Session Agenda

Douglas J. Edwards is the director of the HMP Global Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Learning Network, the behavioral healthcare field’s largest media and event producer. Its signature events include Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, Psych Congress, Symposia on Addiction Disorders, and Treatment Center Investment & Valuation Retreats. He has been serving the behavioral healthcare community since 2000, and previously served as editor-in-chief of Behavioral Healthcare and Addiction Professional magazines. Edwards has moderated high-level panel discussions at conferences across the country with VIPs such as members of Congress and the White House. He earned an MBA from Franklin University and his undergraduate degree in English and Sociology from the University of Akron.

Melissa Kellstrom joined the DEA in 2009 and currently serves as a
Legislative/Diversion Policy Analyst within the Diversion Control Division. She is a
principal advisor to the Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Policy Office on
legislative, regulatory, and policy matters related to controlled substances and
diversion control equities under the Controlled Substances Act.
Prior to her current role, she served as a Congressional Liaison within DEA’s Office
of Congressional and Public Affairs and was detailed to the Senate Drug Caucus to
work on legislation related to the Controlled Substances Act. She graduated from the
University of Maryland.

Mrs. Katie Laughery serves as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of
Diversion Control Policy at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), where she
provides executive leadership on national policy issues affecting the regulation and
oversight of controlled substances.
Mrs. Laughery’s previous roles in DEA include serving as the Business Operations
Chief for DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division, the Chief Policy Advisor for the
Diversion Control Division, and, the Chief of the Office of Congressional Affairs.
Mrs. Laughery began her DEA career as a Drug Science Specialist in the Quota and
UN Reporting Unit. Prior to joining DEA, she served as a Department of the Army
chemist and forensic drug analyst, and as a research chemist at The Johns Hopkins
University.
She has more than 20 years of federal service, is a U.S. Army veteran and former
Combat Medic, and holds degrees from the University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins
University, and Liberty University.

Ashleigh Huff serves as the County Municipal Alliance Coordinator and Administrative Recovery Support Services Coordinator for Cumberland County Human Services, where she works to strengthen community-based prevention, recovery, and substance use disorder support initiatives. In this role, she supports collaborative efforts among community partners, prevention coalitions, recovery organizations, and service providers to expand access to resources and promote healthier communities.

As Administrative Recovery Support Services Coordinator for Cumberland County’s Capital Recovery Center, Ms. Huff plays a key role in supporting recovery-oriented services and connecting individuals and families impacted by substance use disorders to peer-based resources, recovery supports, and community connections. She is also a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, bringing both professional expertise and a person-centered approach to helping individuals navigate pathways to recovery.

Ms. Huff has extensive experience supporting prevention and recovery initiatives, including coordinating Municipal Alliance efforts focused on reducing substance use through education, community engagement, and strategic partnerships. Her work reflects a commitment to building recovery-ready communities through collaboration, accessibility, and meaningful connections between individuals, families, and supportive services.

Through her work in Cumberland County, Ms. Huff contributes to a comprehensive continuum of care that recognizes the importance of prevention, harm reduction, recovery support, and community partnerships in addressing the substance use crisis.

As Public Safety Reform Strategist and Lead of the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office Community Justice Unit, Tracy Swan works to reimagine public safety through a public health approach that addresses the underlying factors contributing to substance use, overdose, behavioral health crises, and justice system involvement. She leads the development and implementation of innovative prevention, intervention, diversion, and recovery-focused initiatives designed to strengthen collaboration among law enforcement, healthcare providers, behavioral health professionals, community organizations, and individuals impacted by substance use and/or mental health disorders.

Ms. Swan oversees several public safety initiatives focused on substance use and behavioral health, including Cumberland County’s Operation Helping Hand overdose response efforts, mental health and substance use arrest deflection and court diversion programs, jail reentry initiatives, and cross-system partnerships designed to improve access to treatment and recovery supports. She works closely with law enforcement, hospitals, treatment providers, peer recovery organizations, and community stakeholders to identify gaps in services and develop data-driven solutions to reduce overdose fatalities, improve continuity of care, and enhance community wellness.

Since joining the Prosecutor’s Office in 2021, Ms. Swan has written 11 grants resulting in 8 awards totaling nearly $3.7 million, with additional applications pending totaling approximately $2 million. These awards have supported initiatives addressing substance use, behavioral health, violence prevention, diversion, and community-based interventions.

Prior to joining the Prosecutor’s Office, Ms. Swan spent 17 years at the think & do” tank, Rand Institute for Public Affairs at Rutgers University–Camden, where she led Strategic Initiatives focused on public safety research, program evaluation, technical assistance, and capacity building. During this time, she secured more than $4.5 million in funding to support innovative public safety initiatives throughout South Jersey and assisted Cumberland County in securing multiple federal awards totaling nearly $2.6 million.

Michael L. Williams, Jr. is a passionate recovery advocate, peer leader, motivational speaker, and community champion dedicated to helping individuals and families impacted by substance use disorders, incarceration, and life challenges discover pathways to healing, purpose, and long-term recovery.

As a leader with the Capital Recovery Center in Bridgeton, New Jersey, Mr. Williams supports recovery-oriented services and works to connect individuals with resources, peer support, and community-based recovery opportunities. He brings a unique perspective to this work as someone who has personally experienced addiction, homelessness, and the challenges associated with rebuilding a life in recovery. His lived experience fuels his commitment to providing hope, encouragement, and practical guidance to others seeking transformation.

Mr. Williams is also the founder of the Minor Adjustments Program, an initiative focused on helping individuals affected by addiction and justice involvement recognize their potential, overcome barriers, and create positive life changes. Through mentoring, education, and personal storytelling, he works to demonstrate that recovery and successful reintegration into the community are possible.

In addition to his community-based recovery work, Mr. Williams serves as Regional Director (New Jersey) for NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, supporting efforts to advance education, advocacy, professional development, and quality services within the addiction treatment field.

Through his advocacy, peer leadership, and commitment to second chances, Mr. Williams continues to inspire individuals, strengthen recovery communities, and promote the belief that a person’s past does not define their future.

Dr. Patterson has conducted professional training locally, statewide and nationally for over 30 years on a variety of topics in addictions, mental health and professional counseling issues. She has extensive experience as a trainer and is skilled in training development.
Dr. Patterson is past chair of NAADAC’s clinical issues committee and past ethics committee member. She served 4 years as SE regional Vice President, is a member of the NAADAC Trainers Academy, and is a trainer for “Trainings by NAADAC”. She received the Middle TN Association of Alcohol and Drug Counselors (MTAADAC) Professional of the year award in 2004 and the MTAADAC and TAADAC Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2005. Dr. Patterson received the Mel Schulstad award, NAADAC’s national Professional of the Year award in 2006.

Kristen Robinson received the Recovery Services Award from in 2023 by the City of Knoxville and the Metropolitan Drug Commission. Kristen was nominated for the ETAADAC Counselor of the Year Award (Catherine S. Scarlett Award) in 2015, 2016, and received the award in 2019. She received ETAADAC Counselor of the Year Award (Catherine S. Scarlett Award) and TAADAC Counselor of the Year for The State of Tennessee in 2025.
Kristen is currently the President Elect for ETAADAC and the President of the Community Coalition at Metropolitan Drug Coalition. She has presented at conferences, trainings, and webinars both locally and nationally.

Stephanie is president of Market Street Research, a research agency invested in delivering customized, high-quality research services to healthcare systems, governments, and agencies as well as organizations in finance, non-profit, and education that care about making informed decisions. With over 25 years’ experience in market research, Stephanie excels at designing strategies and leading a cross-functional team to provide the insights clients need. Her work experience spans multiple industries and includes labor relations, not-for-profit management, and leading organizational change. This breadth of experience adds depth to research findings and recommendations, resulting in highly insightful, actionable research results.

Libby Jones is the associate vice president of GHAI’s Overdose Prevention Initiative. Libby leads the Initiative’s advocacy efforts, advancing federal policies that will reduce the overdose death rate in the United States. Libby has written and spoken on overdose prevention policy on Capitol Hill, at national conferences, and in the press, including op-eds, podcast appearances, and media interviews. Prior to joining GHAI, Libby served as government relations officer at the Pew Charitable Trusts’ substance use prevention and treatment initiative, as well as holding various positions in U.S. federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, Economic Development Administration, and the U.S. Department of Justice. She holds a MSc in human rights from the London School of Economics and a BA in government from the College of William and Mary.

Regina LaBelle is a Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Health, where she founded and directs the Master of Science in Addiction Policy and Practice program. She is also a distinguished scholar and the Director of the Center on Addiction Policy at the O’Neill Institute at Georgetown Law. A veteran of two presidential administrations, Regina served as Acting Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) during the first year of the Biden Administration and as Chief of Staff at ONDCP under President Obama. In these roles, she was instrumental in managing the federal response to the overdose epidemic and implementing the National Drug Control Strategy.

An accomplished author and commentator, her work has been featured in the Journal of Addiction Medicine and The New York Times, and she frequently appears as an expert on CNN, MSNBC, and the BBC. She holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and currently serves on the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse at the NIH.

