• Home
  • About RCOs
  • Compass House
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • The Team
  • Home
  • About RCOs
  • Compass House
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • The Team
Picture
Navigating Recovery of the Lakes Region is committed to creating a healthy, safe, and stigma-free work environment for our team through our participation in the NH Governor’s Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) Initiative. RFW’s encourage environments where employers, employees, and communities can collaborate to create positive change and eliminate barriers for those impacted by Substance Use Disorder. Furthermore, understanding that work can provide both purpose and meaning for individuals, especially in recovery, Navigating Recovery embraces RFW guidelines that create a work environment that is conducive to supporting people impacted by Substance Use Disorder and co-occurring mental health concerns. In order to achieve a high level of employee health, safety, and productivity, we invite and encourage all employees to reach out for help and support anytime.

Furthermore, we believe that all employers and employees have a right to be seen, heard, and respected as citizens of the world. They should be treated with equality regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, age, citizenship status, or sexual orientation, and have the right to be protected from harm. We believe in the power of civil society to hold open the spaces for inclusive conversations that are the building blocks of new systems that value justice and equity for everyone. It is our responsibility to listen, learn, and stand up for people who have suffered from oppression, and hold accountable those that engage in hatred. 


OVER THE YEARS


Executive Director

Picture
Daisy Pierce, PhD
[email protected]
Dr. Daisy Pierce has her PhD in Educational Psychology & Learning Sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder. She is a founding member of Navigating Recovery of the Lakes Region who began as a community volunteer before being officially hired as Executive Director. Dr. Pierce’s educational and professional background provide the framework for her passion as a dedicated teacher, researcher, and community member interested in bridging cultural, social, and emotional gaps that hinder acceptance among diverse groups of people. She identifies as a family member in recovery and ally who brings compassion and dedication to addressing the substance use public health crisis. Dr. Pierce is an active member of many local and statewide task forces and steering committees, including the State Health Assessment & State Health Improvement Plan Advisory Council.

The Amazing Recovery Support Workers

Picture
Francine Sullivan, Office Administrator
[email protected]

Francine has extensive experience in the medical field and has earned an associate degree in business. Francine has been directly affected by SUDs in her lifetime with family members. She has taken her community-orientated passion and has redirected that love for her community to help others on their path to recovery.  Francine enjoys gardening, cooking new recipes for her family, reading, and traveling in her off time.

Picture
Mike Gallagher, CRSW Peer Supervisor 
​
[email protected]
A recovery coach was crucial in the beginning of Mike’s recovery journey. With encouragement from those around him, Mike began to find his own recovery and eventually a new avenue to help others, through recovery coaching and giving back. He believes in meeting people where they’re at and helping guide them to maximize their strengths and continue to be open-minded. There are multiple pathways to freedom from addiction, just pick one and give it some time.  “I’ve never once regretted waking up sober.”

Picture
Erica Gilbert, CRSW Family Services Coordinator
[email protected]

Erica is a former graduate of AmeriCorps-Recovery Corps. AmeriCorps mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Erica experienced peer-to-peer support in her own personal journey and saw how this pathway was not talked about or offered nearly enough as is it should be.  Erica used her own life experience with substance use disorder and turned it into a passion of helping and giving back to her community. Erica has a great understanding of local resources and assessing her participant’s needs.

Picture
Steve Crowley, Certified Recovery Support Worker 
​[email protected]

Since moving to NH and participating in the RiverBank House program, Steve has taken time to work on himself. He has made the necessary changes for a productive and successful life in recovery. Taking a leap of faith, he has changed his whole career path to focus on a vocation in recovery work and service. Steve is also an LNA, working as an Emergency Room Tech, and working towards his EMT certification. His motto is, “There is never a wrong time, to do the right thing.”

