SENIOR MANAGEMENT

John Hamilton, RNP’s Chief Executive Officer, has worked in the field of addiction prevention and treatment since 1981, and holds licenses in Alcohol and Drug Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy. Currently, John serves on the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Steering Committee of the Clinical Trials Network, and Chair of the Community Treatment Provider (CTP)Policy Committee. John also serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board and is on the Executive Board for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), Vice President of the Board of Directors for Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) and the Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership (RYASAP), Chair for the CTP of Fairfield County, and is actively involved in community prevention councils in Fairfield County. Previously John served as Chair of the Dissemination Committee for the NIDA Clinical Trials Network, Past President of the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health Systems Board, Chair of the Ethics Committee for the Connecticut Certification Board (SWCMHS), and President of the New England Association of Drug Court Professionals. John presents locally and internationally on a variety of topics and is considered an expert in the field of addiction treatment and prevention. and prevention.

Dorna Stover, RNP's Chief Operating Officer, acquired her Bachelors Degree in Sociology from Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut. She received her Masters Degree in Public Administration from University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut. Ms. Stover's vast accomplishments constitute twenty-five years of diversified and progressively responsible experience within the behavioral health environment. Some of the highlights of her accomplishments are: coordinated renovations at the shelter's third and fourth floors; monitored compliance to fire and building codes; successfully secured funds via State Bond Commission; designed and edited organization's annual reports; prepared policy and procedure manual; secured additional funding for renovations through applications for grant-in-aid; revised the organization's brochures; implemented first multi-user/multi-tasking computer system; planned/implemented automated medication dispensing system; supervised/prepared descriptive and trend reports in an automated environment. Dorna is a member of DMHAS Multicultural Advisory Council and the Co-Chair of Region I, Multicultural Council.

Paul Kelly, RNP's Chief Financial Officer, has worked with Recovery Network of Programs, Inc. since 1988. As part of the management team, he is charged with the task of running the business, setting objectives and seeing that these objectives are met. As Chief Financial Officer, he manages and administers all business and fiscal activities such as financial statements and budgeting. He establishes and maintains internal fiscal controls and assesses risk of all financial transactions. He initiates and manages significant relationships within the community relating to banking, insurance, legal issues and state and federal funding sources. He also takes care of the company personnel policies and benefits, agency grants and contract preparations. Paul received his Bachelors Degree in Accounting in 1985 and worked with Neill Tools, Inc. as the company's Controller for five years before working with RNP.

Jennifer Kolakowski, LCSW, CCDP-D, MATS, has worked in the social work profession since 1989. She is the Chief Clinical Officer and has been with RNP for 17 years. Jen earned her MSW degree from Fordham University in 1996 and is a licensed Clinical Social Worker.  She holds credentials from the Connecticut Certification Board in Co-Occurring Treatment and Medication Assisted Treatment.  Jen has over 21 years of experience in working with people who are homeless and living with HIV/AIDS.  She has extensive experience in working with individuals who have psychiatric disorders and have substance use disorders.  Jen has authored, coauthored and implemented numerous successful grant proposals which have significantly expanded RNP clinical services to include scatter-site housing, transitional and permanent housing as well as a nationally recognized Residential Co-Occurring Enhanced Inpatient Treatment Facility. Under her leadership, Jen developed the first HIV/AIDS specific case management program in an emergency shelter setting. In 2001, she was the recipient of the Catherine Kennedy Award for Best Practices in housing individuals living with HIV and AIDS.  Most recently, Jen has been instrumental in developing and implementing a Co-Occurring Intensive Outpatient Program within Prospect House Shelter.  Jen has been a frequent guest lecturer at Southern Connecticut, Fairfield University and Sacred Heart.  She is a Faculty Advisor for Fordham University-Graduate School of Social Service and teaches an Integrative Seminar. Jen is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition and is a member of the State of Connecticut Crisis Response Team.

