2025 Peaks to Coast
United Opioid & Polysubstance Response Summit

Melodie (she/they) is a public sector leader, writer, and activist with 12+ years leading social justice efforts in direct service, advocacy, and philanthropy. She is Co-Director of New Moon Network who supports the sex workers' rights movement in the USA, and founder and Principal Consultant of Orange Cap Consultation, where she helps institutions engage with marginalized communities to facilitate social change. Melodie holds an MPA and a Nonprofit Management Certificate from the University of Washington. Her work is shaped by lived experience as a queer woman of color, sex worker, and person with behavioral health experience.

Eric Anderson co-founded SE2, a marketing and communications agency that has created and managed effective behavior change campaigns for 27 years. These have included youth substance use prevention and mental health promotion, using evidence-based strategies like positive community norms and connection among peers and with parents and other trusted adults. Prior to starting SE2, he worked as a journalist in D.C., Hong Kong and Denver.

Anya Callahan is a clinical social worker and community educator committed to harm reduction as a pathway to healing and systemic change. She supports individuals impacted by mental health challenges, substance use, poverty, and trauma with a compassionate, person-centered, evidence-informed approach. As Harm Reduction Coordinator at Jefferson County Public Health, Anya works to expand equitable access to care for people who use drugs. Her approach centers on non-judgmental engagement and empowering people to define their own well-being. She believes every overdose death is preventable and is dedicated to equipping communities with the tools and knowledge to survive and thrive.

Chelsie Porter (she/her) is a member of the Drug User Health team at the Washington State Department of Health. In her role as Syringe Service Program Coordinator, Chelsie collaborates with syringe service programs and other Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution programs across the state in their efforts to support the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs.

In two decades at UW, Dr. Hartzler’s focus has been disseminating empirically-supported health services for persons with substance use disorders. Efforts include local, regional, national, and international collaborations with diverse community-based settings.  As director of the UW Center for Advancing Addiction Health Services (CAAHS), he oversees a broad portfolio, including the Northwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center, regional contribution to national Opioid Response Network, 3) externally-sponsored implementation projects with single-state authorities and other organizations, and 4) NIH-funded and intramural health services research.  In professional endeavors that span a science-to-service continuum, Dr. Hartzler promotes community-based implementation of useful treatment and recovery practices.

Alanna Feltner (MPA, MSW) is an evaluator at the Northwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (Northwest ATTC), where she conducts evaluations of addiction workforce trainings across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. She is also a doctoral student in Social Welfare at the University of Washington, with a research focus on perinatal substance use treatment and policy.

Jeremy Hoog has been a nurse since 2018. He spent the first three years as an RN in a hospital setting before moving to DESC’s opioid treatment program in 2020. He has a Master of Arts in bioethics which is foundational to the work he does working with people who experience substance use disorders.

Carson Bell, MPH is the project coordinator of DESC's Opioid Treatment Network Team. Carson has been at the agency for five years, and is passionate about providing compassionate care to individuals often stigmatized including people who use drugs or people who have severe mental health illnesses. Carson utilizes harm reduction strategies to guide her work.

Candice Baughman is a passionate reentry and education advocate with a decade of experience supporting individuals from underserved and justice-involved backgrounds. She currently serves as a Reentry Program Specialist at Interaction Transition, a nonprofit organization based in Washington State that supports formerly incarcerated individuals in successfully transitioning back into society. At Interaction Transition, Candice develops individualized reentry plans, provides peer mentorship, and coordinates wraparound support services through one-on-one case management, housing assistance, and reentry support services. In addition, Candice is the founder of Ed 4 Empowerment, a mission-driven initiative aimed at supporting successful reintegration through education and community-based resources.

Dr. Sarah Spencer is board certified in family and addiction medicine and has been providing treatment for addiction in rural Alaska for 15 years.  She is currently an employee of the Ninilchik Traditional Council and provides family medicine and addiction treatment services at their tribal clinic, including telemedicine to remote native villages. She is the volunteer medical director of Alaska’s first rural syringe access program in Homer, is a co-author of the state’s medications for addiction treatment guide, and provides addiction medicine consultation for non-profits including the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and is the Opioid Response Network.

