Helen Ross McNabb Center’s CEO, Andy Black, announced his plans to retire, effective June 30, this week.
In turn, the Center’s Board of Directors voted to name Jerry Vagnier as the Center’s new CEO. Jerry has been serving as President since 2013 and will now assume the additional responsibilities of CEO, effective July 1, 2014. Black will remain close to the organization in an advisory role.
Black has served as CEO since 2003 and began his career at the Helen Ross McNabb Center in 1986 as the Director of Development. In 2003 when Black was named CEO, the Center served approximately 7,000 children and adults. Last year, the Center served approximately 20,000 individuals in 21 East Tennessee counties.
During his tenure with the Helen Ross McNabb Center, Andy Black has increased access to affordable, quality health care for thousands of East Tennesseans facing mental health, addiction and social challenges. He has led the charge to expand access to care in rural communities and has built out continuums of service that help those in our communities with the greatest needs and the least resources. Most recently, Black oversaw mergers with organizations like Child & Family Tennessee, Fortwood Center of Chattanooga, Youth Emergency Shelter of Morristown and the Sexual Assault Center of East Tennessee.
Black has raised more than $20 million on behalf of the Helen Ross McNabb Foundation, establishing a legacy, which will ensure the sustainability of services long into the future. Black’s fiscal conservative leadership has allowed the Center to direct its resources towards providing quality services to individuals in East Tennessee.
“Andy Black’s goal has never been to lead the biggest behavioral health care provider in our region but the best, to provide excellent care and practice true compassion, thus fulfilling the Center’s mission of improving lives,” shares Susan Conway, Helen Ross McNabb Center Board Chair.
Jerry Vagnier has been with the Helen Ross McNabb Center for 26 years, starting as a social worker, providing direct care to children and adolescents. He has since held a number of clinical management positions before moving into administrative roles. “As Vice President of Operations and more recently as President, Jerry Vagnier has also been an integral part of the Center’s programmatic and geographic growth, is ready to take the helm, and will provide great leadership for the future,” Susan Conway, states.
The Helen Ross McNabb Center is a premier not‐for‐profit provider of behavioral health services in East Tennessee. Since 1948, the Center has provided quality and compassionate care to children, adults and families experiencing mental illness, addiction and social challenges. As the Center celebrates 65 years of providing services to communities in East Tennessee, its mission remains clear and simple; “Improving the lives of the people we serve.” For more information, visit www.mcnabbcenter.org or call 865‐637‐9711.