Carrie Maynard-Lester, LMHC, CAP
Executive Director
Carrie Lester has worked in the helping profession for the past 25 years. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology in 1995 and completed her master’s degree in 1998. She has worked in residential, partial hospitalization, and outpatient clinical settings. After spending some time in private practice she found herself working part time for the Substance Awareness Center and eventually assumed a full time position as Clinical Director and now leads the agency as the Executive Director. Carrie embraces her roles as a wife, a mother, a counselor, a friend, and most importantly a woman in recovery. She has a passion for the work she does and believes in the hope, healing, and transformation that recovery offers.
Jenel Hernandez, MBA
Director of Finance & Human Resources, Compliance Officer
Jenel is a Florida native who has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than a decade. She has a Master of Business Administration and will complete her Master of Accounting in the Summer of 2023. She is a member of The Society of Human Resource Management and a Florida Notary Public. In her spare time, Jenel loves to visit Disney, LEGOLAND, and Fort Myers Beach with her family.
Jill Amos, LMHC
Clinical Director
Jill Amos, a 1987 graduate of Vero Beach High School, earned her undergraduate degree in Rehabilitations Services from the Florida State University and her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She is a licensed mental health counselor with areas of specialty in Chemical Dependency, Parenting, Domestic Violence, and Grief. Over the last 20 plus years, Ms. Amos has worked with adolescents and adults in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. She enjoys her role at SAC both working directly with clients and their families as well as teaching/supervising other clinicians.
Irene Cauwels, MCAP, NCC
Program Director
Irene Cauwels has worked in many roles in the helping professions. She earned her undergraduate degree in Applied Behavioral Science in 1985 and completed her Masters of Science in Human Services and Counseling in 2005. She has worked as a domestic violence advocate, a clinical supervisor of an addictions partial hospital program, and in private practice. Whether an individual is struggling with mental health, career stressors, substance abuse and/or trauma, she believes that each person has the inherent ability to be healthy, and works to help individuals connect with their personal power while achieving healthy lifestyle changes. She is a National Certified Counselor and Advanced Clinical Heart-Centered Hypnotherapist. She is loves her roles as a wife, mother, and grandmother and believes that living in Florida is waking up in paradise every day.
Gina McGirt
Office Manager
Gina has been an integral member of the SAC team for 13 years. Hers is the first face you will see and the first voice you will hear when contacting the agency. Her position of Office Manager includes drug test coordination and appointment scheduling.
Sheila Firle, MCAP, ICADC
Counselor
Sheila Firle has worked in the helping profession for the past 20 years. She earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology and completed her master’s degree in Addiction Counseling from the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. Sheila is a Master’s Certified Addiction Professional (CAP) and an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ICADC).She has worked in residential, intensive outpatient, and outpatient clinical settings. The rest of her career was spent as a Program Director for Have of Hope Domestic Violence Program and Case Manager for services to families involved in child protective services. She brings her experience, passion for recovery, and belief that all people can heal from addiction and live transformed lives. Sheila enjoys spending time with her family, reading, NFL football, and loves the outdoors.
Rebecca Brinklow-Vaughan, MSW
Counselor
Rebecca earned her undergraduate degree in Clinical Psychology from the prestigious University of Central Florida. With a desire to work with individuals overcoming their Substance Use Disorder, Rebecca attended the University of South Carolina where she earned her Master’s in Social Work and completed the Master’s Level Certificate of Drug and Addictions Studies. Rebecca believes recovery becomes a reality when an individual actively participates in an evidence-based program and she is honored to work closely with clients in our Day Treatment Program. On the weekends, you will find Rebecca cheering on UCF Sports or relaxing on the beach with her two dogs.
Tony Barcelona, CRPS
Peer Specialist/ MAP Manager
Tony was born and raised in Vero Beach. He is working towards a degree in Human Services at Indian River State College. Tony is an active member of Unity Spiritual Center of Vero Beach and enjoys being a Prayer Chaplain there. He also enjoys being a student and group facilitator of an A Course in Miracles study group. Tony is a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist.
Kathy Jones, CRPS
Intake Coordinator/Peer Specialist
Kathy Jones relocated from Central Illinois in 1983. She has enjoyed a long and successful insurance career as a licensed Insurance Agent/Owner. In 2004, she was first introduced to the Substance Awareness Center and their mission. Overwhelmed with gratitude for the organization she feels she has personally benefited from, she feels blessed and humbled to work for the Substance Awareness Center. Kathy has dedicated much of her life to volunteering in her community and to non-profit organizations such as Daughters of Naomi and Women’s Refuge of Vero Beach. She is an active member of St. Helens Catholic Church. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends in Vero Beach, and cherishes time with her two adult sons, who reside in Alaska and Georgia. Kathy appreciates the outdoors and fresh air, loves to walk and bicycle, and you will often find her about town. She is a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist.
Dan Jones
Drug Lab Technician/Peer Support
Dan earned his bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Biology from North Eastern Oklahoma State , Tahlequah Ok. He relocated to Vero Beach in 1986 and has raised his family here. Dan has environmental lab experience locally and brings a diversified background, including working in the family insurance business . He has many interests such as aviation, motorcycling and many hobbies.
Dan has long been a supporter of the Substance Awareness Center and their mission, and is grateful to be a part of the team at SAC.
