Honesty Liller is a woman in long-term recovery from a Substance Use Disorder since May 27, 2007. She is the Chief Executive Officer of The McShin Foundation, a non-profit peer-to-peer Recovery Community Organization (RCO), that serves individuals and families with Substance Use Disorders. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of McShin as well as community and advocacy events. Honesty serves as a personal guide and mentor for people seeking recovery from addiction, works with participants to develop individual and personalized plans for recovery, provides problem solving and life skills as well. Honesty's mission as CEO is firmly rooted in community outreach and involvement. She spends each day connecting with individuals and families who have been touched by addiction. The McShin recovery residential program offers 175 residential recovery beds. Participants can enter into community, intensive, or extended recovery residency programs. All are welcome from the community who have a Substance Use Disorder. Honesty works tirelessly in the community to help individuals and families heal from addiction. She campaigns for individuals with a SUD to put the shame and pain of addiction behind them. Honesty leads a peer system of care and recovery through recovery coaching, providing support groups, navigating court cases, and job coaching. Also, she was on the Enforcement Workgroup for Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Prescription Drug & Heroin Task Force and is a founding board member of Addiction Recovery Political Action Committee (ARPAC). She is the recipient of the Vernon Johnson Award given by Faces and Voices of Recovery in 2015. In 2016 she was awarded the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network Great Boss. She was also featured on Face The Nation discussing addiction & recovery in America. In addition, she was awarded the Stettinius Fund honor from The Community Foundation. She was influential in the SAMHSA Recovery Month Award process for McShin for three years. As well as the Faces and Voices of Recovery Joel Hernandez Award for McShin. From 2008-2012, she led the Recovery Voices Count Campaign.  Recovery has given her an amazing life. To spend time with her husband and 2 children is a gift that keeps giving!! ...More

Brenda joined the McShin Foundation family in September 2015.

Brenda was born and raised in the Richmond area. She graduated from Douglas Freeman High school and continued her education at the Bon Secours School of Practical Nursing.  She worked in the medical field for 25 years as a Licensed Practical Nurse at various locations in the Richmond area

Brenda has a history of a substance use disorder and after being charged with prescription fraud, entered into the Health  Practitioners Intervention Program in 2002 and was introduced to 12 step recovery at that time. She has been an active member of the recovery community and has maintained her sobriety since January 17, 2002.

Erin Mayberry was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. She graduated from JR Tucker High School and continued her education at Mary Baldwin College as a cadet in the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership. She is the proud mother of two daughters. Erin struggled with a substance abuse disorder for over twenty years before finding recovery November 10, 2014. She is incredibly grateful to the McShin Foundation for introducing her to recovery, for all the love and support she received, for the introduction to her chosen pathway to recovery and for allowing her to work with other women seeking the same growth and freedom she has found.

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Before I Got Sober, I Couldn’t See Who I Was. Now, I Value Myself in Recovery
August 15, 2017 by Erin Mayberry

Matthew Cunningham has been weekend staff at the Mcshin foundation since December 2013. In 2015 he was awarded the employee of the year. He is certified in recovery coach training and peer leadership. He was introduced to recovery on august 10, 2012 while incarcerated, he hasn't looked back since. He is very active in his own recovery,  he visit's jails and institutions, on a monthly basis, to share his story hoping it can help someone else. 

Francis Fletcher is originally from Washington, DC but relocated to Richmond, Va. in early 2013 for a teaching position at Virginia Commonwealth University. He currently works for The McShin Foundation, a recovery community organization that provides a peer-to-peer model of recovery for individuals with Substance Use Disorders. He began volunteering at McShin in the summer of 2015 by helping to organize the foundation’s annual September event, Recovery Fest. He was then hired as a peer leader and now serves as the Assistant Director of Men’s Programs, in which capacity he oversees the progress of male participants in McShin’s intensive recovery program. Francis earned his M.A. in art history from Rutgers University in New Jersey, and although his graduate work has been on hold for the past two years he plans to complete his PhD in Italian Renaissance and Baroque art. His dissertation is focused on the work of the fifteenth-century painter Andrea Mantegna, but he is more broadly interested in the social status of the artist in the early modern period and connections between Renaissance painting and intellectual history. Francis first visited Florence in 1987 and has been returning as often as possible ever since. He first resided in Florence while carrying out dissertation research as a Fulbright Fellow at the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz in 2007-08. He has taught classes on ancient Roman art as well as Italian Renaissance and Baroque art at Rutgers University, Dickinson College in Pennsylvania and VCU. Francis has also designed and taught courses on women’s history in Italy during the early modern period. In addition to his teaching experience, he has been employed in curatorial departments at the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress and Dumbarton Oaks. One of his goals upon completing his PhD is to return to teaching art history at the university level while also remaining an active part of the recovery community.

