Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Luke Sikinyi

Luke Sikinyi is a dedicated advocate for mental health services. He is currently the Director of Public Policy and Public Engagement at the Alliance for Rights and Recovery His own experiences maintaining recovery as well as his experiences in direct service provision push him to help create a better system for those dealing with serious mental health challenges.

He has an educational background in Psychology as well as a Master of Science in Public Health with a focus on Health Education and Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Luke has wide ranging experiences, from conducting research for policy changes to improve adolescent mental health to national policy advocacy to improve access to services for marginalized and disadvantaged communities. His understanding of research and valuable expertise organizing advocacy efforts on the local, state, and national level helped the organizations he has worked with push for funding for peer services, workforce development, and other person-centered recovery services.

Brandee Izquierdo

Brandee Izquierdo is the Director of Behavioral Health Programs for Pew Charitable Trusts, where she leads a team of researchers and advocates at both state and federal levels to expand access to evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders and enhance suicide prevention interventions in hospitals and health systems. Prior to joining Pew, Dr. Izquierdo held several leadership roles, including executive director of the Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic Project and director of advocacy and outreach at Faces & Voices of Recovery. She also served as the associate director of special populations with Behavioral Health System Baltimore and as director of consumer affairs for Maryland’s Behavioral Health Administration.

Dr. Izquierdo, a woman in recovery, began her professional career as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, providing direct services and support to individuals navigating behavioral health services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in government and public policy, a master’s in public administration, and a doctorate in public administration. Leveraging both lived experiences and academic knowledge, Dr. Izquierdo is committed to driving impactful and sustainable change for individuals seeking a path to wellness.

Helen "Skip" Skipper

Skip, as she prefers to be called, has been working in peer support since her final release from incarceration in 2007. After serving as Senior Manager of Peer Services at the NYC Criminal Justice Agency, she became Executive Director of the NYC Justice Peer Initiative in March 2022. A recognized subject-matter expert on justice-involved peer support, she consults nationally on designing programs and creating pathways to employment while promoting the inclusion of lived experiences. She trains NYPD and NYC’s B-Heard program in Peer C.I.T., consults with the Urban Institute, and champions community voices.

A member of several “higher education for the justice-impacted” coalitions and graduate of St. Francis College (with honors), Skip is graduating with a Master’s in Criminology at John Jay College. She has presented original scholarship at the American Society of Criminology and is on track to earn a PhD. The inaugural Executive Chair of the NYC Peer Workforce Coalition, she co-won a SAMHSA Recovery Innovation Challenge in 2022 and the SAMHSA Equity Champion of the year in 2024, and sits on multiple boards, including the NYC Board of Correction as Vice Chair. Her mantra—“I’ve been around the block a time or two on my tricycle”—reflects her advocacy and unwavering commitment to those impacted by the criminal justice system.

Plenary & Workshop Speakers

Paula Blackwell

Paula Blackwell, MBA, MHA, is the Executive Director of Central Maryland Area Health Education Center. She has more than 30 years of experience leading healthcare, public health, and human services organizations and programs throughout the region. As Executive Director of Central Maryland AHEC, she provides leadership in the development and implementation of programs designed to improve health equity addressing workforce malalignment and community health in Central Maryland. Prior to her position at Central Maryland AHEC, Paula held several positions with Foreign-Born Information and Referral Network (now Luminus) including Program Director for Health Education and Promotion. She has also held positions at Bon Secours Health System, African American Health Alert. Ms. Blackwell was appointed in 2020 to serve as a Commissioner on the Maryland Commission on Aging and is presently serving her second term.

Sal Corbin

Sal Corbin worked for 15 years in academia as a Psychology Professor before transitioning to nonprofit work. He has done workforce development training and program management and is now a Training Coordinator for the Maryland Harm Reduction Institute with the Behavioral Health System of Baltimore, and Board Chair for the DC Peace Team. His vision is to help others build and maintain healthy relationships with conflict transformation as the primary focus. His extensive background in leadership facilitation supports his efforts to keep showing up and sharing. He holds degrees in Clinical (M.S.) and Educational (PhD) Psychology.

