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Rev. February 27, 2008

 


Second chance propels
him from patient to CEO

Bill Labine '98
Major: Social Work
Occupation: Executive Director, Jackie Nitschke Center
Hometown: Green Bay

In 1993 Bill LaBine walked into the Jackie Nitschke Rehabilitation Center and shared his struggle with addiction. Today, 15 years later, he walks through those same doors every day, but in a far different pair of shoes. He now runs the place that helped him get his life back on track.
      LaBine changed course with the help of Nitschke Center counselors and encouragement from UW-Green Bay’s Social Work faculty.
      The center, named for the spouse of Green Bay Packers legend Ray Nitschke, is located in a refurbished colonial house in downtown Green Bay. For a short time following his first visit, the house was literally home for LaBine. He agreed to work as a resident assistant --— helping with maintenance and security — while attending UW-Green Bay full time.
      Later, he became a certified counselor and clinical supervisor. He was then named assistant director for the center. Three years ago, LaBine got the nod from the board to lead the place as executive director.
      LaBine doesn’t dwell on the past, but deeply appreciates the value of a second chance. He originally attended UW-Green Bay fresh out of high school in 1981, but was distracted and quit.
      “I returned when I was 31,” he says. “All through those years I would drive past the campus wishing I could go back.”
      When he got his chance, he made the most of it. He received his bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 1998, and didn’t stop there. Determined to further his ability to help others, he continued his education by commuting to UW-Milwaukee for master’s degree studies while working full time.
      (UW-Green Bay has since begun a Fox Valley-based master’s in Social Work to meet increasing demand.)
      Today, LaBine’s challenges center on maintaining and growing an agency that provides cost-effective and affordable alcohol and drug treatment to those who can’t afford treatment anywhere else. And then there’s mentoring staff and overseeing the maintenance of three properties.
      From 1993 to 2008, the challenges have changed for Bill LaBine, but he knows he’s still in a great place.
Faculty influenced his career
“I realized when I went for my master’s (at Milwaukee) that UW-Green Bay had prepared me so well,” LaBine says. “Candy Conard, Keetjie Ramo, Anne Kok, Rolfe White and Kevin Roeder were great influences on me. It’s a great school and it provided a great education.”

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