MONTACHUSETT RECOVERY FOUNDATION CORP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Co - Director
- Vice - President
Gary D. Johnson is the Vice President of the Montachusett Recovery Foundation and the Co-Director of the Montachusett Recovery Center. He grew up in Lancaster, MA and is currently living in Lunenburg, MA. He attended Lancaster Schools and graduated from Nashoba Regional High School in 1973. He was the Head Custodian for the Lancaster Public Schools for 25 years before retiring.
He has been in recovery since 2007 and has been an active member of the recovery community since then. As a CCAR trained Recovery Coach, Gary has a passion for helping others achieve and grow in their recovery.
Lori DiLorenzo received her bachelor's degree in Neurobiology and Behavior from Cornell University and her M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. She came to Massachusetts in 1998 to complete residency in Family Medicine at the Lawrence Family Practice Residency and became Board Certified in Family Medicine. She has spent her career working in Community Health Centers, helping patients break down barriers to healthcare. In 2003 she began providing care to pregnant patients at MCI-Framingham who had substance use disorders. This started a transition from full scope Family Medicine to Addiction Medicine. In 2015 she became Board Certified in Addiction Medicine and since then she has been working providing judgement free and patient led care to people in Leominster and Westboro and surrounding communities. She is a passionate advocate for healthcare access for all regardless of economic status, and LGBTQIA+ centered care among other things.
In her spare time, Lori loves being a mom to her four daughters and watching their sports and other activities, as well as daily exercise. Lori also volunteers for the Westminster Lions Club, is the registrar for the Oakmont Outlaws travel soccer club, and volunteers for the Cornell Alumni Network and Class of 1994. She is looking forward to getting more involved with the MRC community and continuing to work to break the stigma of addiction in the community.
Matthew B Wright is 38 years old. Born and raised in Westminster and now a Leominster resident, he holds a Bachelors of Science in Business from Nichols College in Dudley, MA. In long-term recovery, Matthew is an active recovery community organizer and advocate, a CCAR trained Recovery Coach and a Massachusetts Certified Peer Support Specialist. Matthew is the President of the Montachusett Recovery Foundation Corp., and was a strong motivator behind its creation. He is also the Director of the Montachusett Recovery Center. Matthew continues to work at enhancing both organizations' mission and providing needed services to the recovery community in the Montachusett Region.
Job Titles:
- Counselor
- Member of the Board
- CSS Clinical Director
Michael currently works as a CSS Clinical Director at a program built to address the underserved in our communities. Additionally, Mr. Hall works with his local communities in addressing youth in crisis.
Mr. Hall works as a counselor with local emergency responders for mental health or Substance Use calls providing resources and follow up services.
Mr. Hall has worked for many years in the Merrimack Valley area facilitating community organizations and projects around Substance Use and mental Health treatment and coordination of services.
Mr. Hall is hoping to bring his experiences in community collaboration and mental health/Substance Use treatment to MRC and continue learning from Matthew Wright and the team in Leominster
Paula has been a resident of Leominster for 37 years. She is employed as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in home care and has worked in the medical profession for most of her career.
She has been very involved in recovery with close members of her family. Her desire is to use her creative talents and strong work ethic for the betterment of the community on the board of MRC.
Ryan Carter, M.A., is a born and raised Leominster local. Ryan currently resides in Leominster MA. Ryan received his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from Fitchburg State University in 2022 and earned his Master's in Criminal Justice/Criminology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2022. Ryan has spent his career in higher education and within human services. From 2017 until 2021, Ryan spent his time working on Bureau of Justice Administration grants with Fitchburg State and the Worcester Middle District Attorney's Office evaluating Diversion and Innovative Prosecution programs within Worcester County to incorporate wraparound and alternative services for those with a SUD diagnosis. Currently Ryan works for the LUK Inc. Crisis Center as the Prevention Coordinator, coordinating substance abuse and underage gambling prevention programs and across North Central MA, such as the Leominster Community Action Team.
In his spare time, Ryan is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking, skiing, rock-climbing and golfing. Ryan works with another non-profit entity called Hello Gorgeous which focuses on Pancreatic Cancer Awareness. As an academic Ryan uses his spare time conducting research and writing. He is a member of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, the New England Academy of Criminal Justice Science and CADCA (Community Based, Advocacy focused, Data Driven, Coalition building Association). Ryan is also pursuing his license to become and alcohol and drug counselor to eventually give back more to the recovery community who embraced him.
Born and bred in Leominster, MA graduating from Leominster High School with the class of 1972.