Our Staff &
Board of Directors
Rebecca Boss, MA
CHAIR
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Rebecca Boss is a highly regarded leader of behavioral health care and developmental disabilities services with special expertise in addiction and recovery solutions.
At The Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC), Ms. Boss engages with federal, state, and philanthropic organizations to promote effective responses to the evolving needs of the behavioral health care system. Prior to joining TAC Ms. Boss spent 15 years in state government, including as director of the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) where she had oversight of the state’s publicly funded system for people with mental illness, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities. Among her achievements were the management, design and delivery of statewide efforts for medication-assisted treatment expansion, developing national behavioral health integrated care models, and expanding recovery outreach programs. Wellness, recovery, and parity were consistent themes of her leadership as she advanced efforts to promote inclusion and to eliminate fear and discrimination directed toward individuals living with behavioral health conditions.
Akosua Dankwah, DrPH, MPH
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Dr. Akosua Dankwah is a leader in community-engaged work at the intersection of faith-based organizations, public health, and policy. She is the founder and director of Christian Recovery Support Sanctuaries (CRSS), an innovative pilot, church-based recovery initiative that provides holistic recovery support and pastoral counseling through clergy-certified recovery coaches. Open to all community members on their recovery journey, CRSS offers safe and welcoming spaces housed within church sanctuaries.
Dr. Dankwah is also the founder and CEO of The Way, The Truth and the Life (WTL) Health Clinic, Inc. a thriving Christian free clinic serving resilient communities across Rhode Island.Dr. Dankwah completed her postdoctoral research fellowship at the Recovery Research Institute (RRI) at Harvard Medical School, where her work focused on Christian-based recovery science. She earned her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, holds a Master of Public Health from Brown University School of Public Health, and received her Bachelor of Arts from Knox College in Illinois.
Andy Ochiltree
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Andy Ochiltree is a marketing leader with deep multidisciplinary expertise spanning brand, product, digital, B2B, and B2C strategy. His career spans large global corporations and scrappy startups alike — including Marvel Studios, Mattel, Hasbro, Activision-Blizzard, Epic Games, JibJab, Subnation, and Pixelynx — and he has worked with many more organizations as a fractional marketing leader and consultant. Across all of them, Andy has brought a data-informed, audience-first approach to building brands that connect meaningfully with the communities they serve.
Before earning his MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management, Andy worked at the intersection of film and digital entertainment, developing a strong foundation in storytelling, audience engagement, and digital innovation.Andy joined the RICARES Board of Directors to put his marketing and communications experience in service of a cause he has deep personal investment in — helping to amplify RICARES, and the voices of those in recovery, in order to boost the visibility and impact of RICARES' mission of addiction recovery advocacy across Rhode Island.
Alex West, JD
TREASURER
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Alex West (he/him, they/them) is a person in long-term recovery. Alex is the Associate Director of Pro Bono Programs and Clinical Professor of Law at Roger Williams University.
Previously, Alex has worked as an attorney at SouthCoast Fair Housing, serving the south coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island; South Coastal Counties Legal Services in Fall River, Massachusetts; and with homeless veterans at the Northwest Justice Project in Washington state. Prior to law school, Alex worked at YouthCare in Seattle, Washington, providing support to queer and trans youth.
Lori Dorsey
VICE CHAIR
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Lori Dorsey, LICSW, LCDCS, is a person in long term recovery from alcohol, benzodiazepine, and opioid use disorders. She returned to school in her 30’s, when her recovery began, and worked for several community mental health and substance abuse treatment agencies, ultimately working for the RI Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals for 18 years.
She recently retired from her position with the RI Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals, but continues to maintain her private practice, which she has operated for 30 years. In addition, she works part-time as a clinician at AdCare in North Kingstown, in buildings where her own recovery journey began in 1988.
Her commitment to the field is evident through her 12-year tenure as the Women’s Services Network Coordinator under the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD). During this time, she also served for 5 years as the Women’s Services Network Regional Representative for the New England States.
