Rob McCartney
Chief Executive Officer
Robert E. McCartney MSW, “Rob,” is the Chief Executive Officer for The James Barry-Robinson Institute, The Barry Robinson Center and Next Step To Success.
As the son of a CPA and a Professor of Nursing, Rob says he was destined to become a social worker. He started his journey of helping young people while in college, working at a juvenile detention facility. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University, Rob took time off to see the United States, but after several years of what his mother called “wander lust,” he returned to Michigan State to earn his Masters in Social Work.
The first half of Rob’s career was clinically focused working in a variety of settings including foster care, residential, hospitals, and outpatient, serving clients from age 5 to age 85. Those who know Rob will tell you he has never truly grown up and that is why he always migrates back to working with children.
In the second half of his career, Rob has focused on clinical and operational leadership. He has served as a Clinical Supervisor, Executive Director, Regional Director of Operations, Chief Operations Officer, and Chief Executive Director. Rob has experienced success in starting up new programs and turning around struggling programs. He credits this success to the teams he has been able to develop. “I hire good people and try to stay out of their way.”
Rob is a compassionate leader who puts the needs of the children and young adults in our care, and their families, first. He has strong operational skills and can become laser focused when needed. We have been successful because of his leadership.
Rob lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, Shirley. They have four adult children and are proud grandparents to their three grandchildren.
Charlene Hoobler
LCSW, LMFT Chief Operations Officer
Charlene Hoobler, LSCSW, LMFT, has more than 35 years of clinical experience in providing services to children and families in various settings throughout the country. She has extensive training and practice in Systems, Strategic and Structural Family Therapy.
Charlene has served as chief operations officer since 2012. She oversees all aspects of The Barry Robinson Center’s residential treatment program for military-connected children and teens. This includes therapies, residential life and educational services. Charlene also provides clinical oversight for JBRI Foster Care Services and JBRI Outpatient Services.
Prior to joining JBRI, Charlene worked as an administrator for several organizations overseeing service lines that included alternative schools, treatment day schools, residential treatment centers and child placing agencies for foster care and adoption. Active in several organizations, Charlene is the 2021-2023 president of the National Association for Children’s Behavioral Health.
Chuck Brooks, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President
Since joining the organization in 2012, Dr. Chuck Brooks has held several roles. He assisted with the development of The Barry Robinson Center (BRC) becoming a TRICARE-approved treatment center. He travels throughout the United States to help extend BRC’s reputation as a national facility and has helped expand outreach to military families serving overseas.
He also assisted JBRI Outpatient Services and JBRI Foster Care Services with projects, as well as working internally on employee engagement and other initiatives. Prior to joining the organization, Dr. Brooks worked in senior management levels in both the public and private health care sectors, which included overseeing TRICARE residential services for the Department of Defense. He has also taught at the university level and consulted with many organizations.