RFW Corporate Council

The Corporate Council of the National Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) Institute serves as a leadership body composed of forward-thinking business executives, industry leaders, and organizational champions committed to advancing the Recovery Friendly Workplace movement and the work of the Institute. This group plays a crucial role in reviewing certification applications, driving corporate engagement, and enhancing public awareness by participating in webinars and conferences across the country. The Corporate Council ensures that the RFW initiative remains impactful, scalable, and aligned with business and workforce needs, helping to build a national culture where recovery is recognized as a strength.

Dana Piscopo, CPRC, CFAA, CSRC, CMHFA
Oracle, Director, Global Industries GTM Design and Analytics, Co-Chair

As a Director of Go To Market Design and Analytics, Dana leads a talented team that supports the Global Industry Units in achieving their Go To Market strategy and vision with successful and sustainable sales territories. With over 21 years of experience at Oracle, she has developed expertise in complex quota modeling, data analysis, reporting, and training on internal sales tools.

In addition to her sales operations role, she runs two programs at Oracle, Reclaim Your Moxie® and Oracle Alliance for Recovery. She is the founder of Color Your Life LLC, a coaching business that offers whole-self sobriety and recovery coaching to individuals and organizations. She co-hosts a podcast called For Sober Chicks, where they share their stories and insights on living a sober and healthy life, also interviewing amazing people in the industry who share their stories and resources. As of November 2023, For Sober Chicks have had over 10,000 downloads! Dana is a keynote speaker, speaking out on peer support and recovery. Through her education and certifications in recovery, integrative nutrition, health and wellness, and life coaching, she has gained the skills and knowledge to empower her clients and listeners to achieve their goals and thrive in all aspects of their lives.

Jordan Foster
HRCI, Director of Marketing and Community Engagement, Co-Chair
David Balinski
Chief Executive Officer, Wire Health, Chief Executive Officer

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.

 

Melissa Cheng, MD, MOH, MHS, FACOEM
CoMagine Health, Clinical Medical Director

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
Hypertherm Associates, HR Business Partner II

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, MS
Recovery Friendly Workplace NH, Senior Director

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, CSAPA
National Drug and Alcohol Screening Assoc, Executive Director

As a public speaker & writer, I enjoy providing any type of educational and informational support to my audiences. I also provide workshops, conference key notes 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, it’s impact to employees, workplaces, students, schools, families and society.

I have over 20 years of experience in pubic 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
ThermoKool, Human Resources Director

As the Human Resources Director at Thermo-Kool, Kimberly manages the employee life cycle, including recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and training, and administering employee benefits. With over 30 years of experience in the construction, sales, and management field, she has cultivated a unique set of skills for relationship building and a passion for bettering the lives of others through service both in her community and in a professional setting.

One of the central goals Kimberly has undertaken in her Human Resources role is her mission to create and foster a recovery safe environment within the workplace. Having experienced substance misuse firsthand and achieved sobriety for 30 plus years, she understands the intrinsic struggles that many men and women face on the road to recovery. This is why Kimberly feels it is both her duty and honor to now help pave the way for others on their return to a healthy, happy lifestyle, and why she has been inspired to create Thermo-Kool’s first Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) program. This program helps secure employment for recovering substance misusers where they can focus on improving their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. Kimberly plans to continue this work by pushing more recovery friendly policies and further emphasizing the human aspect of Human Resources.

Cheryl Brown Merriwether MHR, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CM, CRSS, CPRC
NET Institute Center for Addiction & Recovery, Education Executive Director

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.

Sandy Miles Ph.D., SPHR, GPHR, Academic Fellow CIPD
Human Resources Certification Institute

Dr. Sandy Miles, the former Hutchens Distinguished Professor at Murray State University , has joined HRCI to assist in their quest to lead, support, and develop global standards for the HR profession. She earned a Ph.D. as well as the professional certifications of SPHR, and GPHR, through HRCI. In 2014, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) in London England, recognized her as an Academic Fellow for her contribution to the HR profession at the local, national, and international level.

In addition to guiding the development of a successful HR program at MSU, she has been actively involved in the HR profession throughout her career. She served the HR profession through representation on the HRCI board of directors, as well extensive work through the Organization for International Standards (ISO). Her service to ISO, included convener of the international standards on recruitment, secretary for the HR metrics group, and a member of the human governance and human capital reporting standard. She served as Acting Chair at the ISO TC 260 Plenary meeting in Bali, Indonesia, and served for 6 years with strategic advisory committee. In 2015, she was voted as Vice Chair and Chaired the U.S. Team from 2017-2018 guiding the U.S. role in ISO standard development. In 2023, she was elected to the Vice Chair for the U.S. TAG for ISO TC 260.

Her global work coupled with her research led to many invitations for academic and practitioner engagements around the world. She serves on the Editorial Review Board for Business Horizons published by Indiana University, Bloomington; and was formerly on the advisory board for EIP Council (Entertainment Industry Professionals), working toward the greater good through elevation of ethical standards of the entertainment industry.

Haley Moyers
Associated Builders and Contractors, Director, Workforce Programs and Initiatives

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 MS, LCDP, CADC
Impact Life, Chief Executive Officer

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.

 

Stephanie Styles
The Gorilla Glue Company, Sr. Human Resources Generalist

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
Associated Builders and Contractors, Vice President of Human Resources

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.