Joseph Longley is a Staff Attorney at the ACLU Disability Rights Program. There, he focuses on advancing the rights of people with substance use disorder, including access to medications for opioid use disorder throughout society. He was previously Senior Advisor at the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Project Director at the O'Neill Institute, and an Equal Justice Works Fellow at the ACLU National Prison Project. Joseph received a B.A. from The Ohio State University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He clerked for the Honorable Roy W. McLeese on the D.C. Court of Appeals.

Dr. Philip Hemphill is the Chief Clinical Officer at All Points North. He’s practiced as a clinician, manager, consultant, executive leader, and board member for the past 30 years. He’s considered a thought leader in the behavioral health/addiction industry and has developed premier national programs for the evaluation, treatment, and monitoring of professionals with these needs. He has been the lead person for innovation and implementation for patient care services, policies and procedures, recruitment of talent, and fidelity measures. He’s pioneered some of the assessment and treatment of licensed professionals with co-occurring disorders and co-authored a book with Marty Martin, PhD in 2013 entitled, Taming Disruptive Behavior published by American Association for Physician Leadership Press. His second book Integrated Care in Addiction Treatment (2022) , is published by Routledge Press. Currently, he’s an editor for Frontiers in Public Health: SUD and Behavioral Addictions.
He has taught at Tulane University and LSU Health Sciences, Department of Psychiatry for the past 25 years. He received his master and doctoral degrees from Tulane University, School of Social Work.

Michael Simms, LCSW, LAC, CSAT, CIFST, ADS, is the Chief Operating Officer at All Points North and a behavioral health leader whose career has been dedicated to mental health, addiction treatment, trauma recovery, and integrative care. Throughout his career, he has worked across the full continuum of care in roles including therapist, clinical director, executive director, and chief clinical officer, bringing both clinical depth and operational leadership to complex treatment environments.

Michael earned his Master of Social Work from Metropolitan State University of Denver and holds credentials in clinical social work, addictions counseling, sex addiction treatment, Internal Family Systems, Acudetox, and natural medicine facilitation in Colorado. His work is shaped by both professional expertise and lived experience in recovery, which continues to inform his commitment to compassionate, high-quality care.

He is especially passionate about trauma-informed treatment, innovative care models, and helping clients move beyond symptom management to achieve meaningful, lasting healing. Michael’s clinical interests include addiction recovery, trauma, process addictions, integrative approaches, and treatment models that support deeper self-understanding and sustainable change.

Sarah Beckman is the Care and Training Liaison for the Hamilton County Quick Response Team where she develops and delivers training programs to strengthen the community’s response to critical challenges such as substance use, mental health, housing instability, and other social determinants of health. Beckman is also a key contributor to the newly launched family support initiative, which aims to provide resources and assistance to families navigating substance use disorder and grief. Drawing on her lived experience, natural empathy, and hard-earned skills, Beckman is deeply passionate about helping others in the community achieve the fulfilling lives they deserve. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys hiking, nurturing her extension collection of plants, spending time with family and friends, and attending live music events.

Nan Franks, LPCC, LICDC-CS, GAMB, has over 40 years of experience in community and behavioral health. She is also part of the newly launched family support initiative through HC QRT. Her work centers on the impact of addictive illness on individuals, families and communities. Outside her practice, Nan enjoys writing, exploring nature, and spending time with her horse, Speranza, and her dog Bones

As the Overdose Fatality Review Investigative Liaison, I have the unique opportunity to build a connection between the Hamilton County Heroin Task Force, Hamilton County Public Health Department and family members who have lost loved ones to the opioid epidemic.
The Heroin Task Force's mission is to work backwards to identify and prosecute drug suppliers who have provided drugs that led to a fatal overdose. My mission as the Investigative Liaison is to gather information and assist family members in dealing with their loss while directing them into the proper continuum of care as they move forward. This partnership with Public Health and the Overdose Fatality Review seeks to reduce the number of fatal overdoses and provide families with a level of care that they deserve.

Megan Brown is the Data Manager for the Drug Intelligence and Intervention Group at the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Megan graduated with honors from New York University with an MPH in Epidemiology and received her BA in English Literature from the University of Washington. Megan’s public health practice is informed by the social and institutional impacts of health, harm reduction, and destigmatizing drug use. She loves to read nonfiction and is a decent home cook.

Dari Goldman is a public health professional with over five years of experience leading global and domestic health initiatives focused on health equity, access to care, and reproductive health. She holds a Master of Public Health from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, where she specialized in maternal, child, reproductive, and sexual health. Her work spans program implementation, qualitative and quantitative research, and stakeholder engagement across diverse settings, including Puerto Rico, Israel/Palestine, and underserved communities in the U.S. Dari has supported hospitals, health departments, and public health agencies through health inclusion assessments, community needs assessments, and strategy development. She brings a strong foundation in data analysis, policy translation, and cross-cultural collaboration, with a growing focus on health systems improvement.

Ansley Hobbs is a public health researcher and survey methodologist with experience in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methodology research in both international and domestic settings. She is currently a PhD student studying Community Health and Health Policy.

Ansley serves as a mental health navigator with Harlem Strong and a research assistant to Dr. Diana Romero on several projects related to substance use, child welfare, and reproductive health services. Ansley previously worked at the Center for Immigrant, Refugee, and Global Health, where she oversaw the development and implementation of priority tools and resources designed for migrant-serving organizations in New York City and State. Prior to this, she coordinated knowledge management and strategic communications for the USAID-funded Health Evaluation and Applied Research Development (HEARD) Project, a global partnership designed to generate and synthesize evidence to improve policy implementation. Anlsey has diverse research interests, including immigration policies and their impact on migrant health; violence prevention; maternal, child, and reproductive health; and equitable service and health care access for vulnerable populations. She holds an MPH from the City University of New York's Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy. She received her BS in Health Education and Behavior from the University of Florida, with a minor in Organizational Leadership for Nonprofits.

Diana Romero is Professor in the Department of Community Health and Social Sciences and director of the Maternal, Child, Reproductive and Sexual Health specialization (MCRSH) at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy in New York City. Her research interests include reproductive and sexual health and policy; social welfare policies related to the health of poor and low-income populations; and health care access among underserved urban populations. Much of her research involves mixed-methods study designs. Some of her recent projects focused on reproductive health services in primary care settings; health care access among immigrants in NYC; a large-scale mixed-methods evaluation of a physician training for abortion advocacy and other reproductive health issues; analysis of OCME social autopsy narratives of decedents from accidental overdose; and, Delphi studies on a range of public health issues.

Dr. Romero serves on the NYC Department of Health advisory board for the CDC Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), has served on the U.S. FDA Obstetrics and Gynecological Devices Advisory Panel, and on the Board of Directors of several non-profit research and advocacy organizations addressing reproduction, gender and health. She teaches graduate courses in quantitative and qualitative research methods, community health, and reproductive and sexual health policy. She received her PhD and MA in Sociomedical Sciences from Columbia University, NY, and an MA in Scientific, Health and Environmental Reporting from New York University.

Richard J. Baum served at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) for 28 years across six presidential administrations. From March 2017 to February 2018, he was the Acting Director of ONDCP. In that role, he oversaw the United States’ over $40 billion federal drug control budget, coordinated the government-wide response to drug policy challenges, and concurrently served as Executive Director of President Trump’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis.

Mr. Baum led the development of major strategic policy documents, including six editions of the National Drug Control Strategy. Mr. Baum is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy and author of Inside America’s Opioid Crisis: 12 Hard Lessons for Today’s Drug War, published by Bloomsbury in February 2026. His website is at RichardJBaum.com.

He has delivered numerous keynote addresses and presentations at national forums, including at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (All Rise) Training Conference, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the RTI Policing Symposium, the Police Executive Research Forum, the Cocaine, Meth, and Stimulant Summit, and the Police, Treatment, and Community Collaborative (PTACC) Training Summit. He served as a featured speaker at the Smart Approaches to Marijuana/Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions Summit in 2026. His book was featured in a 2026 AEI Policy Discussion, and he has appeared on numerous podcasts this year.

Later this year he will speak at All Rise, NAADAC, the NCSL Legislative Summit, and participate in the National Safety Council video series.
Raised in New York City, Mr. Baum now lives in Falls Church, Virginia, with his wife, Linda Bloss-Baum. They have two adult children.

Mark is the Director for CHJ’s National Deflection TA Center, part of the BJA’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP). He directs a team administering technical assistance for deflection initiatives. The team provides assistance for communities exploring, starting, and operating deflection and pre-arrest diversion programs.

Mark retired from law enforcement in 2024 after serving for over 33 years, including 8 years as police chief. Mark was instrumental in starting a drug treatment court and in bringing deflection to his communities. He led a law enforcement-assisted deflection program integrating all six pathways, along with a court diversion program.

Mark holds a Master's in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command Class 258 and holds professional certificates in criminal justice leadership.

Bradley Ray, PhD is a Senior Researcher at RTI International. His research focuses on overdose prevention and the intersection of behavioral health and criminal-legal systems.

