Adam Martin
Keynote Speaker
Adam Martin is the CEO and Founder of F5 Project, a nonprofit that aims to eliminate overdose, crime, and suicide through empowering recovery, reducing recidivism, and fighting poverty. Adam isn't your typical entrepreneur and often had the odds stacked against him. After receiving five felonies, he thought there must be more to life than this. Often described as ambitious, Adam always had a desire to serve those who often get overlooked. He made the decision to become a resource for individuals coming out of jail by providing personalized support to individuals to deter repeat offenses. With a passion for justice reform, he left his private-sector job and decided to be the catalyst his local community needed. In 2016, Adam started F5 Project. What began as a way of improving the lives of formerly incarcerated individuals in Fargo, ND, the nonprofit has evolved into a statewide initiative to bridge resources and provide full-spectrum services to people struggling with incarceration, mental health, and addiction. F5 Project offices in seven cities across North Dakota and serves 520+ participants each month.
Joel Whiteside
Keynote Speaker
Joel Whiteside, MS, LPC, CBCC, CAMS, BHP, is a visionary leader in behavioral health whose life's work is rooted in transformation, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of healing. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Human Development from Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon, and his Master’s in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Driven by purpose and fueled by lived experience, Joel has built a career that goes beyond traditional counseling—creating pathways for individuals to reclaim their lives. In 2012, he launched “Been There, Done That,” a groundbreaking, peer-driven re-entry program in Washington State, empowering individuals to rise above their past and step into meaningful, productive futures. After relocating to Arizona in 2016, Joel rapidly became a force in the behavioral health community, earning independent licensure and leading high-impact programs across the MAT/DRT, SUD, GMH, and SMI sectors. As the founder of Whiteside Healing & Wellness, he now dedicates his work to individual counseling, consulting, and mentoring the next generation of therapists and behavioral health professionals. Over the past two years he has entered into the adolescent behavioral health residential arena through his partnership with Camelback Kids Residential, where he provides guidance, structure, and hope to youth who have been caught in the crossfire of mental health and addiction. A self-published author of Producing Positivity: 31 Days to a New Positive You, Joel’s mission is clear—to ignite a ripple effect of positivity, purpose, and transformation across the world that impacts lives far beyond the therapy space.
Beth Ayers
Beth was born and raised in Billings, MT. She moved to Park City, MT in 2024 with her husband Rex, son Trent, and cat CeCe. She also has a daughter Cassidy who lives in Washington state. She enjoys walking at the river, eating family dinner and playing board games with her mom, Rex, and Trent every Sunday, watching Blue Bloods, drinking a hot cup of coffee, going to the gym, traveling, attending church, and being with friends. Raising a child with behavioral health challenges has humbled Beth, strengthened her faith, and taught her to love more deeply. It has given her a greater acceptance and understanding of others, especially those different from herself. The road has not been easy, but the fight has been worth it. It has ignited a passion for behavioral health advocacy and Family Peer Support. Beth has been working in the field of Family Peer Support since 2017 and contributed to the creation of Certified Family Peer Support in Montana with the passing of HB 76 in 2025. She is excited to lead Family Peers for Hope as they work to strengthen the Family Peer Support workforce, support and empower families, build networks and communities, and advocate for change.
Alisha Barrows
Alisha Barrows is the Program Coordinator at the Lincoln County Recovery First Drop-In Center in Libby, Montana. She provides peer-informed support to individuals navigating substance use and mental health challenges. Her work is grounded in lived experience, recovery, and community connection. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Montana and an Associate of Arts in Substance Abuse Counseling from Flathead Valley Community College. Alisha is a member of the Montana Crisis Intervention Team, participates in Lincoln County Treatment Court staffing, and identifies as a person in long-term recovery.