Mary Burkins
Office Manager Assistant
Mary Burkins has filled many roles at SAC. She is now the Office Manager Assistant. Mary feels proud to be part of the agency and its mission. She has over 13 years teaching elementary and middle school, and is certified to teach Math, Grades 5-9 in Florida. She also has over a decade of social work experience at various non-profit agencies. When not working at SAC, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, dog, and church members. She loves nature, being outdoors and working with people.
Kady Harrigan
Prevention Specialist
Kady has worked in the social service field for over 10 years and work with adolescents has always been her passion. Kady completed a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in psychology. She has a certification as a Parenting instructor and as a targeted case manager. She is currently working on a master’s to become licensed as mental health counselor. Kady has two children and is a grandmother to small children.
Megan Thomas
Prevention Specialist
Megan is originally from Wisconsin. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health, Wellness and Fitness with a concentration in Wellness Promotions from the University of Wisconsin Stout. She completed her field experience with the Substance Abuse Free Environment (SAFE) Coalition at the Juneau County Health Department in Wisconsin. Megan then joined the AmeriCorps and volunteered a year of her time giving back to rural communities and addressing social determinates of health. Megan has a passion for helping others and giving them the tools they need to overcome challenges. In her free time she enjoys being active, going to the beach, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Xzondra Bergman
Prevention Specialist
Since a youth growing up in Cleveland Ohio, Xzondra H. Bergman has had a passion for youth advocacy, and service learning. With 15 plus years in civic engagement she has served as fundraising coordinator, program developer, educator and curriculum developer, training and development manager, women’s ministry leadership, creator of at-risk mitigation initiatives for youth, national mentor for at-risk teens, human and sex trafficking task force educator, entrepreneur, and social science researcher. Xzondra received her Associate of Arts Degree from Eastern Florida State College, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Communication from the University of Central Florida, Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida and at the close of 2022, she will receive her Ph.D. as Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice from Liberty University. Her unwavering fortitude in the cultivation of diversity, inclusion, and justice, has awarded her forerunner of advanced and thriving teams throughout her professional and academic career. During her many years in serving the nonprofit, faith-based and business sectors, she has been steadfast in her commitment to quality program initiatives, data-driven program evaluation, and serving the underserved, as it is what fuels her passion, to serve others.
Chelsea Floyd
Prevention Specialist
Chelsea was Born and raised in Wabasso Florida. She graduated from Sebastian High School. She went on to earn her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from Florida Memorial University. Chelsea has worked in the School district of Indian River County for five years at multiple schools teaching different grade levels. Chelsea moved on to work for the Department of Children and families for two years. Chelsea is now working as a prevention specialist at the substance awareness Center.
Catherine Damutz
Prevention Specialist
Catherine is originally from Bloomington, Illinois. She received her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and her Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Illinois State University. She retired from Indian River School District in 2019 after 42 years of teaching in grades 3-6. Having worked in Middle School for the last 14 years, she became a proponent of the Botvin LifeSkills Training program in her classroom. She joined the SAC team in the fall of 2019. Catherine loves working with students, teachers and her community. She was on the Executive Board of the Teacher’s Union (IRCEA), taught Academic Games for 20 years, and is currently on the School Advisory Council at St. Helen Catholic School. She and her husband Victor are parents of one daughter, Victoria. Catherine has many interests including traveling, photography, music, needlework, and reading. Catherine is a Certified Botvin LifeSkills Training Facilitator.
Michele Buldo
SAFIR Coalition Director
Michele Buldo began her experience in the prevention field more than 15 years ago. In her first position, she worked for RWJBarnabas Health in Toms River, NJ where she was the Finance Manager for 10 years. For the past 5 years, she worked as the Coalition Coordinator for the DART Coalition of Ocean County, NJ.
Michele has advocated and established several ordinances and policies surrounding underage drinking; trained over 1,000 servers and bartenders in TIPs (Responsible Beverage Server training); advocated additional Rx drop boxes in the county; and coordinated several county-wide events and initiatives surrounding underage drinking, the illegal use of marijuana, and prescription misuse.
She relocated to Vero Beach in November 2018, where she was hired as the Director of the SAFIR Coalition. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Montclair State University and a Master’s degree in Administrative Science from Farleigh Dickinson University in NJ. Michele has 2 children and enjoys the beach and traveling.
Phyllis Schneider
SAFIR Coalition Coordinator
Phyllis served as an active coalition member for over four years before she joined SAFIR as their Coalition Coordinator. Although her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees were in business, she quickly found her passion in teaching, training, and mentoring youth.
She has logged in hundreds of volunteer hours aiding in elementary and middle schools in the nine states that she has lived in and she was a long-term guest teacher for six years in Pennsylvania.
Phyllis moved to Vero Beach in 2008 and worked as the Director of Operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County for eight years. She loves to read, travel, play tennis and visit her three children.
Savannah Van Decker
SAFIR Coalition Assistant
Savannah received her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services Addiction Studies from Indian River State College in 2019, and will receive her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Central Florida in August of 2022. She hopes to then go on to become a licensed clinical social worker and continue her career with a focus on youth and prevention.
Savannah is very passionate about social justice and the bettering of the community; and was a member of the SAFIR coalition before becoming the coalition assistant. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, creating art, and taking care of her pets.