Isaac has lived and worked in rural places his entire life. He currently works as a prevention grants manager for the state, but he’s also been a high school teacher, student support specialist, and public health guy. In his off hours, he hangs out with his wife of 30 years, 7 kids and 2 grandkids, and multiple animals. He is a thespian, gamer, carpenter, and active listener. The most important protective factor in his life has and continues to be, curiosity.

Courtney Boyce (she/hers) graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Science and earned a Master of Public Health from Idaho State University. Since 2015, she has worked in substance use and behavioral health in diverse roles, including direct patient care, community outreach, and program implementation. Courtney is a passionate harm reductionist who believes in meeting people where they are and supporting all paths to recovery. Her work focuses on reducing stigma and increasing access to treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services. She currently supports opioid settlement initiatives through strategic planning, technical assistance, and cross-sector collaboration.

Amber LaRocco is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with over a decade of experience in behavioral health. She currently serves as Grant Program Manager at Trivium Life Services, where she oversees overdose prevention initiatives and supports program development and sustainability.  Amber is passionate about creating responsive, community-centered services and takes pride in supporting both clients and teams with empathy, accountability, and a commitment to growth. She believes in meeting people where they are and building systems that reflect the dignity and lived experience of those they serve.

Dr. Hillary Tamar is the Medical Director of Community Medical Services' Eastern Territory, overseeing Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, Indiana, and Texas. Dr. Tamar completed her undergraduate studies at Marquette University and her medical education at Chicago Medical School. She trained in Family Medicine at the University of Arizona-Phoenix, and then went on to complete a fellowship program in Addiction Medicine at Swedish Medical Center, in Seattle, WA. Her special interests within Addiction Medicine include federal and state opioid treatment program regulation, pregnant patients with substance use disorders, and harm reduction.

Michael Florez a reentry strategist and peer mentor with over 20 years of lived experience navigating the justice system.  Founder and CEO of Inventive Solutions, he designs trauma-informed, harm reduction–based programs that support individuals transitioning from incarceration through practical services like food delivery, leadership training, and one-on-one mentorship. Michael currently serves as a Reentry Program Specialist with Interaction Transition his work in human-centered hiring and retention earned his team the 2024 International Downtown Association Achievement Award. Has a strong background in public speaking, bilingual communication, and creative problem-solving, Michael brings a performance-driven, culturally competent approach to reentry and community reintegration

Corie holds degrees in English, psychology and social behavior, and teaching from the University of California, Irvine. She has experience as an educator, administrator, writer, and editor. Since 2021, she has worked for DH as a copywriter and content developer, supporting community health initiatives, racial justice nonprofits, voter confidence campaigns, and more. She serves as the co-creative lead on the Friends for Life fentanyl awareness and overdose prevention campaign created in partnership with the Washington State Health Care Authority.

Oliver Santos Meza Jr. is a Master Sergeant in the Alaska Army National Guard with 22 years of military service and the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of Drug Demand Reduction-Outreach (DDR-O). As a citizen-Soldier, parent, and prevention specialist, Oliver leads statewide efforts to confront the opioid and polysubstance crisis through military-supported, community-based action. His mission focus integrates data-driven outreach, interagency collaboration, and culturally responsive engagement. Oliver holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Boston University and has clinical experience with adolescents and adults in recovery settings. His experience on the frontlines of prevention and treatment informs a whole-of-community.

Emalie Huriaux, MPH manages several programs at the Washington State Department of Health and is responsible for efforts to implement integrated HIV, viral hepatitis, and STI testing; viral hepatitis prevention efforts and coordination of Hep C Free WA; and efforts to support and promote harm reduction programming, including syringe service and overdose education and naloxone distribution programs. She has 25 years of public health experience, including as a health educator, outreach worker, HIV and hepatitis C test counselor, program coordinator, and health policy advocate. In the early-2000s, she led one of the first U.S.-based programs distributing naloxone.