She served as the Clinical and Recovery Supports Services Coordinator for the Rhode Island Access to Recovery grant, which was the state’s first substance use disorder (SUD) grant aimed at developing and introducing recovery support services for adults involved with the criminal justice system, as well as veterans and their families. Her experience includes serving as the Clinical Coordinator for both the Rhode Island Juvenile and Adult Drug Courts, where she was an integral member of the Drug Court Teams. She also held the Treatment Seat on the Rhode Island Certification Board for Chemical Dependency Professionals for nearly a decade. She worked extensively with clients struggling with substance abuse and severe, persistent psychiatric disorders as the Program Coordinator of a Community Mental Health Organization (CMHO) Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team.
Additionally, she has contributed her expertise by serving on the Boards of Directors for several community organizations. 35 years ago, she was invited to present to the Rhode Island Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, addressing issues of discrimination, treatment, and recovery for individuals with substance abuse disorders at a time when recovery was not openly acknowledged or discussed.
The following year, she became an Incorporator of Rhode Island Right to Recovery, a grassroots advocacy group for those in recovery, which later evolved into RICARES and received several awards and honors, including the National Association for State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors’ Women’s Services Network Leadership Award, the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhode Island Rally for Recovery Committee, the 2017 Rhode Island Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependence President’s Award, and the 2011 Social Worker of the Year in Addictions Award, NASW, RI Chapter
Tom McClure
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Tom McClure is Senior Program Director, Campaigns at Energy Action Fund, the c4 sister organization of Energy Foundation. In that role, Tom manages the political and legislative campaign portfolio for the organization, working to grow the political power of our state coalitions and win policy campaigns to meet our clean energy goals.
Tom has a decade of experience working on electoral and issue-based campaigns. Before Energy Action Fund, Tom spent many years at Everytown for Gun Safety, the nation's largest gun violence prevention organization, where he served as the chief of staff. In that role, he worked to align organizational strategy across legislative and political priorities and coordinated national and regional strategic campaign teams across the organization. In 2022, he oversaw the campaign to pass the first major gun safety legislation through Congress in a generation. During his time as a senior leader at Everytown, the organization grew to include over 10 million supporters, hundreds of thousands of active volunteers, and a robust political, legislative, and organizing program in all 50 states. Prior to Everytown, Tom worked on electoral campaigns — ranging from Presidential down to County Executive — in Michigan, Missouri, and California. He is based in Providence, Rhode Island.
Nic
Caramante
PEER RECOVERY PROGRAM COORDINATOR
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Nic Caramante, CPRS (They/She) is a person in long-term recovery who has been working in the recovery field for 3+ years. Nic was born and raised in Rhode Island and has seen the effects of addiction firsthand. Nic believes that allowing peer recovery specialists to have a voice and a say in their career and community is of utmost importance. They want to inspire peers, prevent compassion fatigue, encourage peer recovery specialists to realize the value of sharing their own lived experience, and give peers the chance to find their own personal pathway to a meaningful career.
Nic has worked in many capacities in the field, including in recovery housing, inpatient treatment at AdCare Rhode Island, and at Anchor Recovery Community Center through The Providence Center. Nic embraces and believes in all pathways to recovery. They are a founding member of RIPRPA, Rhode Island’s Peer Recovery Professional Association.
In their free time, they enjoy baking for others, painting, and trying new restaurants around Rhode Island.
ncaramante@ricares.org
Sarah
Edwards
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RECOVERY HOUSING
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Sarah Edwards (she/her) is a dedicated CPRS/CCHW in long-term recovery, bringing over eight years of experience in the fields of recovery support, overdose prevention, and harm reduction. Her approach is rooted in the belief that every person deserves compassionate, nonjudgemental care and dignity-no matter where they are in their journey.
Sarah is a stalwart advocate for harm reduction and person-centered, accessible recovery pathways. Sarah has devoted her career to supporting individuals and communities affected by substance use. Her approach emphasizes community-driven solutions, and she is deeply committed to uplifting the voices of those with lived and living experience.
