Presenters

Alan Berkowitz is a person in long term recovery. Alan lost his 26 year old son 4 1/2 years ago due to substance use disorder related circumstances. Alan is in the process of becoming credentialed as a Peer Support Recovery Specialist. He currently facilitates a Grief While in Recovery Support Group and co-facilitates a support group…

Executive Director  of R2ISE Inc.

Executive Director  of R2ISE Inc. Alexia Jones celebrates 25 years in long term recovery the founder and Executive Director  of R2ISE Inc. a nonprofit RCO (Recovery Community Organization) in Atlanta Georgia, holds a BFA in Dance from Florida State University, and an MBA from Phoenix University. She is a certified addiction empowerment specialist (CARES) and…

Program Manager for the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse CARES Warm line

Program Manager for the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse CARES Warm line Beverly Ragland, BBA, CCS, CACII, CAMS-II, CARES, CPS-MH, CPS-WH is the Program Manager for the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse CARES Warm line Since October 2017.  She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network. She has…

Project Coordinator

Project Coordinator Brian Kite is the Project Coordinator for Recovery Community Organization Development at the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse (GCSA). He is a Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist (CARES, CPS-AD Certified Peer Specialist – Addictive Diseases) and has been trained in IPS (Intentional Peer Support), MATS (Medicated Assisted Treatment Specialist), and as a WHAM…

Solano County’s Chief Probation Officer

Solano County’s Chief Probation Officer Dr. Chris Hansen has been Solano County’s Chief Probation Officer for the past 9 years. Prior to joining Solano County, Chris spent 23 years working for the Federal Probation System, the last eight as the Chief Probation Officer for the District of Nevada.  Previous to his federal employment he worked…

CADC-II, ICADC

CADC-II, ICADC Craig is the Membership Manager of the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) where he oversees individual and program membership services. He is an active trainer and mentor who facilitates trainings around the state focused on Ethics, Boundaries and Counselor Wellness.

Co-Founder of Recovery Café San Jose and Pastor of Urban Sanctuary San Jose

Co-Founder of Recovery Café San Jose and Pastor of Urban Sanctuary San Jose Dana Bainbridge is Co-Founder of Recovery Café San Jose and Pastor of Urban Sanctuary San Jose.  Dana is currently working with the Recovery Café Network to support new Recovery Cafes in California and beyond.  Throughout her 30 years in ministry, she has…

Community Developer

Community Developer Deanna Allen 2021 Deanna Allen is Founder of Abundant Place.  Affectionately known as “The Prison Lady” Deanna has spoken and facilitated classes extensively nationwide inside of prisons, jails, and juvenile halls. Referred to as “a light, a spark plug, extremely dynamic, riveting, and a breath of fresh air” she brings personal experience and unique…

Executive Director The Purpose of Recovery Inc

Executive Director The Purpose of Recovery Inc Donella Cecrle is a masters level social worker serving individuals with substance use disorder and mental health concerns.  Donella became an ally of individuals and families impacted by substance use disorder over 25 years ago. Working with a team of parents, peers, partners, and people in long-term recovery,…

Senior Lecturer

Senior Lecturer Education   DSW, University of Southern California, 2018   MSW, University of Southern California, 2007   BA, California State University, San Jose, 1999    Hernandez has a strong knowledge base in working with vulnerable youth populations and the impact community trauma has on healthy youth development. He aims to educate and engage in practice-driven research to address critical…

GCSA Grants and Contracts Manager 

GCSA Grants and Contracts Manager  Emily Ribblett, GCSA Grants and Contracts Manager    Emily Ribblett is a person in long term recovery. Her recovery started on March 5, 2015. Emily’s life in recovery has given her the opportunity to rebuild lost family relationships and live a life beyond her wildest dreams. ​            Emily is originally from Johnstown, Pennsylvania and has been a Georgia…

Director of Development

Director of Development Gene Conroy has more than 37 years of nonprofit leadership experience in executive nonprofit management, fundraising, grant writing and advocacy on state and local levels. He has held various positions in recovery programming and advocacy and is the Director of Development for the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse (GCSA). He is a Certified…

CARES, CADC – Director, Coweta FORCE

CARES, CADC – Director, Coweta FORCE Hank Arnold is the founder and director of a non-profit grassroots Recovery Community Organization (RCO), Coweta FORCE. Hank began his career in the addiction recovery field in 2012 at Talbott Recovery Campus in Atlanta, GA. He held many positions over the 7 years he worked for the organization, including…

Chief of Communications and Policy for the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse.