Ms. Marx is the Director of Integrated Care for ORTC, LLC. ORTC, LLC provides medication assisted treatment and counseling services for individuals who experience opioid use disorders in Oregon and Washington. In her role in the organization Ms. Marx provides administrative leadership for the provision of integrated care and services and identifies organizational growth opportunities in line with the organization’s business plan. Previously she was the Associate Director for Behavioral Health Care Accreditation at the Joint Commission.

John W. McIlveen, Ph.D., currently serves as the State Opioid Treatment Authority (SOTA) for Oregon. Dr. McIlveen has also worked as a clinician, administrator, and consultant in the areas of education, assessment, evaluation and research in the SUD field, and has coordinated numerous research studies and authored and co-authored multiple peer reviewed journals and book chapters over the last two decades. He serves as the Oregon Health Authority’s representative on the Opioid Settlement Prevention, Treatment and Recovery (OSPTR) Board, is the principal investigator (PI) for Oregon’s State Opioid Response (SOR) grant, and previously administered Oregon's Health Professionals Services Program (HPSP).

Teri Morgan-Urie is the Program Director at Springfield and Eugene Treatment Centers and has been with the agency since 2018. In long-term recovery from substance abuse, Teri is deeply committed to helping others understand addiction and find recovery. In 2019, Teri was the inaugural recipient of the “Community Advocate” award in Lane County for their involvement in state wide legislative efforts, participation in community education and outreach and commitment to address the addiction crisis in the state.

Rory Andes is a reentry strategist, writer, and combat veteran dedicated to supporting justice-involved individuals. As Assistant Director of Just Us Solutions, LLC, he oversees operations, clemency efforts, and reentry planning, using his lived experience to guide trauma-informed, accountability-focused strategies. A veteran of two combat tours in Iraq, Rory’s path through incarceration fuels his passion for healing and transformation. He actively volunteers with the Prison Mathematics Project and Communities of Belonging, believing that meaningful recovery comes from both personal growth and systemic change. His work bridges advocacy and action to empower individuals rebuilding their lives after incarceration.

K. Michelle Peavy, PhD is licensed clinical psychologist and co-director of the Northwest Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Collaborative. She serves as Director of Training for the PRISM Collaborative (Promoting Research Initiatives in Substance Use and Mental Health) and has been engaged in supporting, advocating for, and serving people with substance use disorders (SUDs) for the past 20 years. Dr. Peavy leads efforts in implementation of Contingency Management in clinical settings and focuses on training and technical assistance.

Elizabeth Weybright, PhD is an Associate Professor and Adolescent Extension Specialist in the Department of Human Development and Faculty Affiliate in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University. She is also affiliated with the Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program at University of Washington. With a background in prevention science and adolescent development, she conducts community-engaged research and programming in rural settings on adolescent substance use and firearm injury prevention.

Dr. Sandi Cleveland Phibbs is currently the Evaluation Manager in the Oregon State University Extension Family and Community Health Program and the College of Health. Dr. Phibbs has led program and policy evaluations related to behavioral health, Medicaid expansion, workforce development, health education, and more. Dr. Phibbs’s post-doctoral training focused on the health effects of ageism and mental health among older adults. Dr. Phibbs earned her PhD in Public Health with a concentration in Health Promotion/Health Behavior at OSU in 2015. She completed her MPH in Community Health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Dr. Delisi is board certified by both the ABPN and ABAM. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for YourPath. He is also the Co-Director for the UC-Irvine School of Medicine Train New Trainers (TNT) Primary Care – Training and Education in Addiction Medicine Fellowship. Dr. Delisi is also a board member and Medical Director for the non-profit Steve Rummler Hope Network. Before joining the YourPath team as CMO, he had served as a psychiatrist for Hazelden Betty Ford from 2005-2023. During his time with Hazelden, Dr. Delisi most recently served as Medical Director for Enterprise Solutions and Medical Education Services.