Dr. Kenneth Martz is a licensed psychologist, author, and international speaker specializing in emotional management and anxiety, particularly among high-performing professionals.
With more than 30 years of experience in mental health and addiction treatment, he has worked across outpatient, residential, and hospital settings and previously served as Special Assistant to the Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.
Dr. Martz is the author of several books including the international bestseller Manage My Emotions, and he has delivered more than 100 presentations around the world on emotional resilience, leadership psychology, and addiction recovery. His work has been featured on TIME, NPR, CBS, NBC, and Business Insider.

Curt Lindsley has over 20 years experience in leading nonprofit organizations.

In 2019, Curt Lindsley co-founded Best Life Recovery Residences, a recovery residence program for women in Huntsville, Alabama. Then in 2021, Curt helped to lead the effort as Board President for the Alabama Alliance for Recovery Residences to become accredited by the National Alliance for Recovery Residences to certify recovery residences in Alabama based on the NARR Standards. Curt later became Executive Director of AARR in 2023.

Curt represents the state of Alabama as a consultant for the Opioid Response Network; serves on Alabama's Reentry 2030 Task Force; is Founder and Director of Alabama Recovery Advocacy Day and Montgomery Recovers; serves as Co-Founder of End Addiction Sand Mountain and Calhoun County Recovers; serves on the Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council as a member of the Treatment and Recovery and Law Enforcement Committees; is a Board Member for the Alabama School of Alcohol and Drug Studies (ASADS); serves on the Leadership Council for the Southeast Addiction Recovery Coalition; and serves on the Board of Governors for the American Addiction Recovery Association.

In addition, Curt is Co-Chairman for the NARR Faith-Based Community of Practice, that was just launched in 2026.

Curt was the recipient of the first ever Ally of Recovery Award, presented in March 2025 at the 10th Annual Certified Recovery Support Specialist Conference Awards in Gadsden, Alabama.

Curt regularly speaks at conferences, and is a passionate advocate for the NARR Standards and the difference that quality recovery residences can make in helping people find long-term recovery. He proactively collaborates with other recovery organizations, stakeholders and state and national agencies to work on common sense solutions to address substance use disorder and our nation’s opioid crisis.

Peter has over 30 years’ experience in the substance use disorder treatment and recovery field. He joined the Office of National Drug Control (ONDCP) in October 2010 as the Chief of the Recovery Branch and currently serves as a Senior Policy Analyst contributing to the development and implementation of federal drug demand reduction policy. In this capacity, Peter provides expertise on a wide range of public health policy and regulatory issues, including peer services, peer-led organizational infrastructure, employment for people in recovery, and strategies for building recovery capital at the organizational and community levels. Peter helps develop the National Drug Control Strategy and leads cross-agency efforts to accomplish the governmentwide policy goals and objectives it establishes. Peter led efforts to develop the Recovery-Ready Workplace Resource Hub, an online repository of resources for employers, state and local governments hosted by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit, which is available through the hub. He also provided input into the development of the Recovery-Ready Workplaces Model State Act.

Prior to joining ONDCP, Peter served as a senior associate at Altarum Institute and at Abt Associates Inc. where he provided technical assistance to states and tribes and the federal government. Earlier, he served as in leadership roles in state government; as a program director, family educator, and counselor in the addiction treatment field; as an English and French instructor; and, as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Burkina-Faso, West Africa.

As a person in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol, Peter works to raise awareness of addiction and recovery and to reduce the stigma and misunderstanding that contribute to social exclusion.

Peter holds master’s degree from the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice at the University of Chicago and a BA in English from Marquette University. He also studied at the Université de Paris V (Académie Rene Descartes) and at the Université de Paris IV (La Sorbonne). He is the immediate past President of the Crown Family School Alumni Association Board.

Christopher M. Jones, Pharm.D., Dr.P.H., M.P.H. (RDML U.S. Public Health Service) currently serves as Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), acting Director of the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, and Chief Science and Program Officer at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. RDML Jones brings a wealth of experience to SAMHSA having led substance use, mental health, and injury prevention policy, program, and research activities for more than a decade. Prior to becoming Director of CSAP, RDML Jones served as the director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During his career, RDML Jones has served in multiple leadership roles in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). RDML Jones maintains an active research portfolio and has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications on substance use, mental health, and injury prevention.

Nikki Sharp is the VP of Associate Wellbeing at Shaw Industries. Shaw is a global flooring company with 17k+ associates and is headquartered in Dalton, GA. Nikki has been at Shaw for 21 years. She has experience creating an innovative strategy for corporate health and wellness Total Rewards, while keeping a key focus on Associate Experience. Known for building innovative, data-driven behavioral health, global benefits, and workforce development initiatives across multi-country environments, Nikki is a trusted advisor to executive leadership and a recognized voice in national recovery and workplace wellbeing initiatives. She contributed to the White House Recovery-Ready Workplace initiative, led Shaw Industries Group, Inc. to become a nationally-certified Recovery Friendly Workplace, and is a frequent speaker on workforce wellbeing and recovery strategies.

Nikki also sponsors and leads the Behavioral Health strategy at Shaw to increase awareness, implement resources, and drive culture change to remove the stigma around behavioral health. She serves on the Advisory Council for the Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute and in partnership with The White House and the ONDCP.

Nikki has a passion for people and wants to cultivate a healthy culture and environment for associates to bring their whole selves to work.

Eliza Zarka is a national leader in advancing Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) initiatives and workforce-based approaches to substance use disorder. As Program Director of the National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute, she leads efforts to expand Recovery Friendly Workplace models nationwide, working with employers, state leaders, nonprofit organizations, and federal partners to implement recovery-supportive policies and practices. In her role, Eliza oversees national employer certification efforts, supports the development of state and local RFW initiatives, and helps operationalize the federal Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit hosted by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Prior to her work with the Institute, Eliza served as Addiction & Behavioral Health Coordinator for the New Hampshire Governor’s Office, where she worked on issues across the continuum of substance use disorder, including prevention, treatment, recovery, and the intersection of mental health. There, she contributed to the growth of New Hampshire’s Recovery Friendly Workplace initiative – the first of its kind in the nation.

Eliza is recognized for her collaborative leadership style, strategic partnership development, and commitment to reducing stigma and strengthening workplace culture through recovery-inclusive practices. She regularly coordinates national webinars, stakeholder convenings, and cross-sector collaborations focused on workforce wellbeing and recovery support. Through her work, she has helped position employers as critical partners in addressing substance use disorder and advancing long-term recovery outcomes nationwide.

Eliza’s overall goal, professionally and personally, is to help people be well, get well, and stay well.

Dr. Burks serves as Director of the Center for Faith at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where he leads national efforts to strengthen partnerships between government, faith-based organizations, and community leaders to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities across America.

Before joining HHS, Dr. Burks served as Deputy Director of the Tennessee Governor's Faith-Based and Community Initiative and previously as Director of Faith-Based Initiatives for the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for building innovative collaborations that unite government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and faith communities to address addiction recovery, mental health, reentry, disaster response, foster care, and community resilience.

A nationally recognized speaker, strategist, and advocate for second chances, Dr. Burks brings both professional expertise and lived experience to his work. Having overcome addiction, incarceration, and significant personal adversity, he has dedicated his life to helping others discover purpose, restoration, and hope. His testimony has become a powerful example of redemption in action and informs his leadership at every level.

Dr. Burks holds a Doctor of Theology, a master's degree in Criminal Justice Administration, and a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice Administration with minors in Sociology and Psychology. He has also served as an adjunct professor of criminal justice and remains committed to developing future leaders through mentorship and education.

Outside of public service, Dr. Burks is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, former professional mixed martial arts champion, author, and thought leader on faith, leadership, recovery, and human flourishing. His work continues to demonstrate that lasting transformation occurs when faith, public service, and community partnerships come together to create pathways of hope and opportunity.

Stacee Read, MSW, LSW, is a nationally recognized leader with over 25 years of experience across child welfare, mental health, and prevention, treatment, and recovery systems. Her work focuses on strengthening responses to familial substance use and reducing addiction's impact on children, families, and communities. As Director of the National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA), she collaborates with Tribes, communities, faith leaders, and cross-cultural partners to build multidisciplinary systems of care through training, program development, and policy guidance that advance evidence-informed, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practices. She leads NACoA's Faith Leaders Institute on Substance Use in Families, which equips faith leaders, faith-based organizations, and communities to recognize and respond to children and families impacted by addiction.

A sought-after speaker, Stacee has trained thousands of professionals on addiction and recovery, trauma-informed strategies, early intervention, and cross-sector collaboration, with a particular passion for equipping and lifting up the child welfare workforce.

She is also the founder of Bison Strong, LLC, a training and coaching practice rooted in strength, hope, resilience, and cultural wisdom. Stacee holds an MSW from the University of Illinois and a BA in Psychology from the University of Iowa, and is committed to sustainable solutions that uplift children, families, and Tribal nations.

