For nearly 30 years, Gary Bembry has invested his time with our organization, drawn to making a difference in people’s lives.

His journey began in September of 1997 as our chief financial officer. While Gary was previously a successful public accountant, he recalls that “there was something missing,” a sense that his work, while important, wasn’t fully connected to a larger purpose.

Here, he found that purpose.

“I had never been part of an organization that truly personified its mission statement,” Gary said.

In our organization, Gary found values that were consistently reflected in decisions, leadership and daily work. He has since witnessed that through every stage of his involvement, from CFO to CEO to his current role as board chair of our parent company LifeView Group, a nonprofit family of companies.

Driven by mission

Gary was named CEO in 2003. He was the second CEO in our organization’s history, succeeding Dr. Morris Eady.

As CEO from 2003 to 2016, Gary led the expansion of services across mental health care, case management and employment programs. His leadership spanned significant challenges, from hurricanes to underfunded systems.

Through it all, what stood out most was the impact of our nonprofit family of companies.

“My favorite thing is that we are so multifaceted in the ways we reach out to people, that we help people in so many different ways,” he said.

Over the years, Gary has seen firsthand how our work touches lives, supporting struggling families, helping individuals manage mental health challenges, and creating opportunities for people with disabilities to thrive.

What stands out most isn’t any single program, but how the mission consistently shows up in everything our organization does.

“What sets us apart,” he said, “is the extent to which the mission statement is internalized into the operations and management of the organization.”

In his experience, that level of alignment is rare, and it’s what makes this work so meaningful.

“There are very few organizations that truly live, eat and breathe their mission,” Gary said.

Why it matters to give

Gary retired as CEO in 2016 and returned to serve on the board in 2021, as our organization transitioned into becoming an independent nonprofit.

Today, his role is focused on supporting leadership and ensuring the organization remains aligned with its purpose.

“We’re there to be a sounding board,” he said, “and to ask the question, ‘How does this support our mission?’”

Gary emphasizes that community involvement is essential to sustaining and expanding nonprofit work, especially in fields like mental health, where funding is often stretched.

“The intangible that attracts community members to join our board,” he said, “is to recognize our focus on helping people improve their lives, improve their circumstances.”

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