Our Senior Leadership Team
Hermitage Hall is dedicated to helping young people heal from the trauma they’ve experienced and the challenges they’ve overcome. That work can’t be done without an equally dedicated staff of behavioral health professionals. Our clinical department is comprised of licensed professional counselors, psychologists, and social workers that hold a minimum of a master’s degree in their area of expertise. The medical team includes a board-certified pediatrician and psychiatrist, and our teachers are certified in Special Education.
Read on to learn more about the group of senior leaders that guide our mission to provide the level of high-quality care and treatment our residents deserve.
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Mark Lasko, CEO
Dr. Lasko brings over a decade of residential and clinical experience to Hermitage Hall, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Natchez Trace Youth Academy in Waverly, TN. He has experience working with at-risk adolescents in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Dr. Lasko believes that each child deserves the opportunity to become their best version of themselves and is proud to support Hermitage Hall in this mission.
Mitzi Milts, Chief Financial Officer
Mitzi joined Hermitage Hall in October 2012 as the CFO. Mitzi has extensive experience working in both the private and public financial sectors. Before Hermitage Hall, she was the Chief Financial Officer with Natchez Trace Youth Academy. Mitzi has her bachelor’s from Middle Tennessee State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Gladys Bush, MD, Medical Director
Dr. Bush is a graduate of Meharry Medical College. She completed her residency in General Psychiatry and her fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at The Ohio State University Hospital. Dr. Bush has experience working with children and adolescents in academic settings, inpatient hospital settings, and community mental health settings. She is board certified in General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
DIRECTORS
Calissa Brooks, MS, Director of Risk Management and Quality Assurance
Calissa Brooks is the Director of Risk Management and Quality Assurance. Calissa began her career with Hermitage Hall in 2016 as the Utilization Review Coordinator. Calissa is a caring professional who displays a strong commitment to the success of children and families. Over the last 17 years she has an extensive history of working in the mental health field including severing as the Director of Clinical excellence at Camelot Care Center, worked with the Tennessee Department of Children Service investigations unit and conducted presentence investigations as a U.S. Probation Officer. Calissa Brooks holds a Master of Science in Counseling from Freed-Hardeman University, Master of Science in Criminal Justice from UT – Chattanooga and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from UT-Chattanooga.
Devin McClain, Director of Operations and Performance Improvement
Being a native of Nashville, Tennessee it was an honor to return from Texarkana, Texas to serve as the D.O.O at Hermitage Hall. My career in education and residential, provided me with the necessary tools for obtaining this position. Completing my education at Lane College in Interdisciplinary Studies, along with a M.A.Ed. degree from Tennessee State University has polished me educationally to accompany this team of administrators.
As an educator, my approach was to help the scholars that were being taught, as well as give them the direction to help others. I have seized the opportunity to work with children and adults of all ages and ability levels, while as the Facility Director of Lewisville, Arkansas Detention Center, Facility Director of Gateway Academy for Young Men, Dean of Students at Stones River Academy and Boys Preparatory School, Family Engagement Coordinator at Brick Church College Preparatory School, teaching Middle and High School students at G4S and Metro Davidson County, and as the Compliance Consultant for the Tennessee Department of Education Special Education Division. These various positions have allowed me to gain the skillset for being the professional I am currently. It is my privilege to be a part of the Hermitage Hall team, and my ambition is to continue to grow within the UHS family.
Cari Hassell, Residential Director
Cari Hassell is a native Nashvillian who has held several leadership roles in government and private companies. Prior to joining the Hermitage Hall team, she served as a Facility Administrator at Truecore Behavioral Solutions – Gateway Academy. She also served as a Treatment Manager for Tennessee Department of Children’s Services – Juvenile Justice Division. She has over 20 years of experience working with children and adolescents in a behavioral healthcare setting. She earned a Master of Science in Public Service Management from Cumberland University; and a Bachelor of Science in Arts and Science w/ Concentration in Psychology and Sociology from Tennessee State University. She is active in various community and charitable organizations.
Dr. Albert Z. Holloway, III, Director of Education
Born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. Holloway received his bachelor’s in Business Administration from Florida A&M University. He obtained his Doctorate and Masters in Administration and Supervision from Tennessee State University. Prior to Hermitage Hall, his leadership experience includes working with youth at the juvenile detention center as well as working with youth that have been sent to alternative learning centers due to behavior. Dr. Holloway believes that every student deserves a meaningful education that will provide them with the necessary tools to be productive members of society.
Lee Johnson, SHRM-SCP, Director of Human Resources
Lee is a human resources professional with over 20 years of experience with the majority being in healthcare.
She has served in several HR positions including Regional HR Director, Corporate HR Director, and Division Labor Management Analyst.
Lee previously owned an HR consulting and background check company, receiving the Small Business of the Year Award and selected as a “Top 40 Under 40” Movers and Shakers awarded by the Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce and the Memphis Business Journal.
Lee is excited to work at Hermitage Hall where she will have more of an opportunity to work directly with coaching and developing staff, which is her passion!
Robin Sharpe, Director of Nursing
Robin Sharpe is a graduate of Alcorn State University in Natchez, Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She brings 31 years of nursing experience that includes Cardiac and Intensive Care, Hospice and Home Health, well baby, Renal, Neuro and travel nursing. Robin has assisted with opening various facilities including inpatient rehab units, long term care acute facilities, partial hospitalization programs and nursing homes. Robin believes in a team/interdepartmental approach for care delivery and is striving for resident and staff education to better prepare our residents for life after discharge. Her passion is education and teaching clients to be the best they can be. She is dedicated to her client base and looks for innovative new ways to deliver high quality care in the residential setting.
Sarah Steger, LPC-MHSP, CCTP, CFRC, Director of Clinical Services
Sarah is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Mental Health Service Provider a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and Certified First Responder Counselor. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida and a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Webster University. Sarah began her career working with children and adolescents at the Polk County School Board in Bartow, Florida, where she worked with students who were homeless/at-risk of homelessness. Sarah then went to work for Tri-County Human Services, Inc. in Lakeland, Florida, as an adolescent and adult counselor. She worked with individuals who suffered trauma and substance use addiction and it was there where she found her true passion of working with trauma.
She provided case management, individual and group therapy sessions, as well as attended court hearings for those who were involuntarily entered into treatment. Sarah then moved to Orlando, Florida, where she worked at Central Florida Behavioral Hospital as an outpatient therapist. She worked for the Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs, providing group and individual therapy, along with case management. While at Central Florida Behavioral Hospital, Sarah also worked as a Utilization Review Coordinator, advocating to insurance companies on the patient’s behalf. She was also a Baker Act specialist, assessing individuals for voluntary or involuntary placement for mental health treatment.
Sarah has also had her own private counseling practice and, most recently, worked at Alma Behavioral Group as the Therapy Supervisor. Sarah is very pleased to continue working for Universal Health Services in her role as Director of Clinical Services.
PSYCHIATRISTS
Dr. Laura Reynolds, Psychiatrist
Dr. Reynolds is originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, but now resides in the Nashville area. She received her bachelor’s and M.P.H. from Tulane University and her M.D. from the University of Tennessee. She completed her residency in Adult Psychiatry and her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship through the University of Tennessee. She is board certified in Adult, Child, and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Reach Out for Help Today
Our admissions staff is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. (CST) to schedule a no-cost, mental health assessment. Call 615-742-3000 to get started. For questions about our programs, you can also use our online contact form. In the case of a medical emergency or crisis, please dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.