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Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is responsible for overall policy and direction of Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare. The Board of Directors set direction and strategy, ensure resources, and provide oversight.
MEET OUR BOARD
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President
Byron McCutchen
Byron moved to the Fernandina Beach area in 2005 after purchasing a local Bed & Breakfast which he and his wife ran for 10 years. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a Chemical Engineering degree and worked for Dupont for 30 years gaining experience in a variety of disciplines leading eventually to managing several Businesses. He left Dupont to operate several smaller Businesses at the Sr Management and CEO levels. He currently is Sales Director for a local custom builder. Byron’s personal experience with a family members depression and his personal friendship with a Board Member led him to join Starting Point in 2017. He has served in a variety of roles on Starting Point’s Board and has been Board President twice before his recent appointment as President. Byron has participated and served during both stressful periods in Starting Point’s history and tremendous growth and increased capacity for service in recent years. With sound leadership at the CEO level and continued Board support, Byron believes Starting Point will continue to be a beacon of hope for mental health and substance abuse recovery experiences in the Northeast Florida area for years to come.
Vice President
Mary Rotunno
Mary Rotunno is an NACD-certified Board Director and former Fortune 500 C-suite Executive, bringing more than 30 years of healthcare industry experience and expertise in pharma, health tech, biotech, and mental health. She is skilled in navigating high-stakes situations, building consensus, and providing guidance on governance, risk, regulatory compliance, privacy, and cybersecurity. As Nom/Gov Chair at Vistagen, Mary leads governance, including CEO and board succession planning and CEO performance evaluation. Previously, she served as General Counsel for El Camino Health, where she led legal and governance functions and evaluated products and services to improve patient experience and quality of care.
Treasurer
Gary Blackall
Gary Blackall is a retired financial executive with extensive experience in finance, accounting, and organizational leadership. He earned his undergraduate degree from Indiana University and an MBA from Western Michigan University. Gary began his professional career with Coopers and Lybrand, where he earned his CPA license in Michigan. He later served as President and Vice President of Finance with BLD Products in Holland, Michigan and as Vice President of Finance with Biomet Microfixation. Gary remains actively involved in his community. He serves as Treasurer of his local Rotary chapter and as Treasurer of Starting Point Behavioral Health. He is also an advisory council member with Big Brothers Big Sisters and serves on his HOA finance committee. Gary and his wife, Mary Ann, live in North Hampton. They are proud parents of five children and grandparents to nine grandchildren. Gary is committed to using his financial expertise and community involvement to support organizations that strengthen the lives of others.
Secretary
Cherie Billings
Cherie Billings is a 27 year resident of Amelia Island and a retired VP Finance Chief Financial Officer of a publicly held company in Silicon Valley. She moved to Amelia with her late husband in 1999 and became active in community activities. She has held several offices including President and Treasurer of Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare. In her spare time she enjoys playing golf and cruising around the world.
Leilia Brown
Leilia Brown is an accomplished nursing leader recognized for advancing high-quality, patient-centered care through thoughtful strategy, collaborative leadership, and a strong commitment to clinical excellence. She brings a forward-looking approach to healthcare leadership, with a focus on aligning teams, strengthening engagement, and supporting sustainable operational improvement. Known for building trusted partnerships across disciplines, Leilia fosters environments where staff feel supported, professional growth is encouraged, and organizational goals are translated into meaningful action.
With more than 18 years of experience at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, Leilia has served in progressive leadership roles, including Nurse Supervisor and Nurse Manager. In her current capacity, she partners with outpatient leaders to strengthen leadership effectiveness, supports nursing education and professional development, and mentors emerging and experienced nurses. Her leadership is grounded in a commitment to empowering teams, optimizing scope of practice, and ensuring that care delivery consistently reflects Mayo Clinic’s standards of quality, safety, and service.
Throughout her career, Leilia has cultivated a leadership style centered on coaching, accountability, and continuous improvement. She has led initiatives that enhance team performance, strengthen communication, and support excellence in ambulatory nursing practice. Her ability to connect people, process, and purpose has contributed to a culture of collaboration, professional accountability, and sustained organizational progress.
Antoinette Ferry
Antoinette brings more than 20 years of experience in banking, lending, and business to the Starting Point Board of Directors. After a successful 20-year banking career, she transitioned into commercial real estate and now leads a dedicated commercial real estate division as a licensed REALTOR® for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Heymann Williams Realty. For the past decade, she has worked with businesses throughout Nassau County, Florida, helping owners and investors evaluate opportunities and make informed financial decisions. With academic backgrounds in business and education, Antoinette offers a practical perspective on the intersection of finance, real estate, economic growth, and community development.
Gregory L. Foster
Gregory has dedicated much of his career to serving and protecting the Nassau County community. During 28 years of full-time service with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, he served in a number of roles, including Deputy Sheriff, Law Enforcement Director, and Director of Emergency Management. He continues his commitment to public safety today as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.
Gregory currently serves as the Director of Security and Public Safety at Amelia Island Plantation, bringing his extensive experience in law enforcement, emergency management, and public safety to his work.
Born in Gainesville and raised in Jacksonville, Gregory has called Fernandina Beach home for many years. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Christine, their son, Nicholas, and granddaughter, Holly.
Lisa Marin
Lisa Marin is a Human Resources leader currently serving as Vice President of Human Resources at Baptist Health System in Jacksonville, Florida. Originally from Westchester, New York, Lisa now resides in Yulee, where she enjoys spending time outdoors, golfing, and being with her two poodles. She earned her undergraduate degree in human development from Boston College and has long held a passion for community health. She is currently pursuing her Executive master’s in healthcare administration at UNF.
Kellene Sauls
Kellene Sauls DNP, RN, EMT-P, FABC, is a retired healthcare executive with more than 35 years of combined experience in nursing leadership, emergency and critical care, and flight nursing/paramedic. She retired from Baptist Medical Center, Nassau, where she served as Vice President of Patient Care Services and Nurse Executive, providing leadership in clinical quality, patient safety and patient experience. She also retired from UF Health, Jacksonville, Traumaone Flight Services after 25 years of service as flight nurse-paramedic.
Dr. Sauls holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Jacksonville University and has dedicated her career to improving healthcare delivery and serving her community. A member of Blackrock Baptist Church for 34 years, her Christian faith is central to her life. She strives to honor God by serving others with compassion, grace, and humility and believes that faith calls us to care for and encourage those in need.
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Mishonda Felix
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Interested in joining the Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare Board of Directors? Send an email to Katherine Pittman at kpittman@spbh.org