Donielle Davis

Donielle Davis, a life-long Mid-shore and Delmarva resident, is a CPRS dedicated to advocacy in our community. Born in Easton, Donielle now lives in Delaware, with his loving wife, Teresa. They have one daughter, De’jiara. Donielle works for the DPSCS-DPP in Glen Burnie, Maryland. He also is the owner of From Rust To Gold, LLC, an online faith-based clothing store, and VP of Redemption Alleyway Corp, a nonprofit geared to provide resources for the underserved. Donielle is a graduate of the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, in Princess Anne, Maryland. Donielle champions second chances, mistakes atoned, and redemption earned.

Rachel England

Rachel England is an artist, educator, and Peer with lived experience with MI. She attended Corcoran College of Art and Design and during her tenure there began teaching art to adults with developmental disabilities. After college, she started an online art subscription business, but continued to teach art to students with disabilities and MI through the library system and local churches. In 2018 she began working as a Peer and found her calling in this work. She is passionate about supporting people in recovery and has been able to expand her education in therapeutic interventions in her role as Peer. She has implemented a broad range of recreational groups for the purposes of helping others find their creative outlet as well as overcome social anxiety and build rehab skills.

Ruth Getachew

Ruth Getachew serves as the Director of Consumer Health Coverage Assistance with the Maryland Insurance Administration. She has more than 7 years of experience helping individuals and families access health care services. For the past year, Ruth has helped develop and implement their Health Coverage Assistance Team (H-CAT), which aims to walk alongside consumers as they navigate their health coverage challenges or concerns. Ruth holds a Master’s in Public Administration with a focus on Healthcare Policy. She is passionate about decreasing barriers for individuals to access health care, particularly behavioral health services.

Jon Gilgoff

Jon Gilgoff, PhD, MSW, brings deep experience in behavioral and public health, as well as targeted practices and policies to improve boys’ and men’s health. Jon is founder and former Executive Director of the youth nonprofit, Brothers on the Rise. He is currently a community-engaged research manager, working on the IRIS, PEER, and BHWISE projects at University of Maryland School of Social Work. In these roles, his main focus is supporting agencies and individuals within the substance use recovery support sector to engage in research, evaluation, and program quality improvement, with particular attention to uplifting the vital work of peers.

Stephanie Hutter-Thomas

Stephanie Hutter-Thomas, PhD, RPS, is a relentless advocate for the peer support workforce and community-driven public health solutions. As the founder of Appalachian Recovery Concepts, she provides evidence-based training, workforce development, and research support to strengthen and expand peer support services. She is a Co-Investigator for the Mountain Maryland Forward recovery workforce initiative, serves on the IRIS Project Leadership Committee, and is a 2023-2024 Appalachian Leadership Institute Alumni. A sought-after trainer, researcher, and thought leader, Stephanie’s work is centered on empowering peers, advancing innovative recovery initiatives, and driving sustainable, systemic change in public health.

Alicia Lucksted

Alicia Lucksted, PhD is a clinical-community psychologist, doing mental health services research and resource development at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Veterans Administration VISN-5 MIRECC (Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center) in Baltimore Maryland. Her current focus includes the stigmatization of mental health problems and services (public, anticipated, internalized, etc.) and resilience in navigating it. She has been involved with On Our Own in various ways since the early 1990s.