Jordan is a person in long-term recovery from substance use disorders and mental illness. He is the co-founder and the CEO of YourPath and a board member at Harm Reduction Sisters. Prior to YourPath, Jordan was the Vice President of Strategy and Growth for a recovery technology company, and before that, was the Clinical Director of Hazelden Betty Ford’s Professional Education Solutions team. His career has been focused on increasing access to effective, person-centered supports for individuals and families.

Paige has been the Fairbanks Wellness Coalition Coordinator since October 2023. During her tenure, she’s committed herself to learning as much as possible about prevention strategies such as shared risk and protective factors. As someone with lived experiences, Paige is passionate about mental health and is excited to share that knowledge in a fun and accessible way!

Brenna Smith, MPH, is a Healthy Communities Specialist on the Substance Use Prevention Team at Snohomish County Health Department. In this role, she collaborates with first responders on overdose prevention programs and has played a key role in expanding and strengthening these partnerships. She is experienced in program planning, implementation, and evaluation. With a passion for upstream solutions, she is dedicated to identifying and implementing innovative programs that improve care coordination for people who use drugs and the first responders providing services.

Keith Sharp is the Crisis Response Program Coordinator for South Snohomish County Fire, where he oversees a multidisciplinary team addressing behavioral health, substance use, and other low-acuity 911 calls. Keith brings deep field experience to his role, helping bridge public safety and community health. He leads efforts to expand access to treatment, implement field-initiated care, and coordinate long-term follow-up through peer support and case management. Keith is passionate about building sustainable, compassionate systems that reduce emergency response strain and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Kali Turner is an Epidemiologist at the Snohomish County Health Department and focuses on substance use and vaccine preventable diseases. She leads the Data Committee for the Snohomish County Multi-Agency Coordination Group that fosters collaboration across agencies to provide timely and transparent data related to substance use to inform policy, enhance overdose prevention efforts, and reduce overdose deaths and other negative health outcomes associated with the opioid epidemic. She has worked on foodborne illness outbreaks and in emergency response (COVID-19, measles, and wildfire events across Washington State). She has significant experience in data analysis and data visualization, reports, and dashboards.

Ms. Habib is Alaska’s State Opioid Treatment Authority and serves as SAMHSA’s State Opioid Response Project Director and Treatment Coordinator. She leads statewide efforts to develop, implement, and evaluate substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs, building partnerships across health and community sectors. Formerly the Opioid Misuse and Addiction Prevention Specialist, she brings 17+ years in public health, including 12 years focused on SUD. Her experience spans HIV testing in corrections, syringe service programs, and behavioral health initiatives. She holds an MPH in Health Behavior and Education, with expertise in project management, federal grants, and program evaluation.

Jessica Blose serves as the State Opioid Treatment Authority for Washington State and also is the Manager of Behavioral Health Clinical Support for the Washington State Health Care Authority. Previously she was a regulator of mental health and substance use disorder behavioral health agencies in WA.  Jessica spent her direct service counseling career in New York State holding a variety of clinical and administrative positions in integrated, co-occurring behavioral health treatment agencies that also operated both opioid treatment programs and office based opioid treatment programs. She maintains active licensure as a mental health and substance use counselor in Washington State.

I grew up in a large family—five brothers, two sisters—and witnessed the impact of alcohol addiction early on. After moving to Washington in 1999 and graduating in 2000, I faced eviction, homelessness, and incarceration. I am a person in recovery, and in 2019 I became a Peer to be the somebody I never had for others. This path has been part of my own healing and growth. I’m now a Certified Clinical Peer Counselor with DESC and a Shelter Organizer at another housing organization, using my lived experience to support others navigating addiction, housing instability, and the justice system.

Dr. Wilson is an Associate Professor at Washington State University, College of Nursing where her research focuses on pain management treatment options and reduction of substance use risks. She has been funded by the National Institute for Drug Abuse, National Institute for Complementary and Integrative Health, and the National Science Foundation. She serves as Associate Editor of Pain Management Nursing journal and recently led the RELIEF project: Resources and Education Leading to Improved Pain Care Equity for Washingtonians (funded by WA State Health Care Authority) creating online resources for pain management for WA state residents.

