Board of Directors

Dr. Joseph Aniello | Jon Cherry | James G. Weeks, Ph. D | Michael Cusick

 

From the Desk of the Chairman January 2009

---

Dr. Joseph Aniello
President/CEO UCP of South Florida, Inc.
Chairman, Florida Insurance Trust™
Board Member since June 2007

 

Dr. Joseph A. Aniello is President & CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of South East Chapters, including Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, and has served the United Cerebral Palsy organization for over 30 years.  Throughout his career he has been recognized for his commitment and strong leadership. In addition, He has received numerous awards including the following:  Kathleen Maul National Leadership Award, United Cerebral Palsy National Quality Management Award, Florida Association of Rehab Facilities Michael Goodman Leadership Award, and United Cerebral Palsy of Florida Peter Halpin Award for Leadership. 

In 1983, Dr. Aniello earned his doctorate in Administration and Supervision from the University of Florida. Dr. Aniello's commitment to advancing the quality of life for all citizens is reflected in his participation in various boards and community organizations throughout the state of Florida.  Dr. Aniello is a member of Georgia Health Care Mutual Captive Insurance Company, the District Human Rights Advocacy Committee, St. Andrew's Elementary School Board of Education, Council for Exceptional Children, Dade County Advisory Board for Transportation of Elderly and Handicapped, Dade County Advisory Committee for Services to the Latin Community, and American Association on Mental Deficiencies.  He serves as Chairman for the District Bill of Rights for Retarded Community, Community Committee for the Developmentally Handicapped and Retarded, Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, National Executive Director's Committee, United Cerebral Palsy Association of America, Florida Supported Employment Advisory Committee, and is the Vice Chair Governor's Council on Development al Disabilities.  Currently, he serves as the Chair for the Florida Insurance Trust.

Top^

---

James G. Weeks, Ph. D.
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Treasurer and Secretary of
The Sunrise Group
Vice-Chairman, Florida Insurance Trust™
Board Member since June 2007

 

Dr. James Weeks, a 29-year Sunrise veteran, has served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer as well as Corporate Treasurer/Secretary for The Sunrise Group since 1989. Under Dr. Weeks’ direction, Sunrise ’s annual budget has risen from $18 million in 1989 to over $100 million in 2008. In addition to overall responsibility for the financial functions of Sunrise, Dr. Weeks also is responsible the Group’s banking and government relationships and Risk Management function. He has played a primary role in evaluating and integrating acquisition targets for The Sunrise Group, leading to exceptional revenue growth. Dr. Weeks has also negotiated and obtained numerous multi-million dollar debt vehicles to fund Sunrise’s working capital and growth needs.

From 1974-1979, Dr. Weeks held various positions in the fields of education and facility management. At Landmark Learning Center, a state owned and operated developmental disabilities facility in Miami, Florida, Dr. Weeks managed the facility’s Medicaid funded programs to meet goals and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations. Before that, Dr. Weeks served as Managing Director of the Acne Research Institute. In this position, he implemented company policies and managed all research and administrative aspects for the Institute. These career experiences gave Dr. Weeks the necessary skills to excel in his position at Sunrise.

Dr. Weeks received Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University (Virginia Tech). Dr. Weeks received his Ph.D. from the University of Miami in Biochemistry in 1973. At Florida International University, Dr. Weeks has completed all course work toward a Masters of Health Care Management degree. Dr. Weeks has also completed course work toward a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami. Additionally, Dr. Weeks has published several papers in the field of medicine and holds numerous honors and awards for his dedication to disability services and rehabilitation. These awards include the Wilkie Ferguson Lifetime Achievement Award for extraordinary contributions to the developmental disabilities field and the Legislative Advocate of the Year Award from the Florida Association of Rehabilitative Facilities.

Dr. Weeks has served on the Board of Directors and as officer and Board Chair for several community organizations. These include the Florida Chapter of the American Association on Mental Deficiencies (FCAAMD), Southeastern Regional American Association on Mental Deficiencies (SEAAMD), Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (FARF), American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) and the Habilitation Center, a private, not-for-profit provider of services to people with disabilities.Top^

---

Jon Cherry
President and CEO of LifeStream Behavioral Center
Treasurer, Florida Insurance Trust™
Board Member since June 2007

 

As the Chief Executive Officer of LifeStream Behavioral Center, Mr. Cherry is responsible for one of central Florida’s largest and most dynamic behavioral health care organizations. LifeStream provides a comprehensive array of mental health, chemical addiction and social services to children, adults and the elderly. His duties include leadership and management of three corporations with a combined workforce of six hundred employees.

