Leadership Team
David Riegel (Executive Director)
David is one of VFOR’s co-founders and serves as VFOR’s Executive Director. A native of Waterbury and graduate of Harwood Union High School, David has been in recovery since 2007. In 2008, he began renting his own home to others in recovery, sparking a commitment that has shaped his life’s work. Recognizing the need for safe, structured, and peer-led recovery housing, he helped establish VFOR in 2013. Since then, he has played a central role in growing the organization to include 79 beds across the state by the end of 2025. David has also been instrumental in statewide recovery initiatives. He was a founding board member of the Vermont Alliance for Recovery Residences (VTARR), which brought national certification standards to Vermont. David was also a founding board member of Step Into Action-VT, an organization that empowers Vermont community members to celebrate recovery from substance use. David served the State of Vermont as the Director of Housing Policy and Planning for the Agency of Human Services. He currently serves as Treasurer of the Recovery Partners of Vermont Board and was recently appointed to the Vermont Community Development Board, further strengthening VFOR’s voice within the housing and recovery sectors. Through his work, David continues to be a passionate advocate for recovery and housing solutions that support individuals on their path to healing and independence. “Being able to dedicate myself fully to VFOR’s mission is an incredible honor,” said Riegel. “Recovery is possible when people have a safe place to land, structure to grow, and a community to support them. I’m excited to build on what we’ve started and to help more Vermonters find lasting recovery.”
Andrew Gonyea (Director of Operations)
Andrew is a native of Bellows Falls, a VFOR co-founder, and VFOR’s Director of Operations. He is also a person in recovery since May 24, 2003. Andrew’s life has been shaped largely by his experience as an inmate with the Vermont Department of Corrections from 2005-2008. Andrew is the rare individual who was able to turn a period of incarceration into a truly positive, life-changing experience. While incarcerated, Andrew stayed sober, received an education, and through many months of soul-searching, determined that he would commit his life to providing people in recovery with safe and sober places to live. Since, his release in 2008, Andrew has done just that, managing sober houses throughout Northern Vermont. Andrew has received formal training in sober house operations, recovery coaching, Cognitive Self Change, and 16 Habits of Mind. His smiling face is seemingly omnipresent throughout the recovery community in Vermont and beyond, and his commitment to service is widely recognized and admired. VFOR is the manifestation of Andrew’s dreams, and he is excited to commit his life to developing a vibrant network of Recovery Homes.
Derrick Brown (Director of Finance)
Derrick has been in our finance department since the fall of 2018 when he came on as a self contracted bookkeeper. Since, he has worked his way to our full-time Director of Finance, managing all financial aspects of our organization. Derrick was born and raised in Burlington, VT and has an Associates Degree in Accounting from the Community College of Vermont. Derrick is also a person in recovery since February, 2014 and lived in a sober home for the first two years of his recovery. I guess you could say he has literally come full circle. He and his son live in Essex Junction, VT with their two cats and one dog.
Candace Gale (Director of Community Relations)
Candace is the Director of Community Relations for VFOR. She has over 16 years of experience in leadership, finance, community outreach, strategic planning, marketing, and business development. She earned her B.A. from the College of Charleston where she majored in Corporate Communications and minored in Marketing. She is a Vermont native and returned in 2020 to purchase her father’s childhood home in Barre. During this time, Candace transitioned to working in the recovery field after witnessing first-hand the effects of addiction and mental health issues on family, friends, and the greater Vermont community. Candace and her husband Sid, son Iain, and two puppies Wally and Grady enjoy spending their summers on Lake Champlain at their camp in Colchester and exploring the mountains of central Vermont the rest of the year.
VFOR Staff
Jason Whipple (HR manager)
Jason serves as VFOR’s Human Resources Manager, bringing a fresh and dynamic perspective shaped by nearly two decades of experience in retail operations and management. His passion for customer service, employee relations, and team-building drives his approach to creating a positive and productive workplace environment. Originally from the Northeast Kingdom and identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community, Jason’s diverse life experiences—including living in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska and a decade in San Francisco—have broadened his worldview and deepened his commitment to inclusivity. A lover of travel and new experiences, he thrives on building meaningful connections with others. Now a resident of Winooski, Jason enjoys his collection of records and books, visits to Montréal in his free time, and tending to his two pet tarantulas.
Amanda Putvain (Membership Manager)
Amanda is the Membership Manager for VFOR. She has 11 years of experience in management, team-building, and strategic planning. Amanda has a desire to help others, and she joined the recovery field after witnessing her own family members’ and friends’ struggles with addiction and mental health. She is passionate about helping those in recovery access services, resources, set goals, and learn new skills. She and her spouse, Lance, along with their four boys, are a very active family who enjoy riding dirt bikes, atv racing, arm wrestling competitions, soccer, hunting, and fishing.
Harley LaRocque (Membership Coordinator)
Harley is the house manager for the Saint Albans VFOR house and lead office administrator for our organization. Harley was a former member of VFOR from February 2017 to August 2020. He was born in Burlington, VT, and is an active member of the 12 step/recovery community. Harley has been clean and sober since February 12th, 2017. Harley is passionate about service to others and helping his community. He also enjoys cooking, writing, and making music.
