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Meet the Team

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Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Sandy Kanehl
M.Ed., CSAC, CPRS

 

Sandy is the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Roads to Recovery. Her personal recovery is through lived experience as a family member of loved ones with addictions, mutual help programs, individual therapy, and daily reading and meditation practice. She is committed to providing help and support for family and friends because, "we are so often focused on the person with addiction that we don't realize how distorted our own thinking and reality have become. We need treatment and recovery support as much as our loved ones with SUDs." Sandy has over 30-years of experience in substance use disorder counseling, prevention, program development, management and supervision, teaching and training, all levels of care, and agency administration. Sandy is also a trainer and consultant statewide for peers and professionals in stigma fighting, advocacy and recovery management for people with SUDs, recovery-oriented systems of care, and peer leadership training. Sandy has taught courses in Counselor Identity, Function & Ethics, Substance Abuse Counseling along with being a regular presenter at State Addiction Conferences in VA, WV, and TN. Sandy is a CPRS (Certified Peer Recovery Specialist) and a CSAC (Certified Substance Abuse Counselor) and holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Counseling from Lynchburg College. She enjoys hiking, biking, music, theatre, reading, and time with family and friends.

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Chief Operating Officer
Bryon Meade
CPRS, i-FPRS

 

Team member since: 2020 June

How many years in recovery or relation to recovery? 8+ years in recovery! He became a program participant in 2016 and spent 18-months in the program (Monroe House).

One thing R2R has taught him: Where a person works does not have to be just a job; it can help bring purpose to your life.

One thing to know about him: He has 3 incredible children - two daughters and a son.

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Finance & Development Director
Rayfurd Thompson
B.S., MBA, MA

 

Team member since: 2025 April

How many years in recovery or relation to recovery? He has not personally been in recovery nor walked closely with someone who has, but hedoes believe deeply in the importance of recovery work and the life-changing impact it can have on an individual and families.

One thing R2R has taught him so far: Healing doesn't happen in isolation--real transformation comes through authentic community and consistent support.

One thing to know about him: He is passionate about helping people discover their purpose, and he believes that everyone has a story worth redeeming and sharing.

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Program Operations Director
Kylee Howes
R-CPRS; i-FPRS

 

Team member since: 2021 August

How many years in recovery or relation to recovery? 5+ years

One thing R2R has taught her: It's okay to make mistakes as long
as you learn and grow from them.

One thing to know about her: Family is everything to her.

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Program Operations Director
David Lewis
R-CPRS

 

Team member since: 2020 January

How many years in recovery or relation to recovery? 6+ years; he
also came through the program before officially joining the Team

One thing R2R has taught him: Everyone's pathway to recovery is completely different, but also relatable at the same time.

One thing to know about him: David loves to go camping in his
down time!

LIFSEY, Kathleen; Director of Children's

Executive Assistant
Kathleen Lifsey
PRS, B.A., M.Ed.

 

Team member since: 2023 January

How many years in recovery or relation to recovery? She has had various loved ones in [and out] of recovery over the last 10 years or so.

One thing R2R has taught her: Sharing life with people who give you room to grow makes all the difference.

One thing to know about her: She would go skydiving again in a heartbeat.

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Senior Recovery Coach
James McFeely
M.S., CPRS, NCC, LPC

 

Team member since: 2015

How many years in recovery or relation to recovery? 11+ years

One thing R2R has taught him: He has to work on himself to stay in this workforce.

One thing to know about him: James enjoys eating healthy and exercising!

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Men's Peer Recovery Coach & Activities Coordinator
Eric Robertson
R-CPRS

 

Team member since: 2021

How many years in recovery or relation to recovery? 4+ years;
is a former peer that came through the R2R Residential Program

One thing R2R has taught him: the importance of community.

One thing to know about him: He loves his German Shepherd,
Kizer, more than almost anything.

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Men's Peer Recovery Coach
James Whitted, Jr.
CPRS

 

Team member since: 2022 January

How many years in recovery or relation to recovery? 38+ years (not a typo!)

One thing R2R has taught him: Everyone is worth saving.

One thing to know about him: Without Jesus Christ, he would not be here today!

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Women's Peer Recovery Coach
Bethany Cash
CPRS

 

Team member since: 2023 July

How many years in recovery or relation to recovery? 3+ years

One thing R2R has taught her: How to find her identity again, become more independent, and how to live a fulfilling life in recovery.

One thing to know about her: She's a very proud mom of two, and
the first mother with a child to go through the Roads to Recovery Residential Program.

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Women's Peer Recovery Coach
Sheri Simms
R-CPRS, RecoveryCorps member

 

Team member since: 2023 August

How many years in recovery or relation to recovery? 8+ years

One thing R2R has taught her: Community is essential to maintain sobriety. We cannot do this alone.

One thing to know about her: She believes it is important to have goals, commit to them, and follow through because life is about choices and those small decisions we make matter in the end.

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Men's Peer Recovery Coach
Tyler Smith
CPRS, RecoveryCorps member

 

Team member since: 2023 August

How many years in recovery or relation to recovery? 3+ years

One thing R2R has taught him: How to communicate with other peers (a.k.a. program participants) and coworkers in a constructive manner.

One thing to know about him: He is passionate about service work
in the community.

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3000 Langhorne Road   |   Lynchburg, VA 24501

Tel: 434-455-0053   |   Fax: 434-845-1804

© 2025 Roads to Recovery, Inc.

(original © 2022 by Katherine Daniel for Roads to Recovery, Inc.)

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