Recovery Friendly Leader

OUR VISION

Recovery Friendly Leader envisions a world where every employee has equitable access to recovery and is supported by their leaders. 

OUR MISSION

Recovery Friendly Leader’s mission is to empower leaders with solution-based strategies to support employees impacted by substance use and promote safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces. 

PROGRAM SUMMARY

This nonprofit organization will deliver a comprehensive training program for any leader, whether you are a manager, supervisor, or the like, seeking to enhance your leadership skills to support employees in their recovery from addiction while maintaining your organization’s effectiveness.

THE RESEARCH

The research conducted for this program is officially published in a book titled, Leading Workplace Addiction. All proceeds from the sale of this book go directly to fund this nonprofit. 

The findings revealed that leaders who currently implement the concepts and strategies presented in this program are experiencing cost-savings in their business through: 

• Decrease in employee substance use relapse rates, absenteeism, and turnover
• Increase in employee engagement, productivity, and performance
• Increase in the appropriate use of personal time off (PTO)

ABOUT THE TEAM

As a nonprofit organization, we believe that the successful execution of this company’s mission and growth plans begins with strong leadership. We are fortunate to have a team bonded through our shared desire and commitment to the mission and guided by our principles of unity, integrity, trust, humility, and service.

John Narine
PresidentCheryl Brown Merriwether
Secretary

Tim Wackenreuter
TreasurerMarcie Phillis
Fundraising Chair



Stephen Rotter
Legal Advisor

ABOUT THE FOUNDER

John is a person in recovery. It is his lived experience that has motivated the founding of this nonprofit organization. Not that long ago, John was once a high-performing employee, going above and beyond his job description for years while celebrating at happy hours with co-works and our clients. However, over time John was unable to sustain that life. His drinking progressed to drugs, and it became noticeable that the results of his drinking and using were more consequential than others and negatively impacted his work performance and behaviors. The companies he worked for did their best to support him but never had the proper training to support employees struggling with substance use, which ultimately resulted in his termination and the costs associated with turnover. As an employee who has struggled with addiction, John understands and can relate to others who constantly live in fear of being judged or fired while trying to keep up demand. John is a passionate recovery advocate who is wholeheartedly committed to the success of Recovery Friendly Workplaces.

Recovery Friendly Leader (RFL) is a Project of the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center and operates as a 501(c)(3). For more information, please visit: www.recoveryfriendlyleader.com