Beth Carter
Beth Ann is the Assistant Director of Behavioral Health & Community Health Worker Programs at the Montana Office of Rural Health/State AHEC. Working for Montana AHEC since 2010 and with the Program Office since 2015, she has worked on several projects related to healthcare workforce training in rural and underserved communities within the state. MORH/AHEC’s behavioral health programs have trained almost 7,000 Montanans across the state since 2017. Beth Ann is a champion for Montana’s Community Health Support Workforce, which includes CHWs, Peer Support Specialists, Community Paramedics, and Doulas. She oversees the state’s first Community Health Worker training, which rolled out in May 2018. She worked to establish Montana’s Community Health Worker Association in 2022 and has managed the planning of the state’s annual Community Health Worker Summit. She oversaw the development of Montana’s first culturally competent CHW course for tribal communities and organizations – Pathway of a Messenger.
Sara A. Clement
Sara A. Clement, MA, C-IAYT, is the Mind-Body Wellness Coordinator for AWARE, working with clients in need throughout Western Montana. She has a BA in Psychology, an MA in Happiness and Organizational Leadership, is the owner of Sufficiently Twisted Yoga and Inner Shift Consulting, offering guidance and education as a skilled Yoga Therapist working with groups in the corporate world and 1:1 with clients both locally and across the globe. Certified in Yoga Therapy, Eco-therapeutics, Breath-work, Somatic healing, Meditation & Mindfulness Skills, DEI and Indigenous Vision, Sound-bathing and Trauma Informed yoga, Sara has spent her life honing resilience skills aimed at providing healing containers for her clients experiencing anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief, trauma, chronic pain, strength building, and end of life. Sara is the momma bear of six wonderful children, has earned a red belt in Taekwondo, and personally uses the skills she teaches on a daily basis—because everyone learns better from someone who walks the walk.
Nathan Daggett
Nathan spent his early life in Dallas, TX, and moved to Missoula in 2010. After an overdose in 2019, Nathan began his recovery journey with Jesus at the center. Nathan moved to work at Streets Ministries in Memphis, TN, working with inner-city youth, and studying at Liberty University, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Apologetics and Theology in 2023. After moving back to Missoula, Nathan felt prompted by Isaiah 58 to work with the homeless and under-resourced in his community, working at the Poverello Center, Aware, and finally, Hope Rescue Mission, where he became a Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist. Nathan’s had experience working at several of Hope’s outreach programs, and became the Director of Outreach in 2025. Nathan loves spending his free time shooting hoops, listening to music, digging into God’s word, and spending time with his wife, friends, and family.
Bill Deavel
Bill Deavel, CBHPSS, is the Program Director and Co-Founder of Beautiful Minds Recovery Montana, where he helps oversee the Risk Reduction Navigator Program in Butte and the Emergency Room Peer Support Response Program in Missoula. He is also an advanced-level WRAP facilitator, Mental Health First Aid trainer, and serves as the Behavioral Health Coordinator for the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department. In his role with Butte-Silver Bow, Bill supports regional behavioral health coordination and helps lead several key initiatives, including the Crisis Now Coalition, bi-annual Overdose Spike Response Team meetings, the Behavioral Health Local Advisory Council, the BHAC Crisis Subcommittee, the ESAA leadership team, and implementation of the Angel Initiative in Butte-Silver Bow. Bill’s work is deeply shaped by both his professional experience and his personal recovery journey. After navigating substance use, mental health challenges, homelessness, and other hardships, he has been in recovery for 18 years. That lived experience continues to guide his commitment to peer-led services, behavioral health collaboration, and community-based efforts that create hope, reduce barriers, and show that recovery is possible for everyone.
Megkian Doyle
Megkian Doyle is the Executive Director of Mountain Shadow Association. Many of you have known her as a former Lodge Grass High School teacher or MSU professor, or in her role as Director of the Regional Community Action Teams at One Health. Dr. Doyle previously served as MSA’s Director of the Raising Places initiative, a 9-month family-centered design project that brought community members from Lodge Grass together to focus on child-centered strategies for key community challenges. As the team’s work has progressed, they have formed a non-profit, Mountain Shadow and opened the Lodge Grass Family Community Center, home to a recovery drop in center, and the Little Chickadee Learning Lodge, a preschool for kids in kinship care. Alongside these direct services, Mountain Shadow is also building a family healing center, called Kaala’s Village, grounded in an ecosystems model of whole family health.
