Peace River Center’s Board of Directors appoints Larry G. Williams, Jr. as the new Chief Executive Officer, which will be effective May 2. Peace River Center’s CEO, Bill Gardam is set to retire effective June 30. The appointment of Williams comes after an executive search that began in December 2021.
Williams, a Polk County native, has served with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office since 1988. His 34-year career includes a number of operational and administrative positions crossing many aspects of leadership. He has directly worked with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, and has seen first-hand the effects of how stigma plays a role in accessing care.
“PRC’s mission resonates with me and I have a personal commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges. Building on PRC’s strong foundation and with the help of its driven staff members, I know we can increase awareness, further reduce the stigma and enable even more individuals and families to connect with much-needed resources,” said Williams.
The PRC Board selected Williams as CEO based on his significant career history in the community as he represents an opportunity to bridge concerns in society surrounding mental illness and continue to grow PRC’s partnerships with law enforcement. The Board noted PRC is a strong organization, now positioned with this exceptional and dynamic leader to look beyond the traditional approach to mental health in our society. The Board’s goal is to advance in a big way the initiative to bridge the gap between mental health and law enforcement and remove the stigma.