Rev. Dr. Belay D. Reddick is the Executive Director at the Everyday Solace Foundation, where he spearheads initiatives at the intersection of behavioral health and the justice system. With nearly two decades of lived experience, he is dedicated to transforming care paradigms, reducing recidivism, and improving outcomes for justice-involved individuals.

Daniel Saggese has been the Director of Marketing for the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth for nearly two decades, and is responsible for the marketing component of VFHY's prevention efforts. VFHY currently has numerous multi-media messaging campaigns authentically crafted for specific youth populations in Virginia to ensure that interventions appeal to unique youth segments most in need. Additionally, he has led the establishment and evolution of one of the premier youth engagement programs in the country. Daniel is an M.B.A. recipient from Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, PA, and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University.

Emily Wilkinson is a trained behavior scientist with nearly a decade of experience in public health. She currently serves as a Senior Account Manager at Rescue Agency, where she oversees the implementation of substance use prevention campaigns in collaboration with state and local health organizations. Emily has worked with diverse audiences, including community, rural, and urban populations across various sectors such as non-profits, government, education, and healthcare. She earned her MPH from the Emory Rollins School of Public Health, a BS from the College of William and Mary, and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®).

Officer Rebecca Bensema proudly serves the Bureau as Assistant Director for Reentry. In this role, she oversees all operations of Electronic Monitoring, Day Reporting Centers, Day Reporting Center Lite’s, the Residential Reentry Centers and other programs.
She began her career with this agency in September 2001 as a Probation and Parole Officer. She was promoted to Senior Probation and Parole Officer in December 2005. In September 2016, she was promoted to Probation and Parole Manager of Special Populations and Programs, followed by Director of Special Populations and Assistant Director of Reentry.

While working as a Senior Probation and Parole Officer, Bensema served as an instructor for a grant-funded project through Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama at the Dale County Resource Center from June 2013 until September 2016. She was an adult education instructor at Wallace Community College from February 2015 until September 2016.
Bensema is a member of the Reentry Commission, Chairman of the standing Law enforce Committee under the Governors Alabama OPIOID Overdose and Addiction Council and represents the Bureau on other committees that focus on support services for the justice involved population served by the Bureau.
Bensema graduated from Wallace Community College in 1998 with an Associate of Science Degree. In 1999, she graduated from Troy State University at Dothan with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Her education continued with post graduate studies at Troy University. In 2004, she graduated with her Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice.

Felicia Greer currently serves as the Director of Mental Health Services for the Alabama Department of Corrections with the Office of Health Services. She oversees the management of the contracted mental health services provided to incarcerated individuals with a mental illness. Ms. Greer also manages the Substance Use Treatment services for outpatient and residential inmates. She is responsible for the administrative oversight that ensures mental health care is offered in a safe and therapeutic environment. Ms. Greer provides management of the ADOC Psychological Associates who provide services to individuals incarcerated within the facilities.
Prior to joining ADOC, she worked as a Medical Social Worker and Director of Social Services for a non-profit health care organization before becoming a Site Administrator at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women. Ms. Greer has conducted facility train-the-trainer workshops, staff trainings, prepared for audit readiness, gender-responsive strategies and strategic planning among other areas.
Ms. Greer is a graduate of Troy State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Social Work in August 1995. She holds a Master of Science in Personnel Counseling received in 2003 from Troy State University. Ms. Greers holds a license to practice social work in Alabama.
Ms. Greer’s professional interests include training and development, organizational leadership, and strategic planning.

Kim is a Registered Nurse with 26 years experience, 20 of those in correctional healthcare. She currently serves the Alabama Department of Corrections population as Regional Reentry Coordinator, providing resources to Alabama prisons to better prepare people to return to their communities. She is passionate about correctional healthcare and its role in the reentry journey.

For 30+ years, Mr. Gerbert has been an educator, serving as a teacher, district administrator, and county administrator, leading schools, districts, and county-wide programs around tobacco and cannabis prevention and interventions, along with other health and wellness topics. He has been involved in tobacco prevention efforts in California since 1997 and has been the chair or co-chair for the Alameda County Tobacco Control Coalition for the last 9+ years, as well as being an active member of numerous Drug Free Community (DFC) coalitions. He is also a Director for Rotary International’s Health Education and Wellness Rotary Action Group (HEWRAG), engaging in global health education and wellness work. He joined the team at Stanford's REACH lab in 2022, working to find additional ways to empower and educate communities to combat the Triangulum of tobacco, vaping, and cannabis, along with other health disparities and health inequities. His work centers around improving health and wellness literacy and lifting up youth voice and agency, while decreasing health disparities and health inequities.

Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher is the Marron and Mary Elizabeth Kendrick Professor in Pediatrics II in the Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University. Dr. Halpern-Felsher is a developmental psychologist with additional training in adolescent and young adult health. She is the founder and executive director of her Stanford REACH Lab as well as several nationally and internationally used substance use education preventions and interventions. She is the receipient of the 2025 American Lung Association Outstanding Mother Award, that recognizes women who balance work and family and make a significant contribution to the mission of the American Lung Association. She was also the receipient of the 2025 Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) John Slade award, that recognizes individuals who’s research makes a significant impact on tobacco-related policy. Most recently, she received the 2026 Cullen Award from the American Society of Preventive Oncology. She is also a Past President of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Funded by the NIH and many foundations, her research has focused on understanding and reducing adolescent and young adult tobacco, marijuana, and other drug use. Her research including over 250 publications, committee, and advocacy work have been instrumental in setting policy at the local, state, and national level. She has served as a consultant to several community-based adolescent health promotion programs, participated in three Surgeon General Reports, participated in six National Academies of Science committees, and has been a member on several national campaigns and committees to understand and reduce adolescent and young adult drug use.

Dr. Alex J. Krotulski serves as a Director at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) working in the areas of forensic toxicology and forensic chemistry and is the Program Manager for NPS Discovery, the CFSRE’s drug early warning system and flagship program for the identification and characterization of new and emerging synthetic drugs. Dr. Krotulski is a chemist by training and practices as a forensic toxicologist. Dr. Krotulski holds faculty appointment and serves as the Program Director for the Thomas Jefferson University Master of Science in Forensic Toxicology (MSFT) program and is an Senior Associate Editor for the Journal of Analytical Toxicology.

Sara Walton currently works at the CFSRE as a Forensic Toxicologist and the NPS Discovery Toxicology Lead. Her work primarily falls under NPS Discovery, the CFSRE’s program for the identification and dissemination of information regarding novel psychoactive substances. She focuses on the detection and characterization of these NPS through sample-mining and data-mining, as well as the confirmation of these NPS through method development and validation using LC-QTOF-MS and LC-QQQ-MS. She also works on characterizing these novel drugs by examining NPS trends and their metabolism and contributes to various other projects in clinical toxicology, postmortem toxicology, and drug material analysis.

Michael C. Barnes, Esq., is Managing Attorney at Sequel Health Law, where he practices health and drug law and policy. Mr. Barnes represents and advises commercial, professional, academic, and not-for-profit clients, and his practice covers the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. His subject matter experience covers a broad array of health care topics, including drug development and compounding, clinical practice, insurance coverage and payment, substance use and mental health, privacy, AI, digital health, health information exchange, and correctional health care. Mr. Barnes is also Chairman of the Center for U.S. Policy, a member of the advisory board for the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, the board of directors for the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association, and the editorial board for the Journal of Opioid Management.

Erin Jamieson Day, MPH, CPS
Chief Executive Officer
Community Impact NC, Inc.

Erin Jamieson Day joined Community Impact NC in October of 2018 and is the Chief Executive Officer. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from UNC Chapel Hill, a B.S. in Business Administration, and a B.A. in Religion & Philosophy from Barton College.

Erin has almost 20 years experience in the field of addictions. She has over 10 years experience in leading a community prevention coalition and training communities to begin community level prevention efforts. Erin is a Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) by the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board. She currently serves on the board of the NC Prevention Providers Association, as Immediate Past-Chair of the NC Substance Use Disorder Federation, and Immediate Past-Chair of The Coalition, representing SUD, IDD, and MH professionals.

Her experience spans on the ground direct services provision to literature reviews and policy analysis. Erin is seasoned in best practice policy language, evidence informed and community based strategies to protect our most vulnerable populations.

Erin is a recovery ally and has experience loving someone with a substance use disorder. She has personally helped navigate the behavioral health system in NC and she is a founder of Wilson’s Recovery Community Center, RC3. Erin works to be informed of public resources, underground resources, and legislation that impacts our most vulnerable and those living with a substance use disorder.

Racquel Garcia is the Executive Director of the HardBeauty Foundation, a nationally recognized recovery advocate, speaker, and systems change leader with more than 16 years in long-term recovery. She has dedicated her career to transforming how communities respond to substance use, mental health, justice involvement, and family recovery. Racquel has helped develop innovative peer support programs in hospitals, emergency departments, maternal health, and criminal justice settings across Colorado. She currently serves as Chair of the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration Advisory Council and is appointed by Attorney General Phil wiser to the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council. Through her work, Racquel is committed to ensuring that recovery is seen as an investment—not an expense—and that every person has the opportunity to build a life of purpose, connection, and hope.

