An initiative of the 501(c)(3), Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation

The People Advancing a Recovery Friendly Nation

A dedicated team, an experienced board, and Advisory Council members from across industry, working together to engage employers, content experts, and state leaders in building Recovery Friendly Workplaces.

Nyla Christian, Michael Barnes, and Eliza Zarka of the National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute together at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit

Leadership

The Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation (GRI) Board of Directors established the National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute to engage employers, content experts, and state leaders in implementing Recovery Friendly Workplaces.

Headshot of Eliza Zarka

Eliza Zarka

Program Director, Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation

View bio
Headshot of Michael C. Barnes, Esq.

Michael C. Barnes, Esq.

Senior Advisor

View bio

Advisory Council

The Advisory Council of the National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute is a leadership body of forward-thinking business executives, industry leaders, and organizational champions committed to advancing the Recovery Friendly Workplace Movement. The Advisory Council members provide expertise on certification applications when needed, drive corporate engagement, and enhance public awareness, helping build a national culture where recovery is recognized as a strength.

Dana Piscopo
Dana Piscopo, CPRC, CFAA, CSRC, CMHFA

Founder

Reclaim Your Moxie

Co-Chair
Jordan Foster
Jordan Foster

Director of Marketing & Community Engagement, HRCI

Co-Chair
View bio
David Balinski
David Balinski

Chief Executive Officer

Wire Health

View bio
Cheryl Brown Merriwether
Cheryl Brown Merriwether, MHR, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CM, CRSS, CPRC

Executive Director

NET Institute Center for Addiction & Recovery Education

View bio
Melissa Cheng
Melissa Cheng, MD, MOH, MHS, FACOEM

Clinical Medical Director

CoMagine Health

View bio
Travis LaHaye
Travis LaHaye

HR Business Partner II

Hypertherm Associates

View bio
Samantha Lewandowski
Samantha Lewandowski, MS

Senior Director

Recovery Friendly Workplace NH

View bio
Jo McGuire
Jo McGuire, CSAPA

Executive Director

National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association

View bio
Kimberly McRoy
Kimberly McRoy

Program Director

Mississippi Recovery Friendly Workplace Coalition, a program of the Mississippi Business Alliance Foundation

View bio
Haley Moyers
Haley Moyers

Director, Workforce Programs & Initiatives

Associated Builders and Contractors

View bio
Domenica Personti
Domenica Personti, MS, LCDP, CADC

Chief Executive Officer

Impact Life

View bio
Shelley Schoenfeld
Shelley Schoenfeld

Chief Marketing Officer

GoMo Health

View bio
Stephanie Styles
Stephanie Styles

Sr. Human Resources Generalist

The Gorilla Glue Company

View bio
DeAnna Thomas
DeAnna Thomas

Vice President of Human Resources

Associated Builders and Contractors

View bio

GRI Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation, the 501(c)(3) that houses and operates the Institute and guides the mission and stewardship of the organization.

Andrea Grubb Barthwell
Andrea Grubb Barthwell, M.D., D.F.A.S.A.M.

Board Chair

Founding Chair, Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE)

View bio
Sean Dugan
Sean Dugan

Vice Chair

Sober Companion / Recovery Coach, Next Level Recovery Services

View bio
Tom Berkery
Tom Berkery, CPA

Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair

Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers

View bio
Matt Escoubas
Matt Escoubas

Governance Committee Chair

View bio
Nyla Christian
Nyla Christian

Director

Executive Director, Center for African American Recovery Development; Founder, LivingWell Project

View bio
Jonathan Ghent
Jonathan Ghent

Director

Founder, WritLarge, public relations and corporate communications practitioner

View bio

Want to Join the Movement?

Certified employers can participate in the Advisory Council and help shape the future of recovery friendly work. Start your certification or reach out to learn more.