Calvin P. Gone III
Calvin P. Gone III currently works as a Youth Development Specialist with Great Falls Public Schools, where he provides culturally grounded education to students in grades 7–8. While earning his associate’s degree in Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling at Great Falls College-MSU, he served as a Native American Student Ambassador, supporting student engagement, mentorship, and access to resources. Licensed as a Peer Support Specialist since 2022, Calvin remains active in the recovery community and serves on the Sober Life Leadership Council. His professional background also includes serving as a Suicide Prevention Coordinator for the Little Shell Tribe and working as a Visit Coach with RE: Family Services, assisting parents with reunification and promoting healthy family transitions. He has additional experience supporting men in sober living environments such as Blue Thunder Lodge, as well as nearly four years working in recovery-focused settings as a Treatment Assistant at Rocky Mountain Treatment Center. Raised on the Fort Belknap Reservation, Calvin’s recovery and service are deeply rooted in culture. He is Gros Ventre and Umoⁿhoⁿ, a fourth-generation head singer of the Hays Singers, a drum keeper, and a Red Road mentor. He is a respected speaker on recovery, sobriety, and culturally grounded healing.
Jim Hajny
Jim Hajny has served as Montana’s Peer Network’s Executive Director since its inception in June 2011. He has taken the organization from a fledgling grassroots startup to a statewide recovery network with more than 1700 members statewide. He is an advocate for recovery oriented behavioral health services and driving force behind the behavioral health peer support specialist workforce development and certification training in Montana. Mr. Hajny is a trained Peer Support Specialist, and a recovery trainer, a past chair of the Montana Peer Support Task Force and was appointed by Governor Steve Bullock to the Mental Disability Board of Visitors. He is also a consultant to behavioral health agencies on peer support services and recovery programming both statewide and nationally. On social media he hosts a podcast called Recovery Talks. He is a past member and chair of the Montana Behavioral Health Advisory Council, the Park County Local Advisory Council on Mental Health and a member of the Central Service Area Authority. MPN launched a sister company Family Peers for Hope in 2025 to develop the Family Peer Support Specialist workforce and certification training. Jim has been in recovery from a mental health and substance abuse diagnosis for over 30 years
Emmalee Hortin
Emmalee Hortin is a Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist and a Licensed Recovery Doula for One Health. She specializes in Maternal Mental Health, Loss and Grief and Labor/ Delivery/ Postpartum Support. Emmalee is a person with lived experience and is in long term recovery.
Rosalie Kuska
Rosalie Kuska is an outgoing and compassionate Peer Recovery Coach and Care Coordinator with a heart for service. Her personal journey through addiction fuels her passion to meet others where they are and help them rediscover their worth. Grounded in her faith and love for Jesus, Rosalie is committed to loving and serving others with grace and empathy. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her husband, family, and friends, being active in her church, and curling up with a good book.
George M. Meadors
George M. Meadors, LAC, was born and raised in a small town in Central Montana. He joined the Army at the age of 18 and has lived in multiple places around the world. George started struggling with addiction at a young age and continued that struggle for much of his life. Wherever he went, he took his addiction along with him. He came back to Great Falls, Montana in mid-2010, got sober/clean and went back to school . He has been working in the field of addictions since 2011 and has been a licensed counselor since 2017. George is currently the clinical director of Dynamic Recovery in Great Falls, Montana and has a bachelor's degree in addiction counseling and a bachelor's degree in psychology. He has been supervising peer support specialists for the last 5 years and typically supervises multiple peer support specialists in multiple locations.
