EXECUTIVE BOARD BIOGRAPHIES
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DAVID D. GREENBERG
David Greenberg holds the position as Co-Chair of AVRASA. David works for Outreach Training Institute (Subsidiary of Outreach Project) where he prepares 100+ CASAC students/trainees to search for CASAC-T positions after graduation. Furthermore, at Outreach Project, he has provided vocational counseling services for the past 18 years to numerous populations in recovery from chemical abuse. Prior to Outreach Project, David worked as an adjunct instructor in Job Search Preparation at New York University, as a consultant at VESID and at the New York State Department of Corrections. David is the author of the book, “Off Drugs, In Recovery and Still Unemployed”. David’s first career was as a Human Resources Manager at Citicorp/Citibank for 20 years where he created a hiring program for recovering chemical abusers and served as an “Executive on Loan” to the N.Y.S. Division of Substance Abuse Services in the 1980’s. David has a Master’s degree in Counseling from Long Island University, is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor.
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VALERIE LYONS
Valerie Lyons holds the position of the Co-Chair of AVRASA. Valerie is the Assistant Project Director for the Hunter College/OASAS Work-Study Project. The Work-Study Project provides graduate students the opportunity to earn a Masters Degree while working in the chemical dependency field within an OASAS funded program as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Valerie also teaches graduate courses at Hunter College in Chemical Dependency and Counseling Skills. She has worked in the chemical dependency field for nineteen years. Prior to her employment with Hunter College, Valerie worked for Samaritan Village, Inc. for 10 years and held the position of Director of Vocational and Educational Services. She has worked as a Consultant for the Resource Training Center since 2004. Valerie holds a Masters of Science in Education Degree from Hunter College, is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Valerie’s other professional affiliations include membership on the Boards for AVRASA, the Institute for the Professional Development in the Addictions, the Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Provider’s 501 ( c ) 3 Board, the National Rehabilitation Association and the Resource Training Center. In addition, Valerie is an active member of ASAP’s Cultural Competency Committee. She enjoys providing training in the areas of Vocational Rehabilitation, Cultural Competency, and Spirituality.
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OBIE NICHOLS
Obie Nichols holds the position of the First Vice Chair of AVRASA and the Agency-wide Director of Centralized Vocational and Employment Services (CVES) at Palladia Inc, New York, NY, where he monitors Quality Assurance/Quality Insurance in all Palladia vocational initiatives and supervises vocational staff in Palladia programs agency-wide. He directs the Palladia the CVES Computer Laboratory and the CVES Lending Library. Professional associations include: First Vice Chair of the Association for Vocational Rehabilitation of Alcohol Abusers (AVRASA); New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA) member, and Pi Lambda Theta honor and professional society in education member. Over the past 8 years, he has been an Adjunct Professor at Metropolitan College of New York Audrey Cohen School of Human Services, where he teaches undergraduate courses in Human Services curricula leading to the Bachelors of Professional Services Degree. He specializes in the Constructive Action/Purpose/Fieldwork Seminar that requires integration of theory into internship practice and a thesis. He is an independent vocational consultant who has designed vocational programs and curricula, provided presentations, workshops, consultations and continuing Rehabilitation, Mental Health, and School Counselor supervision and mentoring. He is a volunteer with the NYC Medical Response Corps (MRC) disaster and emergency response team. Credentials: PhD Addiction Studies, International University of Graduate Studies @ St. Kitts, W.I., MA Rehabilitation Counseling, New York University, BPS Audrey Cohen College aka Metropolitan College of New York, LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) – University of the State of New York, CRC (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor) – Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, CASAC (Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor) NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Service – ICADC (Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor) – International Certification and Reciprocity Conrortium . Publication: Contingency Management Interventions in Outpatient Alcohol and Substance Abuse and Case Management Services (2006), thesis: International University of Graduate Studies.
