Our Team

Recovery Center Director

“I am a person in long‑term recovery, and that journey fuels my passion for helping others find hope and connection. Recovery has taught me to grow with grace, lead with compassion, and meet people exactly where they are.”

Recovery Center Assistant Director

“Recovery has helped me discover myself and build a life worth living. Without it, I wouldn’t be here. Thanks to recovery, I am a sister, a daughter, and my favorite title ‘AKAY’ (Auntie Kay). As a recovery coach, I can give meaning to my own personal struggles and share with others that recovery is possible. It’s the most rewarding and meaningful job I can imagine.” 

Treatment Court Peer Professional

“Recovery has been vital in teaching me how to be a productive member of society and discover my goals. I entered recovery feeling lost and unsure, but this journey has provided invaluable insight, for which I am forever grateful. I appreciate being a trusted, judgment-free outlet for individuals to share their aspirations and work towards achieving their goals.” 

Youth Housing Peer Specialist

“Recovery means experiencing a new life and discovering a loving person within me that I never thought I could be. It has enabled me to connect with everyone I meet, and I am incredibly grateful for that. As a Recovery Coach, I cherish the opportunity to give back and help those struggling with addiction. I take pride in assisting others in unlocking their potential and finding their unique paths in life.” 

Recovery Coach

“Recovery has taught me to accept myself and embrace my qualities and flaws. As a husband, father, grandfather, brother, and dog owner, I support my loved ones by sharing my successes and failures. I love being a Recovery Coach because it allows me to teach and learn from my clients while watching them grow as I continue to grow myself.” 

North Country Recovery Coach

“Recovery has given me my life back and helped me regain respect from my family and friends while learning to respect myself. It taught me to set healthy boundaries and avoid imposing expectations on others. As a Recovery Coach, I find great reward in supporting others on their recovery journeys. I am truly grateful for those who have supported me throughout my own recovery.” 

Treatment Court Peer Professional

“As a dedicated recovery coach, I bring personal experience and unwavering commitment to guiding others through their sobriety journeys. Having embraced recovery myself, I've transformed challenges into strengths, rebuilding a profound bond with my children and extended family that fills my life with purpose and joy. This path also led me to my wonderful fiancée, whose support has deepened my sense of stability and love. I'm passionate about helping individuals navigate the ups and downs of recovery, offering practical tools for sustained wellness.”

CHAMP Coordinator

“As a person in recovery with a deep passion for helping others, I am incredibly grateful to serve as a recovery coach. My recovery journey began in April 2023, and it has given me a renewed sense of purpose and compassion for those walking a similar path. Recovery has also taught me how to grow into the parent I strive to be for my son. After the tragic loss of my sister to an overdose, I also stepped into the role of helping raise her two children. This experience has deepened my understanding of both the pain addiction can cause and the strength that recovery can bring. It continues to inspire my commitment to supporting others as they work toward healing, stability, and hope.”

Recovery Coach

“Recovery has not only taught me how to live, but how to truly thrive. Through my own journey, I’ve learned how to love myself again and show up in life with responsibility, reliability, and presence. Today, I live with integrity, healthy boundaries, and a deep sense of purpose. I am proud to be a mother, sister, daughter, and friend. As a Recovery Coach, I have the privilege of walking alongside individuals on their own paths, meeting them exactly where they are, and supporting them as they define what recovery looks like for themselves. I believe in second chances because they gave me my life back — and I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to help others reclaim theirs.”

Position

Director of Transportation

Cara Mia schedules rides for transportation and helps keep the office running smoothly. She has been in recovery for over a year. She likes traveling to the ocean and spending time with her three little girls.

Dispatch

“I grew up in Woodstock, NY, and started experimenting with drugs as a teenager, not knowing what was ahead. Recovery found me in 2015, but it took years of battling addiction before I finally surrendered. I just celebrated my first year in recovery, and I'm grateful to now help others find their path through my work at Second Chance Opportunities.” 

Peer Driver 

“Recovery has transformed my life, helping me change my mindset, live better, and show gratitude. Over 26 years, I've raised a family, run a business, and become a better person. As a peer driver, I love supporting others in their journey and meeting them where they are." 

Peer Driver 

“After more than a decade of substance use, incarceration, and near-death experiences, I found purpose through the recovery community. Second Chance Opportunities helped me rebuild my life, and now I use my story to give others hope. Driving is just one way I stay connected, serve my community, and show that recovery is always possible.” 

Peer Driver

“I am proud to be an SCO peer driver. My recovery journey has truly changed my life. Through this process, I’ve discovered a deep passion for helping others on their own recovery journeys. Every day, I strive to grow both personally and in my recovery, and I hope that my dedication can serve as an inspiration to others walking a similar path.”

Peer Driver

I'm grateful to be a peer driver because it allows me to help people get to the services and support they need. I enjoy listening to others’ stories and sharing my own recovery journey, so they know that recovery is possible. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch the people I drive begin to make positive changes in their lives. Through my work at Second Chance Opportunities, I feel a strong sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Peer Driver

My name is Autumn, and I have been in recovery for over four and a half years. I came to Albany from the Syracuse area for treatment and ultimately decided to make this community my home. I found healing and purpose through the recovery community. Second Chance Opportunities played a meaningful role in helping me rebuild my life, and today I am grateful to give back. While I am driving, I share my story to offer hope to others who may still be struggling.

Peer Driver

I am Jose. Working as a peer driver is more than just a job for me, it’s a way to give back. I truly enjoy supporting people who are on their own recovery journeys and meeting them exactly where they are, without judgment. I know firsthand how powerful hope and support can be. I enjoy listening to others, offering support, and sharing a message of hope from my own experience in recovery. Driving allows me to stay connected to my community and continue being part of that message of hope.

Director of Health Services

Marly is the Health Screening Program Coordinator. Marly leads a team of social care navigators who assess community members’ needs and connect them with resources that improve access to care and support. Marly is a person in recovery since September of 2020. She has a passion for fashion and enjoys spending time and traveling with her husband.

Health Screening Specialist

Daisy serves as a Social Care Navigator, supporting members of our community by helping ensure they receive the resources and services necessary for their overall well-being. She is dedicated to connecting individuals with the support they need to live healthier and more stable lives. Daisy has been in recovery since July 2022, and her lived experience inspires the compassion and care she brings to her work each day. Outside of work, Daisy enjoys caring for her multitude of plants and spending quality time with her family, which brings her joy and balance.

Health Screening Specialist

Alexis serves as a Social Care Navigator, where she helps individuals in the community connect with resources and services that support their health, stability, and overall well-being. She is committed to helping people navigate available resources so they can access the care and assistance they need to improve their quality of life. Alexis has been in recovery since February 2024, and her personal journey allows her to bring compassion, understanding, and genuine support to the individuals she works with. Outside of her professional role, Alexis enjoys spending time with her family and being in the sun!

Health Screening Specialist

Kenyatta serves as a Social Care Manager, where she assesses the needs of community members and helps connect them with resources that support healthier lifestyles and overall well-being. Through her work, she is dedicated to helping individuals navigate services and build stronger, healthier futures. Kenyatta has been in recovery since December 12, 2023, and her personal journey guides her passion for supporting others along their path to wellness. Her lived experience allows her to connect with compassion, understanding, and authenticity. Outside of work, Kenyatta enjoys spending time with her family and is a faithful and active member of her church community, where she continues to find strength, purpose, and fellowship.