As a valued member of the board of directors for our parent company, LifeView Group, Jerry Maygarden brings both personal passion and decades of community leadership to our mission. His commitment to service began long before his distinguished public career
Raised by banker parents, Jerry’s first full-time job was in the financial sector, where he gained valuable early experience. But he soon realized that his personal calling was in direct community service. “I wanted an organization whose mission aligned with my personal goals.” That early decision still guides his leadership philosophy today.
A Pensacola native, Jerry served as a City Councilman (1985–1992), Mayor Pro Tempore (1989–1991) and ultimately the 59th Mayor of Pensacola from 1991 to 1994. He later represented District 2 in the Florida House of Representatives from 1994 to 2002 and served as House Majority Leader. His career includes senior roles in hospital administration, philanthropy and community development, as well as decorated service in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.
Today, Jerry brings that breadth of experience to his role on the board of directors for LifeView Group. His initial involvement began in the 1990s with Lakeview Center—now part of the LifeView Group family of nonprofits—where he immediately recognized a shared purpose: caring for people with dignity, compassion, and responsiveness.
As he learned more about the organization’s reach, his appreciation grew deeper.
“The scope of what we do is so large and so important, you can’t help but be impressed. People would be shocked if they knew the full impact this organization has on our community. I’m happy to be part of it.”
LifeView Group is a nonprofit family of companies, last year impacting:
- 29,000+ adults and children through Lakeview Center’s behavioral health care
- 2,700+ kids through FamiliesFirst Network’s case management and child protective services
- 1,000 people with disabilities connected to jobs through Global Connections to Employment
Jerry’s respect for LifeView Group is rooted not only in its mission, but in the people behind it. “I love the people involved,” he says. He recalls moments when he reached out on behalf of loved ones during times of crisis: “I’ve picked up the phone and called at times of need. The team here is always responsive.”
Supporting LifeView Group, he believes, offers the community a meaningful way to address critical needs:
“The work we do is a vital contribution to the local area – mental health, children’s services, advocating for people with disabilities. The need is far greater than one organization can serve. People out there are suffering. The whole community needs more involvement to improve some of these problems that LifeView Group works to address every day.”
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