Team

In my role as executive director, I have the joy of being able to serve and to lead. I serve our team and our clients by promoting, influencing and modeling the fulfillment of individual potential. 

I lead by managing the vision and mission of our organization. I started my career over 40 years ago as an elementary school teacher and one of my favorite parts of my role here is when I get to teach. As someone in recovery from codependency, I am known as the “boundaries” lady since I love teaching people how to say “no” as an important step in the recovery journey. I grew up in California and I have traveled the world, but I love living in Terre Haute, IN. 

I am a wife, a mother and a grandmother and my family brings me great joy. My biggest blessing is watching God build and expand this ministry in order to reach the lost and the broken. At Next Step, we get a front row seat in a theater of miracles. 

Ron is a co-founder of Next Step and brings his many years of experience in the manufacturing and technology industries to his role as the assistant director. Ron oversees the facilities management of all the Next Step properties and is responsible for all bookkeeping and purchasing activities. With several years in recovery, Ron is also able to provide his experience, strength and hope to those who are embarking on a life of recovery.

Tyler is an alumni member of the Next Step Community and brings his lived experience as a Certified Addictions Peer Recovery Coach to come alongside those in recovery from Substance Use Disorder. Tyler also serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Next Step responsible for providing leadership and support of management level positions to ensure the ministry has proper operational controls, metrics, and reporting systems in place to effectively run the organization; ensuring good stewardship of all resources while providing superior client care.

Amber is a wife and a mother of two daughters. After battling addiction herself, she has now been in recovery for many years, decided to go back to school to get her GED and then went on to college to gain her Bachelors Degree in Social Work. She has dedicated herself to working in the recovery field to share her experience with others. While working with Next Step, she found that she enjoys working with numbers and insurance. Amber is now the Billing Manager at Next Step. 

I have spent my adult life helping others. I have done so professionally since 2015. Most recently I have served as a mental health and addictions therapist at The Next Step Foundation. To get a better idea of who I am let me share a few things I have experienced over the past few years;

I found my way through a pitch-black cave with only verbal instructions to follow. I rode a mountain bike down a real mountain in Colorado, went for a swim in a crater left by a meteor in Central America, spent a day in one of the most dangerous ghettos in Brazil, South America, and most recently, I hiked from one end of the Grand Canyon to the other in one day, (elevation 7,000 feet). I wanted to share these experiences just in case you might be thinking of yourself as too much of a challenge. As you can see, the challenge is what I do best!

Watching the sunrise, I can see God’s hand. Watching someone heal from addiction, I can feel God’s presence.

Emily is a graduate of Next Step Recovery Community with multiple years of recovery.  She brings her lived experience to work alongside those seeking recovery.  Emily serves as the Director of Program Administration which includes providing leadership for the administrative team, admissions, and the team of client guides.  Emily knows the program inside and out and is responsible for tracking and reporting the progress of clients throughout their entire stay.  

Melissa provides individual and group mental health counseling services. She brings years of experience helping individuals in the areas of substance use and mental health to grow and experience change through her caring guidance. 

 I believe in an individual’s inherent worth and capacity to grow and change in positive ways. When we invite others into our story and allow ourselves to connect with God, self and others, we can begin to heal.  Taking the first step is often the most challenging.  One of my favorite quotes by Maya Angelou is, “Do the best you can until you know better.  Then when you know better, do better.”  Take the first step.  My prayer is that each individual will experience an exchange of hope when coming to Next Step.  I’m excited to have the privilege to work with you!

Andy serves Next Step as an addiction educator and licensed addiction counselor. Although an Illinois native, Andy earned degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Maryland. During the past 30 years, he has served at-risk populations, military families, and congregations across the East Coast. Andy has been the lead pastor at Christway Church in Terre Haute since 2015.

“My life has been a journey continually enriched by intersections with others. After 50 years of living, I have come to realize that I am not motivated by the numbers or the bottom line of a P&L sheet. My deepest desire is to influence. Being invited to be a face in someone else’s story is the high honor of my life and ministry. I am so grateful that it happens every week at Next Step. These moments bring purpose to my own path of mistakes and suffering. These touches bring purpose and redemption to my life and to others. How good and pleasant it is for brothers to walk together in unity (Psalm 133:1). After all, we know it is not about the destination. It’s all about the journey.”

Lindsey brings her personal experience and commitment to recovery into her work with us as a certified Yoga and Meditation teacher.  Lindsey has completed her formal education to become a  Licensed Addiction Counselor and has also been certified in Yoga of 12 Step Recovery as well as Acupuncture Detoxification.  She enjoys offering these useful tools for maintaining a life in recovery.

