Nicky Fadley
Founder and Executive Director
Nicky Fadley is the founder and Executive Director at Strength In Peers. Grounded in her lived experience with mental health recovery and overcoming trauma, she focuses on developing peer recovery support programs and advocating for individuals who struggle with behavioral health challenges. Nicky has over 12 years of experience in the field of nonprofit public health, including seven years in grant writing and program management. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from George Mason University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from James Madison University.
What recovery means to Nicky:
“Recovery means that I understand who I am, how I feel and what I need. It’s knowing that I will always walk through thunderstorms, but they will pass. And it’s believing that I am worth the same love and grace that I shower on others.”
Ragan McManus
Deputy Director, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Ragan is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and serves as Deputy Director at Strength In Peers. Ragan joined the team in 2017 and has provided peer support through all of the organization’s programs. She is a certified Supervisor of Peer Recovery Specialist and utilizes various recovery models and methods including 12-step recovery, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), Intentional Peer Support (IPS), and Motivational Interviewing. She is a qualified ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Interface trainer and a Certified Personal Medicine Coach. Ragan also serves as a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Instructor and trains CPRSs throughout the Commonwealth in the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Office of Recovery Service’s Crisis Service Training for Peer Recovery Specialist. In addition to her work as a Peer Support Specialist, Ragan holds a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from CalArts and a B.F.A. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Prior to working at Strength In Peers Ragan served as Chief Curator and Director of Education at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach. Ragan has been in recovery since May 28, 2008. In her spare time, Ragan enjoys hanging out with her family and pets, creating art, going for nature walks, and volunteering.
What recovery means to Ragan:
“For me, recovery is about recognizing my strengths and weaknesses so I can work daily to change and counteract negative thoughts and behaviors with wellness and activity that brings me, and hopefully those around me, joy. It’s a constant work in progress.”
Lindsey Eye
Director of Programs and Services, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist,
Certified Anger Management Specialist
Lindsey Eye is a dedicated and compassionate professional who graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree from James Madison University. Certified as a Peer Recovery Specialist and Certified Anger Management Specialist, she is deeply committed to guiding individuals on their journey to wellness and emotional resilience.
As the Director of Programs and Services for Strength In Peers, Lindsey leads impactful community health initiatives, including the Comprehensive Harm Reduction Program and the Status-Neutral HIV and HCV Testing Program. Her leadership plays a vital role in advancing harm reduction and public health efforts in her community.
Since 2015, Lindsey has also embraced a holistic approach to well-being as a Registered Yoga Teacher and mindful meditation instructor. These practices complement her professional expertise, offering clients and colleagues a well-rounded perspective on navigating life’s challenges.
Lindsey’s personal journey through childhood trauma, adversity, and loss has uniquely shaped her approach, equipping her with the empathy and insight to empower others in overcoming obstacles and making informed life choices.
What recovery means to Lindsey:
“Recovery is being willing to be vulnerable, to grow through what you go through, and being open to continuous self-development.”
Jenni Collings
Program Manager, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Jenni serves as Strength In Peers’ Programs Manager for the Safe & Secure Homeless Respite Program, Recovery Houses, and Back on Track Recovery Program. Jenni is passionate about helping other people find recovery so they may have a better way of life. She has worked a program of recovery since 2006. Prior to Strength In Peers, Jenni was a Licensed Practical Nurse for over 20 years. She is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and is trained in W.R.A.P. (Wellness Recovery Action Plan), Chronic Pain Management, Chronic Disease Management, HIV and Hepatitis C Testing/Counseling, and Motivational Interviewing. She enjoys spending time with her family, guiding women through their recoveries, and cooking.
What recovery means to Jenni:
“For me, recovery is a process. A lifelong journey involving a series of steps that I take to make a better life on many dimensions: physical, mental, and spiritual. Recovery has given me a sense of purpose and connection, and the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way.”