Tony Meyers
Tony Meyers is a person in long-term recovery with more than 17 years of lived recovery experience, including a strong foundation in the 12-Step process. He has been an active participant in the WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) program for the past two years and has completed WRAP Seminar II and ALF Seminar III trainings. Tony serves as the Co-Director of Never Alone Recovery Support Services (NARSS) and is the Director of the NARSS HUB Recovery-Oriented Drop-In Center, where he works to support individuals struggling with substance use disorder. He is a certified BHCPSS and a dedicated advocate for recovery, peer support, and community wellness. A family man, Tony is married and proudly called “Dad” by 12 children. He is also a grandfather to 11 grandchildren. His home is filled with life, including 4 dogs, 3 cats, 8 chickens, and a ball python named Lusi. In his free time, Tony enjoys riding his Harley-Davidson and spending time with family. He is currently attending Salish Kootenai College in the Social Work Program, working toward a degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling to continue expanding his ability to serve others in recovery.
Keely Mills
Keely is a behavioral health professional with a Master’s degree in Psychology and extensive experience supporting individuals across diverse care settings. Her work is rooted in practical problem‑solving, clear communication, and a commitment to improving outcomes for clients and teams. Driven by a desire to elevate the quality of care in her community, she founded L’Asist Behavioral Health, an agency built on accessibility, empowerment, and person‑centered support. Through her leadership, L’Asist has become a space where clients feel seen, supported, and equipped with the tools they need to thrive. Outside of her professional role, Keely enjoys spending time outdoors—camping, hiking, and exploring new environments. She is also an avid reader and enjoys hands‑on creative projects.
Lynn Patrone
Lynn Patrone is the Executive Director for the Wellness Recovery Action Plan, (WRAP,) Inc. a national non-profit agency. WRAP Inc. is the Intellectual Property owner of the evidence-based curricula of WRAP, including 2 levels of certification training. WRAP has been instrumental in transforming the lives of individuals around the world. Lynn began her work with WRAP 20 years ago and has led WRAP initiatives in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Department of Health & Human Services and consults with state’s correctional and community correctional systems. Lynn’s career spans over 2 decades in training and administration. Lynn was appointed as the Department of Correction’s Mental Health Advocate providing consultation to Pennsylvania’s state prisons. Lynn administered programs overseeing over 800 certified peer specialists and 200 WRAP facilitators, including staff. Lynn is a certified peer specialist and family member and proudly contributes WRAP to her ability to not only maintain her personal recovery journey but as the roadmap to fulfilling her career goals and personal goals of ensuring that people worldwide continue to benefit from WRAP. Lynn’s passion continues to be rooted in implementing innovation in justice services to reduce violence, reduce recidivism and help system leaders maintain safe prisons and communities.
Annette Redding
Annette Redding is a Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist (CBHPSS) whose personal journey of recovery has become the foundation of a career dedicated to helping others rebuild their lives. After overcoming a decade-long addiction and graduating from a felony treatment court program in 2015, Annette transformed her lived experience into a powerful force for change within Montana's behavioral health and recovery communities. In 2017, Annette began her professional career as the first Peer Support Specialist at Rimrock Foundation, where she helped establish and expand peer support services throughout the organization. Her leadership and vision quickly led to her promotion as Supervisor of the Peer Support Program in 2019 and later Program Director in 2021. During her tenure, she spearheaded innovative initiatives, including a co-response model that paired Peer Support Specialists with law enforcement officers to strengthen community outreach and support individuals experiencing homelessness and behavioral health challenges. She also led the implementation of Recovery Pathways across every level of care at Rimrock, including Detox, Inpatient, Outpatient, PACT, Treatment Courts, and Crisis Response Teams. In recognition of her expertise and commitment to the field, Annette was appointed by Greg Gianforte to the Montana Board of Behavioral Health in 2022, serving as the representative for Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialists. She also serves as a coordinator for CIT Montana and sits on the Board of CIT Montana. In 2024, Annette joined the Billings Adult Municipal Treatment Court as Court Coordinator, where she continues to champion evidence-based recovery practices, support participants navigating the justice system, and advocate for long-term recovery solutions. Her work focuses on helping individuals build recovery capital, strengthen resilience, and create meaningful pathways toward lasting change. Through her professional leadership, community service, and lived experience, Annette remains a passionate advocate for recovery, mental health, and the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to heal, grow, and thrive.