Chief of Communications and Policy for the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse. Jeff Breedlove serves as Chief of Communications and Policy for the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse. Jeff is an Assistant Scout Master for the Boy Scouts of America, and serves on the Board of Directors of MARR Addiction Treatment Center and the Georgia…

With a professional background in the human services field that spans 40+ years, John de Miranda has served as program administrator, management consultant, therapist, educator, government official, quality leader, researcher, and trainer. He earned a Masters degree in Counseling & Consulting Psychology from Harvard University, and has conducted research and published on topics as varied…

MS, MFA, ASUDC, CRAFT Certified Clinician

MS, MFA, ASUDC, CRAFT Certified Clinician John Garbett’s passion is engaging families and other Concerned Significant Others (CSOs) in the recovery of their loved ones from substance use and mental health disorders. He graduated with honors from the University of Utah with dual Masters’ degrees in Economics and Fine Arts (Theater). From 2013 to 2019…

Judge Dan Healy

Judge Dan Healy Judge Dan Healy is Supervising Judge of the Vallejo (Solano County) courthouse and presides over a felony criminal calendar as well as Drug Court, Reentry Court and Mental Health Court calendars. He is a board member of the California Association of Collaborative Courts and several judicial committees involved with efforts to improve…

CRAFT Certified Clinician

CRAFT Certified Clinician Kristin Garbett grew up as part of an extended family who owned and operated a summer resort in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. This band of eight siblings (their children and grandchildren) left careers as Disney animators, filmmakers, commercial artists, musicians and painters to be part of a remarkably family centered environment, where together…

Unicorns, Rainbows, and Glitter Ponies: Clinical considerations to working with the LGBTQIA2+ Community

Unicorns, Rainbows, and Glitter Ponies: Clinical considerations to working with the LGBTQIA2+ Community Kristina Padilla is a leader with the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP), where she serves as the Vice President of Education overseeing CCAPP’s Education Department. She also is the Vice President of Strategic Development for the organization wherein she…

Professional Addiction Interventionist, Author

Professional Addiction Interventionist, Author Speaking Team: Kristina Wandzilak, Author, International Speaker and Chemical Dependency Expert and her mother Constance Curry  Kristina Wandzilak, CAS, CIP, is a professional addiction interventionist, author and media expert and is credited with helping thousands of addicts and their families through her work. In recovery herself since 1993, Kristina brings a very personal understanding…

Hasaka’ Nik’ki Heshkum – Greetings, to all my relations 😊 Guadalupe “Lupe” Luna is Maidu, Wintu, Washoe, Pomo and Yaqui. She strongly emphasizes in her native traditions, culture and values intergenerational knowledge.  She has 5 beautiful children; loves to sing, dance, read, and learn her native culture.  She’s a traditional dancer and singer, In her spare time…

I’m a Miwok/Me-Wuk Tribal Elder of California   Since 1990-Current My Indian name is, Sister Who Walks With Bears Women’s Spiritual Leader President of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & People of California Director of AIM Foothills CenCA California Drug & Alcohol Counselor Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Counselor Cultural Resource Monitor White Bison Red Road to Wellbreity Facilitator Treaty Signer of Indigenous…

Senior Project Coordinator

Senior Project Coordinator Marianna Horowitz  has more than 6 years of experience working with systems, peer education, recovery community organization (RCO) development. Ms. Horowitz has been a senior project coordinator for Faces & Voices of Recovery since February of 2020. She is the point contact for recovery community organizations (RCOs) and for The Association of…

Marti MacGibbon, CADC-II, is a national human trafficking survivor leader and nationally award-winning author who uses humor and inspiration with an easy-going, down-to-earth style. The speaker has survived and recovered from adolescent sexual assault/abuse, human trafficking, domestic violence, addiction, homelessness, and complex PTSD. She holds five professional certifications in addiction treatment and is an expert…

