Events
Each year Guest House plans several seminars, workshops and retreats for our alumni friends. Our events are designed as an opportunity to celebrate recovery through the sharing of experience, strength and hope by our retreat leaders and all those participating in the event. Our activities are offered to Guest House alumni and also to other clergy and religious who came to recovery through other treatment centers or entered recovery on their own.
Consider joining us at a future Guest House event!
For questions regarding upcoming Guest House event, contact Colleen Richards at 800-626-6910, x1207, direct line 248-877-3994 or crichards@guesthouse.org
Guest House Alumni Resources
A Guest House ring, handcrafted by a local Lake Orion jeweler, is available for the low cost of $209-sterling silver or $244-sterling silver with gold chalice. Tax and shipping are included in the cost. Rings are individually crafted and usually take about 2-4 weeks from time of purchase.
For questions regarding upcoming Guest House event or the Guest House ring, contact Colleen Richards at 800-626-6910, x1207, direct line 248-877-3994 or crichards@guesthouse.org.
Jeni Carino, the special events manager at Guest House, brings over 20 years of nonprofit event management experience. She has managed annual fundraising campaigns, assisted nonprofits with fund development initiatives, created various PR communications plans, cultivated relationships with business community members and engaged volunteer leadership. Additionally, Jeni has over 20+ years of personal volunteer experience that includes board of directors participation, advisory council involvement and committee membership. She holds a BA in finance from Michigan State University.
Deacon Chris Stark joined the Guest House staff as the outreach director on December 4, 2017, and served Guest House prior to this time as a member on the Guest House Board of Trustees. Most recently, Deacon Chris has worked as the executive director for St. Vincent de Paul-Detroit and earlier as a senior director at Kelly Services, Inc. In 2011, he was ordained to the permanent diaconate on behalf of the Archdiocese of Detroit. His love for God and his singular commitment to the mission of Guest House are two valuable gifts he brings to his role. Deacon Chris holds a Diploma of Diaconate Studies from Sacred Heart Major Seminary and a BA in political science, pre-law from Michigan State University.
Mark Kassin has been with Guest House for 29 years and is currently the network administrator. He is responsible for overseeing the technology and telecommunications equipment for all buildings on our campus. Mark keeps equipment up to date and running smoothly, while maintaining the security of our systems and campus. His services are in high demand with computer, audio/visual and software questions from staff and clients, and he makes time for everyone. Experiencing the outdoors and northern Michigan is something Mark enjoys in his free time.
Molly Feely works as Development Officer and Special Events Manager at Guest House. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Madonna University and studied communications at John Carroll University. Molly’s skill set includes sales, marketing and training throughout the United States. She also has event and project management experience. As an advocate for recovery in the addiction and mental health fields, she has facilitated numerous workshops throughout schools and service providers in Oakland County, Michigan. Molly looks forward to thriving within the Guest House Development and Special Events.
Cindy Vario is the human resources director at Guest House. Cindy directs the development and establishment of adequate and equitable personnel policies, salary administration policies and employee benefit plans throughout the organization. Also a priority, she ensures that the interests and welfare of employees are preserved and protected. Cindy has been a SHRM certified professional (SHRM-CP) since 2015 and is also certified as a professional in human resources (PHR), since 1999. She holds a business administration certificate from Central Michigan University.
Ken VanElslander is a licensed practicing counselor (LPC) in Michigan with a specialty in addictions (CAADC) and joined Guest House as a program consultant in 2016, assisting in the men’s program as a continuing care counselor. Ken began his career in the retail furniture industry after attending Central Michigan University. After 30 years, he retired, went back to school and earned his MA in counseling from the University of Detroit Mercy. Before coming to Guest House, Ken combined his work/life experience with his education in the counseling field at Eastwood Clinics, Milford Counseling, as a board member at Brighton Hospital and as director of Brighton Center for Recovery. Ken feels blessed to be sharing a recovery lifestyle and his experience, strength and hope as others have done with him.
Patti Stowell is a staff nurse at Guest House and works full-time, afternoon shift. Patti is a registered nurse, a certified addiction registered nurse and an auricular detox specialist, and she has been working at Guest House since 1997. A graduate of Grace Hospital School of Nursing in the Detroit Medical Center (1977), Patti also earned an associate degree in mental health social work (2000).
Cathy Smith, an accounting clerk II, joined the Mission Services Office (MSO) on December 20, 2010. She holds a BS in information systems from Oakland University’s School of Business. Previously, she was the office manager of Somerset Collection, a large retail shopping mall, where she managed payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable. During her tenure at Guest House, Cathy has worked in the finance department where she has processed payroll and handled data entry for accounts payable; she currently handles client billing, data entry for the development department and general office support, as needed.