Lucy Richards
Lucy Richards has worked for the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Professional Licensing Bureau since 2016. She started her professional career at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation in 2005. She currently serves as the as Executive Officer for the Boards of Barbers & Cosmetologists, Behavioral Health, Dentistry; and Psychologists. In the past she has been executive officer for a variety of the 24 other boards at DLI ranging from Veterinary Medicine to Funeral Service and Public Accounting. She has an educational background in biology and is a proud career bureaucrat with specializations in government administration, legislation and policy, and records and information management. In her free time she enjoys hiking, travelling, history and science, and baseball. Go Cardinals.
Don Roberts
Don Roberts, BSW, LAC, founded the Never Alone Recovery Hall in 2017 which evolved into a 501c3 called Never Alone Recovery Support Services (NARSS). Today NARSS operates a Recovery Community Center and a Recovery Residence program that includes several homes and a Recovery Village. Don is the executive director of NARSS, but he also provides training for Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialists across Montana. Additionally, Don sits on the Board of Directors for Recovery Access Montana (RAM), and in that capacity works to help develop a Recovery-Oriented System of Care in Montana that supports Recovery Residence programs, Peer Support programs, Recovery Community Centers, Re-entry programs, and other statewide Recovery Community efforts. Don also identifies as a person in long-term recovery from addiction and mental health issues. Don is a Licensed Addiction Counselor and holds a bachelor's degree in Social Work from Salish Kootenai College.
Dean Snow
Dean Snow is a dynamic community leader in Great Falls, Montana. He excels at building relationships and leveraging experience to instill hope and drive systemic change in the recovery landscape. As a previous Program Director at The Sober Life, programming surrounding family friendly events, volunteer opportunities, culturally relevant activities and physical fitness were integrated into a monthly calendar. The Sober Life increased membership from 300 to over 1,500, and expanded social media outreach to 25,000+ followers. Crucially, the annual budget uncertainty was eliminated by securing a seven-year renewable state contract. Deeply committed to public service, The Sober Life established vital peer support partnerships with the Veterans Treatment Court, Adult Drug Court and Child & Family Services. This built on their impact as a Peer Support Specialist at The Sober Life, where the recovery client roster was scaled from zero to 225 individuals and executed a federal SAMHSA grant ranking in the top 30% nationwide strengthening critical gaps to strengthen community networks. Dean is currently Program Coordinator at the Dynamic Recovery Drop In Center where much needed addiction and recovery support is provided to the community. He participates on Family Support Team with CPS, the Local Advisory Council, Substance Abuse Prevention Alliance and the Continuity of Care Coalition, in addition to several subcommittees on the Behavioral Health Advisory Council.
Jamie VanderLinden
Jamie VanderLinden is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Addiction Counselor. She is the Integrated Behavioral Health Director at the Southwest Montana Community Health Center and Butte and provides Training and Technical Assistance for the Montana Primary Care Association. Jamie has several years of experience providing Integrated Behavioral Health in a primary care setting and in the school system. Jamie completed her Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Consumer and Community Studies at the University of Utah and earned her master’s degree in social work from Walla Walla University in Missoula, Montana. Jamie has extensive experience and knowledge in motivational interviewing, forensic interviewing in a Child Advocacy Center, SBIRT, evidence-based screenings, destigmatizing language, school-based therapy, targeted therapy, chronic pain management, grief, depression, and substance use. Jamie currently provides direct care to teens and adult patients using the Primary Care Behavioral Health model, supervises the Behavioral Health and Care Management Departments in a Federally Qualified Health Center, and provides training across the state for Montana Primary Care Association.