Lynn Miller

Lynn Miller is the Director for the Wellness Recovery Action Plan, (WRAP). Lynn began her work with WRAP 20 years ago and has led WRAP initiatives in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Pennsylvania Department of Health & Human Services and with the Pennsylvania Behavioral Health & Aging Coalition. Lynn’s career spans over 2 decades in behavioral health advocacy focused on veterans, peers, families and those in recovery from behavioral health diagnoses, Medicaid consulting and as Chief of Staff for the Office of Mental Health in PA. In 2014, Lynn was appointed as the Department of Correction’s Mental Health Advocate providing advocacy and a check and balance to PA’s 24 state prison populations, including veterans and family members. Lynn administered a peer program in the PADOC overseeing over 800 certified peer specialists and 200 WRAP facilitators. Lynn advocated to develop a veteran peer support curriculum created in partnership with Drexel University focused on ensuring veteran peer supporters were equipped with the skills they needed to support veterans. Lynn is a certified peer specialist and family member and proudly contributes WRAP to her ability to not only maintain her personal recovery journey but as the roadmap to fulfilling her career goals and personal goals of ensuring that people worldwide continue to benefit from WRAP.

Tyrell D. Moyd

Tyrell Moyd, RPS, RCP-F, is an individual living well with a mental health diagnosis and family member and ally to People In Recovery (PIR). He began serving in Behavioral Health in April 2012 with the Maryland Community Health Initiatives, Inc. (Penn North) and quickly expanded his role to include Workforce Development Coordinator, Resource Center Director, Director of the Baltimore Recovery Corps and Peer Trainer/Facilitator. Mr. Moyd began to facilitate Recovery Support trainings with his mentor, Carroll Conquest. Under his Mr. Conquest’s tutelage, facilitation revealed Tyrell’s gift to coach and cultivate Recovery Support professionals. In August of 2018, he launched 3 C Recovery Support Training Institute (3C Training) with the support and covering of the Light of Truth Center, Inc. 3C Training is named in homage to Carroll Christopher Conquest, and carries out his vision to Coach, Cultivate and Champion Recovery Support PEERfessionals. He is a highly respected facilitator and prides himself in delivering trainings that are engaging, challenging and fun. He has been recognized for his service to the Behavioral Health community by the Baltimore City Mayor’s office, a Governor’s citation, the Maryland General Assembly and the National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence-Maryland.

Tiffany Scott

Tiffany Scott, CCHW, CHWI is a nationally recognized leader in Community Health Work (CHW) and the first certified CHW in Maryland. She serves as Vice-Chair of Maryland’s CHW Advisory Committee and is Co-founder and President of the Maryland CHW Association. Tiffany has trained and mentored over 500 CHWs and instructors nationwide, supporting workforce development, policy advancement, and sustainability. Her expertise includes curriculum development, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning. A featured speaker and published co-author, Tiffany is a passionate advocate for health equity, dedicated to amplifying CHW voices and advancing systems that support impactful community-based care.

Diane Stollenwerk

Diane Stollenwerk is a Special Assistant for Behavioral Health with the Maryland Insurance Administration. She has held executive positions and, since 2013, consulted on health policy projects with clients including public agencies for health, social services and/or behavioral health; Greater Baltimore Regional Integrated Crisis System; National Quality Forum; AHRQ, American Institutes for Research; and state quality improvement coalitions. Diane is on the Mental Health Association of Maryland board and was on the Maryland Health Care Commission. She has served on nonprofit boards for family medicine, LGBTQ rights, epilepsy, children’s health, and literacy. She earned degrees from Harvard and SDSU.

Beth Shekinah Terrence

Beth Shekinah Terrence, MS is the founder of Holistic Recovery Pathways, LLC She is a trained shaman, holistic transformation facilitator and recovery coach. Beth holds a Master of Science in Restorative Practices. She is a Nationally Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (NCPRSS) and Recovery Coach Professional (RCP). As a person in long-term recovery from addiction, trauma, and fibromyalgia, Beth is passionate about bringing her lived and learned experience of holistic pathways to the individuals, communities, and organizations she serves. With a focus on cultivating compassion and connection, she is committed to building cultures of health, wellbeing, and recovery. Learn more at https://bethshekinah.com.

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