Alex Boudreau
Program Manager, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Alex is a Certified Peer Support Specialist and a Registered Peer Recovery specialist with Strength in Peers who is from the Northern Shenandoah Valley. She is the Program Manager of the New Market Office and oversees the Compassionate Crisis Care Network, Side-by-Side Recovery Program, Youth Mentoring Program, and Grambling Program. Additionally, Alex is trained to provide HIV and Hepatitis C testing and harm reduction services. Alex is in long-term recovery from substance use and mental health challenges. She pursued being a peer specialist because she has first-hand experience seeing how Peer Support has helped her life. Now she enjoys being able to use her lived experience to help others move forward in their recovery. She is also a SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) Facilitator, APPR (Action Planning for Prevention & Recovery) Facilitator, and trained in Motivational Interviewing, and Intentional Peer Support.
What recovery means to Alex:
“Recovery has allowed me to have the life I had long dreamed for. I am able to be a present and dependable mother to my children. I am able to spread hope and inspiration to those seeking, and have patience and understanding to those who are not. Recovery to me means that I believe in myself and know I am worth it!”
Mandie Bishop
Program Manager, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Mandie Bishop, a native of Southwest Virginia, began working at Strength in Peers in October of 2021. She serves as Program Manager of the Community Recovery and Resource Center in the Harrisonburg office and satellite office at Rocktown Health. Mandie has an associate’s degree in Legal Assisting from Mountain Empire Community College. In November of 2021 she completed her training to become a S.M.A.R.T Recovery facilitator. In January of 2022 she completed the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) 72-hour Peer Recovery Specialist training and completed her 500 hours of peer services. On February 25, 2022, she became Certified in the State of Virginia as a Peer Recovery Specialist. Mandie pursued becoming a Peer Recovery Specialist after many years of battling a substance use disorder. Her personal recovery comes from a 12-step background and the hope she received from others in long-term recovery. Her passion is showing others that recovery is possible through her own lived experience with addiction and recovery.
What recovery means to Mandie:
“Recovery to me is working on successfully managing my addiction and regaining control and stability in my life. It is the ability for me to finally be a mother to my children. Recovery is person-driven and emerges from hope!”
Mary Beth Hill
Resource Center Coordinator
Mary Beth Hill is the Coordinator of the Community Resource Center. She has a background in social work and worked with the Head Start Program before coming to Strength in Peers. After losing her infant son in 2014, Mary Beth became active in the Sadie Rose Foundation, a local organization providing support for child loss. This is where she was first introduced to non-clinical peer support and the healing that comes through peer support groups. Recently, Mary Beth also completed the Peer Recovery Specialist training offered by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services – Office of Recovery Services. Through the Community Resource Center, Mary Beth offers one-on-one support to help connect community members with local resources. She enjoys listening to people’s unique stories as they work towards improving their lives.
What recovery means to Mary Beth:
“Recovery is accepting the challenges life throws my way and sharing my experiences with the hope that it will help others on their recovery journeys.”
Chris Shope
Data Support Coordinator, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Chris serves as Data Support Coordinator and manages the organization’s participant data systems for service quality monitoring and program evaluation. He is in long-term recovery from substance abuse, trauma, and mental health challenges. Chris has an associate’s degree in Human Services from Blue Ridge Community College, and is trained in Intentional Peer Support, Motivational Interviewing, SMART Recovery, and W.R.A.P. (Wellness Recovery Action Plan). His personal recovery comes from a 12-step background and is grounded in his lived experience.
What recovery means to Chris:
“What recovery means to me-living my best, most authentic life.”
Richard Jackson
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Richard is a Virginia Certified Peer Recovery Specialist who moved from Florida to Virginia in 2002. It is his desire to assist others in achieving their life goals and overcome addictions, trauma and mental health issues. He and his wife are Statewide Volunteers with the Virginia Department of Corrections, conducting Christian services in prisons. He is also associated with Kingsway Family Outreach/Prison Ministry. Prior to being employed with Strength In Peers in November 2015, he worked with Open Doors Shelter and saw the great need in the community for hope and recovery.
What recovery means to Richard:
“When we realize that substance abuse has destroyed our life, there are choices to make. We can seek recovery and support but our desire has to be strong. Without recovery our future is bleak, our lives are out of control. We must choose wisely, recovery is the proper choice.”
Megan Rohrbaugh
Program Coordinator, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Megan is a Program Coordinator with Strength In Peers for the HIV and Hep C Testing Program and Comprehensive Harm Reduction Programy. She is in long-term recovery from substance use and mental health challenges. Megan believes that recovery is possible for all and hopes to share her own lived experience with others and walk beside them in their own journey. She is currently working on her degree in Human Services, and it is her goal to become a Substance Use Counselor. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her family and 4 children and stays busy with their various sporting events.
