Donna brings over 40 years of experience in public administration, specializing in human services and homelessness program development, implementation, and operations. She worked for Orange County Government for nearly 27 years, beginning in 1997. Most recently she served as the Manager of the Mental Health and Homelessness Division. In this capacity, Donna had oversight of a $34M budget and served as the mayor’s subject matter expert on behavioral health, homelessness, and criminal justice. She led initiatives such as developing the Orange County Juvenile Assessment Center and the Belvin Perry Jr. Central Receiving Center (CRC). She also spearheaded the Phase Two CRC Program, ANCHOR, providing transitional housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness and mental health and addiction challenges. Earlier, Donna served as the Health and Family Services Administrator of the Mental Health Division, and as Assistant Manager of the Youth and Family Services Division.     

Donna has also led crisis response efforts, notably coordinating behavioral services at Family Assistance Center after the 2016 Pulse Night Club shooting, and establishing the Orlando United Assistance Center for affected individuals and families. She also operationalized the resiliency center known as Orlando United Resource Center. Donna has been a champion for children’s behavioral health through initiatives such as the Youth Mental Health Management Network and Wraparound Orange. In 2019, she led a community initiative to develop a system of care gaps analysis for Orange County. To do so, Donna collaborated with subject matter experts, peers, and providers across the system.

Donna started her career as a therapist at Apalachee Center in Tallahassee, Florida, where she worked for 11 years. She then served as Substance Abuse Director at Rollins College, where she developed and implemented substance abuse prevention programs for a campus of 1,500 students. Subsequently, at Human Service Associates, Donna planned, implemented, and operated a $5M Juvenile Assessment Center and Addictions Receiving Facility while supervising the operations of 200 personnel.