Apply to Serve on the Board

The Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition (PaPSC) bylaws allow for 18 members on the Board of Directors with a stipulation that every effort be made to have representatives from all regions of the commonwealth. Applications to join the Board of Directors are accepted throughout the year

If you are interested in joining the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition please click the link below to download the application.

We are looking for leaders who are passionate about promoting professional peer services in Pennsylvania. If you want to help promote peer services, support those who deliver peer services, and increase the voice of peer professionals, please consider joining our Board of Directors.

Board Application

Regina Ford - President President

Regina Ford is CEO and Principal of Willow Communication Strategies, LLC (WCS), a communication agency for public health organizations. Regina started her career as a Certified Peer Specialist educating and advocating underserved populations. Regina spent over a decade in human services and most recently spearheaded a warm handoff project that connected opioid-overdose survivors to recovery support services. Now, Regina provides professional development, designs and evaluates complex care projects, and educates clients about the connection between wellness and culture. Regina is also an adjunct professor at Temple University Klein College of Media and Communication, and speaker for Michael’s Giving H.A.N.D., a non-profit that raises awareness for youth mental health. Regina holds an MS in Globalization and Development Communication (with a focus on health communication) and a BA in Strategic Communication.

Trish Nye - Vice President Vice-President

Trish oversees the Peer Support Department for St Luke’s Penn Foundation in Sellersville, PA. She is a Certified Peer Specialist, an LCSW, a CPRP and has her CAADC. Trish is also an adjunct for Widener University’s MSW program. She previously worked as a clinician in both the MH and D&A worlds, providing individual and group therapy. Her goal in Peer Support is to advocate and educate on Mental Health Parity to ensure individuals who receive commercial insurance and Medicare are able to engage in effective, evidenced-based services such as Peer Support. Trish is passionate about person-first language and empowering individuals to find their own path in recovery. Trish first began her path to recovery in 2007 at 20 years old from major depression and an alcohol/substance use disorder. She recognizes recovery is a daily process and unique to each person.

Patrick B. Henry - Treasurer Treasurer

Patrick has been employed in the Financial Services Industry for the past 26 years. His current employment is as AVP Commercial Relationship Manager at the Ephrata National Bank. He is responsible for the sales and service of commercial clientele situated in South Central PA. Patrick earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Policy from The Pennsylvania State University in December 1994. Patrick spends his free time doing home improvement projects, traveling with his wife, Amber, and their six children, and coaching AAU basketball.

Patrick joined the Board of Directors as Treasurer in 2003.

Emily Ferris - Secretary Secretary

Emily Ferris is the National Director of Youth Empowerment at Magellan Healthcare. Her role is to implement strategies designed to promote youth leadership development, youth focused recovery and resiliency programming, as well as to provide oversight to the Magellan Youth Leaders Inspiring Future Empowerment (MY LIFE) Program.

Prior to this role, Emily was the Manager of Recovery and Resiliency Services at Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania, where she supported the provision of effective peer services in the communities that Magellan serves, as well as to provided supervision to the Recovery Support Coordination (RSC) team.

Emily began her career in peer support as the Coordinator of the Youth Connections Program at Voice and Vision, Inc., providing person-centered planning and leadership development opportunities for young adults. In a next role, as Magellan’s Youth and Young Adult Support Coordinator in Pennsylvania, her work focused on enhancing supports and resources for youth and young adults transitioning out of the child serving system. Additionally, she has additional managerial experience in Medicaid funded fee for youth peer support programming with the Trail Guides program at Mental Health Partnerships.

Emily graduated from Vassar College and is a Certified Peer Support Specialist and Certified Peer Support Specialist Supervisor. She is currently a master’s level student at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University.

Tracy Carney Board Member

Tracy Carney, CPS, CPRP has almost two decades of experience in the behavioral health services field as a person in recovery, a service professional, and an advocate for individuals living with behavioral health challenges. She worked for ten years as a Certified Peer Specialist and the Director of Recovery Central Clubhouse at Columbia Montour Snyder Union Behavioral Health Service. She has served on the PA Mental Health Consumers’ Association Board, the PA Peer Support Coalition Board, OMHSAS Mental Health Planning Council and the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s Patient Engagement Panel. In her current position, as a Senior Recovery Specialist at Community Care Behavioral Health, she is involved in member engagement, facilitating the Statewide Member Advisory Board, and assisting Peer Support programs across Community Care contract areas. Her professional roles have focused on providing BH service users with positive experiences that support them on their journey to mental health recovery.

Owen Dougherty Board Member

It has been 39 years since Owen’s diagnosis with Bi-Polar illness. For the past 14 years he has worked as a Certified Peer Specialist. Owen has worked for the Advocacy Alliance, Clarks Summit State Hospital and currently is at The Wright Center for Community Health as their Recovery Supports Manager and Community Liaison. He has been married to his wife Charlene for over 30 years. He is the Chairman of Katie’s Place Clubhouse’s Board and serves on the NAMI NEPA’s Board. Owen feels privileged to work as a Peer specialist and is honored to be on the PaPSC’s board of Directors.

Donna joined the Board in December 2021. Donna’s picture and bio is coming soon.

Mike Krafick Board Member

Mike Krafick is a Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) and has been employed at The Armstrong/Indiana/Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission since 2010. He is also a Recovery Coach, Recovery Coach Trainer, a Trainer for The Science of Addiction and Recovery and a trainer for the CRS Training Series. In 2012 Mike was promoted to CRS Supervisor and is responsible for direct supervision of 7 CRS Staff in Armstrong, Indiana, and Clarion Counties. Working as a CRS has given Mike the opportunity to give back and help others achieve recovery. Mike is in long-term recovery himself having celebrated 12 years of recovery on April 24, 2020. Mike is the President of The Advocacy Group for Addiction Recovery and was awarded the CCAP Affiliate of the Year Award in 2015 for his advocacy efforts around Act 139 (Naloxone Legislation). He is actively involved in several groups to reduce the stigma around the disease of addiction.