Kristen Pendergrass serves as the Vice President, State Policy at Shatterproof. Previously, she worked at the Pew Charitable Trusts leading state relations and strategy for the Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Initiative and for the Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative helping state and local governments incorporate evidence-based policymaking into the budget and policy processes.

Before joining Pew in November 2015, Ms. Pendergrass worked as a policy advisor for the House Majority Caucus in the Oregon Legislature, chief of staff to the Oregon House Majority Whip, and as a legislative assistant in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Kristen holds a master’s degree in social welfare policy from the Boston University School of Social Work and a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University.

Shelly Weizman, JD is a human rights lawyer whose areas of interest include advancing public policy related to addiction, mental health, and disabilities. She currently serves as the Associate Director of the Center on Addiction and Public Policy at the O’Neill Institute at Georgetown Law, where she works on a project portfolio focused on the overdose epidemic and how the law can promote access to treatment and support recovery. She is faculty in Georgetown’s Master of Science in Addiction Policy and Practice, where she introduced and teaches a course on addiction and mental health law and policy. Prior to her role at Georgetown, she served in the Office of the Governor of New York, where she oversaw policy and operations related to addiction, mental health, and disabilities. She also previously served in the New York State Office of Mental Health implementing systemic reforms within New York’s public mental health system. She began her legal career as a civil rights attorney representing people living in institutional settings in New York City. Before law school, she worked with adolescents with substance use disorder and their families in her hometown of Houston Texas. Shelly is the recipient of the 2022 Boston Congress for Public Health’s 40 Under 40 Public Health Catalyst Award, the 2021 Mary L. Fleming Memorial Mentor of the Year Award from the Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic (SAFE) Project, and the 2019 Distinguished Public Service Award from the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation.

Emily Dalgo is the Overdose Fatality Review Coordinator for King County, Washington, working within the Medical Examiner’s Office to lead multidisciplinary reviews of overdose deaths and identify system-level interventions. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Overdose Prevention Collective, a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to overdose prevention through naloxone distribution and substance use education. Previously, Emily served as Associate Director of Regulatory Policy for a national healthcare association and as Executive Director of a patient safety advocacy coalition in Washington, DC. She holds a master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Washington.

Maria Esquivel is a Disease Research Specialist with the Fatal Overdose Surveillance Program at the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. In this role, she monitors patterns and trends in fatal overdoses across King County to support data-informed public health responses and community awareness. Working closely with a multidisciplinary team, Maria helps compile and interpret toxicology results from narcotics, urine, and blood specimens. This information supports forensic pathologists in the preliminary and rapid certification of overdose-related deaths. Her work contributes to both advancing public health knowledge and offering timely closure for affected families. Maria holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a specialization in Forensic Psychology from Seattle University.

Alana Golding is the Program Manager for the Washington State Fatal Overdose Surveillance Program at the King County Medical Examiner's Office, working to track information on overdose deaths in real-time. The dissemination of this information is used across Washington state to assist in identifying potential overdose fatality trends and system-level interventions. Alana received a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a specialization in Forensic Science from Seattle University, where she researched the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on overdose deaths.

After completing a Bachelor of Science in Biology and subsequent Doctor of Medicine program, both at the University of Nevada, Reno, I completed Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency training at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. With a clear goal of becoming a medical examiner, I completed fellowships in Neuropathology and Forensic Pathology at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. I currently work as an Associate Medical Examiner at the King County Medical Examiner's Office, based in Seattle, and am an Assistant Professor of Neuropathology at the University of Washington. My dual roles allow me to perform autopsies, provide expert forensic neuropathology consultation services, and conduct research about traumatic brain injuries including chronic traumatic encephalopathy. In my free time, I love to do the NYT crossword puzzles and go to concerts.

Dr. Michael Barnes is an addiction counselor, professional counselor, and family trauma expert with 40+ years of experience. He is the Director and Founder of the Michael Barnes Family Institute, which is part of Barnes Education and Consulting, LLC. He has served as a consultant for NRT Behavioral Health in Broomfield, Colorado, as the Chief Clinical Officer at Foundry Treatment Center in Steamboat Springs, CO, and Residential Manager/Clinical Educator at the Center for Dependence, Addiction, and Rehabilitation (CeDAR) at the University of Colorado Health System. Prior to returning to clinical work, Dr. Barnes was a faculty member in the MA Programs in Counseling and MFT at the University of Colorado in Denver. He earned his Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Florida State University, his M.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh, and his B.A. in Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He published numerous scholarly articles and book chapters. In 2023, he published a book titled "When the Solution Becomes the Program: Helping Families Struggling with Addiction and Trauma.” Dr. Barnes now resides in Tampa, Florida.

Judy Rice is currently a tenured Associate Professor at East Tennessee State University College of Nursing. She has served the public and nursing profession by advancing practice, educating PMHNP students and advocating for those who most often do not have a voice. She has devoted her career to the care of vulnerable persons with psychiatric disorders and she has instilled this passion into her students. She instituted the first Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program in 2001 to address the increasing community behavioral/mental health crisis. The program was the only PMHNP program in the region until this past year. To date, the pass rate on the PMHNP certification exam is 100%. She is a pioneer in implementing integrated behavioral health services at the ETSU Johnson City Downtown Day Center (JCDDC), a rural Appalachia nurse-led primary care clinic where she practices as a PMHNP and FNP. She applied for and received continuing funding for the PATH (Programs for Assistance to Transition from Homelessness) Program amounting to $2,900,00.00. The program provides an array of services and supports at the JCDDC that are not covered by mainstream mental health programs. She became the first regional provider of mental health services in two local county detention centers. Dr. Rice has published and presented her work widely.

Jac Charlier has dedicated his justice career to reducing the number of people who become victims of crime. His mission is to make our communities safer through crime reduction, with a focus on reducing drug-related crime and victimization, including promoting recovery from drug use. Mr. Charlier is the Executive Director of TASC's Center for Health and Justice, which specializes in practical, local solutions to improve community safety by reducing drug use and drug-related crime. A former Deputy Chief with Illinois State Parole, Mr. Charlier is a founder of the international deflection field, focused on strategies that bridge law enforcement, treatment, and community to improve public safety. He also serves as CEO for the Police, Treatment, and Community Collaborative (PTACC), the definitive national and global voice of the field of deflection.

Mr. Charlier is a military veteran and Eagle Scout. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from The Ohio State University, where his thesis focused on the experiences of crime survivors. He and his wife have five children, and if he could, he would gladly pick up a rugby match after 11 years of equally enjoyable and painful games.

Guy Farina is a retired Detective Supervisor with a distinguished career dedicated to public safety, youth engagement, substance use prevention, and community-based intervention. He brings decades of frontline experience addressing drug impairment, substance use disorders, and the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

Farina is a nationally certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and Instructor, former member of the New York State DRE Technical Advisory Panel, and past Region One Coordinator for New York State’s DRE program. He has led initiatives involving Narcan training and deployment, medication drop-off programs, and served as Hudson Valley Regional Director for the New York Gang Investigators Association.

In 2016, Farina spearheaded the development and oversight of New York’s first law enforcement deflection program. In 2018, he became the Law Enforcement Liaison for Hope Not Handcuffs–Hudson Valley, a position he originated to strengthen collaboration between law enforcement and community-based deflection efforts.

Farina holds advanced training in victim services, including certifications as a Victim Advocate, Domestic Violence Advocate, Sexual Assault Advocate, and Certified Forensic Interviewer of Child Sexual Assault Victims. He is also credentialed in victim assistance, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and sexual assault. From 2005 to 2023, he served as a New York State Certified Emergency Medical Technician.

Currently, Farina is a Senior Program Manager with TASC’s Center for Health and Justice, providing consulting, training, and technical assistance through BJA’s COSSUP.

He is lead author of “Preventing Substance Use-Related Crime through Deflection,” published in JMSHRS, Volume 7, Issue 3.

Caroline Beidler, MSW is an author, speaker, and the Managing Editor of Recovery.com, a company that combines independent research with expert guidance on addiction and mental health treatment. Our mission is to help everyone find the best path to recovery through the most comprehensive, helpful network of treatment providers worldwide. She is the author of three books, Downstairs Church, You Are Not Your Trauma, and When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction with Nelson Books, coming Spring 2026. Her own lived experience in addiction, mental health, and trauma recovery inspires her to help others find recovery in all its varying forms. In four short years, she has built a global network of recovery supporters through her storytelling platform and accompanying newsletter, Circle of Chairs, which reaches thousands weekly. She is a creative and visionary, founding the Women’s Recovery Leadership Foundation, along with co-leading a global research initiative on family recovery with leaders around the world. Her writing is described as funny, gritty, relatable, and insightful. When she isn’t writing, speaking, or building community, Caroline lives in Eastern Tennessee with her husband and seven-year-old twins where she enjoys hiking in the mountains and building up her community’s local recovery ministry.

