Presenters

Keynote Speakers

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Beth Macy

Journalist and New York Times Bestselling Author

Beth Macy is a Virginia-based journalist with three decades of experience and an award-winning author of three New York Times bestselling books: Factory Man, Truevine and Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America. Her first book, Factory Man, won a J. Anthony Lukas Prize and Dopesick was…

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Stephen Loyd, MD

Chief Medical Officer, Cedar Recovery

Stephen Loyd currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Cedar Recovery, an addiction treatment company headquartered in Mount Juliet, TN servicing patients across Middle Tennessee. On top of his work for Cedar, he is currently a member of the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners as well as serving as…

Presenters and Panelists

Alex Wilson

Alison Webb

Organizer, Virginia Recovery Advocacy Project

Alison Jones Webb is a public health specialist, recovery advocate, affected family member, and author of Recovery Allies: How to Support Addiction Recovery and Build Recovery-Friendly Communities (North Atlantic Books, 2022). She has written extensively about recovery from addiction, treatment, and harm reduction. Her book relies on interviews with people…

Brian Sims

National Director, Project: REBIRTH

Brian Sims is a person in long term recovery from Substance Misuse and Co-Occurring Disorders acquired while serving his country during the campaigns and operations in support of the Global War on Terrorism as a US Army Infantryman. He is also a suicide and homelessness survivor. He later served as…

Chad Sabora

Chelsea Dueitt Burge

National Partnerships Manager, The Phoenix

Chelsea Dueitt Burge is the National Partnerships Manager of The Phoenix, a successful peer-to-peer based addiction recovery program that embraces a physically active and supportive community. In her role, she focuses on building and stewarding national partnerships. As a person in recovery, Chelsea understands the needs of the recovery community…

Chelsea White-Hoglen

Deputy Organizing Director, Vot-ER

Chelsea (she/they) serves as one of Vot-ER’s Deputy Organizing Directors, overseeing our organizing work in North Carolina and Georgia in addition to our Social Work Strategy team. She received both her BSW & MSW from Western Carolina University and brings to Vot-ER a decade of experience dedicated to restructuring political…

Darrell Keim

Executive Director, Latah Recovery Community Center, Inc. DBA Latah Recovery Center

Darrell Keim, M.A. Founding director of the Latah Recovery Center and all-around tall guy. Responsible for hiring, policy and procedure, staff representative to board of directors, and fundraising. Over twenty years of relevant experience working with nonprofit and state organizations. Has worked in the recovery field for over ten years.…

Dr. Angelia Smith-Wilson

Executive Director, Friends of Recovery – New York

Dr. Smith-Wilson brings over 20 years of human service and addiction experience to Friends of Recovery-New York. Angelia’s career spans across working with human service agencies that have served individuals with mental health, substance use, residential, and homeless issues. She has worked as an intensive case manager, a primary therapist,…

Dr. Dietra Hawkins

Chief Executive Officer, Equity by Design

Dietra D. Hawkins, Psy.D. is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who works nationally and internationally with state and local government organizations, public and private K-12 schools and behavioral health agencies as the owner and lead consultant with Equity by Design. She is a published author and frequent speaker for workshops addressing…

Elizabeth Cruz

Elizabeth Cruz, Womens Justice Institute

Elizabeth “Liz” Cruz, MA, CADC and CODP-I-S- Liz Cruz has worked in leadership positions throughout the field of mental health and substance use for more than fifteen years. Elizabeth earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a concentration in Criminal Justice from Argosy University in 2014, and her Master’s Degree…

Faces & Voices of Recovery

Flo Hilliard

Sr. Admin. Special Program Mgr, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Flo Hilliard has a Masters Degree in Addictions Counseling from the U of N Florida and is in long term recovery. She has worked as clinician, ad hoc faculty, video producer, and recovery advocacy champion. She created WI Voices For Recovery, WI Harbor Recovery Cntr and directed WI ED 2…

