Chelsea Kehrli (she/her/hers), Youth/Young Adult Education & Training Coordinator, CRPA, CARC
Today, Chelsea is grateful for the opportunity to be the person that she needed when she was younger. She is currently the Youth and Young Adult Education & Training Coordinator for Youth Voices Matter, NY where she gets to use her lived experience to promote courageous conversations, and encourage young people to bring their best selves to the table while embracing their autonomy.Email Address: ckehrli@for-ny.org
Ashly Jordan, PhD, Epidemiology; MPH, Biostatistics/Epidemiology
Ashly Jordan is an interdisciplinary sociobehavioral scientist with more than 15 years of applied and academic research to identify the role that structural and intersectional oppressions have in producing and re-producing contexts that differentially create privilege and environments of harm. Her first professional experience, which extended from her lived experience, was as an AmeriCorps VISTA member serving as a harm reduction mobile outreach worker with the National AIDS Fund (2007) providing needed health services for people who use drugs at a community-based organization in Detroit. Directly informing her work is having been raised in both a working-class auto family adversely impacted by deindustrialization in Metropolitan Detroit and a multi-generational lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) family adversely impacted by economic, social, and criminal legal oppressions. Through the combination of scholarly and emic perspectives—including empiric understanding of the contribution of multi-and inter-generational structural violence and oppression on employment and housing insecurity, sexual violence, and police harassment—she works collaboratively to revise and rethink systems to sustainably and equitably allow for all to attain and sustain health and well-being.
Brenda Harris-Collins
Brenda Harris Collins has worked at OASAS for many years. She is currently the Bureau Director for Recovery, Housing and Social Determinants of Health. She was previously the Director of the OASAS ATC"s. Brenda has been a champion for giving a voice to those who have experienced gambling harms and integrating services and supports in the OASAS system of care.
Evan Ozmat
Coming Soon.
Grace Hennessy
Dr. Grace Hennessy joined the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports in 2020 and serves as the Chief of Addiction Psychiatry. During her 25-year career as an addiction psychiatrist, Dr. Hennessy oversaw substance use disorder inpatient residential and intensive outpatient programs in both private and Veterans Affairs hospitals. She also held various leadership roles, including Program Director, for the New York University School of Medicine Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship between 2012 and 2020 and remains on faculty as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry.
Herman Taylor
Author “From Nothing to Almost Something” and “It’s Motivational Minute Time, Reversing Stigma One Minute at a Time”, Keynote speaker Herman Taylor, LMSW, MPA, CASAC, has 30 years of teaching, training, and counseling people and transforming their lives, from mind shift to life shift. He is a critically acclaimed World-renowned speaker, teacher, and facilitator. Through love and serving Herman teaches the power of reversing stigma. Herman delivers his message through a significant social media presence, vision board workshops, Keynote speaking engagements and seminars. Herman’s passion, fire, and intense energy are extremely contagious. This enables him to effectively help people obtain their best life through a positive mental attitude. Herman participated in Grant Cardone’s Great American Speak off and advanced to the pre-quarterfinal round. He has a passion for running, he has participated in and finished five Marathons. He is a 4x New York City Marathon finisher. Together he will help you end self-stigma, which is possible but aren’t sure how to get there. Connect with Herman at www.hermantaylorsvision.com.
Jessica Martin
Coming Soon.
Jessica McCarthy
Jessica McCarthy is the Team Leader for the Central Problem Gambling Resource Center, an agency dedicated to increasing public awareness about gambling harm and providing support and resources to those who are affected by gambling. Jessica has been serving New Yorkers in the prevention field for over 6 years and holds her Credentialed Prevention Professional certification with a specialty in gambling.
Keven Poore
Keven Poore, CDI, is the Director of Substance and Addiction Intervention Services for the Deaf (SAISD) located at NTID on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus. Previously, he was a full time free-lance CDI in the Philadelphia area. He was the Chair of the 2nd Deaf Interpreter Conference in 2017. He received his Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Gallaudet University and provided mental health and chemical dependency services for over 20 years. He received his CDI certification in 2010 and currently, most of his work takes place in medical settings. He also provides Deaf Interpreter trainings as well as trainings on Deaf/Hearing Team interpreting and Interpreting in Behavioral Health settings.