Sarah is currently in school, pursuing a degree in Social Work to further use her personal recovery and experience to address structural inequity surrounding substance use.
In her downtime, Sarah enjoys hiking, catching frogs, building miniatures, and taking naps with her beloved cat “Meowy”.
Lindsay
Garcia
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Lindsay Garcia (she/her) is the Executive Director of RICARES (Rhode Island Community for Addiction Recovery Efforts), which is the recovery community and advocacy organization for Rhode Island. Previously, Dr. Garcia served as the Associate Dean of the College for Junior/Senior Studies and Recovery/Substance-Free Student Initiatives at Brown University, where she directed the Donovan Program for Recovery and Substance-Free Initiatives. She is also a socially engaged artist, educator, and person in long term recovery. Lindsay is an appointed member of the Rhode Island Governor’s Council on Behavioral Health and the senior co-chair for Board of Directors of the Association for Recovery in Higher Education. She received her PhD in American Studies from William & Mary, her MFA in Visual Art from Purchase College, State University of New York, her MA in Contemporary Art History from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, and her BFA from Rhode Island School of Design.
Tricia
Kehl
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
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Tricia (she/her) relocated from Ohio and brings a background in community behavioral health and community services, with experience in both the nonprofit sector and insurance services. She is passionate about supporting people not just in navigating their recovery journeys, but in truly thriving.
Tricia is honored to be part of an organization that values lived experience, community, and empowerment. Outside of work, she loves exploring new coffee shops and thrift stores, biking, hiking, and curling up with a good book. She’s looking forward to connecting with others and making a meaningful impact here at RICARES!
Sarah
Liew
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
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Sarah is thrilled to be part of the RICARES team as the Senior Manager of Community Relations. Her day-to-day is all about creating meaningful opportunities for connection—whether that’s organizing community events, supporting volunteer efforts, or just being present for people in recovery. She’s passionate about building spaces that feel welcoming and supportive, and believes in the power of showing up for one another.
Before joining RICARES, Sarah worked in student mentoring, partnership development, and volunteer coordination—experiences that reinforced her belief in the value of relationships and the impact of small acts of care. She has also worked extensively with international students, drawing from her years of living abroad to offer mentorship and support. In addition, Sarah is the founder of a volunteer-run nonprofit focused on tackling litter in the city and beyond, bringing together community members and collaborating with city, state, and nonprofit partners to make a difference.
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys sewing, mushroom hunting, and gardening with her son—they’re always off on some kind of adventure together!
Christopher
Lloyd
RECOVERY HOUSING INSPECTOR
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Christopher Lloyd (he/they) has been involved in recovery his whole life, having parents that met in 12 step and starting his own journey of recovery at the age of 16. Christopher has extensive lived experience in recovery styles of all kinds from CBT, to faith based, to 12 step and everything in between. He has years of firsthand experience living in, and helping run, recovery residences in his local state of Florida.
Christopher found his solution in 2020 and has been an advocate that we need to be all inclusive of every recovery and individual, because there is no one right way. A strong supporter of harm-reduction, housing first, and MOUD, he uses his time to work with marginalized populations that are underserved and underrepresented.
His free time is usually spent working on being the best father he can be, watching YouTube or movies, and constantly learning and working on his own recovery.
Mel
Costa
PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST INTERNSHIP MANAGER
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Mel Costa (she/her) is a person in long term recovery and passionate about bringing recovery from substance use disorder and addressing mental health issues for almost 14 years. She has been an advocate for many coming into early recovery, including finding resources for those coming out of military service, treatment or the prison system.
Before joining RICARES, Mel worked at the Providence VA Medical Center as a Lead Certified Peer Specialist for 14 years. Mel plans to share her knowledge and show interns that they too can be mentors to others as Mel has great plans for the interns as the new Recovery Peer Internship Program Manager. She is a Veteran, serving in the US Marine Corp (95-99), the Army Reserves (00-06) with deployments to Kosovo and Iraq.
