Brendan Shortley, Executive Director

Experienced Clinic Executive Director with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Coaching, Government, Team Building, and Fundraising. Also a strong research & teaching professional graduated from the University of Florida. 

Brendan Shortley started his work with homeless populations in South Florida. After coming to Gainesville many years ago, he continued those efforts individually and with groups of professionals. He later started with Helping Hands in the early years of its humble beginnings at the Salvation Army.  After training fellow volunteers and functioning as clinic manager, he began expanding roles further into areas such as program management, volunteer coordination, and finance/grant coordination. He also helped oversee the transition expansion into the current facility where the clinic is still located. Brendan is the Executive Director. 

In addition to being a business owner for many years, Brendan has been recognized by various communities for his research and leadership in the areas of health, education, science, business, and service, including community service awards from city governments in South Florida and Gainesville.  His work with homeless populations began as a child in South Florida, through street outreach efforts in the poorest neighborhoods. He started his college career at the University of Florida, where he earned degrees in neurobiology, psychology, and pathology.  He conducted years of research in the fields of neurology, psychology, physiology, therapy effects on children with cancer, etc.  He also taught college students at a learning center in the fields of chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy and physiology. He later founded his own learning center in town, and it won an award in 2013 for Outstanding Service to the Community.  Recent accomplishments include being elected chairman of the North Central Florida Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry in 2013.  It was then when he jointly founded the million-dollar Empowerment Center for the Homeless and Hungry (GRACE Marketplace) in 2014.  This Center now serves over 300 clients per day.  Brendan continues to serve on the Coalition’s Governance Board of Directors.  He was elected Chair of the County Commissioners’ Health Care Advisory Board in 2013, and has served as chair every term since then.  He is also involved in the National Association of County and City Health Officials Community Health Improvement Project in their Healthy Communities Initiative and Forces of Change Steering Committees.

Brendan is also a frequent university guest lecturer in the colleges of business, chemistry, liberal arts & sciences, and Innovation Academy.