SHAWNY ROBEY NAMED CEO AT FIRST STEP OF SARASOTA

            Shawny Robey recently joined First Step of Sarasota as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.  In her role as CEO, she looks to continue serving the community and expanding access to care for those individuals and families who need it most. 

“I plan to continue building on the strong partnerships and collaborate with charitable donors who equally share a passion for the mission,”

Robey said.  “I will also seek to provide greater opportunities for access to care, collaboration and service delivery.”

First Step sponsors four residential programs with 276 licensed beds reserved for those with mental health and addiction issues.  It is dedicated to creating wellness and inspiring the first step toward a better tomorrow.  Its mission is to inspire those with mental health and addiction disorders, to transform their lives, and to maintain a standard of excellence in a comprehensive continuum of care to the community it serves.

Robey has over 15 years in healthcare experience. She began her career working in the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) environment before moving on to the behavioral health field, first in neuroscience pharmaceutical sales and then into psych and substance abuse inpatient and outpatient environments. She has experience running outpatient practices, call centers, crisis centers, residential programs, IOP programs, and psychiatric hospitals. Over the course of her career, she has served in roles such as Executive VP of Business Development and Chief of Operations for inpatient and outpatient behavioral health hospitals and medical clinics.

Robey graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi on a full athletic scholarship with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Marketing Concentration. She received another full scholarship to complete her Master’s degree in Communication from The University of Southern Mississippi, and later earned a Master of Business Administration from Florida International University in Miami with a specialization in International Business.  She began her career in Manatee County at the largest FQHC in the southeast region. She was responsible for marketing, public relations, philanthropy and media functions. After many years with the organization, she joined Eli Lilly and Company as a pharmaceutical representative in the neuroscience division. There, she focused on meeting the pharma needs for health care providers treating patients having mental health concerns or physical pain as a result of fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathic pain. This experience was the springboard into the behavioral health field.

In 2013, Robey joined Centerstone where she oversaw business development, media relations, specific areas of payer admissions and several operational functions.  She most recently worked as Chief Operations Officer at Odyssey House Louisiana, in New Orleans, where she oversaw programs and operations for approximately 250 beds, $30M inpatient behavioral health/outpatient.  She opened one of the state’s only women’s and children’s programs, in addition to opening a COVID unit to treat patients needing medical care, quarantine and substance abuse treatment.

            Robey is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, 504 Healthnet and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.