Melissa Larkin-Skinner, MA, MBA, LMHC

Chief Executive Officer, Centerstone – Florida

Delivering care that changes people’s lives is Centerstone’s mission and what guides CEO Melissa Larkin-Skinner in helping children, adults and families live full and healthy lives.  Serving the community since 1955, Centerstone is a provider of mental health and addictions care.  

Melissa has worked in diverse programs during her 25-year career with Centerstone, including inpatient, outpatient, crisis intervention, intensive community-based and child welfare.  She has designed and operated several programs to meet community needs, including the first children’s Community Action Treatment (CAT) team, which was adopted as Florida’s statewide model for serving youth who are struggling with severe mental health, behavioral and co-occurring disorders. 

Her inner determination is key to helping others, especially during challenging times.  “Throughout my career, I questioned whether I’d be able to stay the course.  What I learned is that I am far more resilient than I realized.  We all are.  Being resilient does not mean that we never experience stress. But that when we do, we cope with our thoughts and emotions and take actions that help us move beyond it.  Building resilience or being resilient is something we can all achieve.  It’s not a personality trait that you either have or don’t have.  I think of resilience as being made up of building blocks we’ve collected through life experience, learning and leaning on others.  Those building blocks expand and grow stronger over time, helping us overcome whatever life throws at us.  We are often stronger afterwards and more prepared for the next uncontrollable, stressful experience.”

Centerstone, 4010 Sawyer Rd., Sarasota, 941-782-4150, centerstone.org