Certified Recovery Friendly Workplace badge
Eliza Zarka

Eliza Zarka

Program Director, Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation

Eliza serves as the Program Director of Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation, where she leads the National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute as one of the initiatives housed under GRI. She works with other states to help encourage, guide, and inform establishing a Recovery Friendly Workplace model. Eliza also leads efforts in nationally-certifying employers as Recovery Friendly Workplaces.

Eliza brings her expertise on the Recovery Friendly movement from her previous role as the Addiction & Behavioral Health Coordinator for the New Hampshire Governor’s Office. Eliza worked on issues relating to Substance Use Disorder across the continuum, including prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery, and the intersection of mental health.

During her time at the NH Governor’s Office, Eliza worked on a number of projects, including the NH Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative, which has grown to over 350 participating businesses. Eliza saw how successful it was in New Hampshire, and after the release of the federal toolkit, Eliza wanted to take a lead role in moving the needle in this ever-important RFW movement being a part in bringing the model to other states.

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

Michael C. Barnes, Esq.

Michael C. Barnes, Esq.

Senior Advisor

Michael C. Barnes, Esq., is Senior Advisor to the National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute and Managing Attorney at Sequel Health Law. He advises clients on legal and regulatory matters involving opioids, cannabinoids, access to treatment, insurance coverage and payment, parity, privacy, digital health, recovery in the workplace, and correctional health care.

He is Chairman of the Center for U.S. Policy and previously served as confidential counsel in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. His research has been published in more than 15 legal, policy, and medical journals, and he is a recipient of the Federation of State Medical Boards’ Ray L. Casterline, M.D., Award for Excellence in Writing.

Jordan Foster

Jordan Foster

Director of Marketing & Community Engagement, HRCI

Jordan Foster is Director of Marketing and Community Engagement at HRCI, the HR Certification Institute, where she leads marketing and community engagement across the organization’s certification and education programs.

She serves as Co-Chair of the Recovery Friendly Workplace Advisory Council, supporting HRCI’s partnership with the Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation on workplace substance use disorder education.

David Balinski

David Balinski

Chief Executive Officer

Wire Health

A native Philadelphian and Temple University graduate, David Balinski has built an illustrious career in Healthcare Administration spanning nearly 20 years. Leveraging his college internships at IMX Medical Management, Sanofi-Aventis Federal Government Affairs, and the NASI Workers’ Compensation Data Project, David was hired by RSI Insurance in 2005, serving prestigious clients such as Hugo Boss, Sirius Group, and Salvatore Ferragamo.

In 2008, RSI was acquired by Arthur J. Gallagher, presenting David with opportunities to lead health plan M&A efforts for Johns Hopkins and GE, and manage over 80 stop-loss renewals annually.

Demonstrating a strong desire to enhance health plan administration nationwide, David joined Continental Benefits TPA in 2013 and quickly became a national leader in Aetna PPO sales.

In 2018, David transitioned to a contractor role at Continental to establish his own sales and marketing company, Benefits Education & Delivery LLC. In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, David invested in multiple early and mid-stage startups before co-founding Wire Health in 2022, the world’s first personalized and precision-based insurtech company focused on mental health services for self-funded employers.

Cheryl Brown Merriwether

Cheryl Brown Merriwether

MHR, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CM, CRSS, CPRC

Executive Director

NET Institute Center for Addiction & Recovery Education

I am the VP and Executive Director at ICARE International Center for Addiction and Recovery Education, a division of NET Institute that provides addiction awareness, prevention and related solutions to businesses and individuals. I have over 25 years of experience as an HR Strategic Business Partner, Addiction Recovery Professional, and Adult Educator, working across various industries and sectors in the US and internationally.

My core competencies include human resource development and management, recovery support services and coaching, substance misuse and addiction education, organizational development and training, curriculum development and instructional design, diversity and inclusion, and non-profit management. I am passionate about helping people and organizations achieve their personal, professional, and enterprise-wide goals by introducing systems, strategies, policies, procedures, and best practices that maximize productivity, influence evidence-based outcomes, and foster positive results in high performing and competitive environments. I hold five professional certifications: SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CM, CPRC, and CRSS.

