Meet Our Leadership Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

BARBARA BENNETT

MSN, RN, LNC, CARN-AP, LCAS

MEDICAL DIRECTOR

MICHAEL WILKERSON

MD, FASAM

Dr. Michael Wilkerson has been working in the field of substance use disorder for over 25 years with a focus on treating healthcare professionals during the majority of this time. He has served as the Medical Director and Corporate Medical Director for Bradford Health Services in Alabama, and as Medical Director of Talbott Recovery Center in Atlanta, Georgia. As a native North Carolinian, Dr. Wilkerson returned to his “home state” when he joined the talented clinical team at Pavillon. Dr. Wilkerson is nationally named a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine in recognition of his high level of achievement and dedication to the field of addiction medicine.

CHIEF CLINICAL OFFICER

BRIAN COON

MA, LCAS, CCS, MAC

Brian received his undergraduate degree in psychology and master’s degree in community-clinical psychology from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Brian began his full-time clinical work with substance use disorders during his graduate internship in 1988.  He came to Pavillon in 2008 and served as Clinical Director for ten years beginning in 2011.  His current duties as Chief Clinical Officer include program development, staff education, outcome evaluation, research and publication.  He is a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, Certified Clinical Supervisor, and nationally credentialed as a Master Addiction Counselor. His background is in cognitive-behavioral psychology and evidence-based treatment of co-occurring disorders.

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

JOHN PEARSON

CMA

As Director of Finance, John oversees all financial operations for Pavillon. His responsibilities include overseeing financial planning/forecasting, establishing of financial policies/procedures, risk management, banking and investment relationships, as well as providing daily financial oversight.

John has a degree in Finance from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Montreat College. His experience spans manufacturing industries and not-for-profit healthcare.

ADDICTION PSYCHIATRIST

BRADY SCHROER

DO

Dr. Brady Schroer obtained his Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology at Nebraska Wesleyan University. He attended medical school at Kansas City University of Medicine and completed his general psychiatry residency at the Menninger School of Psychiatry. Dr. Schroer worked in a large hospital setting as a psychiatric hospitalist caring for patients with psychiatric issues, detoxifying clients from alcohol and benzodiazepines, ECT treatment for depression, and served as Medical Director and Chief of Psychiatry. In 2007 he became the Medical Director of the psychiatric unit at one of the area’s top hospitals. Most recently, he has been seeing clients in sober living environments and residential treatment centers. He is double board certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine.

TREATMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR

CHARLIE DENNIS

MA, LCMHC, LCAS, CCS

Charlie earned an MA in Clinical Psychology at a psychodynamically-oriented degree program and a post-graduate certificate in Mindfulness in Psychotherapy. Charlie completed a year of doctoral work in the PsyD at Roosevelt University, he went a different direction and moved to North Carolina in 2017. Charlie has been with Pavillon since 2017, while he took a short hiatus to revisit working in the wilderness therapy industry, he returned to Pavillon shortly thereafter. Charlie holds an MA in Clinical Psychology, is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS), and currently a Certified Clinical Supervisor. (CCS).

OUTPATIENT SERVICES DIRECTOR

LAVONDA SWEENEY

MA, LPC

Lavonda has worked extensively in both mental health and substance use disorders, with over 15 years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor, bringing a comprehensive clinical perspective to her role as Director of Outpatient Services. She has 6 years of leadership experience, nearly 3 years in Private Practice, and over 5 years as an Adjunct Psychology Instructor. Lavonda holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology with a concentration in Substance Use Disorder and a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Webster University. She is committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence, and lasting positive impact for the populations served.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

DENISE KAGAN

PHD

Denise Kagan received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at Adelphi University’s Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies in Garden City, NY. She completed intensive post-doctoral training with a focus on psychotherapy, family and group systems, psychological assessment, and therapeutic milieu treatment at the Austen Riggs Center.  She then served as a psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at The Menninger Clinic.  At Pavillon she works with all therapeutic programs towards initial assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning for all patients, as well as consulting to the multi-disciplinary treatment teams. She also conducts psychological testing and both individual and group therapy.

CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST

BRAD SOKAL

PHD

Brad Sokal received his PhD in Clinical/Medical Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He was classically trained as a clinical neuropsychologist with interests in psychophysiology and rehabilitation. Dr. Sokal has been working in the field of substance use disorders for over 9 years. Dr. Sokal served as a clinical neuropsychologist and Chief Clinical Psychologist at Bradford Health Services with an emphasis on treating healthcare professionals for much of this time. At Pavillon, Dr. Sokal provides comprehensive neuropsychological assessments for healthcare professionals and other patients, consults with the interdisciplinary team, conducts program evaluation, and facilitates individual and group therapies.

NURSING & MEDICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR

KAYE BENEDUM

RNBC

Kaye is our Director of Nursing and Medical Services.  She manages an all-RN Nursing Department as well as our physician assistants and coordinates clinical activities for our medical residents in training. A graduate of the University of NC-Greensboro School of Nursing,  Kaye holds a National Certification in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing.  She is a member of the NC Chapter of the International Society of Nurses on Addiction.

