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

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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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Michael grew up in Central New Jersey. After graduating High School he continued his education at Newbury College in Boston MA and UW Seattle, majoring in Communications. Michael's own experience battling the disease of addiction has given him the opportunity to become an asset to McShin by being a Peer Leader in an authentic “Peer to Peer” recovery setting.

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. 

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.

Ginny was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. She moved to Richmond in 2011. She has battled with her addiction since she was a teenager. Today, she is a person in recovery from a Substance Use Disorder who has been in recovery since July 8, 2016. Ginny is an alum of The McShin Foundation. She went through the female recovery residential program and was a house and peer leader for six and a half months. Ginny is extremely grateful to The McShin Foundation for helping her learn the tools to find a new way to live and for reintroducing her to 12 step recovery. Her favorite part of McShin is the peer to peer recovery model. Most of the staff members are in recovery and are examples to our participants that recovery works. Ginny enjoys being able to be that example to other participants now that she is part of this staff.

Greg Jones originally from Wise County, Va first began his Substance Use Disorder with alcohol while at a high school party at 17 years of age. From that moment, he depended on mood altering substances to make him happy. His journey has taken him to rehabs all across the country and to jail multiple times. After being released from jail on December 5th, 2016, he entered The McShin Foundation. "I've been released from jail been to rehabs multiple times and always went back to using, only after I entered McShin did I learn that using drugs was only a symptom of my thinking. I learned how to cope with everyday problems without resorting to drugs, built a network starting with the sober living house McShin provided me. I'm very grateful to be working for such a great organization, I owe The McShin Foundation my life"

Cotter was born in Kovrov, Russia in 1996. He was adopted in 1998 and moved to The United States. He graduated from Glen Allen High School. He has a passion for cooking and working with individuals with Substance Use Disorders. He entered McShin's residential recovery program in August 2017. In November 2017, he started as an intern and is now a peer leader and Facilities Manager.

Katherine Gumbs

 

Marshall is a person in long term recovery from a Substance Use Disorder, which means he has not found it necessary to use anything since September 1, 1988. Today, Marshall is married with two kids, both of whom are lawyers.

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.