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.
Chelsea Kehrli, Youth/Young Adult Education & Training Coordinator, CRPA, CARC
Chelsea Kehrli is the Education and Training Coordinator at Youth Voices Matter, NY, where they leverage their lived experience to promote courageous conversations and encourage young people to bring their best selves to the table while embracing their autonomy. Chelsea began their career in the recovery community in October 2019, working as a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA). In this role, they provided peer support to those seeking recovery, brought peer services to a recovery high school, conducted outreach in the community, led local hikes, facilitated an LGBTQ+ peer support group, and attended conferences for professional development.These valuable experiences have positioned Chelsea for their current role, where they hold additional credentials as a Recovery Coach Professional/Facilitator (RCP/f) and a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC). Notably, Chelsea recently had the opportunity to serve as an international speaker in India, exchanging ideas on recovery with NAADAC.
Outside of work, Chelsea enjoys hiking mountains and being in nature, creating art in various forms, spending time with loved ones on adventures, and engaging in meaningful conversations with peers about life in recovery. As someone in recovery, Chelsea understands first-hand how crucial connection, safe spaces, and support are for young people, making them a dedicated advocate for collaboration and empowerment.
Email Address: ckehrli@for-ny.org
Dolores Cimini
Dr. M. Dolores Cimini is a New York State licensed psychologist and Director of the Center for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research at the University at Albany, SUNY. She has also served as the Director of the nationally recognized Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program. Dr. Cimini has led comprehensive efforts in research-to-practice translation at the University at Albany for the past 30 years with over $15 Million in support from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, and New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. The screening and brief intervention program developed by Dr. Cimini, the STEPS Comprehensive Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Program, has earned thirteen national awards for best practices and innovation in behavioral health care. Dr. Cimini has co-edited two books, including a volume focused on college student health and well-being entitled Promoting Behavioral Health and reducing Risk Among College Students: A Comprehensive Approach (2018) and Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment for Substance Use: A Practitioner’s Guide 2020).
Eva Chavez
Eva Chávez is the Training and Outreach Manager for the Anti-Trafficking Program at Safe Horizon. Attending varying community meetings, workshops and webinars, Eva can engage and educate various community organizations about human trafficking. Topics Eva covers include the anti-trafficking legal framework, the prevalence of trafficking, red flags, and indicators to identifying victims of trafficking and resources available to victims. Prior to accepting her role as Training and Outreach Manager with Safe Horizon, Eva worked as an Assistant Training Technician for the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, with over 21 years of state service. Since the pandemic, Eva has been certified as a New York City Emergency Community Emergency Response Team member, DONA International Prenatal/Birth Doula and Lactation Consultant, and Home Defense Instructor. Eva is a mental health and spiritual wellness advocate and mentor. In 2018, she launched her organization, Tough ladies Conquer, LLC, supporting women overcoming adversities. Eva has completed multiple races including the NYC Marathon in 2018. Eva is “Mom” of two adult children, both college graduates.
Evan Ozmat
Evan Ozmat, MS, is a counseling psychology doctoral student at UAlbany. His research focuses on using advanced statistical methods, AI, and machine learning to address health and mental health disparities, particularly for marginalized groups. At the Center for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research, Evan develops AI systems for early depression detection and leads longitudinal data analysis projects to inform policy and practice. He designs health promotion campaigns, mentors students in AI modeling, and integrates technology to improve mental health care for diverse and underserved communities.
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.
Ivan Braxton
Ivan Braxton is a dedicated Hospital Responder and Outreach Worker for SNUG, a gun reduction program aimed at promoting peace and reducing violence within the community. With three years of experience in the role, Ivan has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving at-risk individuals and fostering positive change.Growing up in the very community he now serves, Ivan possesses a unique understanding of the challenges faced by those who are vulnerable to gun violence. This personal connection has fueled his passion for creating safer, more supportive environments where individuals can thrive.
As a Hospital Responder, Ivan is often on the frontlines, providing immediate support to victims of gun violence and their families during their most vulnerable moments. In his Outreach Worker role, Ivan proactively engages with at-risk individuals, offering guidance and resources to help them make positive choices and break the cycle of violence.