Melissa Cheng

Melissa Cheng

MD, MOH, MHS, FACOEM

Clinical Medical Director

CoMagine Health

Dr. Melissa Cheng, MD, MOH, MHS, FACOEM is a double board-certified physician in Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Addiction Medicine. She serves as Medical Director of the University of Utah Occupational Medicine Clinic, where she provides clinical leadership focused on evidence-based care, workforce health, and injury prevention. Dr. Cheng is also the Clinical Medical Director at CoMagine Health, a nonprofit healthcare consulting organization, where she has led multidisciplinary projects addressing substance use, opioid stewardship, and improving access to addiction treatment. Her work bridges occupational health, public health, and addiction medicine to advance healthier, safer workplaces and communities.

Travis LaHaye

Travis LaHaye

HR Business Partner II

Hypertherm Associates

Travis LaHaye is an accomplished Human Resources Business Partner at Hypertherm, where he has been a dedicated team member since 2007. With a strong commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive workplace, Travis has played a pivotal role in various HR initiatives and strategic planning efforts.

Throughout his tenure at Hypertherm, Travis has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep understanding of operations & supply chain leadership and human resources management. He has been instrumental in co-founding the Substance Use Disorder Task Force in 2015 and becoming one of New Hampshire’s first recognized Recovery Friendly Workplaces in 2018. His contributions have significantly impacted the company’s approach to employee well-being and support.

In addition to his HR responsibilities, Travis is actively involved with the HOPE Foundation, serving as the HOPE Team Liaison. His dedication to community service and volunteerism is evident through his participation in numerous initiatives aimed at addressing community needs and promoting social equity.

Travis’s expertise in HR, combined with his passion for community engagement, makes him a valuable asset to Hypertherm and the broader community. His commitment to excellence and continuous improvement is reflected in his ongoing efforts to enhance the workplace environment and support the professional growth of his colleagues.

Samantha Lewandowski

Samantha Lewandowski

MS

Senior Director

Recovery Friendly Workplace NH

Samantha Lewandowski is the Program Director of New Hampshire’s Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) initiative. She first began with the initiative as a Recovery Friendly Advisor, where she worked 1:1 with over 80 workplaces. During her time with RFW, Samantha has helped the initiative grow from around 25 “early adopter” workplaces to over 370 participating workplaces, representing over 94,000 employees. She has been able to support these efforts in large part due to being able to manage, grow, and support an incredible team of Recovery Friendly Advisors. Samantha is also passionate about collaborating with partners, integrating lived experience, breaking down silos, and elevating diverse voices to create the strongest version of RFW possible.

As word of New Hampshire’s model spread, other states began reaching out to learn more. Eventually, over 30 states had reached out. To further support other states – and to better leverage the synergy of passionate advocates with a shared goal – Samantha convened the nation’s first ever RFW Multi-State Community of Practice, which saw anywhere up to 100 attendees at its quarterly meetings. Samantha has spoken about RFW across the nation, including presenting on the subject for several White House agencies. RFW has also been covered by a variety of news outlets, including being featured in Fortune magazine in 2023, as well as NPR’s Marketplace in 2024. In 2023, she helped support the creation of the Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute, which now oversees national efforts related to RFW.

Samantha first began working with individuals with SUD back in 2013 through a residential harm reduction program. She holds a Master of Science in Community Development & Applied Economics from the University of Vermont and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Anthropology and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Loyola University of Chicago. She is also a loved one and ally of people in recovery, as well as a trained Recovery Coach.

Jo McGuire

Jo McGuire

CSAPA

Executive Director

National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association

As a public speaker & writer, I enjoy providing any type of educational and informational support to my audiences. I also provide workshops, conference keynotes and seminars on various topics meant to inspire the audience to love what they do every day!