Mr. Cherry previously held executive positions at Lakeview Center, Inc. in Pensacola, Lakeside Alternatives, Inc. in Orlando and ACT Corporation in Daytona Beach. He has also consulted extensively with behavioral health providers throughout the State of Florida on strategic issues of concern.

He is currently the Treasurer of the Florida Council for Community Mental Health, WellFlorida Council and the Florida Association of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. He is the Past Chair of several organizations including Lake Sumter Community College Foundation, North Florida Behavioral Health Network, Florida Council for Behavioral Health, Kids Central and the Leesburg Partnership. He is a C.P.A. and has served as a member of the executive committee of the FICPA. In addition, Mr. Cherry participates in many other community activities in an effort to improve the communities that LifeStream serves. Top^

---

Michael D. Cusick
Michael Cusick & Associates, Inc.
Alternate - Chairman, Florida Insurance Trust™
Board Member since October 2007

 

Currently, Mr. Cusick operates Michael Cusick & Associates, Inc. working with health care, business and human service clients. (Quest diagnostics, Florida Society of Ambulatory Surgical Centers, CORA Health, NAMI Florida Chapter, Youngquist Brothers, Inc., Florida Food Banks and the Pinellas County Legislative Delegation)

Also, Mr. Cusick is President and Chief Executive Officer for the Florida Coalition for Children, Inc.. The Coalition advocates for children and represents programs that serve children and families in the child protection system. Working with the legislature and Governor Bush the Coalition has successfully advocated for substantial increases in funding for foster care and related services for the last eight years. The Coalition recently created a partnership with Magellan Health Services and Community Based Care Lead agencies (entities created by the legislature and Governor Bush to manage all of the foster care and related services in Florida) to manage mental health services for the nearly 50,000 children in the state foster care system. Also, the Legislature and Governor recently authorized the Coalition to create a self-insurance company to help stabilize this newly created system and to help these not for profit companies focus on quality services and good business principles.

Mr. Cusick also has over 25 years of comprehensive experience working directly with state and local governments, and associations. Starting as a teacher in 1973 Mr. Cusick went on to head a private charitable association, was staff director for three Florida House of Representatives' Committees, managed a state professional association and developed an independent consulting business.

Starting in 1973 as a teacher with the Hillsborough Association for Retarded Citizens, Mr. Cusick quickly became Director of Preschools for the Association. As Executive Director of the Association in 1975, Mr. Cusick was responsible for managing a multitude of programs and services in the Tampa Bay area.
In early 1976 Mr. Cusick moved to Tallahassee to join the staff of the House Health and Rehabilitative Services Committee. During this time Mr. Cusick conducted research on issues related to health, mental health care, alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment, developmental services and vocational rehabilitative services.  Within a few short years Mr. Cusick became the Assistant Staff Director of the Committee.

In 1980 Mr. Cusick was named Staff Director of the House Committee on Governmental Operations. During this time the committee addressed issues related to state contracting, hazardous waste management, and the protection of Florida's barrier islands. He also reviewed the state's probation and parole system as a special assignment from the Speaker of the House.

As Staff Director of the House Committee on Community Affairs Mr. Cusick worked directly with the House leadership to develop Florida's Growth Management Legislation. Other issues addressed by the committee include groundwater contamination, economic development and low income housing.
Mr. Cusick then returned to the House Committee on Health and Rehabilitative Services as Staff Director supervising research related to health and human services.

In late 1986 Mr. Cusick became the Deputy Director of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. During this time Mr. Cusick also represented an independent list of lobbying clients.

In January of 1988 Mr. Cusick organized the firm of Sheldon, Cusick & Associates specializing in public relations and governmental affairs. The firm represented a prestigious list of companies, associations, individuals and governmental entities for over ten years.

During the first quarter of 1999 Mr. Cusick founded Michael Cusick & Associates, Inc. continuing the quality representation in association management, public relations and governmental affairs that he started in 1986.Top^