Since graduating from Hampden-Sydney College in 1994, Paxton has experience working in investments, money management, and risk management. In his previous role as an investment counselor he earned the “Top Producer” Award from Lord, Abbet & Co., and the “Quality of Advice” Award from American Express. He is also a 2003 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, with a Master of Business Administration degree. Paxton’s experience with his own addiction and recovery, along with his current insights and solutions, validate our commitment to “Peer to Peer” services and programs. You will find that Paxton is always ready and approachable to share his story, and never forgets where he came from. Raising two beautiful daughters, Talbot and Hannah, consumes most of Paxton’s free time, while he still enjoys the occasional round of golf or fishing.

Samantha was born and raised in Mechanicsville, VA. She was introduced to the "drug world" at age 15 and went to treatment in Texas when she was 20 years old. She says she accumulated a small amount of clean time but no real recovery. She continued using until she was incarcerated on February 24, 2015. Upon her release on August 8, 2015 she was able to find a 12-step Program and found herself surrounded by the Recovery Community at the McShin Foundation. She credits the support she received at McShin for her continued abstinance since that time. She took the position of Peer Leader at the McShin Foundation to give back what was so freely given to her and to be able to give hope to the next addict. She loves to let addicts know that they no longer need to live in the misery or horror of our addiction. Samantha's goal is to help shine a light of hope in the lives of people suffering from substance use and to be a living example of what being a part of a positive recovery community can do.

Michael C. Quinn was born and raised in Richmond with a younger sister and attended St. Christopher’s school.  He left Richmond to study at the University of Mississippi before moving out of the U.S. to live in Australia for a year and returning to earn his B.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University.  After graduating from college, he worked as a property manager for a real estate firm before he chose to become an educator and teach at a private elementary school in Richmond for three years.  In 2015, he became a participant at The McShin Foundation.  Living in one of our residences enabled him to begin his recovery and start giving back to the foundation as well as the recovery community as a volunteer before he was hired as a McShin Intake Specialist.  Michael enjoys duck hunting with his chocolate Labrador retriever, Louise.

Michael Quinn in the news

Michael Quinn IN THE NEWS

Alden grew up in Richmond, where she attended Collegiate School, graduating in 2012. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Miami University in December of 2015. In the fall of 2017, Alden began the Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling graduate program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Alden’s passion for working with individuals and families affected by Substance Use Disorders stems from her family and friends who strive for recovery from the disease. Her experience with The McShin Foundation started in the summer of 2015 as an intern, where she facilitated groups and assisted with grant research. After her December graduation, she returned to the foundation as Special Projects Coordinator. Alden aims to use her voice and time at The McShin Foundation to reduce the stigma of addiction and offer hope to the families and individuals it affects.

Lesley Davis was born and raised in Richmond, VA and has a history of Substance Use Disorder that goes back to early childhood. She struggled off and on for years battling the disease of addiction.  It wasn't until she entered The McShin Foundation as a participant and was surrounded by others in the recovery community that she was able to fully engage in recovery.  Lesley has been in recovery since October 27, 2015 and went through our female recovery residential program.  She was a house/peer leader for over 6 months and volunteered at the foundation to give back to the organization that helped save her life.  Lesley has been employed full-time with McShin since July 2016.  She is grateful for the many opportunities that she has been given and to the foundation for introducing her to her chosen pathway of recovery.  Lesley has one daughter and is now actively involved in her life again thank to recovery. 

Brandi Fincham was raised in Romney, West Virginia. During her middle school years, Brandi started using alcohol and drugs recreational. It was only a matter of time before she was dependent on opiates. She managed to graduate Hampshire High School in 2007 and continue on to receive her CNA certification in 2008. In 2010 Brandi became the mother to her beautiful daughter, Ayla. Brandi is an Alumni of The McShin Foundation and has not found it necessary to use drugs or alcohol since January 17, 2016. Today Brandi serves as the Treatment Services Coordinator for The McShin Foundation. 