Picture
Jeff Kiernan, Certified Recovery Support Worker
[email protected]
Jeff began his journey working with peers in recovery before volunteering his time at Navigating Recovery and eventually joining the team full-time. With his firsthand experience, he brings a unique perspective and understanding to help others on their own recovery journeys. Jeff’s strive to achieve personal and professional goals is unmatched. Jeff has a strong passion for cars, mountain biking and loves to spend time outdoors with his two dogs.

Picture
Sam Ross, Recovery Coach
​[email protected]
As the beneficiary of a recovery lifestyle, Sam developed a strong conviction to help others in similar situations. When Navigating Recovery of the Lakes Region provided Sam an opportunity to lead a vocational career to fundamentally utilize service to others, she knew she wanted to be a part of the team. Sam joined the Navigating Recovery team to become a part of the community that helped her so greatly. She hopes to spread more support and resources to the community while making strong personal connections with others seeking peer support.  “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Steve Orton - President
Detective Orton has worked for the Laconia Police Department for the last 24years. Prior to becoming the Prevention, Enforcement, and Treatment Coordinator he was a School Resource Office for 13years. He is a father of 8 children, from ages 27 to 3yr old. Mr. Orton has a unique perspective on the challenges that face our kids and adults, having seen those challenges in his own family. He is committed to seeing change come over our community, and to bring a positive light to the challenges that face us all. 
Chelsea Lemke - Vice President
Ms. Lemke is a licensed social worker and substance use counselor. She is the Director of Substance Use Services at Lakes Region Mental Health Center, working to expand treatment for individuals in the Lakes Region experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. She earned her Bachelors of Science degree in psychology from St. Lawrence University and her Masters in Social Work from Boston College. She serves as a clinical licensure supervisor for clinicians working to obtain mental health and substance counselor licensure in the state of New Hampshire. Chelsea also oversees Peer Support services at LRMHC including Certified Peer Specialists and Certified Recovery Support Workers and is a strong advocate for the voice of people in recovery in the treatment field. Chelsea grew up in the Lakes Region and is proud to be back working in this area to help strengthen our community.
Brian Keyes - Treasurer

Lieutenant Keyes is a full-time Firefighter & Paramedic for the City of Laconia, a Recovery Coach working towards becoming a Certified Recovery Support worker, and CCAR Trainer. In addition to his work as a first responder in his community since 2003, he is also a 24/7 Recovery Coordinator for the Laconia Fire Department, and works as an advocate for those who are seeking recovery from Substance use disorder immediately following an Overdose. Brian is a person in long term recovery for over 10 Years! He values his personal life experience to help those who still suffer from substance use disorder.
Lynne Towle - Secretary
Lynne Towle is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse counselor who has been working in the Lakes Region at Horizons Counseling Center for almost thirty years.  Currently, she is the Assistant Director and Senior Clinician at Horizons.  She has extensive background in treating clients with Co-occurring disorders and in working with clients that are involved with the criminal justice system and DCYF. She strongly believes in treating the individual as a whole and values the importance of community when it comes to helping clients get healthier. Lynne has served on the Board of Directors for the New Hampshire Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors Association for much of her professional career, as well as served six years on the Board of Directors for the New Hampshire Provider's Association.​
Samantha Downes
Ms. Downes has 19 years of experience in nursing, primarily in the emergency department and travel nursing. As a board-certified advanced nurse practitioner, Samantha has extensive training providing primary and acute care across the lifespan. With knowledge in family practice, acute care, substance use disorder treatment, and psychiatric mental health, Samantha recognizes the importance of treating the whole person - mind and body. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida Atlantic University and her Master of Science in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner) from Simmons University. Samantha went on to receive her Post Master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree at the University of New Hampshire and has her own practice at Downetown Behavioral Health providing mental health care.

Home
About RCO's
Contact
Compass House
DONATE
The Team
Picture
  Navigating Recovery of the Lakes Region
  • Home
  • About RCOs
  • Compass House
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • The Team
  • Home
  • About RCOs
  • Compass House
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • The Team
(603) 524-5939