H. Shelton Brown

Associate Professor, UTHealth School of Public Health

H. Shelton Brown, III Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Health Economics in the Division of Management, Policy, And Community Health at UTHealth Houston in the Austin Campus. He has done work on a variety of topics including health insurance, the effects of diabetes on labor productivity, and cost-effectiveness analysis.…

Heather Ogden

Linkage to Care Coordinator, CDC Foundation

Heather Ogden is a woman in long term recovery from Substance Use Disorder and mental health issues since 2010. She is a certified peer in both mental health and addictions, as well as a counselor intern with a BA in Psychology. A firm believer in the power of peers, Heather…

Honesty Liller

CEO, The McShin Foundation

A woman in recovery from a SUD since 5/27/07 and a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in VA. She is the best-selling author of “Scattered Pink” & is the CEO of The McShin Foundation, a non-profit authentic peer-to-peer RCO, that serves individuals and families with SUDs. She is the recipient of…

Iisha Wesley

Executive Director, Minority Recovery Collective Inc. (MRCI)

Iisha Wesley, affectionately called Esha, is an Indianapolis, IN native who lives and serves within her community. As the Executive Director of Minority Recovery Collective Inc (MRCI, “mercy”) and Vice President for the Center for African American Recovery Development (CAARD), she strives to ensure that those who identify as BIPOC…

Javier Alegre

Executive Director, Latino Behavioral Health Services

Javier is the Executive Director at Latino Behavioral Health Services in Utah. Javier’s passion for community-based work was born from lived and professional experiences. Javier has a BS in Business Administration and Finance and graduated from the Nonprofit Academy at the University of Utah. Javier has developed strong management, operations,…

Jonathan Lofgren

Faculty, Trainer, Minneapolis College

Dr. Jonathan Lofgren, a native Minnesotan and person in Long Term Recovery (1987), holds a Ph.D. in Education, specializing in T & P. I. from Capella University. Jonathan is a Licensed SUD Counselor, and a Co-occurring Disorders Professional – Diplomate. Lofgren is on faculty at Minneapolis College where he founded…

Joyce Lyons

Project Manager, Rural Crisis Center Network

Joyce A. Lyons, Ph.D., LPC Joyce serves as the Project Manager for the Rural Crisis Center Network. This network includes crisis centers in Moscow, Lewiston, and Orofino at present, with plans for more. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Lewis and Clark State College, and master’s and…

Jules Martinez

Clinical Director, Latino Behavioral Health Services

Jules Martinez is a white, non-binary person in recovery from substance use and mental health conditions. Their pursuits are built upon a vast collection of interests and wound around a continuous path of learning and service to their community. After a decade of learning through music, art, farming, travel, and…

Karen Chrapek, RRT, CRPS-A

Executive Director, Volusia Recovery Alliance, Inc

Karen Chrapek, BSBM, RRT, CRPS-A, Wrap® Facilitator, AWBW Facilitator. Karen’s career in the substance use disorder (SUD) field flourished while working at the Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center where she provided public relations, business development and education about SUD. Being in long term recovery, her passion is helping individuals struggling with…

Karen Scott

President, Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE)

Karen A. Scott, MD, MPH is President of the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE). Dr. Scott is a board-certified physician in preventive medicine. She has over 20 years experience in healthcare policy, quality improvement and public health. Dr. Scott’s previous roles include senior leadership positions at the Commonwealth Fund,…

Karla Castro-Soto

Director of Helpline Services, Partnership to End Addiction

Ms. Castro-Soto is the Director for Helpline Services at Partnership to End Addiction. She obtained her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Ms. Castro-Soto is particularly interested in how evidence-based modalities in both the mental health and addiction arenas can be adapted successfully for work with Latinx communities. At…

Kelvin Young

Certified Sound Healer and Owner, Kelvin Young, LLC

Kelvin Young is a certified sound healer and owner of Kelvin Young, LLC. He has presented around the country in diverse settings, including yoga studios, retreat centers, conferences, high schools, colleges, prisons, addiction treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals and mental health agencies. Kelvin was featured in a powerful documentary on trauma,…

