Meet the Executive
Team
Gayden M. Fite, M.Ed., LPC, MHSP, is Director of Clinical
Services at Hermitage Hall. A
highly accomplished executive and
clinician, Ms. Fite has extensive experience in operations and
clinical development. Prior to joining Hermitage Hall, she served as
clinical director for The Ranch, a mental health-alcohol and drug
treatment center in Nunnelly, Tennessee, where she supervised a
staff of 30 clinicians and para-professionals. Her clinical work
also includes serving as executive director at the Women’s Recovery
Center in Xenia, Ohio; the Ross Institute for Psychological Trauma
in Richardson, Texas; and, The Bridgeway School & Day Treatment
Program in Dallas, TX. She also designed and implemented a national
program for dissociative and trauma related disorders at Timberlawn
Mental Health System in Dallas and managed the adult psychiatric
services at Charter Hospital of Dallas in Plano, Texas. Ms. Fite is
a licensed professional counselor in both Tennessee and Texas, a
licensed independent chemical dependency counselor in Ohio and an
internationally certified alcohol and drug counselor. She earned his
bachelor’s degree in behavioral psychology and research, from Emory
University, graduating magna cum laude, and received her master’s
degrees in counseling and education from Amberton University and
North Georgia University.
Arthur R. (Art) Taylor, M.Ed., Special Education is Chief
Operating Officer of Hermitage
Hall. As COO, Mr. Taylor is
responsible for the overall supervision of the behavioral,
educational and recreational departments. He is also responsible for
satisfying all criteria mandated by the Tennessee State Department
of Education and Special Education. After joining Hermitage Hall in
1993, Mr. Taylor served as a teacher, recreational counselor and
resident counselor for six years before assuming his current
position. He previously was an educational consultant for three
years at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, where he provided
services to adolescents in treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, and
he served as a special education teacher and behavior specialist at
Rock Springs Elementary schools in Middle Tennessee. Mr. Taylor
earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and master of education,
special education, degree from Middle Tennessee State University. He
also has a special education professional teacher certification.
Christopher T. (Chris) Leonard is Chief Financial Officer of
Hermitage Hall. Mr.
Leonard brings years of experience as a public
accountant, financial analyst and corporate accountant to his
position. Between 1999 and 2005, he was a senior staff accountant
for a CPA firm in Jacksonville, Florida, an accountant for LifeTrust
America Inc., in Franklin, Tennessee, and a financial analyst for
Tractor Supply Co. in Brentwood, Tennessee. In 2005, Mr. Leonard
joined Universal Health Services, parent company of Hermitage Hall,
as a senior staff accountant in Nashville and was promoted to
regional financial manager in 2007. He was named CFO of Hermitage
Hall in April of 2008. Mr. Leonard has served in the U.S. Navy and
the Naval Reserve since 1988 and currently is Leading Chief Petty
Officer/RIA Staff Chief, responsible for managing and directing the
career development program for five units with 150 personnel. He
earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of
North Florida and his master of business administration degree from
Middle Tennessee State University.
Shatonya (Tonya) Crayton, M.S., NCC, LPC-MHSP, is Director of
Admissions at Hermitage Hall.
Her duties include coordinating all
admissions into the facility and coordinating and communicating the
disposition of each client with Service Advocates. She conducts
marketing ventures in conjunction with the KidLink National
Placement Network. Ms. Crayton came
to Hermitage Hall in 2004 as a clinical therapist and also served as
Utilization Review Coordinator before being named to head the
admissions department in 2006. She previously served as a family
counselor at Youth Villages in Nashville where she provided
therapeutic services and crisis support for families. Ms. Crayton is
a National Certified Counselor in the areas of childhood and adolescence,
clinical mental health, corrections/offenders, sexual abuse recovery
and mental health/agency counseling by the National Board for
Certified Counselors. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor
with a Mental Health Service Provider designation in the state of
Tennessee where she applies mental health and human development
principles in order to prevent, diagnose, and treat individuals with
mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated disorders
that interfere with their mental health. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social and
rehabilitation services and a master’s degree in counseling
psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Pamela I (Pam) Trent, M.A., PHR, is Director of Human
Resources of Hermitage Hall.
Ms. Trent is responsible for all
employee relations at Hermitage Hall, including staff training, new
hire orientation and all aspects of benefits. From 1989 to 1997, she
worked in various roles at CitiFinancial in Baltimore and from 1997
to 1999 was human resources administrator at Hechinger/HQ/Builders
Square in Baltimore. Prior to joining Hermitage Hall, Ms. Trent was
customer account executive at Comcast in Nashville, where among
other things she handled special projects and assisted in training
new technicians. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business
education from Morgan State University and a master’s degree in
business management and human resources from the College of Notre
Dame of Maryland. Ms. Trent also has a professional human resources
certification.