8:00 – 8:30 Networking
8:30 – 9:00 Introductions/Announcemments
9:00 – 11:00 Virtual Presentation:
Link to Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/162331194
Format: Virtual
Panel:
o John Narine, DBA, CEAP, CPFS, Executive Director, Recovery Friendly Leader
o Daniél Kimlinger, PhD, PHA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CEO, Mines & Associates EAP
o Jodi Jacobson Frey, PhD, LCSW-C, CEAP, Executive Director, Center for Behavioral Health & Well-Being Research
o Ingrid Lindberg, Founder/Customer Experience Officer, Sobrynth-Sober Today
Content:
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) began as peer‑based recovery networks, where employees in recovery from alcoholism supported one another’s journey. Over the decades, however, EAPs have transformed into predominantly clinical services, often overlooking the unique insights and trust that come from lived experience. While these programs continue to aid employees across a spectrum of personal and work‑related challenges, the shift toward professionalized models has introduced power imbalances that can hinder rapport, compromise confidentiality, and reinforce stigma—barriers that discourage many from seeking help for substance use concerns. Despite strong evidence that Peer Support Specialists—individuals with firsthand experience in addiction and recovery—enhance engagement and outcomes, their presence in EAPs remains limited. Given the EAP Association’s recent revitalization efforts, the rise of the Recovery Friendly Workplace movement, and ever‑evolving workforce needs, there is no better time to integrate peer support into EAPs—boosting utilization, fostering genuine connections, and more effectively guiding employees through recovery.
Learning Objectives:
1) Identify the role of Peer Support Specialists, traditional EAP counselors, and Recovery Friendly Workplaces when addressing employee mental health & substance use challenges and supporting recovery.
2) Discuss current barriers and successes encountered by Peer Support Specialists when supporting employee recovery.
3) Explore effective, unity-driven strategies for integrating Peer Support Specialists alongside EAPs and Recovery Friendly Workplace initiatives to reduce stigma, boost utilization, and enhance employee and workplace well-being
2 PDH’s - Domain TBD
PANEL BIOS/CONTACTS:
Moderator – John Narine, DBA, CEAP, CPFS
Dr. John Narine is a dedicated recovery advocate and the founder and Executive Director of Recovery Friendly Leader, a non-profit that trains leaders on strategies to support employees affected by substance use. Drawing on his personal recovery journey, John brings a unique blend of empathy and expertise to his work, breaking down stigmas and creating safe, healthier, and more productive workplaces. John’s commitment to the field includes being a Certified Employee Assistance Professional, a Colorado Peer & Family Specialist, and holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, having researched leadership strategies to support employee recovery and businesses collectively. He is also the author of Leading Workplace Addiction and actively contributes to local and national recovery initiatives. In his spare time, John loves spending time with loved ones and eating Chinese food.
Contact:
John Narine, DBA, CEAP, CPFS Executive Director Recovery Friendly Leader Denver, CO
Email: john@recoveryfriendlyleader.org
Website: www.recoveryfriendlyleader.org
Panelist - Daniél Kimlinger, PhD, PHA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Dr. Daniél Kimlinger is CEO of MINES and Associates; she is passionate about weaving employee assistance programs into everyday so members can access support early and easily. With a professional background in human resources, organizational psychology, and leadership, she is passionate about expanding EAP reach, improving access, and connecting people to the best care. Dani also shares this commitment through service on several nonprofit and professional boards. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, running, weightlifting, and exploring Colorado’s mountains by backpacking, hiking, snowboarding, trail running, and camping.
Contact:
Daniél Kimlinger, PhD, PHA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP Chief Executive Officer Mines and Associates, PC Littleton, CO
Email: dckimlinger@minesandassociates.com
Website: https://minesandassociates.com/leadership
Panelist- Jodi Jacobson Frey, PhD, LCSW-C, CEAP
Dr. Jodi J. Frey, PhD, LCSW-C, CEAP is a Professor and Associate Dean for Research at University of Maryland, School of Social Work. As Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Behavioral Health and Well-Being Research (BHWell), she leads research and provides education and training focused on adult mental health, substance use, suicide prevention, and social drivers of health, including workplace behavioral health. She has published over 100 articles about her work and presents regularly at national and international conferences. She is Editor in Chief for the Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health and Co-Chair of the National Committee for Workplace Suicide Prevention and Postvention.
Contact:
Jodi Jacobson Frey, PhD, LCSW-C, CEAP Executive Director Center for Behavioral Health & Well-Being Research College Park, MD
Email: JFREY@ssw.umaryland.edu
Website: https://directory.ssw.umaryland.edu/employee-detail/frey-jodi/r/recZm6IiTCuBc6moI
Panelist- Ingrid Lindberg, Founder/Customer Experience Officer
Ingrid Lindberg is a pioneer. From building the first Health Savings Account (HSA) to being the first person to hold the title of Customer Experience Officer (CXO), she has been transforming companies and industries since the early 2000s. She is the co-founder of Sobrynth, a company dedicated to helping people navigate their sobriety journey both at home and at work. This innovative approach includes peer coaches to help people navigate the complexity of the recovery system as well as a Recovery Ready cultural change framework; recognizing that a safe workspace is integral to a person’s sobriety journey. Lindberg is also the CEO of the Customer Experience consultancy, Chief Customer; serving the Fortune 500 with a client roster that includes Finance, Healthcare, CPG, Telco, and Retail leaders. Recognized as one of the 40 Top Global Marketers and named Maverick of the Year by the Stevie Awards, she excels in creating differentiated customer experience strategies, bringing groundbreaking products to market, and reshaping organizational cultures. Ingrid is a global keynote speaker and author, known for leading with heart through transformations.
Contact:
Ingrid Lindberg Founder/Customer Experience Officer Sobrynth-Sober Today St Paul, MN
Email: ingrid@sobrynth.com
Website: https://sobrynth.com/about/