Through his work with SNUG, Ivan has become a trusted advocate and mentor for many individuals within the community. His tireless efforts continue to inspire hope and contribute to the ongoing success of the program, as he works to build a brighter future for all.
Jessica Martin
Dr. Jessica L. Martin is a licensed psychologist, Associate Director of the Center for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research in the School of Education at the University at Albany, and a Senior Research Associate for the Research Foundation for SUNY. Dr. Martin’s research expertise is in substance use and other health risk behaviors among young adults and college students. She investigates individual, psychosocial, cultural, and contextual risk and protective factors for substance use and co-occurring disorders and health-risk behaviors and health disparities as they relate to substance use. Dr. Martin has developed, implemented, managed, and evaluated brief interventions for alcohol use, with over $7.5 million in funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Dr. Martin is experienced in the training of mental health providers in addiction psychology and screening and brief interventions for substance use (SBIRT), having trained hundreds of students and professionals. She has published over fifty peer-reviewed journal articles, and several book chapters in the areas of as well as an edited book entitled, Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment: A Practitioner’s Guide.
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.
Dr. Laura Longo
Dr. Laura M. Longo is a New York State licensed psychologist and a Senior Research Specialist for the Research Foundation for SUNY. Dr. Longo is a translational researcher with expertise in the development, implementation, and evaluation of health communication campaigns, and prevention and early intervention services that address substance misuse, other addictive behaviors, and suicide prevention. She is a project manager on two projects funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). She supervises doctoral student research and serves on dissertation committees. Dr. Longo has received grant funding from the National Council on Problem Gambling, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the American Psychological Association (APA) to support her research. She has reviewed nine peer-reviewed publications, including a 2024 publication in the APA Handbook of Psychotherapy. She has provided training in the evidence-based practice of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) and Motivational Interviewing. Finally, Dr. Longo taught a graduate level course focused on addiction diagnosis and treatment.
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.
Monique Tricarico
Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor, currently serves as the Program Supervision and Underage Gambling Prevention Coordinator at Student Assistance Services in Tarrytown, NY. In this role, she oversees program initiatives, provides clinical and programmatic supervision to school bases counselors, leads underage gambling prevention efforts, and provides community education to promote healthy decision-making among adolescents. Her professional background includes previous work as a counselor, where she provided individual and group therapy while spearheading substance abuse prevention and awareness activities for adolescents. Additionally, she has a foundation in higher education, having served as Associate Director of Residential Life and Adjunct Faculty at Mercy College. Recently, she was honored with a "Heroes" award at the AAA’s Annual Community Traffic Safety Awards luncheon for her impactful work in educating the community on the dangers of drunk, drugged, and distracted driving. Monique is also a two time Agility Grant award recipient from the National Council on Problem Gambling.
Robert Williams
In 2019 Robert Williams was re-confirmed as Executive Director at the N.Y.S. Gaming Commission, a position he had held from the Commission’s establishment in 2013 until 2017 when he took a position as Deputy Secretary in the Office of the Governor where he held a portfolio limited to racing and gaming policy development and management. Previous to his first tenure with the Commission, Mr. Williams served as a Special Assistant Counsel in the Office of the Governor, providing legal advice and counsel on Native American affairs and gaming related matters. He has long experience, having held a variety of policy positions in State government related to Native American affairs and gambling since the early 1990’s.
Rodney Reid
Rodney brings expertise to the discussion from his 15 years as an esports and competitive gaming project manager, competitor, and broadcast director. Rodney also was an audiovisual manager rooted in the NYS DOE for 18 years and spent 13 years and counting as a community-minded audiovisual e-Sports guru work, media producer, and well-rounded tech media individual
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.
Tyrone Thaddaeus Brown
Dr. Tyrone Thaddaeus Brown, Ph.D., MSOL, BSHSM, CASAC II/ICADC has over 40 years of experience on various mental and behavioral health topics including Substance Use Disorders, Mental Disorders, Co-occurring Disorders including families with multiple members experiencing chronic, sever and persistent co-occurring disorders including Personality Disorders and Conduct and Social Disorders, Co-Dependency, and other maladaptive psycho-socio-cultural, behavioral and spiritual diseases, disorders and dysfunctions.Vassell O'Gilvie
Psychotherapist in private practice for 13 years who works with families, adolescents, couples and substance abuse.