McShin Staff | McShin Foundation

John Shinholser

Board Member Emeritus, President

John Shinholser serves as the President of The McShin Foundation, which was founded in 2004 and named for its two recovering co-founders, John Shinholser and Carol McDaid. Shinholser and McDaid have dedicated their lives to helping individuals and families in or seeking recovery from the disease of addiction. The McShin Foundation operates on the founders' belief that by helping others find and sustain recovery, they can better sustain their own recovery. Shinholser and McDaid decided to establish a non-profit recovery community resource foundation based on this belief and on the work Shinholser had been engaged in with individuals in the recovering community since 1982.

John is a United States Marine Corps veteran. He owned and managed a successful contracting business for over 30 years, during which time he served as President of the Richmond Chapter of the Painting and Decorating Contractors Association and was twice recognized as a national award winning Original Design Faux Finisher.

John Shinholser served as President of SAARA of Central Virginia Affiliate and is a former board member of SAARA of Virginia.

Shinholser also served as Chairman of the board of Rubicon, Inc. (2012-2014), Virginia's most comprehensive substance abuse treatment facility (230 beds).

In 2005, Shinholser received the prestigious America Honors Recovery Award from the Johnson Institute -- one of six recognized (nationally) who have been affected or afflicted by alcohol and other drug addictions, and have given back to their communities so that future generations may know the possibility and power of recovery.

In 2005, he also received, along with his wife Carol McDaid, the Caron Foundation's Outstanding Alumni Award.

In 2006, Shinholser received the coveted OSAS (Virginia Office of Substance Abuse Services) Award of Virginia for Significant Contributions to the Field of Substance Use Disorder Recovery. This award is typically given to professionals in the field. Mr. Shinholser was the first recovering community member to receive this award.

Under John’s leadership McShin won the Recovery Community Organization of the year Award for the United States AKA The Joel Hernandez Award presented by Faces and Voices of Recovery in a Washington D.C. ceremony in June of 2011.

Also under John’s tutelage McShin won the national SAMHSA Recovery Month 2011 Flicker Award.

John Shinholser has been featured in Addiction Professional Magazine, Newsweek, The Richmond Times Dispatch (Flair, Metro, and Business sections), The Mechanicsville Local, Richmond Free Press, and Virginia Association of Community Service Boards 2005 Annual Report.

John also has been in many news broadcasts and national documentaries to include The Anonymous People.

John is an appointed citizen member of the 2008, 2009, 2010 Virginia General Assembly joint Senate /House sub-committee on substance abuse (SJ77). John co wrote the Recovery Coach Manual and travels the country providing Authentic Recovery Coach Training.

John and Carol traveled to Whales in 2011 to participate in the first recovery walk as well help launch The Living Room in Cardiff, a Recovery Community Center.

John was appointed an Honorary Deputy of the Richmond City Sheriff Office in July 2013.

John is a member of Henrico County Drug Court "Advisory Council" and "McShin Board Member Emeritus".

John currently resides in Hanover with his wife Carol and his daughter Mary Page. He has been clean and in successful long-term recovery since August 10th 1982.

John In The News:

Honesty Brackett Liller, CPRS

Chief Executive Officer

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

Jesse Wysocki

Chief Operating Officer

Jesse Wysocki is the Chief Operating Officer of The McShin Foundation. Born in Suffolk, VA, his childhood was spent following his Dad’s Navy career until moving to Chesterfield and graduating from L.C. Bird High School. Previously, he worked as a Human Resource Director at The Towers Retirement & Assistant Living Community and was the Transition Peer Mentor and Overnight monitor at The Healing Place. Jesse is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and Peer Recovery Coach who has been featured on “Hero’s Among Us” Segment of WTVR Channel 6 and the “Faith That Works” segment of WWBT Channel 12. He has been recognized as an outstanding motivational speaker for Sussex I Prison and been the keynote speaker for numerous Department of Corrections facilities, while also being featured on panel discussions for Substance Use Disorder for local and state organizations. Jesse lost his oldest son to a Substance Use Disorder, and now takes pride being a beacon for those struggling through the darkest of nights. His clean date is January 10, 2012. Jesse resides in Chesterfield where he proudly parents his five children. Jesse was featured in two news segments, watch the CBS 6 Heroes Among Us feature here, and speaking on a potential new law here. Jesse in the news

John Trak

Intake Coordinator

John Trak is the Intake Coordinator for The McShin Foundation. He is typically the first point of contact when someone reaches out for help for them self or a loved one. Born in Richmond, VA, where he spent a lot of time in his family's restaurant, he starting work at a young age. His early work experience landed him in very good jobs, but his substance use disorder always showed up. He struggled off and on for years, in and out of jail, until finally he surrendered. He is Alumni of The McShin Foundation and now works two jobs, managing a business in the evening, and working as an Intake Coordinator during the day. He has successfully completed an Intervention Theories and Practices course, he is a Certified Recovery Coach, and has also worked as a Peer Mentor for The Healing Place. He has 6 wonderful children and a loving wife at home. He has had his civil rights restored and is now a very productive member of society.