Before coming to Pavillon in 2011, she worked in a number of inpatient psychiatric settings serving child, adolescent, and adult populations.  She has over 30 years of psychiatric and substance use treatment experience.

SPIRITUAL & WELLNESS DIRECTOR

JAMES “WOLF” YOXALL

MA, CSC 

James “Wolf” Yoxall, MA, CSC and Ordained Minister, is the Spiritual/Wellness Director at Pavillon. Wolf provides spiritual direction, wellness counseling, spiritual group process, lectures on spirituality and mindfulness practices in SUD treatment. Wolf also facilitates spiritual wellness retreats and presents experimental lectures on the aspects of spirituality and wellness as it pertains to overall wellbeing.  He is a published author and artist. Wolf is certified in Outdoor Education, Martial Arts and has worked extensively with diverse Indigenous cultures. Wolf has been guiding people in all walks of life spiritual guidance and practical wellness applications for over thirty-five years.

Director of Admissions and Alumni Services

LAURIE BUCKLEY

Laurie is a tenured employee of Pavillon with over 5 years of continuous service. She began with the organization in the Admissions Department and then moved to Community Outreach and Continuous Quality Improvement. Originally from New Jersey, where she earned a degree in Psychology, much of Laurie’s professional career has been in management positions with non-profit organizations. In addition, she has owned her own business for the past 16 years. Laurie is passionate about using her personal recovery experience to help others and is a champion for all things Pavillon, but especially for the recovery services that we offer.

NON-CLINICAL SUPPORT SERVICES DIRECTOR

TARA HAMLIN

Joyfully serving Pavillon with 12 years of continuous service and with over 22 years of management experience, Tara Hamlin is the Director of Non-Clinical Support Services.  Her pursuit of excellence has earned her opportunities in various management positions throughout her career and she is currently responsible for multiple non-clinical departments for Pavillon.  With a background in hospitality operations, Tara’s expertise in customer and employee satisfaction benefits the organization as a whole and she is committed to providing a positive experience for patients, their families, and Pavillon employees.

EXECUTIVE CHEF

BRYAN KILBY

My name is Bryan Kilby. I am the Executive Chef of Pavillon International. I have an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science in Culinary Arts/Baking & Pastry from Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College. I have been a Chef for more than 30 years! I love my job at Pavillon! I love being a part of something bigger, a part of someone’s journey! Over the last several years I lost 130#s and learned a lot about nutrition and exercise which is incorporated into the weekly menus I write for our patients. My favorite “food thing” to do is smoked meat and I really enjoy making sauces!

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

SUSAN “MAC” SUTHERLAND

SHRM-CP

Susan “Mac” Sutherland has been a part of the Pavillon family for 9 years – beginning as the Admissions Manager and later moving into the role of Human Resources Manager, where she has worked for the last 7 years. Mac has a Master’s Degree in Legal Studies and is certified as an SHRM-CP. She is responsible for the overall management of the Human Resources department and strives to provide the highest level of support to Pavillon employees.

Mac enjoys reading, writing, and spending time exploring the beauty of Western North Carolina. She is the parent of two grown children and a granddaughter. Additionally, she loves walking the local trails with her amazing French Bulldog, Lexi Louise.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

FRANK SHEHEEN

MS

Frank Sheheen has been a SUD professional beginning in 1988. He was named the Addiction Professional of the Year for South Carolina in 2010. He began as volunteer for the SC Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors in 1989. He was named Volunteer of the Year in 2003. He served on the Board for eight years culminating as President for two years.

In 2003 Frank became Director of the SC Recovering Professional Program. He remained in that position until 2018. At the beginning of his tenure as Director, the SCRPP monitored Health Care Professional with a diagnosis of SUD for four professions. The number in monitoring was  225. Over the next 15 years this grew to sixteen professions and 525 in monitoring. Frank has worked in several capacities in the treatment field. After his retirement from SCRPP he joined the Business Development team at Pavillon.

He resides in Columbia, SC with his partner Alice McCrory. Frank has a daughter and a son as well as two grandsons. Frank is an avid bicyclist and rides four to five thousand miles each year.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

HUNTER RAGLAND

With a deep passion for building relationships, Hunter has found success in the mental health and substance use treatment industry as a marketing professional. Hunter’s keen understanding of the power of substance use treatment provides connection between clinical professionals, interventionists and potential clients and their families. Hunter began his career in the behavioral health space in Atlanta through his employment as a business development representative with an intensive outpatient mental health treatment center. Subsequently, he spent two years primarily marketing the southeast region for a premier trauma-based treatment center. A native of suburban Atlanta, Hunter’s hope is that through his work more men and women will gain internal insight and empower them to implement the skills and actions that foster growth and sobriety. In his free time, Hunter loves to run, watch college football and is an avid yoga practitioner.