Tom Farley grew up in Madison, WI, and graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Marketing. He began his career in banking and finance before running The Chris Farley Foundation (1999–2012), a nationally recognized nonprofit focused on substance abuse prevention. Through humor-based programs, he helped young people build communication skills and create supportive environments.
In 2008, Tom co-authored The Chris Farley Show, a New York Times bestseller about his late brother, comedian Chris Farley. He has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Larry King Live to discuss addiction and recovery.
Now in recovery himself, Tom is a passionate advocate for mental health and addiction treatment. He works at Recovery.com as Community Outreach Director, connecting people with the resources they need to heal. As a speaker, he shares his journey to break stigma, inspire hope, and foster connection. Tom lives in Madison, WI.

Andrew J. Schreier is an Independent Clinical Supervisor, Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Approved Clinical Consultant, and International Certified Gambling Counselor - II. Mr. Schreier graduated from Ottawa University with a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Human Services. He is the Clinical Senior Implementation Strategist for Community Medical Services that provides treatments individuals with opioid use disorder. Mr. Schreier also works at New Life Resources, Inc. that provides individual counseling/therapy, children and adolescent services, couples/marital counseling, group therapy, and consultation. He presents on various topics related to substance use, mental health, gambling, clinical supervision, ethics, and various other topics to statewide and national audiences. Mr. Schreier is the host of “Talking Addiction & Recovery” Podcast that provides free CEUS for select episodes.

David Dawdy, MA, LLP brings over 30 years of experience in behavioral health, with expertise in substance use disorders (SUD), mental health treatment, and systems improvement.

As former Mental Health Director for the Michigan Department of Corrections, he led innovative, system-wide programs addressing mental health, SUD, and sexual offense treatment for justice-involved individuals. He managed a $52 million budget and oversaw more than 400 clinical and support staff.

Now a behavioral health and justice consultant, David partners with organizations to strengthen service delivery, implement evidence-based practices, and improve outcomes for individuals with co-occurring disorders.

A dynamic speaker and trainer, he is committed to reducing stigma and expanding access to care through education, advocacy, and practical, system-focused solutions.

Susan Feltner-Jent is a public health and workforce development leader with more than 17 years of experience advancing evidence-based harm reduction and services for justice-involved populations across Appalachia and rural Kentucky. As Recovery and Reentry Assistant Director for Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP), she helps lead regional initiatives that connect individuals in recovery or reentry with employment and long-term pathways to economic mobility.

Throughout her career, she has managed complex grant-funded programs, led multidisciplinary teams, and helped build strong cross-sector partnerships. Her work has included operational leadership for harm reduction and reentry-aligned programs across rural counties, as well as community-based research involving high-risk and underserved populations.

Susan's work is grounded in a deep understanding of the cultural strengths, values, and lived experiences of rural Appalachian communities. She is committed to developing services that are culturally relevant and responsive to the unique challenges faced by the region, including poverty, geographic isolation, transportation limitations, stigma, and limited access to healthcare and employment opportunities. By addressing these socioeconomic barriers through collaborative, community-driven approaches, she strives to improve access to recovery supports, workforce opportunities, and long-term well-being for individuals and families.

She holds a Master of Arts in General Sociology from Morehead State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Midway University. Her career reflects a deep commitment to building person-centered, culturally responsive systems that support recovery, reduce barriers, and strengthen communities throughout Eastern Kentucky.

Ethan Phipps serves as the Director of Recovery and Reentry at Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP) in Hazard, Kentucky. With a deep commitment to workforce development and second-chance opportunities, Ethan has played a key role in implementing programs that have helped thousands of justice-involved and recovery-focused individuals successfully transition into meaningful employment.

Bringing a strong foundation in leadership and program coordination, Ethan leads cross-sector collaborations with community organizations, training institutions, and employers to ensure consistent, high-quality support services across multiple counties. His work is grounded in a belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to rebuild their life with dignity, purpose, and economic stability.

Ethan holds three Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of the Cumberlands—in Accounting, Business Management, and Information Technology with a concentration in Management. He is also a Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP) and holds a Certificate in Facilitating Career Development (FCD), along with training in workforce and career development strategies.

Trish Caldwell is a nationally recognized behavioral health leader with over 30 years of experience advancing systems of care through innovation, research, and measurable outcomes. She serves as Chief Clinical Officer at Gaudenzia Addiction Treatment & Recovery, leading clinical quality, evidence-based practice, and trauma-informed care initiatives. Trish developed Delaware County’s first Young Offenders Treatment Program and specializes in outcomes-driven program design. She has been an adjunct professor for 18 years, most recently teaching in Drexel University’s Master’s in Family Therapy program. In addition to her executive leadership, she maintains a private practice focused on young adults navigating ADHD, trauma, and mental health challenges. Trish frequently presents on behavioral health and innovative treatment approaches and has collaborated with SAMHSA as a field reviewer for the Treatment Improvement Protocol.

Stanley Brizz is Executive Director of Uplift Drug-Free Coalitions in Florida and Chairperson of Brevard County's Opioid Misuse Task Force. In addition, he is an addictions and substance misuse counselor for a regional medication assisted treatment (MAT) provider. He has a master's degree in psychology specializing in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and he has a graduate certificate in Addictions and Substance Abuse Counseling from University of South Florida (USF). Mr. Brizz has managed several substance misuse prevention initiatives for Brevard County and neighboring counties' coalitions in Florida. These initiatives included large-scale media campaigns sponsored by Central Florida Cares Health System, Inc. and the State of Florida, Department of Children and Families. He has overseen and helped operate school-based substance misuse prevention programs, a mentoring program for children of incarcerated parents, a therapeutic supervised visitation program, a rapid rehousing case management program for individuals with substance use history and prevention initiatives funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Drug-Free Communities Grant support program, the Substance Abuse and Health Administration (SAMHSA), local school districts, and municipalities. Mr. Brizz is a frequent presenter and exhibitor at the national annual Rx & Illicit Drug Summit and similar events. He has also presented at the CADCA Mid-Year Training Institute for substance misuse prevention. Locally, he has participated on the Together In Partnership (T.I.P.) steering committee of the Brevard County Board of Commissioners in Florida, serves on the Continuum of Care (CoC) advisory council for Brevard Homeless Coalition and is Vice Board Chair of Florida High School for Accelerated Learning - Brevard, Inc. (Riverside Charter High School), a dropout prevention and credit recovery school.

For 30+ years, Mr. Gerbert has been an educator, serving as a teacher, district administrator, and county administrator, leading schools, districts, and county-wide programs around tobacco and cannabis prevention and interventions, along with other health and wellness topics. He has been involved in tobacco prevention efforts in California since 1997 and has been the chair or co-chair for the Alameda County Tobacco Control Coalition for the last 9+ years, as well as being an active member of numerous Drug Free Community (DFC) coalitions. He is also a Director for Rotary International’s Health Education and Wellness Rotary Action Group (HEWRAG), engaging in global health education and wellness work. He joined the team at Stanford's REACH lab in 2022, working to find additional ways to empower and educate communities to combat the Triangulum of tobacco, vaping, and cannabis, along with other health disparities and health inequities. His work centers around improving health and wellness literacy and lifting up youth voice and agency, while decreasing health disparities and health inequities.

Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher is the Marron and Mary Elizabeth Kendrick Professor in Pediatrics II in the Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University. Dr. Halpern-Felsher is a developmental psychologist with additional training in adolescent and young adult health. She is the founder and executive director of her Stanford REACH Lab as well as several nationally and internationally used substance use education preventions and interventions. She is the receipient of the 2025 American Lung Association Outstanding Mother Award, that recognizes women who balance work and family and make a significant contribution to the mission of the American Lung Association. She was also the receipient of the 2025 Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) John Slade award, that recognizes individuals who’s research makes a significant impact on tobacco-related policy. Most recently, she received the 2026 Cullen Award from the American Society of Preventive Oncology. She is also a Past President of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Funded by the NIH and many foundations, her research has focused on understanding and reducing adolescent and young adult tobacco, marijuana, and other drug use. Her research including over 250 publications, committee, and advocacy work have been instrumental in setting policy at the local, state, and national level. She has served as a consultant to several community-based adolescent health promotion programs, participated in three Surgeon General Reports, participated in six National Academies of Science committees, and has been a member on several national campaigns and committees to understand and reduce adolescent and young adult drug use.

Corey Matthews is Executive Advisor to Taylor & Payne and a social impact strategist with more than 15 years of experience advancing cross-sector initiatives in economic mobility, public health, and education. As Founder and Principal of Coaching Transitions LLC, he advises organizations on institutional strategy, community engagement, and multi-stakeholder partnerships. Previously, as Vice President of Global Philanthropy at JPMorganChase, Corey oversaw a multimillion-dollar grant portfolio, directing strategic investments in economic inclusion, affordable housing, and workforce development. As former Chief Operating Officer of Community Coalition in Los Angeles, he provided executive oversight of organizational operations, strategic planning, and policy implementation. His career spans philanthropy, government, nonprofit leadership, and research, with expertise in institutional capacity building, resource mobilization, and cross-sector systems change. Corey holds a BA in Psychology and MA in Urban Education from UCLA and a Master of Public Policy from UC Berkeley.