PROGRAM DIRECTORS

Joanne Montgomery is the Division Director of Outpatient Services. Ms. Montgomery has worked in the behavioral health since 1995 helping adolescents and adults with substance abuse, mental health and medical issues. She is a certified addiction counselor, clinical supervisor, medicated assisted treatment specialist, and has a specialty certificate to treat occurring disorders, all recognized by the Connecticut Certification Board, Inc. Ms. Montgomery is intricately involved with numerous community activities and is currently appointed as a member of the Ryan White Planning Council. In this role, she is responsible for the oversight of all of the funding for New Haven and Fairfield Counties targeted for direct care to persons living with HIV/AIDS. Ms. Montgomery was successful in creating a new and innovative treatment modality for substance abusers living with HIV/AIDS with her previous employer. This case management and crisis intervention model was implemented throughout Fairfield County and assisted many clients in achieving their goals related to harm reduction and proper medical care. As Division Director of Outpatient Services, Ms. Montgomery is committed to enhancing client care through the development of a ‘treatment on demand’ model, having successfully designed and implemented a 90 minute admission process. This is the first time such a model has been implemented in the State of Connecticut and recognition was received by DMHAS for outstanding achievement. She is equally dedicated to providing sound supervision for the clinical team in order to strengthen knowledge and clinical skills; thus, providing cutting-edge high quality services for all clients in need.

Maureen O’Neill Biggs is the Division Director of Residential Services.  Prior to this position Maureen worked as the clinical director for the RNP New Prospects Enhanced Residential Program for clients diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder.  Maureen is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Alcohol and Drugs Counselor and Medicated Assisted Treatment Specialist and has worked in the behavioral health field for forty-two (42) years; working initially, for six years, with the elderly and ultimately with individuals diagnosed with chemical dependency and/or mental illness.  Ms. O’Neill Biggs started her career with the Shirley Frank Foundation working as a Counselor/Assistant Director on the detoxification unit for ten (10) years when she moved to the inpatient residential program as the clinical director.  While at the Shirley Frank Foundation, Maureen developed programming, facilitated a Loss and Grief Group, a long-term Women’s Group and served as a consultant to social workers employed at YNHH.  In the capacity of consultant, Maureen also instituted a continuing care group for recovering YNHH employees.   As director of PHP/IOP at Gaylord Hospital Maureen developed the PHP/IOP program, authored a workbook for clients diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury and a workbook for clients participating in the PHP/IOP program.  Maureen also worked for Griffin Hospital as clinical director for IOP serving clients diagnosed with chemical dependency and the PHP serving clients with severe and persistent mental disorders.  As a member of the Department of Psychiatry, Maureen developed programs and educated clients admitted to the medical department.  Prior to accepting the position with RNP, Maureen worked as the VP of Clinical Operations at MCCA where she authored several grant proposal which resulted in the development of a group home for adolescent females, an adolescent long term program, a detoxification unit and several outpatient programs.

Dr. Guillermo Katigbak, MD has worked in the medical field for over 30 years.  As Medical Director, with more than 20 years experience serving individuals with both addiction and mental health disorders, he prioritizes client care and safety as well as ensuring the provision of optimal medical care for each individual served. He is responsible for final decisions in regard to all aspects of medical care for RNP clients.  Dr. Katigbak was instrumental in bringing new medications to RNP thereby greatly expanding client choice in determining individualized care. He provides direct oversight of all medical aspects of research studies conducted within RNP programs and works closely with the medical team in utilizing research to inform and support RNP clinical practices. Dr. Katigbak is trilingual, speaking English, Spanish and Tagalog. In addition to his role as medical director for RNP, Dr. Katigbak is a full time attending physician for the Emergency Department at Bridgeport Hospital.

Don Demaine is the Director of Network Management for Recovery Network of Programs. He has worked in IT since 1995 and in IT in the Behavioral Health field since 1999. Mr. Demaine holds certifications in Microsoft and Netware Network Operating Systems and has extensive experience in Linux Network Operating Systems as well as experience in desktop hardware, operating systems, and customer support. In Mr. Demaine’s role at Recovery Network of Programs he is charged not only with assuring the staff of high availability of network resources but with being proactive training the staff in the use of computers and seeing that the agency technology needs are up to industry standards. Mr. Demaine also has a role in assisting Recovery Network of Programs attaining CARF accreditation.