What is your role at Maui Recovery?
I am the Executive Director at Maui Recovery.
What does that look like day to day?
Most of my time is spent overseeing staff and program operations to ensure the highest quality care is being delivered to our clients. My goal is to continually improve our program to be the best that we possibly can be. When I’m not working on program development, I like to spend my time with our clients individually to get to know them and their needs, and to hear their feedback.
What is your educational and professional background?
I hold a Masters in Public Health, a Bachelor’s Degree in Nonprofit Management, and an Associate’s Degree in Behavioral Studies.
I came on board at Maui Recovery as the Program Director in 2019. I became the Executive Director in 2021. Prior to my work at Maui Recovery, I worked as a Peer Advocate in New York for populations struggling with substance use disorder and mental health challenges. During that time, I delivered direct peer support as well as designed, implemented, and scaled public health programs to support those populations. I have worked in the substance use disorder field since 2016.
Why do you love working at Maui Recovery?
I love working at Maui Recovery because it gives me the opportunity to be of service to a population that I feel deeply connected to, in a way that feels meaningful and effective. I also love the culture of the facility – we take our work very seriously, but don’t take ourselves too seriously. We want our clients to feel safe, nurtured, and relaxed, and do everything we can to create that environment. Which in turn makes it a great place for staff, too!
What are you most passionate about professionally? Personally?
Professionally, I feel very strongly about reducing stigma and shame surrounding substance use disorder and mental health. And, for a lot of folks who have had negative experiences in treatment, I want to prove that treatment can be a positive and healing experience.
In my personal life, I love being active. I like to spend my time in the gym, golfing, playing pickleball, and anything else that lets me move my body!