Director of Recovery Advocacy

Director of Recovery Advocacy Michael Askew is the Director of Recovery Advocacy for the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR). In recovery since May 28 1989, Michael has helped many people get into recovery and their health and well-being. He believes his position with CCAR has been an opportunity to “give back what was so…

Director of Programs for NICOS Chinese Health Coalition

Director of Programs for NICOS Chinese Health Coalition Michael Liao, MSW, is the Director of Programs for NICOS Chinese Health Coalition, a San Francisco-based public-private-community partnership of more than 30 health and human service organizations. Since 2001, Michael has been conducting cultural competency, problem gambling, and addiction-related trainings and technical assistance to community-based organizations, professional groups,…

MAJ Consultant

MAJ Consultant Mike Judnick worked for more than 20 years as Vice President of Justice Services for The Change Companies, a national leader in the development of evidence–based curricula for behavioral health, cognitive behavioral–therapy and treatment programs.   In collaboration with industry professionals, subject–matter, and Academic experts, Mr. Judnick led efforts in development and consulted in the implementation of programs throughout the Federal…

Norman G. Hoffman, Ph.D.

Norman G. Hoffman, Ph.D. Norman G. Hoffmann, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist who is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in the clinical assessment of mental health and substance use disorders and in the evaluation of behavioral health programs. He has worked with private organizations and governmental agencies in a variety of states and countries.…

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer Patty McCarthy, M.S., has been the Chief Executive Officer of Faces & Voices of Recovery since 2015. Prior to joining Faces & Voices, she was a senior associate with the Center for Social Innovation (C4), where she served as a deputy director of SAMHSA’s BRSS TACS initiative.  Patty served for a decade…

President & Chief Executive Officer for the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP)

President & Chief Executive Officer for the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Pete Nielsen is the President & Chief Executive Officer for the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP), CCAPP Credentialing, CCAPP Education Institute and the Behavioral Health Association of Providers (BHAP). CCAPP is the largest statewide consortium of addiction…

Executive Director for the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR)

Executive Director for the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) Phillip Valentine has been an integral component in this Recovery Community Organization since January 1999. An accomplished author, trainer and presenter, Phil has gained recognition as a strong leader in the recovery community; in 2006 the Johnson Institute recognized his efforts with an America Honors…

Chief Probation Officer – Riverside County

Chief Probation Officer – Riverside County Ron Miller II has 34 years of probation experience.  He began his career with the San Bernardino Probation Department in 1987 as a Group Counselor in juvenile hall.  In 1989, he was hired as a Deputy Probation Officer for Riverside County.  Since then, he has worked in a variety…

Director of Programs

Director of Programs Ruby Takushi, Ph.D., co-founded Recovery Café with Killian Noe and serves as Director of Programs for Recovery Café.  Prior to arriving in Seattle, she served on the faculty of Howard University from 1992 to 1996 during which time she also worked as a staff psychologist at the DC General Hospital Methadone Clinic…

Program Coordinator for Students Overcoming Adversity and Recidivism

Program Coordinator for Students Overcoming Adversity and Recidivism Born and raised in Chicago, Shanan Danley is the current Program Coordinator for Students Overcoming Adversity and Recidivism (SOAR) at Solano Community College.   He has worked to expand this program which provides mentorship, case management, and support for formerly incarcerated, foster youth, unhoused, and other vulnerable students. …

Manager of Training Development for RI International

Manager of Training Development for RI International Terrence Smithers serves as the Manager of Training Development for RI International. With degrees and certifications from Gettysburg College, Brown, Colby & Rutgers Universities, Mr. Smithers has trained & specializing in Peer Support Workforces. He was instrumental in training and developing a Peer Support workforce in England &…

Recovery Advocate and Trainer

Recovery Advocate and Trainer Tracey Lee brings 28 years of training experience to The Purpose of Recovery, in the field of recovery support, coaching, advocacy, and social services eligibility programs.  She has been instrumental in the design and delivery of coaching courses, peer support programs, the development of county and program policies and procedures, as well as soft skills and professional development. She currently lives in California where she is the founder of Amplify Excellence, a…