As a certified trainer, I specialize in work pertaining to the Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry, I used my expertise to provide Department of Transportation (DOT) compliance training for business owners, safety managers and Human Resources personnel as well as other professionals who utilize screening services for their employees. I offer Designated Employee Representative training and Reasonable Cause training for the workplace as well as certification training for professional collectors. I also provide policy consultation and development for workplace drug and alcohol testing. I am an expert in matters pertaining to legalized marijuana, its impact on employees, workplaces, students, schools, families and society.

I have over 20 years of experience in public speaking, project development, policy writing, professional consultation and program management.

Specialties: Subject matter expert on marijuana legalization, drug policy development, corporate training, organizational management, public speaking, community partnership networking, grant writing consultation.

Kimberly McRoy

Kimberly McRoy

Program Director

Mississippi Recovery Friendly Workplace Coalition, a program of the Mississippi Business Alliance Foundation

Kimberly McRoy currently serves as Program Director for the Mississippi Recovery Friendly Workplace Coalition, a program of the Mississippi Business Alliance Foundation. In this role, she leads the Coalition’s efforts to help employers address workforce challenges such as turnover, retention, and safety by expanding access to non-traditional talent pipelines and implementing Recovery Friendly Workplace practices.

Kimberly is a SHRM-SCP certified HR leader with more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing and industrial environments. She also serves on the Advisory Council of the National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute. Her approach is practical and employer-focused, helping organizations build stable teams, strengthen workplace culture, and support stronger operations across Mississippi.

Haley Moyers

Haley Moyers

Director, Workforce Programs & Initiatives

Associated Builders and Contractors

Haley Moyers serves as director of workforce programs and initiatives at ABC. A passionate mental health champion, she has a deep commitment to destigmatizing mental health issues and is dedicated to championing awareness and support for those facing challenges in the construction industry.

Domenica Personti

Domenica Personti

MS, LCDP, CADC

Chief Executive Officer

Impact Life

Domenica Personti brings over two decades of dedicated experience to the behavioral health field, blending personal insight from her long-term recovery journey with a solid academic foundation. As the CEO and founder of Impact Life, Ms. Personti is committed to supporting individuals on their journey to wellness with compassion and understanding.

With a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and specialized training in Addictions, Harm Reduction, Criminal Justice, Advocacy, and Public Policy, Ms. Personti has cultivated a comprehensive skill set. She holds licenses and certifications including Chemical Dependency Professional, Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Co-Occurring Disorders Professional-Diplomat, and Prevention Specialist.

In addition to her professional commitments, Ms. Personti actively engages in advocacy efforts to promote systemic change and equitable access to mental health and addiction services. Her dedication to social justice underscores her commitment to making a positive impact within the behavioral health field and beyond.

Shelley Schoenfeld

Shelley Schoenfeld

Chief Marketing Officer

GoMo Health

Shelley believes the future of healthcare depends as much on human connection as it does on clinical innovation. Throughout her career, she has challenged organizations to rethink how they engage patients, providers, and caregivers—transforming healthcare experiences into meaningful relationships that inspire action, improve outcomes, and make care feel more personal.

As Chief Marketing Officer of GoMo Health, Shelley leads the company’s strategic marketing, growth, and client engagement initiatives, helping healthcare organizations bridge the gap between clinical care and everyday life. She has been instrumental in designing award-winning, behaviorally driven engagement programs that combine the science of human motivation with digital innovation to improve health literacy, strengthen resilience, reduce costs, and enhance the experience of patients, caregivers, members, and clinicians.

Shelley’s expertise spans the full continuum of healthcare engagement. She has developed provider education initiatives, pharmaceutical market development programs, personalized consumer health management solutions, physician referral strategies, and multichannel campaigns that activate both providers and consumers. Her work consistently translates complex healthcare pathways into experiences that are understandable, actionable, and deeply human.

