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 a graduate of the Next Step program and brings his commitment to recovery to his role as a recovery coach.  Tyler also works to maintain the properties, policies, and procedures as head of operations at Next Step.

“Two are better than one. For if one falls, the other will lift him up. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” – The Value of a Friend, Ecclesiastes 4:9

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 now works with Next Step as our program Case Manager and Outpatient Administrator. She has dedicated herself to working in the recovery field to share her experience with others. Amber hopes to help “be the change” that is so needed when working with individuals who are also battling addiction.

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 the Next Step program and is responsible for evaluating all applications and overseeing the intake process, as well as supporting the rest of the staff with all of their administrative needs.

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!

My name is Tina, and I am a therapist, recovery advocate, daughter, sister, and friend. As a licensed social worker pursuing dual licensure in clinical social work and clinical addiction counseling, I am trained in motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy skills, and other evidence-based approaches to addressing substance use and mental health experiences with adults, adolescents, and families.

My approach is relational, trauma-informed, and focused on strengths. I also identify as a person in recovery from substance abuse, family addiction, codependency, and grief and loss. I have been sober since 2004 with the help of therapy, the 12 step process, yoga, and countless people who love me. I know first-hand how hard it is to break, surrender, and get free of things that keep us small. I also know that we can do hard things, including addressing our relationship with substances, mental health, trauma, and other difficulties. I wholeheartedly believe that recovery is available to every person, family, and community, and that we are all deeply worthy of experiencing wholeness.

My life’s mission is to come alongside people, families, and communities to find this wholeness by healing whatever hurts. I choose to be a part of the Next Step community because radical love, acceptance, and belonging is at the heart of everything we do. These values have defined my path back to myself. I hope they can define yours, too.

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.”

Christy Crowder is the Director of the Wabash Valley Recovery Center. She is a graduate of St. Mary of the Woods College and is a Licensed Addictions Counselor Associate, Certified Peer Recovery Coach II, and Licensed Practical Nurse.

Before working with Next Step, I spent 14 years working with incarcerated and previously incarcerated people as they transitioned back to the workforce and their families. Working as a program coordinator for both the Indiana Department of Correction and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development creating business partnerships and opportunities for men and women with felony barriers to employment, as well as developing and teaching life skills to long-term incarcerated offenders. Having developed the unique perspective looking into this population from the outside, I have learned quickly what barriers some people face trying to reintegrate back into society. This has led to my passion for teaching people how to focus on what they are DOING, rather than what they have DONE.

My favorite quote is by Oliver Wendell Holmes: “Alas for those that never sing, for they die with all their music in them…” What this says to me, is that I should spend my days speaking for those that can’t, so I will never leave their melodies unsung.

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.“

Beth is a lover and believer of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  Some would call her the “Prayer Warrior.”  Beth enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandbabies. She enjoys being outdoors and spending time at the river. Her favorite bible verse is Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulations, be constant in prayer.”

Beth is a graduate of the Next Step residential program and brings her commitment to recovery into her role as a Certified Peer Recovery Coach.  Beth works with the ladies in our residential and outpatient programs. Beth is a Living Free facilitator as well as one of the group leaders for Next Step.  Beth is an advocate for recovery and brings her experience to support others on their recovery journeys.

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.

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 our friendly receptionist that is fondly known as the “hugger-in-chief” at Next Step. She serves as a Certified Peer Recovery Coach and one of our Jail Mentors. 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 and our men’s house manager.