Sessions
Keynote
Presenter:
Carl W. Christensen, M.D.
IHA Recovery Medicine, SJMH
Substance use and addiction are often discovered in the workplace and places your employees/colleagues and the public at risk. “Red flags” can often uncover substance use disorders, but accurate diagnosis is necessary. Following that, treatment may be offered to the colleague or employee but following up with careful monitoring is absolutely essential for long term success.
Carl Christensen is an Addiction Medicine physician, Recovery Medicine/IHA at St Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor MI; Medical Director, Mich Health Professional Recovery Program; Past Medical Director, Dawn Farm; Board of Directors, Home of New Vision; Medical Review Officer, Vault Health.
Breakout Sessions
TRACK 1: Recovery-Friendly Workplaces: A Guide for Providers, Employers, and Human Resources
Presenter:
Kimara Mayberry, MBA, PHR, SHRM-CP, CHAA, CFP
Platinum Consulting Group, LLC/Detroit SHRM
Stay ahead of evolving workplace compliance with this timely and practical workshop designed for today’s leaders. Participants will gain clarity on new earned sick time laws and what they mean for policy updates, risk management, and employee communication. We will unpack best practices for no-call/no-show policies, including essential handbook language that protects both the organization and employees—while supporting recovery-friendly approaches. Attendees will also receive structured guidance on managing and documenting reasonable suspicion in a fair, consistent, and legally sound manner. Grounded in equity and support, this session equips leaders to balance compliance, accountability, and a culture of care.
Kimara Mayberry, MBA, SHRM-CP, PHR, CPF, CHAA is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Platinum Consulting Group. Her consulting clients include organizations in the For-Profit and Non-Profit sectors with a strategic focus on Leadership Development. Kimara is a highly sought-after Award-winning Speaker, Trainer, Leadership Coach and Facilitator. Her areas of expertise include but are not limited to: Health Care Management/Revenue Cycle Management, Human Resources Management & Talent Development, Employee Relations, Training/Instructional Design, Leadership Coaching, Performance Management, Community Outreach & Justice Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging. Kimara has over 20 years of extensive leadership experience in the Construction Management, Healthcare, Higher Education, Non-Profit, Supply Chain/Food Distribution, and Manufacturing Industries. She has been quoted and provided commentary and analysis for numerous news outlets and magazine articles as a Content Expert. Kimara is a 2007 graduate of Philander Smith University with a B.A. in Organizational Management, Cum Laude and Distinction in Field. She graduated in 2012 with an M.B.A in Ethics and Business Administration from Harding University, in Searcy, Arkansas. Kimara has completed her 1L year of Law School and coursework towards her J.D. (Juris Doctor) . Kimara will continue her 2L year with dual concentrations in Litigation and Labor and Employment Law. Kimara is nationally dual certified as a PHR (Human Resources Professional), a SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional), a CHAM (Certified Health Access Manager) and an International Association of Facilitators CertifiedTM Professional Facilitator (CPF). She currently serves on the Executive Board of Directors for Detroit SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), as the Immediate Past President. Detroit SHRM is the largest SHRM affiliated chapter in the state of Michigan. She has previously served as the Co-Membership Director for Michigan State Council of SHRM (MISHRM) , the MISHRM East District Director, DEI Director and Certification Director. Kimara was awarded the 2023 MISHRM Volunteer Leader of the Year Award at the 2023 Annual MISHRM Conference. Kimara has also served in previous leadership roles for CAHRA (Central Arkansas HR Association) Board of Directors and the Arkansas SHRM State Council. Kimara is an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, the Lambda Rho Zeta Graduate Chapter, in Pontiac, Michigan where she serves as the Immediate Past President and Secretary for the Pearls of Hope Foundation. She also serves on the Executive Board of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Michigan State Organization as the Public Relations Officer and on the Great Lakes Regional level of the Sorority as the March of Dimes Coordinator and Nominating Committee Chair. Kimara serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the March of Dimes Michigan Market. Kimara is a former Silver Member of the Junior League of Little Rock, Arkansas and a Sustainer member of the Junior League of Birmingham, Michigan and she is a national Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation Board Member.
Presenter:
Louise Montag
Montag Forward Solutions LLC
While building a recovery-friendly workplace is essential, the next evolution of leadership lies in mastering the science of prevention to keep your workforce healthy before a crisis hits. This session moves beyond reactive support, defining what prevention actually looks like in a corporate ecosystem and equipping you to identify the early signs of mental health challenges and substance misuse without overstepping professional boundaries. We will navigate the delicate tightrope walk of these hard conversations, providing you with communication strategies that balance a supportive, person-centered approach with the necessity of legal compliance. Join us to transition your organization from reactive crisis management to a proactive culture of prevention.
