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Dr. Robbie Smith CEO/Executive Director	Robbie W. Smith Robbie W. Smith, M.A. Counseling Psychology, is a Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and she holds an Honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from Southeastern Theological Seminary Jacksonville given for her service and knowledge of Christian Ministry to children and families; she holds two earned Master's, one in Christian Counseling from Southeastern Theological Seminary Jacksonville and a second in Counseling Psychology from the University of North Florida. Robbie has served multiple professional organizations in an official capacity including Treasurer of the Northeast Florida Mental Health Counselors Association. She was Treasurer for the Florida Association of Christian Child Caring Agencies from 1991 to 1994, served as President of FACCCA from 2005-2008 and is currently serving on its Executive Committee. Robbie with her husband Doug, co-founded the Safe Harbor Boys Home program in 1983, it was incorporated in 1984 as a not for profit organization to care for fatherless, at-risk, abandoned and/or orphaned teenage boys. The facility has operated for 25 years without accepting government funding for support. Robbie serves as the Executive Director in a volunteer capacity. Robbie, along with her husband and Safe Harbor has been profiled nationally in People Magazine, World Magazine, and on CBS This Morning, NBC News Today, CNN, and CBN. Robbie was featured as the cover article in the University of North Florida Alumni Journal in September 1996. A movie based on the true story of Doug and Robbie’s life aired May 30, 2009 on the Hallmark Channel. The movie stars Treat Williams as Doug and Nancy Travis as Robbie.
Dr. Doug Smith Program Director	Douglas R. Smith, D.M. Douglas R. Smith, D.M. holds an Honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from Southeastern Theological Seminary Jacksonville; a Master's Degree in Christian Counseling from Southeastern Theological Seminary; he is a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor and a Professional Member of the National Christian Counselors Association. He is also an ordained Minister. Dr. Smith is a current member of the Meninak Club (bringing help where none is available); a former member of the Northside Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. Dr. Smith along with his wife Robbie, co-founded the Safe Harbor Boys Home program in 1983, it was incorporated in 1984 as a not for profit organization to care for fatherless, at-risk, abandoned and/or orphaned teenage boys. The facility is accredited by Florida Association of Christian Child Care Agencies and has operated for 25 years without accepting government funding for support. Dr. Smith serves as a full time volunteer Program Director for Safe Harbor Boys Home. ABC World News Tonight profiled Dr. Smith as the “Person of the Week” in May 1996. Safe Harbor has been featured nationally in People Magazine, and on CBS This Morning, NBC News Today, CNN, and CBN. Dr. Smith's previous background is in Mechanical Engineering; he was a merchant seaman graduating from the Harry Lundberg School of Seamanship in Maryland. He has taught college level courses in acoustics, acoustics theory and musical acoustics. He has built experimental aircraft, drag racing, and is currently building a new class of hydroplanes sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association, all with the boys at Safe Harbor. Dr. Smith is always seeking ways to promote the education and welfare of youth in the community and is piloting a new project called “My Garage Too” that will provide a place for young and older people to gather together around a common theme, their love of cars. For more information on that project visit www.mygaragetoo.org
Dustin Johnson Academic Coordinator & Teacher	Mr. Dustin Johnson, a live-in staff member and certified Teacher, serves the boys as Academic Coordinator/Teacher. He inspires the boys through his modeling of positive Christian ethics as a lifestyle. Dustin teaches and is responsible for students academic course planning. He's been on staff for over a year and has proven his ability to see the boys strengths and weaknesses and help them build on strengths and work to overcome their weaknesses. He is an experienced boater, diver, and lay counselor.
Hal Mather Math Teacher	Mr. Mather is a brilliant engineer who teaches math skills and model boat class, whereby the boys learn math skills (ratios, proportions) how fun is that! Mr. Mather's model boat class is fine art where the boys learn to build intricately detailed battle ships. He has an uncanny ability to slow his students down and inspire them to think through a problem before tackling it and to help them learn how to work with their hands in a miniature world. He is teaching the boys at Safe Harbor they can do anything they want to. Everything is easy when you know how.
Jack Barsch Tech. Instructor	Mr. Jack Barsch as a world-class custom boat builder has manufactured tunnel boats that are winners of the national championship in the American Power Boat Association (APBA). He designs and custom builds high-performance racing boats that are known world wide. Building high performance racing boats has taught Jack to have, the patience of Job, making him an ideal candidate to teach adolescents. It is rare to see a man so dedicated to helping young people better themselves.
Mike Miller Tech. Instructor	Mr. Mike Miller is a master tool and die maker. Teaching lathe and milling machine operation and programming, Mike's shop builds high performance throttle bodies for the Dodge viper, giving our students real world experience. Mike teaches basic machine skills and advanced; AutoCAD design and build. He is able to work with a student that doesn't test well and help him learn so that he is able to improve his testing ability.
