About Us

Who We Are

Recovery is a shared journey—and Recovery Alliance Initiative is committed to linking arms with the world-changers in recovery communities. We build partnerships, support peer-led networks, and foster purpose-driven collaboration to strengthen the sector.

Here’s our story and the heartbeat behind the mission: our team.

Our Story

RAI was born out of years of collaboration and conversation among passionate leaders in recovery spaces who recognized a critical need: connection. Not just among individuals in recovery, but among the people, organizations, and systems that serve them.

The service providers in the recovery industry are dynamic dreamers and doers — but real, lasting change happens in communities when they have the opportunities and resources to learn from each other. And now we’re living into our vision every day: to bring recovery communities together, eliminate silos, and amplify collective impact.

CHECK OUT OUR SHARED SOLUTIONS

Our Team

WE ARE CONNECTORS, BUILDERS, AND CHAMPIONS OF RECOVERY COMMUNITIES.

OUR LEADERSHIP

TOM EDWARDS

Executive Director & Board Chair

Chris Budnick

Board
Member

Dan Shepard

Board
Treasurer

OUR TEAM

LIZZY TOLER

Projects & Grant Manager

Lara Chatterley

Project Manager

Heather Newton

Regional Coordinator

Mariel Swiggard DiPalma

Contract Project Manager

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH? REACH OUT TODAY!

CONNECT WITH US

TOM EDWARDS

Executive Director & Board Chair

Tom has been personally and professionally involved in the addiction recovery field since 1986, with over two decades of dedicated service at Pavillon Treatment Center in Western North Carolina. There, he focused on building bridges with professional monitoring organizations and nurturing collegiate recovery communities, helping to shape supportive and accountable networks for individuals in recovery.

He also served on the Board of Directors for Recovery Communities of North Carolina (RCNC), further expanding his commitment to statewide advocacy and connection.

Tom envisions RAI as a place where passionate individuals from diverse recovery paths can come together—collaborating across communities, sharing solutions, and helping foster stronger, healthier lives for all.

TomE@recoveryall.org

Lizzy Toler

Projects & Grant Manager

Lizzy Toler is a Certified Peer Support Specialist and has lived a happy, joyous, and free life in recovery since 2012. Raised in Tokyo, New Jersey, and Singapore, Lizzy now lives in North Carolina, where her family has deep Quaker roots. She holds a B.A. in Asian History from NYU and brings experience in visual effects, TV production, event planning, and community organizing.

Outside of work, Lizzy enjoys baking, crossword puzzles, and time with her husband and two kids. She credits her sobriety as the foundation for a life beyond anything she imagined—and shares her story with others as a way to give back what’s been so freely given to her.

LizzyB@recoveryall.org

Lara Chatterley

Project Manager

With more than 15 years of experience in non-profits, healthcare, and academia, Lara brings a thoughtful approach to project management, strategy, metrics, and change management. She’s known for her ability to connect with both people and processes, and she’s great at spotting opportunities, bringing teams together, and creating clear, practical plans and communications.

In recovery for over six years, Lara shares her lived experience to support and encourage others on their own paths. She leads with integrity, humility, and courage, grounded in accountability, teamwork, and a deep commitment to learning and growing every day.

LaraC@recoveryall.org

Heather Newton

Regional Coordinator

Heather is a person in long-term recovery with deeply personal experience of addiction—her own, her siblings’, and the loss of her son to a fentanyl overdose. That loss shaped her calling: to walk alongside those struggling with substance use and to support their loved ones.

Driven by compassion and purpose, Heather is dedicated to helping individuals navigate resources and find their path to recovery. Her mission is to help close the gaps in care and connection so all have access to recovery.

HeatherN@recoveryall.org

Mariel Swiggard DiPalma

Contract Project Manager

A passionate recovery ally, Mariel has witnessed the impact of Substance Use Disorders within her own family. With a background in English, History, and Mass Communications, she has worked with national advocacy groups, major universities, and as a freelance writer and social media specialist.

Mariel helped found RAI and has served as the facilitator for two Eastern NC Counties for their Substance Use Disorder/Misuse Strategic Planning. She also serves as Coordinator of the ECC Recovery Continuum of Care Needs Assessment project. A proud North Carolinian for 25 years, she’s an active volunteer for Recovery, education, and local community life. She lives in Cary with her husband, two children, and a lively crew of pets.

MarielS@recoveryall.org

Chris Budnick

Board Member

Chris has worked in the addiction treatment and recovery field since 1993 and currently serves as Executive Director of Healing Transitions. A longtime advocate for recovery support, Chris also shares his expertise as an Adjunct Instructor at NC State University’s Department of Social Work—a role he’s held since 2002.

He serves on the Board of Recovery Africa and has presented nationally and internationally on recovery-related topics. Among his most meaningful work is his collaboration with William White and Boyd Pickard exploring the history of mutual aid recovery fellowships, deepening the field’s understanding of recovery’s roots and reach.

Dan Shepard

Board Treasurer

Dan Shepard brings decades of financial leadership and business insight to his current role as a business consultant. A graduate of Alfred University with a B.S. in Accounting, Dan recently retired as Chief Financial Officer of Legacy Group, where he oversaw all financial operations. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President at Martin Marietta Materials Inc., where he also led the Magnesia Specialties Division as CEO. Earlier in his career, Dan was a partner at a public accounting firm in upstate New York.

Throughout his career, Dan has contributed his expertise to numerous business and nonprofit boards, combining strategic acumen with a commitment to service.