Louise Montag, BS, CPC, is a public health professional with a decade of experience, specializing in substance misuse prevention. As a Senior Consultant with Montag Forward Solutions LLC, she provides strategic guidance and training to prevention professionals nationwide. Formerly the Executive Director at Prevention Network, she has led community-based prevention initiatives and developed numerous resources for the field. Recognized with awards such as the Prevention Specialist of the Year Award and the Top 10 in 10 Years Award, Louise is committed to fostering effective leaders and sustainable organizations dedicated to social good. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband, staying active, and spending time with her dogs.
Presenters:
Sharlene Organ, CBSP, ADAC
Michigan Rehabilitation Services
Monica Robbins
Retain Your Talent! Learn more about Title 1 of the ADA and Reasonable Accommodations, including Last Chance Agreements for Employees dealing with Drug and Alcohol disorders.
Sharlene Organ is a Business Relations Consultant with the Business Network Division. She has her master’s degree in Counseling Education/Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University and is a Certified ADA Coordinator. She was a Veteran Therapist, jail guard, welfare worker and vocational counselor. Her professional interests focus on serving Military Veterans, underserved populations, and people with disabilities. Her current projects include building community partner relationships with MRS, businesses and customers to create equal opportunity in workforce development for all. She is an active member of the Team RWB Triathlon and Grand Rapids Sole Sisters running group.
TRACK 2: Strategies for Healthcare and Substance Use Disorder Providers
Presenter:
Andrea Smith, MSW
DWIHN
This workshop introduces providers to actionable strategies for identifying and addressing key social determinants of health that affect engagement, treatment retention, and recovery outcomes. The session emphasizes practical tools and real-world examples grounded in current research on SDOH’s impact on behavioral health.
Andrea Smith serves as Associate VP of Innovation & Community Engagement with the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. In this role, Andrea leads the oversight, development, implementation, and monitoring of clinical service models. During her tenure, Andrea has been instrumental in the implementation of the 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for law enforcement in Wayne County, Michigan. She has seventeen years of increasing expertise within the field of health and human services. Her prior experiences have included division manager, program evaluator, project manager, veteran supportive housing coordinator, lecturer, research associate, and child development specialist. In addition to being a featured interviewee on multiple local news stations, Andrea has received recognition for her contributions, receiving multiple awards including two from the Michigan Chronicle among its Women of Excellence Class of 2019 and 40 Under 40 Class of 2015 honorees. Additionally, she was presented with a Spirit of Detroit Award for distinguished service and leadership. A dedicated community leader, Andrea serves as the Wayne County Suicide Prevention Chair and sits on several advisory boards, including the Wayne County Community Corrections Advisory Board, Wayne State University’s Center for Social Work Research, and the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research. She holds a master’s degree in social work and has completed all coursework toward a Doctorate in Health Administration.
Presenter:
Grenae Dudley, Ph.D.
The Youth Connection; Love Detroit Prevention Coalition
Prevention professionals operate in a landscape defined by uncertainty, urgency, and constant change. Funding fluctuates, community needs evolve, and the work rarely fits inside a 9–5 schedule. Yet despite these challenges, prevention remains one of the most powerful tools in reducing opioid misuse and strengthening community well-being. This session introduces the Three P’s of Prevention—Passion, Practice, and Politics—a framework that captures the core competencies and personal qualities required to sustain effective prevention work.
A professional advocate of children’s welfare for more than 30 years and a licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Grenaé D. Dudley is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Youth Connection, an independent non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation, whose goal is to connect youth to brighter futures. The nationally recognized Youth Connection works to increase participation in after-school programs, improve academic outcomes, provide nutrition education and obesity prevention, and help youth develop job skills through trainings and paid internships. She serves as the Chair of the Love Detroit Prevention Coalition (LDPC) which works to reduce youth alcohol abuse, marijuana use and the non-medical use of prescription drugs. LDPC received the 2019 CADCA’s Chairman’s Award. Dr. Dudley has designed, developed and implemented numerous programs that address the needs of children and their families including the specialized foster care program at the Children’s Center of Wayne County which won the Innovative Foster Care Program of the Year Award from the Michigan Federation of Private Child and Family Agencies. Additionally, Dr. Dudley’s abstinence program at the Children’s Center received the Governor’s Community Service Award. It was at The Children’s Center that Dr. Dudley realized the growing need for increase prevention services when she lost one of her foster care children to a senseless killing. She is the Chair of the Board of Directors for The Michigan Oakland County Department of Health and Human Services and the Vice President of the Michigan County Social Services Association’s. She is a board member of the River Raisin National Battlefield Park Foundation and serves on the Ascension Michigan (St. John Providence Health System) Mission Committee. Dr. Dudley received the 2018 Preventionist of the Year Award from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Office of Recovery Oriented Systems of Care.
