About Our Exhibitor Speakers

 Jimmy is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Boston, where he received his certification in alcohol, drug counselling, and criminal justice. Mr. Kane is highly regarded as an effective advocate within the court system for those seeking addiction treatment. This path has been proven as the most justifiable path for an individual, vs. jail time, which has never proven to be effective for those seeking recovery assistance. In addition, Mr. Kane is a certified life and success coach, with many years of experience helping substance abuse patients, assisting them with placement in treatment facilities around the country. Mr. Kane has a unique passion for addressing individual client’s needs, engaging them with the utmost respect and dignity. He is renowned for his work in helping clients overcome their life struggles, patiently assisting them as they gradually find their place as successful members of society.

Matthew Ganem has been in recovery for 14 years and has worked in the field of substance abuse treatment since 2014. He has reached thousands of lives through his efforts to battle drug and alcohol addiction. At Aftermath Addiction Treatment Center, Matt takes an active role in the day to day activities with the clients, he is usually the first person a client will see as they enter in the door. Matt makes sure to let each client know that they are not alone as they begin their journey on the path to recovery and tries to inspire them to achieve a better way of life in recovery. Matt is an award winning poet and public speaker, the author of The Shadow Of An Addict and was recognized as the Recovery Advocate of the year in 2015 by the Massachusetts Organization of Addiction and Recovery. He is well known for speaking on addiction and prevention at schools and local community events. Matt is committed to building Aftermath into a leading treatment provider where people feel welcomed and supported on their journey to recovery. 

Dr. Lisa Machoian is an expert on youth mental health. She is the author of The Disappearing Girl: Learning the Language of Teenage depression. For 30 years, she has dedicated her life to helping support and build resilience in youth, families, schools, and program that serve youth. She has lectured and conducted workshops, webinars and trainings across the United States and Canada on youth anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, suicide prevention and self-harm, coping, and resilience. Dr. Machoian has been interviewed for numerous newspapers and magazines and has appeared on NBC, CBS, and ABC on of behalf of teens. Currently, she maintains a virtual and telehealth practice for consultation, therapy, and parenting support. She takes a whole child approach integrating mind, body, heart, and soul. Dr. Machoian earned a doctorate and master’s degree from Harvard University and lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

My name is Matty O'Malley, and I am a grateful recovering addict. My clean date is 4/4/2017. I remember feeling different while growing up, not feeling a part of the world around me. I felt discontent and uneasy at an early age because of the dysfunction within my household, which included my mother. She had substance abuse issues and severe mental health issues, which at the time, I couldn't understand my surroundings and everyday life. I knew it was not what most kids expected. I became accustomed to specific situations, like calling the paramedics when I got home from school multiple times when my mother was unconscious. These feelings and emotions left me terribly afraid, depressed, angry, and heartbroken. I just wanted an everyday life with her and loved her with all of my heart. Although these events were going on with my mom, I also had my father. My dad is the most caring, amazing man, and I remember he always found a way to support the family. Even though I had the support of my father, I still never learned how to deal with my emotions. I would behave in a way that landed me in multiple facilities and institutions, prescribed different medications. In hindsight, I can see now that I was just seeking acceptance and love. When I was 14 years old, my mother passed away due to her mental health and substance use. I was totally shattered. I felt broken, abandoned, betrayed, angry at life, and angry with God. At 15 years old, I started running from the emotions and was not ready to face the reality of life. I was experimenting with drugs, hanging with all of the wrong people, doing all the wrong things in all the wrong places. I was so desperate not to face what had happened in my life, and I didn't want to accept that I could never see my mother again. I spent over a decade suppressing my feelings with narcotics, acting like a chameleon to gain acceptance and approval from anyone that would pay attention to me. I would have been whoever you wanted me to be. I would rather you love me for who you think I am than not love the real me. I became desperate and heavily addicted to drugs. I found myself going in and out of jail and other institutions. My life was utterly unmanageable across-the-board. There were countless programs, facilities, detoxes, too many to list. By the grace of God, I survived 8 overdoses, multiple incarcerations, two severe crashes, and burned almost every bridge I had. Finally, when the pain was great enough, I had spent my entire life running from my emotions until I realized I couldn't run from the pain anymore. No matter what I had done to avoid it or cover it up, it was still there. I was ready to recover. Even though I didn't fully grasp that concept back then, I knew I was prepared for a change. I received a scholarship to a treatment facility. I learned about the disease of addiction, and I had what was called "the gift of desperation." I became embedded in a 12 step fellowship. I became more educated and aware of my thought process, behavior, and spiritual connection. I started to see that I could help people suffering from the disease of addiction. I learned that I have a voice and that I can be heard. I proceeded to enroll in a class to become a recovery coach. With all of this education, I started to process my emotions. The ones I had been running from. The emotions linked to my mother. I learned that my mother couldn't deal with her feelings, which prevented her from being a mother to me. I began to practice forgiveness. I believe that I can help others, and in doing so, I feel my mother's presence with me. This is more than a job to me and is very personal. I can keep my mother's spirit alive and with me at all times. Today, I can give back to the community that I used to selfishly take advantage of. I am able to provide services as a partner and Director of Business Development for Paramount Recovery Centers in Massachusetts and Addiction Treatment Services International in New Jersey. My good friend, Ryan Vartanian, and I have a common goal of helping others beat substance use disorder. These two centers encompass everything I feel internally into the external world. My joy in assisting others in finding their voice in recovery is all I need to get up, dress up, and show up for my friends, family, and the stranger who asks for help. Why help these strangers? Because they're not strangers at all. I have been in their shoes, their pain, their emotions. I know how they feel. I also know the way out. My name is Matthew O'Malley. I recover out loud, so others don't have to suffer in silence.