Emily Richardson is licensed counselor and certified addictions counselor, and she is part of the team of addictions therapists at Guest House. As a treatment team member since 2014, Emily has provided individual and group therapy, didactic lectures and other support to clients served at Guest House. Participating in the process of returning Catholic clergy and religious back to active ministry is rewarding and meaningful to Emily. She holds a BS in biopsychology and cognitive science from the University of Michigan and a MA in addiction counseling from the University of Detroit Mercy; Emily is currently a doctoral candidate at Oakland University.
Colleen Richards has been with Guest House for 15 years and is currently the education and alumni administrator. She is responsible for overseeing many of the educational activities held both on and off our campus. Her work involves managing the Annual Summer Leadership Conference, organizing alumni events that include seminars, retreats and reunions, and coordinating workshop requests that Guest House receives from various dioceses and religious communities. In addition, she is an associate managing editor of Human Development Journal, a quarterly publication of Guest House. She holds a BS in business administration with a concentration in marketing from Ferris State University.
Brother Richard Hittle is currently a writer for Guest House and an associate editor of Human Development Journal, a quarterly publication of Guest House. Brother Dick joined Guest House in 2004 as residential manager and counselor at Recovery House. His earlier work includes 25 years teaching in Jesuit high schools in Detroit, Toledo and Akron; ten years as manager of Jesuit Province Offices in Detroit and work at the Jesuit Headquarters in Rome. He holds a BA from University of Detroit, MA from Boston College and addictions certification from University of Detroit and State of Michigan. A proud 1980 graduate of Guest House, Brother Dick lives fully and gratefully in recovery.
Father George Hazler has served since 2012 as the Guest House chaplain and spiritual director for those in treatment and for the Guest House staff. He is a member of Voluntas Dei Institute, a secular institute of Pontifical Right, where he served as director from 1994-2010. Fr. George brings abundant leadership experience in various ministries, largely Catholic hospitals. Prior to joining the Guest House staff full time, he served as VP of leadership development at Daughters of Charity Health System in Los Altos Hills, California.
Special Events and Donor Relations Manager Lisa Drummond is often bustling about, balancing armloads of event paraphernalia and a checklist. Charged with creating engaging and memorable experiences, she is mindful of donor needs, budgets and timelines. Even when guiding tours of Scripps Mansion, she emphasizes the compassionate mission of Guest House. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Broadcast and Cinematic Arts from Central Michigan University. With experience in advertising and marketing, her natural need to organize and entertain drew her to events. Previously, she was an event coordinator and certified docent at Meadow Brook Hall.
Alexandra Colvard is an addictions therapist at Guest House. She holds a MA in counseling education from Wayne State University (2004) and is a licensed professional counselor who is board certified as an advanced alcohol and drug counselor. Since December 2016, Alexandra has been certified by the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals as a master addictions counselor. She provides therapeutic services that include evaluation and assessment of individuals with chemical and process addictions, and she leads educational didactic lectures, as well as group and individual therapy sessions. Alexandra has provided these services and guidance to the clergy and men and women religious at Guest House since 2012 and continues to support the vision of restoring ministry and vocations one person at a time on their road to recovery.
Louise Westcott is the administrative assistant supporting the clinical team. Louise previously held positions at Guest House as the director of the National Catholic Council on Addictions (NCCA) as well as marketing coordinator with the outreach department. She enjoys working more closely with the treatment team and clients, and she utilizes her background and skills to assist with varied administrative tasks such as the coordination of continuing care and Walking with the Wounded (workshops). She holds a BS in marketing/management as well as a paralegal certificate from Oakland University.
Rita Valade is a Sister of Mercy in recovery and works at Guest House as a program consultant. Rita engages women religious in the clinical assessment process, works with the women’s continuing care program once a sister is discharged and provides other clinical services as requested. From the Detroit area, Rita has ministered at St. Luke Institute, Johns Hopkins Department of Psychiatry and most recently as chair of the School of Social Work at Spalding University in Louisville, KY.
Terry Sullivan is the Director of Outreach for Guest House Men’s Program. He completed the Hazelden and University of Minnesota Counselor Training Program in 1977. Since that time, Terry has been actively involved in alumni relations, outreach and re-entries through the Guest House program’s continuum of care. His avocation has been the pursuit of spiritual and physical fitness as they relate to each other. In addition to his responsibilities at Guest House, he enjoys offering his services as a part-time retreat master.
Joe Shoots is the Executive Director of the Men’s Treatment Program. He has extensive experience treating a wide range of mental health issues, including specialized focus in substance use disorders and other addictions, as well as adult anxiety and depression. Joe has an individualized approach to therapy and is compassionate and caring. He has a Master’s Degree in Clinical and Humanistic Psychology and is an International Certified Advanced Addiction Counselor. Over the years, Joe has helped hundreds of people find their path to recovery from addiction and achieve wellness and healthy living.