Presenter:
Kelly D. Myricks MA, LPC, NCC, CADC
DWIHN
This session will be an interactive presentation discussing how to improve treatment plans by writing goals that are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound). Attendees will get hands-on experience, rewriting treatment plans, with coaching from treatment planning guru, Kelly Myricks. Using case discussions, Kelly will show you how better goal-setting can engage consumers who are experiencing complex situations and co-occurring disorders. Attendees will leave this session with improved skills and practical strategies to improve their treatment plans immediately.
Kelly D. Myricks is a Clinical Specialist – SUD Treatment Performance Monitor for Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN), a position she has held since October 2019. As the SUD Treatment Performance Monitor she oversees and monitors SUD Treatment Provider Network delivery of Medicaid funded SUD services. She is responsible for providing technical assistance and training to providers in accordance with state and federal regulatory requirements. Prior to joining DWIHN, Kelly worked nearly a decade as a counselor and clinical supervisor at various agencies within Oakland and Wayne Counties. She provided counseling services to individuals dealing with various issues and concerns such as domestic violence, sexual assault, substance use disorders, and criminal justice. Kelly received her undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tn and her Master’s of Arts degree in Counseling from Oakland University in Rochester, MI. She is currently State of Michigan Licensed Professional Counselor, MCBAP certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor, as well as a Nationally Certified Counselor by the National Board of Certified Counselors.
General Sessions
Presenters:
Matt Statman LMSW, CAADC
University of Michigan
Dawn Kepler
Michigan State University
Kira Binkowski
Matt and Dawn are people with 40 years of combined recovery experience who have made the transition from college students in recovery to successful professionals in the workplace. They are passionate about bringing resources to institutions to better support college students as they pursue their career goals.
Attendees will gain practical insight into how recovery-oriented supports foster academic success, strengthen the workforce, and create more inclusive environments for people in recovery.
Participants will leave with actionable ideas they can apply in their own organization to help expand recovery supports and connect with students in recovery who are transitioning from campus to the workplace.
Dawn Kepler, Coordinator for MSU Collegiate Recovery Community and Recovery Housing Dawn earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from MSU, and prior to her current position, coordinated the Michigan Campus-Community Coalition providing statewide training, networking, and advocacy for substance use professionals from higher education institutions. As an individual in recovery for over 20 years, she is passionate about the work she has done in the substance use disorder prevention and recovery fields for over ten years. In addition, her background includes improving behavioral health program development by bridging the research on program design with service delivery to maintain fidelity, achieve outcomes, and promote sustainability.
Kira Binkowski is a Michigan State University Collegiate Recovery Community Alumna.
Presenter:
Bruce Goldberg, LMSW, ACSW, CAADC, SAP
River’s Bend PC
This session will provide an overview of current substance use trends and their impact, with a practical focus on treatment and support options available in Michigan. Participants will learn about different types of treatment and recovery supports, including commercial insurance and Medicaid covered resources, and what individuals may need depending on substance use patterns. The presentation will also highlight key signs and considerations for recognizing when someone may need support, outline the benefits of seeking help, and emphasize how to understand and navigate available resources to support health, recovery, and stability.
Bruce Goldberg LMSW CAADC SAP is co-owner and president of Rivers Bend PC. He has been practicing and advocating for those with mental health and substance abuse disorders for 30 years. Bruce has directed and facilitated the IOP program for adults and adolescents, facilitated Federal Parole programs, MDOC programs as well as Early recovery groups and individual therapy for clients Bruce is a strong advocate for recovery and addiction services on local sobriety courts to support those that have entered the legal system due to their substance use disorder. His support and expertise provide extra support for those seeking long-term recovery. Bruce has been a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) for 19 years and provides recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow up testing, and aftercare planning to those employees who have violated a DOT drug or alcohol program regulation. Bruce has a strong relationship with local unions and has spoken at their local and national conferences. Bruce provides and coordinates placement locally and nationally to help families access appropriate levels of care through various treatment options and provides education and support for the families.