Inspiration Motivation

Helping people of all ages win their battles with addiction.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board Chair

Treatment Advocate, Recovery Centers of America

Todd Whitridge,

Todd spent the first 20 years of his career at various technology startups, working mostly in strategic business development, sales, and marketing roles. Most recently he was the VP of Business Development and a founding team member at Boston based Brand Networks Inc., now one of the world’s leading social media advertising software and services firms. After getting sober himself, he turned his professional attention to the world of treatment and recovery. Currently Todd works as a Treatment Advocate for Recovery Centers of America, working in an outreach capacity to get people in to treatment for Substance Use Disorder. Todd is very active in the Cape Cod recovery community and works tirelessly to help people in their recovery journey.

Amy Doherty

Founder and Treasurer

Amy Doherty, Founder and Treasurer

For 20 years, prior to her work with WellStrong, Amy held many leadership positions working in the IT and Finance industries. Her knowledge of business operations, software and finance made a difference when her life shifted, and she entered the world of nonprofits. Her vision of WellStrong became a realty after she spent time volunteering at a women’s residential substance use disorder treatment facility, leading running and walking groups for the residents. Amy had grown up with an alcoholic father, who had found sobriety while she was a teenager. She had recently lost a brother to a heart attack who, after his struggle with drugs and alcohol, had lived for seven years in recovery. As a former triathlete, Amy knew the incredible benefits that fitness, yoga, meditation, and other healthy habits could make to a person’s self-esteem and well-being. She wanted to share that with the incredible women she was meeting and others like them. In 2017 she and a small group of volunteers opened WellStrong’s doors in Falmouth. She served as Executive Director for the first five years, and now works part-time as Treasurer and advisor.

Jana Faiky

Vice Chair

Owner, Fitness Directions

Jana Faiky, Director of Facilities

Jana’s personal interest in health and fitness became a career when she saw and experienced first hand the numerous benefits of working out. While working as a dental hygienist and personal trainer, she went back to college and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from Bridgewater State College in 1999. With over 30 years of experience in the fitness industry as a Certified Personal trainer, group exercise instructor, coach, Club director/manager,Continuing education provider and studio owner she brings both academic and practical knowledge to WellStrong.

There is no greater satisfaction than to see someone become empowered through the self confidence gained through exercise, to see personal connections grow and develop amongst clients and staff and to see people’s lives improve or become enhanced.

Jana’s family has been affected by addiction and they all can identify with the daily struggles that the entire family experiences, but also the importance and impact that a community of kindness and support can have on the healing and wellness for all affected.

Michelle Rogers

Director

Michelle Rogers, Board Member

Michelle holds a B.B.A. degree in Finance from the University of Georgia and an M.A. degree in Marine Policy from the University of Miami. She spent 10 years as an Environmental Scientist before becoming a stay at home Mom after her second child was born. She has been a fitness, nutrition and outdoor sports enthusiast her entire adult life. In 2017, she decided to share her passion with others by becoming a certified Group Fitness Instructor. She teaches Boot Camp style classes at Wellstrong in addition to serving on the Board of Directors. She is also a regular volunteer at the Falmouth Service Center and at her children’s school.

Anxiety, depression and, subsequently, substance abuse disorder runs in Michelle’s family. She has witnessed the struggles of multiple family members and assisted where she could in their recovery. Wellstrong has given her the opportunity to combine her love of fitness and nutrition with a very personal desire to help those who struggle with addiction.

Vanessa Lopes-McCoy

Director

Program & Operations Manager

Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative

Vanessa Lopes-McCoy, Treasurer

Like many, Vanessa has grown up around the disease of addiction and looks forward to making a difference every day. In 2016 Vanessa graduated from Merrimack College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Medicine, hoping to become a Physical Therapist. During her time at Merrimack she fell in love with prevention and education. Immediately following graduation Vanessa went on for her Master’s in Health and Wellness Management. During her time here she focused on substance use prevention targeting youth.

With over 8 years of experience in leadership, event planning, program development, and finances she is excited to be a part of the board at Wellstrong. Vanessa is certified in Spinning, Les Mills BodyCombat and certified to teach through the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). In her free time she plays rugby and is co-captain for the South Shore Sirens. Vanessa Lopes- McCoy joined WellStrong as a board member in July 2021.

She recently went through the Institute for Nonprofit Practice, in affiliation with Tufts University’s Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership and graduated in 2021.

Mary Leclair

Director

Mary Leclair

Corrie Vilsaint

Director

Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School

Corrie Vilsaint, Ph.D., Program Evaluation Consultant

Dr. Vilsaint is a community psychologist. She is a research fellow at Harvard Medical School and a Principal Investigator at the Recovery Research Institute and Center for Addiction Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her research has focused on racial health equality in remission and recovery from addiction. She has been supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and is currently supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).