Known for bringing creativity to healthcare’s toughest engagement challenges, Shelley draws on decades of experience in healthcare marketing, client strategy, provider relations, and digital innovation. Under her leadership, GoMo Health has partnered with health systems, payers, pharmaceutical companies, public health organizations, and advocacy groups to deliver nationally recognized programs in maternal and child health, chronic disease management, behavioral health, substance use disorder, and caregiver support. Each initiative is thoughtfully designed around the emotional, cultural, and practical realities of the people it serves.

Shelley’s leadership is grounded in a simple but powerful philosophy: healthcare works best when people feel understood, supported, and empowered. That perspective has made her a trusted advisor to organizations seeking to build more personalized, equitable, and effective models of care.

Beyond GoMo Health, Shelley is a member of the Seton Hall University Customer Experience Advisory Board, an Alumni Ambassador for Drexel University, and co-host of the GoMo Health podcast, Human Resilience: Changing the Way Healthcare is Delivered. Through her leadership, speaking, and thought leadership, she continues to shape the national conversation around healthcare engagement, access, equity, and the future of person-centered care.

Stephanie Styles

Stephanie Styles

Sr. Human Resources Generalist

The Gorilla Glue Company

Stephanie is a highly motivated and detailed-oriented Human Resources professional with over five years of experience providing HR operations support. Skilled in creating positive work environments, driving employee engagement, and a passion for fostering workplace culture while representing company values. A leader with excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively with employees at all levels.

DeAnna Thomas

DeAnna Thomas

Vice President of Human Resources

Associated Builders and Contractors

DeAnna Thomas serves as Vice President of Human Resources for ABC, overseeing all aspects of human resources and payroll. HR is both her purpose and her passion, rooted in a commitment to creating a workplace where employees feel valued and supported. With more than 25 years of experience, she has a strong record of leading strategic HR initiatives, strengthening employee relations, and fostering positive workplace cultures. DeAnna holds a BBA, an MS in Human Resources Management, and is SHRM-SCP and SPHR certified.

Andrea Grubb Barthwell

Andrea Grubb Barthwell

M.D., D.F.A.S.A.M.

Board Chair

Founding Chair, Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE)

Andrea Grubb Barthwell, M.D., D.F.A.S.A.M., is the Founder of Encounter Medical Group, P.C., she manages and consults through the global health care policy firm, EM Global, and is Director at Two Dreams, a comprehensive alcoholism and addiction treatment system. Reflecting her long-term commitment to individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), she was named as the founding Chair of the Board of the Foundation for Opioid Response Effort (FORE) with a $100 million endowment.

Dr. Barthwell served as Deputy Director for Demand Reduction in the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) under President George W. Bush from 2002 to 2004. As a member of the President’s sub-cabinet, Dr. Barthwell was a principal advisor on policies aimed at reducing the demand for illicit drugs.

Dr. Barthwell’s current work is focused on developing strategies to expand access to treatment for opioid use disorder, expanding practitioner knowledge of urine drug testing in the identification and treatment of substance use disorders, and helping individuals and families prevent substance use disorders.

Dr. Barthwell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Wesleyan University and a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Michigan Medical School. Following post-graduate training at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University Medical Center, she began her practice in the Chicago area. She was a founding member of the Chicago Area AIDS Task Force, hosted a weekly local cable show on AIDS, and was president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

In 2003, Dr. Barthwell received the Betty Ford Award from the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse. In 1997, Dr. Barthwell’s peers named her one of the “Best Doctors in America” in addiction medicine.

Sean Dugan

Sean Dugan

Vice Chair

Sober Companion / Recovery Coach, Next Level Recovery Services

Sean Dugan is a professional in the recovery field. His own chemical dependency recovery spans over 30 years and continues with a fervent passion to share his experience, strength and hope through his dedication and commitment.

A graduate of Long Beach State University with a major in Television and Radio, he has held jobs in many communication capacities.

Currently, Sean manages his own consultant business, Next Level Recovery Services with other associates, all with long term years of sobriety.

Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation supports trailblazing and innovative techniques and methods to continue and evolve its success in this field. Similarly, Sean, through his extensive sober experience, complements these efforts by his own open-minded approach to recovery.

Tom Berkery

Tom Berkery

CPA

Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair

Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Tom Berkery is a Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) where he serves in their Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services (CMAAS) group.

Tom helps advise large corporations, private equity investors, and investment bankers on complex accounting and financial reporting issues associated with mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other corporate finance transactions.

He is a CFA charter holder, and a licensed CPA in the state of New York. He currently lives in Brooklyn.

Matt Escoubas

Matt Escoubas

Governance Committee Chair

Matt Escoubas is the Director of Social Impact at Fors Marsh, a research-first communications agency. With over 25 years of experience in marketing communications across federal, corporate, and nonprofit sectors, Matt leads Serve, the company’s employee-driven division addressing systemic social inequities.

His primary focus is improving recovery services and support for individuals with substance use disorders. Matt spearheads a multi-year research investment aimed at mobilizing public and private organizations to prioritize workplace recovery initiatives. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with multiple federal health agencies, including HHS, SAMHSA, NIDA, CDC, ONDCP, FDA, and NIAAA, on public health campaigns spanning substance use, heart disease, asthma, smoking cessation, nursing research, and pediatric palliative care.

A purpose-driven leader, Matt’s efforts have garnered numerous public health industry accolades, such as the PR News Platinum Award, Bronze Anvil Award, National Health Information Awards, and Thoth Awards. He serves on the board of the Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation (GRI) and is an active member of Al-Anon. Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The George Washington University.

Nyla Christian

Nyla Christian

Director

Executive Director, Center for African American Recovery Development; Founder, LivingWell Project

As Executive Director of the Center for African American Recovery Development and the Founder of the LivingWell Project, Nyla Christian brings her profound personal experience and professional expertise to drive significant advancements in recovery advocacy, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Nyla is a Nationally Certified Intervention Professional, Peer Recovery Specialist, and Life Empowerment Coach. She has been a vocal advocate for women, focusing on social advocacy, peer leadership, and providing life-building support for women in underserved communities. Her role as the Founder and CEO of Life Inspired Development has been instrumental in guiding stakeholders in building community-based, inclusive and culturally congruent support programs for behavioral health and wellness.

Nyla’s educational journey includes studies at Wesleyan University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and certifications from The Addictions Academy and NAADAC. She has been recognized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Civic League and has made significant contributions as the Lead of the City of Las Vegas’ Mayor’s Faith Initiative Addiction & Recovery Task Force. Currently, she holds a position on the board of directors for both the Vegas Stronger Coalition and Los Angeles’ Painted Brain, reinforcing her dedication to empowering community voices.

A passionate music enthusiast and talented dancer, Nyla cherishes her marriage to her college sweetheart and delights in their three remarkable sons’ global adventures. Additionally, she dedicates her time to mentoring women all over the country, guiding them in personal growth and helping them realize their dreams.

Recognized as a powerful keynote and inspirational speaker, Nyla Christian panels as an industry subject matter expert and conference moderator dedicated to creating positive change through her advocacy in recovery coaching, training, education, community cultural awareness, and social advocacy.

Jonathan Ghent

Jonathan Ghent

Director

Founder, WritLarge, public relations and corporate communications practitioner

WritLarge founder Jonathan Ghent has spent more than 25 years as a public relations and corporate communications practitioner, leader, and innovator. Throughout his career, he has been a trusted advisor and principal strategist for senior executives with some of the world’s most iconic brands.

Ghent has excelled in a variety of disciplines, including public relations, employee communications, marketing communications, and video production. He has enjoyed working in fast-paced, highly competitive environments, such as the National Basketball Association, Xerox Corporation, Kodak Alaris, Common Ground Health and for clients including the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Ghent earned a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. He is currently a member of Rochester Institute of Technology’s Advertising & Public Relations Advisory Board.