Meet the Staff of People Engaged In Recovery
Ryan Lantaff
My name is Ryan Lantaff and I am the Executive Director of People Engaged In Recovery. My walk in Recovery started in January of 2017 at the Wings of Life in Mobile Alabama. Since that faithful day my life has been dedicated to my personal recovery and helping others find true freedom from substance use disorder. I am an Assistant Pastor at Northside Bible Church and founder of Agape Life Gardens outreach ministries. I LOVE Jesus and work the 12 steps through the Beyond Recovery program. I absolutely love what I do and consider it a great honor to work for P.E.I.R. helping change the face of recovery in Southern Alabama!
Barbara Crutchfield
Barbara Crutchfield is the Administrative Specialist at PEIR, She provides administrative support to ensure the efficient operation of the office. She supports the Outreach Trainers, Outreach Workers and Program Specialists through a variety of tasks related to the organization and communication at PEIR. Her duties are to be completed accurately and delivered with a high quality and on a timely manner. She is responsible for confidential and time sensitive materials and is familiar with a variety of field concepts, practices and procedures at PEIR.
Kevin Dunne
My name is Kevin Dunne and I am a person in long term recovery. That means I have not had a mood or mind altering substance since 4/14/2013. I have been certified as a Recovery Support Specialist since 2017. I am currently the Outreach Trainer for the southeast section of Alabama for PEIR. I absolutely love helping those battling substance use disorder.
Karen Elmore
Hi I'm Karen Elmore certified recovery support specialist for people engaged in recovery in Mobile Alabama. I'm the outreach specialist for Mobile county helping bridge the gap from active addiction to detox, treatment. I am a person in long-term recovery my clean date is 8-24-15. Through recovery my life has changed. I am an active participant in my family again. I am a happy grandmother with two grandchildren. Because of recovery I am allowed to be an active grandmother. Today I can hold my head up high. If you're struggling with drug addiction and alcoholism please let us know we can help. You do not have to do this journey alone. Help it's just a phone call away.
Lyndsey Tillery
My name is Lyndsey Tillery. I came to the Home of Grace in February 2019. God did for me what I couldn't do for myself. He changed my people, places, and things. Through Jesus Christ I live a life I never thought possible. I desire to see other find and maintain recovery as I have. I facilitate aftercare at the Home of Grace on Monday nights. I also work at Rouse's Market in Saraland, AL. I'm grateful to be on board at P.E.I.R as the Operation Specialist Supervisor and work with the team to help others get the freedom that we have found.
Pat Carter
Pat Carter, CRSS is one of the Outreach Specialists who serves Baldwin County. He became a person in long-term recovery in May of 2018, finding his path in Refuge Recovery and later Recovery Dharma, which are part of worldwide, peer-led, grass-roots programs that utilize Buddhist practices and principles as a path to recovery from addictions of all kinds. Along with providing recovery resources, transportation, and mentoring people, Pat also facilitates Recovery Dharma at PEIR's community center. He has also been a member of the Meditation Center of Alabama sangha for several years, volunteering and teaching on occasion. He is currently being trained to become a Meditation Facilitator through Wild Heart Meditation Center in Nashville, TN. Pat is committed to giving back and being of service to the community, including the underground music scene that he is still active in.
Shaneka Walker
My name is Shaneka and I struggled with substance use since I was a teenager. In 2017 I was at my lowest after delivering my second child and still struggling with my addictions. I decided to go to a 90 day treatment facility for women with babies. I graduated that program, joined Anonymous meetings and got a Sponsor. Today, I am 3 years clean. I am a Certified Recovery Support Specialist and I get to work with a special population of women that are pregnant, just delivered or who have dependent children who struggle with substance use.
Lori Flynn
My name is Lori Flynn and I'm a grateful person in long-term recovery. I was born in Mobile, Alabama and moved back in 2013 after being gone for over 30 years. I believe in this community and I believe in the work we do at P.E.I.R. Together we can bridge the gap between substance abuse and recovery.
Deborah Ford
My name is Deborah Ford and I am a certified peer support specialist at People Engaged in Recovery. My life started over when I was 40 y/o when I gave my life to the my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and so began my journey of lasting sobriety. I lived the life of a substance abuser for 26 years but now I help others on their path to recovery. I share my experiences as the life of an addict but most importantly how I got free from the chains of addiction. It is so rewarding to see someone else achieve success in their recovery and know I had a small part in it. I know if I can do it they can too. With God all things are possible! It is my calling to help others, give them hope in a better life, and share what God has done for me. P.E.I.R. is great place for people to come get support and a great group of people I call my friends to work with.