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ALICIA BARTZ
Alicia Bartz holds the position of Second Vice-Chair of AVRASA and is employed as Assistant Director in the Office of Behavioral Health at NYC Health & Hospitals Corporation (HHC). She oversees all of the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and assists in implementing clinical best practices in 18 NYC HHC’s substance abuse treatment programs. She has worked in the chemical dependency field for 14 years. Prior to her employment with HHC, Alicia worked in Methadone, Outpatient, and Long Term Residential programs and has worked as a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Counselor. Alicia holds a Master of Arts Degree in Community Counseling Psychology from Marist College and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.
Alicia is an OASAS Faculty Member for training in Motivational Interviewing. She also provides training in the areas of Vocational Rehabilitation, Integration of Recovery in Treatment, Clinical Supervision Skills Building, Stage-Based Treatment Planning, Contingency Management in Substance Use Treatment, Person-Directed Recovery Oriented Planning and Supervision, and OASAS approved instructor for the 350 hour CASAC education courses.
Publications: Psychology Emerges in Vocational Group: Group Process as the Integrative Factor in Substance Abuse Treatment, 2006, Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery.
Psychologically-Based Vocational Rehabilitation for Co-Occurring Disorders: A Manualized Group Treatment Model, 2008, Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery.
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Miguel Calderon
Miguel Calderon holds the position of Third Vice-Chair of AVRASA and is employed as an Employment Specialist at NADAP, Inc.
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JASMINE RODRIGUEZ
Jasmine Rodriguez, M.S.Ed, CRC holds the position of the Administrative Secretary of AVRASA. Jasmine is currently the Vocational Supervisor at Addicts Rehabilitation Center, where she manages all vocational rehabilitation programming. Jasmine has had extensive experience working in the mental health field, where she managed numerous DOHMH and OMH Supported Employment programs. Furthermore, she has worked in various substance abuse treatment modalities, including therapueitc communities, MMTP, and MICA.She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, graduating from Hunter College's Rehabilitation Counseling program and was a part of their first graduating class of the OASAS work study project.
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MICHELE BUONINFANTE-BLAINEY
Michele Buoninfante-Blainey, MA, CRC, holds the position of Corresponding Secretary for AVRASA, and Co-Chair of the AVRASA Advocacy Committee. She has worked as a Vocational Counselor in the chemical dependency field for 16 years. Michele currently works for Beth Israel Medical Center MMTP, where she acts as a coordinator for student internships in CASAC, CRC and LMHC, and actively participates on the Training and Development Committee and Labor/Management Committee. She is also a delegate for 1199 Union. She received her Masters of Arts Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from NYU in 1996. While there, she was a student in the OASAS Work Study Project. Michele is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.
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NICOLE JULIEN-THOMAS
Nicole Julien-Thomas holds the position of Treasurer for AVRASA. In addition, she has also held the positions of Administrative Secretary from 2005-2007 and Co-Chairperson from 1999-2001 for the AVRASA organization. At Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Division of Substance Abuse, she has worked full-time as Director of Transitional Services for the past six years. In this position she manages the Employment/Vocational and HRA services for their nine Opioid Treatment and two Chemical Dependency Programs. Over the past 15 years since attaining her Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University, she has provided oversight of Vocational services and training in different comprehensive treatment modalities, prevention services and employment programs. Her dedication to the Workforce Development field is evidenced by her commitment to AVRASA and involvement in other organizations including the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA) and the Association of Substance Abuse Providers (ASAP). Nicole is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.
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DEBORAH BRINKLEY
Deborah Brinkley holds the position of Member At Large for AVRASA. Ms. Brinkley received a Masters of Science in Education in 2001 with a specialization in Rehabilitation Counseling and Chemical Dependency from Hunter College, CUNY. She is the Senior Clinical Supervisor with the Hunter College Work-Study Project. Ms. Brinkley also worked with The Resource Training Center, Inc. and provided part time Vocational Supervision at Outreach Project, Inc. Past employers include Greenwich House and Create, Inc. Deborah served as the Corresponding Secretary for AVRASA, was instrumental in creating the website, and facilitated the CRC Preparation Group for individuals preparing for the national CRC examination. Deborah worked for the New York City Board of Education as a Manager for 17 years. Deborah is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, CASAC & Licensed Practical Nurse in New York State.
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