His passion is helping people by being able to share his own personal experiences and show them their is a better way to live life.

Bob de Triquet

Male Program Director

From Suffolk, Virginia, Robert de Triquet came to The McShin Foundation on August 2nd, 2016. He immediately involved himself with the mission of the organization and the camaraderie of the recovery house. He managed the men’s program house for five months before transitioning to Eco Flats, where he was a peer leader, building up the community and creating an atmosphere of recovery. In 2017, he became Director of Men’s Programs and his involvement is now hands on with the men, their families, and community connections. Robert enjoys art, the outdoors, thinking, cooking, and collecting Levi merchandise. He is passionate about this field and believes in the importance of the recovery house environment in the process of recovery.

Alden Gregory

Director of Development

Alden grew up in Richmond, where she attended Collegiate School. 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. Since then, she has grown into the Director of Development position, maintaining donor relations, planning events, supervising our AmeriCorps members, managing volunteer coordination and writing grants. 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.

Kimberlea Rocher

Weekend Staff

Kimberlea was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia and has been in recovery since February 16, 2017. She moved up to Richmond in May of 2017 to continue working towards her degree in Social Work. She became involved with McShin when her son had become a participant in their program eighteen months ago, and today because of their dedication to helping families, he has eighteen months clean. She has continued to stay engaged with McShin because she believes in what they are doing and, as a grateful person in recovery herself, she wants to give back.

Jordan Sachs

Media Specialist

Born and raised in Richmond, VA, Jordan is a person in recovery who is passionate about McShin’s mission and purpose. Shortly after graduating from Deep Run High School in 2012, his life took a major turn after being hospitalized as a result of appendicitis. After receiving strong opiate pain medication from his doctor, he went down a path of self-destruction in an attempt to achieve the high he fell in love with. As his addiction progressed, it became harder and harder to afford the high price of pills, so he turned to heroin as a more affordable option to achieve a very similar high. In 2015, Jordan’s story almost came to an end as a result of a heroin overdose. A nurse in the emergency room told him and his family about McShin, that it might be a good place to check out. Broken, terrified, lonely, and hopeless, Jordan moved into a McShin program recovery house and started his journey in recovery. He has become a great leader here at McShin, teaching others about addiction and recovery. He loves to help other people find hope, especially if they are just beginning their new path. Jordan says that McShin is a “headquarters for hope” and refers to the people here as his second family. Peer-to-peer recovery has been extremely successful for him and many others as an addiction solution. He is a face and voice of recovery, teaching people about addiction and recovery everywhere he goes. “We are sick people trying to get well,” he says, “not bad people trying to get good.” He believes in the importance of education and advocacy in communities, so that people will be more understanding and supportive of people like him. He says that “shame keeps a lot of people from getting help.” Jordan works at McShin doing all things media-related. He films events, makes videos, and handles special projects. He is extremely grateful to be a part of McShin and its mission.

Matthew Conner

Data Management Specialist

Matthew is a person in recovery from Richmond, Virginia and became involved with The McShin Foundation in October of 2018. Through his experience living in one of McShin’s recovery residences, Matthew identifies the recovery house as having a vital role in one’s recovery. In addition to his involvement in the McShin community, Matthew enjoys spending time with his family, going to the gym, playing soccer, the great outdoors and whipping up new recipes in the kitchen.

Erin Anderson

Peer Leader/Lab Tech

Erin is a woman in recovery who has suffered from a substance use disorder since she was 15 years old. She was born and raised in Hanover, VA and attended The Steward School. She is the mother of two beautiful daughters and plans to pursue a career in the local recovery community.

Nathan Mitchell

Community Outreach & Advocacy Coordinator

Daniel “Danny” Pisano

AmeriCorps Service Member

From Charlottesville, Virginia. Daniel attended Berklee College of Music where he studied Music Business and Artist Management. A musician, recording artist, and person in long-term recovery, Daniel excels in a creative environment. Daniel had been using alcohol and drugs to cope with the loss of his father at a young age. His addiction would lead him to have numerous encounters with the criminal justice system and would eventually be incarcerated for a year. Upon his release, he enrolled into our intensive program at The McShin Foundation in 2017. He would become a peer-leader and assistant house manager at Dumbarton House. Daniel is not afraid to share his experience, strength, and hope with others who are struggling and he continues to work towards his dreams of being a performing artist, audio engineer, and entrepreneur.

Hannah Newsome

Virginia Recovery and Re-Entry Project Coordinator

Hannah Newsome was born and raised in Woodbridge, VA. She has been in long term recovery from a Substance Use Disorder since November 2014. She is currently in school working towards becoming an RN and spends her free time with her daughter, Emma.