Joyce M. Morrissette
Joyce M. Morrissette BA, MS, MPhil, CRSS, PhD Candidate all but Dissertation,
is a person in Long-, Term Recovery and has stayed on this journey since June 13, 1998 for the last 23 years. Her professional career began in 1999 with Mobile County Community Corrections Center (MCCC ) where she has over 21 years of experience working with the Criminal Justice System. At the MCCC she has worked in a number of different capabilities in different programs. Her duties stem form Case Manager in Community
Service; Corrections Specialist of the Alternative Sentencing Program, on to a Treatment Counselor with the Drug Court Program. Ms. Morrissette worked as a Treatment Counselor with Community Corrections for 10 years, and now heads its Drug Court program as the coordinator. She also oversees the Center’s Veteran’s Court. She is also a Certified Peer Support Specialist and has been since December 2019.
Amanda Salter
My name is Amanda and I'm in recovery.I am from escambia county I had struggled with substance abuse for 26 years also have had to work through childhood trauma ,abuse,and neglect . Those issues in my life kept me stuck in myself believing there was no way out. I had to take many paths to find my way to recovery, greatfully by working the steps and the help through my higher power I have found my way to a different life that makes me happy. Today I am able to enjoy life and hopefully help the next person find their path
Crystal McBroom
Hello my name is Crystal McBroom,
I have been in recovery for 14 years. I was in and out of foster care from the age of 12 until I aged out at 18. I was in counseling for six years and also Anonymous meetings. When my mom was killed I saw how short life is and gave my life to God. By the grace of God I will able to stop popping pills. I love to help others and being a support system, outreach is my life.
Christina Kent
I am Christina. I started my journey in
long term Recovery September 2019. I am a certified Recovery Specialist (CRSS) involved at People Engaged in Recovery. I entered a 12 step program after battling substance abuse for over 24 years. I have found a new way to live and deal with life on it's own terms. I have passion for carrying the message of Recovery! I am excited to bring my unique experience and share the message of hope and freedom from active addiction
Cindy Powell
My name is Cindy Powell, and I am a person in long term recovery. I am a Certified Recovery Support Specialist serving Houston County, Alabama. My substance use disorder became active as a young teen, and I continued to struggle until God led me to doors of a recovery program in 2018. I believe to keep something, one must give back, so began my work in the field of recovery. I began working in a substance use treatment facility less than a year sober as support staff and case manager. Then God opened the door for me to be a part of P.E.I.R. in 2021. I am so grateful for all I have been blessed with, and my passion is to help others find their way to recovery.
Nate Quire
My name is Nate Quire and I am a person in long term recovery dealing with substance use disorder. My clean date is 8/20/2019. That means to me that for 28 years I used substances that made my life unmanageable. My addiction took me through jails institutions dereliction and death, each more than once. I can only hope that I can share my expertise to help someone find the many fruits of recovery.
Nate Quire CRSS
Meagan White
My name is Meagan White and I am a Certified Recovery Support Specialist currently serving in West-Escambia County as well as Conecuh, Monroe, Clarke and Washington Counties with PEIR. I am a person in long term recovery, and I also have over ten years experience working in Law Enforcement. This Law Enforcement experience allows me a unique perspective, as well as knowledge of how to navigate the justice system. It also provides me with the ability to bridge the gap with Law Enforcement and break the stigma surrounding substance use disorder. I am also a person who has experienced trauma, including the loss of my son in 2020. From this I have learned how to work through trauma and grief allowing me to better work with my peers who may have experienced loss as well. My goal at PEIR is to be a positive role model and ignite a spark of hope in my peers' lives, while also reducing the stigma surrounding substance use disorder by educating my community and telling my story.
Ashley Newton
My name is Ashley Newton and I struggled with substance use since I was 12 years old. I had my third child while incarcerated in Julia Tutwiler Prison and still didn’t reach my turning point until a year later in 2019. I have had some amazing people in my life that seen something in me that I did not see in myself. And now I am giving back what has been so freely given to me. By the grace of God I am now a certified recovery support specialist and currently have 3 years of sobriety. I am so grateful for all the blessings in my life and excited to share my experience, strength, and hope.
Heather Holden
My name is Heather Holden and I am a Certified Recovery Support Specialist in Baldwin County. I spent 15 years of my life struggling with substance use disorder. I was in and out of jails and institutions, never knowing how to break the cycle. In 2019, with just a little bit of hope and a lot of support from people in my community, I was able to begin my journey towards long term recovery. Over the last few years I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to share my experience and assist so many people who are just like me who might be looking for a better life but don’t know where to start. My heart is so full being able to give back what was so freely given to me.