Zara Gemilyan is the 2019 title holder for Mrs. California Globe and is a spokesperson for Women in Need Foundation. Zara is the co- founder of West Valley Detox Treatment . She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Pepperdine University in International Studies and Management as well as  a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine.Zara speaks four languages and is in charge of her company’s admissions and outreach process.

Prior to my journey in the field of recovery, I was the elected Sheriff of Sandusky County in Fremont, Ohio. I was 34 years old. While Sheriff, I was diagnosed with arthritis (from sports injuries) and prescribed Vicodin for the pain. I eventually became addicted. Not only did the opiates take away the pain from the arthritis; it helped numb the pain from life in law enforcement and everyday stress. Doctor shopping and taking old medications from the take-back boxes to feed my addition, eventually caught up with me. Flagged by a pharmacist, I began

my recovery on my own. Despite being sober for a year, I was criminally indicted by a grand jury for 42 related felony drug charges. During this time, I remained sober, but continued campaigning and running for re-election. I eventually plead guilty to 12 counts, was sentenced, and served 4 years in prison. Having been on both sides of the law and a recovering addict, I have found my true passion. I have been sober for over 7 years. I work in the field of recovery, share my story as a motivational speaker, and advocate for first responders through DreamLife Recovery.

During my time as a First Responder, I was graduate of the FBI Swat Academy, FBI Hostage Negotiation Training, worked in the capacities of corrections, road patrol division, detective bureau, and undercover operations with the DEA. I am a certified event interventionist, have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from

Tiffin University, Associate’s Degree in Police Science from Terra State Community College.

I am married to my wife, Jennifer. I have 2 children, Dillon and Mikayla; 2 stepchildren, Robbie and Mason; and a grandson on the way.

Irish Angel is a 501(c)(3) registered in the State of NY with a chapter in Boston, Texas and just opening in AZ and CO. We service all of the U.S.  Irish Angel is a support network for law enforcement, first responders and veterans, past and present. Suffering with mental health, PTS, TBI and addiction. We educate, raise awareness, find resources and funding surrounding PTS, addiction and mental health issues. We also help fund travel expenses and certain treatments should their insurance not cover the cost or if those suffering in crisis may be in financial difficulties. We want to give as many as we can a fighting chance of living a fulfilled life by helping them get the help they need, when they need it.

