HORIZON HOUSE - Key Persons

Bishop J. Howard Debro

Job Titles:

Bishop
Member of the Board of Directors
Partner, Kleinbard, Bell & Brecker

Dr. Liat Richardson-Owens

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Gerald F. Skillings

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Leadership Team
Chief Services Officer, Behavioral Health and Homeless Services
Senior Vice President, Behavioral Health and Homeless Services

Active in the Philadelphia behavioral health community since 1977, Jerry Skillings is a well-respected leader and dedicated service provider in his role as Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health Services and Homeless Services at Horizon House. From the beginning of his career, Jerry has recognized that people with serious behavioral health disorders or those who are homeless may not have many-or any-resources to help them when they are confronted with significant struggles. "I am proud to say that we at Horizon House provide this support, and I know how important it is to people." In the past, Jerry served in senior executive positions managing behavioral health services in the public sector. But he acknowledges that he has been inspired by the ability of the nonprofit behavioral health field to develop a large range of programs that continue to evolve into new and better services for a diverse disadvantaged community. Before joining Horizon House, Jerry directed and developed clinical programs in hospitals, community mental health centers, and managed care organizations. Although his background is primarily in clinical services and administration, he also is an expert in program development, performance management and improvement, and innovative practices. At Horizon House, Jerry has broadened and enhanced programs for disabled and homeless people with his expertise in clinical services, recovery philosophy and practice, case management, program development, and homeless services. But when asked about the highlight of his career with the agency, he says it "was hiring a participant who worked his way from homelessness to school to a job with us. This is what it's all about." In addition to his current work, Jerry holds a number of volunteer leadership positions. He is a member of the Board of Trustees for Norristown State Hospital, President of his local civic association, and honorary Board member of the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association. He is also Past President of the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association and The Alliance of Community Service Providers.

Jeffrey W.J. Wilush - CEO, President

Job Titles:

CEO
President

Jeff Wilush came to Horizon House with a finely honed set of business skills. Once here, he quickly discovered a strong commitment to ensuring that all people-especially the disadvantaged-receive the respect and opportunities they deserve. Jeff's financial expertise developed during his early career as a Certified Public Accountant with Ernst & Whinney and as Chief Operating and Financial Officer of a hotel/casino complex on St. Maarten. When asked what brought him to the nonprofit world, he replies simply, "It started by luck, but I quickly realized this is where I belong." After joining Horizon House in 1990 as a financial consultant, Jeff greatly contributed to the agency's ability to weather financial difficulties in the early 1990s, and he quickly advanced to the position of Chief Fiscal Officer. While increasing his skills and responsibilities, Jeff saw what a difference an agency like Horizon House can make in people's lives. After being named Chief Executive Officer in 2000, he became even more determined to help guide the agency's mission, and his tireless efforts have helped many people with disabilities reach their highest potential for independent living. [Read More…]

John Frazier Hunt - Chairman

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Board
Chairman of the Board of Directors
in 1987 As a Member of the Board of Directors

John Frazier Hunt joined Horizon House in 1987 as a member of the Board of Directors and currently serves as Chairman of the Board. He is founder and senior partner at Hunt & Ayres, P.C., in Philadelphia, and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. John feels both humbled and proud of his association with Horizon House. When first introduced to the organization, he was working to facilitate apartment rentals in Wilmington for people capable of supervised independent living. John was asked to consider joining the Board of Directors of Horizon House. After researching the organization and visiting several locations in Philadelphia, he happily agreed. To work in a leadership capacity to achieve the goals of Horizon House has been an honor for John, who has seen the institution grow both dramatically and positively. He says, "The important thing for Horizon House's continued growth is to stay true to our mission and match each person's goals in treatment, recovery, and care that are consistent with their abilities." He says his guiding light is to give as much to the organization as the people at Horizon House provide for each individual they serve. John has served on the board of directors or as an officer of many for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and was recently President of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, Clerk of Committee of George School, Director of the Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust, and Director and Founding Member of the Decorative Arts Trust. John received his B.A. in Political Science from Pennsylvania State University, his J.D. from Dickinson School of Law, and an LL.M. from Harvard University with a Teaching Law Fellowship. He clerked for Chief Court Justice John C. Bell, Jr. with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for two years. John was an adjunct professor at Temple University Law School and has been a guest lecturer at LaSalle University and Dickinson School of Law. John Frazier Hunt joined Horizon House in 1987 as a member of the Board of Directors and currently serves as Chairman of the Board. He is the founder and senior partner at Hunt & Ayres, P.C., in Philadelphia and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. John feels both humbled and proud of his association with Horizon House. When first introduced to the organization, he was working to facilitate apartment rentals in Wilmington for people capable of supervised, yet independent, living. John was asked to consider joining the Board of Directors of Horizon House. After researching the organization and visiting several locations in Philadelphia, he happily agreed. [Read More…]

Joseph Metzinger

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Joseph P. Lyons

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors
Principal, Lyons Consulting, LLP

Kariemah White-Mack

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Leadership Team
Chief Strategy and Information Officer / Executive Staff

Karlene Ricketts

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Leadership Team
Director, Organizational Quality and Compliance

Karlyn Messinger

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors
Secretary / Communications and Public Affairs Consultant

Lawrence B. Fine

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors
Private Attorney

Linda Washington-Brown

Job Titles:

Member of the Executive Leadership Team
Chief Services Officer, Developmental Services
Vice President, Developmental Services

Linda Washington-Brown has been with Horizon House for more than three decades. Right out of college, Linda sought a job in which she could help people and "support others in the achievement of their goals and aspirations." She says she "was lucky enough to find a career in an agency that cares for a vast variety of people with an array of services and support." Beginning as a Resident Advisor at Horizon House in 1984, Linda has risen to the position of Vice President for Developmental Services. In this role, she oversees Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services, including co-occurring Mental Health Services, and is involved in supporting a variety of residential settings, clinical and medication management, behavioral support, individual and group therapy, employment services, and more. During her tenure, Linda has observed how services for people with developmental disabilities have undergone a nationwide transformation, evolving from institutional dependency to community living. Linda has built a reputation for tailoring services to each person's unique needs and desires, as well as for helping individuals succeed in living as independently as possible within their chosen communities. She believes that "human-service not-for-profit agencies like Horizon House offer work that provides meaningful outcomes for individuals and families." In addition to the leadership and human service experience she brings to her position as VP of Developmental Services at the agency, Linda is also the Vice Chair of the Pennsylvania Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Advisory Board, which provides advice and expertise to the Pennsylvania Department of Health in determining the service and support needs of individuals with TBI. In addition, she is a member of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Linda was one of the first recipients of the Horizon House Wayne R. Chiodo Leadership Award in 2010. She earned her B.A. from Temple University and her M.B.A. from Eastern University.