Administrative Staff

Mary Jo McMillen
Executive Director
In 2007, Mary Jo joined a grass roots effort to establish the Board of Directors for USARA, Utah’s first Addiction Recovery Community and Advocacy Organization. In 2010, Mary Jo became USARA’s Executive Director and in 2011 USARA opened Utah’s first peer run Recovery Community Center in Salt Lake County.
Mary Jo’s passion vision is to create a collaborative network of community partners to help grow USARA and the recovery community both in Utah and nationally. She values the tremendous contribution from volunteers that support USARA and assist others in finding their own personal recovery.

Javier Alegre
Development & Communications Director
Javier has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 15 years, in various roles and positions and for many diverse organizations. He feels passionately about being of service to others, his community and has committed his professional life to this purpose.
Javier moved to Utah in 1991 and lives in Salt Lake City. He is an active member of the Utah Recovery Community, and is the proud father of Nikko Alegre, a 10+ year old Schnoodle (miniature Schnauzer/Poodle) puppy that roams free and greets all visitors at USARA.

Lisa Walker
Recovery Support Services Director

Becca Brown
Education & Training Manager

Evan Martin
Administrative/Operations Coordinator
Evan enjoys travel, family, spending time with the lady in his life (a 6 year old Swiss Mountain Dog who goes by the name Lucy), and most things outdoors. Evan will rarely turn down an opportunity to go skiing, hiking, climbing, fishing, camping, or anything adventurous!

Evan Done
Community Outreach & Empowerment Coordinator
Evan is a person in long-term recovery from both a substance use and mood disorder and has been on USARA’s staff since April 2017. With over ten years of experience in social justice advocacy, he is dedicated to creating a more equitable and sustainable world.
Salt Lake County Staff
Addiction Recovery Management for Families (ARM) Staff

Trevor Cook
Peer Recovery Coach

Rebecka Roberts
Peer Recovery Coach
In August of 2017, Rebecka joined the USARA’s Addiction Recovery Management for Families team. Through her role at USARA, she is now serving as a SMART Recovery Facilitator for Wasatch Drug Court Group at the Wasatch County Jail. USARA has also made it possible for Rebecka to explore a multitude of recovery pathways to strengthen her recovery toolbox. Now that she has found a new home at USARA, Rebecka hopes to continue to expand her knowledge and skill-base, with the hope of giving anyone who seeks recovery the same chance at a new life that she was given.

Nicole (Nicki) Salama
Peer Recovery Coach
Recovery Leadership Initiative (RLI) Staff

Evan Fields
Peer Recovery Coach

Bluesette Ossana
Peer Recovery Coach
Addiction Recovery Coaching in Healthcare & Emergency Settings (ARCHES) Staff

Sabra Nelson
ARCHES Project Coordinator

Riley Drage
Peer Recovery Coach

January Riggin
Peer Recovery Coach
I worked in treatment with women, completed the LSAC program in 2011, stay involved with community outreach, service and working on my daily maintenance to stay focused on who I am today and not who I was then. For the past 7 years one of my favorite jobs has been waitressing and now working on the team ARCHES with USARA.
I have a daughter, Kayla, 18, who is one of my favorite humans in my world. I lost my first daughter in 1998 from decisions while using, her name is Star. Both have huge impacts on who I am and why I stay connected and advocating for myself and the others in recovery. “

Amy Daeschel
Peer Recovery Coach
CRAFT Family Support

Darlene Schultz
Family Support Facilitator
Darlene is a wife, mother, and a proud Grandma to two very special kids. She lost her son, Adam, to an overdose in 2012, yet continues to change the hearts and minds of people with negative perception toward substance use disorders. She has proven herself to USARA through her deep sense of purpose and commitment to the CRAFT Family Support Group.

John Garbett
CRAFT Certified Clinician
30+ years of film, television and digital media projects for global audiences at the Walt Disney Company, Amblin Entertainment, Time/Warner AOL, MCA-Universal, DreamWorks SKG, MGM/UA, independent production companies and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church).
As an agent of change John helped lay the foundation for significant organizational development, increasing the relevance and viability of number of private and public organizations.
Honorary Staff
Moab / Grand County Staff

Lanette Denton
Peer Recovery Coach
Recovery is the most important thing in her life, it enables her to maintain her family and the things that are important to her. Lanette’s gratitude seems like a never ending stream and when she wakes up each day to the blessing of having her children with her, a safe home for them, and heading out to a job she loves that allows room for not only helping others; but a space where she can learn as an individual, a woman, and a mother.
She says, “I feel like I have everything that I have ever wanted. I will be celebrating another year in long term recovery in July of this year. I want to shout out to the world that recovery is possible and to never give up!”
St. George / Southwest Utah Staff

Cody Matheson
Recovery Community Center Director

Marcie Gray
Peer Recovery Coach