In her free time, Mel enjoys being in nature, spending time with Steamboat Willie, her service dog, 3 cats, and her wife, Kim. Mel uses poetry to express her feelings and is a published author.
Alex
Gautieri
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY
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Alex (he/him) is excited about bringing his decade of experience working with people experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder, and severe and persistent mental health disorders to RICARES to making lasting, policy change. As a “macro” focused MSW he has a deep understanding of how the systemic issues impact our neighbors across Rhode Island. He combines his “boots-on-the-ground” outreach experience with his lived experience as a person in recovery, along with his core beliefs in harm reduction and person-centered care at the root of all his work. Alex is driven by a deep commitment to a community-centered approach, public health equity, and social justice. In his down time, Alex is a husband and cat-dad who enjoys reading, going to the gym, being out in nature, and fixing up his home.
Jessica
Jean-Charles
CHEIR OF STAFF
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Jessica (she/her) was born in New York, but raised in Pawtucket, RI and graduated from Massachusetts College of Liberal with a BA in Management and a Minor in Fine Arts: Music. She has held a variety of administrative roles primarily in public education and the corporate sector. She is excited to be working at RICARES and supporting recovery efforts in the community.
Stacey
Levin
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
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Stacey Levin (she/her) is a passionate community advocate with over 12 years of experience dedicated to supporting individuals in substance use disorder recovery. As a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPRS) and Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW), she brings unwavering dedication and lived understanding to her mission of improving the quality of life for underserved individuals across Rhode Island.
Stacey is driven by a deep commitment to ensuring that recovery support services reach those who need them most. Her collaborative approach with state agencies and community partners reflects her belief that sustainable recovery requires comprehensive, coordinated care. Stacey was awarded the Sister Judy Soares & John Coen Memorial Award for Direct Service by the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness in 2023.
Stacey combines her professional credentials with real-world experience in harm reduction, social justice, and public health approaches. Throughout her career, Stacey has been motivated by her belief that every person deserves dignity, respect, and access to the support they need to thrive. Her community-centered approach and commitment to evidence-based practices have strengthened recovery support systems across the region, creating lasting positive change for individuals and families affected by substance use disorders.
Stacey’s work is fueled by her passion for social justice and her deep understanding that recovery is not just about overcoming addiction—it’s about rebuilding lives, restoring hope, and creating communities where everyone has the opportunity to heal and flourish.
In her down time, Stacey is a backyard chicken farmer, avid baker, longboarder, and crocheter. Stacey is an adoring aunt to four nephews, one niece and cat mom to Chicken Nugget Matzo Ball.
Maya
Lima
RECOVERY HOUSING PROGRAM ASSISTANT
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Maya (she/her) is a “macro-focused” MSW graduate from Rhode Island College who is passionate about analyzing and re-designing systems to better support those within them. She is an ally to the recovery community, using her experience as a family member and friend to those in recovery to support others finding themselves in similar positions.
Outside of work, you can find Maya playing with her cats, dogs, and pigs, along with supporting her local advocacy group – Transformative Action for North Kingstown (TANK).
Molly
Smith
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
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Molly has worked in nonprofit fundraising for the past decade, building narratives that compel the public to engage. She brings her own recovery journey to her storytelling for RICARES and loves working to make Rhode Island an easier place for everyone to find their joy.
In her free time, you’ll find her with a sewing or knitting project in her hands and at least six new project ideas in her head.Nic has worked in many capacities in the field, including in recovery housing, inpatient treatment at AdCare Rhode Island, and at Anchor Recovery Community Center through The Providence Center. Nic embraces and believes in all pathways to recovery. They are a founding member of RIPRPA, Rhode Island’s Peer Recovery Professional Association.
In their free time, they enjoy baking for others, painting, and trying new restaurants around Rhode Island.