Melina Gilbert (Volunteer Support Manager)
Melina Gilbert is the Volunteer Outreach Coordinator for SMART Recovery. Melina has worked at SMART since 2016 as a part time employee. In 2019 she accepted the full-time position of Volunteer Outreach Coordinator. Part of her role is to make sure all our SMART volunteers have the resources they need to start and maintain meetings. Being part of the training team has taught her so much about SMART and their dedication to our volunteers. The skills and tools that she learned while taking the facilitator training have been helpful not only in supporting her children with addictive behaviors, but also her communication and problem solving in general. Melina is so happy to be part of such an amazing family of volunteers, staff, and board members.
Katie Mackey (E-Learning Coordinator)
Katie Mackey is the E-Learning Coordinator at SMART Recovery. She began at SMART Recovery in 2018. She has fantastic technological skills along with a passion for helping others. Katie is a vital part of the National Office team and also works with SMART Recovery International where her work has been praised. Katie has seen how addiction can impact individuals and their families personally. Katie believes strongly that the training program offers the skills and information for a facilitator to be effective in meetings, but also for an individual to make everyday choices whether they are in recovery or not.
Sarah E. Lauzen (Training Support)
Sarah E. Lauzen found SMART Recovery while frantically looking for an alternative to AA/Quad A in January 2013. Sarah believes that everyone’s addiction is somewhat unique and that each person should be empowered to find what works for them in their recovery. For Sarah that was SMART Recovery. She believes that many people, like her, use substances and behaviors in an attempt to take control of their lives, and the unintended consequence of that is addiction. She is looking forward to getting to know you and to learn alongside you in your training experience.
Gayeanne Lester (Onsite and Online Training Support)
Gayeanne "Sam" Lester has volunteered for SMART Recovery since 2005 as an Online Facilitator, Facilitator Liaison and a team member of the Online Facilitator’s Get SMART Fast training course. Since 2016 she has been conducting Onsite Facilitator Training at facilities for the two-day training course. Sam shares, “Throughout the years, I have always enjoyed being a part of the SMART Recovery community, not only for others but for my own wellbeing. When I am not ‘doing SMART Recovery’, I enjoy my time with our two adult boys and their families while working as a professional photographer.”
Kevin Minnick (Onsite and Online Training Support)
Kevin Minnick has been an addictions professional for 30 years in all phases of the field. His involvement with SMART Recovery began in the late 90’s and continued to where he is now, serving as the Chair of the Regional Coordinators Committee. He has served as a volunteer for United Way and other local non-profits in the Indianapolis area over the last 12 years. He is currently a Court Treatment Specialist for the State of Indiana and Hancock County Government.
Lorie Hammerstrom (Onsite Lead Trainer)
Lorie "Hammer" Hammerstrom has been a volunteer for SMART Recovery since 2005. She is a past member of the Board of Directors, one of the original members of our "Get SMART FAST" training team, and a long-time advocate and volunteer for SMART Recovery Online. Lorie's served as a 4th and 5th grade teacher for over 30 years, having receiving many awards along the way for her teaching skills and her after school Space Camp program. (She's been selected twice to participate in NASA’s Adult Space Camp Academy and received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching) Lorie is a favorite with her students and in our onsite training program!
Michler F. Bishop (Onsite Training Support)
Michler F. Bishop is the Director of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services and a Senior Staff Psychologist at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI) where, for over twenty years, he has worked with Dr. Ellis, running groups and workshops. Author of Am I Addicted: 64 Questions and Answers to Help You Change an Addictive or Semi-Addictive Behavior and Managing Addictions: Cognitive, Emotive and Behavioral Techniques, as well as research articles and, most recently, blogs for Psychology Today. As national vice president of SMART Recovery, he was instrumental in the development of SMART Recovery's 4-Point Program.
Alexander Carde (Onsite Training Support)
Alexander Carde has a passion for SMART Recovery. He serves on multiple committees and positions within the organization. Alexander was one of our 25 volunteers in 25 years of SMART Recovery. His leadership as an online Moderator and technical background has been instrumental in the ongoing development of the online platform. He serves as Co-chair of the Regional Coordinator Committee he helps Regional Coordinators across North America. He facilitates national online meetings as well as local Face to Face meetings. Alexander Co-hosts our SMART Meeting Management meetings.
Matt Frank (Onsite Training Support)
Matthew Frank has been facilitating SMART meetings since 2014, in New York City and online. His favorite tools are motivational interviewing and the ABC, where he especially enjoys the contrast between accurate and helpful beliefs. His favorite questions for meetings include "who has ideas for the situation we just heard about?", "what would you like to do differently in the next week?", and "what are the easiest things to do that would be helpful?" Matt has a PhD and multiple financial credentials; outside of SMART, he works for a consulting firm and teaches risk management.
Rae Grady (Onsite Training Support)
Rae Grady is an experienced trainer in the fields of addiction, mental health and youth recovery. A former Coordinator of Prevention Services and Community Educator, she has provided training programs for over 15,000 persons. Rae is a past NAMI Board member and USO volunteer. She joined the SMART Recovery National Office team as a Local Onsite Trainer in 2019. "I am so excited to be part of this great organization and help train others in the principals and tools of SMART Recovery. They are life-changing skills that can help all of us!"
Haley Iselin (Onsite Training Support)
Haley Iselin has been a volunteer with SMART Recovery since 2016 as a regular and family and friends facilitator. In 2020 Haley became the Regional Coordinator for Washington State and in 2021 joined the training team. Haley loves how the SMART Recovery tools can be applied to everyday life and for anyone interested in making changes to their thinking. She particularly likes the vocabulary exchange and staying away from the use of labels. Outside of SMART Haley is Vice President of the families metal distribution company which she has been doing since graduating from the University of Washington in 2004.
Dennis Rosenfeld (Onsite Training Support)
Dennis Rosenfeld has been with SMART Recovery since 2016. He has held many volunteer positions with SMART including Meeting Coordinator for the 50 plus National Online Meetings offered each week, and Regional Coordinator for Face to Face meetings in New York state. He also co-hosts the twice weekly SMART Meeting Management on the Zoom. In addition to being on the Leadership Team for SROL since 2018, he now provides facilitator onsite training for counseling professionals that want to offer SMART Recovery to their clients.