Social Studies: Barbara Zdravecky

Barbara Zdravecky, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, is being honored for her 20 years of leadership at the organization’s March 13 annual dinner. We sat down with the  CEO in her office — “Central Avenue, that’s where I hang out,” she says — to find out more about her life and who she is, beyond her public image.

I’m from a small coal-mining town outside of Pittsburg, less than 1,500 people. I went to Catholic school and I was the first person in my family to go to college — truly living the American dream.

My family held a great value on us succeeding — I think that what I’ve experienced is so much bigger than anything they had every dreamed of experiencing.

I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where I was just honored as an Alumni of Leadership. My mother went with me when I accepted the honor, seven weeks before she passed away. It was a wonderful experience. I’m really sorry my parents can’t be here for this event.

When I graduated college, I couldn’t find a job. A friend of mine, a roommate actually, had a contact in Manatee County and she got a job down here. I said,“I don’t want to spend another winter in Pennsylvania,” so I drove down in my old Coronet 440, with no air conditioning, and got my first job. I was a waitress at the old Seafood Shack. Then I took a test to be a social worker — I lasted six months and on my six-month anniversary, I took at job at what is now Manatee Glens. I was doing rape crisis and crisis intervention work. My background is in psychiatric nursing, so I was contracted to do all the screenings for Baker Acts and drug detox cases.

Then I suddenly found myself as the head nurse of psychiatrics — I did that for a couple of years and after that, I took a break and moved to Key West where I helped start a hospice program when AIDS broke out in the Keys. I was the patient coordinator during this unique experience. I would go into bohemian villages, with chickens running around the kitchens and then the next day I’d be in a very fancy, high-end Sassoon house. There was a lot of wild stuff.

Taking care of patients is definitely one of the most intimate jobs I’ve had. I truly value my experience with that. When you work with families and one of them is dying and you help them with coming to terms with death and the pain and sadness that come with — it was amazing.

I think at some point I’ll go back and work with hospice, as a volunteer. It’s the beginning life decision and ending life decisions. Self-determination, we sure need a lot more of that on the ending part of life.

Prior to taking this job, I had been a volunteer at Planned Parenthood. My predecessor was going to law school and the search committee called and asked if I was interested in doing it. I decided to go for it, because what could be a better job?

Being honored is certainly humbling and I’m very honored. I have a lot of pride working for an organization that has had the impact it has had on women in America, as well as an organization that continues to keep a stiff upper lip, who believe in people, believe in women and their potential. I have met some of the best and brightest, most well-traveled, sympathetic individuals that understand the importance of women having the choice of when and whether they will start a family.

I never expected to be here [in Florida] this long. I expected it to be a winter thing, to get a job as a waitress until something more permanent came along. But things kept happening, opportunities that I stumbled upon that have gotten me where I am now — a lot with the help of a lot of strong women who were supportive and opened doors for me.

I am an introvert by nature, which seems incongruent with my work— my public image has blossomed because of Planned Parenthood.

I read a lot. I like to nestle in my home and read. I have a little house on the beach and it’s been my refuge for many years. When I’m at home I am my daughter’s mother first and foremost, a neighbor and a friend. I like to cook, I walk the beach, I go to Pilates, I do yoga, I enjoy special times with friends — I’m really just like anybody else. I have been really fortunate to have a great community of friends that I’ve developed over the years.

One of the best things I’ve done for myself recently was going to a Buddhist retreat, headed by Buddhist monk Thich nhat hanh, in Mississippi. I went for five days in September and it’s had a really profound impact on me with staying connected to the moment and not totally losing grip on things.

I meditate every morning to center myself before I go out to start my day. It really is a very simple, inexpensive, wonderful way to learn to relax and let go.

My daughter Maggie is the one I want to celebrate at this event. She did a lot of sacrificing to be my daughter — I traveled a lot and there was a lot of notoriety that came along with what I did. She crossed the picket line with me — between the leafleting of our home from our neighbors to that moment when her teachers would say “I know who you are,” just to see what kind of effect that would have on me. She has lived this and grown up with Planned Parenthood and I’m extraordinarily proud of her.

Looking back on these 20 years, I’m just so grateful for the astonishing array of people I have met, that have taught me so much. I can’t imagine that anybody could have had a more fulfilling experience. The experience I have had here has been truly remarkable.