Moses Wright - Certified Substance Abuse Counselor

Tom Majewski - Caroline County Community Recovery Program Tom has 45 years sobriety and has been committed to helping other alcoholics throughout the entire period. After completing the Alcoholic Treatment Program at Caron Foundation in Wernersville PA, he was Manager of the Sobriety halfway house in Pittsburgh PA. From there he joined the staff of Serenity Farms, a recovery center in Hickory PA as an Addiction Psychologist Intern. During his time there he worked with St. Francis Medical Center, Mayview Psychiatric Center, and Gateway Rehabilitation Center, all in Pittsburgh, PA. He relocated to Virginia to help establish a family-operated riding stable and horse-breeding farm. Subsequently he married, has two children, and completed a successful career as a Systems Engineer for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. He continued work within the AA Treatment Service Structure in Northern Virginia and then relocated to Fredericksburg VA where he has been instrumental in the workings of AA District 30 Treatment Committees. He was asked to help at the Caroline Recovery Center in Bowling Green, VA and completed Peer Recovery Coach training at The McShin Foundation, Richmond December 2016. He is an avid horseman and artist and remains active in both areas.

Laney Walton - Caroline County Community Recovery Program Erin “Laney” Walton comes from a military family who moved all around the U.S. but eventually settled in Fairfax, Virginia where she spent most of her formative years. Laney was a premier athlete in collegiate gymnastics, winning a full scholarship to several schools and achieving a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education along the way. In 2010, she received her certifications as a paralegal and notary public and began working for a well-respected law firm in Fredericksburg, Virginia. In 2013, Laney began work as a Case Manager for the Fredericksburg area Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), where she managed the volunteer case workers assigned to watch out for the interests of at-risk children involved in the court system. Laney is currently a small business owner who regularly works with people of all stripes in managing their life challenges and wellness. She has been sober and active in the Twelve Steps since March of 2004, has hosted and attended many study groups and conferences, has a long-term sponsor, and has herself sponsored many women over the years.

 

Matthew David Sim is a man in long-term recovery from Substance Use Disorder since February 21, 2017. Matthew David is originally from Boston, MA but relocated to Richmond, VA in 2011. Matthew, born in Canada, is our youngest staff member at the age of 18. He attended five different high schools and graduated from our recovery high school, McShin Academy, in June, 2017. He was then hired as a peer leader and now serves as the Director of Social Media, in which capacity he is responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies for McShin's social media websites. This includes blogging, creating social media profiles, managing regular posts, increasing the follower count, building the brand up and most importantly responding to customers. Matthew owned multiple non-profit gaming organizations at the age of 15, sending teams out to compete in nationwide tournaments streamed all over the world. Although his work has been on hold for the past three years he plans to start up another non-profit gaming team to represent recovery. One of his goals upon starting his team is to return to teaching gaming at a spiritual level while also remaining an active part of the recovery community.

Jessica Hall entered the recovery community through the Mcshin Foundation on Aug. 3rd 2014. Since that time she is has been an active member of her society. She was raised in Eastern Henrico County of Virginia and also lived in Mechanicsville, Virginia and Chesterfield, Virginia. Jessica began her addiction at a very young age and hit her bottom just as fast when at the end she was hospitalized after becoming septic. At 21, she is considered a young person in recovery. Jessica began has a judicial facilitator at Chesterfield County jail HARP Program and then later grew in her role at the Pumunkey Regional Jail Mcshin program. With dedication, commitment, and passion for Judicial Programs and Recovery she is now the Director of Judicial Programs at the McShin Foundation.

My name is Patsy Garnett. I am a respectable woman in Recovery from a substance use disorder. I started using when I was 13 years young and came into recovery on September 20th,2016. Today I am officially a year clean at the age of 31. I have two fantastic children and an amazing, very supportive girlfriend. I am striving to be an inspiration to those who are seeking the absence of mind and mood altering substances only to offer them a hand of hope. My message is becoming stronger against the face of defeat.

Cliff Jones is a person in long-term recovery. He has been free from substances since July 21st, 2016. Cliff is a McShin alumni and during his time in McShin he managed a recovery house, was a peer-leader for The McShin Academy, and facilitated a peer to peer substance use jail program. Cliff has now turned his interests into sharing his experience, strength, and hope with young men and women who suffer from the same disease.