Sr. Mary Ellen Merrick is a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Scranton, PA), and she currently ministers as the executive director at Guest House. Sr. Mary Ellen has been in the ministry of education and addiction since 1969 and has national and international experience in presenting topics concerning addiction to interested groups. She taught at Loyola University in Maryland for 25 years, directed an outpatient trauma center that was called upon to assist with the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon and the attack on Virginia Tech, and had an outpatient practice that included consulting with religious communities in the Baltimore/Washington area.
Ivonne Martinez serves as the Development and Foundation Coordinator in the Development Department at Guest House, supporting fundraisers and preparing corporation and foundation grant requests. Serving Guest House since 2011, Ivonne spent several years in the Outreach Department, raising awareness of the organization’s programs, services and resources. She brings many years of experience from corporate work that encompasses design, marketing, training, development and program management. Ivonne holds a BA in Ed. Administration and a MA in Instructional Coordination from the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH). She is an active member of the American Cancer Society and Daughters of Isabella, a Catholic women’s organization.
Anne Lazowski is the registered dietitian at Guess House. She educates and advises clients on how food choices and healthful eating habits can help them prevent illness and achieve and maintain optimum health. Anne attended Madonna University for her degree in dietetics and her internship in public health. One of Anne’s favorite things to do is attend the local farmers market and provide a healthy meal for family and friends. Her motto is “Good Food and Good Conversation.”
Lenore Koehn works in the development department at Guest House and has for many years. Her responsibilities include processing donations, assisting with special events and tackling a variety of office projects. She provides a wealth of Guest House history to her colleagues. You will always see her with a smile on her face and a skip in her step as she inspires all around her. There are no retirement plans in her near future.
Julie Cotant-Kelly works as an addictions therapist at Guest House and has over 20 years of postgraduate work in crisis intervention, mental health and addiction treatment. Julie earned her BA in psychology at Marquette University and her MSW at Wayne State University as the recipient of a graduate professional scholarship. Her clinical practicums include Northville State Psychiatric Hospital and the psychoanalytically-focused Detroit Psychiatric Institute. Julie brings her professional and personal passion and compassion to working with those affected by addiction, and she believes wholeheartedly in the collaborative process and partnership of treatment, discovery and recovery.
Cheryl Clark, development services manager, shares the story of the Guest House mission through direct mail. Each piece shares the poignant narrative of a Guest House graduate, detailing their recovery and return to ministry. A 19-year Lake Orion resident, Cheryl holds a degree in marketing from Walsh College. Prior to Guest House, she worked in the corporate sector and has experience managing marketing strategy, website design, branding, direct mail and database management with sales integration. Cheryl enjoys outdoor activities with her family, and you will often see her at local chamber events representing Guest House.
Dan Carlock works as an addictions therapist at Guest House and is a master’s level clinician, specializing in the treatment of addictions. He earned a MA in counseling from Oakland University in 2002 and is board certified as an advanced alcohol and drug counselor. His career spans over twenty-eight years; and, over that time, Dan has maintained as his primary focus that of serving in the specialized area of inpatient treatment for adults with addictions. This experience and education, along with a deep commitment for helping those with addictions to stabilize long-term and relapse-free recoveries, is what Dan brings to the Guest House program.
Karen Collier, now in her 30th year of service to Guest House, is the Administrative and Corporate Compliance Officer. In her tenure at Guest House, she has served in multiple capacities, and recognizes Guest House’s unique values-based culture and the importance to preserve and strengthen it. Karen is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and provides administrative support to the Board of Trustees in their ongoing governance and deliberations. As Compliance Officer, Karen guides all aspects of Quality Performance Improvement, Business Development and Performance Measurement, and she ensures that all quality standards of CARF Accreditation are continuously met throughout the organization.
Dr. Berger is the medical director at Guest House. He came to Guest House in November of 2014 from Brighton Hospital, where he served as medical director. Dr. Berger is certified in both addiction medicine and internal medicine and has been active in providing inpatient and outpatient care for alcoholics and drug addicts for over 30 years.
Doris Brandt is the marketing and communications director at Guest House. Happy to always be busy, she works on Guest House communications, including the website, social media, press releases and newsletters; and she manages marketing materials and advertisements/sponsorships. Joining the Guest House staff in 2015, originally in the development office, Doris shares her professional background and skills, public relations experience, years of nonprofit work and commitment to the Catholic Church. She holds a BA in English, a Michigan secondary teaching certificate and a MA in ed. administration from Wayne State University.
Jeff Henrich became the Guest House president and chief executive officer in August 2017. He has a long history with Guest House, serving as executive director of the men’s program in Rochester, Minnesota, from 2011 to 2014, and as a counselor and assistant director of the men’s program for many years prior to that time. Returning to Guest House from his most recent position as program director of Champion Center, a former 80-bed chemical dependency treatment facility in California, Jeff brings leadership, experience, and a passion for recovery and the Guest House ministry. He holds a BS in Economics and a MA in counseling. As a licensed alcohol and drug counselor and county social worker, Jeff has a background of over 25 years in clinical practice.