Ken Shatzkes

Program Director, Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE)

Ken Shatzkes, PhD is Program Director of the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE). He leads FORE’s grantmaking and programmatic activities and helps to identify new funding opportunities with a focus on patient-centered, evidence-based solutions addressing the nation’s opioid crisis. Dr. Shatzkes has over 15 years of experience in biomedical…

Laurie Johnson-Wade

Co-Founding Director, Lost Dreams Awakening (LDA) Recovery Community Organization

Laurie Johnson-Wade, CBC, CRS, CRC, FPS, RSS Laurie Johnson-Wade is the Co-Founding Director of Lost Dreams Awakening (LDA) Recovery Community Organization (RCO), New Kensington, PA. Laurie is also an Advanced Implementation Specialist (AIS) with the Opioid Response Network (ORN) at UMKC and a Steering Committee Member for Addiction Peer Recovery…

Leigh Beck

Member, Provider Circle, Vot-ER

Leigh Beck, LICSW is a Senior Behavioral Health Consultant at Mosaic Group based . She primarily manages their Reverse The Cycle portfolio in Maryland, including supporting hospitals in improving their implementation of SBIRT and integration of Peer Recovery Specialists. Leigh is a member of the Provider Circle at Vot-ER, an…

Lois Stepney

Urgent Care and Emergency Department Social Worker and Clinical Program Coordinator, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Lois Marie Clay Stepney, MSW, LISW-S has served in the Columbus Community since 1995 in the mental health, substance use, and medical fields as a direct service practitioner, social services supervisor, and administrator. Ms. Stepney currently serves at Nationwide Children’s Hospital as an Urgent Care and Emergency Department Social Worker…

Lynette Cashaw-Davis

Rights and Recovery Administrator, Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare

Lynette Cashaw-Davis has a diverse array of leadership, training, and advocacy experience in the community, as well as 20 years in behavioral health all with Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services, the state’s behavioral health authority. She is currently part of the leadership team at Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare where…

Margaret Moore

Doctoral Candidate, UTHealth School of Public Health

Margaret (“Marnie”) Brannon Moore is a doctoral candidate at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin Regional Campus. Her research focuses on economic evaluation of medication-assisted treatment programs and naloxone distribution programs. Marnie is a former tax and non-profit organizations attorney.

Melanie Beddis

Director of Programs

Michael Gluck

Vice President, AcademyHealth

Dr. Michael Gluck, PhD, MPP is a health services and policy researcher by training and a person in long-term recovery from SUD. He has expertise in health care financing, particularly the roles of Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance. In his role as Vice President at AcademyHealth, the professional society of…

Natasha Cheatham

Founder / President, Intimate Oasis, Live Simply, & Minority Recovery Collective Inc. (MRCI)

Natasha “Transparently Tasha” Cheatham is a healer, creator, and social entrepreneur. Tasha is the mogul of a wellness-centered ecosystem comprised three businesses: Intimate Oasis, Live Simply, & Minority Recovery Collective Inc. (MRCI). With over 15 years of life and work experience, Natasha focuses on addressing cultural and family dynamics along…

O’Nesha Cochran

Community Liaison, Miracles Club

O’Nesha spent 22 years actively using substances & 15 years in prison. Because of her lived life experiences, she is passionate about helping others learn to live a life of self-sufficiency. She’s passionate about ensuring dependence & reentry needs are accessible. She’s served her community professionally in hospitals & management…

Pamela Lanhart

Founder, Co-Executive Director, Thrive Family Recovery Resources

Pam Lanhart is a Certified Family Recovery Coach, a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and the founder of a non-profit family recovery organization. Pam serves on numerous advisory boards and councils including the Minnesota Governor’s Advisory Council for Opioids, Substance Use and Addiction. Pam is committed to assisting those impacted by…

