Committee
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee is established to address the impact of systemic racism and other forms of discrimination and oppression on addiction treatment and recovery. The Committee includes individuals who have professional and/or lived experience in addiction treatment and recovery, as well as expertise in social justice advocacy and change. The Committee focuses on lack of diversity within the workforce and leadership, lack of equity in access to care for People of Color and individuals from other historically marginalized communities, and lack of inclusivity and cultural competency in patient care and workplace environments.
Christina Simos
Co-Chair
Friendly House
Executive Director
- Christina's Bio
Simos is a leader, connector, change maker and a disruptor to the status quo. With degrees in Journalism and Mass Communication, she founded Students Against Discrimination at Arizona State University, pioneering impactful policies that still stand today. With over a decade of experience in addiction treatment, Simos is a dynamic leader and advocate for social justice who has held a variety of roles ranging from Human Resources to marketing and business development, admissions to upper-level management, and is now the Executive Director of the program she got sober at in 2005. She is on the Board of NAATP's National Board of Directors.
Philip Rutherford
Co-Chair
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Strategy Lead for Substance Use
- Philip's Bio
Rutherford focuses on making substance use programs more accessible, effective, and equitable. A former COO of Faces and Voices of Recovery, he serves on NIH and FDA committees and founded Black Faces Black Voices. He sits on several nonprofit boards and brings prior experience from Microsoft and Micron. Deeply rooted in recovery, he leads with lived experience and equity-driven insight. He is on the Board of NAATP's National Board of Directors.
Annie Peters, PhD, LP
Staff Lead
NAATP
Director of Research & Education
- Annie's Bio
Dr. Annie Peters (she/her) joins the NAATP team as Director of Research and Education. Dr. Peters possesses a rare combination of scientific acumen, clinical experience, and a core understanding of the disease of Substance Use Disorder. She will lead the national effort to further understand this disease through scientific research and create treatment solutions for those who suffer from it. Annie Peters, PhD, LP, was formerly the Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) of Harmony Foundation, Inc., Colorado’s longest running residential addiction treatment center. As CCO, Dr. Peters directed the delivery of clinical services, including addiction counseling, mental health services, and clinical case management. Dr. Peters earned her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder. Her clinical interests include integrated care for individuals with addiction and co-occurring disorders, and mindfulness-based cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies.
Rev. Eyglo
Bjarnadottir
Copenhagen Recovery Counseling
Founder
- Eyglo's Bio
Rev. Bjarnadottir is a dedicated advocate for substance use disorder recovery. With over two decades of experience, she provides spiritual care and support for individuals seeking healing. Rev. Bjarnadottir is an ELCA ordained minister who spent 16 years on staff at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation before moving to Copenhagen, Denmark to found her own recovery support agency. The agency provides recovery support for Danes as well as international clients.
Dr. J. Gregory Hobelmann
Ashley Addiction Treatment
Co-Chief Executive Officer and President
- Greg's Bio
Dr. Hobelmann leads with a focus on clinical excellence and operational efficiency. With a background in psychiatry and pain medicine, he oversees holistic care for substance use disorder and chronic pain. His dedication to improving addiction treatment is evident in his innovative approach. Dr. Hobelmann completed an anesthesiology residency and pain medicine fellowship at Johns Hopkins in 2006 and has a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is on the Executive Committee of NAATP's National Board of Directors.
Rick
Hubbard
Constellation Behavioral Health
Executive Vice President
- Rick's Bio
Hubbard brings over 20 years of expertise in addiction treatment and has experience in multiple aspects of treatment administration including admissions, utilization review, marketing, referent relations and business development. A trained intervention specialist with 14 years of sobriety, Hubbard's leadership empowers individuals and families to overcome addiction. He is on the Executive Committee of NAATP's National Board of Directors.
Dr. Danielle
Jackman
Lotus DEI Consulting, LLC
Founder
- Danielle's Bio
Dr. Jackman is a dedicated advocate for marginalized communities. Through research and consulting, she strives to create inclusive spaces and challenge systemic oppression. Dr. Jackman's vision promotes innovation and understanding in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Her work is founded on her vision of using diversity and inclusion as a platform to stretch creativity and innovation beyond current cultural boundaries and to move diversity, equity, and inclusion from moralistic obligations to pragmatic understanding and utility.
Joel Johnson
TASC
President & Chief Executive Officer
- Joel's Bio
Johnson is an advocate for individuals and communities that are dealing with trauma, substance use disorders, mental health challenges, family disconnection, and social, racial, and economic injustice. From the front lines of clinical care to nonprofit executive leadership, he has maintained a steady focus on ensuring health, dignity, and opportunity for all. Johnson leads TASC’s efforts to address the everyday realities and structural barriers that impede people’s opportunities to thrive.
Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross
Institute for Antiracism & Equity in Mental Health
Co-Founder
- Carolyn's Bio
Dr. Ross is an African American author, speaker, and expert on the treatment of eating disorders, trauma and addictions. Dr. Ross completed a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. She is board-certified in Preventive Medicine and in Addiction Medicine. Dr. Ross is the CEO of The Anchor Program an online non-diet program for people with binge eating. She is a co-founder of the Institute for Antiracism and Equity (antiracismandequity.com) that consults and trains on diversity, equity and racism.