Martha Dolmo
Martha Dolmo is currently working with mental health and substance use impacted individuals. She is a dedicated, organized, responsible and passionate person. Martha has good interpersonal skills and works well on a team. I enjoy assisting people with achieving their goals.
Melissa Murphy Pavone
Melissa Murphy Pavone is a highly regarded financial professional with over a decade of experience helping clients navigate complex financial transitions. As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®), she combines her extensive expertise with a compassionate approach, empowering individuals to make confident and informed financial decisions during life’s most challenging moments. Throughout her 18-year career, Melissa has observed a recurring issue: poor financial communication, and sometimes financial infidelity, as a significant factor in many divorces. This insight has fueled her mission to transform how individuals and couples approach personal finances. She is passionate about fostering stronger relationships through open, honest conversations about money. Melissa's holistic approach to financial planning emphasizes understanding each client’s unique needs and goals, providing comprehensive guidance to support their long-term financial well-being.
Ruth Riddick
Recipient of the inaugural 2024 NYS Justice Peer Initiative Impact Award in Training & Development, Ruth Riddick is a nationally recognized peer recovery subject matter expert. Consultant to the New York Certification Board (NYCB) since 2016, Ruth Riddick serves in several program roles supporting peer recovery professionals. She was a key member of the NYCB Peer Supervision Professional (PSP) certification development team. Together with approved PSP role trainers, she is a longstanding member of the NYCB Trainer Registry. Ruth Riddick is a Board member of the New York Association of Treatment Court Professionals, and a member of the Mid-Atlantic Facilitator Network where she serves as inaugural convenor of the MAFN Facilitation-in-Training Community of Practice, launching 2025.
Scott Meyer
Scott Meyer is a dedicated and accomplished professional with extensive experience in peer support, financial management, and business development. Currently serving as Peer Manager at Vibrant Emotional Health in New York, NY, Scott leads a team of Peer Supervisors and Specialists, fostering efficiency and performance through innovative coaching tools. In his prior role as Peer Supervisor, he excelled in providing oversight and mentorship to frontline staff. Scott holds the Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) credential with a focus on problem gambling as well as the International Gambling Recovery Specialist (IGRS) credential. Since 2021, he has actively engaged in legislative advocacy for initiatives like the Safe Bet Act and the GRIT Act. For NYCPG and CT Renaissance, he provides direct peer support to individuals in recovery. Additionally, Scott facilitates group meetings and specializes in crisis support for those navigating the intersection of gambling addiction and the legal system. With a solid foundation in finance and business, Scott has demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, budget management, risk assessment, and compliance. His consulting experience since 2009 highlights his skills in relationship-building, program development, and resource optimization. Known for his strategic leadership and dedication to uplifting others, Scott is also an impactful public speaker and advocate for sustainable recovery pathways. He brings a wealth of experience and passion to every endeavor, blending his financial acumen with his commitment to peer support and advocacy.
Theresa Knorr
Theresa Knorr, CARC RCP-F is the Senior Direction of Recovery Education and Training for Friends of Recovery – New York. She is a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach and Recovery Coach Professional Facilitator. She has been credentialed as an addiction counselor in both NY (former CASAC) and Arizona (former CADAC). Theresa has over 30 years' professional experience in addiction recovery; providing counseling, coaching, clinical supervision and education. She is an InUnity-NYCB registered trainer and curriculum developer. As owner of BALANCE Recovery Consultation | “Tai Chi for Recovery” and teaches movement, meditation and personal growth in the community. Most importantly she brings her own lived experience to her work, as a family member in recovery, family member of loss, trauma survivor and process addiction recoveree. She has had the privilege to speak locally, across the state and nation and internationally.