Affiliate Directors
Gerald Lott
Gerald Lott, CPRS, is the Founder and Executive Director of Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery (SVVOR), a non-profit Recovery Community Organization serving four counties in Illinois. A Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist and convicted felon, Mr. Lott draws upon over 17 years of personal long-term recovery (since April 2008) to lead SVVOR's mission. His background includes a degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and varied professional experiences before fully dedicating himself to recovery advocacy in 2018.
Through SVVOR, Lott actively builds the local recovery community by providing support services, sober housing for men, sober-social events, and the "Recovery Greenhouse" podcast. His vision includes expanding SVVOR's impact with innovative resources like collegiate recovery programs, recovery farms, and improved access to MAR and treatment. He contributes to broader efforts via roles with the National Peer Recovery Alliance and Illinois state recovery task forces, embodying his belief that recovery requires active work and determination.
Stefanie Robinson
Stefanie Robinson is the Executive Director of Hope Recovery Community in Medina County, Ohio, and coordinates recovery peer support services at OhioGuidestone. She also directs Recovery Support Services for Ohio Citizen Advocates for Addiction Recovery (OCAAR). With over 13 years in recovery from substance use, mental health, and an eating disorder, Stefanie has served on multiple boards, including the National Peer Recovery Alliance.
In 2016, she collaborated with Medina County Adult Probation and the Court of Common Pleas to launch the Recovery Center of Medina County and established Hope Recovery Community in 2018. Stefanie has received numerous accolades for her recovery work, including the Cleveland Clinic Medina County Community Service Award (2017), Recovery Advocate of the Year (2018), OhioGuidestone Regional MVP (2019), OneStep Peer Supporter of the Year (2019), and the State of Ohio Cares Award (2020).
J.K. McAtee, PRSS
A Business Management graduate of Fairmont State University and Buckhannon, WV native, J.K. has over 28 years invested in his personal recovery. His background includes sales, sales management and
food services management. He is graduate of the WV Leadership Academy, serving as the Coordinator for the WV Leadership Academy for Consumers and Families from 2012 - 2018.
McAtee is a Peer Recovery Support Specialist and seasoned facilitator of Peer Support services recognized by the Copeland Center as an Advanced Level Facilitator of Wellness Recovery Action Plan and Certified Wellbeing Mentor. J.K. has had a hand in several peer run programs throughout the state of WV, and he is an active advocate for persons with lived experience through the WV Behavioral Health Planning Council. He facilitates Recovery Education programs while serving as coordinator of WVRecovers.Org, the statewide peer network. J.K. is also Assistant Program Director of Peer Resource Network Org. McAtee holds down an executive committee post for the WV Behavioral Health Planning Council serving as the council’s Treasurer.
Jacob Dunavant
Jacob Dunavant is a person in long-term recovery who has worked in the SUD recovery space for 6 years.
Jacob has worked providing peer support in recovery housing, medication assisted treatment, intensive outpatient, and outreach spaces. He is the Director of the National Peer Recovery Alliance-Missouri Chapter and an Outreach Coordinator for Illinois Recovery Center. His work has positively impacted countless people needing help with the disease of addiction.
Jacob lives in Missouri with his wife and two kids. He enjoys spending time with family and friends and invests in continued personal growth.
Crystal Holland, APR, SIT
Crystal Holland serves as a Peer Supervisor in training with the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office, bringing four years of dedicated service. Her commitment is deeply rooted in her personal recovery journey, which began in 2018 following a challenging 22-year battle with methamphetamine and alcohol addiction that encompassed incarceration and homelessness. Finding transformation through a faith-based program and her relationship with Jesus Christ, Crystal has maintained nearly seven years of long-term recovery, using her experience to inform her work.
Passionate about aiding others facing similar struggles, Crystal actively functions as an overdose responder, provides crucial resources to victims and families, facilitates Narcan and opioid education, and is integral to the Lonoke County PACT program's Phase 2 and 3 peer support initiatives. She proudly supports the Sheriff's Office's "Investigate, Educate, and Rehabilitate" campaign under Sheriff John Staley's leadership and was honored for her impactful contributions as the 2024 recipient of the Justice-Involved Peer Service Award.
Helen Skipper
Skip has worked in peer support since 2007, following her release from multiple incarcerations and behavioral health systems involvement. She was the first peer supervisor at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and later a senior manager at the NYC Criminal Justice Agency. In 2022, she became the founding executive director of the NYC Justice Peer Initiative. A subject-matter expert on justice-involved peer support, she consults nationally on program design and employment, and trains NYPD and NYC's B-Heard program.
Skip graduated from St. Francis College and earned a master's degree in criminology from John Jay College in 2025. She is an accomplished speaker, presenter, and trainer, and has published academic work. An Amazon best-selling author, she co-won a SAMHSA Recovery Innovation Challenge in 2022 and was crowned SAMHSA Equity Champion of the Year in 2024. She serves as Vice Chair of the NYC Board of Correction and is on the Council on Criminal Justice. Her mantra reflects her dedication to guiding others through experiences with the criminal justice and behavioral health systems.