Kevin Holcomb (Membership Coordinator)
Kevin is the St. Johnsbury House & Membership Coordinator. He started with VFOR in early august of 2023. Kevin is a native Vermonter and has been a person in recovery for several years. Kevin is an entrepreneur who has built and owned several businesses over the years and has a strong background in customer service with over 35 years of experience. Kevin along with his wife Gessica and their two rescue dogs Cherry and Jack live in Lyndon Center, VT and own NEK Self Storage LLC.
Charlotte Martino (Finance Manager)
Charlotte serves a VFOR's Finance Manager. She graduated with an Associate' Degree in Accounting from CCV in 2021 and is currently working towards a Bachelors Degree through DeVry University. Charlotte was born and raised in Barre, VT. She has been in recovery since June 3, 2015, and now resides in Enosburg, VT with her husband and three sons.
Lex Arthers (Community Relations Manager)
Lex Arthers is the Community Relations Manager at the Vermont Foundation of Recovery (VFOR), where she cultivates meaningful connections with community partners, donors, and advocates dedicated to supporting recovery efforts across Vermont. Drawing on extensive experience collaborating with colleagues in the substance use disorder field, she brings a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the state’s recovery landscape. Passionate about fostering strong support networks for individuals in recovery, she is committed to expanding VFOR’s outreach, community engagement, and fundraising initiatives to ensure the long-term sustainability of recovery housing and programs. Lex lives in Middlesex, VT, with her partner and their beloved pets.
Cali Muñiz (Regional Manager- Women's Homes)
Cali, a lifelong Vermonter, serves as a Regional Manager for VFOR. With over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Cali has led initiatives focused on housing stability, mental health, and community-based support services. In their current role, they oversee the operations of multiple recovery homes, ensuring they provide safe, structured, and compassionate environments that promote long-term healing and personal growth. As a person in long-term recovery themselves, Cali brings a deep, personal understanding to their work and is committed to building strong community partnerships and expanding access to recovery resources across Vermont.
Jake Robert (Regional Manager- Men's Homes)
Jake became a member of the Saint Albans VFOR home in March of 2022. Jake is originally from Wilton, NY and spent most of his life in that area. He graduated from the University at Albany with a B.A. in Anthropology. Jake spent most of his career in the hospitality industry. He came to VFOR for a new beginning and a chance to start over. When Jake was a member of the Saint Albans VFOR home, he became involved with the recovery community. Jake loves working at VFOR because it keeps him involved in recovery and allows him to be of service to people who were once in the same position he was when he started his journey.
Stephanie Holland (House Coordinator)
Stephanie Holland serves as VFOR's Bennington House Coordinator. A native Vermonter, Stephanie and her husband have spent over 15 years raising their children in the Green Mountain State. Having personally navigated a six-year journey of recovery, Stephanie is now committed to helping other women access the resources that were not readily available to her in her early recovery. As a Housing Coordinator, she is passionate about creating a safe and supportive environment for individuals to heal and grow. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys motivating youth through coaching sports, exploring new recipes, rescuing animals, and nurturing her love for nature with an extensive plant collection.
Ray Phillips (House Coordinator)
Ray is VFOR's House Coordinator in the Rutland men's house. After getting into recovery in 2018, Ray worked with a recovery coach, which inspired him to become a recovery coach himself. He worked at Turning Point as a recovery coach for a couple years, after which he worked at Serenity House for about 8 months. Ray has been at the VFOR Rutland House since the fall of 2023.
Mollie Alexander (House Coordinator)
Mollie is a dedicated House Coordinator at VFOR’s Barre and Morrisville recovery residences, leveraging her expertise to provide essential support to individuals navigating the path to recovery. A native Vermonter, she draws strength from her roots and upbringing in the community. As a loving mother to two remarkable children, she finds inspiration in their resilience and serves as a guiding light in their lives. Driven by her own journey through the shadows, Mollie is a fervent advocate for change and healing. Embracing a 12-step program, she actively engages in her personal recovery journey, embodying the transformative power of perseverance and commitment. As a certified recovery coach, her calling lies in empowering others to overcome adversity and reclaim their lives. With unwavering compassion and empathy, Mollie dedicates herself to fostering a supportive environment where individuals can thrive on their path to wellness. Her unwavering dedication to the cause stems from her profound belief in the inherent hope that exists within every individual, inspiring others to embrace the possibility of transformation and renewal.
Brett Hill (House Coordinator)
Brett Hill is the House Coordinator for VFOR's St. Johnsbury residence. He grew up in Vermont, currently lives in Lyndonville, and has two grown children. After finishing college, Brett worked for 22 years in telecommunications before deciding to switch his life focus to working in the recovery field. Along with Brett's position with VFOR, he is a certified recovery coach at The Kingdom Recovery Center, where he works in the RCED (recovery coach in the emergency department) program. He also works with the Making Recovery Easier Outside In program, which not only brings an introduction to recovery into prisons, but also helps break down any barriers that people may have previously had in their prior attempts at living a sober life.