“The Bhagavad Gita says, “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” It is my goal to hold space that facilitates this journey in the lives of others. I truly believe that Yoga saved my life and helped me reconnect with God. I hope to share these tools that have been so integral to my own transformation as often as possible. Practicing Yoga, Mindfulness, and Meditation help to cultivate open-hearted awareness and mindful presence that are so important to our ability to experience happiness and desire change in our lives.“

Curtis is a graduate of the Next Step residential program and brings the experience of his own recovery journey into his role as a Certified Peer Recovery Coach. Curtis also brings a vast array of knowledge and skills to help maintain our facilities, often while teaching our residents important life skills.

Curtis shares his passion for life in recovery with those that come into contact with him. His light shines on others, guiding them to find the light within themselves. Curtis has a heart for Jesus and greatly enjoys spending time adventuring in nature and on his bicycle at the park.

Eric spent 25 years working in the field of communications. He was a field service tech in the Telecommunication Industry.  Eric first became aware of Next Step when he had moved back to Terre Haute area. He started attending Agape Christian church and became friends with several of the families providing support to Next Step. Eric realized that Next Step needed someone to help with IT related needs. He supported the IT growth demands for many years and later served on the Next Step Board.  Eric served on the Next Step Board for 9 years. Eric left his job of 19.5 years and resigned the Next Step Board accepting a IT staff position when Next Step was awarded a grant along with Ivy Tech to develop the Recovery Scholars Program. Eric has helped develop the pilot program that allows Next Step clients to continue their education. Eric teaches computer skills classes in the Next Step Computer lab. Eric says he fights technology so the rest of staff does not have to and they can do what they do best. Since joining the staff, Eric has also helped out with the daily operations. He has accepted the position of Director of operations. Eric is thankful he gets to see lives transformed every day.

Matt is a graduate of the Next Step Program and a student at Ivy Tech. He brings his passion for recovery to his role as a peer coach. 

Matt loves to teach people the twelve steps of AA.

Gwen is the first face you will see when you enter Next Step. She is fondly known as the “hugger-in-chief”. She serves as a Certified Peer Recovery Coach. She has a passion for helping others and feels most called to lead people to the light and love of Jesus. Gwen most values family, freedom, connection, faith, love, and giving people a chance. Gwen loves to spend time doing activities and playing games with her children and grandchildren. She enjoys spending time camping in nature and has a heart for prayer.

Cheryl is a graduate of the Next Step program which has given her empathy and insights from her own recovery journey to share as a Certified Peer Recovery Coach.  Her experience also guides her as our women’s house manager.

Roy has lived in Terre Haute since 1973 and is fully retired from ISU where he served as a Career Counselor.   He currently volunteers at Next Step teaching a class each week called Bible Stories and fills-in in various ways to enrich the lives of Residents.

When you first meet me and ask, ‘How are you?’, I will tell you, ‘I’m happy’.   This is not emotional ‘Happy’, but rather ‘Happy’ by declaration.   The first chapter of Psalms promises that if a person chooses to not walk with the ungodly, and not stand in the path with sinners, and not sit around with scoffers (the cynical and sarcastic), doing everything God wants them to do, thinking about the truth day and night—they will be ‘Happy’.   I reap the harvest of that promise every day.

Jay is a graduate of the Next Step program who brings his own experience in recovery to his work as a Peer Recovery Coach. He also provides transportation to Next Step’s residents. Jay has a heart full of love for people and deeply values connection. You’ll often find him leading a group through Terre Haute’s historical neighborhoods to get fresh air & exercise. He refers to these weekly jaunts as “JayWalking”.

Adrienne is a Substance Use Disorder Counselor at Next Step providing individual and group counseling. Adrienne’s favorite group to teach is Relapse Prevention to help client’s thrive in their recovery. Adrienne earned her Bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry and Master’s degree in Human Services/Christian Counseling from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. She also completed her education to obtain her license in addiction counseling. “In 2009, I felt called into a ministry role, I just didn’t know what that looked like. But God did. I have a heart and passion to help others believe in themselves again. As a counselor at Next Step, I get that opportunity every day.”

“I have been in recovery since September 2022. Next Step changed my life after using for many years. They bring hope and love to anyone willing to make a change. I enjoy working with all the clients and staff here. We truly make a difference. “

Amanda is serving at Next Step as an Admissions Counselor and Substance Use Disorder Counselor. She enjoys bringing lived experience, passion, empathy, and life-skills to her daily interactions. Amanda graduated from Ivy Tech with her associate’s degree in Human Services and Addictions Counseling Certificate. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Master’s degree in Leadership Development at Saint Mary of the Woods College. When Amanda is not sharing her passion for recovery at work, she is enjoying time with her family and friends, volunteering in her community, and enjoying God’s many blessings.

Amanda’s favorite quote is: “I speak not for myself but for those without voice… those who have fought for their rights… their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, their right to be educated.” Malala Yousafzai Education activist and the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. Amanda is a natural advocate who will stand by those who walk through the doors of Next Step, she will meet them where they are, and make sure that they feel heard, loved, and celebrated, so that when they leave, they are set for success.