Ross Bindler is a Health Outcomes Researcher working on numerous projects within Washington State University's College of Nursing. Major areas of focus include pain management, substance use disorders, and the impact of climate change on medical outcomes as well as pre- and post-licensure healthcare practitioner education and wellbeing.

Fionnuala Brown, DNP, MSN, ARNP, RN, is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Washington State University and a practicing family nurse practitioner in a primary care setting. Her clinical work includes caring for individuals with a history of polysubstance use disorder. She also contributes to the RELIEF grant, supporting initiatives to improve outcomes for populations affected by chronic pain.

Brooke Evans, PhD, LCSW, CSAC has over 20 years of experience as a clinician, director, educator, and health services researcher. Brooke’s professional aspirations center on improving behavioral health services and supporting practice transformation in health care and community-based settings. Her applied research focuses on the implementation of substance use interventions and services in real-world care settings. Brooke is a licensed clinical social worker and substance use disorder counselor and integrates her clinical and practice experiences into her research and evaluation work. Brooke currently serves as a Senior Research Associate and the Oregon State Opioid Response Evaluation Director at Comagine Health.

Diana Flores earned a BS in biology and psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where she continued to receive a graduate certification in public health. Prior to working at Comagine Health she was a Senior Research Associate at UTEP‘s  School of Nursing Biobehavioral Research Laboratory. In that role, she has overseen the execution of epidemiological and experimental research focused on environmental and social determinants of health. As a Research Coordinator at Comagine Health, Diana currently works with opioid addiction, naloxone, and back pain management. Current research interests are on addictive behaviors among youth with childhood trauma.

Kelsey Smith Payne, BA, CADC II, QMHA, serves as the Project Director of the SOR grant at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), where she leads initiatives aligning with state behavioral health strategies and ensures that grant activities meet federal and local priorities. With a strong background in public policy, social services, and intergovernmental affairs, Kelsey brings years of project management experience overseeing complex behavioral health programs. She has demonstrated expertise in budget oversight, subgrantee monitoring, and outcome reporting, all while fostering collaboration across agencies and stakeholders.

Ms. Pustejovsky has over twelve years of experience conducting program evaluations in topics related to public health, drug policy, substance use prevention and treatment, and harm reduction initiatives. She is experienced in designing, implementing, and monitoring evaluation plans; conducting quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis; and distilling evaluation findings into actionable steps. She has conducted evaluations in a variety of settings across Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming.

Janis Crawford, LLC provides psychotherapy, clinical supervision, consultation, training, and technical assistance to human services professionals and organizations. She proposed and consulted on the implementation of motivational interviewing training within the Wyoming Department of Corrections pre-service academy. She presently coordinates a state-wide project funded by the Oregon Health Authority. She currently teaches motivational interviewing and theories of counseling for the Addiction Counseling Department at Portland Community College, for which she authored an accessible and brief learning guide. Motivational Interviewing: Leveling Up (2022) is available as an eBook through Kendall Hunt publishing.

Shelly Shor, LICSW, PhD, CPC, is the Peer Support Services Supervisor at the Washington State Health Care Authority’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery. She leads statewide efforts to expand and integrate peer support into behavioral health systems. With over 15 years of experience, Shelly has served as a direct provider, clinical supervisor, and program manager. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work and is a Certified Peer Counselor with lived experience as a parent of a youth with behavioral health needs. Shelly is dedicated to empowering peer professionals and helping supervisors champion effective, inclusive peer support practices.

Maureen is the Recovery Support Services Section Manager at Washington State Health Care Authority’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery. Maureen is responsible for interpreting and implementing broad division policies related to state and federal regulations required to implement recovery support services programs.

As a person in long-term behavioral health recovery, Maureen is passionate about reducing the stigma surrounding those with behavioral health challenges. Her commitment is to continue expanding recovery support opportunities and educating others in hopes of reducing the stigma that keeps individuals from seeking treatment and recovery.