Philip Rutherford

COO, Faces & Voices of Recovery

Sarah Laurel

Executive Director, Savage Sisters Recovery Inc

As a person in long-term recovery, Sarah leads the team calling on her experiences with substance use & homelessness to provide radical love through connection. She also uses her professional background to foster organizational growth and sustainability while positively impacting the community. In keeping with Sarah’s vision, the team is…

Serena Gunn

Sierra Castedo de Martell

Doctoral Candidate, UTHealth School of Public Health

Sierra Castedo de Martell is a doctoral candidate at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin Regional Campus. She is a person in long-term recovery and her research focuses on the peer workforce and economic evaluation of peer-driven substance use interventions. She previously…

Stephanie Campbell

Director, NYS Behavioral Health Ombudsman Office – CHAMP, NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)

After receiving her MA from Columbia University, an MS from University at Albany, and an MSW from New York University, Stephanie joined Friends of Recovery – New York (FOR-NY) in 2015 and worked at the state and national levels on public policy issues affecting individuals and families impacted by addiction.…

Susan Kennedy

Senior Director, AcademyHealth

Susan Kennedy, MPP, MSW, is the Director of AcademyHealth’s Evidence-Informed State Health Policy Institute, where she serves as Program Director for the State-University Partnership Learning Network, a learning network, which collaboratively supports evidence-based Medicaid transformation to address health inequities and improve the patient experience, health of populations, and efficiency in…

Tara Moreno-Wallen

Executive Director, Serenity House Community

Tara Moreno-Wallen, M.A., ADS, is experienced in non-profit management, program development and implementation, strategic planning and budgeting. Moreno-Wallen worked as a news reporter for four years before becoming the founder and executive director of Serenity House Communities in 2015. Moreno’s inspiration came from her own recovery journey. Moreno-Wallen collaborates with…

Tarusa Stewart

Founder and Executive Director, iHOPE

Tarusa Stewart has been a woman in long-term recovery since 2002. She began working in the Behavioral Health field in 2010. Tarusa has aligned her work around the Peer Workforce Model. In February 2015, Ms. Stewart developed and facilitated the engagement of her community through focus groups in three counties…

Theresa M. Knorr

Director of Education and Training, Friends of Recovery – New York

Theresa, an adopted person in recovery from process addictions and trauma, identifies as a family member in recovery & a family member of loss.  She has over 30 years of professional experience in counseling, coaching and case management and has been an organizer of the recovery community since 2015.  Theresa…

Tom Jackson

Organizer, Virginia Recovery Advocacy Project

Tom Jackson is a Registered Peer Specialist at Western State Hospital in Staunton, VA and an Organizer with the Virginia Recovery Advocacy Project. He is also an Authorized Peer Trainer. In his grassroots leadership, he supports and train new advocates to use a tool called Personal Narrative to engage and…

Tony Vezina

Executive Director, 4D Recovery

Tony Vezina is in long-term recovery with over ten years of abstinence from substances. He currently operates 4D Recovery, an RCO for youth and young adults, and has been the co-founder of several RCOs and other recovery organizations in Oregon. After finding recovery, he dedicated his life to public service…

Yoyce Geronimo Galvan

Manager of Service, Equity & Inclusion, Partnership to End Addiction

Yoyce received a a Master’s degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from William Paterson University. Her area of expertise is historically underserved communities such as Hispanics/Latinos, African Americans, Veterans, and LGBTQ+, interpersonal violence, and substance use. Ms. Geronimo Galvan currently holds the position of Manager of Equity and Inclusion at…

Zina Rodriguez

Social Worker, Certified Addiction Professional, Certified Diversity Executive, Z&D Consulting

Zina is a social worker, certified addiction professional, and certified diversity executive. She collaborates with organizations on the development of DEIB strategies that align with their mission and values. She is a global speaker on topics related to culturally inclusive treatment and healthcare. She is passionate about co-creating inviting, intentional,…