Recover-Con
Substance Use Disorder: Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Advocacy Conference
2024
The goal of the Northern Illinois Recover-Con event is to bring our community into greater alignment in awareness, prevention and treatment of substance use disorders and the support and advocacy of recovery.
We suffer alone, we recover together...
Funded in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery
2024 speakers
Brandon Novak
TV personality and Global Recovery Speaker, Certified Intervention Professional
Brandon was a professional skateboarder discovered by Tony Hawk, rose to fame on the hit MTV show Viva la Bam, and the Jackass movies, got hooked on heroin for 20 years, wrote the addiction memoir, Dreamseller, and it became a best seller on Amazon. He relates to millions of people across the country; 1 in 4 to be exact who are directly affected by addiction in their family. He travels the country as the keynote speaker for the DEA’s Youth Summit events, bringing awareness and
education to high schools across the nation. Brandon truly embodies someone who can change their life around. His first book, Dreamseller, is in its 9th print edition, and is one of Amazon’s top 50 addiction memoirs. His latest book, “The Streets of Baltimore”’ where Brandon was born, is out now. Brandon is based in Philadelphia.
Speakers
Jimmy McGill
Author and Executive Director of National Peer Recovery Alliance
Jimmy McGill is the Executive Director of Next Step Recovery Housing. He served as the Director of Peer and Recovery Services for the state of Arkansas from 2018 to 2023, where his lived experience has allowed him to lead the development of recovery services throughout Arkansas. Jimmy is a founding member of the SAMHSA Region 6 Peer Support Advisory Committee, an executive board member of the National Peer Recovery Alliance, and the Chairman of the National Association of Reentry Professionals.
Overcoming a lifetime of incarceration and twenty-three years of addiction, author and speaker Jimmy McGill has found his purpose. His childhood was marked by trauma, but what should have destroyed him is now being used to transform reentry and recovery across the country.
Hear Jimmy speak at the Arkansas "Saving a Generation" event Click Here
Stefanie Robinson
Founder and CEO of Hope Recovery Community - Medina, OH
Topic - Planting the Seeds of Recovery: Recovery Farming is Changing Lives
Dr. Stephen Holtsford, MD
Medical Director, Recovery Centers of America of St. Charles, IL
Topic - Emergency Department Management of Opioid Use Disorders
Director Laura Garcia, LPC, MAAPS, CADC
Director of Illinois Dept of Human Services Division of Substance Use Prevention & Recovery
Topic - Together Recovery is Real and Possible
David Awadalla
Public Health Advisor, SAMHSA Office of Recovery
Topic - The Intersection of Harm Reduction and Recovery
Jessica Miller
Midwest Board Representative of Association for Recovery in Higher Education
Topic - An Intro to Collegiate Recovery Programs: Funding, Structure & Impact
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Eric Gremminger
CEO of ERP Health, Inc.
Topic - Aligning with Purpose: A Path to Meaningful Impact in Recovery and Beyond
Samantha Evans
Ohio Affiliate Director, National Peer Recovery Alliance
Program Manager, Hope Recovery Community
Topic - My Lived Experience
Koren VanderWeele
Senior Program Manager, TASC Center for Health & Justice
Jeff McFadden
System of Care Coordinator, Bridgeway West Central Illinois ROSC
Topic - Bridging Pathways: Integrating Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care and Deflection to Empower the Recovery Community
Mike Tyson
CEO of Take Action Today
Topic - Recovery Community Organization Leadership Workshop
and
Dr. Sarah Scruggs & Chief Tom Kammerer
Tina Medlin Willson & Douglas Washington
Cheryl Root, CADC
Aaron Smith
Charles Larry
Steve Deiss
Visit the HERO (Heroin Epidemic Relief Org) Hidden in Plain Sight Trailer
Admission to Recover-Con is free! We have partnered with Northern Illinois University and The ICB to provide 5 CEUs to attendees for the low cost of $40.
SVVOR has been approved to offer Continuing Education Units by the Illinois Certification Board (ICB) for: COUN I or II, PREV I or II, CARS I or II, CODP I or II, PCGC II, CCJP II, CAAP I, CRSS I or II, CPRS I or II, CPRS I or II, MAATP I or II, CFPP II, CVSS II
This program is approved by Northern Illinois University. NIU is certified as a Continuing Education Sponsor by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation to offer CE for the following Licenses: Nursing – 236.000185, Registered Social Worker – 159.000105, Professional Counselor/Clinical Professional Counselor – 197.000157, Marriage and Family Therapist – 168.000104
5 Continuing Education Units
The DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board is an educational supporter of Recover-Con.
NIU - Barsema Alumni and Visitor Center
231 N. Annie Glidden Rd., DeKalb, IL 60115-2854
Located on the campus of Northern Illinois University, The Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center is one of the area's newest venues offering a truly distinctive experience for events. Op[ened in October 2005, this architecturally striking facility is situated on beautifully landscaped grounds dominated by a large terrace and sculpture garden.
The facility is located on the NIU campus in DeKalb, just 1.5 miles north of the I-88 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. There are many restaurants within a 5 minute walk of the venue and a hotel available on campus. Convenient free parking is available adjacent to the building.
Available Sponship Packages:
Standing Banner displayed in venue (2.5 ft by 7 ft) provided by SVVOR
Prominent website logo display on landing page
Logo display on all fliers- Printed and digital
Logo display on all outdoor billboards
Logo and mention as presenter in TV/Radio ads and print
Premium Exhibitor booth ($400 Value)
Mention in all social media ads
Logo display on cover of printed program
A full page color ad in program
Logo display on website Sponsor Page top line
Logo on all fliers- Printed and digital
Prominent banner display- Logo (2 ft by 2ft) provided by SVVOR
Premium Exhibitor booth ($400 Value)
Mention in all social media ads
Logo display on inside cover of printed program
A full page color ad
Logo display on website Sponsor Page
Included on event sponsor banner displayed at event
Basic Exhibitor booth ($300 Value)
Mention in all social media ads
Logo display on inside cover of printed program
A 1/2 page color ad