Karla Baylor

AmeriCorps Service Member

Karla lives in Hanover County, Virginia. She graduated summa cum laude with an Associate degree in Human and Social Services from Bryant & Stratton College in April 2016. She has a certificate for Recovery Coach and Peer Leadership Skills as well as Peer Recovery Specialist Training. In July 2018, she started volunteering at the McShin Foundation. She is now an AmeriCorps member who mentors the female participants. Karla is dedicated to sharing her story with others since finding recovery in 2016. By “giving it away,” she can use her own journey as a means to help others on theirs.

Shawn Fecteau

Facilities Manager

Shawn was born and raised in Portland, Maine. Shawn is a car enthusiast, working in dealerships and attending trade school for automotive technology. As a result of a 10+ year struggle with addiction, Shawn was in and out of jail until finding The McShin Foundation and recovery. He is now a house leader, peer leader and Facilities Manager for the organization. He enjoys helping others and connecting with people and wants to pursue a career in the Substance Use Disorder Recovery field.

Christopher “Cricket” Ronquest

Project Director/Peer Leader

Christopher “Cricket” Ronquest

From Hanover County, Virginia, Cricket was first exposed to recovery at the age of 15 when a judge ordered him to attend 12-step meetings because of his addiction. For nearly two decades, he continued to use substances uncontrollably until The McShin Foundation began a substance abuse program in Pamunkey Regional Jail, where he was incarcerated at the time. After having served the majority of his adult life incarcerated as a result of his addiction, he now has the privilege of entering jails and prisons to facilitate the same groups that changed his life. Cricket has found that the easiest way for him to continue on his pathway of recovery is to help others like him. Since his graduation and release in August of 2015 he has not been arrested, has been a member of a multi jurisdiction re-entry council, has had his civil rights restored, and has traveled the country carrying his message of hope wherever he goes.

Cricket is the proud father of Caden and Colton, identical twins, and gets to enjoy being an active member of his family and community.

Jillian Nye

Female Program Director

Jillian was born and raised in Highland Springs, Virginia. She entered the McShin Foundation on January 27th, 2017 for six weeks, after which she continued to volunteer daily and remain involved. She completed one year as an AmeriCorps member, serving at McShin and giving back to the community. Jillian is a Certified Recovery Coach and Peer Recovery Specialist. Recovery has strengthened her relationship with her family, her significant other Jeremy, and her amazing daughter Jaycee. Jillian hopes to continue her professional and academic career in the Substance Use Disorder and Recovery field

Melanie Belden

Financial Coordinator/Peer Leader

Melanie Belden was born in Prince George's County, Maryland and moved to Hanover, Virginia in 2000. She has battled on and off with the disease of addiction since her late teens. She found recovery when she entered The McShin Foundation, as a participant, on December 10th 2016. Melanie has maintained her recovery since that day. She lived in one of our recovery residences for four months until transitioning to Eco Flats in April of 2017. There she became a house manager and peer leader. She mentored the female residents and helped continue building an atmosphere of recovery. One of the many gifts recovery has given her was being able to move back in with her 3 daughters in March of 2018. In her free time, Melanie enjoys spending time with her family fishing, camping, sewing and exploring nature.

Moses Wright

Certified Substance Abuse Counselor

Mr. Moses Wright, CSAC is a 30-year professional in substance use disorders (SUD) whom has worked in a variety of settings through his career. His “clean date” is 1/4/82, and he currently provides Board Approved clinical supervision to those seeking certificates as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Assistant (CSAC-A) and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC). Moses pursues his interest as a Life Coach in recovery dynamics, especially areas related to Family of Origin, Shame and Attachment Disorder (codependency). He is married to Brenda Sookins Wright and they have two children, Marwin and Karla. Moses is a “Green Dragon,” having graduated Richmond’s Maggie L. Walker High School, prior to attending St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia where he obtained his undergraduate degree. Moses collects turtles, gardens and travels in his spare time. He resides “South of the James,” and is a member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church.

Simone Williams

Peer Leader

Judicial Staff

Karen Melcho-Elliott

Judicial Program Director

Karen was born in Illinois and moved to Virginia in 1989. She graduated Orange County High School with an Academic Letter and a separate degree in Printing and Graphics. Karen studied English, Creative Writing and World Religions at Virginia Commonwealth University. She found recovery in 2017 after coming to the McShin Foundation. Karen loves her life in recovery and the support she has found at McShin. She feels a deep sense of gratitude and a passion for sharing her recovery in her new position as a Jail Program Facilitator with the McShin Foundation.

Marshall Tucker

Correctional Program Facilitator

Marshall is a person in long term recovery from a Substance Use Disorder, which means he has not found it necessary to use any mood or mind altering substances since September 1, 1988. He is from the Richmond area, attended the Engineering program at VCU in the 70’s and loves math. Marshall retired from Quebecor Printing Company in 2011 as a Quality Control Analyst, and he currently hold certificates for Recovery Coach and Peer Leadership Skills as well as Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. He has been committed to carrying recovery’s message of hope to jails and institutions as a meeting facilitator for over 20 years and loves working with the forgotten people…the castaways of our society. Marshall is married with two children, both of whom are lawyers.