sincere desire to assist staff and offenders in developing their knowledge, skills and leadership capabilities.

Roy D. Morgan - Director, The Jacksonville Bridge Work Release

Roy D. Morgan was appointed Facility Director of the Jacksonville Bridge Work Release Center on January 10, 2008. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Morgan has in excess of 31 years with the Florida Department of Corrections. He has had many key roles, including the first Regional Colonel, Region I, overseeing the security of 16 major Correctional Institutions, and as one of only five Special Agents assigned to the Central Office. Mr. Morgan has both his Correctional and Law Enforcement certifications. He was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Madison County Hospital by Governor Lawton Chiles for a period of 4 years. He has work with youthful offenders as well as male and female inmates from the reception centers, major institutions, work camps, and work release facilities.

Mr. Morgan expresses a genuine enthusiasm and once said that the one thing that stood out in his mind about Bridges of America was the direction and guidance of a team... a family... a way to commit to the service of both the staff and the inmates and their approach to living and being personally, professionally and spiritually driven by a core set of values uniquely committed to the service of others, to the change in others and to the provision of a holistic approach to the inmates assigned to them.

Frederick C. Dixon - Director, The Orlando Bridge TC/Work Release

Frederick C. Dixon actually stared his career in Corrections in 1972 as a Military Police and Confinement Specialist in the United States Army.

Mr. Dixon’s career with the Florida Department of Corrections began in August, 1974 at Lake Correctional Institution in Clermont, FL. He was a 25-year veteran with the agency. Mr. Dixon’s extensive knowledge of correctional principals and his dedication and commitment to these offered him the opportunity to be promoted through the Correctional Officer ranks up to his retiring as the Warden of Martin Correctional Institution.

Some of his accomplishments include an appointment by Governor Chiles to the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, the Distinguished Corrections Award by Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency, Warden of the year Nominee, recognition by the North American Association of Warden as Superintendents (NAAWS). Also, appointment by Representative Rick Minton (District 78) to serve as a Member of the State Minority Committee. He is also a graduate of Florida State University, Certified Public Managers Program.

Since joining Bridges of America in August 2005, Mr. Dixon has been assigned the responsibilities of Facility Director at the Orlando Bridge Work Release and the Orlando Bridge Transition Center.

Through his wide range of work experience, Mr. Dixon is able to display a high level of technical, hands-on competence. He successfully develops creative strategies to ensure we maintain a strong advocacy role for public safety and also provide out stakeholders (clients) the tools to succeed once released form incarceration.

Iana A. Patterson - Director, The Turning Point Bridge Work Release

Iana A. Patterson is an experienced correctional manager with 19 years in the Criminal Justice system — 3 of those years in the field of Substance Abuse/Re-entry initiatives. During her time with the Florida Department of Corrections she served as a Correctional Officer, Sergeant, and finally Captain, working with both male and female offenders. She is currently the Facility Director of Turning Point Bridge Work Release Center where she is responsible for operational, programmatic, and licensure standards. In addition to being a certified Correctional Officer Mrs. Patterson served in the United States Air Force from October 1984 through October 1990 during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. It is her sincere desire to assist staff and offenders in developing their knowledge, skills and leadership capabilities.