Heather is the founder of WONDHERFUL, Inc. She is married to Raul Palacios, has two beautiful children D.J. and Andy, and lives in sunny South Florida. Heather is a multiple attempt suicide survivor and believes if you wake up breathing , that's GODS proof to you to keep going. She has dedicated her life to helping those going thru a mentally difficult time and have attempted or are contemplating suicide. Heather is a graduate of Judson University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management is a frequent speaker across the USA at Business Events, Mental Health Conferences, Churches, Prisons, Police Stations, Halfway Houses and various other venues.  Her life verse is Psalms 118:17, “I will live and not die, and I will tell what the Lord has done.”

 Chris Nilan earned every minute of the 688 regular season games he played, patrolling the right wing for the Mtl Canadiens, Boston Bruins, and NY Rangers. Fiercely loyal to his teammates and his club, Chris answered the call every time, racking up over 3000 penalty minutes during his pro career, many of them earned against some of the toughest players the NHL has ever seen. An Irish kid from W Roxbury, MA, where scores were often settled with their fists, Chris learned an important lesson early on; Never Back down, never stay down. Nilan was selected 231st overall by the Canadiens in the 1978 NHL Amateur draft. He scored a career high 21 goals with the Habs in the 84-85 season and 19 more the following season when the Habs won their 23rd Stanley Cup. He was traded to the Rangers in 88, then on to Bruins and finally was picked up on Waivers by the Habs, who brought him back to retire from the team he loved so much. 

  Dr. Nelson is Chief Clinical Officer at FHE Health in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He has worked for over 22 years in acute psychiatric care, general medical settings, and across the continuum of care for behavioral health services.  He is a national speaker, lecturer, writer and consultant for many organizations, including an emphasis on first responders.  Dr. Nelson specializes in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, behavioral management of medical conditions, and is specially trained in Integrated Behavioral Healthcare, which is the coordination of a collaborative care model, maximizing medical, psychiatry, and clinical services to treat the whole person. 

 Born and raised in the United Kingdom until the age of twenty-one, Mark has been an attorney since 1994. Before entering private practice, Mark began his legal career as a Palm Beach County Assistant State Attorney, a position he held until 1999. During his career as a Government lawyer, Mark served as Chief of two different County Court Divisions and, thereafter, was promoted to a felony trial division. He has handled thousands of cases ranging from first-degree misdemeanors to Capital Murder.  Mark received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Michigan in 1990, his Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University College of Law in 1994, and his Master of Laws Degree (L.L.M.) from American University, Washington College of Law in 2005.  In February 2016, Mark formed Drug and Alcohol Attorneys (http://drugandalcoholattorneys.com) a concierge service dedicated to help families and individuals suffering from substance use and mental health disorders. 

Originally from Cape Cod, MA, Joe Kelley has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY, where he was also an All-American collegiate football player. Joe has been passionate about working to better the lives of others since he was a boy, leading him into the public sector as a law enforcement officer for 9 years (K-9, Emergency Response Team and Interview Interrogation) and as a Adolescence social worker for the Massachusetts Department Of Family And Children. But Joe Kelley’s story isn’t just a highlights reel. After an on-the-job injury as a Police Officer, he developed an addiction, which led to him being incarcerated for almost 2 years in a state penitentiary. This experience didn’t destroy Kelley, it just delayed him. After he emerged, clean and determined, he re-engaged with his commitment to better the lives of others through working in the private sector, first as a clinician in the substance abuse field and for the past 11 years a business developer. Working in addictions facilities for a number of years, Joe knows that the issues go deeper than drugs and alcohol and his unique experience helps him get to the core of the individual. Now, the “why” no longer being a mystery, it’s known surprise that Joe’s senior thesis explored the stigma of addiction while at Hartwick College. Joe’s core principles are hard work, perseverance, and determination. On or off the field, in or out of the office, at home or at the playground Joe is truly an inspiration to all of those in his life. Joe is a father. Kelley has continued to further his education, he is certified in children’s yoga, a Trainer of Hypnotherapy, Trainer of NLP, Trainer of time techniques and EFT. He is also a high in demand Trainer of Life Coaching. When Maritsa and Joe got together it wasn’t just a love connection, they shared the passion of helping people, and building their lives around reaching as many people as possible they do this through their business as well as different advocacy groups, they are a part of.