Leadership

Dick Jacobs, M.S., C.A.P., L.M.F.T., President/Chief Executive Offficer, has been with The Center since 1977.  During his tenure with the agency, Mr. Jacobs has served as Director of Methadone Treatment, Director of Outpatient Counseling and Executive Director and since 2002 has been President/CEO. Mr. Jacobs is responsible for services development, delivery and oversight of the company.  Mr. Jacobs received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Mercer University and a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Central Florida.  He is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. A Certified Addictions Professions and was a founding member and past president of the Certifications Board of Addictions Professionals of Florida.  Mr. Jacobs currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA).  Dick is also a board member of the Keep Kids Drug Free Foundation and NCI Systems, Inc. – a consortium of the largest substance abuse providers in Central Florida.

 Babette F. Hankey, M.S., Chief Operating Officer. joined The Center in 1995, after working five years in the White House Drug  Policy  Office in the areas of budget and legislation during both the George Bush Sr. and Clinton Administrations. She was responsible for National Drug Control Strategy and Budget development, legislative overview and prevention and treatment program development. She was instrumental in the development of the first Community Partnership programs and Targeted Capacity Expansion programs as well as prioritizing services for women and their children. As a result of her commitment to women and children issues, she was nominated  for and received the 1994 Federal Women’s Achievement Award. Babette continues to work on many cross-cutting substance abuse and behavioral healthcare issues at the State and National levels. Babette was one of 11 persons appointed to the Florida Governor’s Drug Advisory Council and served on it from 1999 to 2009. Babette also was appointed to the Orange County Chairman’s Jail Oversight Commission and served as the co-chair for the substance abuse and mental health subcommittee. As the Chief Operating Officer, Babette is responsible for all functions of the company and in addition she is responsible for grants and funding opportunities, the administrative/business functions of the agency including: strategic planning and development; human resources; government affairs; program development, community and public relations; and contract management. Additionally, she provides management direction for all prevention, treatment and juvenile justice services provided by the agency. During her tenure at The Center, the company’s operating budget has increased by $17 million.She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Maryland and holds a Master’s Degree  in Criminal Justice. Her thesis, “Breaking the Cycle of Addiction and Crime” among the most vulnerable, children of substance abusing and criminally involved parents, has been recognized as a model and is currently funded by the State of Florida and being implemented throughout Central Florida. Babette also has her certification as Certified Prevention Professional (CPP).

Eric Horst, B.A., M.B.A., C.P.A., C.M.A., Chief Financial Officer, joined The Center in October of 1998 as Chief Financial Officer.  Formerly the CFO at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, he was responsible for the operational execution of a thirty-seven million dollar budget and oversaw Plant Operations, Environmental Services, Materials Management, Information Systems, Accounting, Patient Business Services and Nutritional Services.  Mr. Horst oversaw the construction and equipping of a forty-five million dollar replacement hospital and the construction of an eight million dollar medical office building.  In addition, he was responsible for the transition of the hospital from public to private ownership and establishment of new systems and related policies.  Most recently, Eric served as Assistant Director of Operations at Florida Hospital Health Care System in Orlando where his responsibilities included implementation and operational responsibility for risk and non risk payers.  He also had operational responsibility for services provided to other contracted integrated delivery networks.  Mr. Horst received his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of South Florida and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Michigan State University.  He is a member of the Health Care Financial Management Association and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Stacy Seikel, M.D., Medical Director, attended medical school at the University of Oklahoma, graduating in 1985.  She completed her residency at the University of Florida in 1989, with a Board Certification in Anesthesiology.  Dr. Seikel was in private practice from 1989-2000, in Orlando, Florida, specializing in high-risk obstetrical anesthesia and pain management.  She moved into the field of Addictionology in 2000, with a specialty focus on clients who have addictive disorders and chronic pain syndromes.  Dr. Seikel has been with The Center For Drug-Free Living since January 2001, as Medical Director.  As Medical Director she oversees medical and psychiatric services for all of the Centers’ programs including detoxification, methadone clinics, residential facilities and The Department of Juvenile Justice programs.  She is on the Board of Directors at the Health Care Center for the Homeless and the Primary Care Access Network.  Currently, Dr. Seikel is chairing a steering committee to replicate The Healing Place, a residential recovery program for homeless substance abusers.  The program components include a shelter, social setting detox and a 150 bed year long recovery program.  She is a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Academy of Pain Medicine.