What recovery means to Megan:
“Recovery to me is finding my true self, being the best mom to my kids, and having a new beginning in life.”
Stephanie Reedy
Program Coordinator, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist & Certified Community Health Worker
Stephanie is a Program Coordinator for the Safe and Secure Respite House and Recovery Houses. She is in active recovery for mental health and substance use challenges. Stephanie’s recovery foundation is based on a 12-step program and she is an active member of the 12-step community. In her spare time Stephanie likes gaming and listening to music. She is grateful to have the ability to give back to a community of her peers and to have the opportunity to make a difference.
What recovery means to Stephanie:
“Recovery has given me the opportunity to reinvent a new life for myself. I am able to help those in the community that have struggled with the same things I have. I love seeing people thrive and have lives they can be proud of.”
Holly Hanks Wanta
Project Coordinator – Training, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Holly serves as the Training Project Coordinator and co-facilitator for the “Crisis Service Training for Peer Supporters” courses. With over a decade of experience in nonprofits and legal services, Holly specializes in project management and training program design. Their personal journey through addiction and trauma recovery deeply informs their compassionate approach to crisis intervention and peer support. Outside of work, Holly enjoys theatre, vocal performance, dance, and yoga.
Madelyn Adams
Program Coordinator, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist & Certified Community Health Worker
Madelyn is a Certified and Registered Peer Recovery Specialist with Strength In Peers and serves in the organization’s Community Recovery and Resource Center which provides services for residents in the City of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County. Madelyn is a native of Page County and began working at Strength In Peers in June of 2022. In May 2022 Madelyn completed her DBHDS Peer Recovery Specialist Training and after finishing her internship hours, Madelyn passed her certification test in January 2023 becoming a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist for the Commonwealth of Virginia. In February 2023 Madelyn became a Registered Peer Recovery Specialist through the Virginia Board of Counseling. Madelyn is motivated to help the community get connected to resources as well as find support through peer recovery. She is in long-term recovery from substance use and mental health challenges and she believes that recovery is a gift and that anyone can recover. Madelyn shares her lived experience so others know they are not alone. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, her husband, and her four-legged kids.
What recovery means to Madelyn:
“Recovery to me is having a positive outlook on life, and having the power of personal choice and freedom. I’m progressing every day to be a better version of myself — one day at a time.”
Dasha Shifflett
Program Coordinator, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Dasha joined Strength In Peers in April 2024 as a Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS). She works on the organization’s Side-By-Side program, which delivers peer support, counseling, and tele-psychiatry services to residents in the rural areas of Shenandoah and Page Counties, Virginia. Dasha provides one-on-one peer support to individuals struggling with substance use, mental health, and trauma-related challenges. Leveraging her lived experience, she connects with incarcerated individuals at the Page County Jail. Dasha is a trained facilitator in SMART Recovery and utilizes Motivational Interviewing. She facilitates weekly peer recovery groups to support individuals on their recovery journeys.
Over the past four years, Dasha has navigated the challenging path of recovery, drawing strength from her beautiful family and the unwavering support around her. Her personal transformation has not only brought her sobriety but also a profound sense of purpose. By overcoming her challenges, Dasha has gained invaluable insights and empathy, which now empowers her to guide others on their recovery journeys. Her work and certification as a peer recovery specialist (C-PRS) is a testament to her resilience and dedication to helping others find hope and healing.
Board of Directors
Laura Black, President
Systems Administrator
Institute for Community Alliances
Dr. Jacquelin Maxwell, DSL, CSAC
Coaching & Consulting
JacLovelle Coaching & Consulting
Jason Kidd
Bureau Commander – Captain – Patrol Division
Harrisonburg Police Department
Marsha Rodeffer, BSN, RN
Nurse Manager Senior
Central Shenandoah Health District, VDH
Natalie Gazzara
Administrative Assistant
Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority
Dr. Daniel Finseth
Assistant Professor, Economics and Business Administration
Bridgewater College
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Jennie Amison, Past-President
Cognitive Therapeutic Community Supervisor
Virginia Department of Corrections
Peggy Plass, Past-President
Professor of Justice Studies
James Madison University