Mike Towns Tech. Instructor	Mr. Mike Towns, is an instructor of finishes, painting, shaping, fiberglass and epoxies fillers. These are skills used in auto body shops, the boating industry and commercial fabrication shops.
J.J. Thurne	Mr. J.J. Thurne is a retired police officer that spent 30 years on the police force and enjoys spending time with our boys as a role model and encourager to stay on the right track in life. JJ and his son Jeremy have been avid fisherman and enjoy taking our boys out for some recreation.
Roland Penney	Mr. Roland Penney welding instructor teaches stainless steel welding, aluminum and mild steel. These are skills the students use to design and build myriads of items ranging from vessel handrails to tuna towers to auto body design and repair.
Capt. Ron Simonton General Seamanship	Capt. Ron Simonton as spent most of his life around sailboats and coordinates our General Seamanship program with other volunteers. As an retired architect and art and design teacher for many years; Capt. Ron makes his many talents and sense of humor readily available to the boys and uses his lifetime of experience to draw from to connect education to success in the real world.
Capt. Larry	Capt Larry is a local captain that has worked on a wide variety of vessels, from ocean tankers to towboats and tugs; his vast knowledge of everything marine, and country humor is invaluable in taking care of our fleet of vessels.
Picture Coming Soon Curran Spottsworth General Seamanship	Having lived over 40 years as a boat owner and sailor, Curran is recently retired from having been a local pastor for 15 years and prior to that Curran was with AT&T for 25 years. Curran has been involved with Safe Harbor for over 10 years, but only recently began working onsite with the residents, he never ceases to be amazed at how the boys arrive as boys, and over time turn into responsible young men. Curran spends his time at Safe Harbor teaching general boat maintenance, navigation, and encouraging the residents to be reflective of their time at Safe Harbor and to excel in everything they do.
Picture Coming Soon Mary-Ann Dennis Upholstery Class	I’ve spent 20 years helping youth and sailing, I have been sewing professionally or for fun for over 50 years having focused on upholstery for the last 20. I have known about Safe Harbor for over a decade and have been working for the last four. I have loved working with the residents from Safe Harbor; it feels good to help someone feel better about themselves.
Carol Hamilton Office	I am a life-long resident of Jacksonville with a background as a paralegal at a law firm for 15 years, after I was able to stop working; I had always known I wanted to volunteer in the community. Safe Harbor has been a perfect fit for me, I come in every week and help in the office for a variety of hours. I truly feel appreciated and support all they are doing here for the boys.
Dan Wright Upholstery Class	After a bachelors’ in math and several years as a Navy Nuclear Officer, Dan spent 42 years in the textile business as a manager, engineer and trainer for sewing factories. Dan spends each Friday afternoon teaching our residents about textiles and helping our residents improve their boats.
Picture Coming Soon Lynn Wright On-Call Tutor	I am a mom of a successful son and daughter. I spent several years in the classroom teaching algebra and geometry, and now I am a licensed historical interpreter for the east coast. I travel with youth on school trips along the eastern seaboard explaining our national heritage and history of our country. I love America’s next great generation. Teaching young people history and the basics of algebra and geometry is my pleasure.
Picture Coming Soon Mike Hornsby Woodworking	I live each day for the Lord, His guidance and provision. As a father, professional general contractor and a Sunday school teacher, I hope to be a witness, teacher and role model for the young men here. In the mean time I hope they come to like woodworking the way I do.
Pete Nickodem Vocational Ed	With a commission from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, I entered the Navy and after 20+ years at sea and in heavy industrial shipyards as a naval engineer, I entered a second career as a marketing analyst. I enjoy spending some time each week working with the boys on general projects and maintenance at Safe Harbor.
Heather Nickodem Academics	As a retired teacher I help out in whatever way I can, mostly I help with academics with tutoring in all subjects. As my husband and I work together for the day, the boys are exposed to another married couple who enjoy spending time with the residents and encouraging them to become the best they can become.
Picture Coming Soon Gilbert Wright	As a local attorney, and active board member of non-profits including TeenCourt, I enjoy working with the residents in the General Seamanship classes and helping the residents learn how to maintain and operate sailboats. I am married to a school teacher and have two grown children with children of their own.
Picture Coming Soon Don Whalen	A local retired business man who is an Eagle Scout, boat owner with long distance sailing experience, father of 4, grandfather of 3, and amateur musician, Don enjoys helping the residents learn how to maintain and operate sailboats in our General Seamanship class and teaching the boys campfire songs and some of the old sea songs that were sung aboard.