Advisory Board Members
Dan McCawley, ICPR, CIP, is a West Virginia native and a person in recovery. Dan is the director of operations for West Virginia Sober Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit specializing in peer-run recovery residences and community outreach. He is an internationally certified peer recovery support specialist and certified interventionist, giving him a well-rounded perspective on substance use disorder care.
Dan brings decades of operational management to the team and enjoys the challenges of a wide array of operations. He is a leader in the peer community in West Virginia and across the nation. His insight into best practices in peer recovery have led him to develop peer recovery trainings for continuing education in West Virginia and beyond.
Dan McCawley
Brenda Schell
Brenda Schell is the Missouri Public Health Analyst for the Overdose Response Strategy, a national project dedicated to building partnerships between public health and public safety agencies and organizations in each individual state. The mission of the Overdose Response Strategy is to help communities reduce fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses by connecting public health and public safety agencies, sharing information, and supporting evidence-based interventions.
Previously, Brenda spent 10+ years as Executive Director of a statewide substance use recovery advocacy organization whose mission was to eliminate barriers to recovery for all affected by substance use disorders. While in this position, she wrote a grant to bring the first SUD peer training to Missouri. She also served as the Diversion Outreach Coordinator for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) St. Louis Field Division, covering the states of Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.
Brenda has a tremendous amount of knowledge, skill and experience working in the substance use recovery field. She has served on multiple statewide and national committees to identify and provide recommendations for improving programs for the prevention, treatment and recovery from substance use disorders.
Dave Sheridan
Dave Sheridan is the Executive Director and co-founder of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences. As a national speaker and writer, he focuses on developing and managing statewide recovery housing systems and advises state agencies on recovery housing support and certification. His work includes policy development for recovery housing, medication-assisted recovery, and fair housing issues.
Active in addiction recovery since 2005, Dave has served as a board member for a Southern California recovery housing organization, held management roles with a major addiction treatment provider, and been on the boards of two nonprofit recovery residences. He has a background in institutional investment management and holds a bachelor’s degree and MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.
Kristina Padilla
Kristina Padilla is a nationally acclaimed motivational speaker, author, and a prominent leader in addiction recovery and LGBTQ+ advocacy, currently serving as Vice President of Education and Strategic Development at CCAPP. With a strong background in criminal justice and counseling psychology, holding multiple advanced degrees and certifications, Mx. Padilla has significantly impacted in-prison counseling programs, peer support training, and national DEI initiatives. They are actively involved in numerous boards, including NALGAP and the Native American Institute, and are recognized for their extensive consulting, training, and lecturing on LGBTQIA2+ issues, addiction, and program development, alongside being a parent and an active member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Ken Brown, CRPS, NCPS, works for the Florida Department of Children and Families and is the Recovery Oriented System of Care Quality Improvement Specialist for the state’s Suncoast Region.
Ken is a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) through the Florida Certification Board (FCB), a National Certified Peer Specialist (NCPS) through Mental Health America (MHA) and a recognized/certified trainer for peer specialists seeking certification through the State of Florida. He is also an advanced level WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) Facilitator, providing courses throughout the Suncoast region as well as other trainings for peers.
Ken plays a role in developing Recovery Community Organizations within the Suncoast region and also works closely with mental health and substance use providers on prevention, education and harm reduction.
Ken Brown
Peer support is critical to our comprehensive treatment model at Addiction Recovery Care.
Connecting our clients to peers has proven to be very effective and impactful.
Addiction Recovery Care