John Sisneroz, PsyD, is Chief Strategy Officer of Taylor & Payne, a healthcare consultancy connecting lived experience, health policy, and delivery systems design. With 15 years in clinical behavioral health, executive leadership, and strategy, John understands the distance between policy and the realities of care. Trained in clinical forensic psychology, he has supported people navigating psychiatric crises, substance use disorders (SUD), serious mental illness (SMI), housing instability, and justice-system involvement. His expertise includes Medicaid 1115 and 1915(b) waivers, integrated behavioral health, and cross-sector partnerships. He advises state agencies, federally qualified health centers, and community organizations on regulatory alignment, clinical workflows, reimbursement, and sustainable care models. John’s work has impacted hundreds of thousands of individuals and families, including housing initiatives that connected thousands of families to stable homes. He helps turn complex policy into practical systems that expand access, strengthen care coordination, and honor human dignity.

Alexis Taylor, MPA, MSL, is the Founder and CEO of Taylor & Payne, a healthcare consultancy operating at the intersection of lived experience, health policy, and delivery systems design. A breast cancer survivor diagnosed while pregnant at age 24, Alexis also understands the devastating consequences of substance use disorders, having lost her mother to addiction. These experiences inform her deep commitment to advancing person-centered, clinically effective healthcare systems. Alexis advises state agencies, managed care organizations, and providers on federal Medicaid policy, 1115 and 1915(b) waiver implementation, behavioral health financing, regulatory compliance, participatory governance, and impact strategy. Her work translates complex policy into actionable financing structures, operational strategies, cross-sector partnerships, and sustainable care models. Holding a Master of Studies in Law from USC Gould School of Law and a Master of Public Administration, Alexis bridges legal, policy, and operational expertise.

John L. Eadie is the Public Health and Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) Project Coordinator for the Drug Threats Analysis Group (DTAG), a national program of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program. His 54 years in public health include 39 years enhancing PDMPs.

As Director of the Division of Public Health Protection in the NY State Department of Health from 1985 to 1995, he directed the State’s pharmaceutical diversion program, including the PDMP. He co-founded the Alliance of States with Prescription Monitoring Programs (ASPMP) and the National Association of State Controlled Substances Authorities (NASCSA). After leaving NY State in 2001, he served as a PDMP consultant. From 2010 to 2015, he was the founding Director of the PDMP Center of Excellence (COE) at Brandeis University.

In 2015, he transferred to the HIDTA Program to help develop a National Emerging Threats Initiative, an early warning system to identify major changes in drug abuse.

He has published multiple articles, made numerous presentations, and served in many arenas as an expert.

He is the recipient of the 2019 Congressman Hal Rogers Beacon of Hope Award at the April 2019 Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit in Atlanta, GA.

Dr. Steven Klein is a compassionate and highly accomplished physician-scientist specializing in addiction medicine. Dr. Klein is dedicated to advancing innovative, evidence-based approaches to support recovery for teens, young adults, and individuals facing relapse challenges.

With extensive academic and clinical training, Dr. Klein earned his MD and PhD in Human Genetics through UCLA’s prestigious Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) and completed a Pediatrics and Medical Genetics residency and a post-doctoral research fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). His current research focuses on the role of methylation and stress responses in the heritability and persistence of substance use disorders (SUDs), with the goal of developing groundbreaking interventions for treatment.

At Caron, Dr. Klein has played a pivotal role in integrating biologically informed therapies, including the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists to manage cravings in patients with SUD. He is triple board-certified and brings a wealth of expertise in pediatrics, medical genetics, and addiction medicine.

An active advocate for physician wellness and recovery, Dr. Klein serves as a Board Member and Membership Committee Chair for the International Doctors of Alcoholics Anonymous (IDAA), drawing inspiration from his personal recovery journey. He is equally passionate about improving LGBTQIA+ inclusivity in healthcare, having previously served as Recruitment Chair of POP@CHOP.

His peer-reviewed publications and national conference presentations reflect his commitment to bridging cutting-edge science with compassionate, patient-centered care. Dr. Klein’s mission is to transform addiction treatment by harmonizing genetic science, clinical expertise, and a steadfast dedication to recovery-centered compassion.

Christopher M. Jones, Pharm.D., Dr.P.H., M.P.H. (RDML U.S. Public Health Service) currently serves as Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), acting Director of the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, and Chief Science and Program Officer at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. RDML Jones brings a wealth of experience to SAMHSA having led substance use, mental health, and injury prevention policy, program, and research activities for more than a decade. Prior to becoming Director of CSAP, RDML Jones served as the director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During his career, RDML Jones has served in multiple leadership roles in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). RDML Jones maintains an active research portfolio and has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications on substance use, mental health, and injury prevention.

Chief Medical Officer, Assistant Director Office of Addiction Prevention, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Dr. Lev brings decades of front-line medical expertise to drug policy as an emergency and addiction physician in San Diego. Dr. Lev served as Chief of the emergency department at Scripps Mercy Hospital, President of the California Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, Executive Director of Independent Emergency Physicians Consortium (IEPC), and Founder of the International Academy on the Science and Impact of Cannabis (IASIC). Dr. Lev has been a leader for safe prescribing and breaking silos between public health and public safety. She hosted the High Truths on Drugs and Addiction podcast, bringing a comprehensive view to the program. Dr. Lev is the drafter of Tyler’s Law, landmark legislation in California that requires fentanyl to be included in all drug tests ordered in hospitals. This law has been adopted by several other states, is being considered federally, and has been credited with saving lives nationwide. She continues to support parent advocates and community prevention programs across the country. Dr. Lev is a graduate of the University of Texas Medical School in San Antonio, emergency medicine residency at the University of California San Diego, and is dually board certified in addiction medicine. As a mother and grandmother, she brings a deeply personal commitment to supporting families affected by addiction. With a passion for helping others, she channels her clinical experience into impactful public health leadership.

Dr. Marbut has worked in four Presidential Administrations in five different positions, including being a White House Fellow to President George W. Bush and being the Executive Director of the US Interagency Council on Homelessness. Robert was the Founding President/CEO of Haven for Hope the largest homelessness transformational campus in the USA, and served as a San Antonio City Councilperson and Mayor-Pro-Tem. He has produced three award winning movies including Fentanyl Death Incorporated and Americans With No Address. Beyond governmental policy, he was an officer and board member of the United States Olympic Committee and Chaired the USOC Management Council for all 45 Pan Am, Summer, and Winter Olympic sports. He has worked for the San Antonio Spurs three separate times, including being President of the Spurs Entertainment. Robert has six academic degrees and four post-grad fellowships. He is the incoming Chair of the White House Fellows Association and currently serves as a Senior Advisor for the Housing and Urban Development, Office of Community Planning and Development.

Brandan Thomas serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Open Door Mission in Houston, Texas, where he leads one of the region’s most comprehensive faith-based recovery and homelessness programs for men. With more than a decade of executive leadership in the rescue mission movement, Brandan has dedicated his career to addressing homelessness, addiction, and poverty through holistic, Christ-centered care.
Prior to joining Open Door Mission, he served as Vice President of Leadership, Learning, and Programs at Citygate Network, a national association of rescue missions, where he helped shape strategy, leadership development, and national collaboration across hundreds of ministries. He also previously served as CEO of Winchester Rescue Mission, where he led significant organizational growth and program expansion. His leadership emphasizes innovation, data-informed outcomes, and the integration of faith and practice in service to those in greatest need.

Kelly Juleson completed her undergraduate studies at Seton Hall University, and continued her education at NYU. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in policy and government relations, crisis management, relationship mapping, development, and strategic innovation. Juleson is a former Connecticut State Representative, serving as the first female from Connecticut’s 12th House District. She was named Legislator of the Year by the Connecticut Diaper Bank in both 2015 and 2016 for her leadership on eliminating the tax on baby diapers and feminine hygiene products. She was also recognized in 2020 for her transformational leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic with Hartford Business Journal’s prestigious 40 under 40 award.

Juleson has co-led The Governor’s Prevention Partnership for the last five years where she’s been instrumental in partnering with the Governor’s officer and other elected officials to develop strategic initiatives to meet community need. She architected a $1 million+ public awareness and prevention campaign, Prevention Starts with YOU!, aimed at teaching the community to “do the little things every single day to help the young people in your life make the right decisions for their future." Juleson was recognized by CADCA in October with the Nathaniel J. Sutton Advocacy in the Arts Award for her ongoing work amplifyiing the voice of prevention in Connecticut.

Paul Mounds Jr. is an accomplished civic and public affairs leader with over two decades of experience driving impact across government, healthcare, and community sectors. He currently serves as Vice President of Community, Corporate, and Government Relations at Yale New Haven Health, where he oversees external affairs for the system’s eight hospitals and multiple service lines across four states. His work focuses on advancing the system’s mission, vision, and values through strategic partnerships and public policy with government, community, and corporate stakeholders.

Paul previously served as Chief of Staff to Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, playing a key role in leading the state through the COVID-19 pandemic and contributing to a historic state fiscal rebound. He has also held senior policy and communications roles with Governor Dannel P. Malloy, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, and U.S. Congressman John B. Larson.

