I grew up in west Texas, Odessa. Went to school at Permian High School of the Friday Night Lights fame. That is where I met my husband, Mike. After a stint of traveling with Mike in the Air Force. We moved to the Clear Lake area in 1976. We have two sons who live in the Clear Lake area with their families. I got involved with BACODA volunteering after a loved one of mine got sober and another one just kept drinking. I was asked to join the Board of Directors in 1985. My husband, Mike, started volunteering for BACODA as well. He later became Counselor and he went to work for BACODA, so I stepped down from the Board to avoid any conflict of interest and went back to being a volunteer. I helped to teach BACODA’s “One in Three” class, providing education for family members.
Mike died in 1998. I pretty much set out that summer after his death, but in the Fall, I realized that I needed to do something. I had a master’s in human resources and offered to volunteer and set up BACODA’s benefit program. BACODA was part of the United Way benefit umbrella at that time. United Way wanted to close this department for their funded agencies. I had to talk to insurance reps and other benefit vendors who all spoke in their industry’s language and their acronyms. I learned a great deal that Fall.
After about 6 months of volunteering, BACODA’s Ex. Director, Karen Van Horne, offered me a job overseeing human resources processes. I have worked my way up to Supervisor over the Program Directors, Chief Operating Officer and now Executive Director. I love this agency and the dedicated staff.
I am grateful to be here and watch the progression of the prevention efforts in our communities. I am more than grateful to see all the individuals and their families who life/lives have gotten so much better through recovery. I hear wonderful success stories when I am out in the community of those who received help here.
My wish is that the whole community knows that we are here ready to help when help is needed.
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