Andrew Williams
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Director, Diversity Equity and Inclusion
- Andrew's Bio
Williams drives cultural and behavioral change across the organization to increase diversity, advance equity and foster inclusion. With over 20 years in higher education leadership, Williams fosters awareness and allyship for underrepresented groups while championing DEI awareness. Andrew's strategic approach inspires organizational change and intercultural understanding. He is the inaugural Director of DEI at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
Advisory Council
The DEIB Committee has established an Advisory Council to include more NAATP Member voices and further expertise.
Sarah Buino
Founder, Head/Heart Therapy; Creator, Conversations with a Wounded Healer; and Co-Founder, The Sarahs
Buino, LCSW, RDDP, CADC, CDWF, NMT stands out as a therapist, educator, and the visionary behind Head/Heart Therapy, Inc., and Head/Heart Business Therapy. Embracing personal growth, Buino shares her wisdom as an adjunct faculty member at Loyola University Chicago. Her podcast, "Conversations With a Wounded Healer," delves into self-healing for care-givers, while co-leading "The Sarahs" with Sarah Suzuki, she pioneers workshops to promote inclusivity and combat systemic racism.
Alex Denstman
Co-Chief Executive Officer and President, Ashley Addiction Treatment
Denstman's journey from patient to Joint CEO at Ashley Addiction Treatment underscores his deep commitment to recovery and quality care. With over 15 years of experience in various roles, including director of Alumni Services and Clinical Outreach, Denstman brings a unique perspective to his leadership role. His personal experiences inform his mission to create a supportive environment for patients and families on their recovery journey.
Manuel Garcia
Senior Clinical Director, Caron Treatment Centers
Garcia is dedicated to expanding access to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) recovery services. His advocacy for underrepresented populations underscores his mission to eliminate barriers to SUD treatment. Through his leadership and compassionate approach to clinical supervision, Garcia continues to drive positive change in addiction recovery organizations.
Beck Gee-Cohen
CEO, Breathe Life Healing Centers
Gee-Cohen is a master's level clinician with a passion for serving diverse communities. With over a decade of experience in mental health and substance use, Gee-Cohen specializes in supporting LGBTQI+ individuals, adolescents, and families. His commitment to education and advocacy is reflected in his training sessions on LGBTQI+ best practices and trauma-informed care.
Shari Hampton
Recovery Coach, and Anti-Racism Trainer, Shari Hampton Consulting, and Trusted Advisor, SHE RECOVERS Foundation
Hampton is dedicated to creating inclusive and equitable spaces within the recovery community. As a Trusted Advisor at SHE RECOVERS Foundation, Hampton brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to her work. Through her nonprofit, Served Up Sober, she provides vital support to women of color in recovery, addressing intersecting issues of addiction, trauma, and systemic racism.
Peter Hayden, PhD
Principal and President, Turning Point, Inc.
For over 30 years, Hayden has shaped holistic health services at Turning Point, a Minnesota nonprofit. A Brisbane-endowed lecturer, he bridges academia and community service. He's a Kellogg Fellow, Vince Bakeman Trainer, and global speaker on substance abuse, mental health, co-occurring disorders, kidney disease, and suicide prevention. He also serves on multiple advisory task forces.
Jordan Held, LCSW
President & Founder, Relentless Pursuit Therapy & Consulting
Held (he/him) specializes in trauma, LGBTQ+ support, and family systems, fostering healing-centered care. An international speaker, he advocates for gender-diverse youth and serves on boards for the LA LGBT Center and The Laurel Foundation. He supports families via JQ International, works with CHLA, advises the 988 hotline, and publishes on trauma, resilience, and LGBTQ+ youth.
Ester Nicholson
Recovery Coach & Author, Soul Recovery and Trusted Advisor, SHE RECOVERS Foundation
Nicholson is a beacon of hope and healing for individuals on their recovery journey. As the founder of Soul Recovery, Nicholson's transformative program bridges spirituality with evidence-based recovery practices. Her advocacy for addiction recovery and mental health awareness has touched the lives of thousands, as she continues to empower individuals to find wholeness and purpose on their path to recovery.
Sarah Suzuki
Founder, Chicago Compass Counseling and Co-Founder, The Sarahs
Suzuki is a pioneering force in recovery and behavior change. Through her counseling practice, Suzuki champions identity-affirming change while confronting systemic racism. Her transformative initiatives aim to dismantle white supremacy and foster inclusive environments. Her commitment to systemic liberation and personal growth is evident in her advocacy work and community engagement efforts.
Dr. Damir Utrzan
Chief Compliance and Strategic Development Officer, Horowitz Health
Dr. Utrzan is a distinguished leader in addiction treatment and mental health services. With extensive experience in clinical and administrative roles, Dr. Utrzan ensures organizational compliance while driving long-term growth strategies. His expertise in managing provider-patient outcomes and implementing quality performance metrics reflects his commitment to excellence in addiction treatment.