He currently serves on Trinity College Board of Trustees where he is Chair of the Governance Committee and Co-Chair of Shared Governance Committee. In addition, Paul is Vice Chair of the Governor’s Prevention Partnership, and as a board member of ReadyCT, a nonprofit focused on advancing education and workforce readiness in Connecticut. His previous roles include serving as a Visiting Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Taubman Center for State and Local Government, board service with The University of Connecticut and The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and political appointments to the State of Connecticut’s Judicial Selection Commission and the Community Investment Fund.

Carmen Irving is the Vice President of PAXIS Institute and has worked in youth development and prevention for over twenty years, leading and empowering youth-serving professionals to implement evidence-based practices that support children and families across systems of care. She holds a Master of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies from Kent State University and a PhD in Organizational Development and Leadership from the University of Arizona. A Certified Family Life Educator and Prevention Professional, Carmen has dedicated her career to strengthening families, building the capacity of youth-serving professionals, and co-authoring curricula, manuals, and journal articles on parent–child connectedness and population-level prevention. Her longstanding commitment to prevention and organizational effectiveness is grounded in the belief that all young people deserve nurturing adults, coordinated systems of support, and healthy environments in which they can thrive.

Hannah James-Alsabrook, M.S., is a Program Manager with the Oklahoma State University Center for Family Resilience, where she leads statewide prevention initiatives focused on strengthening children, families, schools, and communities. Her work spans program implementation, training and technical assistance, applied research, and evaluation, with an emphasis on translating evidence into practical strategies that improve community well-being. Hannah has trained and supported hundreds of educators, prevention professionals, healthcare providers, and community leaders across Oklahoma through initiatives including NEAR Science (Neuroscience, Epigenetics, ACEs, and Resilience), PAX Good Behavior Game, PAX Tools Community Workshops, and Be Strong Families Parent Cafés.

She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a master's degree in Human Development and Family Science. Her expertise includes prevention science, implementation support, community-based participatory research, program evaluation, leadership development, and cross-sector collaboration. Hannah is a National PAXIS Trainer, a certified Be Strong Families Parent Café Trainer of Trainers, and a frequent presenter on evidence-informed approaches that bridge research, policy, and practice. She is passionate about building sustainable systems that strengthen protective factors, foster resilience, and equip communities to prevent adversity before it begins.

Jeanette Puskas serves as the Director of Customer Experience at the PAXIS Institute, providing guidance and hands-on support to organizations planning, launching, and scaling PAX programming across school and community settings. She has spent more than a decade supporting national and international sites in implementing, expanding, and sustaining evidence-based PAX programming, with a focus on workforce development and long-term impact. As an International PAX Trainer, Jeanette designs and delivers engaging, PAX trainings and works closely with local, state, tribal, and international partners on strategic planning for PAX implementation.
Jeanette has contributed to core PAX Good Behavior Game manuals and has presented at numerous regional and national conferences, including CADCA, the Governor’s Prevention Conference, National Federation of Families, and multiple behavioral health and education events.

Brooke McQuerrey Tuttle, Ph.D., serves as Director of the Oklahoma State University Center for Family Resilience, where she leads community-engaged research and translational science initiatives that strengthen prevention systems and improve behavioral health outcomes for children, families, and communities. She earned her M.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Missouri and her Ph.D. in Human Sciences from Oklahoma State University. Dr. Tuttle leads the implementation and evaluation of large-scale, school- and community-based substance use prevention initiatives in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Her work advances the translation of evidence-based prevention strategies into practice through cross-sector collaboration, implementation and evaluation, workforce development, and community partnerships. Before joining the Center for Family Resilience, Dr. Tuttle worked in government and nonprofit settings serving vulnerable youth and families. Her research spans prevention science, resilience, and behavioral health across high-risk populations, including justice-involved youth and families, first responders, rural communities, and maternal-infant health. She is particularly interested in translating research into sustainable, community-based strategies that strengthen systems of care and improve outcomes for children, families, and communities.

Alice "Polly" Jessen is a person in long-term recovery from substance use, self-harm, and co-occurring mental health challenges. She currently serves as Director of Peer Initiatives for Fairview Housing’s Lifestyle Recovery Programs in Southwest Virginia, where she leads the development, supervision, and integration of Medicaid-billable peer support services within residential substance use treatment settings.

A Registered Peer Recovery Specialist in Virginia and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in Tennessee, Polly brings cross-state workforce insight and implementation experience to advancing peer services as a sustainable and ethical component of behavioral health systems.

With more than a decade of professional experience across residential treatment, mobile crisis response, community mental health, and program development, Polly focuses on strengthening peer workforce infrastructure through reflective supervision models, role clarity, strengths-based documentation practices, and alignment with person-centered recovery planning. Her work emphasizes protecting the integrity of peer roles while supporting organizations in scaling peer services responsibly and effectively.

A passionate advocate for recovery-informed systems change, Polly uses her lived experience alongside both clinical and operational leadership to expand access to peer support, reduce stigma, and promote workforce approaches that honor multiple pathways of recovery while improving engagement, safety, and outcomes across treatment environments.

Brittany Samaniego Greer, LPC, LSATP, CSAC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner, and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor with extensive experience in trauma-informed care and crisis intervention. Born and raised in Southwest Virginia, she earned a B.A. in Psychology from Emory & Henry College in 2014 and began her career in Child Protective Services. As a trained forensic interviewer and facilitator of family partnership meetings, she developed a deep understanding of the effects of trauma, addiction, and adversity on individuals and families. She later earned a graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Emory & Henry University and completed her counseling residency in 2026, becoming both a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner in Virginia.

Brittany joined Fairview Housing Management Corporation in 2023 as a CSAC-Supervisee and began serving as Lead Clinician in March 2025. Her work includes providing evidence-based behavioral health services and collaborating with Peer Recovery Specialists and interdisciplinary teams to deliver person-centered, recovery-oriented care. She believes partnerships grounded in mutual respect for clinical expertise and lived experience build trust, strengthen engagement, and support lasting recovery.

She is committed to expanding access to quality care and helping individuals, families, and communities affected by mental health and substance use challenges find healing and pursue meaningful recovery.

Amanda Imhoff is a native of Laurel County, Kentucky, and is dedicated to helping individuals and families overcome challenges related to substance use and recovery. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from Campbellsville University and is a Certified Social Worker (CSW).

Amanda has been married to her husband for 19 years and together they share three children and seven grandsons. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she enjoys crafting, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Amanda has worked with Volunteers of America Mid-States for more than five years and currently serves as the Senior Program Manager for the Family Recovery Court Program. In this role, she oversees 12 Family Recovery Court programs across Kentucky, providing leadership and support to multidisciplinary teams that help parents achieve recovery, strengthen families, and improve outcomes for children. Through her commitment to collaboration, program excellence, and family-centered services, Amanda works to ensure that families across the Commonwealth have access to the resources and support they need to build healthier, more stable futures.

Tara Dewees is the Director of Behavioral Health Outreach and Recovery Services at Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), where she leads system-wide recovery and harm reduction efforts across 14 hospitals in Kentucky and West Virginia.

Tara began her career at ARH as its first Peer Recovery Coach. Since then, she has held several leadership roles, including System Coordinator for Peer Recovery Services. Through her work, she expanded the Reverse the Cycle peer program from one hospital to all 14 ARH hospitals, increasing access to peer support for people affected by substance use.

Today, Tara oversees ARH’s Peer Recovery Coaches and guides behavioral health and harm reduction strategies. She helps implement evidence-based programs, expand access to therapy, coordinate community outreach, and strengthen collaboration between patients and providers.

Tara is passionate about helping people find hope and healing through recovery. She works to reduce barriers to care, build strong community partnerships, and make behavioral health services more accessible and effective throughout Appalachia. She holds a Master of Education in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA).

Amber Stepp serves as Lead Recovery Coach for Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), supporting peer recovery services across hospitals in Kentucky and West Virginia. She joined ARH in 2022 as a Peer Recovery Coach at Harlan ARH, providing individualized support to people experiencing substance use and mental health challenges. Her dedication to patient advocacy and recovery support led to her advancement into systemwide leadership.

Through ARH’s Reverse the Cycle program, Amber oversees a peer support team providing bedside interventions, overdose prevention and harm reduction education, treatment linkage, and connections to community resources. She supports staff development, program implementation, and collaboration with healthcare teams to strengthen the continuum of care from hospital to community. Her outreach efforts also connect people experiencing homelessness and those involved in the justice system with recovery resources and reentry support.

Beyond ARH, Amber serves as Vice Chair of the Harlan UNITE Coalition and Chairperson of the Harlan County ASAP Board, helping advance collaborative efforts to prevent substance misuse, reduce stigma, and expand access to recovery support.

Amber is an Adult Peer Support Specialist, Community Support Associate, and Certified Community Health Worker. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree at the University of the Cumberlands. Drawing on her lived experience in recovery and professional leadership, she is committed to creating hope, strengthening community connections, and expanding recovery opportunities throughout Appalachia.